JP5097952B2 - Game machine handle device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a handle device of a gaming machine, and more particularly to a handle device that eliminates the burden of handle operation during game ball launch.

In a handle device of a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine, the launch strength of the game ball is changed according to the amount of rotation of the handle body from the initial position. In this case, the handle device is provided with a spring member, and when the player releases his hand from the handle body, the handle body is quickly returned to the initial position by the spring force of the spring member. Such a structure is shown in Patent Document 1, for example.
JP 09-099137

  However, according to the above-described conventional structure, the amount of deformation of the spring member increases as the handle body is rotated, and the spring force increases. Therefore, the handle body is moved to a desired rotational position (appropriate in the game) against the return force of the spring. The player has always been unable to pull out the power of the hand to maintain the position at which the game ball has a launch strength), and the player handles the ball and coins to reduce the burden. There is a problem that the handle body is damaged by being caught in the gaps of the body and the handle body is damaged.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention solves such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a handle device for a gaming machine that can eliminate the burden on the player when operating the handle body and avoid the possibility of damage to the handle body. .

In order to achieve the above object, in the first invention, the handle body (3) that is rotated and changes the launch strength of the game ball according to the amount of rotation from the initial position, and the handle body (3) are rotated. In a handle device for a gaming machine comprising a support body (1) that can be supported, an operation detection means (42) for detecting that the player is operating the handle body (3), and a handle body (3) Return drive means (44) for returning and rotating to the initial position, drive control means (61) for stopping the operation of the return drive means (44) while the player's operation is detected, and the return drive means ( 44), and the drive control means (61) stops the operation of the return drive means (44) when a predetermined time has elapsed.

In the first aspect of the present invention, there is no return spring provided in the conventional handle, and no load is applied because no return force is generated during operation. The return drive means does not operate while the player is operating the handle body. In short, it can be operated with a weak force without being subjected to a load due to an external force, and since the position can be maintained simply by touching the handle, the burden on the player who operates the handle body is eliminated, and it is necessary to insert foreign objects. This eliminates the possibility of damage to the handle body. In addition, since the handle body can be returned to the initial position immediately after the game is finished despite the absence of the spring, it is possible to reliably prevent the fire from firing even if the handle body is not operated. Here, “operating” includes the act of the player touching the handle. Further, the operation of the return drive means can be stopped without providing a dedicated return detection means, and the return drive means can be stopped even if the handle body does not return to the initial position due to some abnormality. By doing so, it is space-saving and can be realized without cost.

In the reference example , return detection means for detecting that the handle body (3) has returned to the initial position is provided, and the drive control means (61) returns the drive means when the handle body (3) returns to the initial position. The operation of (44) is stopped. A microswitch or the like can be used as the return detection means. In the present reference example , the operation of the return drive means can be stopped immediately upon returning to the initial position. Further, since the driving means does not operate in the return direction more than necessary, it is possible to prevent the motor and peripheral parts from being damaged.

In another reference example , the handle body (3) is provided with a rotation amount detection means (43) for detecting the rotation amount thereof, and the drive control means (61) detects the initial position based on the detected rotation amount. The return of the handle (3) to the rear is determined and the operation of the return drive means (44) is stopped. In the present reference example , the operation of the return drive means can be stopped without providing a dedicated return detection means. By doing so, it is space-saving and can be realized without cost.

In the second aspect of the invention, the abnormality detection means (61) for detecting an abnormality in the return rotation of the handle body (3) is provided, and the drive control means (61) stops the operation of the return drive means (44) when the abnormality is detected. In the second aspect of the present invention, when the return of the handle body is not normally performed due to fraud or failure, the operation of the return drive means is immediately stopped. Prevented in advance.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the said parenthesis shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  As described above, according to the handle device of the gaming machine of the present invention, since there is no return spring provided in the conventional handle and no return force is generated during the operation, the burden on the player when operating the handle body is reduced. It will be resolved. It can be operated with a weak force without being subjected to a load due to external force, and its position can be maintained simply by touching the handle, so there is no need to fix the handle body, and the handle can be obtained by inserting a coin or the like in the gap of the handle body. The risk of body damage can be avoided. In addition, since the handle body can be returned to the initial position immediately after the game is finished despite the loss of the spring, it is possible to reliably prevent the fire from firing even if the handle body is not operated. The firing force can be adjusted by a simple control method using a variable resistor.

