JP3723171B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a slot machine including a front panel that can be opened and closed .
[0002]
[Background Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Game machines that are played in halls, arcades, and the like often have a structure in which the front panel can be opened and closed for adjustment and maintenance of the game machines. In such a gaming machine, in order to enable opening and closing of the front panel, the left or right side portion of the front panel and the housing are connected by a hinge, and the side without the hinge is moved forward with the hinge as a rotation axis. The front panel is generally opened and closed by pulling it out.
[0003]
However, when the front panel is opened in such a manner, the front panel protrudes from the front side of the casing by substantially the width. Therefore, when opening the front panel of a gaming machine used by a player for adjusting the gaming machine or supplying medals, it is necessary for the player to stand up. Further, when the front panel is opened, a part of the passage between gaming machines is occupied by the front panel, so the passage is narrow.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine in which a player does not need to stand up when opening a front panel.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) A slot machine of the present invention includes a housing having a reel and a hopper, a front panel attached to the front surface of the housing, a mounting state in which the front panel is mounted on the front surface of the housing, A coupling mechanism that couples the front panel to the casing, and supports the coupling mechanism and the front panel so that the front panel can move between a retracted state in which the front panel is retracted to the upper front of the casing; And a lifting mechanism that allows the front panel to move in the height direction of the housing, and the coupling mechanism always keeps the front panel substantially parallel to the front surface of the housing, and always The distance between the front panel and the front surface of the housing is formed to be shorter than the width of the front panel.
According to the slot machine of the present invention, the front panel is movably connected between the mounting state in which the front panel is mounted on the front surface of the housing and the retracted state in which the front panel is retracted to the upper front of the housing. The panel is connected to the housing. Moreover, the coupling mechanism is formed so as to always keep the front panel substantially parallel to the front surface of the casing, and keep the distance between the front panel and the front face of the casing always shorter than the width of the front panel. Therefore, even when the front panel is opened, the front panel protrudes from the front surface of the housing only by a distance shorter than its width. As a result, even when the front panel of the slot machine used by the player is opened for adjustment of the slot machine , it is possible to eliminate the need for the player to stand up. In addition, even when the front panel is opened, the passage between the slot machines is hardly reduced by the front panel. Furthermore, the slot machine of the present invention further includes an elevating mechanism that supports the coupling mechanism and the front panel and allows the coupling mechanism and the front panel to move in the height direction of the housing. As a result, the front panel that has moved to the upper front of the housing can be moved further upward.
[0006]
(2) The hopper may be exposed when the front panel is moved to the retracted position by the coupling mechanism, and the reel may be exposed when the front panel is moved upward from the retracted position by the lifting mechanism.
[0007]
(3) Further, the coupling mechanism includes two hinge portions fixed to the left and right side surfaces of the housing, and each hinge portion includes a first engagement portion at one end and a second engagement portion at the other end. Two arm-side rotating shafts fixed to the casing and pivotally supporting the two arms so as to be rotatable at the first engaging portion, and fixed to the front panel and the two arms. Two front panel side rotation shafts that pivotably support the two arms at the second engagement portion, and the two arms extend from the first engagement portion to the second engagement portion. The distance between the two casing-side rotating shafts and the distance between the two front panel-side rotating shafts are approximately equal, and one of the two arms is connected to the upper casing-side rotating shaft and the upper one. The other arm of the two arms is fixed to the front panel side rotating shaft of the lower casing side You may comprise so that it may fix to a rotating shaft and the said front panel side rotating shaft below.
As described above, the distance between the two housing side rotation shafts and the distance between the two front panel side rotation shafts are substantially equal, and the distance between the two arms from the first engagement portion to the second engagement portion is approximately the same. Equally, one of the two arms is fixed to the upper casing side rotating shaft and the upper front panel side rotating shaft, and the other of the two arms is the lower casing side rotating shaft and the lower front panel side rotating shaft. Therefore, the two housing side rotation shafts and the two front panel side rotation shafts always form a parallelogram in a side view. As a result, the straight line connecting the two casing side rotation axes and the straight line connecting the two front panel side rotation axes are always substantially parallel. Accordingly, if the two casing-side rotation shafts and the two front panel-side rotation shafts are positioned in the respective hinge portions so that the front surface of the housing and the front panel are substantially parallel to each other, such two hinge portions are provided. And the front surface of the front panel are always kept substantially parallel in a side view regardless of the bent state of the hinge portion. In the present specification, the side view means that the side view is viewed in the same direction as the projected light beam when the side view is projected in the orthographic projection method.
