US20060091602A1 - Reel unit - Google Patents

Reel unit Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060091602A1
US20060091602A1 US10/985,025 US98502504A US2006091602A1 US 20060091602 A1 US20060091602 A1 US 20060091602A1 US 98502504 A US98502504 A US 98502504A US 2006091602 A1 US2006091602 A1 US 2006091602A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
reel
frame body
speed reduction
reduction gear
center
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/985,025
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kazuki Emori
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Universal Entertainment Corp
Original Assignee
Aruze Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aruze Corp filed Critical Aruze Corp
Assigned to ARUZE CORP. reassignment ARUZE CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: EMORI, KAZUKI
Publication of US20060091602A1 publication Critical patent/US20060091602A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
    • G07F17/3204—Player-machine interfaces
    • G07F17/3211—Display means
    • G07F17/3213—Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a reel unit built in a gaming machine such as a slot machine and having a reel on the outer periphery of which a plurality of kinds of symbols are successively formed.
  • the gaming machine such as a slot machine incorporates a reel unit as a game device which rotatably supports a reel with a plurality of kinds of symbols successively formed thereon.
  • the reel unit of the slot machine as disclosed in JP-A-10-71240, supports three reels on the same axis.
  • a start lever When a player operates a start lever, all the reels are driven.
  • a stopping button When the player operates a stopping button, each reel is stop-controlled individually.
  • a game media medal, coin, etc.
  • the above reel unit generally includes stepping motors corresponding to the respective reels. With the output axis of each stepping motor being directly fit in a central axis hole of the reel, driving and stop-control of each reel are executed.
  • This invention has been accomplished in order to overcome the above problem and intends to provide a reel unit through which the reel can be precisely stopped without losing smoothness in motor braking.
  • a reel unit including: a reel equipped with a frame body, on the outer periphery of which a plurality of kinds of symbols are formed; a driving motor for driving the reel; and a speed reduction gear for reducing an output from the driving motor, arranged at the center of the frame body so that it can be rotated integrally to the frame body, wherein an engaging portion is formed radially outside the center of the frame body and an engaged portion to be engaged with the engaging portion is formed at the corresponding position of the speed reduction gear.
  • the reel and the speed reduction gear are integrally rotatably fixed radially outside their centers by the engaging portion and the engaged portion, backlash which is likely to occur during the rotation of the reel can be effectively suppressed.
  • the engaging portion and engaged portion are formed to constitute a baffle between the reel and the speed reduction gear at the area on which great inertial force of the reel acts (area radially outside from the center), baffling of both reel and speed reduction gear can be effectively carried out, thereby effectively preventing the backlash at the time of starting and stopping of the rotation. When the reel is stopped or started, this prevents a player from being given a sense of visual disorder such as the symbols formed on the surface of the reel deviating from the proper positions, or the backlash state of the reel being recognized.
  • the reel and the speed reduction gear are integrally rotatably fixed radially outside their centers by the engaging portion and the engaged portion, backlash of the reel which is likely to occur owing to the inertial force at the time of starting or stopping of the reel can be effectively suppressed. This prevents a player from being given a sense of visual disorder such as the symbols formed on the surface of the reel deviating from the proper positions, or the backlash state of the reel being visually recognized.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary configuration of the slot machine incorporating a reel unit according to this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the schematic configuration of the reel unit
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the frame body constituting a reel which is rotatably supported by the reel unit;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mounting relationship between the frame body shown in FIG. 3 and a speed reduction gear;
  • FIG. 5 is a view showing a modification of this invention which is a perspective view of a part of the frame body constituting the reel;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mounting relationship between the frame body shown in FIG. 5 and a speed reduction gear.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the slot machine according to this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a view showing the schematic structure of a reel unit built in the slot machine.
  • a slot machine 1 has a cabinet 3 provided with a door (front door) which is openable/closable on the front face.
  • the door 2 has a game region 2 a above a nearly central position on the front face.
  • square display windows 4 L, 4 C and 4 R are provided from which the respective reels 3 L, 3 C and 3 R of the reel unit described later are exposed.
  • a symbol column composed of a plurality of kinds of symbols is drawn. The symbols drawn on each reel can be visually recognized through the display window 4 L, 4 C, 4 R.