  FIG. 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the handle portion of the handle device, and FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a handle base as a support with the handle cap removed. The handle portion includes a handle base 1 fixed to a main body frame (not shown) of the gaming machine. The handle base 1 has a relatively small-diameter columnar leg portion 11 fixed to the main body frame and the leg portion 11. The tip is a relatively large diameter container portion 12 that opens forward (upward in FIG. 1). A handle cap 2 having the same diameter and the entire shape formed in a container shape is provided on the container portion 12 from the front, with the opening portions facing each other at a constant interval, and the handle cap 2 and the container portion 12 are connected to each other. The tip surfaces of the cylindrical stays (mounting bosses) 13 and 21 projecting from a plurality of locations (only one location is shown) of the bottom wall are abutted and joined by a screw member 14.

  Between the handle cap 2 and the container portion 12, a circular handle body 3 having a thickness slightly smaller than the facing distance and having substantially the same diameter as these is disposed. On the outer periphery of the handle body 3, substantially triangular finger hooking protrusions 31, 32, 33 are formed at three locations in the circumferential direction (FIG. 2) and protrude outward from the handle cap 2. Guide walls 34 and 35 are provided on the outer periphery of the front and rear surfaces of the handle body 3 so as to protrude all around. On the other hand, guide rollers 41 are provided at four locations in the circumferential direction on the opening end surfaces of the container portion 12 and the handle cap 2. It is installed. And these guide rollers 41 contact | abut to the outer peripheral surface of the guide walls 34 and 35, and the handle | steering-wheel body 3 is rotatably guided around the center. Note that the handle body 3 is obtained by applying metal plating to the surface of a resin body, and a touch sensor (operation detection means) 42 is installed on the front surface of the center portion thereof.

  The center of the rear surface of the handle body 3 protrudes rearward in a columnar shape (FIG. 1), and the tip of the input shaft 431 of the variable resistor 43 installed in the leg 11 is embedded and connected to the tip. As a result, the input shaft 431 of the variable resistor 43 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the handle body 3 from the initial position, and an output signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the handle body 3 is output from the variable resistor 43. The

  A return motor 44 is installed on the bottom wall of the container portion 12, and a spur gear 51 attached to the output shaft 441 of the return motor 44 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the guide wall 35 of the handle body 3. The internal gear portion 52 is meshed. As shown in FIG. 2, the internal gear 52 is formed in an angular range in which the handle body 3 is rotated. Note that the handle body 3 portion through which the cylindrical stay 13 passes is a long hole 36 extending in an arc shape over the angular range.

  FIG. 3 shows an electric system block diagram of the handle device. The touch sensor 42 and the variable resistor 43 provided in the handle unit 3 are input-connected to a firing control circuit 61 having a CPU, while the return motor 44 is rotationally driven by the output of the firing control circuit 61. The launch control circuit 61 outputs a signal for changing the launch strength of the game ball to the game ball launching device 62.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for explaining the control procedure of the launch control circuit. When the player grasps the handle body 3 and starts the operation, the touch sensor 42 detects the touch of the hand to the handle body 3 (step 101), permits the game ball launching device 62 to launch the game ball, and is variable. Based on the output signal from the resistor 43, a signal for changing the launch strength of the game ball according to the operation rotation amount of the handle body 3 from the initial position is given to the game ball launching device 62 (step 102). In this state, no rotation command is issued to the return motor 44, and its driving is stopped (step 103).

