Support mechanism for display unit

Abstract

To provide a support mechanism of a display part advantageous for reducing the installation cost of an inter-stand machine and efficiently performing the maintenance work of a game machine even when the width of the display part is largely secured.SOLUTION: A support mechanism for supporting the display unit 24 is constituted by a four joint link mechanism 40 including a base link 34 provided in the dispensing machine 10 and having a length in the horizontal direction, a tip link 36 provided in the display unit 24 and having a length in the horizontal direction shorter than that of the base link 34, and a pair of swing links 38 each having one end in the longitudinal direction rotatably coupled to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base link 34, protruding in a direction away from the dispensing machine 10, and having the other end in the longitudinal direction rotatably coupled to both ends of the tip link 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a support mechanism for a display unit used in an inter-machine gaming machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, gaming parlors have arranged gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines in a row, and adjacent to each gaming machine is a gaming medium lending machine (machine-to-machine machine) that dispenses pachinko balls or medals (gaming media). The game medium lending machine has a housing, and when a user inserts coins into a coin slot or a predetermined card medium into a card slot, pachinko balls or medals are dispensed by a dispensing hopper inside the housing. Such gaming media lending machines are provided with a display unit such as an LCD monitor, which displays information such as the number of gaming media paid out and the number of gaming media acquired.

[0003] In recent years, gaming machines have been developed that allow players to play without inserting gaming media; in the case of pachinko machines, these machines are called controlled gaming machines, and in the case of slot machines, they are called medalless gaming machines. When using such managed gaming machines or medalless gaming machines, instead of using a gaming media lending machine that dispenses gaming media, a machine-to-machine interface will be installed next to the gaming machine, which allows gaming value information to be sent to the managed gaming machine or medalless gaming machine by inserting coins or a card, making it possible to play on the managed gaming machine or medalless gaming machine. Since such inter-machine machines do not need to dispense gaming media, inter-machine machines for managed gaming machines and inter-machine machines for medal-less gaming machines can use inter-machine machines with the same hardware and external dimensions, although there are differences in software.

[0004] Conventionally, when the gaming machine is a pachinko machine, the gaming media lending machine is often placed on the left side of the pachinko machine, and when the gaming machine is a slot machine, the gaming media lending machine is often placed on the right side of the slot machine. This is because, when the gaming media lending machine is placed on the left side of the slot machine, if the door of the slot machine is opened via the hinge provided on the left side of the slot machine, the door of the slot machine is structurally thick, and so the slot machine door interferes with the nozzle of the gaming media lending machine, and this has to be avoided. Therefore, for users who have been using pachinko and slot machines for many years, it is advantageous to place the spacer on the left side of a managed gaming machine corresponding to a pachinko machine, and to place the spacer on the right side of a medalless gaming machine corresponding to a slot machine, in order to play without feeling uncomfortable.