  • Each reel is designed to be rotatable at a constant speed (e.g. 80 revolutions/minute).
  • a control panel 5 which is a nearly horizontal face is formed.
  • a BET button 6 is provided for betting a credited medal by a button operation.
  • a medal insertion slot 7 in which a medal or a game medium is inserted is provided.
  • a C/P button 8 is provided for switching the credit/paying of the medal(s) acquired in the game by the player by a pushing button operation. By switching the C/P button 8 , the medal(s) is paid from a medal paying mouth at the lower part of the front face and accumulated in a medal receiving portion 10 .
  • a starting lever 12 is provided for rotating the reels 3 L, 3 C and 3 R by the operation of the player.
  • the starting lever 12 is attached to be movable within a predetermined angular range.
  • three stopping buttons 13 L, 13 C and 13 R are provided for stopping the rotation of the above three reels 3 L, 3 C and 3 R, respectively.
  • the configuration can be modified, as the stopping buttons do not exist.
  • a bonus game information display segment 16 On the game region 2 a are provided a bonus game information display segment 16 , BET lamps 17 a - 17 c , a paying display segment 18 , a credit display segment 19 , etc. These elements are displayed (lit) according the status of the game.
  • the respective reels 3 L, 3 C and 3 R start to rotate.
  • the stopping button 13 L, 13 C or 13 C the corresponding reel 3 L, 3 C or 3 R stops rotation.
  • the manner of win is determined by a combination of the symbols of the respective reels which is visually recognized through the display windows 4 L, 4 C and 4 R.
  • the medal(s) the number of which corresponds to the manner of win is paid out in the medal receiving portion 10 .
  • FIG. 2 is a view showing the schematic structure of the reel unit mounted within the cabinet 3 of the slot machine shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the stepping motor is arranged at the position shifted from the central axis of the reel, and a speed reduction transmission mechanism (speed reduction gear) is arranged between the output of the stepping motor and the central axis of the reel.
  • a speed reduction transmission mechanism speed reduction gear
  • the reel unit 20 is provided with a base plate. On the base plate, three attaching plates 21 for rotatably supporting the reels 3 L, 3 C and 3 R, respectively are provided in parallel and adjacently to each other. On each attaching plate 21 , a driving motor (illustrated for only the reel 3 L) is provided at a position shifted from the central position of the reel. The rotation and stopping of the reel is controlled in such a manner that the driving and stopping of the driving motor 22 is controlled.
  • the reel 3 L includes a pair of ring-shaped frame bodies 30 and 31 and a symbol sheet 35 with a continuous symbol column drawn thereon which is provided on the outer periphery of each frame body 30 , 31 .
  • the ring-shaped frame body 30 as seen from FIG. 3 , includes an outer ring 30 a , a central support 30 b and a plurality of spokes 30 c coupled therebetween. These elements are integrally formed of synthetic resin.
  • the frame body 31 opposite to the frame body 30 includes no spoke so that it does not interfere with the driving motor 22 and driving force transmission mechanism attached to the attaching plate 21 , and is construed of an outer ring 31 a .
  • the frame body 31 is integrally formed of synthetic resin.
  • the outer rings 30 a and 31 a of both frame bodies 30 and 31 may be coupled with each other by a coupling member as the need arises. Both frame bodies may be integrally formed.
  • a speed reduction gear 40 is firmly fit, at its center, in the central support 30 b of the frame body 30 ; the speed reduction gear 40 is engaged with an output gear 22 a fixed to the output axis of the driving motor 22 to constitute the driving force transmission mechanism.
  • the central support 30 b of the frame body 30 includes a fitting slot 30 d formed in a non-circular shape (D-cut), a plurality of ribs 30 e formed at nearly regular intervals so that they extend radially outward from the circumferential wall defining the fitting slot 30 d with their one ends being connected to the circumferential wall, the ribs being formed in order to reinforce the fitting hole 30 d , and a circular wall 30 f to which the other end of each rib 30 e is connected.
  • a fitting protrusion of the speed reduction gear 40 is fit in the fitting slot 30 d.
  • the speed reduction gear 40 includes a fitting protrusion 40 a protruded from its center and cut in a sectional non-circular shape (D-cut); the fitting protrusion 40 a to be firmly fit in the above fitting slot 30 d .
  • the fitting protrusion 40 a has a circular slot 40 b which axially passes therethrough and is adapted to be rotatably supported by a supporting shaft (not shown) fixed to the attaching plate 21 .
  • the frame body 30 and the speed reduction gear 40 are adapted to be integrally rotatable because the fitting protrusion 40 a is fit in the above fitting slot 30 d and the fitting shape is non-circular. Further, between the frame body 30 and speed reduction gear 40 , an engaging portion and an engaged portion are formed radially outside their fitting areas (centers), respectively so that they can be more integrally rotated during rotation.
  • the engaging portion formed in the frame body 30 is composed of a plurality of ribs 30 e formed to extend radially outward from the circumferential wall defining the fitting slot 30 d .
  • the engaged portion formed in the speed reduction gear 40 is composed of recesses 40 d formed at nearly regular intervals in a circular wall 40 c formed protrusively around the fitting protrusion 40 a .
