JP7279925B2 - Game machine operating device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device for a game machine, in which a rotating ring can be rotated with respect to a base member.

2. Description of the Related Art A game machine such as a pachinko game machine uses an operation handle for shooting game balls into a game area by a player's operation, as well as various operation devices operated by the player. In the operation handle, a rotating ring is rotatably arranged with respect to the base member, and when the rotating ring is rotated by the player, a game ball is shot from the ball shooting device into the game area. be.

A volume (variable resistor) is arranged in the base member to rotate in response to the operation of the rotating ring by the player and to detect the amount of rotation of the rotating ring. Also, a small gap is formed between the base member and the rotatable ring to permit the rotatable operation of the rotatable ring. By forming this gap, the rotating ring can be slightly inclined with respect to the base member. Therefore, some measures have been taken to prevent excessive load from being applied to the volume when the rotating ring is tilted.

For example, in the rotary shaft connection structure and joint member disclosed in Patent Document 1, a joint member is provided between the driving side rotary shaft of the handle lever corresponding to the rotating ring and the driven side rotary shaft of the volume. are placed. Then, the handle lever can be slightly tilted with respect to the joint member, and the joint member can be tilted slightly with respect to the volume.

JP 2011-064239 A

The manner in which the player operates the rotatable ring differs from player to player, and there are cases where a coin or the like is inserted into the gap between the rotatable ring and the base member to twist the rotatable ring. At this time, it is assumed that the load due to the operation of prying the rotating ring may be transmitted to the volume via the joint member. Therefore, there is still room for further improvement in the manner of engagement between the rotating ring and the joint member and the manner of engagement between the joint member and the volume.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent unnecessary load from being transmitted from the rotating ring to the driven shaft portion of the driven member while maintaining good rotational operability of the rotating ring. It was obtained by trying to provide an operation device for a game machine that can

One aspect of the present invention provides a base member,
a rotating ring disposed so as to be rotatable about the center of rotation with respect to the base member;
a driven member disposed on the base member and having a driven shaft portion that rotates in response to a rotation operation of the rotation ring;
an engaging member that engages with the rotation center portion of the rotation ring and the driven shaft portion of the driven member;
A portion of the engaging member that engages with the rotation central portion extends outward in the radial direction of the engaging member to transmit the rotating operation of the rotating ring to the engaging member. An extension is formed for
Side surfaces of the extending portion located on both sides in the circumferential direction of the engaging member are formed as curved surfaces that protrude in the circumferential direction of the engaging member when viewed from the radial direction of the engaging member,
The extending portions are formed in a pair so as to protrude on both sides in the radial direction of the engaging member,
Between the rotating ring and the engaging member, there is provided a gap that allows the rotating ring to be displaced along the direction in which the extending portion of the engaging member is formed. To provide an operation device for a game machine , in which a clearance is formed to allow tilting in a direction in which a projecting portion is formed .

In the operating device for the gaming machine of the one aspect, the shape of the engaging member that engages with the rotation center portion of the rotation ring and the driven shaft portion of the driven member is devised. Specifically, an extension portion that extends outward in the radial direction of the engagement member is formed at a portion of the engagement member that engages with the rotation central portion. Side surfaces of the extending portion located on both sides in the circumferential direction of the engaging member are formed as curved surfaces protruding in the circumferential direction of the engaging member when viewed from the radial direction of the engaging member.

Then, for example, when the rotating ring is twisted by the player through a gap formed between the base member and the rotating ring, the rotating ring has the diameter of the engaging member at the extending portion. When viewed from the direction, it is possible to tilt while sliding using the side surface of the engaging member as a curved surface that protrudes in the circumferential direction. As a result, it is possible to prevent the load generated when the rotating ring is improperly twisted from being transmitted to the driven shaft portion of the driven member via the engaging member.

On the other hand, the force for rotating the rotating ring is transmitted to the engaging member through contact engagement between the rotating central portion of the rotating ring and the convex curved surfaces on both side surfaces of the extending portion. from the member to the driven shaft portion of the driven member. As a result, it is possible to maintain good rotational operability of the rotational ring.

Therefore, according to the game machine operation device of the above aspect, the rotation operability of the rotation ring is maintained satisfactorily, and unnecessary load is not transmitted from the rotation ring to the driven shaft portion of the driven member. can do.

