Vibration generation device for game machine

Abstract

To generate two different kinds of vibrations for demonstrating a game performance effect with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A vibration generation device for a game machine includes: a rotary motor rotatable in normal and reverse directions; a rotary member connected to a rotation shaft of the rotary motor, which is rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis; a concave part formed inside the rotary member; and a weight member arranged movably inside the concave part. The concave part includes a first concave end part arranged eccentrically from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotary member by a first excentric amount, a second concave end part arranged eccentrically from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotary member by a second excentric amount larger than the first eccentric amount, and a communication part for communicating the first concave end part with the second concave end part. The communication part from the first concave end part toward the second concave end part is formed curved around the predetermined rotation axis of the rotary member so that the excentric amount, which is a distance positioned eccentrically from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotary member, increases from the first eccentric amount to the second eccentric amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration generator for a gaming machine that generates vibrations in order to vibrate components constituting the gaming machine, such as an operating section operated by a player or a part that the player touches, depending on the gaming operation status of the gaming machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a vibration generator for a gaming machine that includes a rotating motor capable of rotating forward and reverse, and generates two different types of vibrations depending on the rotation direction of the rotating motor. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various vibration generating devices for gaming machines have been proposed that generate vibrations to vibrate components constituting the gaming machine, such as an operating section operated by a player or a part that the player touches, in order to exert a performance effect according to the gaming operation status of the gaming machine. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vibration exciter that vibrates the start lever of a slot machine in order to inform a player of a jackpot when the jackpot is established. The vibration exciter includes an electric motor and an eccentric weight. The eccentric weight is fixed to the rotating shaft of the electric motor. Also, Patent Document 2 discloses a vibrator that vibrates a hand rest on which a player's hand is placed in a pachinko machine in order to inform a player of a reach state when the reach state is reached. The hand rest is disposed near the launch handle of the pachinko machine. The vibrator includes a motor and an eccentric weight. The eccentric weight is fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor.

[0003] The vibration exciter disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the vibrator disclosed in Patent Document 2 vibrate the start lever and the hand rest to inform the player of game operation conditions such as a big win and a reach state, thereby enhancing the presentation effect of the game. However, the vibration exciter and the vibrator disclosed in both Patent Documents are configured to generate only one type of vibration, so the presentation effect is monotonous and is not sufficient to achieve a higher presentation effect.

[0004] In order to achieve a higher performance effect, a vibration generator that generates two types of vibration has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 3 discloses a vibration generator used in electronic devices such as game machines. This vibration generator includes a motor that can rotate forward and backward, first and second weights eccentrically attached to the rotating shaft of the motor, and a clutch that is attached to the rotating shaft and transmits or cuts off the rotation of the rotating shaft. The clutch is composed of multiple members including a spring member. The first weight rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft in both directions, and the second weight rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft in only one direction via the clutch. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4198270 [Patent Document 2] JP 2003-111903 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2003-159565 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The vibration generator described in Patent Document 3 is configured to generate vibrations when only one weight rotates and vibrations when two weights rotate, so it can generate two types of vibrations and is effective in enhancing the realism of the game. However, the vibration generator described in Patent Document 3 requires two weights and a clutch composed of multiple members, which makes the overall configuration of the device complex and makes it difficult to reduce the size.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a vibration generating device for a gaming machine that is capable of generating two different types of vibration with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A first aspect of the invention described in claim 1 is a vibration generating device that generates vibrations that vibrate members that constitute a gaming machine, and includes a rotating motor that can rotate forward and backward, a rotating member that is connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating motor and can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis, a recess formed inside the rotating member, and a weight member that is movably arranged inside the recess. In this aspect of the invention, the recess includes a first recessed end portion that is eccentrically arranged by a first eccentric amount from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member, a second recessed end portion that is eccentrically arranged by a second eccentric amount larger than the first eccentric amount from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member, and a communicating portion that communicates between the first and second recessed end portions, and the communicating portion is curved around the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member so that the eccentric amount, which is the distance by which the communicating portion from the first recessed end portion to the second recessed end portion is eccentrically located from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member, increases from the first eccentric amount to the second eccentric amount.

[0009] In this aspect of the present invention, any component of the gaming machine may be used as long as it is a component of the gaming machine. For example, the component of the gaming machine may be an operation unit operated by a player, a component touched by a player, or a component that allows a player to perceive vibrations by a sense other than touch, such as sight or hearing.

[0010] In this aspect of the present invention, the rotary motor may be configured to rotate at a constant speed or at a variable speed, so long as it operates in a manner that allows it to rotate in both forward and reverse directions.

[0011] In this aspect of the present invention, the rotating member may be directly connected to the rotating shaft of the rotary motor, or may be connected to the rotating shaft of the rotary motor via a power transmission mechanism including gears, etc. In the latter configuration, the axial direction of the rotating shaft of the rotary motor and the axial direction of the rotating member may be parallel to each other or may intersect with each other.

[0012] In this aspect of the present invention, the rotation axis of the rotating member is not limited to extending in the vertical direction, but may extend in the horizontal direction.

[0013] In this aspect of the present invention, the shape of the weight member is not particularly limited as long as the weight member can move inside the recess by the action of inertial force and centrifugal force when the rotary motor rotates. For example, various shapes such as a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape, and an egg shape are possible as the shape of the weight member.

[0014] In this aspect of the present invention, the communication portion may be arranged over an angular region of less than 360 degrees around the rotation axis of the rotating member, or over an angular region of 360 degrees or more. In the latter case, the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion are arranged at different positions in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0015] In this aspect of the present invention, when the rotary motor stops rotating, the position within the recess where the weight member stops may be the position of either the first recessed end portion or the second recessed end portion, or may be a position of a portion other than the recessed end portion.

[0016] In the specific embodiment described in claim 2, the area from the position of the center of gravity of the weight member when the weight member is located in the first concave end portion, through the communicating portion, to the position of the center of gravity of the weight member when the weight member is located in the second concave end portion is defined as an angular area within the range of 90 degrees to 360 degrees around the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0017] In this specific embodiment, an angle range of 90 degrees to 360 degrees is defined around the rotation axis as the area from the position of the center of gravity of the weight member when the weight member is located at the first concave end portion to the position of the center of gravity of the weight member when the weight member is located at the second concave end portion. This angle range is defined taking into consideration that the distance that the weight member moves between the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion is not long, and that the communicating portion does not have a sharply curved shape.

[0018] In a specific embodiment described in claim 3, the weight member is formed in a spherical shape and is disposed in the recess so as to be able to roll freely.

[0019] In this specific embodiment, the radius and weight of the spherical weight member are not particularly limited, so long as the spherical weight member can roll between the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion through the communicating portion when the rotation direction of the rotary motor is changed.

[0020] In a specific embodiment described in claim 4, when the spherical weight member is located in the second concave end portion, a second eccentricity amount, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to a center position of the weight member, is set to a value greater than the radius of the weight member.

[0021] In this specific embodiment, the second eccentricity is determined in consideration of the magnitude of the amplitude of vibration generated when the rotary motor rotates when the weight member is located at the second concave end portion, and whether the weight member rolls smoothly between the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion, etc. The upper limit of the second eccentricity is limited by the size of the rotating member in the vibration generating device for a gaming machine incorporated in the gaming machine.

[0022] In a specific embodiment described in claim 5, when the spherical weight member is located in the first concave end portion, a first eccentricity amount, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to a center position of the weight member, is set to a value equal to or greater than the radius of the weight member and smaller than the second eccentricity amount.

[0023] In this specific embodiment, the first eccentricity amount is determined taking into consideration the magnitude of the amplitude of vibration generated when the rotary motor rotates when the weight member is positioned at the first concave end portion, and the smooth rolling of the weight member from the first concave end portion toward the second concave end portion.

[0024] In a specific embodiment described in claim 6, when the spherical weight member is located in the second concave end portion, a second eccentricity amount, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to a center position of the weight member, is set to a value equal to or greater than the diameter of the weight member and smaller than twice the value of the first eccentricity amount.

[0025] In this specific embodiment, the "value that is greater than or equal to the diameter of the weight member and less than twice the value of the first eccentricity amount" is defined so that the player can perceive that the vibration generated when the rotary motor rotates when the weight member is located in the second concave end portion is clearly different from the vibration generated when the rotary motor rotates when the weight member is located in the first concave end portion.

[0026] In a specific embodiment described in claim 7, when the spherical weight member is located in the first concave end portion, the second concave end portion is located on the opposite side to the side on which the first concave end portion is located, based on a reference plane that is perpendicular to a plane including the center position of the weight member located in the first concave end portion and the rotation axis of the rotating member, and includes the rotation axis.

[0027] In this specific embodiment, the position at which the second concave end portion is located within the region opposite the side at which the first concave end portion is located with respect to the reference plane is determined taking into consideration that the connecting portion does not have a sharply curved shape, and that the weight of the rotating member alone is not significantly biased toward one of the regions on either side with respect to the reference plane, so that the player can distinguish and perceive the two types of vibration.

[0028] In a specific embodiment described in claim 8, the rotary motor includes a housing that rotatably supports a rotating shaft, the rotating member is fixed to the rotating shaft extending from the housing, and the rotary motor further includes a motor support member fixed to a housing end face that extends in a direction intersecting the rotating shaft and is adjacent to the rotating member, and when the rotary motor rotates, vibration of the rotating member is transmitted to the motor support member.

[0029] In this specific embodiment, the shape and size of the motor support member are not limited as long as the motor support member is fixed to the housing end surface adjacent to the rotating member. The motor support member is preferably formed in a plate shape with the same size as the rotating member.

[0030] In a specific embodiment described in claim 9, the motor support member is connected to a mechanism that supports members constituting the gaming machine in a vibratory manner.

[0031] In this specific embodiment, the mechanism for supporting the game machine in a vibratory manner may be configured to be assembled into the game machine, or may be configured to be included as part of the configuration of the vibration generating device for the game machine.

[0032] In this specific embodiment, the mechanism that supports the components constituting the gaming machine so that they can be freely displaced in a predetermined direction relative to the motor support member or a member fixed to the motor support member is a mechanism that connects the components constituting the gaming machine to the motor support member or a member fixed to the motor support member.

[0033] In a specific embodiment described in claim 10, the rotation axis of the rotating member extends in a vertical direction. The rotating member is disposed above the motor support member, and the rotating motor is disposed below the motor support member. The recess includes an opening that opens upward, and further includes a cover member that covers the opening of the recess.

[0034] In this specific embodiment, the opening may be formed so as to be open over the entire area where the recess is formed, or may be formed so as to be open over only a part of the area where the recess is formed. In the latter case, it is sufficient that the opening is formed to at least a minimum size that allows the weight member to be inserted into the recess.

[0035] In a specific embodiment described in claim 11, the rotation axis of the rotating member extends in the vertical direction, the bottom surface of the first concave end portion and the bottom surface of the second concave end portion are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction, and the bottom surface of the communicating portion is formed so as to be inclined from the bottom surface of one of the first and second concave end portions to the bottom surface of the other concave end portion.

