Game machine operation handle device

Abstract

To provide a game machine operation handle device that can be operated easily and can reduce a feeling of fatigue irrespective of a dominant hand (right-handed or left-handed).SOLUTION: A game machine operation handle device 1 includes: a grip 20 operated by a player, which is supported slidably to a left side and a right side from a predetermined original point; a first rack and a second rack arranged so as to face each other below the grip 20, which are supported slidably to a right-left direction respectively; a first gear 51 supported rotatably around a predetermined shaft, which is arranged between the first rack and the second rack, meshes with the first rack, and meshes with the second rack; a rotary variable resistor whose rotation shaft engages with the first gear 51; and a first energizing member and a second energizing member that energize the first rack and the second rack to the left side and the right side respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating handle device for a gaming machine. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, an operating handle device for a gaming machine is known as a trigger for launching gaming balls in a gaming machine. This operating handle device for a gaming machine includes a grip rotatably supported around a shaft extending in the depth direction of the gaming machine. The grip is biased counterclockwise by a torsion spring and abuts against a stopper at a predetermined initial position, restricting further rotation in the counterclockwise direction. When a player rotates the grip clockwise with his or her hand against the biasing force of the torsion spring, a gaming ball is launched. The greater the rotation angle of the grip from its initial position, the greater the biasing force of the torsion spring. When the player releases his or her hand from the grip, the biasing force of the torsion spring causes the grip to rotate counterclockwise and return to its initial position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-160961 Summary of the Invention

[0004] In conventional gaming machine operating handle devices equipped with a rotating grip, the rotation angle of the grip is limited to approximately 120° due to structural constraints. Furthermore, players must twist their wrists to adjust the grip's angle (to adjust the launch speed of the game ball), which can cause significant wrist fatigue over extended play. Furthermore, conventional devices are designed for right-handed players, with the grip rotating clockwise from its initial position, making it difficult for left-handed players to operate the grip.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an operating handle device for a gaming machine that is easy to operate and reduces fatigue, regardless of handedness (right-handed or left-handed).In the description of each component of the present invention below, the reference numerals of corresponding parts in the embodiment are written in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the present invention, but each component of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the configuration of the corresponding parts indicated by the reference numerals in the embodiment.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the operating handle device (1) for a gaming machine according to the present invention comprises: a grip (20) operated by a player, supported so as to be slidable left and right from a predetermined origin; a first rack (41) and a second rack (42) arranged opposite each other below the grip, the first rack and the second rack being supported so as to be slidable left and right, respectively; a first gear (51) supported so as to be rotatable around a predetermined axis, the first gear being arranged between the first rack and the second rack, meshing with the first rack and meshing with the second rack; a rotary variable resistor (60) whose rotation shaft is engaged with the first gear; and a first biasing member (45) and a second biasing member (46) which bias the first rack and the second rack left and right, respectively. When the grip is slid to the right from the origin, the first rack is pushed to the right by the grip and slides to the right, causing the first gear to rotate in a first direction and the second rack to slide to the left, and when the grip is slid to the left from the origin, the second rack is pushed to the left by the grip and slides to the left, causing the first gear to rotate in the first direction and the first rack to slide to the right.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operating handle device for a gaming machine, A speed increasing device is provided between the first gear and the rotary shaft of the rotary variable resistor.