  • the recess 40 d has a width enough for the rib 30 e to be fit tightly therein to produce no backlash therebetween (i.e. the width approximately equal to that of the rib 30 e ).
  • the recesses 40 c are at three positions formed at intervals of about 120 degrees so that they are engaged alternately of the ribs 30 e formed at the intervals of about 60 degrees.
  • the reel 3 L and speed reduction gear 40 designed as described above are mounted on the attaching plate 21 of the reel unit 20 in the following procedure.
  • the fitting protrusion 40 a of the speed reduction gear 40 is fit in the fitting slot 30 d formed at the central portion of the frame body 30 constituting the reel.
  • the recesses 40 d (engaged portion) of the speed reduction gear 40 are engaged with the ribs (engaging portion) 30 e of the frame body 30 .
  • the reel 3 L and the speed reduction gear 40 are integrated.
  • the circular slot 40 b of the speed reduction gear 40 integrated with the frame body 30 is passed over the supporting shaft so that the speed reduction gear 40 is rotatably supported by the attaching plate. In this state, the speed reduction gear 40 is engaged with the output gear 22 a of the driving motor 22 .
  • the reel 3 L is rotatably supported on the attaching plate 21 .
  • the reels 3 C and 3 R are also rotatably supported by the corresponding attaching plates 21 by means of the same structure.
  • the reel 3 L ( 3 C, 3 R) and the speed reduction gear 40 are adapted to be integrally rotatable by the engaging slot 30 d and engaging protrusion 40 a at their centers and baffle-fixed radially outside there by the ribs 30 e and recesses 40 d .
  • This increases a baffle effect between the reel and the speed reduction gear and hence surely prevents backlash from occurring at the time of starting or stopping of the reel. More specifically, when the reel is stopped or rotated, this prevents the player from being given a sense of visual disorder such as the symbols formed on the surface of the reel deviating from the positions to stop properly, or the backlash state of the reel being recognized.
  • the reel and speed reduction gear are baffle-fixed radially outside their fitting areas so that the effect of baffling is enhanced, thereby permitting the backlash to be effectively prevented.
  • the engaging portion (ribs 30 e ) of the frame body 30 and the engaged portion (recesses 40 d ) of the speed reduction gear 40 which baffle-fix the reel and the speed reduction gear are formed radially outside their fitting areas and at nearly regular intervals in their circumferential direction. For this reason, the inertial force in the circumferential direction can be uniformly acted on the respective ribs 30 e so that the backlash between the reel 3 L and the speed reduction gear 40 can be effectively suppressed.
  • the frame body 30 generally constituting the reel 3 L employs the ribs 30 e for reinforcement formed on the circumferential wall defining the central fitting slot 30 d as they are, the recesses 40 d in which the ribs fit, respectively have only to be formed around the fitting protrusion of the speed reduction gear 40 . This reduces the manufacturing cost.
  • the reel and the speed reduction gear are firmly fit to each other at their centers, at the time of starting or stopping of the reel, the backlash therebetween can be suppressed more surely.
  • the ribs for reinforcement formed on the circumferential wall defining the central fitting slot are employed as they are, the recesses in which the ribs fit, respectively have only to be formed around the fitting protrusion of the speed reduction gear. This reduces the labor of machining.
  • the method of engaging the engaging portion and engaged portion with each other can be modified in various manners as long as they are formed radially outside their respective centers of the frame body 30 and the speed reduction gear 40 to constitute the baffle therebetween.
  • recess 30 g serving as an engaging portion being formed in the circular wall 30 f on the side of the frame body 30
  • protrusion 40 e to fit in the recesses 30 g respectively may be formed around the fitting protrusion 40 a of the speed reduction gear 40 .
  • the recesses 30 g and protrusions 40 e are preferably formed at nearly regular intervals in the circumferential direction.
  • the structure of the frame body 30 constituting the reel As the occasion demands, proper modifications can be made for the structure of the frame body 30 constituting the reel, arrangement of the driving force transmission mechanism, manner of supporting the reel by the reel unit. Further, as long as the frame body 30 and the speed reduction gear 40 are integrally rotatably adapted, contrary to the above embodiment, the fitting protrusion may be provided in the frame body whereas the fitting slot may be provided in the speed reduction gear. Otherwise, without providing the fitting slot and the fitting protrusion at the central portions of the frame body 30 and speed reduction gear 40 , the baffle therebetween may be constituted by only the engaging portion and engaged portion.
  • This invention can be applied to various gaming machines incorporating a reel unit equipped with a reel as well as the slot machine explained with reference to the embodiment.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
US10/985,025 2003-11-10 2004-11-10 Reel unit Abandoned US20060091602A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2003379937A JP2005137765A (ja) 2003-11-10 2003-11-10 リールユニット
JPP.2003-379937 2003-11-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060091602A1 true US20060091602A1 (en) 2006-05-04