[0036] In this specific embodiment, the degree of inclination of the bottom surface of the communicating portion is determined so that, when the rotary motor stops rotating, the weight member can move within the communicating portion under the action of gravity toward the concave end portion that is positioned lower in the vertical direction out of the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion.

[0037] In a specific embodiment described in claim 12, the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion is disposed at a position lower in the vertical direction than the bottom surface of the second recessed end portion.

[0038] In a specific embodiment described in claim 13, the bottom surface of the second concave end portion and the bottom surface of the communicating portion are connected by a continuous surface, and a stepped portion is formed in the area where the bottom surface of the first concave end portion and the bottom surface of the connecting portion are connected, and the weight member moves from the bottom surface of the first concave end portion to the bottom surface of the connecting portion by climbing over the stepped portion.

[0039] In this specific embodiment, the step of the stepped portion is determined so that when the rotary motor stops rotating, the weight member is held on the bottom surface of the first concave end portion, while when the rotary motor switches rotation direction and starts rotating in the opposite direction, the weight member can overcome the stepped portion.

[0040] The second aspect of the invention described in claim 14 is a vibration generating device that generates vibrations that vibrate components that constitute a gaming machine, and includes a rotary motor capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions, a rotary member connected to the rotary shaft of the rotary motor and rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis, a recess formed inside the rotary member, a weight member arranged movably inside the recess, and a motor control unit that switches the rotation direction of the rotary motor. In this aspect of the present invention, the recess includes a first concave end portion located eccentrically from the predetermined rotational axis of the rotating member by a first eccentricity amount, a second concave end portion located eccentrically from the predetermined rotational axis of the rotating member by a second eccentricity amount larger than the first eccentricity amount, and a communicating portion that communicates between the first and second concave end portions, the communicating portion being curved around the predetermined rotational axis of the rotating member so that the eccentricity amount, which is the distance by which the communicating portion from the first concave end portion to the second concave end portion is eccentrically located from the predetermined rotational axis of the rotating member, increases from the first eccentricity amount to the second eccentricity amount, and the weight member moves to and is positioned at either the first or second concave end portion depending on the rotational direction of the rotary motor.

[0041] In this aspect of the present invention, the motor control unit may be configured to at least control the rotation and stopping of the rotary motor and the switching of the rotation direction. If necessary, the motor control unit may be configured to variably control the rotation speed of the rotary motor according to the presentation effect of the gaming machine.

[0042] The second invention aspect may be embodied in various ways, similar to the first invention aspect and its specific embodiments. Effect of the Invention

[0043] In a first aspect of the invention described in claim 1, there is provided a vibration device that generates vibrations to vibrate members constituting a gaming machine, the rotating member being connected to a rotating shaft of a rotating motor capable of rotating forward and reverse directions and rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis. The weight member is movably disposed inside a recess formed inside the rotating member. The recess includes a first recessed end portion disposed eccentrically from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member by a first eccentric amount, a second recessed end portion disposed eccentrically from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member by a second eccentric amount larger than the first eccentric amount, and a communication portion that communicates between the first recessed end portion and the second recessed end portion. The communication portion is curved around the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member so that the eccentric amount, which is the distance by which the communication portion from the first recessed end portion toward the second recessed end portion is eccentrically positioned from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member, increases from the first eccentric amount to the second eccentric amount. As a result, the weight member is positioned at either the first concave end portion or the second concave end portion depending on the rotation direction of the rotary motor, making it possible to generate two different types of vibration with a simple configuration.

[0044] In the specific embodiment described in claim 2, the region from the position of the center of gravity of the weight member when the weight member is located at the first concave end portion through the communicating portion to the position of the center of gravity of the weight member when the weight member is located at the second concave end portion is set to an angle region within the range of 90 degrees to 360 degrees around the rotation axis of the rotating member. As a result, the time for the weight member to move between the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion can be shortened compared to when the region in which the weight member moves is set to an angle region exceeding 360 degrees, and the two types of vibration can be switched quickly. Also, compared to when the region in which the weight member moves is set to an angle region smaller than 90 degrees, the communicating portion disposed between the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion can be prevented from suddenly curving, and the two types of vibration can be switched smoothly.

[0045] In a specific embodiment described in claim 3, the weight member is formed in a spherical shape and is disposed so as to be freely rollable inside the recessed portion. As a result, it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance between the weight member and the internal contact surface of the recessed portion, and it is possible to smoothly and quickly switch between the two types of vibration.

[0046] In a specific embodiment described in claim 4, when the spherical weight member is located at the second concave end portion, the second eccentricity, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to the center position of the weight member, is set to a value larger than the radius of the weight member. If the second eccentricity is set to a value equal to or smaller than the radius of the weight member, the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion are arranged in an overlapping state in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the rotating member, and the communication portion is formed in a shape that is sharply curved in a spiral shape in the axial direction of the rotation axis. However, in this specific embodiment, since the second eccentricity is set to a value larger than the radius of the weight member, it is possible to prevent the communication portion from being sharply curved, and it is possible to smoothly switch between the two types of vibration.

[0047] In a specific embodiment described in claim 5, when the spherical weight member is located at the first concave end portion, the first eccentricity, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to the center position of the weight member, is set to a value equal to or greater than the radius of the weight member and smaller than the second eccentricity. If the first eccentricity is set to a value smaller than the radius of the weight member, it is necessary to arrange the first concave end portion far away from the support shaft or the rotation shaft of the rotary motor in the axial direction in order to prevent the support shaft that rotatably supports the rotating member or the rotation shaft of the rotary motor from intruding and extending into the arrangement area of ​​the first concave end portion. However, in this specific embodiment, since the first eccentricity is set to a value equal to or greater than the radius of the weight member and smaller than the second eccentricity, the first concave end portion can be arranged close to the periphery of the support shaft or the rotation shaft of the rotary motor without interfering with the support shaft or the rotation shaft of the rotary motor.

[0048] In a specific embodiment described in claim 6, when the spherical weight member is located at the second concave end portion, the second eccentricity, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to the center position of the weight member, is set to a value equal to or greater than the diameter of the weight member and smaller than twice the value of the first eccentricity. As a result, the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion can be disposed around the rotation axis of the rotating member while suppressing an increase in the size of the rotating member in the radial direction from the rotation axis of the rotating member.

[0049] In a specific embodiment described in claim 7, when the spherical weight member is located at the first concave end portion, the second concave end portion is located on the opposite side to the side where the first concave end portion is located, based on a reference plane that is perpendicular to a plane including the center position of the weight member located at the first concave end portion and the rotation axis of the rotating member, and includes the rotation axis. As a result, the second concave end portion can be freely located around the rotation axis of the rotating member without interfering with the first concave end portion.

[0050] In a specific embodiment described in claim 8, the rotary motor includes a housing that rotatably supports a rotary shaft. The rotary member is fixed to the rotary shaft extending from the housing. The motor support member is fixed to a housing end face that extends in a direction intersecting the rotary shaft and is adjacent to the rotary member. When the rotary motor rotates, vibration of the rotary member is transmitted to the motor support member. As a result, since the motor support member is fixed to the housing end face that is adjacent to the rotary member, the motor support member can reliably receive vibration transmitted from the rotary member to the rotary shaft of the rotary motor with little attenuation.

[0051] In a specific embodiment described in claim 9, the motor support member is connected to a mechanism that supports the member constituting the gaming machine so that the member can vibrate. As a result, the mechanism that supports the member so that the member can vibrate can transmit the vibration of the rotating member to the member constituting the gaming machine without attenuation.

[0052] In a specific embodiment described in claim 10, the rotation axis of the rotating member extends in the vertical direction, the rotating member is disposed above the motor support member, the rotating motor is disposed below the motor support member, the recess includes an opening that opens upward, and further includes a cover member that covers the opening of the recess. As a result, the operation of assembling the rotating member to the rotating shaft of the rotating motor, the operation of inserting the weight member into the recess, the operation of opening the opening, etc. can be easily performed.

[0053] In a specific embodiment described in claim 11, the rotation axis of the rotating member extends in the vertical direction, the bottom surface of the first concave end portion and the bottom surface of the second concave end portion are disposed at different positions in the vertical direction, and the bottom surface of the communication portion is formed to be inclined from the bottom surface of one of the first and second concave end portions to the bottom surface of the other concave end portion. As a result, the weight member can move by the action of gravity along the inclined bottom surface of the communication portion toward the concave end portion disposed at the lower position. When the rotary motor stops rotating, the weight member can be reliably made to wait at the concave end portion disposed at the lower position.

[0054] In a specific embodiment described in claim 12, the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion is disposed at a position lower in the vertical direction than the bottom surface of the second recessed end portion. As a result, when the rotation motor stops rotating, the weight member can wait at the first recessed end portion that is eccentrically disposed by the first eccentricity amount smaller than the second eccentricity amount, and the load on the rotation motor can be reduced when the rotation motor starts rotating.

[0055] In a specific embodiment described in claim 13, the bottom surface of the second recessed end portion and the bottom surface of the communication portion are connected by a continuous surface, and a step portion is formed in the area where the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion and the bottom surface of the connection portion are connected, and the weight member moves over the step portion from the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion to the bottom surface of the connection portion. As a result, when the rotation motor stops rotating, the step portion can reliably hold the weight member in the first recessed end portion.