[0008] The gaming machine control handle device according to the present invention allows a player to slide the grip to the right or left from the origin. Right-handed players can easily slide the grip to the right, while left-handed players can adjust the launch speed of the gaming ball by sliding the grip to the left. In other words, the same operational feel (ease of operation) can be provided to both right-handed and left-handed players. Furthermore, since there is no need to twist the wrist when operating the grip, fatigue is reduced. Furthermore, the rotation direction of the shaft of the rotary variable resistor when the grip is slid to the right from the origin is the same as the rotation direction of the shaft of the rotary variable resistor when the grip is slid to the left from the origin. Therefore, the gaming machine control handle device does not require separate sensors (variable resistors) for detecting the amount of sliding of the grip to the right and the amount of sliding of the grip to the left. This reduces the number of components constituting the gaming machine control handle device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine to which an operating handle device for a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of an operating handle device for a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are perspective views of the grip as seen from diagonally above and below the right, respectively. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rack mechanism, the gear mechanism, and the variable resistor as viewed from diagonally above right. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rack mechanism, the gear mechanism, and the variable resistor as viewed from above. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of the rack mechanism, the gear mechanism, and the variable resistor. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gear mechanism and the variable resistor as seen from diagonally above the left. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gear mechanism and the variable resistor as viewed from diagonally below on the left side. [Figure 9] (A) A plan view showing the positions of the front rack and rear rack when the grip is at the origin, (B) a plan view showing the positions of the front rack and rear rack when the grip is at the right end of its movable range, and (C) a plan view showing the positions of the front rack and rear rack when the grip is at the left end of its movable range. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (composition) An explanation will be given of an operation handle device 1 for a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. First, an outline of a pachinko machine PM will be given as an example of a gaming machine to which the operation handle device 1 for a gaming machine is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine PM is a device having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the vertical direction. In the following explanation, the height direction (vertical direction) of the pachinko machine PM will be referred to as the up-down direction. The width direction of the pachinko machine PM will be referred to as the left-right direction, and the depth direction of the pachinko machine PM will be referred to as the front-rear direction.

[0011] As shown in the figure, the pachinko machine PM comprises a game board BD, a launching device BS, etc. The game board BD is a roughly rectangular plate-like member extending in the vertical direction. The game board BD is positioned so as to face the player. In other words, the thickness direction of the game board BD coincides with the front-to-back direction.

[0012] The launching device BS is disposed below the game board BD. The launching device BS includes an actuator that launches the game balls PB one by one toward the game board BD. The gaming machine operating handle device 1 of this embodiment (see FIG. 2) is disposed near the launching device BS.

[0013] Next, the configuration of the gaming machine operating handle device 1 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the gaming machine operating handle device 1 includes a case 10, a grip 20, and a slit cover 30. Furthermore, the gaming machine operating handle device 1 includes a rack mechanism 40, a gear mechanism 50, and a variable resistor 60, which will be described later, and these components are housed inside the case 10.

[0014] The case 10 is a box-shaped member extending in the left-right direction. A slit SL extending in the left-right direction is provided on the top surface of the case 10. The case 10 includes a support portion (guide) that supports a grip 20, a slit cover 30, etc. (described later) so that they can slide in the left-right direction.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3, the grip 20 comprises a base portion 21, a main body portion 22, and a lower protrusion portion 23. The base portion 21 is a plate-shaped portion that extends in the left-right direction and is approximately perpendicular to the up-down direction. The main body portion 22 protrudes upward from the center in the left-right direction of the top surface of the base portion 21. When viewed from the front, the main body portion 22 is approximately circular. The diameter and thickness (front-to-back dimensions) of the main body portion 22 are designed to allow a player to press the main body portion 22 to the left or right with their fingertips. The lower protrusion portion 23 protrudes downward from the center in the left-right direction of the bottom surface of the base portion 21. The lower protrusion portion 23 is a portion that engages with the rack mechanism 40, which will be described later.

[0016] The grip 20 is disposed in a slit SL of the case 10. A base portion 21 is supported so as to be slidable in the left-right direction along the slit SL. As shown in FIG. 2, the left and right slits SL of the base portion 21 are covered by slit covers 30.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2 , the slit cover 30 is composed of a left slit cover 31 and a right slit cover 32. The left slit cover 31 and the right slit cover 32 are belt-like (caterpillar-like) members made up of multiple small pieces aligned in the left-right direction and connected to each other rotatably around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. That is, the left slit cover 31 and the right slit cover 32 are flexible. The right end of the left slit cover 31 is connected to the left end of the base portion 21, and the left end of the right slit cover 32 is connected to the right end of the base portion 21. The left slit cover 31 and the right slit cover 32 are supported so that they can slide left and right along the slit SL. The lengths of the left slit cover 31 and the right slit cover 32 are set so that the slit SL is always covered by the slit cover 30, even when the grip 20 slides left (right) from a state in which it is positioned at the center (origin) of the slit SL in the left-right direction. That is, the length of the left slit cover 31 is equal to the length of the slit SL, and its left end (excess length) is guided so as to enter the inside of the case 10 from the left end of the slit SL. The length of the right slit cover 32 is equal to the length of the slit SL, and its right end (excess length) is guided so as to enter the inside of the case 10 from the right end of the slit SL. The left slit cover 31 and the right slit cover 32 may be flexible thin plate-like members (single thin plate extending in the left-right direction).