Family

ID=34431389

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/985,025 Abandoned US20060091602A1 (en) 2003-11-10 2004-11-10 Reel unit

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20060091602A1 (zh)
EP (1) EP1530176A3 (zh)
JP (1) JP2005137765A (zh)
CN (1) CN100522297C (zh)
AU (1) AU2004229025A1 (zh)
ZA (1) ZA200409106B (zh)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102289888A (zh) * 2010-06-16 2011-12-21 安德米罗有限公司 转盘游戏机的驱动装置及驱动方法

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2009201719A1 (en) 2008-05-05 2009-11-19 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited A method of gaming and a gaming system
JP4791507B2 (ja) * 2008-05-16 2011-10-12 株式会社バンダイ 回転体を備える玩具

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2857722A (en) * 1954-12-20 1958-10-28 Cloyd D Smith Bar wrapping machine
US2987099A (en) * 1957-03-28 1961-06-06 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Apparatus for mounting films and other inserts in cards
US3164526A (en) * 1960-12-06 1965-01-05 Commissariat Energie Atomique Reel type control rod brake
US4711452A (en) * 1984-10-24 1987-12-08 International Game Technology (Igt) Amusement machine
US4765078A (en) * 1981-12-10 1988-08-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Universal Reel assembly for slot machines
US4912389A (en) * 1987-12-04 1990-03-27 Kabushiki Kaisha Universal Rotary position detector for stepping motor
US20020180147A1 (en) * 2000-02-17 2002-12-05 Wing Co., Ltd. Symbol displaying unit used for a game machine
US20030146571A1 (en) * 2002-02-06 2003-08-07 Wing Co., Ltd. Symbol display device for game machine
US20040018869A1 (en) * 2002-02-06 2004-01-29 Fumio Inoue Symbol display device for game machine
US20040224752A1 (en) * 2003-05-09 2004-11-11 Takao Nireki Motor stop control device utilizable for reel-type gaming machine
US20050057001A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-03-17 Takao Nireki Motor drive control device utilizable for gaming machine and gaming machine using the same
US6896216B2 (en) * 2001-08-27 2005-05-24 Daiwa Seiko, Inc. Fishing reel
US20050110443A1 (en) * 2003-11-21 2005-05-26 Aruze Corp. Motor stop control device for gaming machine and gaming machine with the same
US20050181861A1 (en) * 2004-02-17 2005-08-18 Aruze Corp. Gaming machine
US7019475B2 (en) * 2003-08-05 2006-03-28 Aruze Corporation Motor stop control device for gaming machine and gaming machine provided with the motor stop control device

