JP6447490B2 - Push button switch and gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a push button switch and a gaming machine equipped with the same.

  Conventionally, a gaming machine called a slot machine is known, and the slot machine is played by a plurality of reels on which a plurality of types of symbols are displayed, and the arrangement of the symbols when stopped and the symbols that are arranged. Determine and give a prize according to the role and the number of bets.

  The reel rotation is started by pressing a button provided in the slot machine. In recent years, this button has been devised to attract customers by appealing to players in order to secure superiority over competing other casinos. Specifically, as in Patent Document 1, a configuration for performing vertical movement control between a position where the button switch is greatly protruded with respect to the gaming machine main body and a position where the button switch is pulled into the gaming main body, as in Non-patent Literature 1. There is known a configuration in which a nameplate and a light emitting diode (LED) are disposed in a transparent button cover, and a configuration in which a liquid crystal display device is disposed in a transparent button cover as in Non-Patent Document 2.

JP, 2011-135907, A

Gamesman, "GPB 1280 Push Button Product Specification", [online], September 10, 2013, [December 10, 2015 Search], <URL: www.gamesman.co.uk/pdf/GPB110.pdf> nkk switches, "ISC15ANP4", [online], [search December 10, 2015], <URL: www.nkkswitches.com/pdf/ISC15ANP4.pdf>

  However, the prior art as described above enlarges the area by mounting various functions on the button. Therefore, there is a problem that the thickness dimension becomes large so that the button can be stably pressed and slid.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is a push button switch which can be thinned and stably pressed even when the button is enlarged in area, and a game provided with the same To realize the machine.

  In order to solve the above problems, the push button switch of the present invention is a case, a push button fitted to the case, and a support member accommodated in the case, the lower end of the push button A support member for supporting the portion from below from below with respect to the bottom of the case, the support member being movable along the axial direction with the forward and backward directions of the push button as the axial direction; A slide shaft biased in the pressing direction of the push button; and a plurality of swing arms extending in the radial direction of the slide shaft and having one end coupled to the slide shaft so as to be pivotable in the forward and backward direction The plurality of swing arms uniformly support the edge of the push button at the other end, and each of the plurality of swing arms is at a bending portion between the one end and the other end. Te, wherein the other end bent so as to face said push button, wherein the case includes a support portion to which the swing arm supports the rotatably the bent portion to the forward and backward direction.

  According to the above configuration, when the push button is pressed, the push button is pressed, whereby the plurality of swing arms are pressed from the upper side. Thus, the bending portion of the plurality of swing arms becomes a rotation axis by the support portion, the other end of the plurality of swing arms is lowered, and the root (the one end) of the plurality of swing arms is raised. It is pulled up. Here, even if the push button is depressed at a point or an end away from the center, any of the plurality of swing arms is pushed down and the slide shaft is pulled up by the movement, so the movement of the slide shaft The other swing arms are simultaneously pushed down in conjunction with the.

  On the other hand, when the pressing of the push button is released, the slide shaft is lowered by the biasing, so that the ends of the plurality of swing arms are raised with the bent portion as the rotation axis, and the roots of the plurality of swing arms are lowered. Raise the push button.

  Therefore, even if the push button is depressed and the plurality of swing arms are released, since they are always moved up and down while supporting the push button, a stable depressing operation becomes possible. Thus, it is possible to provide a push button switch that can be thinned and stably pressed even with a button whose area is enlarged.

  Further, the push button switch of the present invention further includes a sound generation unit that generates a sound when the push button is pressed.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to feel the sense that the push button has been pressed by sound.

  The push button switch according to the present invention further includes a support piece moving integrally with the slide shaft, the support piece supporting the lower end of the sound generation unit from below, and the sound generation unit is an upper end Is attached to the outer surface of the bottom of the case, and the slide shaft is moved in the direction opposite to the pressing direction by pressing the push button, and a sound is generated by pressing between the bottom of the case and the support piece. It can be made to generate.

  Further, in the push button switch according to the present invention, a plurality of the sound generation parts are stacked and provided between the bottom of the case and the support piece.

  According to the above configuration, the player can obtain a plurality of click sensations by the plurality of sound generation units sounding continuously.