1 is a perspective view showing an operation device of a game machine according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a back view showing the periphery of the rotating ring, the engaging member, etc. in the operation device of the game machine according to the embodiment, viewed from the back side of the rotating ring. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the operating device of the game machine according to the embodiment, with a cross section taken along the formation direction of the pair of extending portions of the engaging member. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the periphery of the main part of the operating device of the game machine according to the embodiment, enlarged by a cross section along the formation direction of the chamfered plane of the driven shaft part of the driven member. Explanatory drawing which expands and shows the circumference|surroundings of the engagement part of the rotation ring and engagement member in the operating device of the game machine concerning embodiment. Explanatory drawing which expands and shows the circumference|surroundings of the latching protrusion of the rotation ring in the operating device of the game machine concerning embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the gaming machine in which the operating device is arranged, as viewed from the front of the gaming machine according to the embodiment;

A preferred embodiment of the game machine operation device described above will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Embodiment>
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the operating device 1 of the gaming machine 6 of this embodiment can be rotated by the player. The operating device 1 comprises a base member 2 , a rotating ring 3 , a driven member 5 and an engaging member 4 . The base member 2 is fixed to the gaming machine 6 . The rotating ring 3 is arranged so as to be rotatable around a rotating central portion 31 with respect to the base member 2 . The driven member 5 is arranged on the base member 2 and has a driven shaft portion 51 that rotates when the rotation ring 3 is rotated. The engaging member 4 is engaged with the rotation center portion 31 of the rotation ring 3 and the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 .

A portion of the engaging member 4 that engages with the pivoting central portion 31 is provided with a portion extending outward in the radial direction R of the engaging member 4 so that the pivoting operation of the rotating ring 3 can be applied to the engaging member 4 . An extension 42 is formed for transmission. Side surfaces 421 of the extending portion 42 located on both sides in the circumferential direction C of the engaging member 4 are formed as curved surfaces that protrude in the circumferential direction C of the engaging member 4 when viewed from the radial direction R of the engaging member 4 . It is

Here, FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the operating device 1 and also shows the arrangement of main parts in the operating device 1 . Components inside the operating device 1 are omitted as appropriate. FIG. 2 shows the surroundings of the rotating ring 3, the engaging member 4, etc., as seen from the base end side (back side) L2 in the axial direction L. As shown in FIG.

Below, the operation device 1 of the game machine 6 of this embodiment will be described in detail.
(Game machine 6)
As shown in FIG. 7, the gaming machine 6 of this embodiment is a pachinko gaming machine for playing games with pachinko balls as game balls. The game machine 6 includes a game board 61 on which games are played with game balls, a ball launcher 62 for launching game balls toward a game area of the game board 61, and a controller for adjusting the shooting intensity of the game balls by the ball launcher 62. It includes an operation device 1 as an operation handle, a ball tray 63 for storing game balls, and the like. The operating handle and the ball tray 63 are arranged on the front panel 60 located in front of the gaming machine 6 , and the operating handle is arranged on the right side of the ball tray 63 .

The operating device 1 of this embodiment is configured to adjust the shooting intensity when shooting a game ball from the ball shooting device 62 according to the rotation operation amount of the rotation ring 3 . The operation device 1 can be, for example, an effect input device for a player to perform an operation input for a game-related effect in the gaming machine 6, in addition to being an operation handle. Also, the operation device 1 can be various production devices in which a rotation operation is performed in the gaming machine 6 .

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 , in the gaming machine 6 of this embodiment, the axial direction L of the operating device 1 is oriented in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 6 . A distal end side L1 in the axial direction L of the operating device 1 is positioned forward in the longitudinal direction of the game machine 6, and a base end side L2 in the axial direction L of the operating device 1 is positioned rearward in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine 6. located on the side.

In the operating device 1, the center axes of the rotating ring 3, the engaging member 4, and the driven member 5 are arranged parallel to each other in a nearly coaxial manner. The axial direction L of the rotating ring 3, the engaging member 4 and the driven member 5 are the same. Also, the radial direction R and the circumferential direction C of the rotating ring 3, the engaging member 4 and the driven member 5 are the same.

(Base member 2)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the base member 2 is positioned on the base end side L2 of the rotating ring 3 in the axial direction L in the operating device 1 and attached to the front panel 60 of the game machine 6. and a cap 22 attached to a base 21 positioned on the distal end side L1 in the axial direction L of the rotation ring 3 in the operating device 1 . The cap 22 is attached to a plurality of struts 211 provided inside the base 21 . The cap 22 is formed in a hemispherical shape.