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4108147B2 (ja) * 1996-04-01 2008-06-25 株式会社三共 弾球遊技機
JPH09327553A (ja) * 1996-06-11 1997-12-22 Samii Kk パチンコ機用の図柄変動表示装置

Patent Citations (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2857722A (en) * 1954-12-20 1958-10-28 Cloyd D Smith Bar wrapping machine
US2987099A (en) * 1957-03-28 1961-06-06 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Apparatus for mounting films and other inserts in cards
US3164526A (en) * 1960-12-06 1965-01-05 Commissariat Energie Atomique Reel type control rod brake
US4765078A (en) * 1981-12-10 1988-08-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Universal Reel assembly for slot machines
US4711452A (en) * 1984-10-24 1987-12-08 International Game Technology (Igt) Amusement machine
US4912389A (en) * 1987-12-04 1990-03-27 Kabushiki Kaisha Universal Rotary position detector for stepping motor
US20020180147A1 (en) * 2000-02-17 2002-12-05 Wing Co., Ltd. Symbol displaying unit used for a game machine
US6540227B2 (en) * 2000-02-17 2003-04-01 Wing Co., Ltd. Symbol displaying unit used for a game machine
US6896216B2 (en) * 2001-08-27 2005-05-24 Daiwa Seiko, Inc. Fishing reel
US20040018869A1 (en) * 2002-02-06 2004-01-29 Fumio Inoue Symbol display device for game machine
US20030146571A1 (en) * 2002-02-06 2003-08-07 Wing Co., Ltd. Symbol display device for game machine
US20040224752A1 (en) * 2003-05-09 2004-11-11 Takao Nireki Motor stop control device utilizable for reel-type gaming machine
US6998805B2 (en) * 2003-05-09 2006-02-14 Aruze Corp. Motor stop control device
US7038411B2 (en) * 2003-05-09 2006-05-02 Aruze Corp. Motor stop control device utilizable for reel-type gaming machine
US7019475B2 (en) * 2003-08-05 2006-03-28 Aruze Corporation Motor stop control device for gaming machine and gaming machine provided with the motor stop control device
US20050057001A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-03-17 Takao Nireki Motor drive control device utilizable for gaming machine and gaming machine using the same
US20050110443A1 (en) * 2003-11-21 2005-05-26 Aruze Corp. Motor stop control device for gaming machine and gaming machine with the same
US6998806B2 (en) * 2003-11-21 2006-02-14 Aruze Corp. Motor stop control device for gaming machine and gaming machine with the same
US20050181861A1 (en) * 2004-02-17 2005-08-18 Aruze Corp. Gaming machine

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102289888A (zh) * 2010-06-16 2011-12-21 安德米罗有限公司 转盘游戏机的驱动装置及驱动方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1530176A2 (en) 2005-05-11
EP1530176A3 (en) 2006-08-30
JP2005137765A (ja) 2005-06-02
CN1616129A (zh) 2005-05-18
CN100522297C (zh) 2009-08-05
AU2004229025A1 (en) 2005-05-26
ZA200409106B (en) 2005-09-28

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ARUZE CORP., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:EMORI, KAZUKI;REEL/FRAME:016252/0194

Effective date: 20041110

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION