JP4586084B2 - Ashtray mounting device for gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ashtray mounting device for a gaming machine that is provided on a panel that closes a front face of a gaming machine housing so as to be freely opened and closed and attaches an ashtray to the panel.

  In general, in a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine, one side of a panel covering the entire front surface is rotatably supported by a hinge in a box-shaped housing whose front surface is open, and this panel is used to rotate the housing. The front surface is closed, and is locked so as to be openable and closable by an opening and closing device having a lock function including a cylinder lock.

  At the bottom of such a panel, an ashtray is usually installed adjacent to the left side of the medal tray, allowing the player to play while smoking, and conventionally it can be rotated for easy cleaning An ashtray is attached to the panel. However, as the number of non-smoking people has increased in recent years, in consideration of non-smoking people, ashtrays, etc., are attached to the ashtrays provided in the gaming machines so that they cannot be used, and in specific places called smoking corners. There are an increasing number of pachinko halls that allow only installed ashtrays to be used.

  However, a blind plate or the like for closing the ashtray must be separately prepared on the hall side as described above, which causes a lot of burden and effort to the hall manager, which is not preferable.

  On the other hand, recently, a holder with a top wall that covers the top opening of the ashtray is provided, and when not in use, the ashtray is pushed into the holder so that it cannot be used. When in use, the ashtray is pulled out of the holder by a predetermined amount. Is partially exposed, and the front end of the ashtray is swung downward from the use position during cleaning (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-252 (page 4, FIG. 3-5)

  However, in the conventional ashtray, a holder having a top wall that covers the upper opening of the ashtray from above is required, so that there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated. Furthermore, if the ashtray is pulled out, it becomes easy to use the ashtray, so in order to make the ashtray completely unusable, the front of the holder must also be closed, and it is necessary to prepare a closing member for that purpose. Occurs. However, once the front surface of the holder is closed by the closing member, a new problem arises that it takes an excessive amount of time to remove the closing member.

  Further, in the case of the conventional ashtray, since the holder is provided at a position deep inside the panel so as not to protrude from the panel, there is a problem in that it is necessary to secure a space for arranging the holder on the panel.

  On the other hand, in the case of a gaming machine of the type in which the space for the holder inside such a panel is not required and the medal holder and the ashtray are provided so as to protrude forward from the panel, the holder becomes large, and on the contrary, the holder disturbs the game. There is a fear.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ashtray mounting device that can invert the ashtray so as not to disturb the game when not in use, with a simple configuration.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is provided in a front panel that closes the front of a gaming machine housing so as to be openable and closable. A provided holder; a first support shaft provided at a front upper part from a central portion of one of the left and right side surfaces of the ashtray or the holder in a usable state; and both left and right sides of the ashtray or the holder A second support shaft provided substantially at the center of the surface, and the first and second support shafts provided on both the left and right sides of the other side of the ashtray or the holder so that the ashtray can be rotated and moved. A guide portion that freely supports, wherein the first support shaft is longer and thinner than the second support shaft, and the guide portion is substantially semicircular with a straight portion inclined downward in the pushing direction of the ashtray. portion A reverse guide groove that is formed in a P-shape and that is inserted into the second support shaft to guide the reverse and movement of the ashtray, and overlaps with the straight portion of the reverse guide groove and is deeper than the reverse guide groove and A narrow movement guide groove is provided, and only the first support shaft is inserted and guides the movement of the ashtray in the horizontal direction (Claim 1).

  The present invention further includes a medal receiver provided on the panel for receiving a payout medal, wherein the holder is disposed adjacent to the medal receiver, and the medal receiver forms a part of a side wall of the holder. (Claim 2).

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the ashtray is reversed from the usable state to the unusable state, the ashtray is moved along the linear portion of the moving guide groove and the reverse guide groove, for example. After moving forward, the ashtray is reversed along the reversing guide groove, and then the ashtray is moved, for example, rearward along the moving guide groove and the straight portion of the reversing guide groove, while the ashtray cannot be used. When the state is reversed from the usable state to the usable state, it is sufficient to reverse the operation, and the ashtray can be easily switched between the usable state and the unusable state. In both the usable state and the unusable state of the ashtray, the load on the ashtray is applied in one direction along the linear portion of the inclined moving guide groove and the reversing guide groove, and the end of the moving guide groove is 1 support shaft is locked, and the second support shaft is locked to the linear portion of the reversing guide groove, so that the ashtray is supported at two different positions, and the ashtray can be stably used and disabled. It becomes possible to hold.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the ashtray does not protrude upward from the holder in either the usable state or the unusable state. Can be prevented from interfering with the game of the player, and a part of the holder is constituted by the medal receiver, so that it is possible to reduce the size of the holder and prevent the holder from becoming large. .