[0056] In a second aspect of the invention as set forth in claim 14, the rotating member is connected to a rotating shaft of a rotating motor capable of rotating forward and reverse directions and is rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis. The weight member is movably disposed inside a recess formed inside the rotating member. The motor control unit switches the rotation direction of the rotating motor. The recess includes a first recessed end portion located eccentrically from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member by a first eccentric amount, a second recessed end portion located eccentrically from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member by a second eccentric amount larger than the first eccentric amount, and a communicating portion communicating between the first and second recessed end portions. The communicating portion is curved around the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member so that the eccentric amount, which is the distance by which the communicating portion from the first recessed end portion toward the second recessed end portion is eccentrically located from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member, increases from the first eccentric amount to the second eccentric amount. The weight member moves to and is positioned at either the first or second concave end portion depending on the rotation direction of the rotary motor. As a result, the motor control unit switches the rotation direction of the rotary motor, and the weight member is selectively positioned at either the first or second concave end portion, thereby making it possible to generate two different types of vibration with a simple configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0057] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a batting game machine 1 incorporating a vibration generating device 20 for a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of the chance button 14 and the vibration generating device 20 for a gaming machine, viewed obliquely from above. [Diagram 3] 1 is an exploded perspective view of the chance button 14 and the vibration generating device 20 for a gaming machine, viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 4] 2 is a front view showing the appearance of a chance button 14 incorporating a vibration generating device 20 for a gaming machine. FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a right-side cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4, showing the chance button 14 incorporating the vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine, as viewed from the right. [Figure 6] 5 is a right-side cross-sectional view of the chance button 14 incorporating the vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine, taken along line BB in FIG. 4, as viewed from the right. [Figure 7] 5 is a bottom cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 4 and showing the chance button 14 incorporating the vibration generating device 20 for a gaming machine, as viewed from below. [Figure 8] 2 is a perspective view of the movable plate 32 as seen obliquely from above. [Figure 9] 2 is a perspective view of the movable plate 32 as seen obliquely from below. [Figure 10] 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing a pair of support levers 34A and 34B as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 11] 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a support lever 34B is viewed obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is an enlarged right side view showing the support lever 34B alone as viewed from the right. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a bottom view of the external lens 38 seen from below. [Figure 14] 14 is a right-side cross-sectional view of the external lens 38 taken along line DD in FIG. 13 and seen from the right. [Figure 15] 1 is a bottom view of the internal lens 104. FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a right-side cross-sectional view of the internal lens 104 taken along line EE shown in FIG. 15 and seen from the right. [Figure 17] 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a drive unit 102 to which each component part is assembled is seen from diagonally above. [Figure 18] 18 is a right-side cross-sectional view showing the drive unit 102 cut in the up-down direction along the line FF shown in FIG. 17 and viewed from the right. [Figure 19] 19 is a top cross-sectional view showing the drive unit 102 cut along line GG shown in FIG. 18 and viewed from above. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which a rotating member 144 alone is viewed from above. [Figure 21] 13 is a bottom view showing the rotating member 144 alone as viewed from below. [Figure 22] 21 is a right-side cross-sectional view of a rotating member 144 cut along line HH in FIG. 20 and viewed from the right in FIG. 20. FIG. [Diagram 23] 21 is a right-side cross-sectional view of a rotating member 144 cut along line JJ shown in FIG. 20 and viewed from the right in FIG. 20. FIG. [Figure 24] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing cross sections of three portions of a rotating member 144 alone. [Diagram 25] 1 is a block diagram showing the basic electrical configuration of the bachinko game machine 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0058] [Embodiment] The vibration generator for a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a pachinko gaming machine 1 in which a vibration generator for a gaming machine 20 is incorporated. Usually, a pachinko gaming machine is equipped with a chance button to perform a performance that increases the expectation of a player for a big win. A pachinko gaming machine equipped with a chance button is well known from Japanese Patent No. 6289514 and the like. The vibration generator for a gaming machine 20 according to this embodiment is disposed inside the chance button. The two directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1 are defined as the up-down direction and the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to the two directions is defined as the front-rear direction, and these directions are indicated by arrows in FIG. 2 and subsequent drawings.

[0059] <External configuration of pachinko game machine 1> The external configuration of the pachinko game machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The pachinko game machine 1 includes an outer frame (not shown) and a front frame 2 that is attached to the outer frame by a hinge so as to be openable and closable. The front frame 2 includes a game board 4 that defines a game area, and a front door 6 made of a glass door that covers the game board 4 from the front. A control board that controls the overall operation of the pachinko game machine 1 is attached to the back surface of the front frame 2. The front door 6 is attached to the frame portion of the front frame 2 so as to be openable and closable. A display device 8 having a display screen is arranged on the game board 4 and displays various images for performance. An upper tray 10 is arranged below the game board 4 and can store game balls. A ball launching handle 12 is arranged at a position on the lower right side of the pachinko game machine 1 and at a position lower than the upper tray 10. A chance button 14 is arranged at a position on the lower center side of the pachinko game machine 1 and close to the ball launching handle 10. The chance button 14 has a configuration that can be operated by pressing it, and is attached to the front frame 2.

[0060] <Combination of chance button 14 and vibration generating device 20 for gaming machine> The combination of the chance button 14 and the vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine will be described with reference mainly to Figs. 2 to 7. Fig. 2 shows the chance button 14 incorporating the vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine, disassembled and viewed from diagonally above. Fig. 3 shows the chance button 14 incorporating the vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine, disassembled and viewed from diagonally below. Fig. 4 shows the appearance of the chance button 14 incorporating the vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine. Figs. 5 to 7 show the chance button 14 shown in Fig. 4 cut along lines AA, BB, and CC shown in Fig. 4, respectively. The vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine is housed inside the chance button 14 as shown in Fig. 5, and is assembled to the chance button 14 so as to be slightly displaceable in the up-down direction. The assembly of the vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine so as to be slightly displaceable will be described later.

[0061] (Detailed configuration of Chance Button 14) First, the detailed configuration of the chance button 14 will be described mainly with reference to Figs. 2, 3, 8 to 14. The chance button 14 includes a support base 30, a movable plate 32, a pair of support levers 34A and 34B, a pair of coil springs 36A and 36B, and a hemispherical external lens 38. The support base 30 is fixed to the front frame 2 of the pachinko game machine 1 by a fixing means such as a screw. Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of the movable plate 32 as viewed obliquely from above, and Fig. 9 shows an enlarged view of the movable plate 32 as viewed obliquely from above. Fig. 10 shows a pair of support levers 34A and 34B as viewed obliquely from above, Fig. 11 shows the support lever 34B alone as viewed obliquely from above, and Fig. 12 shows the support lever 34B alone as viewed from the right. 13 shows an enlarged view of the external lens 38 as viewed from below, and FIG. 14 shows an enlarged view of the external lens 38 as viewed from the right, cut along line DD shown in FIG.

[0062] The support base 30 includes a circular support plate 40, an annular upright portion 42, four support pieces 44A, 46A, 44B, 46B, a pair of regulating pieces 48A, 48B, a pair of spring accommodating portions 50A, 50B, and a light-shielding piece 52. The support plate 40 has a circular opening 40A at its center, which penetrates in the vertical direction. The upright portion 42 is formed by rising upward from the outer periphery of the support plate 40. The four support pieces 44A, 46A, 44B, 46B are formed by protruding upward from the upper surface of the support plate 40, as shown in FIG. 2. The support piece 44A is shown in FIG. 7. The upper end of each support piece is formed by bending, as shown in FIG. 2. The two regulating pieces 48A, 48B each have a tip claw portion at the tip that protrudes upward. The restricting piece 48A and the spring accommodating portion 50A are disposed between the support pieces 44A and 46A in the left-right direction, and the restricting piece 48B and the spring accommodating portion 50B are disposed between the support pieces 44B and 46B in the left-right direction. The spring accommodating portions 50A and 50B each have a space for accommodating the coil springs 36A and 36B, as shown in Fig. 7. The light blocking piece 52 is formed to protrude upward from the upper surface of the support plate portion 40.

[0063] The movable plate 32 is formed in a circular shape with a diameter smaller than that of the support plate portion 40 so that it can rise and fall inside the support base 30. In Figs. 8 and 9, the movable plate 32 includes a circular connecting plate portion 54, an annular hanging portion 56, a pair of connecting protrusions 58A, 58B, a pair of mounting portions 60A, 60B, a sensor mounting opening 62A, and a screw hole 62B. The connecting plate portion 54 has a circular opening 54A penetrating in the vertical direction at its center, and three through holes 54B to 54D penetrating in the vertical direction at its periphery. An LED board (not shown) is mounted on the upper surface of the connecting plate portion 54. The circular opening 54A has approximately the same diameter as the circular opening 40A of the support plate portion 40. The hanging portion 56 is formed to hang down from the outer periphery of the connecting plate portion 54, and is formed to be able to be accommodated in the annular internal space of the standing portion 42. A pair of notches 64A, 64B, each having a semicircular shape, are formed in the hanging portion 56 to avoid interference with both spring accommodating portions 50A, 50B. A pair of connecting protrusions 58A, 58B are formed to protrude downward from the lower surface of the connecting plate portion 54. As shown in FIG. 9, the connecting protrusion 58A has a pair of connecting holes 66A, 68A, and the connecting protrusion 58B has a pair of connecting holes 66B, 68B. The pair of mounting portions 60A, 60B are disposed on the upper surface of the connecting plate portion 54 in a positional relationship in which they face each other across the circular opening 54A of the connecting plate portion 54. Each mounting portion is formed by forming an annular protruding portion on the upper surface of the connecting plate portion 54. The sensor mounting opening 62A and the screw hole 62B are formed to penetrate the connecting plate portion 54 at a position close to the connecting protrusion 58A.

[0064] A pair of support levers 34A, 34B are respectively attached to the support base 30 and the movable plate 32, and support the movable plate 32 so that it can rise and fall relative to the support base 30. Since both support levers 34A, 34B have the same shape and dimensions, the detailed configuration of each support lever will be described using the support lever 34B as an example.

[0065] As shown in Figures 7 and 11, the support lever 34B includes a lever main body portion 70B, a pair of engagement grooves 72B, 74B, a pair of connecting shaft portions 76B, 78B, a pair of teeth portions 80B, 82B, a regulating groove 84B, a curved retreat portion 86B, and a recess portion 88B.

[0066] The lever body 70B is formed in a flat plate shape that is long in the left-right direction. The pair of locking grooves 72B, 74B are formed at the rear end of the lever body 70B at positions close to both left and right ends. The pair of connecting shafts 76B, 78B are formed at the front part of the lever body 70B, protruding from both left and right ends. The pair of toothed portions 80B, 82B are disposed at positions close to both connecting shafts 76B, 78B, and protrude forward. As shown in FIG. 12, each of the toothed portions 80B, 82B has two toothed portions, and the direction in which the two toothed portions of the toothed portion 80B protrude and the direction in which the two toothed portions of the toothed portion 82B protrude are set in a state in which they are shifted in the up-down direction by an angle corresponding to one toothed portion. As shown in Fig. 7, the restriction groove 84B is formed on the lower surface of the lever body 70B at a position slightly away from the center position in the left-right direction of the rear end of the lever body 70B toward the arrangement position of the locking groove 72B. The curved retreat portion 86B is formed by curving so that the front portion of the lever body 70B retreats rearward. The recessed portion 88B is formed in a recessed state at a position close to the tooth portion 82B on the upper surface of the lever body 70B.

[0067] As shown in Fig. 10, the support lever 34A is disposed in a state in which the support lever 34B is rotated by 180 degrees around an axis extending in the vertical direction. When a component part of the support lever 34A corresponds to a component part of the support lever 34B, the corresponding component part of the support lever 34A is indicated by using the same reference number as the component part of the support lever 34B, and adding the alphabet "A" to the end of the reference number.

[0068] 7, 9, and 10, when the pair of support levers 34A, 34B are assembled to the movable plate 32, the connecting shaft portion 76A of the support lever 34A fits into the connecting hole 66B of the connecting protrusion 58B, and the connecting shaft portion 78A of the support lever 34A fits into the connecting hole 66A of the connecting protrusion 58A. The connecting shaft portion 78B of the support lever 34B fits into the connecting hole 68B of the connecting protrusion 58B, and the connecting shaft portion 76B of the support lever 34B fits into the connecting hole 68A of the connecting protrusion 58A. Furthermore, the tooth portion 80A of the support lever 34A meshes with the tooth portion 82B of the support lever 34A, and the tooth portion 82A of the support lever 34A meshes with the tooth portion 80B of the support lever 34A.