The cap 22 has a first cap portion 221 facing the tip side L1 in the axial direction L of the rotation center portion 31 of the rotation ring 3, and a hemispherical shape positioned on the tip side L1 in the axial direction L of the first cap portion 221. and a hemispherical third cap portion 223 positioned on the distal end side L1 in the axial direction L of the second cap portion 222 . As will be described later, the first to third cap portions 221, 222, 223 are made of a member that transmits light.

A firing stop member 11 and a firing stop switch 12 for stopping the shooting of game balls are arranged on the base 21 of the base member 2 when the rotation ring 3 is rotated. The operating portion of the firing stop member 11 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the rotating ring 3 . The firing stop switch 12 is configured to receive the operation of the firing stop member 11 and cut off the electrical signal of the game ball shot by the rotating operation of the rotating ring 3 .

(Driven member 5)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the driven member 5 of this embodiment is composed of a rotary volume (variable resistor). A driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 is configured by a volume operation portion. The volume changes the resistance value according to the amount of rotation operation of the operation section. When the rotating operation of the rotating ring 3 is received and the amount of rotating operation of the operation portion of the volume changes, the shooting intensity of the game ball by the ball shooting device 62 is adjusted.

The driven member 5 can also be various power transmission members arranged at the operation portion of the volume other than the volume. In this case, the power transmission member may be, for example, a method using two rotating shafts, a member provided coaxially with the operation portion of the volume, a member provided parallel to the central axis of the operation portion of the volume, and a gear or the like. It can be a member or the like that engages with the operating portion through the opening.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 has a shaft shape in which a chamfered plane 511 is formed on a part of the driven shaft portion 51 in the circumferential direction C. As shown in FIG. The shaft shape having the chamfered plane 511 is sometimes called a D-cut shape because it has a D-shaped cross section. The chamfered plane 511 is formed parallel to the axial direction L of the driven shaft portion 51 and is formed to transmit the torque of the driven shaft portion 51 .

(rotating ring 3)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of hooking projections 34 are formed on the outer periphery of the rotating ring 3 so as to protrude in the radial direction R and hook the fingers of the player. A spring 13 is arranged in the base 21 to bias the rotating ring 3 to the initial position 301 . The rotation ring 3 is configured to increase the shooting strength of the game ball by the ball shooting device 62 according to the amount of rotation to the right (clockwise) from the initial position 301 .

At a position adjacent to the base end side L2 in the axial direction L of the rotating ring 3 and on the outer peripheral side of the base 21 of the base member 2, there is a capacitance detection device for detecting that the player's hand has touched. A ring 14 is arranged. In the base 21, a capacitance sensor 15 is arranged which is electrically connected to the capacitance detection ring 14 and detects capacitance when the player's hand touches the capacitance detection ring 14. - 特許庁The capacitance sensor 15 functions as a human sensor that detects human contact.

The rotating ring 3 is provided with a central portion 35 formed with a rotating central portion 31 that engages with the engaging member 4, and a plurality of locking projections 34 connected to the outer peripheral side of the central portion 35. and an outer peripheral portion 36 . A hole 351 is formed between the central portion 35 and the outer peripheral portion 36 to accommodate the support 211 and the like of the base member 2 . The central side portion 35 and the outer peripheral side portion 36 are connected by a connecting portion 352 .

A guide groove 32 is formed on the surface of the base end side L2 in the axial direction L of the central portion 35 of the rotation ring 3 to guide the extension portion 42 of the engaging member 4 to slide in the forming direction R2. It is A pair of guide grooves 32 are formed to match the pair of extensions 42 of the engaging member 4 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, between the rotating ring 3 and the engaging member 4, the rotating ring 3 is displaceable along the formation direction R2 of the extending portion 42 of the engaging member 4. A gap S1 is formed. In other words, the rotating ring 3 and the engaging member 4 are formed between the wall portion 321 forming the guide groove 32 and the tip portion of the shaft portion 41 of the engaging member 4 in the rotating ring 3 . A gap S1 is formed to allow relative displacement (sliding) in the direction R2. The rotary ring 3 is slidable in the forming direction R2 with respect to the engagement member 4 according to the size of the gap S1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the rotation ring 3 extends from the engagement member 4 between the rear surface of the central portion 35 of the rotation ring 3 and the tip end surface of the shaft portion 41 of the engagement member 4. A gap S2 is formed to allow tilting with respect to the forming direction R2 of the projecting portion 42 . Between the rotating ring 3 and the cap 22 of the base member 2 and the capacitance detecting ring 14, the rotating ring 3 rotates with respect to the cap 22 of the base member 2 and the capacitance detecting ring 14. A gap is formed to allow for