(Reference example)
A reference example when the present invention is applied to a slot machine as a gaming machine will be described with reference to FIGS. However, FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine, FIGS. 2 to 6 are perspective views of the ashtray for explaining the reverse operation, FIG. 7 is a right side view of the ashtray, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are the right side of the ashtray for explaining the reverse operation. FIG.

  The slot machine in this reference example is configured as shown in FIG. 1, for example. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the slot machine 1, the front opening of the housing 3 is closed by the front panel 5 so that it can be opened and closed, and the operation plate 7 is disposed at a substantially central height position of the front panel 5. In addition, a front plate 9 is disposed above the operation plate 7. At this time, the left end portion of the front panel 5 is rotatably supported by the housing 3 by the hinge, and the entire front surface of the housing 3 is covered and closed by the front panel 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1, three reel windows 11 are arranged in parallel on the front plate 9, and left, middle, and right rotating reels are arranged inside each reel window 11, and the rightmost reel. Next to the window 11, a liquid crystal display 13 for displaying a game effect screen is disposed, and each reel window 11 is set so that three symbols of each reel can be seen.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation plate 7 has a bet switch 15 for reducing the number of credited medals and replacing it with a medal insertion, a start lever 17 for starting rotation of each reel, and a first In addition, third stop switches 19, 21, and 23, and a medal insertion slot 25 and a settlement switch 27 for paying out stored medals are provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a winning line is drawn on the front panel 9, and an effective display lamp 31 for displaying an active line in the winning line, various effect display lamps 33 for displaying a bonus game state, A medal number display 35 for displaying the number of credit medals is provided on the front panel 9. A medal payout opening 37 and a medal receiver 39 for receiving medals paid out from the payout opening 37 are provided below the operation plate 7. ing.

  Incidentally, an ashtray 41 is provided adjacent to the left side of the medal receiver 39, and this ashtray 41 is attached to the front panel 5 by an ashtray attachment device as described below. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, this ashtray mounting device rotates the ashtray 41 including a holder 43 provided on the front panel 5, a first support shaft 45, a second support shaft 47, and a guide portion 49. Supporting means 51 is provided for supporting it freely and movably.

  The holder 43 includes a left side member 431 integrally formed with the front panel 5 and a right side member 433 that is also used as the left side wall of the medal receiver 39. Here, the holder 43 is set to be almost the same height as the ashtray 41 or slightly higher than the ashtray 41, and the upper surface of the ashtray 41 and the holder 43 is almost the same in both the usable state and the unusable state of the ashtray 41. It is set to form a surface.

  The first support shaft 45 is planted substantially at the center of the outer peripheral surfaces of the left and right side walls of the ashtray 41, and the second support shaft 47 is slightly behind the first support shaft 45 of the outer peripheral surfaces of the left and right side walls of the ashtray 41. It is planted at the upper position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the right guide portion 49 is fitted with a linear movement guide groove 491 into which the first support shaft 45 is fitted and guides the movement of the ashtray 41 forward and backward, and a second support shaft 47. Thus, a pair of second support shafts are formed continuously at both ends of the reverse guide groove 493 at positions symmetrical to the semicircular reverse guide groove 493 that guides the reverse of the ashtray 41 and the moving guide groove 491. 47 is provided with auxiliary guide grooves 495a and 495b parallel to the movement guide groove 491 for guiding the movement of the ashtray 41 in the front-rear direction, and the left-side guide portion 49 has the same configuration.

  At this time, the movement guide groove 491 and the auxiliary guide grooves 495a and 495b are formed so as to be inclined downward. By tilting in this way, the load of the ashtray 41 is applied to the rear along the tilted moving guide groove 491 and both auxiliary guide grooves 495a and 495b in both the usable state and the unusable state of the ashtray 41. Therefore, the ashtray 41 can be stably held in a usable state and an unusable state.

  And when the ashtray 41 attached to the front panel 5 by such an ashtray attachment device is not used, the ashtray 41 in the usable state as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, the first support shaft 45 is pulled out forward along the moving guide groove 491 and the upper auxiliary guide groove 495a, and then, as shown in FIGS. The front part of the ashtray 41 is pushed down and rotated approximately 180 ° around the center, and the ashtray 41 is inverted as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9C. During this reversal, the ashtray 41 can be smoothly reversed because the second support shaft 47 is along the reversal guide groove 493.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9D, the inverted ashtray 41 is pushed rearward along the movement guide groove 491 and the lower auxiliary guide groove 495b to make the ashtray 41 unusable.