[0069] 7, when the pair of support levers 34A, 34B are assembled to the support base 30, both locking grooves 72A, 74A of the support lever 34A fit into both support pieces 46A, 44A of the support base 30, respectively, and both locking grooves 72B, 74B of the support lever 34B fit into both support pieces 44B, 46B of the support base 30. The support lever 34A is elastically biased backward by the coil spring 36A housed in the spring housing portion 50A, and the support lever 34B is elastically biased forward by the coil spring 36B housed in the spring housing portion 50B. Furthermore, the regulating groove 84A of the support lever 34A engages with the tip claw portion of the regulating piece 48A of the support base 30, thereby regulating the front-to-rear position to which the support lever 34A is biased by the coil spring 36A, and the regulating groove 84B of the support lever 34B engages with the tip claw portion of the regulating piece 48B of the support base 30, thereby regulating the front-to-rear position to which the support lever 34B is biased by the coil spring 36B.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 14, the external lens 38 is formed in a hemispherical shape and opens downward. The external lens 38 has three screw holes 90A to 90C on the inner periphery. A guide protrusion 92 is formed at the uppermost part of the hemispherical inner surface of the external lens 38, protruding downward. The guide protrusion 92 has a cylindrical part 92A and a pair of rib parts 92B, 92C. Both rib parts 92B, 92C are formed protruding in the radial direction from the cylindrical part 92A. The external lens 38 is fixed to the movable plate 32 by screwing three screws 94A to 94C shown in FIG. 2 into the three screw holes 90A to 90C of the external lens 38 through the three through holes 54B to 54D of the movable plate 32.

[0071] (Detailed configuration of vibration generating device 20 for gaming machine) Next, the detailed configuration of the vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine will be described mainly with reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 15 to 24. The vibration generator 20 for a gaming machine includes a mounting base 100, a drive unit 102, and a hemispherical internal lens 104. The drive unit 102 is accommodated in an internal space formed by the mounting base 100 and the internal lens 104. Fig. 15 shows the internal lens 104 as viewed from below. Fig. 16 shows the internal lens 104 cut along line EE shown in Fig. 15 and viewed from the right. Figs. 17 to 24 show the entire drive unit 102 and the detailed configuration of each component.

[0072] The mounting base 100 includes a large diameter cylindrical portion 100A and a small diameter cylindrical portion 100B. The large diameter cylindrical portion 100A is disposed on the upper portion of the small diameter cylindrical portion 100B. Both cylindrical portions 100A and 100B are formed to open upward. Four through holes 110A to 110D are formed on the outer circumferential edge of the large diameter cylindrical portion 100A. Four screw holes 112A to 112D are formed on the inner circumferential edge of the large diameter cylindrical portion 100A. In FIG. 2, only the screw holes 112B and 112D are shown. A pair of bulging portions 114A and 114B are formed on the outer circumferential edge of the large diameter cylindrical portion 100A. A pair of mounting protrusions 116A and 116B are formed to protrude downward from the lower end surfaces of both bulging portions 114A and 114B as shown in FIG. 3. Both mounting projections 116A, 116B are formed in a circular shape.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 3, the internal lens 104 has a hemispherical shape and is formed to be open downward. The internal lens 104 has a cylindrical portion 104A inside. The cylindrical portion 104A is formed to hang down from the upper part of the inner surface of the internal lens 104. Four screw holes 120A to 120D are formed at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 104A, as shown in FIG. 15. A guide recess 122 is formed to be open upward at the uppermost part of the hemispherical outer surface of the internal lens 104. The guide recess 122 has a large diameter hole portion 122A, a small diameter hole portion 122B, and a pair of groove portions 122C and 122D. The large diameter hole portion 122A is disposed above the small diameter hole portion 122B, and both groove portions 122C and 122D are formed to extend radially from the small diameter hole portion 122B.

[0074] The internal lens 104 is fixed to the mounting base 100 by screwing the four screws 124A to 124D shown in FIG. 2 into the four screw holes 120A to 120D of the internal lens 104 through the four through holes 110A to 110D of the mounting base 100. A pair of elastic members 126A, 126B are attached to both mounting protrusions 116A, 116B of the mounting base 100, respectively. Specifically, both elastic members 126A, 126B are formed in a disk shape having a circular hole in the center, and are attached to both mounting protrusions 116A, 116B by fitting the circular hole into both mounting protrusions 116A, 116B, respectively. In this embodiment, light emitted from an LED board mounted on the upper surface of the connecting plate portion 54 is radiated from the chance button 14 through the internal lens 104 and the external lens 38.

[0075] The guide connecting member 128 is disposed between the guide protrusion 92 of the outer lens 38 and the guide recess 122 of the inner lens 104. Specifically, the guide connecting member 128 has a through hole 130, a large diameter disc portion 132, a small diameter disc portion 134, a pair of grooves 132A, 132B, and a pair of ribs 134A, 134B. The through hole 130 is formed penetrating the guide connecting member 128 in the up-down direction. The large diameter disc portion 132 is disposed above the small diameter disc portion 134. The two grooves 132A, 132B are formed in the large diameter disc portion 132, extending radially from the through hole 130, and opening upward. The two ribs 134A, 134B are formed extending radially from the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter disc portion 134. The cylindrical portion 92A and both rib portions 92B, 92C of the guide protrusion 92 of the external lens 38 fit into the through hole 130 and both grooves 132A, 132B of the guide connecting member 128. The large diameter hole portion 122A, the small diameter hole portion 122B, and both grooves 122C, 122D of the internal lens 104 fit into the large diameter disk portion 132, the small diameter disk portion 134, and both rib portions 134A, 134B of the guide connecting member 128. The mounting base 100 and the internal lens 104 are assembled by the two elastic members 126A, 126B and the guide connecting member 128 so as to be slightly displaceable in the vertical direction relative to the movable plate 32 and the external lens 38, i.e., so as to be slightly vibrable in the vertical direction.

[0076] (Detailed configuration of the drive unit 102) The detailed configuration of the drive unit 102 will be described with reference to Figs. 2, 3, 17 to 24. The drive unit 102 includes a rotary motor 140, a motor support member 142, a rotary member 144, a weight member 146, and a cover member 148. Fig. 17 shows the drive unit 102 to which each component is assembled, viewed from diagonally above. Fig. 18 shows the drive unit 102 cut vertically along line FF shown in Fig. 17 and viewed from the right. Fig. 19 shows the drive unit 102 cut along line GG shown in Fig. 18 and viewed from above. Fig. 20 shows the rotary member 144 alone as viewed from above, and Fig. 21 shows the rotary member 144 alone as viewed from below. Figs. 22 and 23 show the rotary member 144 cut along line HH and line JJ shown in Fig. 20 and viewed from the right in Fig. 20, respectively. FIG. 24 shows cross sections of three portions of the rotating member 144.

[0077] The rotary motor 140 is a DC motor, and rotates in either a forward or reverse direction depending on the direction of the supplied current. As shown in FIG. 18, the rotary motor 140 includes a housing 150 and a rotary shaft 152 rotatably supported by the housing 150. The housing 150 includes a cylindrical portion 150A and a pair of housing end faces 150B and 150C. The housing end faces 150B and 150C are disposed at the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical portion 150A, respectively, and extend perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary shaft 152. The rotary shaft 152 extends and protrudes upward from the housing end face 150B.

[0078] The motor support member 142 is formed in a rectangular plate shape, as shown in Figures 17 and 19. The dimension of the motor support member 142 in the short side direction is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 150A, as shown in Figure 18. The dimension of the motor support member 142 in the long side direction is set to be sufficiently larger than the maximum dimension of the rotating member 144 in the front-rear or left-right direction, as shown in Figure 19. The motor support member 142 has a shaft insertion hole 154, a pair of through holes 156A, 156B, and four mounting holes 158A to 158D that penetrate in the up-down direction.

[0079] 2 are threaded into a pair of screw holes in the housing end surface 150B through both through holes 156A and 156B of the motor support member 142, thereby supporting the motor support member 142. When the motor support member 142 supports the motor support member 142, the rotary shaft 152 protrudes through the shaft insertion hole 154 of the motor support member 142.

[0080] The motor support member 142 is fixed to the mounting base 100 by screwing four screws 162A-162D shown in Fig. 2 into four screw holes 112A-112D of the mounting base 100 through four mounting holes 158A-158D of the motor support member 142. When the motor support member 142 is fixed to the mounting base 100, the housing 150 of the rotary motor 140 is accommodated inside the small diameter cylindrical portion 100B of the mounting base 100, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0081] The mounting shaft member 164 is used to connect the rotating shaft 152 of the rotary motor 140 and the rotating member 144. In Fig. 2 and Fig. 18, the mounting shaft member 164 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has a shaft insertion hole 164A therein. The mounting shaft member 164 has a flat portion 164B on the outer periphery. The flat portion 164B is formed by cutting out a part of the outer periphery of the mounting shaft member 164. Due to the formation of the flat portion 164B, the outer periphery of the mounting shaft member 164 has a substantially D-shaped cross section. The mounting shaft member 164 is attached to the rotating shaft 152 of the rotary motor 140 by press-fitting the rotating shaft 152 into the shaft insertion hole 164A.

[0082] The rotating member 144 includes a connecting shaft portion 170, a rotating body portion 172, and a rolling recessed portion 174, and is integrally molded from a synthetic resin material. A material having high wear resistance and self-lubricating properties is used as the synthetic resin material of the rotating member 144. In this embodiment, a polyacetal resin material is used as the synthetic resin material of the rotating member 144. The connecting shaft portion 170 is formed by extending downward from the lower portion of the rotating body portion 172 as shown in FIG. 18. The connecting shaft portion 170 has a substantially D-shaped connecting hole 170A as shown in FIG. 21. The rotating body portion 172 has two screw holes 176A, 176B and a fitting hole 178 as shown in FIG. 20. Both screw holes 176A, 176B and the fitting hole 178 are formed to open upward. The rolling recessed portion 174 is formed inside the rotating body portion 172 and accommodates the weight member 146. The weight member 146 is made of a spherical steel ball. The weight member 146 is made of a material having high hardness, wear resistance, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance, for example, high carbon chromium bearing steel. In this embodiment, the weight member 146 is made of SUJ2 and has a diameter of 14 mm. The weight member 146 is disposed in the rolling recess 174 so as to be able to roll.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 17, the cover member 148 is formed in a flat plate shape and has a pair of through holes 180A, 180B. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover member 148 has a fitting protrusion 182 protruding downward from the lower surface of the cover member 148. The cover member 148 is fixed to the rotating member 144 in a state in which the rolling recess 174 is covered from above by screwing a pair of screws 184A, 184B shown in FIG. 2 into both screw holes 176A, 176B of the rotating main body part 172 through both through holes 180A, 180B of the cover member 148. When the cover member 148 is fixed to the rotating member 144, the fitting protrusion 182 fits into the fitting hole 178. The rotating member 144 is fixed to the rotating shaft 152 of the rotating motor 140 by press-fitting the mounting shaft member 164 into the connecting hole 170A of the connecting shaft part 170. The rotating member 144 is fixed to the rotating shaft 152 , so that the rotating member 144 can rotate about the rotation axis AX of the rotating shaft 152 .