  When the touch sensor 42 has not detected the contact of the hand with the handle body 3, the game ball launching device 62 does not launch the game ball (step 104), and it is determined whether or not the handle body 3 is in the initial position. (Step 105). This determination is confirmed by the output signal of the variable resistor 43. If it is determined that the handle body 3 is not in the initial position, it is confirmed whether or not the return motor 44 is being driven (step 106). If the handle body 3 is not being driven, the drive of the return motor 44 is started (step 107). .

  When the return motor 44 is driven, it is confirmed from the output signal of the variable resistor 43 that the handle body 3 is rotating in the return direction (step 108). Notifies the abnormality with a warning light (not shown) or the like (step 109) and stops driving the return motor 44 (step 103). Even when it is detected from the output signal of the variable resistor 43 that the handle body 3 has returned to the initial position, the drive of the return motor 44 is stopped (from step 105 to step 103).

  With the above steps, the return motor 44 does not operate while the player is touching the handle body 3, so the burden on the player who rotates the handle body 3 to change the launch strength of the game ball is kept small. It is done. When the player releases his hand from the handle body 3, the return motor 44 is immediately driven, and the handle body 3 is quickly returned to the initial position. If the player touches the handle body again while the return motor is driven and the handle body returns and rotates toward the initial position, the drive of the return motor 44 is stopped based on detection by the touch sensor 42. (Step 101 to Step 103). Thereby, the player can arbitrarily rotate the handle body 3 again without feeling a burden. In this embodiment, by returning the handle body 3 to the initial position, the handle body 3 can be formed into an optimum handle body shape in accordance with the shape of the hand or the grip position. Further, the launch strength of the game ball can be easily estimated in appearance from the rotational positions of the finger hooking protrusions 31 to 33 of the handle body 3. Further, since the handle body 3 is returned to the initial position, it is possible to adjust the game ball firing force by the variable resistor 43 as in the conventional case. Further, since the handle body 3 is returned to the initial position by the return motor 44, it can be forcibly returned even if the resistance in the return direction is somewhat large. Accordingly, the gap between the handle body 3 and the handle cap 2 or the handle base 1 can be made sufficiently small, and the appearance can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, when a stop switch is provided in the vicinity of the handle body, it is possible to easily switch permission / non-permission of game ball launch. Although the spur gear and the internal gear portion are used to transmit the motor rotational force, a structure in which the rubber roller rotated by the return motor is brought into direct contact with the inner peripheral surface of the guide wall may be adopted. Further, if the meshing between the spur gear and the internal gear portion is eliminated when the handle body returns to the initial position, an excessive load is not applied to the return motor. In order to prevent the handle body from returning even when the player temporarily releases his / her hand, the return motor may be operated after a certain time after the touch sensor no longer detects contact. . Further, when the power is turned on, the return motor may be driven unconditionally to execute control for returning the handle body to the initial position. In the present application, the handle cap and the handle body are provided separately, but they may be configured to rotate together. In addition to pachinko machines, the present invention can also be applied to other forms of gaming machines such as an arrangement ball gaming machine and a ball ball gaming machine.

It is a vertical sectional view of a handle part of a handle device showing one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the handle base of the state which removed the handle cap. It is an electric system block diagram of a handle device. It is a flowchart explaining the control procedure of a launch control circuit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Handle base (support body), 3 ... Handle body, 42 ... Touch sensor (operation detection means), 43 ... Variable resistor (rotation amount detection means), 44 ... Return motor (return drive means), 61 ... Launch Control circuit (drive control means, abnormality detection means).

Claims (2)

In a handle device of a gaming machine, comprising: a handle body that is rotated and changes a launch strength of a game ball according to a rotation amount from an initial position; and a support body that rotatably supports the handle body. Operation detecting means for detecting that the handle body is being operated, return drive means for returning and rotating the handle body to an initial position, and operation of the return drive means while detecting that the player is operating A game control device that stops the operation of the return drive means when a predetermined time elapses, and a drive control means for stopping the operation of the return drive means. Handle device. The handle device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the return rotation of the handle body, wherein the drive control means stops the operation of the return drive means when an abnormality is detected .

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