  The present invention has an effect that it is possible to make a thin and stable pressing operation even with a button having a large area.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the push button switch in this Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the push button switch in this Embodiment. It is a perspective view showing an example of a support member. It is a figure which shows the structure of a tactile switch. It is a perspective view which shows the cross section of a tactile switch. It is a figure which shows the movement of a pushbutton switch.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description about them will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 includes a reel unit 2 disposed at the top of the housing, a bill insertion slot 4, a ticket payout outlet 5, and a switch unit 6 disposed near the reel unit 2. And The slot machine 1 discharges the ticket from the ticket payout outlet 5 when the bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 4 and the conditions for receiving an award during the play are satisfied after the end of the play.

  The reel unit 2 includes a plurality of reels provided side by side, and the play is started by the rotation of the reel according to the instruction of the player. A plurality of types of symbols are shown on the reels, and the player can receive an award according to the role specified by the alignment of the symbols when all the reels stop by automatic control. The reel unit 2 may include the reel itself, or may be configured to be displayed on the display screen 3 as the reel.

  The switch unit 6 receives an operation from the player. Specifically, the switch unit 6 includes a button for setting increase and decrease of the bet number at the time of play, a settlement button, a return button, and a push button switch 10 for starting rotation of the reel.

  2A and 2B are external perspective views of the push button switch in the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the push button switch in the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIG. 3, the push button switch 10 has a substantially dome shape, and the support member 140, the slider (plate-like member) 130, the LED substrate base 120, and the LED substrate 110. , A dome-shaped light guide plate (inner side) 103, a dome-shaped light guide plate (outer side) 102, and a push button upper portion 101 are housed in this order, a coil spring unit 160, a plurality of tactile switches 171, and a plurality of tactile switches 171 And a tactile switch holder 173 for accommodating the

  The LED substrate 110 and the LED substrate base 120 are disposed in a stacked manner. The dome-shaped light guide plate (outside) 102 and the dome-shaped light guide plate (inner side) 103 are formed of a translucent material such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate, for example, and the light of the LED provided on the LED substrate 110 from the light incident surface It is introduced inside and emitted from the light exit surface. The LED substrate 110 is provided with two rows of LEDs in an annular manner so as to face the lower end surfaces (light incident surfaces) of the dome-shaped light guide plate (outside) 102 and the dome-shaped light guide plate (inner side) 103. Also, the dome-shaped light guide plate (outside) 102 and the dome-shaped light guide plate (inner side) 103 are fixed to the LED substrate 110.

  Further, the LED substrate base 120 is provided with a plurality of shafts 120 a around the side opposite to the side on which the LED substrate 110 is provided, and the shafts 120 a are fixed to the bottom of the case 150. Specifically, the ends of the plurality of shafts 120 a of the LED substrate base 120 are fitted into the recesses 150 a provided on the inner surface side of the bottom of the case 150.

  The push button upper part 101 is a transparent or semi-transparent covering member, and enables light to be transmitted by transmitting light emitted from the dome-shaped light guide plate (outside) 102 and the dome-shaped light guide plate (inner side) 103. . The push button upper portion 101 provides a space between it and the dome-shaped light guide plate (outside) 102 to cover the dome-shaped light guide plate (outer side) 102, and the lower end is disposed at the edge of the upper surface of the slider 130. The push button upper part 101 is engaged with the engagement hole 101 a provided on the side surface by engaging the engagement claw 130 a cut out slightly inside the edge of the slider 130 from the inner surface side of the push button upper part 101. It is fixed to 130. Thus, the push button upper part 101 and the slider 130 integrally constitute a push button.

  The slider 130 is provided with a plurality of shaft insertion holes 130 b into which the shafts 120 a are inserted corresponding to the plurality of shafts 120 a of the LED substrate base 120, and the sliders 130 slide against the plurality of shafts 120 a of the LED substrate base 120. It is movable. Therefore, when the push button upper part 101 is pressed, the slider 130 integrated with the push button upper part 101 becomes movable downward.

  Further, the support member 140 is disposed between the slider 130 and the bottom of the case 150 to support the slider 130 and the push button upper part 101 from below.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the support member. Referring also to FIG. 4, the support member 140 is a member that supports the slider 130 in a saucer-like shape, and includes a slide shaft 141 and a plurality of swing arms 143. The plurality of swing arms 143 are swingably attached so as to extend in the radial direction of the slide shaft 141 at the coupling portion 141 a at one end with the slide shaft 141 as an intermediate shaft. The slide shaft 141 is inserted from the other end into a hole 150 b provided at the center of the bottom of the case 150, and a portion thereof protrudes outside the bottom of the case 150.