[0084] (Detailed configuration of rolling recess 174) The detailed configuration of the rolling recess 174 will be described with reference to Figs. 20 to 24. The rolling recess 174 includes a first recessed end portion 190, a second recessed end portion 192, and a communication portion 194. The rolling recess 174 has an opening 196 that opens upward. The first recessed end portion 190 is formed at one end of the rolling recess 174, the second recessed end portion 192 is formed at the other end of the rolling recess 174, and the communication portion 194 communicates between the first recessed end portion 190 and the second recessed end portion 192. The communication portion 194 is formed by a curved outer wall surface 194A and a curved inner wall surface 194B. The interval between the outer wall surface 194A and the inner wall surface 194B is set to a value slightly larger than the diameter of the weight member 146.

[0085] In Fig. 20, the rotation center RC represents the center of rotation of the rotating member 144 when the rotating member 144 rotates around the rotation axis AX shown in Fig. 18, i.e., the position of the rotation axis AX when viewed from above. The center of gravity GC1 represents the center of gravity of the weight member 146 when the weight member 146 is located at the first concave end portion 190 as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 22, i.e., the central position of the weight member 146. The center of gravity GC2 represents the center of gravity of the weight member 146 when the weight member 146 is located at the second concave end portion 192 as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 23, i.e., the central position of the weight member 146. The angle α represents the angle of rotation from the line L1 connecting the rotation center RC and the center of gravity GC1 to the line L2 connecting the rotation center RC and the center of gravity GC2. The angle α is determined in consideration of the fact that the rolling distance of the weight member 146 between the first concave end portion 190 and the second concave end portion 192 is not long, and that the communicating portion 194 is not curved sharply. In this embodiment, the angle α is set to approximately 225 degrees. In addition, the second concave end portion 192 is disposed in an area opposite to the area where the first concave end portion 190 is disposed, based on a reference plane RP that is perpendicular to the line L1 and includes the rotation axis AX. In FIG. 20, the area where the first concave end portion 190 is disposed is an area located to the upper left of the reference plane RP, and the area where the second concave end portion 192 is disposed is an area located to the lower right of the reference plane RP.

[0086] As shown in Fig. 22, a step portion 198 is formed by gently curving upward from the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion 190 in a region connecting the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion 190 and the bottom surface of the communicating portion 194. As shown in Fig. 20, a protruding portion 200 is formed by gently curving inward from the outer wall surface 190A of the first recessed end portion 190 in a region connecting the outer wall surface 190A of the first recessed end portion 190 and the outer wall surface 194A of the communicating portion 194. A protruding portion 202 is formed by gently curving inward from the outer wall surface 192A of the second recessed end portion 192 in a region connecting the outer wall surface 192A of the second recessed end portion 192 and the outer wall surface 194A of the communicating portion 194. As shown in FIG. 23, the bottom surface of second recessed end portion 192 and the bottom surface of communicating portion 194 are connected by a smoothly continuous surface.

[0087] 20, the first eccentricity D1 represents the value at which the first recessed end portion 190 is eccentric from the center of rotation RC, i.e., the distance from the center of rotation RC to the center of gravity GC1, and the second eccentricity D2 represents the value at which the second recessed end portion 192 is eccentric from the center of rotation RC, i.e., the distance from the center of rotation RC to the center of gravity GC2. When the weight member 146 rolls inside the communicating portion 194, the trajectory line of the center of gravity of the rolling weight member 146 is eccentric from the center of rotation RC, and the distance from the center of rotation RC to the trajectory line represents the eccentricity of the communicating portion 194. The eccentricity of the communicating portion 194 gradually increases from the first eccentricity D1 to the second eccentricity D2. The first eccentricity D1 is set to a value equal to or greater than the radius of the weight member 146, and the second eccentricity D2 is set to a value greater than the radius of the weight member 146 and smaller than twice the first eccentricity D1. In this embodiment, the first eccentricity D1 is set to 7.7 mm, which is greater than the radius of the weight member 146, and the second eccentricity D2 is set to 14.9 mm, which is smaller than twice the first eccentricity D1.

[0088] FIG. 24 shows a cross section of the first recessed end portion 190 cut in the vertical direction, a cross section of the middle portion of the communicating portion 194 cut in the vertical direction, and a cross section of the second recessed end portion 192 cut in the vertical direction. In FIG. 24, the depth of the rolling recess 174 is set to be gradually shallower from the first recessed end portion 190 toward the second recessed end portion 192. In other words, the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion 190 is disposed at the lowest position, and the bottom surface of the communicating portion 194 is formed to be gradually disposed at a higher position toward the bottom surface of the second recessed end portion 192. In this embodiment, the depth V1 of the first recessed end portion 190 is set to 16.8 mm, the depth V2 of the second recessed end portion 192 is set to 14.4 mm, and the depth V3 of a specific middle portion of the communicating portion 194 is set to 15.5 mm, which is an intermediate value between the depth V1 and the depth V2. The position of the cross section of a particular intermediate portion of communicating portion 194 having depth V3 is a position rotated by approximately 120 degrees from the position of the cross section of first concave end portion 190 having depth V1.

[0089] Since the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion 190 is located at the lowest position, when the rotating member 144 stops rotating, the weight member 146 is located at the first recessed end portion 190 as shown in Fig. 19. Even when the rotating member 144 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 19, the weight member 146 is located at the first recessed end portion 190. On the other hand, when the rotating member 144 rotates in the clockwise direction in Fig. 19, the weight member 146 rolls over the step portion 198 shown in Fig. 22 toward the second recessed end portion 192 due to the action of inertia force and centrifugal force, and is located at the second recessed end portion 192 while the rotating member 144 rotates in the clockwise direction.

[0090] (Configuration of the proximity sensor 210) The configuration of the proximity sensor 210 will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9. The proximity sensor 210 is provided to detect the movement of the movable plate 32 downward when the chance button 14 is pressed. The proximity sensor 210 is composed of an optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. A sensor frame supporting the proximity sensor 210 is attached to the movable plate 32 by screwing a screw 212 shown in FIG. 2 into a screw hole 62B of the movable plate 32. In a state where the sensor frame is attached, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged so as to protrude downward from the lower surface of the movable plate 32 through the sensor mounting opening 62A of the movable plate 32. When the movable plate 32 descends, the light irradiated from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit is blocked by the light blocking piece 52 of the support base 30. With one light blocking operation, the proximity sensor 210 detects one pressing operation of the chance button 14.

[0091] <Electrical configuration of pachinko game machine 1> The electrical configuration of the pachinko game machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko game machine 1. The control board attached to the front frame 2 of the pachinko game machine 1 includes a main control device 300, a game control device 302, and a performance control device 304 shown in FIG. 25. The main control device 300 controls the overall operation of the pachinko game machine 1 and transmits various control commands to the game control device 302 and the performance control device 304. The game control device 302 controls the operation of the ball payout device 310 and the ball launching device 312 according to the control command from the main control device 300. According to the control command from the game control device 302, the ball payout device 310 pays out a predetermined number of game balls when the game ball enters the start winning hole. The ball launching device 312 includes a ball launching handle 12, and launches game balls in accordance with control commands from the game control device 302 and the operation of the ball launching handle 12. Since the basic electrical configuration of the pachinko game machine 1 is well known from Patent Publication No. 6289514 and the like, a description of the basic electrical configuration will be omitted and the following description will focus on the electrical configuration that executes the performance operations related to the chance button 14.

[0092] According to the control command from the main control device 300, the performance control device 304 controls the display device 8 and the motor driver 314, and also controls other devices such as speakers and various lamps. The motor driver 314 receives from the performance control device 304 a forward rotation direction command for commanding forward rotation of the rotary motor 140 or a reverse rotation direction command for commanding reverse rotation, and a drive pulse width adjustment command for commanding the rotation speed of the rotary motor 140. According to the rotation direction command and the drive pulse width adjustment command, the motor driver 314 drives the rotary motor 140 in a specified rotation direction at a specified rotation speed. When the proximity sensor 210 detects a pressing operation of the chance button 14, it transmits a detection signal to the performance control device 304. The various devices shown in FIG. 25 receive power from a power supply device not shown.

[0093] The performance control device 304 includes a program memory that stores various performance programs that control performance operations, and a computer that executes the various performance programs. The various performance programs include a performance program that executes a performance that increases the expectation of a big win by combining the display image of the display device 8 with the number of times the chance button 14 is pressed. In this embodiment, the number of times the chance button 14 is pressed is displayed on the display screen of the display device 8, and the rotation direction of the rotary motor 140 is switched to change the amplitude of the vibration that vibrates the chance button 14 between a large amplitude and a small amplitude for each press of the chance button 14.

[0094] <Performance of pachinko machine 1> The performance operation of the pachinko game machine 1 will be described. In the pachinko game machine 1, when a game ball enters the start winning slot, the main control device 300 executes a lottery for a jackpot. If one of a plurality of types of jackpots is won as a result of the lottery, the main control device 300 transmits a control command to the performance control device 304 to instruct a performance operation related to the won jackpot. The performance control device 304 executes a performance program related to the performance operation according to the control command from the main control device 300, and controls the display device 8 and the motor driver 314.

[0095] As an example of the performance operation of the big win, a case where three stages of performance operations are set will be described. In the first stage of the performance operation of the three stages according to the magnitude of the performance effect, a message "Please operate the chance button three times" is displayed on the display screen of the display device 8, and the amplitude of the three vibrations is set to "small amplitude" so that the amplitude pattern of the vibration of the chance button 14 when the chance button 14 is pressed is "small amplitude → small amplitude → small amplitude". In the second stage of the performance operation, a message "Please operate the chance button five times" is displayed on the display screen of the display device 8, and the second amplitude of the five vibrations is set to "large amplitude" and the other amplitudes are all set to "small amplitude" so that the amplitude pattern of the vibration of the chance button 14 when the chance button 14 is pressed is "small amplitude → large amplitude → small amplitude → small amplitude → small amplitude". In the third stage performance, the display screen of the display device 8 displays a message saying "Please operate the chance button seven times," and among the seven vibration amplitudes, the second amplitude and the fifth to seventh amplitudes are set to "large amplitude," and all other amplitudes are set to "small amplitude," so that the amplitude pattern of the vibration of the chance button 14 when it is pressed is "small amplitude → large amplitude → small amplitude → small amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude." When the player presses the chance button 14, if the amplitude of the vibration of the chance button 14 changes from "small amplitude" to "large amplitude," the player can have high hopes of winning a jackpot.