[0018] As shown in Fig. 4, the rack mechanism 40 includes a pair of front and rear racks, a front rack 41 and a rear rack 42. The front rack 41 and the rear rack 42 include a plurality of teeth aligned in the left-right direction. The front rack 41 and the rear rack 42 are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction, with the teeth facing each other. The front rack 41 and the rear rack 42 are disposed below the slit SL (below the grip 20) and are supported by guides (not shown) provided on the case 10 so as to be slidable in the left-to-right direction.

[0019] 5, a plate-shaped engagement plate 43 extending rearward is fixed to a portion located slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the front rack 41. A plate-shaped engagement plate 44 extending forward is fixed to a portion located slightly to the left of the center in the left-right direction of the rear rack 42. The lower convex portion 23 of the grip 20 is located between the engagement plates 43 and 44.

[0020] 4, the rack mechanism 40 further includes a front spring 45 that biases the front rack 41 leftward and a rear spring 46 that biases the rear rack 42 rightward. The front spring 45 and the rear spring 46 are tension springs. One end of the front spring 45 is fixed to the front rack 41, and the other end of the front spring 45 is fixed to a support (not shown) provided on the left side inside the case 10. One end of the rear spring 46 is fixed to the rear rack 42, and the other end of the rear spring 46 is fixed to a support (not shown) provided on the right side inside the case 10.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 , the gear mechanism 50 is composed of a first gear 51, a second gear 52, and a third gear 53. These gears are spur gears. The first gear 51 is disposed between the front rack 41 and the rear rack 42. The first gear 51 meshes with the front rack 41 and also meshes with the rear rack 42. The second gear 52 is disposed below the first gear 51 and coaxially with the first gear 51, and is fixed to the underside of the first gear 51. The outer diameter of the second gear 52 is smaller than that of the first gear 51. The first gear 51 and the second gear 52 are rotatably supported around a shaft portion provided on the case 10 and extending in the vertical direction. The third gear 53 is disposed to the right of the second gear 52 and meshes with the second gear 52. The third gear 53 is fixed to the shaft portion of the variable resistor 60, which will be described next. The outer diameter of the third gear 53 is equal to that of the second gear 52. The second gear 52 and the third gear 53 correspond to the speed increasing device of the present invention.

[0022] The variable resistor 60 is a rotary variable resistor (rotary volume) configured so that the electrical resistance value between its output terminals changes depending on the rotational angle position of its rotating shaft. The housing of the variable resistor 60 (the portion other than the rotating shaft) is fixed to the case 10 so that the shaft of the variable resistor 60 extends upward. The terminals of the variable resistor 60 are connected to a control device of the launcher BS via a wire harness (not shown). This control device controls the actuator depending on the electrical resistance value (voltage between the terminals) of the variable resistor 60.

[0023] (Activation) When the player is not touching the grip 20, as shown in Figure 9(A), the front rack 41 and the rear rack 42 are urged leftward and rightward by the front spring 45 and the rear spring 46, respectively, so that the engagement plates 43 and 44 are closest to each other, and the lower convex portion of the grip 20 is pinched between them and remains stationary. In other words, the grip 20 is located at the origin. In this state, the electrical resistance value between the terminals of the variable resistor 60 is equal to a predetermined lower limit value (for example, several ohms).

[0024] As shown in FIG. 9(B), when the player slides the grip 20 to the right from the origin, the engagement plate 43 of the front rack 41 is pushed by the lower convex portion 23 of the grip 20 and slides to the right. This causes the first gear 51 to rotate in a first rotation direction (counterclockwise in the figure). This rotational force is then transmitted to the shaft portion of the variable resistor 60 via the second gear 52 and the third gear 53, causing the shaft portion to rotate. This increases the electrical resistance between the terminals of the variable resistor 60. When the grip 20 reaches the right end of the slit SL, the electrical resistance between the terminals of the variable resistor 60 coincides with a predetermined upper limit (e.g., several kilohms). Furthermore, this rotation of the first gear 51 causes the rear rack 42 to slide in the opposite direction (leftward) from the front rack 41. As the front rack 41 and the rear rack 42 slide, the front spring 45 and the rear spring 46 are stretched, and the biasing force (the force that pulls the grip 20 back to the origin) increases.

[0025] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9(C), when the player slides the grip 20 leftward from the origin, the engagement plate 44 of the rear rack 42 is pushed by the lower convex portion 23 of the grip 20 and slides leftward. As a result, the first gear 51 rotates in the first rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 9(B)), as in FIG. 9(B). This rotational force is then transmitted to the shaft of the variable resistor 60 via the second gear 52 and the third gear 53, causing the shaft to rotate. This increases the electrical resistance between the terminals of the variable resistor 60. When the grip 20 reaches the left end of the slit SL, the electrical resistance between the terminals of the variable resistor 60 reaches a predetermined upper limit (e.g., several kilohms). Furthermore, this rotation of the first gear 51 causes the front rack 41 to slide in the opposite direction (rightward) from the rear rack 42. As the rear rack 42 and the front rack 41 slide, the rear spring 46 and the front spring 45 are stretched, and the biasing force (the force that pulls the grip 20 back to the origin) increases.

[0026] (effect) The gaming machine operating handle device 1 according to this embodiment allows a player to slide the grip 20 to the right or left from the origin. Right-handed players can adjust the launch speed of the gaming ball by sliding the grip 20 to the right. Meanwhile, left-handed players can adjust the launch speed of the gaming ball by sliding the grip 20 to the left. In other words, the same operational feel (ease of operation) can be provided to both right-handed and left-handed players. Furthermore, since there is no need to twist the wrist when operating the grip 20, fatigue is suppressed. Furthermore, the direction of rotation of the shaft of the variable resistor 60 when the grip 20 is slid to the right from the origin is configured to be the same as the direction of rotation of the shaft of the variable resistor 60 when the grip is slid to the left from the origin. Therefore, the operating handle device 1 for a gaming machine does not need to have a sensor (variable resistor) for detecting the sliding amount of the grip 20 to the right and a sensor (variable resistor) for detecting the sliding amount of the grip 20 to the left, separately. This allows the number of parts constituting the operating handle device 1 for a gaming machine to be reduced.

[0027] <Modification> The gear mechanism 50 of the operating handle device 1 for a gaming machine may be provided with a biasing member for reducing backlash. Also, the operating handle device 1 for a gaming machine may be provided with an operating switch for temporarily stopping the launch of gaming balls. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1...operating handle device for gaming machine, 10...case, 20...grip, 40...rack mechanism, 50...gear mechanism, 60...variable resistor, PM...pachinko machine

Claims

1. a grip operated by a player, the grip being supported so as to be slidable left and right from a predetermined origin; a first rack and a second rack disposed below the grip so as to face each other, the first rack and the second rack being supported so as to be slidable in the left-right direction, a first gear supported rotatably around a predetermined axis, the first gear being disposed between the first rack and the second rack, and meshing with the first rack and the second rack; a rotary variable resistor, the rotary variable resistor having a rotary shaft engaged with the first gear; a first biasing member and a second biasing member that bias the first rack and the second rack leftward and rightward, respectively; An operating handle device for a gaming machine, comprising: When the grip is slid to the right from the origin, the first rack is pressed to the right by the grip and slides to the right, causing the first gear to rotate in a first direction and the second rack to slide to the left, When the grip is slid leftward from the origin, the second rack is pressed leftward by the grip and slides leftward, whereby the first gear rotates in the first direction and the first rack slides rightward. The operating handle device for a gaming machine is configured as follows.

2. 2. The operating handle device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, An operating handle device for a gaming machine, wherein a speed increasing device is provided between the first gear and the rotary shaft of the rotary variable resistor.

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