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, cap shaft portions 224 and 225 formed at the center portion of the cap 22 of the base member 2 are located on the tip end side L1 of the rotation center portion 31 of the rotation ring 3 in the axial direction L. A ring shaft portion 33 arranged coaxially with is formed. The ring shaft portion 33 of this embodiment is formed in a tubular shape, and the cap shaft portions 224 , 225 are composed of an inner peripheral side shaft portion 224 and an outer peripheral side tubular portion 225 formed on the outer peripheral side of the inner peripheral side shaft portion 224 . is formed by The inner peripheral side shaft portion 224 is inserted into the tubular ring shaft portion 33 , and the ring shaft portion 33 is inserted into the outer peripheral side tubular portion 225 .

Between the ring shaft portion 33 , the inner peripheral side shaft portion 224 and the outer peripheral side cylinder portion 225 , there are minute small gaps for allowing the rotation ring 3 to rotate with respect to the first cap portion 221 of the cap 22 . A gap S3 is formed. As a result, the minute gap S3 formed to allow the rotation ring 3 to rotate allows the rotation ring 3 to be tilted.

In the operating device 1 of the present embodiment, gaps S2 and S3 are formed between the rotating ring 3 and the base member 2, the engaging member 4, and the capacitance detection ring 14 to allow the rotating ring 3 to tilt. Among them, the minute gap S3 between the cap 22 and the rotating ring 3 is the smallest. Therefore, the rotation ring 3 is allowed to tilt with respect to the axial direction L within the formation range of the minute gap S3. Further, after the rotation ring 3 tilts according to the size of the minute gap S3, the tilting is restricted by the ring shaft portion 33 coming into contact with the inner peripheral side shaft portion 224 or the outer peripheral side cylindrical portion 225. . In other words, the structure in which the ring shaft portion 33 abuts against the inner peripheral side shaft portion 224 or the outer peripheral side tubular portion 225 functions as a stopper that limits the tilting range of the rotating ring 3 .

(illumination structure)
As shown in FIG. 3, the first to third cap portions 221, 222, 223 and the rotary ring 3, which constitute the cap 22 of this embodiment, are made of a transparent or translucent resin material. The cap 22 and the rotating ring 3 function as light guides for guiding light. Inside the operating device 1 , in particular, at a position on the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral portion 36 of the rotating ring 3 , a light-emitting electronic substrate 16 is arranged.

A plurality of cap light emitting sources 161 such as light emitting diodes for causing the cap 22 to emit light are provided on the front end side L1 surface of the light emitting electronic substrate 16 in the axial direction L. As shown in FIG. The cap light source 161 is configured to emit light toward the cap 22 positioned on the front end side L1 of the game machine 6 .

As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of light emitting diodes or the like are provided on the surface of the base end side L2 in the axial direction L of the light emitting electronic substrate 16 for causing the outer peripheral portion 36 of the rotating ring 3 and the locking projection 34 to emit light. ring light source 162 is provided. The ring light source 162 is configured to emit the light X toward the outside of the light emitting electronic substrate 16 . The light X emitted from the ring light emitting source 162 is guided along the outer peripheral side portion 36 and the latching projection 34 of the rotary ring 3 located on the outer peripheral side of the operating device 1, and is guided along the outer peripheral side portion 36 and the locking projection 34 are illuminated.

As shown in FIG. 6, the hook projection 34 of the rotating ring 3 is formed in the shape of a light guide for making the light emitted from the ring light source 162 more intense. Some of the plurality of ring light emitting sources 162 are positioned in the game area of the game board 61 as the rotary ring 3 rotates clockwise from the initial position 301 when the rotary ring 3 is at the initial position 301 . In the state of being in the optimum rotation position 302 for shooting the game ball to the arranged start winning opening, and in the state of the rotation ring 3 being in the maximum rotation position 303, at the position facing the plurality of locking projections 34 are placed.

The initial position 301 of the rotary ring 3 is the position where the rotary operation amount is 0°, and the optimum rotary position 302 of the rotary ring 3 is the position where the rotary operation amount is about 60°. The maximum rotation position 303 can be a position where the amount of rotation operation is about 90°. The plurality of locking projections 34 of the rotating ring 3 are configured to emit more light when the rotating ring 3 is at the initial position 301 , the optimum rotating position 302 and the maximum rotating position 303 .