[0096] <Pressing operation of chance button 14 in performance operation of pachinko gaming machine 1> The pressing operation of the chance button 14 in the performance operation of the pachinko game machine 1 will be described. When the performance operation of the pachinko game machine 1 is the first stage performance operation, the player sees the display message of the display device 8 and presses the chance button 14 three times. Each pressing operation of the chance button 14 is performed by the player pressing the external lens 38. When the external lens 38 is pressed, the movable plate 32 to which the external lens 38 is fixed is lowered by pressing down both support levers 34A and 34B against the elastic biasing force of both coil springs 36A and 36B. When the movable plate 32 is lowered, the light from the light emitting part of the proximity sensor 210 attached to the movable plate 32 is blocked by the light blocking piece 52 of the support base 30. Due to this light blocking, the proximity sensor 210 transmits a detection signal indicating that the chance button 14 has been pressed once to the performance control device 304. The proximity sensor 210 transmits a detection signal to the performance control device 304 every time the chance button 14 is pressed. In this embodiment, even if a pressing operation is performed more than the number of pressing operations displayed by the display message in the performance operation of each stage, the content of the performance operation is the same as the content of the performance operation when the pressing operation is performed the number of pressing operations displayed by the display message.

[0097] <Operation of the vibration generating device 20 for gaming machines in response to pressing of the chance button 14> The operation of the vibration generating device 20 for gaming machines associated with the pressing of the chance button 14 will be described. Specifically, when the performance operation of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is in the third stage performance operation, and the player presses the chance button 14 seven times while viewing the display message of the display device 8, the operation of the vibration generating device 20 for gaming machines associated with each pressing of the chance button 14 will be described. When the player performs the first pressing operation of the seven pressing operations of the chance button 14 in the third stage performance operation, the proximity sensor 210 detects the pressing operation of the chance button 14 and transmits a detection signal to the performance control device 304. In order to generate vibration of the "small amplitude", which is the first amplitude among the amplitude patterns of the vibration of the chance button 14, "small amplitude → large amplitude → small amplitude → small amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude", the performance control device 304 transmits a reverse rotation direction command for commanding reverse rotation and a drive pulse width adjustment command for commanding a predetermined rotation speed to the motor driver 314. According to the reverse rotation direction command and the drive pulse width adjustment command, the motor driver 314 drives the rotary motor 140 so that the rotary member 144 shown in FIG. 19 rotates at a constant rotation speed in the counterclockwise direction (reverse rotation direction). When the rotary member 144 is stopped, the weight member 146 is positioned at the first concave end portion 190 and waits, as shown in FIG. 19. When the rotary motor 140 is supplied with power and the rotary member 144 starts to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, the power supply to the rotary motor 140 continues for a predetermined drive time while the weight member 146 is held at the first concave end portion 190. After the predetermined drive time has elapsed, the power supply to the rotary motor 140 is stopped for a short predetermined stop time of about 1 second. Even during the predetermined stop time, the rotary motor 140 continues to rotate by inertia while reducing the rotation speed. During the predetermined drive time and during the inertial rotation of the rotary motor 140 during the predetermined stop time, the rotary member 144 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. Counterclockwise rotation of the rotating member 144 causes the rotating member 144 to vibrate with a small amplitude corresponding to the first eccentricity D1 of the first concave end portion 190. The vibration of the rotating member 144 is transmitted to the drive unit 20, the internal lens 104, the external lens 38, and the movable plate 32, respectively, causing the entire chance button 14 to vibrate with a small amplitude.

[0098] When the player performs a second pressing operation after the predetermined stop time of the rotary motor 140 has elapsed while the first pressing operation has been released, the proximity sensor 210 detects the pressing operation of the chance button 14 and transmits a detection signal to the performance control device 304. If the second pressing operation is not performed during a predetermined operation standby time from the time when the predetermined stop time of the rotary motor 140 has elapsed, the performance control device 304 recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time. When the performance control device 304 receives a detection signal indicating the second pressing operation of the chance button 14 or recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time, the performance control device 304 transmits a forward rotation direction command commanding forward rotation and a drive pulse width adjustment command commanding a predetermined rotation speed to the motor driver 314 in order to generate a vibration of "large amplitude", which is the second amplitude among the vibration amplitude patterns of "small amplitude → large amplitude → small amplitude → small amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude", which are the vibration patterns of the chance button 14. According to the forward rotation direction command and the drive pulse width adjustment command, the motor driver 314 drives the rotary motor 140 so that the rotary member 144 shown in FIG. 19 rotates at a constant rotation speed in the clockwise direction (forward rotation direction). In this embodiment, in a state in which the rotary member 144 rotates in the counterclockwise direction due to the inertial rotation of the rotary motor 140, the driving of the rotary motor 140 is started so that the rotary member 144 rotates in the clockwise direction (forward rotation direction). In a state in which the rotary member 144 rotates in the counterclockwise direction due to the inertial rotation of the rotary motor 140, the weight member 146 is located at the first concave end portion 190. When the rotary member 144 starts to rotate in the clockwise direction, the weight member 146 rolls inside the communication portion 194 from the first concave end portion 190 shown in FIG. 22 over the step portion 198 toward the second concave end portion 192 due to the action of inertial force and centrifugal force. After weight member 146 reaches second concave end portion 192, rotation member 144 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction. With weight member 146 held in second concave end portion 192, power supply to rotation motor 140 continues for a predetermined drive time. After the predetermined drive time has elapsed, power supply to rotation motor 140 is stopped for a short predetermined stop time of about 1 second.Even during the predetermined stop time, the rotary motor 140 continues to rotate by inertia while reducing the rotation speed. During the predetermined drive time and during the inertial rotation of the rotary motor 140 at the predetermined stop time, the rotary member 144 rotates in a clockwise direction. The clockwise rotation of the rotary member 144 causes the rotary member 144 to vibrate with a large amplitude corresponding to the second eccentricity amount D2 of the second concave end portion 192. The vibration of the rotary member 144 is transmitted to the drive unit 20, the internal lens 104, the external lens 38, and the movable plate 32, respectively, and the entire chance button 14 vibrates with a large amplitude.

[0099] When the player performs a third pressing operation after the predetermined stop time of the rotary motor 140 has elapsed while the second pressing operation has been released, the proximity sensor 210 detects the pressing operation of the chance button 14 and transmits a detection signal to the performance control device 304. If the third pressing operation is not performed during a predetermined operation standby time from the time when the predetermined stop time of the rotary motor 140 has elapsed, the performance control device 304 recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time. When the performance control device 304 receives a detection signal indicating the third pressing operation of the chance button 14 or recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time, the performance control device 304 transmits a reverse rotation direction command for commanding reverse rotation and a drive pulse width adjustment command for commanding a predetermined rotation speed to the motor driver 314 in order to generate a vibration of "small amplitude", which is the third amplitude among the amplitude patterns of the vibration of the chance button 14, "small amplitude → large amplitude → small amplitude → small amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude". In accordance with the reverse rotation direction command and the drive pulse width adjustment command, the motor driver 314 drives the rotary motor 140 so that the rotary member 144 shown in Fig. 19 rotates at a constant rotation speed in the counterclockwise direction (reverse rotation direction). In this embodiment, normally, in a state in which the rotary member 144 rotates in the clockwise direction due to the inertial rotation of the rotary motor 140, the driving of the rotary motor 140 is started so that the rotary member 144 rotates in the counterclockwise direction (reverse rotation direction). In a state in which the rotary member 144 rotates in the clockwise direction due to the inertial rotation of the rotary motor 140, the weight member 146 is located at the second recessed end portion 192. When the rotation motor 140 starts to be driven for reverse rotation and the rotation of the rotation member 144 changes from the clockwise direction to the counterclockwise direction, the weight member 146 moves from the second recessed end portion 192 to the communicating portion 194 connected by a smoothly continuous bottom surface due to the action of inertial force and centrifugal force, and rolls inside the inclined communicating portion 194 to the first recessed end portion 190. With the weight member 146 positioned at the first recessed end portion 190, the rotation member 144 continues to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. With the weight member 146 held in the first recessed end portion 190, the supply of power to the rotation motor 140 continues for a predetermined drive time.After the predetermined drive time has elapsed, the power supply to the rotary motor 140 is stopped for a short predetermined stop time of about 1 second. Even during the predetermined stop time, the rotary motor 140 continues to rotate by inertia while reducing the rotation speed. During the predetermined drive time and during the inertial rotation of the rotary motor 140 during the predetermined stop time, the rotary member 144 rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Due to the counterclockwise rotation of the rotary member 144, the rotary member 144 vibrates with a small amplitude corresponding to the first eccentricity amount D1 of the first concave end portion 190. The vibration of the rotary member 144 is transmitted to the drive unit 20, the internal lens 104, the external lens 38, and the movable plate 32, respectively, and the entire chance button 14 vibrates with a small amplitude. When the player performs the fourth pressing operation, the rotary member 144 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, and the entire chance button 14 vibrates with the fourth amplitude, which is the "small amplitude", in the same manner as the third pressing operation.

[0100] When the player performs a fifth pressing operation after the predetermined stop time of the rotary motor 140 has elapsed while the fourth pressing operation has been released, the proximity sensor 210 detects the pressing operation of the chance button 14 and transmits a detection signal to the performance control device 304. If the fifth pressing operation is not performed during the predetermined operation standby time from the time when the predetermined stop time of the rotary motor 140 has elapsed, the performance control device 304 recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time. When the performance control device 304 receives a detection signal indicating the fifth pressing operation of the chance button 14 or recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time, the rotating member 144 rotates in the clockwise direction, as in the second pressing operation, and the entire chance button 14 vibrates with the fifth amplitude, which is the "large amplitude". When the player performs a sixth pressing operation after the predetermined stop time of the rotary motor 140 has elapsed while the fifth pressing operation has been released, the proximity sensor 210 detects the pressing operation of the chance button 14 and transmits a detection signal to the performance control device 304. If the sixth pressing operation is not performed during the predetermined operation standby time from the time when the rotation motor 140 has stopped elapsed, the performance control device 304 recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time. When the performance control device 304 receives a detection signal indicating the sixth pressing operation of the chance button 14, or recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time, the rotating member 144 rotates in a clockwise direction, and the entire chance button 14 vibrates with the sixth amplitude, i.e., the "large amplitude", similar to the fifth pressing operation. When the player performs the seventh pressing operation after the predetermined stop time of the rotation motor 140 has elapsed while releasing the sixth pressing operation, the proximity sensor 210 detects the pressing operation of the chance button 14 and transmits a detection signal to the performance control device 304. If the seventh pressing operation is not performed during the predetermined operation standby time from the time when the rotation motor 140 has stopped elapsed, the performance control device 304 recognizes the elapse of the predetermined operation standby time. When the performance control device 304 receives a detection signal indicating the seventh pressing of the chance button 14, or recognizes that a specified operation waiting time has elapsed, the rotating member 144 rotates in a clockwise direction, as in the case of the fifth pressing operation, and the entire chance button 14 vibrates at the seventh amplitude, which is the "large amplitude."By vibrating the entire chance button 14 at the fifth to seventh largest amplitudes, the player can increase his or her sense of expectation of a big win.

[0101] <Effects of the embodiment> In this embodiment, the weight member 146 is located at either the first concave end portion 190 or the second concave end portion 192 depending on the forward or reverse rotation direction of the rotary motor 140, so that the rotary member 144 can be vibrated with two vibrations having different amplitudes. In addition, since the configuration includes one rotary member 144 and one weight member 146 as main components for generating vibrations of two different amplitudes, the configuration of the vibration generator 20 for gaming machines can be simplified and made compact, and the device can be easily incorporated into the interior of the pachinko gaming machine 1, for example, into the limited space of the front frame 2 of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Furthermore, since the control for switching between the two vibrations having different amplitudes is the control for switching the rotation direction of the rotary motor 140, the configuration of the control unit that generates the vibration can also be simplified.

[0102] In this embodiment, the angle α shown in FIG. 20 is set to approximately 223 degrees, and is determined to be an angle within the range of 90 degrees to 360 degrees. However, when the angle α is an angle exceeding 360 degrees, the position where the first concave end portion 190 is arranged and the position where the second concave end portion 192 is arranged are located apart in the axial direction of the rotation axis AX of the rotation member 144, so that the rotation member 144 is configured to be long in the axial direction of the rotation axis AX. It is difficult to store the rotation member 144 that is long in the axial direction in the small space inside the chance button 14. Therefore, in this embodiment, the angle α is determined to be an angle of 360 degrees or less, so that the rotation member 144 can be easily stored even in a small space inside the chance button 14. In addition, compared to when the angle α is an angle exceeding 360 degrees, the time required for the weight member 146 to move between the first concave end portion 190 and the second concave end portion 192 can be shortened, and the two types of vibration can be quickly switched. Furthermore, compared to when angle α is less than 90 degrees, it is possible to avoid abrupt bending of communicating portion 194 located between first concave end portion 190 and second concave end portion 192, and it is possible to smoothly switch between the two types of vibration.

[0103] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 20, the second concave end portion 192 is disposed in a region opposite to the region in which the first concave end portion 190 is disposed, that is, the region that exists in the upper left of the reference plane RP in Fig. 20, that is, the region that exists in the lower right of the reference plane RP in Fig. 20. Compared to the case in which the first concave end portion 190 and the second concave end portion 192 are disposed biasedly in one of the two regions based on the reference plane RP, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the center of gravity of the rotating member 144 itself being significantly separated from the rotation center RC and the weight balance of the rotating member 144 being disturbed, and since the weight balance of the rotating member 144 is less disturbed, it is possible to reliably generate vibrations of two different amplitudes according to the first eccentricity D1 of the first concave end portion 190 and the second eccentricity D2 of the second concave end portion 192.

[0104] In this embodiment, the first eccentricity D1 of the first recessed end portion 190 is set to 7.7 mm, which is a value slightly larger than 7 mm, which is the radius of the weight member 146. By setting the first eccentricity D1 to a value equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the weight member 146, as shown in Fig. 18, the first recessed end portion 190 can be disposed in an area close to the rotating shaft 152 of the rotary motor 140 in the vertical direction, and the bending moment applied to the rotating shaft 152 while the rotating member 144 is rotating can be reduced.

[0105] In this embodiment, the second eccentricity D2 of the second recessed end portion 192 is set to 14.9 mm, which is a value slightly larger than 14 mm which is the diameter of the weight member 146, and is set to a value larger than 7.7 mm which is the first eccentricity D1 by a value equal to or larger than the radius of the weight member 146. By setting the second eccentricity D2 to a value larger than 7.7 mm which is the first eccentricity D1 by a value equal to or larger than the radius of the weight member 146, it becomes easier for the player to experience that the amplitude of the vibration generated by the second eccentricity D2 is clearly different from the amplitude of the vibration generated by the first eccentricity D1.

[0106] In this embodiment, the first concave end portion 190 is disposed at the lowest position in the rolling recess 174, and when the rotating member 144 stops rotating, the weight member 146 waits at the first concave end portion 190. Usually, when the chance button 14 is vibrated for a performance, the performance operation is designed to start the vibration from a "small amplitude" rather than a "large amplitude" in order to gradually increase the expectation of a big win. In this embodiment, since the weight member 146 waits at the first concave end portion 190, the rotating member 144 can be instantly vibrated with a "small amplitude" when the performance operation starts.

[0107] In this embodiment, the rotation axis AX of the rotating member 144 is disposed in the vertical direction, and when the rotating member 144 stops rotating, the weight member 146 is held by the stepped portion 190 at the first concave end portion 190 which is disposed at the lowest position in the rolling recess 174. Even if the chance button 14 is inadvertently pressed and the rotating member 144 moves up and down, the weight member 146 is held by the stepped portion 190, so that the weight member 146 can be securely held at the first concave end portion 190.

[0108] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, protruding portion 200 is formed adjacent to first recessed end portion 190, and protruding portion 202 is formed adjacent to second recessed end portion 192, so that when rotating member 144 is rotating, each protruding portion can reliably position weight member 146 at each recessed end portion.

[0109] In this embodiment, the cover member 148 is fixed to the rotating member 144 in a state of covering the rolling recess 174 from above by screwing a pair of screws 184A, 184B into both screw holes 176A, 176B of the rotating main body 172 through both through holes 180A, 180B of the cover member 148. Since the weight member 146 rolls while being in frictional contact with the inner surface of the rolling recess 174, there is a risk that dust particles scraped off from the inner surface of the rolling recess 174 due to long-term use of the pachinko game machine 1 may accumulate locally inside the rolling recess 174, which may hinder smooth rolling of the weight member 146. For this reason, in this embodiment, the wear of the inner surface of the rolling recess 174 and the adhesion of dust particles to the weight member 146 can be easily inspected by removing the cover member 148. Furthermore, if wear on the inner surface of the rolling recess 174 exceeds an allowable limit, the rotating member 144 that is press-fitted onto the rotating shaft 152 of the rotary motor 140 via the mounting shaft member 164 can be removed and replaced.

[0110] In this embodiment, the drive unit 102 includes a rotary motor 140, a motor support member 142, a rotary member 144, a weight member 146, and a cover member 148. The rotary motor 140 is supported by the motor support member 142 by screwing a pair of screws 160A, 160B through both through holes 156A, 156B of the motor support member 142 into a pair of screw holes in the housing end surface 150B. The drive unit 102 is a unit formed by assembling main components that generate two types of vibrations with different amplitudes, and therefore can be easily incorporated into a device that is intended to produce a performance effect in the pachinko game machine 1. In addition, the motor support member 142 supports the rotary motor 140 and is also used for assembling the motor to a device that is intended to produce a performance effect, which makes it even easier to assemble the motor to the pachinko game machine 1.

[0111] In this embodiment, the drive unit 102 that generates vibrations is housed in the internal space formed by the movable plate 32 and the external lens 38, and is arranged so as to be movable up and down together with the movable plate 32 and the external lens 38. When the player presses the external lens 38 as a pressing operation of the chance button 14, the vibrations from the drive unit 102 are transmitted to the pressed external lens 38, and the player can reliably experience the vibrations for the effect.

[0112] In this embodiment, the chance button 14 includes a support base 30, a movable plate 32, a pair of support levers 34A, 34B, a pair of coil springs 36A, 36B, and an external lens 38. The proximity sensor 210 is composed of an optical sensor including a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, and is attached to the movable plate 32. Light irradiated from the light-emitting portion of the proximity sensor 210 toward the light-receiving portion is blocked by the light-shielding piece 52 of the support base 30. Since the proximity sensor 210 is incorporated in the chance button 14, the chance button 14 and the proximity sensor 210 can be easily attached to the pachinko game machine 1.

[0113] <Configuration Correspondence> The pachinko game machine 1 is an example of the game machine of the present invention. The chance button 14 is an example of the "member constituting the game machine" of the present invention. The vibration generating device for game machines 20 is an example of the vibration generating device for game machines of the present invention. The rotary motor 140 and the rotary shaft 152 are an example of the rotary motor and the rotary shaft of the present invention. The motor support member 142 is an example of the motor support member of the present invention. The rotary member 144 is an example of the rotary member of the present invention. The weight member 146 is an example of the weight member of the present invention. The cover member 148 is an example of the cover member of the present invention. The housing 150 and the housing end face 150B are an example of the housing and the housing end face of the rotary motor of the present invention. The rolling recess 174 is an example of the recess of the present invention. The first recessed end portion 190 and the second recessed end portion 192 are an example of the first recessed end portion and the second recessed end portion of the present invention. The communication portion 194 and the opening 196 are an example of the communication portion and the opening of the present invention. The stepped portion 198 is an example of the stepped portion of the present invention. The performance control device 304 and the motor driver 314 are an example of the motor control unit of the present invention. The combination of the external lens 38, the mounting base 100, the internal lens 104, the elastic members 126A and 126B, and the guide connecting member 128 is an example of the "mechanism for supporting the members constituting the gaming machine so that they can vibrate" of the present invention. The first eccentricity amount D1 and the second eccentricity amount D2 are an example of the first eccentricity amount and the second eccentricity amount of the present invention. The rotation axis AX is an example of the rotation axis of the present invention. The centers of gravity GC1 and GC2 are an example of the center of gravity of the weight member and the central position of the weight member of the present invention. The reference plane RP is an example of the reference plane of the present invention.

[0114] [Variations] The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. An example of such a modification will be described below.

[0115] (1) In this embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine 1 is adopted as the gaming machine, but it is not limited to a pachinko gaming machine 1, and other types of gaming machines such as game machines and slot machines that require a small vibration generating device to enhance the presentation effects of the game may be adopted.

[0116] (2) In this embodiment, the vibration generator for a gaming machine 20 includes a mounting base 100, a drive unit 102, and an internal lens 104, and the drive unit 102 includes a rotary motor 140, a motor support member 142, a rotating member 144, a weight member 146, and a cover member 148. Since the vibration generator for a gaming machine 20 has the rotary motor 140, the rotating member 144, and the weight member 146 as main components for generating vibrations, the vibration generator for a gaming machine 20 may include any other components as long as it includes at least these main components.

[0117] (3) In this embodiment, the step portion 198 is formed adjacent to only the first concave end portion 190. When the rotating member 144 stops rotating, the weight member 146 rolls to the first concave end portion 190 by its own gravity and is held at the first concave end portion 190 by the step portion 198. However, a configuration in which another step portion is formed adjacent to the second concave end portion 192 together with the step portion 198 may be used. In this modification, when the rotating member 144 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 19 and the weight member 146 is located at the second concave end portion 192, when the rotating member 144 stops rotating in the clockwise direction, the weight member 146 is held at the second concave end portion 192 by the other step portion. When the rotating member 144 changes its rotation to the counterclockwise direction, the weight member 146 rolls over the other step portion toward the first concave end portion 190.