  Each of the plurality of swing arms 143 has a horizontal portion 143a including a coupling portion with the slide shaft 141, and an inclined portion 143b supporting the slider 130 by an end portion. The horizontal portion 143a extends substantially horizontally (substantially perpendicular to the slide shaft 141) from the joint portion of the slide shaft 141, ends at the horizontal portion 143a, and is bent at the bending portion 143c, from which the inclined portion 143b extends. . The inclined portion 143 b is gently inclined toward the slider 130 with respect to the horizontal portion 143 a.

  Further, the bent portion 143 c is rotatably supported by a support portion 150 c provided on the inner surface side of the bottom portion of the case 150.

  Returning to FIG. 3, on the outer surface side of the bottom of the case 150, a coil spring unit 160 and a tactile switch holder 173 for accommodating a plurality of tactile switches 171 are provided. A portion of the slide shaft 141 that protrudes to the outside of the bottom of the case 150 is accommodated in the coil spring unit 160. The coil spring unit 160 includes a coil spring 161, a coil spring stopper (elastic support member) 163, and a coil spring case 165.

  The coil spring case 165 accommodates the tactile switch holder 173 together with the coil spring 161, the coil spring stopper 163 and a part of the slide shaft 141. Also, the coil spring case 165 has a shaft insertion hole 165a (see FIG. 7) in the bottom portion in which the other end of the slide shaft 141 is slidably inserted.

  The coil spring stopper 163 is a substantially cylindrical member, has a spring receiving portion 163 a having a diameter larger than that of the main body on the outer peripheral surface of one end, and the spring receiving portion 163 a side is disposed at the bottom of the coil spring case 165. The coil spring 161 is inserted between the coil spring stopper 163 and disposed between the spring receiving portion 163 a of the coil spring stopper 163 and the outer surface of the bottom of the case 150.

  Further, the coil spring stopper 163 is formed with a shaft through hole 163 b through which a portion of the slide shaft 141 protruding from the case 150 is penetrated. Then, after the slide shaft 141 penetrates the shaft through hole 163b, the slide shaft 141 is fixed by attaching a fastener (not shown) to the circumferential groove 141b (see FIGS. 4 and 7) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the slide shaft 141. The coil spring stopper 163 is fixed at a predetermined position.

  Further, the coil spring stopper 163 has a pressing portion (supporting piece) 163c extending in the radial direction from the spring receiving portion 163a, and the pressing portion 163c is disposed between the bottom of the tactile switch holder 173 and the bottom of the coil spring case 165. Ru. The tactile switch holder 173 is a hollow rectangular member open at both ends, and the upper end is attached to the outer surface of the case 150. In addition, the tactile switch holder 173 has a plurality of tactile switches (sound generating units) 171 stacked inside, the uppermost tactile switch 171 is attached to the outer surface of the case 150, and the lowermost tactile switch 171 is a pressing portion 163c. And abut.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the tactile switch. FIG. 5A is an external perspective view of the tactile switch, and FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view of the tactile switch. The tactile switch 171 is a switch for switching ON / OFF by pressing. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a pushing piece 171a having a projection and a dome-shaped dome spring 171b provided so that the projection of the pushing piece 171a abuts on the upper surface are accommodated in the housing 171c, It is covered by the covering member 171 d.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cross section of the tactile switch. FIG. 6 (a) shows a state in which the pressing piece is not pressed, and FIG. 6 (b) shows a state in which the pressing piece is pressed. When the pushing piece 171a is pressed as shown in FIG. 6B, the tactile switch 171 is deformed by the dome spring 171b being pushed by the projection of the pushing piece 171a. At this time, a beeping sound is heard. In the present embodiment, the tactile switch 171 is not used for the purpose of electrically switching ON / OFF, but uses this sound.

  Next, the movement of the push button switch 10 will be described. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the push button switch is not pressed, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the push button switch is pressed.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the push button upper part 101 is pressed, the slider 130 is pressed down, whereby the plurality of swing arms 143 are pressed from the upper side. As a result, for each of the plurality of swing arms 143, the bent portion 143c is supported by the support portion 150c at the bottom of the case 150 to become a rotation shaft, and the inclined portion 143b is pushed down and the slide shaft 141 is pulled up. Here, even if the push button upper part 101 is depressed at a position or an end away from the center, if any of the plurality of swing arms 143 is pushed down, the slide shaft 141 is pulled up by the movement. In conjunction with the movement of the slide shaft 141, the inclined portions 143b of the other swing arms 143 are simultaneously pushed down.

  On the other hand, when the pressing of the push button upper part 101 is released, the return of the coil spring 161 pushes down the coil spring stopper 163 and also pushes down the slide shaft 141 engaged therewith. Then, the inclined portions 143b of the plurality of swing arms 143 are raised with the bent portion 143c as a rotation axis.

  Therefore, the plurality of swing arms 143 always operate simultaneously, and the load acts on the slider 130 in a distributed manner, so the slider 130 moves up and down in parallel. This enables stable pressing operation.

  Further, when the push button switch 10 is pressed, the coil spring stopper 163 is also pulled up as the slide shaft 141 is pulled up, so that the plurality of tactile switches 171 is held between the outer surface of the bottom of the case 150 and the pressing portion 163c. Press with. At this time, since the shapes of the plurality of tactile switches 171 are not completely the same due to a manufacturing error or the like, a shift occurs in the timing at which the dome spring 171 b is deformed. Thus, each tactile switch 171 can be continuously sounded. That is, the player can obtain a plurality of click feeling by one pressing operation of the push button.

  As described above, the push button switch 10 in the present embodiment is the case 150, the push button upper portion 101 fitted to the case 150, and a support member housed in the case 150, and the push button switch A support member 140 for supporting the lower end of the case 10 from below with respect to the bottom of the case 150, the support member 140 being axially slidable in the shaft insertion hole 150b at the bottom of the case 150 The plurality of swing arms 143 include a slide shaft 141 inserted and biased in the pressing direction of the push button upper portion 101, and a plurality of swing arms 143 coupled to extend in the radial direction of the slide shaft 141. Support the edge of the upper part of the push button 101 equally and indirectly at the end, and It is bent at the bending portion 143c between it and the contact portion with the button top 101 and inclined toward the push button upper portion 101, and the bending portion 143c is rotatably supported by the support portion 150c at the bottom of the case 150 There is.

  According to this configuration, when the push button upper part 101 is pressed, the plurality of swing arms 143 are pressed from the upper side. As a result, the bent portions 143c of the plurality of swing arms 143 are supported by the support portion 150c at the bottom of the case 150, and the end portions of the plurality of swing arms 143 are lowered. The slide shaft 141 is pulled up by raising the base of the.

  Even if the push button upper portion 101 is depressed at a point or an end away from the center, if any of the plurality of swing arms 143 is depressed, the slide shaft 141 is pulled up by the movement, so the slide shaft In conjunction with the movement of 141, the other swing arms 143 are simultaneously pushed down. Therefore, since the plurality of swing arms 143 always operate simultaneously and the load acts on the push button upper part 101 in a distributed manner, the push button upper part 101 moves in parallel in the pressing direction. As a result, the area is increased, and a stable pressing operation becomes possible even with a thin button.

1 slot machine 10 push button switch 101 push button upper portion 130 slider 140 support member 141 slide shaft 143 swing arm 150 case 150 c support portion 160 coil spring unit 161 coil spring 163 coil spring stopper 163 c pressing portion (support piece)
171 Tactile switch (sound generator)

Claims (2)

With the case,
A push button fitted to the case;
Accommodated in the casing, and the lower end portion of the push button, movably and a support member for supporting from below against the bottom of the case,
The support member is
A slide shaft which is movable in the axial direction with the forward and backward directions of the push button as the axial direction, and is biased in the push direction of the push button;
And a plurality of swing arms extending in the radial direction of the slide shaft and swingably coupled to the slide shaft in the advancing and retracting direction.
The plurality of swing arms uniformly support the edge of the push button at the other end, and each of the plurality of swing arms has the other end at a bending portion between the one end and the other end. Bent to face the push button,
The case includes a support portion for supporting the bent portion so that the swing arm can pivot in the advancing and retracting direction .
While further comprising a sound generation unit that generates a sound when the push button is pressed,
The apparatus further comprises a support piece moving integrally with the slide shaft,
The support piece supports the lower end of the sound generation unit from below,
The upper end of the sound generating unit is attached to the outer surface of the bottom of the case, and the slide shaft moves in the direction opposite to the pressing direction by pressing the push button, and between the bottom of the case and the support piece A push button switch characterized by generating a sound by being pressed . 2. The push button switch according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the sound generation units are stacked and provided between the bottom of the case and the support piece.

Images