(Engaging member 4)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the engaging member 4 allows the rotating ring 3 to move in the radial direction R with respect to the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5, and moves the rotating ring 3 to the driven member 5. As shown in FIGS. It is configured as a member that can be tilted (tilted) in the axial direction L with respect to the driven shaft portion 51 of . The extending portions 42 of this embodiment are formed in a pair so as to protrude on both sides in the radial direction R at the distal end portion of the engaging member 4 . In other words, the engaging member 4 of this embodiment has a pair of extending portions 42 that protrude to both sides in the radial direction R at the distal end portion that engages with the pivoting center portion 31 of the pivoting ring 3 .

More specifically, the engaging member 4 includes a shaft portion 41 parallel to the axial direction L of the rotating ring 3 and the driven member 5, and a pair of shaft portions 41 projecting from the distal end portion of the shaft portion 41 to both sides in the radial direction R. and an extension 42 . A cylindrical portion 411 into which the driven shaft portion 51 is inserted is formed at a base end portion of the shaft portion 41 of the engaging member 4 , which is an engaging portion with the driven shaft portion 51 . The entire shaft portion 41 of this embodiment is formed as a cylindrical shaft portion. In addition, the distal end portion of the shaft portion 41 as the cylindrical shaft portion may be closed.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the cylindrical portion 411 is formed into a ring shape by a flat plate portion 412 parallel to the chamfered plane 511 of the driven shaft portion 51 and an arc portion 413 facing the outer peripheral surface of the driven shaft portion 51 . there is The width of the inner surface of the flat plate portion 412 of the tubular portion 411 in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction L is greater than the width of the chamfered plane 511 of the driven shaft portion 51 in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction L. The engaging member 4 is slidable in a direction parallel to the chamfered plane 511 of the driven shaft portion 51 and perpendicular to the axial direction L. As shown in FIG. Between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 411 and the driven shaft portion 51, the engaging member 4 is positioned in a direction parallel to the chamfered plane 511 and orthogonal to the axial direction L with respect to the driven shaft portion 51. A gap S4 is formed to allow for displacement (sliding).

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , side surfaces 421 located on both sides in the circumferential direction C of the pair of extensions 42 , in other words, side surfaces 421 on both sides orthogonal to the axial direction L It is formed as a curved surface that swells in a semicircular shape when viewed from the direction R. The side surface 421 is formed as a semicircular curved surface so that the rotating ring 3 can rotate (tilt) in the direction K1 about the central axis of the extending portion 42 . A cross section perpendicular to the forming direction R2 of the extending portion 42 is formed in an oval shape (also referred to as an elliptical shape or an elliptical shape) in which the short diameter portion is positioned in the axial direction L. As shown in FIG. The cross section orthogonal to the forming direction R2 of the extending portion 42 may be formed in, for example, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or the like, other than the oval shape.

The top of the side surface 421 formed by the semicircular curved surface of the pair of extending portions 42 and the side surface of the wall portion 321 of the guide groove 32 are in line contact along the radial direction R of the rotating ring 3 . When the rotating ring 3 is tilted in the direction K1 around the central axis of the extending portions 42 by the player, the apex of the side surfaces 421 of the pair of extending portions 42 and the side surface of the wall portion 321 of the guide groove 32 are aligned. can slide relatively smoothly. As a result, the force for tilting the rotating ring 3 can be prevented from being transmitted to the engaging member 4 . In addition, since the apex of the side surfaces 421 of the pair of extending portions 42 and the side surface of the wall portion 321 of the guide groove 32 are in line contact along the radial direction R of the rotating ring 3, the player rotates the ring. When the ring 3 is rotated in the circumferential direction C, the force of this rotating operation is appropriately transmitted to the engaging member 4 .

One of the extending portions 42 is formed perpendicular to the flat plate portion 412 of the shaft portion 41 of the engaging member 4 . The other extension portion 42 is formed perpendicular to the arc portion 413 of the shaft portion 41 of the engaging member 4 in parallel with one extension portion 42 .

Between the cylindrical portion 411 of the engaging member 4 and the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 , a gap S<b>4 is formed to allow the engaging member 4 to slide relative to the driven shaft portion 51 . The gap S4 is formed on both sides of the driven shaft portion 51 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction L and in the direction in which the chamfered plane 511 is formed. The rotation ring 3 and the engaging member 4 can slide (positionally shift) with respect to the driven shaft portion 51 according to the size of the gap S4.