[0118] (4) In this embodiment, the first recessed end portion 190 is disposed at the lowest position in the rolling recess 174, and the communicating portion 194 is formed sloping downward from the second recessed end portion 192 toward the first recessed end portion 190. However, a configuration may also be adopted in which the intermediate portion between the first recessed end portion 190 and the second recessed end portion 192 is disposed at the lowest position in the rolling recess 174, and the communicating portion 194 is formed sloping downward from each of the recessed end portions of the first recessed end portion 190 and the second recessed end portion 192 toward the intermediate portion. In this modified example, when the rotating member 144 stops rotating, the weight member 146 is held in the intermediate portion after rolling from one of the recessed end portions toward the intermediate portion.

[0119] (5) In this embodiment, the rotary motor 140 is driven at a constant rotation speed in accordance with a drive pulse width adjustment command to rotate the rotary member 144. However, the drive pulse width may be changed to change the rotation speed of the rotary motor 140, thereby changing the amplitude and period of the vibration of the rotary member 144.

[0120] (6) In this embodiment, the rotary motor 140 is a DC motor that rotates in either the forward or reverse direction depending on the direction of the current supplied thereto, but the rotary motor 140 is not limited to a DC motor as long as it is a motor that can rotate forward and reverse. For example, other types of motors such as a pulse motor can be used as the rotary motor 140. When a pulse motor is used, the pulse motor can be rotated in either the forward or reverse direction by changing the direction in which the excitation phase is switched.

[0121] (7) In this embodiment, the rolling recess 174 includes a communicating portion 194 that communicates between the first recessed end portion 190 and the second recessed end portion 192. The communicating portion 194 is formed by a curved outer wall surface 194A and a curved inner wall surface 194B. As shown in FIG. 20, both wall surfaces 194A and 194B are formed by continuously curved surfaces, but are not limited to continuously curved surfaces. As long as the communicating portion 194 is formed so that the eccentricity of the communicating portion 194 increases from the first eccentricity amount D1 to the second eccentricity amount D2, the "curved wall surface" may be formed only by a continuously curved surface, may be formed by a number of discontinuously curved surfaces, or may be formed by a number of surfaces including a linear surface in part.

[0122] (8) In this embodiment, the rotating member 144 is attached to the rotating shaft 152 of the rotary motor 140 that extends upward in the vertical direction, but is not limited to this attachment configuration. For example, the rotating member 144 may be configured to be attached to the rotating shaft 152 of the rotary motor 140 that extends downward in the vertical direction. In this modified example, a connecting shaft portion corresponding to the connecting shaft portion 170 of the rotating member 144 is configured to protrude upward from the rotating member 144.

[0123] (9) In this embodiment, the rotating member 144 is attached to the rotating shaft 152 of the rotary motor 140 via the mounting shaft member 164 and is supported in a cantilevered structure, but is not limited to this structure. For example, when the rotating member 144 has a rotating support shaft extending along the rotation axis AX in FIG. 18, the rotating support shaft may be supported in a double-supported structure. For example, one shaft end of the rotating support shaft may be connected to the rotating shaft 152 of the rotary motor 140, and the other shaft end of the rotating support shaft may be rotatably supported by a member fixed to the motor support member 142 and bent toward the arrangement side of the cover member 148.

[0124] (10) In this embodiment, the weight member 146 is made of high carbon chromium bearing steel, but is not limited to steel and may be made of other materials. For example, the weight member may be made of a material other than steel, such as silicon nitride ceramics.

[0125] (11) In this embodiment, the proximity sensor 210 is composed of an optical sensor including a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, and is attached to the movable plate 32. The light-shielding piece 52, which blocks light irradiated from the light-emitting portion of the proximity sensor 210 toward the light-receiving portion, is configured to be disposed on the support base 30, but the proximity sensor 210 may be fixed to the front frame 2 of the pachinko game machine 1 and attached to the support base 30 to which little vibration is transmitted, and the light-shielding piece 52 may be disposed on the movable plate 32.

[0126] (12) In this embodiment, the motor drive 314 is controlled so that the rotary motor 140 is repeatedly supplied with power for a predetermined drive time and stopped for a predetermined stop time for the fifth to seventh "large amplitude" vibrations among the amplitude patterns of the vibrations of the chance button 14, which are "small amplitude → large amplitude → small amplitude → small amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude → large amplitude", but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, in order to continuously vibrate the chance button 14 with a large amplitude from the fifth pressing operation to the seventh pressing operation, the performance control device 304 may be configured to control the motor drive 314 so that the rotary motor 140 receives a continuous supply of power and continuously rotates in the forward direction after receiving a detection signal representing the fifth pressing operation until receiving a detection signal representing the seventh pressing operation. With this control, the entire chance button 14 is continuously vibrated with a large amplitude from the fifth pressing operation to the seventh pressing operation. In addition, in this embodiment, the amplitude pattern of the vibration of the chance button 14 is configured to start in conjunction with the pressing of the chance button 14, but the amplitude pattern may also be configured to start in synchronization with the operation of the display device 8 displaying a message instructing the user to press the chance button 14. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 1. Pachinko machines 14 Chance Button 20 Vibration generator for gaming machines 38 External Lens 104 Internal Lens 126A, 126B Elastic member 128 Guiding and connecting member 140 RPM motor 142 Motor support member 144 Rotating parts 146 Weight member 148 Cover member 150 Housing 150B Housing end face 152 Rotational Axis 174 Rolling recess 190 1st concave end part 192 2nd concave end part 194 Communication part 196 Aperture 198 Stepped part 304 Production control device 314 Motor Driver D1 1st eccentricity D2 2nd eccentricity AX Rotation axis RC Rotation Center GC1, GC2 center of gravity RP reference plane

Claims

1. A vibration generating device that generates vibrations that vibrate members constituting a gaming machine, A rotating motor capable of rotating forward and reverse directions; A rotating member that is connected to a rotating shaft of the rotary motor and is rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis; A recess formed inside the rotating member; A weight member that is movably disposed inside the recess, The recess is a first recessed end portion disposed eccentrically from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member by a first eccentricity amount; a second recessed end portion disposed eccentrically from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member by a second eccentricity amount greater than the first eccentricity amount; a communication portion communicating between the first recessed end portion and the second recessed end portion, A vibration generating device for an amusement machine, in which the communicating portion from the first concave end portion to the second concave end portion is curved around a specified rotational axis of the rotating member so that the eccentricity amount, which is the distance at which the communicating portion is eccentrically located from the specified rotational axis of the rotating member, increases from the first eccentricity amount to a second eccentricity amount.

2. 2. The vibration generating device for an amusement machine as described in claim 1, wherein the area from the position of the center of gravity of the weight member when the weight member is located in the first concave end portion, through the communicating portion, to the position of the center of gravity of the weight member when the weight member is located in the second concave end portion, is defined as an angular area within the range of 90 degrees to 360 degrees around the rotation axis of the rotating member.

3. 2. The vibration generating device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the weight member is formed in a spherical shape and is disposed so as to be freely rollable within the recess.

4. 4. A vibration generating device for an amusement machine as described in claim 3, wherein when the spherical weight member is positioned in the second concave end portion, a second eccentricity amount, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to a center position of the weight member, is set to a value greater than the radius of the weight member.

5. 5. A vibration generating device for an amusement machine as described in claim 4, wherein when the spherical weight member is located in the first concave end portion, a first eccentricity amount, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to a center position of the weight member, is set to a value equal to or greater than the radius of the weight member and smaller than the second eccentricity amount.

6. 6. A vibration generating device for an amusement machine as described in claim 5, wherein when the spherical weight member is located in the second concave end portion, a second eccentricity amount, which is the distance from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member to the center position of the weight member, is set to a value greater than or equal to the diameter of the weight member and less than twice the value of the first eccentricity amount.

7. 4. The vibration generating device for an amusement machine as described in claim 3, wherein, when the spherical weight member is located in the first concave end portion, the second concave end portion is located on the opposite side to the side on which the first concave end portion is located, the second concave end portion being located on a reference plane perpendicular to a plane including the center position of the weight member located in the first concave end portion and the rotation axis of the rotating member, the reference plane including the rotation axis being used as a reference plane.

8. The rotary motor includes a housing that rotatably supports a rotary shaft; The rotating member is fixed to a rotating shaft extending from the housing, The motor support member is fixed to an end surface of the housing extending in a direction intersecting the rotation axis, the end surface being adjacent to the rotation member, 2. The vibration generating device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein vibration of the rotating member is transmitted to the motor support member when the rotary motor rotates.

9. 9. The vibration generating device for a gaming machine according to claim 8, wherein the motor support member is connected to a mechanism for supporting a member constituting the gaming machine so as to be capable of vibrating the member.

10. The rotation axis of the rotating member extends in a vertical direction, the rotating member is disposed above the motor support member and the rotating motor is disposed below the motor support member; The recess includes an opening that opens upward, 9. The vibration generating device for a gaming machine according to claim 8, further comprising a cover member for covering an opening of the recess.

11. The rotation axis of the rotating member extends in a vertical direction, a bottom surface of the first recessed end portion and a bottom surface of the second recessed end portion are disposed at different positions in the vertical direction; 2. A vibration generating device for an amusement machine as described in claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the communicating portion is formed at an angle from the bottom surface of one of the first concave end portion and the second concave end portion to the bottom surface of the other concave end portion.

12. 12. The vibration generating device for an amusement machine according to claim 11, wherein a bottom surface of the first recessed end portion is located lower in the vertical direction than a bottom surface of the second recessed end portion.

13. a bottom surface of the second recessed end portion and a bottom surface of the communication portion are connected by a continuous surface, a step portion is formed in a region where a bottom surface of the first recessed end portion and a bottom surface of the connecting portion are connected; 13. The vibration generating device for an amusement machine according to claim 12, wherein the weight member moves from the bottom surface of the first recessed end portion to the bottom surface of the connecting portion by climbing over the stepped portion.

14. A vibration generating device that generates vibrations that vibrate members constituting a gaming machine, A rotating motor capable of rotating forward and reverse directions; A rotating member that is connected to a rotating shaft of the rotary motor and is rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis; A recess formed inside the rotating member; A weight member movably disposed within the recess; A motor control unit that switches the rotation direction of the rotary motor, The recess is a first recessed end portion located eccentrically from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member by a first eccentricity amount; a second recessed end portion located eccentrically from a predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member by a second eccentricity amount greater than the first eccentricity amount; a communication portion communicating between the first recessed end portion and the second recessed end portion, the communicating portion is curved about the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member such that an eccentricity amount, which is a distance by which the communicating portion from the first concave end portion toward the second concave end portion is eccentric from the predetermined rotation axis of the rotating member, increases from a first eccentricity amount to a second eccentricity amount; A vibration generating device for an amusement machine, in which a weight member moves to and is positioned at either a first concave end portion or a second concave end portion depending on a rotation direction of a rotary motor.

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