[0008]
(4) The coupling mechanism may further include a biasing portion that biases at least one of the two arms to rotate upward. As a result, the front panel connected to the casing by the connecting mechanism can be automatically moved to the upper front of the casing.
[0010]
(5) The elevating mechanism may include a lock mechanism that fixes the connecting mechanism at a desired height position. Therefore, by fixing the coupling mechanism at a desired height position by the lock mechanism, the front panel attached to the coupling mechanism can be moved within a predetermined height position range.
[0011]
(6) Further, the elevating mechanism may include an inclination mechanism that inclines the upper end side of the front panel forward as the connection mechanism and the front panel approach a predetermined height position. As described above, as the front panel approaches the predetermined height position, the upper end of the front panel is tilted forward by the tilt mechanism, so that the upper limit position reached by the front panel is lowered as compared with the case where the front panel is not tilted. Therefore, there is an increased possibility that this gaming machine can be installed in an environment where the upper space is limited.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
1. <First Embodiment>
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a slot machine as a gaming machine of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the slot machine shown in FIG. 1 with the side plate removed. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the front panel of the slot machine shown in FIG.
[0015]
As shown in these drawings, the slot machine 10 of the present embodiment includes a housing 11, a front panel 20 attached to the front surface of the housing 11, a coupling mechanism 30, and a lifting mechanism 50. ing.
[0016]
The connection mechanism 30 connects the front panel 20 to the housing 11, and includes two hinge portions 31 fixed to the left and right sides of the housing 11 via rails 51. 2 and 3 show only one of the rail 51 and the hinge portion 31 provided on both side portions of the housing, which is located on the far side from the viewpoint. The connection by the connection mechanism 30 is between the mounted state (FIG. 2) in which the front panel 20 is mounted on the front surface of the housing 11 and the retracted state (FIG. 3) in which the front panel 20 is retracted to the upper front of the housing 11. Can be moved. Moreover, the connection mechanism 30 always connects the front panel 20 so as to keep it substantially parallel to the front surface 14 of the housing 11. In addition, the coupling mechanism 30 is formed so that the distance between the front panel 20 and the front surface of the housing 11 is always shorter than the width of the front panel 20. As shown in FIG. 3, when the front panel 20 is retracted to the upper front of the housing 11, the hopper (medal sending device) 75 and the like can be easily attached and detached.
[0017]
The housing 11 includes a standing portion (not shown) that rises substantially vertically from the edge of the front surface thereof. The front panel 20 is formed so that this standing portion is accommodated when the front panel 20 is attached to the front surface 14 of the housing 11. Further, while the front panel 20 is at a distance from the mounted state to at least the height at which the standing portion stands, the front panel 20 moves in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the front surface 14 of the housing 11. The connection mechanism 30 connects the front panel 20 to the housing 11. Therefore, the front panel 20 can be opened and closed without interfering with the standing portion.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a side view of the coupling mechanism 30. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one hinge portion 31 and the connecting member 37 of the connecting mechanism 30. As shown in these drawings, each hinge portion 31 of the coupling mechanism 30 includes two arms 32 and 33, two housing side rotation shafts 13, and two front panel side rotation shafts 21. Has been. Further, the two hinge portions 31 are connected by a connecting member 37.
[0019]
The two arms 32 and 33 include an engaging portion 34 as a first engaging portion at one end and an engaging portion 35 as a second engaging portion at the other end. The casing-side rotating shaft 13 is fixed to the casing 11 via a rail 51 or the like, and pivotally supports two arms 32 and 33 so that the engaging portion 34 can rotate. The front panel side rotation shaft 21 is fixed to the front panel 20 via the front panel side mounting portion 38 and pivotally supports the two arms 32 and 33 at the engaging portion 35. The two arms 32 and 33 are formed so that the distance from the engaging portion 34 to the engaging portion 35 is substantially equal. Further, the distance between the two housing side rotating shafts 13 and 13 and the distance between the two front panel side rotating shafts 21 and 21 are formed to be substantially equal. Further, one arm 32 is fixed to the high-side housing side rotating shaft 13 and the high-side front panel side rotating shaft 21, and the other arm 33 is low-side housing-side rotating shaft 13 and low position front-panel side rotating shaft. It is fixed to the shaft 21.
[0020]
By configuring the hinge portion 31 in this way, the two housing side rotation shafts 13 and the two front panel side rotation shafts 21 always form a parallelogram in a side view. As a result, the straight line connecting the two casing-side rotating shafts 13 and the straight line connecting the two front panel-side rotating shafts 21 are always substantially parallel. Further, the two casing-side rotation shafts 13 and the two front-panel-side rotation shafts 21 are positioned in the respective hinge portions 31 so that the front surface 14 of the housing 11 and the front panel 20 are substantially parallel. Therefore, the casing 11 and the front surface of the front panel 20 connected by the connecting mechanism 30 including the two hinge portions 31 are always kept substantially parallel in a side view regardless of the bent state of the hinge portions. It is.
[0021]
Further, the coupling mechanism 30 includes a spring mechanism (not shown) as a biasing portion that biases the arm 32 so as to rotate upward in the housing side mounting portion 37. As a result, the front panel 20 connected to the casing 11 by the connecting mechanism 30 can be automatically moved to the front upper side of the casing 11.
[0022]
The elevating mechanism 50 supports the connection mechanism 45 and the front panel 20 and allows the connection mechanism 45 and the front panel 20 to move in the height direction of the housing 11. By providing such an elevating mechanism 50, the front panel that has been moved forward and upward of the housing 11 by the connecting mechanism 45 can be moved further upward. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the connecting mechanism 45 and the front panel 20 are moved upward by the elevating mechanism 50 as a state in which the side plate is removed. FIG. 6 shows only one of the rails 51 and the hinges provided on both sides of the housing 11 and located on the far side from the viewpoint. The reel mechanism 80 indicated by a broken line indicates that the reel mechanism 80 can be easily attached and detached in the state of being moved in this manner.
[0023]
The elevating mechanism 50 includes four rails 51 fixed to the side surface portion of the housing 11 and four engaging portions (not shown) that engage with the rails 51. The elevating mechanism 50 includes a lock mechanism 55 that fixes the coupling mechanism 70 at a desired height position. For example, the lock mechanism 50 may be a mechanism including a bolt-shaped member formed so as to be screwed into the housing side mounting portion 37 and to be kept pressed against the rail 51 when screwed.
[0024]
According to the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, the front panel 20 is movably connected between the mounted state in which the front panel 20 is mounted on the front surface of the housing 11 and the retracted state in which the front panel 20 is retracted to the upper front of the housing 11. The front panel 20 is connected to the housing 11 by the connecting mechanism 30 that performs the above operation. Moreover, the coupling mechanism 30 is formed so as to always keep the front panel 20 substantially parallel to the front surface of the housing 11 and keep the distance between the front panel 20 and the front surface 14 of the housing 11 always shorter than the width of the front panel. ing. Therefore, even when the front panel 20 is opened, the front panel 20 protrudes from the front surface 14 of the housing 11 only by a distance shorter than its width. As a result, even when opening the front panel 20 of the gaming machine 10 used by the player for adjustment of the gaming machine 10, it is possible to eliminate the need for the player to stand up. Further, even when the front panel 20 is opened, the front panel 20 can hardly narrow the passage between gaming machines.
[0025]
2. Second Embodiment
[0026]
The gaming machine of the second embodiment is somewhat different from the first embodiment in the structure of the lifting mechanism. Other points are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0027]
FIG. 7 is a side view of the slot machine 95 of the present embodiment showing the state in which the connecting mechanism 45 and the front panel 20 are moved upward by the lifting mechanism 90 and the front panel is tilted forward as the side plate is removed. It is. FIG. 7 shows only one of the rails 92 and the hinges provided on both sides of the housing 11 and located on the far side from the viewpoint. As shown in this figure, the elevating mechanism 90 has a rail 91 positioned in the front shorter than that of the first embodiment, and a rail 92 positioned in the rear is centered on the end of the rail 91 near the upper end. It is formed to draw an arc.
[0028]
Thus, the elevating mechanism 90 constitutes a tilt mechanism that tilts the upper end side of the front panel 20 forward as the coupling mechanism 30 and the front panel 20 approach a predetermined height position. As described above, as the front panel 20 approaches the predetermined height position, the upper end of the front panel 20 is lowered by tilting the upper end side forward as compared with the case where the front panel 20 is not tilted in this way. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the slot machine 95 can be installed in an environment where the upper space is limited.
[0029]
3. <Modification>
[0030]
3.1 In each of the above-described embodiments, an example of a gaming machine provided with a lifting mechanism has been shown. However, the gaming machine of the present invention may not include a lifting mechanism. In that case, the connecting mechanism is directly fixed to the side portion of the housing without using the lifting mechanism including the rail.
[0031]
3.2 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention or within the equivalent scope of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a slot machine according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the slot machine shown in FIG. 1 with a side plate removed.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which a front panel of the slot machine shown in FIG. 1 is opened as a state in which a side plate is removed.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a coupling mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one hinge portion and a connecting member of the connecting mechanism.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which a connecting mechanism and a front panel are moved upward by an elevating mechanism as a state in which a side plate is removed.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the slot machine of the second embodiment showing a state where the connecting mechanism and the front panel are moved upward by the elevating mechanism and the front panel is tilted forward as a state where the side plate is removed.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 95 Slot machine 11 Housing 13 (housing side) Rotating shaft 14 Front surface 20 Front panel 21 (Front panel side) Rotating shaft 30 Connecting mechanism 31 Hinge portion 32, 33 Arm 34, 35 Engaging portion 50 Lifting mechanism 55 Locking mechanism

Claims (6)

A housing having a reel and a hopper ;
A front panel attached to the front of the housing;
The front panel is connected to the casing so as to be movable between a mounting state in which the front panel is mounted on the front surface of the casing and a retracted state in which the front panel is retracted to the upper front of the casing. A connection mechanism; and an elevating mechanism that supports the connection mechanism and the front panel and allows the connection mechanism and the front panel to move in a height direction of the housing.
The coupling mechanism is formed so as to always keep the front panel substantially parallel to the front surface of the housing, and always keep the distance between the front panel and the front surface of the housing shorter than the width of the front panel. A slot machine characterized by The slot machine according to claim 1,
Wherein the front panel is moved to the retracted position the hopper is exposed, the slot machine, wherein the reel and the front panel is moved upward from the retracted position is exposed by said lift mechanism by the coupling mechanism. The slot machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The coupling mechanism includes two hinge portions fixed to the left and right side surfaces of the housing,
Each of the hinge portions includes a first engaging portion at one end and a second engaging portion at the other end, and two arms fixed to the housing at the first engaging portion. Two housing-side rotation shafts that are pivotally supported, and two front panel-side rotation shafts that are fixed to the front panel and pivotally support the two arms at the second engagement portion; With
The two arms have substantially the same distance from the first engagement portion to the second engagement portion, and the distance between the two casing side rotation axes and the distance between the two front panel side rotation axes are Substantially equal, one of the two arms is fixed to the upper casing side rotating shaft and the upper front panel side rotating shaft, and the other of the two arms is lower to the lower casing side rotating shaft and the lower casing side rotating shaft. A slot machine characterized by being fixed to a rotation axis on the front panel side. The slot machine according to claim 3, wherein
The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism further includes an urging portion that urges at least one of the two arms to rotate upward. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The slot machine , wherein the elevating mechanism includes a lock mechanism for fixing the coupling mechanism at a desired height position. A slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The slot machine includes a tilting mechanism that tilts an upper end side of the front panel forward as the connection mechanism and the front panel approach a predetermined height position.

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