  On the other hand, when the ashtray 41 that has been turned into an unusable state in this way is put into a usable state, it moves forward along the moving guide groove 491 and the lower auxiliary guide groove 495b, contrary to the operation at the time of turning over. After pulling out and pushing up the front portion of the ashtray 41 about the first support shaft 45 and rotating approximately 180 °, the ashtray 41 is pushed backward along the moving guide groove 491 and the upper auxiliary guide groove 495a, thereby ashtray 41 returns to the usable state.

  Therefore, according to the reference example described above, the ashtray 41 is rotatably and freely supported by the two shafts of the first support shaft 45 and the second support shaft 47 and the guide portion 49 into which these are fitted. When the ashtray 41 is not used, the ashtray 41 can be kept in an unobstructed state by reversing the ashtray 41, and the ashtray 41 is kept in an unusable state without using a blocking member or the like as in the prior art. can do.

  Moreover, in order to return the ashtray 41 to the usable state, it is only necessary to reverse the inverted ashtray 41 to the original state, and it is not necessary to remove the blocking member or the like as in the prior art, and the ashtray 41 can be used easily. You can return to the state.

  Furthermore, since the ashtray 41 does not protrude above the holder 43 in either the usable state or the unusable state, the ashtray 41 may interfere with the game in the usable state and the unusable state. This can prevent the game from being enjoyed by the player.

  Further, since the structure is supported by the two support shafts 45 and 47, the ashtray is not pulled out until the ashtray 41 can be rotated even if an external force is applied to the ashtray 41 in the usable state and the unusable state. 41 does not rotate, and the ashtray 41 can be held in a usable state and an unusable state.

  As a modification of the reference example described above, a guide portion 49 as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 may be provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 11A, the reverse guide groove 493 and the auxiliary guide grooves 495a and 495b in the guide portion 49 are different from the above-described reference example in that they have a U-shape.

  Also in this case, when the ashtray 41 is not used, the ashtray 41 that has been ready for use as shown in FIG. 11A is replaced with the moving guide groove 491 and the upper auxiliary guide groove as shown in FIG. 11B. Then, the front part of the ashtray 41 is pushed down about the first support shaft 45 and rotated approximately 180 ° as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b). ), The ashtray 41 is inverted, and the inverted ashtray 41 is pushed backward along the movement guide groove 491 and the lower auxiliary guide groove 495b as shown in FIG. Can be disabled.

  Further, when the ashtray 41 that has been turned into the unusable state is put into the usable state, contrary to the above-described operation at the time of reversing, the ashtray 41 is pulled forward along the moving guide groove 491 and the lower auxiliary guide groove 495b. 1 After the front part of the ashtray 41 is pushed up about the support shaft 45 and rotated approximately 180 °, the ashtray 41 is used by pushing the ashtray 41 backward along the moving guide groove 491 and the upper auxiliary guide groove 495a. Return to possible state. When the ashtray 41 is reversed, the ashtray 41 can be smoothly reversed because the second support shaft 47 is along the reversal guide groove 493.

  Therefore, according to this modification, an effect equivalent to that of the reference example can be obtained.

(One embodiment)
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, in FIGS. 13 to 15, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 9 showing the reference example described above denote the same or corresponding parts, and differences from the reference example will be mainly described below.

  In this embodiment, as shown to Fig.14 (a), the 1st support shaft 53 is planted in the front upper part rather than the center part of the right-and-left both-sides wall outer peripheral surface of the ashtray 41, and the 2nd support shaft 55 is the ashtray 41. The first support shaft 53 is longer and narrower than the second support shaft 55, and is planted substantially at the center of the outer peripheral surfaces of the left and right side walls.

  Further, the guide portion 57 is inserted into the second support shaft 55 to guide the reversal and movement of the ashtray 41, and the reversing guide groove 571 is deeper and narrower than the reversing guide groove 571. A linear movement guide groove 573 that overlaps with a part of the linear portion of the groove 571 and is formed to have substantially the same length as the linear portion, and that the first support shaft 53 is inserted to guide the movement of the ashtray 41 forward and backward. And. At this time, the overlapping linear portions of the movement guide groove 573 and the movement guide groove 573 in the reversing guide groove 571 are formed to be inclined downward. Further, the front end portion of the straight portion of the reversing guide groove 571 extends forward from the moving guide groove 573, and the rear end portion of the moving guide groove 573 extends rearward from the straight portion of the reversing guide groove 571. Thus, the linear portion of the reversing guide groove 571 and the moving guide groove 573 are arranged so as to be shifted by an amount corresponding to the distance between the first and second support shafts 53 and 55.

  The reverse guide groove 571 of the guide portion 57 is preferably formed in a concave groove shape without punching the wall surface of the holder 43, and the moving guide groove 573 is formed in a concave groove shape without punching the wall surface of the holder 43. Any one of them and those formed by punching may be used.

