JP6354630B2 - Push-button switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a push button switch mounted on a gaming machine.

  Conventionally, slot machines and pachinko machines have been widely used as gaming machines. Such a gaming machine is provided with a push button switch to give a player a sense of expectation to the game by effects such as blinking the button part.

  Generally, a push button switch is slidably attached to a base fixed to a gaming machine, and a button portion that is an operation member is slidable between the base and the operation member. In this configuration, an urging spring for returning to the state is interposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a shaft cylinder (corresponding to a shaft) provided inside a button part is slidable in a cylindrical part (corresponding to a cylindrical body) provided on the base side and containing a spring inside. There is disclosed a push button switch that is engaged with the button portion and presses a spring in a cylindrical portion with a shaft cylinder when the button portion is pressed, and returns the button portion to a state before being pressed by the elastic force of the pressed spring.

  Moreover, as one of the effects for the button part, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a vibration motor is attached to the back side of a push button switch.

JP 2011-135907 A (published July 14, 2011) JP 2007-075331 A (published March 29, 2007)

  By the way, in order to produce a more impactful production, the push button switch has been increased in size, and it is desired to mount a vibration mechanism capable of giving a stronger impact to vibration.

  Under such circumstances, the applicant of the present application tried to construct a production component such as a large vibration solenoid inside the button portion of the large push button switch. However, in that case, it was confirmed that assembly failure was likely to occur, the slidability of the button portion was deteriorated, and the operational feeling was lowered. This will be described.

  When a large production part is arranged inside the button part, the production part is arranged in the center of the button part, and the shaft and the cylindrical body that allow the biasing spring, the base, and the button part to slide are around the production part. Will be distributed in plural.

  However, since the button portion and the base are usually made of a resin molded product, the dimensions differ from each other due to the relationship between the molding environment and the material shrinkage rate. If it is a small molded product, it is possible to manage it under molding conditions, but a large size product will have a smaller dimensional accuracy in proportion to the size.

  Therefore, a dimensional deviation occurs between a plurality of shafts (or cylinders) provided inside the button portion and a plurality of cylindrical bodies (or shafts) provided on the base side. As a result, assembling becomes impossible and the yield decreases, and even if the assembling is possible, the slidability of the button portion is deteriorated and the operational feeling is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to cope with further enlargement that can be achieved with good operability and good yield while being configured with a resin molded product. Is to provide a simple pushbutton switch.

  In order to solve the above problems, a push button switch according to the present invention is provided in a gaming machine, a base fixed to the gaming machine side, and a button operation unit slidably engaged with the base. A push button switch that can be pressed, comprising: a guide shaft provided on one of the base and the button operation unit; and a guide shaft provided on either one of the guide shaft and slidably inserted. At least one of the insertion hole, the elastic member disposed between the base and the button operation portion, the effect component disposed at the center of the base, and the base or the button operation portion. A spacer member arranged to be movable by a predetermined distance in a plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide shaft, and a hole serving as the insertion hole or a shaft serving as the guide shaft is provided at the center of the spacer member. Formed, One, the guide shaft, the insertion hole and the spacer member is characterized in that it is arranged dispersed around the presentation component.

  According to the above configuration, the spacer member is disposed on at least one of the base and the button operation unit so as to be movable by a predetermined distance in a plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide shaft, and is inserted into the center of the spacer member. A hole serving as a hole or a shaft serving as a guide shaft is formed. Therefore, even if the base or button operation part is made of a resin molded product, the dimensional accuracy decreases as the size increases, and the spacer member moves in the surface direction even if the position of the guide shaft and the insertion hole is not aligned. Misalignment can be absorbed.

  In a structure that is enlarged and has a plurality of guide shafts and insertion holes dispersed around the production part, by increasing the dimensional accuracy of the resin molded product, all combinations of the guide shaft and insertion holes It is difficult to ensure good slidability. However, as described above, at least the guide shaft or the insertion hole is a shaft or hole provided in the spacer member in the surface direction within a predetermined range, so that the dimensional accuracy of the resin molded product is maintained as before. Good slidability can be ensured in all pairs of shafts and insertion holes.

  As a result, it is possible to provide a push button switch that can be adapted to further increase in size, while being configured with a resin molded product, having good operability and maintaining a good yield.

  In the push button switch according to the present invention, further, the spacer member is formed on a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction of the guide shaft, and formed on an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, and extends in a surface direction perpendicular to the axial direction. It can also be set as the structure which has a flange part which makes circular shape seeing from the said axial direction.

  According to the above configuration, the cylindrical portion serves as an insertion hole, or the guide shaft is fixed to the cylindrical portion, and the circular flange portion is formed on a surface orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide shaft in the base or the button operation unit. A spacer member that can be moved in a plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction can be easily realized by disposing a predetermined distance along the plane.

  In the push button switch according to the present invention, the base or the button operation portion further includes a plate-like member to which the spacer member is attached, and the plate-like member has a hole portion into which the cylindrical portion is loosely inserted. A circular recess in which the flange portion is loosely fitted, and the spacer member has a configuration in which the cylindrical portion is loosely inserted into the hole portion and the flange portion is loosely fitted in the recess. can do.

  According to the above configuration, the cylindrical portion of the spacer member is loosely inserted into the hole provided in the plate-like member, and the flange portion of the spacer member is loosely fitted into the concave portion of the plate-like member, whereby the spacer member is pivoted. It can be easily arranged so as to be movable in a plane direction perpendicular to the direction.

  In the push button switch according to the present invention, it is preferable that the concave portion is formed on a surface of the plate-like member on a side to which an elastic force of the elastic member is applied when the button operation unit is pressed. .

  According to the above configuration, since the concave portion to which the flange portion is loosely fitted is formed on the surface of the plate-like member on the side to which the elastic force of the elastic member is applied when the button operation portion is pressed, the spacer member is formed by the elastic force. It is possible to effectively avoid the occurrence of a situation in which the sheet is pulled out from the plate member.

  In the push button switch according to the present invention, the guide shaft is provided in the base, the insertion hole is provided in the button operation part, the spacer member is provided in the button operation part, and the insertion hole is provided. It can be set as the structure which consists of the hole formed in this spacer member.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a push button switch that can cope with a further increase in size while being configured with a resin molded product and having good operability and maintaining a good yield. .

It is a general-view perspective view of the slot machine which mounts the pushbutton switch which concerns on this Embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of the said pushbutton switch. It is a disassembled perspective view of the said pushbutton switch. It is an external appearance perspective view of the base for demonstrating the base of the said pushbutton switch. It is a disassembled perspective view of the button operation part in the said pushbutton switch. It is a disassembled perspective view of the bottom cover of the said button operation part. It is an external appearance perspective view of the spacer member attached to the said bottom cover. It is a figure for demonstrating the principal part of the said bottom cover in the state in which the said spacer member was attached. It is a figure which shows the state by which only the bottom cover of the said button operation part was fitted by the said base. It is sectional drawing of the said pushbutton switch for demonstrating the state of the said pushbutton switch before pushing operation (push-up position). It is sectional drawing of the said pushbutton switch for demonstrating the state of the said pushbutton switch after pushing operation (pressing position).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, a push button switch mounted on a slot machine as a gaming machine is exemplified.

[Configuration of slot machine 1]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a slot machine 1 equipped with a push button switch 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 is provided with a reel portion 5 at the center of the front face facing the player (operator).

  The reel unit 5 includes a plurality of reels (not shown) on which a plurality of types of symbols are displayed. The plurality of reels start rotating when the player operates a start key provided on the switch unit 7 and stops when a player operates a stop key. When the reels stop, the combination of symbols displayed in the window (not shown) of the reel unit 5 and the combination of symbols are determined. A prize is awarded to the player according to the determined combination and the number of bets (the number of bets). In addition to the configuration in which the reel is actually provided, the configuration of the reel unit 5 includes a configuration in which the reel unit 5 is configured by a display screen such as a liquid crystal screen, and an image corresponding to the reel is displayed. It may be.

  Below the reel unit 5, a switch unit 7 and a push button switch 10 including a plurality of push-type switches are provided. The switch unit 7 and the push button switch 10 receive operations from the player. The switch unit 7 receives from the player an instruction to start and stop the rotation of the reel in the reel unit 5 and a designation of the number of bets when playing the slot machine 1. The push button switch 10 is used for various effects. The slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment is characterized by the configuration of the push button switch 10, which will be described in detail below.

[Configuration of Push Button Switch 10]
2A and 2B are external perspective views of the push button switch 10. FIG. 2A shows the push button switch 10 viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 2B shows the push button switch 10 turned upside down and viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the push button switch 10. FIG. 3A is a view of the push button switch 10 viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 3B is a view of the push button switch 10 turned upside down and viewed obliquely from above. 4A and 4B are external perspective views of the base 40 for explaining the base 40. FIG. 4A is a state in which the spring 31, the shaft 32, the solenoid 50, and the like are assembled, and FIG. 4B is a base before they are assembled. It is a 40 unit state.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the push button switch 10 is disposed between the base 40 attached to the slot machine 1, the button operation unit 20 to be pressed, and the base 40 and the button operation unit 20. A plurality of springs (elastic members) 31, a shaft (guide shaft) 32, and a solenoid (production component) 50 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the base 40 is a bottomed cylindrical resin molded product, and the outer periphery of the disk-shaped button operation unit 20 slides inside the cylindrical portion 41. An opening 42 a for attaching the solenoid 50 is formed at the center of the bottom surface 42 of the base 40. The solenoid 50 is fixed with a screw or the like in a state where the lower side protrudes from the opening 42a (see FIG. 2B). The solenoid 50 comes into contact with the pressed button operation unit 20 and vibrates the button operation unit 20.

  An attachment hole 42 b for attaching the shaft 32 is formed on the bottom surface 42 of the base 40. The shaft 32 is fixed to the mounting hole 42b with a screw 37 from the back side. Further, a rib 42c for stably mounting the spring 31 is formed around the mounting hole 42b. The spring 31 is loosely mounted on the fixed shaft 32 and is stably placed inside the rib 42c.

  Further, a fixing portion 42 d is formed on the bottom surface 42 of the base 40 to hold the base 40 and a lens portion 22 (described later) of the button operation unit 20 at a predetermined interval. The fixing portion 42d is formed with a screw hole through which a screw 38 for fixing the base 40 and the lens portion 22 is inserted.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the bottom cover 23 of the button operation unit 20 is provided with a spacer member 33 on which the shaft 32 can slide. A hole 33a is formed in the spacer member 33, and an insertion hole 36 into which the shaft 32 is inserted is formed in the hole 33a. The insertion hole 36, the shaft 32, and the spring 31 support the button operation unit 20 so that the button operation unit 20 can be pressed against the base 40, and the pushed-up state holding unit 30 is configured so that the pressed button operation unit 20 is in a state before being pressed. Has been. In the present embodiment, four push-up state holding units 30 are provided around the solenoid 50 disposed in the center of the button operation unit 20.

  5A and 5B are exploded perspective views of the button operation unit 20. FIG. 5A shows the button operation unit 20 viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 5B shows the button operation unit 20 turned upside down and viewed from diagonally above. As shown in FIG. 5, the button operation unit 20 includes a bottomed cylindrical button cover 21, a lens unit 22 disposed on the inside thereof, and a bottom cover (plate-like member) fitted to the bottom of the button cover 21. 23).

  The button cover 21 is a bottomed cylindrical resin molded product, and a top surface 21a corresponding to the bottom of the bottomed cylinder is made of a transparent or light transmissive member. A cylindrical portion 24 extending from the periphery of the top surface 21a slides on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 41 on the base 40 side. The button cover 21 is snap-fit engaged with the bottom cover 23 with the lens portion 22 sandwiched therebetween, and moves together.

  The lens unit 22 includes a lens 22a and a lens base 22b attached to the outer periphery thereof, and the lens base 22b and the base 40 are fixed by a screw 38 inserted from the back side of the base 40 via a fixing unit 42d ( (See FIG. 3). A predetermined interval is maintained between the lens unit 22 and the bottom surface 42 of the base 40 by interposing the fixing unit 42d. The integrated button cover 21 and bottom cover 23 move up and down within the interval. In order to facilitate assembly, the lens portion 22 is snap-fit engaged with the bottom cover 23 so as to be movable up and down.

  The bottom cover 23 is a circular resin molded product that covers the bottom side of the button cover 21. At the center of the bottom cover 23, an abutting portion 23a that comes into contact with the solenoid 50 attached to the base 40 side when the button operating portion 20 is pressed is formed. In addition, a spacer member 33 constituting the above-described push-up state holding unit 30 is attached to the periphery of the contact portion 23a in the bottom cover 23, and a hole 23f through which the fixing portion 42d passes is formed.

[Configuration of Push-Up State Holding Unit 30]
6A and 6B are exploded perspective views of the bottom cover 23. FIG. 6A shows the bottom cover 23 as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 6B shows the bottom cover 23 as viewed from obliquely upward. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the spacer member 33 attached to the bottom cover 23. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing the main part of the bottom cover 23 in a state where the spacer member 33 is attached. FIG. 8A is an oblique view of the back side of the bottom cover 23, and FIG. (C) has each looked at the back side of the bottom cover 23 from the front, (d) is the sectional view on the AA line of (c).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the spacer member 33 has a cylindrical portion (tubular portion) 33 b extending in the axial direction of the shaft 32. The hole 33a of the cylindrical portion 33b corresponds to the insertion hole 36 in which the shaft 32 can slide. A flange portion 33c that extends in a plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft 32 and has a circular shape when viewed from the axial direction is formed at a substantially central portion of the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 33b. A rib 33d extending to the end of the cylindrical portion 33b is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 33b on one side of the flange portion 33c. Such a spacer member 33 is also a resin molded product. As shown in FIG. 6, the spacer member 33 is attached to the bottom cover 23 from the back surface side (side facing the base 40).