The extending portions 42 of the engaging member 4 of this embodiment are formed on both sides in the radial direction R of the shaft portion 41 (the engaging member 4 is formed to look like a T shape when viewed from the radial direction R). .). Alternatively, the extending portion 42 may be formed on one side in the radial direction R of the shaft portion 41 of the engaging member 4 . Further, for example, the extending portions 42 may be formed in four directions in the radial direction R of the shaft portion 41 at intervals of 90° in the circumferential direction (the engaging member 4 may have a cross shape when viewed from the axial direction L). can be made visible).

The engaging member 4 of this embodiment is made of a thermoplastic resin molding. Alternatively, the engaging member 4 may be formed of a molded product made of an elastically deformable elastomer material. In this case, the elastic deformation of the engaging member 4 made of an elastomer material between the rotating ring 3 and the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 allows the rotating ring 3 to move and tilt. .

(Structure for floating and tilting the rotating ring 3 with respect to the driven shaft portion 51)
As shown in FIG. 2 , the rotating ring 3 of this embodiment is arranged with respect to the driven shaft portion 51 in a first direction R1 orthogonal to the axial direction L of the driven shaft portion 51 and in the axial direction L and the first direction R1. It is slidable in a second direction R2 orthogonal to both. The first direction R<b>1 is set as a direction orthogonal to the axial direction L of the driven shaft portion 51 and parallel to the chamfered plane 511 of the driven shaft portion 51 . The second direction R<b>2 is set as a direction perpendicular to the axial direction L of the driven shaft portion 51 and perpendicular to the chamfered plane 511 of the driven shaft portion 51 . A second direction R2 indicates the same direction as the formation direction R2 of the pair of extension portions 42 of the engaging member 4 .

The rotary ring 3 is provided with a gap S1 formed between the wall portion 321 forming the guide groove 32 and the tip portion of the shaft portion 41 of the engaging member 4, and a cylindrical portion 411 of the engaging member 4 and the driven member. Due to the gap S4 formed between the driven shaft portion 51 of 5, it is possible to move in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction L. As shown in FIG. The gap S4 is formed on both sides of the chamfered plane 511 of the driven shaft portion 51 in the first direction R1 within the cylindrical portion 411 . It should be noted that the floating movement of the rotating ring 3 has the same meaning as sliding, displacement, and sliding.

The formation direction R1 of the chamfered plane 511 in the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 and the formation direction R2 of the pair of extension portions 42 of the engagement member 4 are orthogonal to each other. The rotating ring 3 slides (displaces) relative to the engaging member 4 along the formation direction R2 of the pair of extending portions 42, and the rotating ring 3 and the engaging member 4 By sliding (displaced) along the formation direction R1 of the chamfered plane 511 with respect to the driven shaft portion 51, it is possible to slide (displace) in any direction within a plane orthogonal to the axial direction L. As a result, the player's force for sliding the rotation ring 3 can be prevented from being transmitted to the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 .

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, gaps S2 and S3 are formed between the rotatable ring 3 and the members 4 and 22 arranged around the rotatable ring 3. Since the side surfaces 421 of the pair of extending portions 42 of 4 are formed into semicircular curved surfaces, when the rotating ring 3 is tilted with respect to the axial direction L, the engaging member 4 is separated from the rotating ring 3 . prevent unnecessary forces from being transmitted to the

More specifically, since the side surfaces 421 of the pair of extensions 42 of the engaging member 4 are formed into semicircular curved surfaces, the rotation ring 3 is aligned with the center axis of the pair of extensions 42 . It rotates in the surrounding direction K1. In addition, between the surface of the center side portion 35 of the rotating ring 3 on the base end side L2 in the axial direction L and the tip end surface of the shaft portion 41 of the engaging member 4 on the tip end side L1 in the axial direction L, a rotating A gap S2 is formed to allow the movement ring 3 to be tilted in a direction K2 in which it is tilted with respect to the formation direction R2 of the extending portion 42 . The gap S2 also allows the rotation ring 3 to tilt in the direction K1 around the central axis of the pair of extensions 42 .

Thus, the rotation ring 3 is rotatable in the direction K1 around the central axis of the extension 42 of the engagement member 4 and is inclined with respect to the formation direction R2 of the extension 42 of the engagement member 4. Since it can be rotated in the direction K2, it can be tilted in any direction with respect to the axial direction L. In FIG. 5, the state in which the rotating ring 3 is tilted in the direction K1 with respect to the engaging member 4 is indicated by a chain double-dashed line F. As shown in FIG. To prevent a player's force for tilting the rotating ring 3 from being transmitted to the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 by allowing the rotating ring 3 to tilt in any direction with respect to the axial direction L. can be done.

In addition, between the rotary ring 3 and the second and third cap portions 222 and 223 of the cap 22 of the base member 2, between the rotary ring 3 and the capacitance detection ring 14, and between the rotary ring 3 and the base A slight gap is also formed between the member 2 and the base 21 . Further, as described above, a minute gap S3 is also formed between the rotating ring 3 and the first cap portion 221 of the cap 22 .

The relationship between the sizes of the gaps S1, S2, S3, and S4 is that the gap S1 and the gap S2 are about the same size, the gaps S1 and S2 are larger than the gap S4, and the gap S4 is the gap S3. There is a relationship that is greater than. When the gap S3 is the smallest and the rotating ring 3 is tilted by the player, the rotating ring 3 and the first cap portion 221 of the cap 22 come into contact with each other. As a result, the first cap portion 221 of the cap 22 receives an inappropriate force that causes the player to tilt the rotating ring 3, and the inappropriate force is prevented from being transmitted to the driven shaft portion 51 as a load. be.

Thus, the operating device 1 of this embodiment has a structure that absorbs an inappropriate force that a player attempts to slide or tilt the rotating ring 3 . Therefore, it is possible to protect the driven member 5 by preventing unnecessary load from being transmitted to the driven member (volume) 5 having a rotating shaft mechanism, which is sensitive and requires precision in the amount of rotation.

(Operation of operation device 1)
When playing a pachinko game on the gaming machine 6 , the player holds the operating device 1 . At this time, when the player's hand touches the capacitance detection ring 14, the capacitance sensor 15 detects the player's capacitance. In the initial state of the gaming machine 6, the rotating ring 3 is at the initial position 301, and the light from the ring light emitting source 162 causes the locking projection 34 of the rotating ring 3 to emit light.

Then, when the player puts his/her finger on the hooking protrusion 34 and rotates the rotation ring 3 clockwise, the ball shooting device is activated on the premise that the capacitance sensor 15 detects the capacitance. A game ball is shot from 62 toward the game area of the game board 61 . Further, when the rotating ring 3 is rotated to the optimum rotating position 302, the light from the ring light emitting source 162 is effectively guided to the locking projection 34 of the rotating ring 3, and the locking projection 34 emits light. .

When the player rotates the rotating ring 3, the rotating ring 3 moves in the axial direction L due to the structure formed in the rotating ring 3, the engaging member 4, and the driven shaft portion 51, which allows free movement and tilting. can be slightly displaced in a direction perpendicular to the , and can be slightly tilted with respect to the axial direction L. Specifically, the rotation ring 3 is displaced from the engagement member 4 in the formation direction R2 of the pair of extending portions 42 of the engagement member 4, thereby causing the rotation ring 3 to be displaced. force is not transmitted to the engaging member 4. Further, when the engaging member 4 and the rotation ring 3 are displaced from the driven shaft portion 51 in the direction R1 parallel to the chamfered plane 511 of the driven shaft portion 51, the rotation ring 3 is displaced. force is not transmitted to the driven shaft portion 51 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the force of the player trying to displace the rotation ring 3 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction L from being applied to the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 as a load.

In addition, against the force that the player tries to incline the rotating ring 3 with respect to the axial direction L, the rotating ring 3 and the rotating ring 3 move relative to the driven shaft portion 51 and the engaging member 4 . , the gaps S2 and S3 formed between the cap 22 and the engaging member 4, and the side surfaces 421 of the pair of extending portions 42 of the engaging member 4, which swell in a semicircular shape. can be slightly tilted to Further, the force that tends to tilt the rotating ring 3 with respect to the axial direction L is not transmitted to the engaging member 4 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the force of the player from inclining the rotating ring 3 with respect to the axial direction L from being applied to the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 as a load.

(Effect)
In the operation device 1 of the gaming machine 6 of this embodiment, the shape of the engaging member 4 that engages with the rotation center portion 31 of the rotation ring 3 and the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 is devised. Specifically, the engaging member 4 slides along the pair of extension portions 42 of the engagement member 4 , the curved side surfaces 421 of the pair of extension portions 42 , and the chamfered plane 511 of the driven shaft portion 51 . The formation of the cylindrical portion 411 and the like are devised.

For example, when the rotating ring 3 is twisted by the player through a gap formed between the rotating ring 3, the base member 2, the electrostatic capacitance detection ring 14, etc., the rotating ring 3 , the side surface 421 of the extending portion 42 as a hemispherical curved surface, gaps S2 and S3, and the like can be used to tilt with respect to the axial direction L. As shown in FIG. At this time, the rotating ring 3 utilizes the sliding of the pair of extension portions 42 of the engaging member 4 with respect to the pair of guide grooves 32 and the sliding of the cylindrical portion 411 of the engaging member 4 with respect to the driven shaft portion 51. can be displaced in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction L. As a result, the load generated when the rotating ring 3 is improperly twisted can be prevented from being transmitted to the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 via the engaging member 4 .

On the other hand, the force for rotating the rotating ring 3 is generated by contact engagement between the pair of guide grooves 32 of the rotating ring 3 and the convex curved surfaces on both side surfaces 421 of the pair of extensions 42 of the engaging member 4 . is transmitted to the engaging member 4 via the flat plate portion 412 of the cylindrical portion 411 of the engaging member 4 and the chamfered flat surface 511 of the driven shaft portion 51 from the engaging member 4 to the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5. is transmitted to As a result, the operability of rotating the rotating ring 3 can be maintained satisfactorily.

Therefore, according to the operation device 1 of the game machine 6 of this embodiment, the unnecessary load applied from the rotating ring 3 to the driven shaft portion 51 of the driven member 5 can be reduced while maintaining good rotational operability of the rotating ring 3 . can be prevented from being transmitted.

In the operating device 1 of this embodiment, by using the engaging member 4, it is possible to reduce the number of parts constituting the operating device 1 and to improve the assemblability of the operating device 1. FIG. As a method for reducing the load applied to the operation portion of the volume as the driven member 5, the shaft portion of the rotation ring 3 is engaged with the operation portion of the volume via a pair of gears, and the rotation ring 3 is There is a method of transmitting the rotation operation to the volume control section via a pair of gears. In this case, a spring or the like is used to eliminate backlash between gears. In this case, not only does the number of parts increase, but the ease of assembly of the operating device is not sufficient.

The present invention is not limited to only each embodiment, and further different embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the present invention includes various modifications, modifications within the equivalent range, and the like. Furthermore, the technical concept of the present invention also includes combinations, forms, and the like of various components assumed from the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 operating device 2 base member 3 rotation ring 31 rotation center portion 32 guide groove 4 engagement member 41 shaft portion 411 cylindrical portion 42 extension portion 421 side surface 5 driven member (volume)
51 Driven shaft (operation part)
511 chamfered plane 6 game machine

Claims (2)

a base member;
a rotating ring disposed so as to be rotatable about the center of rotation with respect to the base member;
a driven member disposed on the base member and having a driven shaft portion that rotates in response to a rotation operation of the rotation ring;
an engaging member that engages with the rotation center portion of the rotation ring and the driven shaft portion of the driven member;
A portion of the engaging member that engages with the rotation central portion extends outward in the radial direction of the engaging member to transmit the rotating operation of the rotating ring to the engaging member. An extension is formed for
Side surfaces of the extending portion located on both sides in the circumferential direction of the engaging member are formed as curved surfaces that protrude in the circumferential direction of the engaging member when viewed from the radial direction of the engaging member,
The extending portions are formed in a pair so as to protrude on both sides in the radial direction of the engaging member,
Between the rotating ring and the engaging member, there is provided a gap that allows the rotating ring to be displaced along the direction in which the extending portion of the engaging member is formed. An operating device for a gaming machine , wherein a clearance is formed to allow tilting with respect to the forming direction of the projecting portion . The driven member is a rotary variable resistor,
The driven shaft portion has a shaft shape in which a chamfered flat surface is formed in a part of the driven shaft portion in the circumferential direction,
a cylindrical portion into which the driven shaft portion is inserted is formed at a portion of the engaging member that engages with the driven shaft portion;
Between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion and the driven shaft portion, the engaging member is displaceable in a direction parallel to the chamfered plane and perpendicular to the direction in which the extension portion is formed. 2. The game machine operating device according to claim 1 , wherein a gap is formed.

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