  When the ashtray 41 is not used, the ashtray 41 that has been ready for use as shown in FIG. 14 (a) is replaced with a straight portion of the moving guide groove 573 and the reverse guide groove 571 as shown in FIG. 14 (b). 15b, and then, as shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the front portion of the ashtray 41 is pushed down about the first support shaft 53 and rotated approximately 180 °, and FIG. 15 (c). As shown in FIG. 15, the ashtray 41 is inverted, and the inverted ashtray 41 is pushed backward along the straight portions of the moving guide groove 573 and the reverse guide groove 571 as shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to make it unusable.

  Also, when the ashtray 41 that has been turned into the unusable state is put into the usable state, it is pulled forward along the straight portions of the moving guide groove 573 and the reverse guide groove 571, contrary to the above-described reversing operation. 1 After the front part of the ashtray 41 is pushed up about the support shaft 53 and rotated approximately 180 °, the ashtray 41 is pushed back along the straight portions of the moving guide groove 573 and the reverse guide groove 571, so that the ashtray 41 is Return to the usable state. When the ashtray 41 is reversed, the ashtray 41 can be smoothly reversed because the second support shaft 55 is along the curved portion of the reverse guide groove 571.

  Therefore, according to one embodiment, as in the above-described reference example, when the ashtray 41 is not used, the ashtray 41 can be kept in a state of not interfering with the game by inverting the ashtray 41, as in the conventional case. The effect that the ashtray 41 can be kept in an unusable state without using a closing member or the like can be achieved.

  Moreover, since the ashtray 41 does not protrude above the holder 43 in either the usable state or the unusable state, the ashtray 41 may interfere with the game in the usable state and the unusable state. This can prevent the game from being enjoyed by the player.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the first and second support shafts 53 and 55 are formed on the ashtray 41 side and the guide portion 57 is formed on the holder 43 side is described, but the support shafts 53 and 55 are disposed on the holder 43 side. Needless to say, the guide portion 57 may be formed on the ashtray 41 side.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, a lock unit that firmly fixes the ashtray 41 in the usable state and the unusable state may be added. Specifically, it is desirable to fix the ashtray 41 with screws and lock it.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the ashtray 41 is moved back and forth at the time of reversal has been described. However, it is needless to say that the ashtray 41 is moved left and right and then reversed.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other gaming machines such as a pachinko machine, and in that case, the present invention is equivalent to the above-described embodiment. An effect can be obtained.

It is a front view of the slot machine in the reference example of this invention. It is a perspective view in the usable state of the ashtray of the reference example of this invention. It is a perspective view in the middle of inversion of the ashtray of the reference example of this invention. It is a perspective view in the middle of inversion of the ashtray of the reference example of this invention. It is a perspective view in the inversion state of the ashtray of the reference example of this invention. It is a perspective view in the unusable state of the ashtray of the reference example of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement explanation of the ashtray of the reference example of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement explanation of the ashtray of the reference example of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement explanation of the ashtray of the reference example of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement description of the ashtray in the modification of the reference example of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement description of the ashtray in the modification of the reference example of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement description of the ashtray in the modification of the reference example of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement explanation of the ashtray of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement explanation of the ashtray of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a right view for operation | movement explanation of the ashtray of one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 slot machine (game machine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Housing | casing 5 Front panel 39 Medal holder 41 Ashtray 43 Holder 53 1st support shaft 55 2nd support shaft 57 Guide part 571 Reverse guide groove 573 Movement guide groove

Claims (2)

In the ashtray mounting device of a gaming machine that is provided on the front panel that closes the front of the gaming machine housing so that it can be opened and closed, and attaches the ashtray to the panel,
A holder provided at the bottom of the panel;
A first support shaft provided at a front upper portion from a central portion of one of the left and right side surfaces of the ashtray or the holder in a usable state;
A second support shaft provided at substantially the center of one of the left and right side surfaces of the ashtray or the holder;
A guide portion provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the other of the ashtray or the holder, the first and second support shafts being fitted and supporting the ashtray rotatably and movably;
The first support shaft is longer and thinner than the second support shaft;
The guide portion is
A reversing guide groove that is formed in a P-shape consisting of a linear portion inclined downward toward the pushing direction of the ashtray and a substantially semicircular portion, and the second supporting shaft is inserted to guide reversal and movement of the ashtray;
A linear movement that overlaps with the straight portion of the reversing guide groove and is deeper and narrower than the reversing guide groove and that only the first support shaft is inserted to guide the movement of the ashtray in the horizontal direction. An ashtray mounting device for a gaming machine comprising a guide groove. Provided with a medal receptacle provided on the panel to receive a payout medal,
2. The ashtray mounting device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the holder is disposed adjacent to the medal receiver, and the medal receiver forms a part of a side wall of the holder.

Images