  A hole 23b into which the cylindrical portion 33b of the spacer member 33 is loosely inserted is provided on the back surface of the bottom cover 23, and a circular recess 23c into which the flange portion 33c of the spacer member 33 is loosely fitted is provided around the hole 23b. ing. In the spacer member 33, the cylindrical portion 33b is loosely inserted into the hole portion 23b, and the flange portion 33c is loosely fitted into the concave portion 23c.

  As shown in FIG. 8D, there is a hole 33a (between the outer periphery (outer peripheral surface) of the flange portion 33c of the spacer member 33 and the inner periphery (inner peripheral surface) of the circular recess 23c of the bottom cover 23. The distance on the straight line passing through the center of the insertion hole 36), for example, has a gap of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm. Similarly, a straight line passing through the center of the hole 33a (insertion hole 36) between the outer periphery (outer peripheral surface) of the cylindrical portion 33b of the spacer member 33 and the inner periphery (inner peripheral surface) of the hole 23b of the bottom cover 23. At the upper distance, there is a gap of about 0.6 to 0.8 mm.

  Thereby, the spacer member 33 can move in a plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft 32 within a distance of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm corresponding to the gap.

  Further, in order to facilitate assembly, as shown in FIG. 8, a circular rib 23d surrounding the outer periphery of the recess 23c is formed on the back surface of the bottom cover 23, and the rib 23d is cut away to thereby form a spacer member. A pair of claw portions 23e for snap-fitting 33 is formed. The claw portion 23e is configured to engage with the spacer member 33 without hindering movement of the spacer member 33 in the surface direction within the recess 23c. However, when the ease of assembly is not taken into consideration, it is not necessary to attach the spacer member 33 to the bottom cover 23, and it is sufficient to assemble so as to be movable in the recess 23c.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which only the bottom cover 23 of the button operation unit 20 is fitted to the base 40. As shown in FIG. 9, the bottom cover 23 is assembled to the base 40 so that the shaft 32 of the base 40 penetrates into the insertion hole 36 that is the hole 33 a of the spacer member 33. At this time, the position difference between the shaft 32 on the base 40 side and the insertion hole 36 on the bottom cover 23 side causes the spacer 32 to move within a distance of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm corresponding to the gap. Absorbs by moving in the plane direction perpendicular to the axial direction of

  As a result, even if the push button switch 10 is further increased in size, even if the base 40 and the bottom cover 23 on the button operation unit 20 side are formed from conventional resin molded products, the shaft 32 and the bottom on the base 40 side are formed. Problems such as a decrease in yield due to poor assembly and a decrease in operational feeling due to a deterioration in the slidability of the button operation unit 20 due to a positional shift from the insertion hole 36 on the cover 23 side can be solved.

  In a configuration in which only one set of the shaft 32 on the base 40 side and the insertion hole 36 on the button operation unit 20 side in which the shaft 32 is inserted is provided, the mounting hole 42b on the base 40 side and the button provided corresponding thereto Even if there is a slight misalignment with the insertion hole 36 on the operation unit 20 side, as long as the shaft 32 enters the insertion hole 36, assembly is possible. However, in a configuration in which a plurality of shafts 32 on the base 40 side and insertion holes 36 on the button operation unit 20 side are provided, the position is between the mounting hole 42b on the base 40 side and the insertion hole 36 on the button operation unit 20 side. If there is a misalignment, the shaft 32 can be inserted into the insertion hole 36 for one set, but cannot be inserted in the other set, making assembly impossible. As a result, the base 40 and the button operation unit 20 become defective, and the yield decreases. Moreover, even if it can be assembled, it is difficult for all the shafts 32 and the insertion holes 36 to ensure good slidability.

[Operation of push button switch 10]
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the push button switch 10 for explaining the state of the push button switch 10 before the push operation (push-up position). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the push button switch 10 for explaining the state of the push button switch 10 after the push operation (pressed position).

  When the button operation unit 20 is pressed, the spring 31 is pressed and compressed by the flange portion 33c of the spacer member 33 attached to the bottom cover 23 as shown in FIG. At this time, although the elastic force of the spring 31 is applied to the spacer member 33, the concave portion 23c of the bottom cover 23 into which the flange portion 33c of the spacer member 33 is loosely fitted is formed on the surface to which the elastic force is applied. Since the spacer member 33 abuts against the bottom cover 23, it is possible to effectively avoid the occurrence of a situation in which the spacer member 33 is pulled out by the elastic force.

  Further, when the button operation unit 20 is pressed, the lens unit 22 fixed to the base 40 holds the position before the pressing operation. When the pressing operation is released, the button operation unit 20 is lifted by the elastic force of the compressed spring 31 and returns to the state shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the shaft 40 is provided in the base 40, the insertion hole 36 is provided in the button operation unit 20, the spacer member 33 is provided in the button operation unit 20, and the insertion hole 36 is formed in the spacer member 33. A configuration including the formed holes 33a is illustrated. However, the spacer member 33 may be disposed on the base 40 side, the hole 33a formed in the spacer member 33 may function as the attachment hole 42b, and the shaft 32 may be fixed to the hole 33a.

  Further, the insertion hole 36 is provided in the base 40, the shaft 32 is provided in the button operation unit 20, the spacer member 33 is disposed in either the base 40 or the button operation unit 20, and the hole 33a of the spacer member 33 is The structure which functions as the insertion hole 36 or the attachment hole 42b of the shaft 32 may be sufficient. Furthermore, the spacer member 33 can be provided in both the base 40 and the button operation unit 20, and the positional deviation can be absorbed by both the insertion hole 36 and the shaft 32 to cope with a larger dimensional error. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the pushed-up state holding units 30 are disposed at the four positions on the outer peripheral side of the solenoid 50 is illustrated, but it is only necessary to be distributed at three or more positions. The greater the number of push-up state holding units 30, the better the operational feeling of the push operation of the button operation unit 20.

  By the way, when the push button switch becomes large, even if it is configured to provide only one insertion hole 36 and shaft 32 of the push-up state holding unit 30 at the center of the push button switch, Problems such as assembly failure and deterioration of slidability of the button operation unit 20 occur. This is because as the diameter of the shaft 32 and the insertion hole 36 increases, the dimensional accuracy deteriorates in proportion to the size. Therefore, even in such a case, the above-described problems can be solved by configuring at least one of the shaft 32 or the insertion hole 36 using the spacer member 33 described above.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be applied to a push button switch provided in a gaming machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine 10 Pushbutton switch 20 Button operation part 21 Button cover 22 Lens part 23 Bottom cover (plate-shaped member)
23b Hole portion 23c Recessed portion 23d Rib 23e Claw portion 23f Hole portion 24 Cylindrical portion 30 Push-up state holding portion 31 Spring (elastic member)
32 Shaft (guide shaft)
33 Spacer member 33a Hole 33b Cylindrical part 33c Flange part 36 Insertion hole 40 Base 42b Mounting hole 50 Solenoid (production parts)

Claims (5)

A push button switch that is provided on a gaming machine and includes a base that is fixed to the gaming machine side, and a button operation unit that is slidably engaged with the base.
A guide shaft provided on either the base or the button operation unit;
An insertion hole provided in any one of the above, and into which the guide shaft is slidably inserted;
An elastic member disposed between the base and the button operation unit;
Production parts arranged in the center of the base,
A spacer member disposed on at least one of the base and the button operation unit so as to be movable a predetermined distance in a surface direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide shaft;
A hole serving as the insertion hole or a shaft serving as the guide shaft is formed at the center of the spacer member, and
The push button switch, wherein the guide shaft, the insertion hole, and the spacer member are distributed around the effect component. The spacer member is
A cylindrical portion extending in the axial direction of the guide shaft;
2. The push button switch according to claim 1, further comprising: a flange portion formed on an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, extending in a plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and having a circular shape when viewed from the axial direction. . The base or the button operation unit has a plate-like member to which the spacer member is attached,
The plate-like member is provided with a hole portion into which the tubular portion is loosely inserted and a circular recess portion into which the flange portion is loosely fitted,
The push button switch according to claim 2, wherein the spacer member has the tubular portion loosely inserted into the hole portion and the flange portion is loosely fitted into the recess.   4. The push button switch according to claim 3, wherein the concave portion is formed on a surface of the plate-like member on a side to which an elastic force of the elastic member is applied when the button operation unit is pressed. 5. The guide shaft is provided on the base;
The insertion hole is provided in the button operation unit,
The spacer member is disposed in the button operation unit,
The push button switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insertion hole is a hole formed in the spacer member.

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