Reel unit

Abstract

A reel unit according to this invention includes a reel equipped with a frame body 30, on the outer periphery of which a plurality of kinds of symbols are formed; a driving motor 30 for driving the reel; and a speed reduction gear 40 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. The reel unit is characterized in that an engaging portion 30 is formed radially outside its center of the frame body and an engaged portion 40 to be engaged with the engaging portion is formed at the corresponding position of the speed reduction gear 40.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application is based upon and claims a priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-37993 filed on Nov. 10, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 697,085 entitled to “Motor Stop Control Device” filed on Oct. 31, 2003 and Ser. No. 10 / 697,085 entitled to “Motor stop control device utilizable for reel-type gaming machine” filed on Apr. 29, 2004. The co-pending applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] 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. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] The gaming machine such as a slot machine incorporates a reel unit as a game device ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] 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.

[0010] In accordance with the first aspect of the invention, since 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. Specifically, since 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.

[0011] In accordance with the reel unit according to this invention, since 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.

Problems solved by technology

This gives an inconvenience of giving a sense of visual disorder to the player such as the symbols when stopped slightly deviating from the positions to stop properly when seen from the player, the backlash state of the reel being visually recognized during stopping, etc.

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