[0005] Therefore, the present applicant has proposed two types of support mechanisms for the display unit that allow the inter-machine device to be placed on either the left or right side of the gaming machine. That is, the first display unit support mechanism has a base mounting part on one side of the display unit in the width direction, and a housing mounting part on the front panel of the machine, and the base mounting part can be switched between a first mounting position and a second mounting position in which the display unit is upside down relative to the housing mounting part, and the display unit can be tilted left and right on the base mounting part (see Patent Document 1). In addition, the second display unit support mechanism is a display unit support part that protrudes from the front panel of the machine and supports the vertical end and widthwise middle part of the display unit so that it can swing around a vertical axis, allowing the display unit to be tilted left and right (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2019-093300 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2019-093221 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the former requires the display unit to be installed upside down, and software must be switched so that the screen displayed on the display unit is displayed correctly, which has the disadvantage of increasing the cost of installing the machine. Furthermore, in the latter case, when the front door of the gaming machine is opened or closed with the display unit tilted, the part of the display unit closest to the front door comes close to the front door, and if the width of the display unit becomes large, there is a risk that the display unit and the front door will interfere with each other, which is disadvantageous in terms of efficiently carrying out maintenance work on the gaming machine. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a support mechanism for a display unit that not only allows the space-between machine to be placed on either the left or right side of the gaming machine, but also reduces the installation costs of the space-between machine and is advantageous for efficiently performing maintenance work on the gaming machine even if a large width is ensured for the display unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention is a support mechanism for a display unit used in a machine located to the side of a gaming machine, characterized in that the support mechanism is composed of a four-bar link mechanism consisting of a base link that is located in the machine located to the side and has a horizontal length, a tip link that is located in the display unit and has a horizontal length shorter than that of the base link, and a pair of oscillating links that have one end rotatably connected to both ends of the base link in the longitudinal direction, protrude in a direction away from the machine located to the side, and have the other end rotatably connected to both ends of the tip link in the longitudinal direction. In one embodiment of the present invention, one end of the base link in the length direction and one end of one of the pair of swing links in the length direction are swingably connected via a first support shaft, the other end of the base link in the length direction and one end of the other of the pair of swing links in the length direction are swingably connected via a second support shaft, one end of the tip link in the length direction and the other end of one of the pair of swing links in the length direction are swingably connected via a third support shaft, and the other end of the tip link in the length direction is swingably connected via a third support shaft. the first support shaft, the second support shaft, the third support shaft and the fourth support shaft are parallel to each other, the first support shaft and the second support shaft are at different heights in the vertical direction, the first support shaft and the third support shaft are provided at the same height, and the second support shaft and the fourth support shaft are provided at the same height, the pair of swing links extend in a direction away from the inter-machine machine, and do not interfere with each other when the pair of swing links swing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pair of swing links are provided with bent portions protruding in directions approaching each other at positions near one end in the length direction. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the base link is configured to include a pair of base-end hinges provided at positions spaced apart in the horizontal direction of the inter-table unit, and the tip link is configured to include a pair of tip-end hinges provided at positions spaced apart in the horizontal direction of the display unit, the base-end hinge having a base-end support shaft, a base-end flange for attaching the inter-table unit that is swingably connected to the base-end support shaft and attached to the inter-table unit, and a base-end flange swingably connected to the base-end support shaft, the tip-end hinge having a tip-end support shaft, a tip-end flange for attaching a display unit that is swingably connected to the tip-end support shaft and attached to the display unit, and a tip-end flange swingably connected to the tip-end support shaft, an intermediate plate connecting the base-end flange and the tip-end flange is provided, and the pair of swing links are configured to include the base-end flange, the tip-end flange, and the intermediate plate. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the intermediate plate has a base end flange mounting plate portion attached to the base end flange and a tip end flange mounting plate portion attached to the tip end flange, the base end flange mounting plate portion and the tip end flange mounting plate portion are connected via a bent portion, and the bent portion forms a bent portion that protrudes toward the pair of swing links in directions approaching each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the support mechanism supporting the display unit is composed of a four-bar link mechanism consisting of a base link provided on the inter-machine, a tip link provided on the display unit and having a horizontal length shorter than the base link, and a pair of oscillating links, one end of which is rotatably connected to both longitudinal ends of the base link and the other end of which is rotatably connected to both ends of the tip link.Therefore, when the display unit is tilted most toward the gaming machine, the tip link moves in a direction away from the gaming machine, so that even if the width of the display unit is increased, the end of the display unit located on the gaming machine side can be contained within the outline of the inter-machine when viewed from the front. Therefore, when opening and closing the door of the gaming machine, the display unit does not get in the way, allowing the door to be opened and closed smoothly, which is advantageous for efficient maintenance work on the gaming machine.In addition, since there is no need to install the display unit upside down, and there is no need to switch software, it is advantageous for reducing the cost required for installing the machine between machines. Furthermore, if the pair of oscillating links are configured to extend in a direction away from the inter-machine device and not interfere with each other when oscillating, this is advantageous in tilting the display unit significantly toward the gaming machine, and in pointing the display unit in a location that is easy for the player to see. Furthermore, if a bent portion that protrudes toward each other is provided near one end of the pair of oscillating links in the longitudinal direction, the display unit will not interfere with the pair of oscillating links when tilted significantly, and the display unit can be tilted significantly toward the gaming machine, which is advantageous in directing the display unit to a location that is easy for the player to see. Furthermore, if the pair of swing links is configured to include a base end flange, a tip end flange, and an intermediate plate, a four-bar link mechanism can be easily and reliably constructed using two commercially available base end hinges, two tip end hinges, and two intermediate plates, which is advantageous in easily and reliably manufacturing a support mechanism for a display unit consisting of an inexpensive four-bar link mechanism. Furthermore, if a pair of oscillating links are formed with bent portions that protrude in a direction that brings them closer to each other, the display unit will not interfere with the pair of oscillating links when tilted significantly, which is advantageous for tilting the display unit significantly toward the gaming machine and for pointing the display unit in a position that is easy for the player to see. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to an embodiment, showing a state in which a display unit is tilted to the right. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to an embodiment, showing a state in which a display unit is tilted to the left. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view of the machine when the display unit is viewed from the rear side. FIG. [Figure 4] This is an oblique view showing the state in which a machine-interval machine is installed on the right side of the gaming machine. [Figure 5] This is an oblique view showing the state in which a machine-interval machine is installed on the left side of the gaming machine. [Figure 6] (A) is a plan view showing the state where a spacer is installed on the left side of the gaming machine, (B) is a front view of (A), (C) is a plan view showing the state where a spacer is installed on the right side of the gaming machine, and (D) is a front view of (C). [Figure 7] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a machine and peripheral devices according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a plan view of the support mechanism for the display unit according to the embodiment, showing a state in which the display unit is located at a neutral position. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a plan view of the support mechanism for the display unit according to the embodiment, showing a state in which the display unit is tilted to the right of the neutral position. FIG. [Figure 10]10 is a plan view of the support mechanism for the display unit according to the embodiment, showing the state in which the display unit is tilted to the farthest right. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a plan view of the support mechanism for the display unit according to the embodiment, showing a state in which the display unit is tilted to the left of the neutral position. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a plan view of the support mechanism for the display unit according to the embodiment, showing the state in which the display unit is tilted to the leftmost side. FIG. [Figure 13] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a four-bar link mechanism that constitutes a support mechanism for a display unit according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first hinge and an intermediate plate. [Figure 15] 10 is a perspective view illustrating assembly of the first cover to the first hinge and the intermediate plate. FIG. [Figure 16] 10 is a perspective view illustrating assembly of a third hinge to a first hinge, an intermediate plate, and a first cover. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the first hinge, the intermediate plate, the first cover, and the third hinge after they have been assembled. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the second hinge to the intermediate plate. [Figure 19] 10 is a perspective view illustrating assembly of a third cover to a second hinge and an intermediate plate. FIG. [Figure 20] 10 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the fourth hinge to the second hinge, the intermediate plate, and the third cover. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second hinge, the intermediate plate, the third cover, and the fourth hinge after they have been assembled. [Figure 22] 1A is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of a support mechanism for a display unit to a display unit, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the support mechanism for the display unit to the inter-machine device. [Figure 24] 1A is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of a support mechanism for a display unit to a display unit, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of FIG. 1A seen from a different direction. [Figure 25]10 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the third hinge and the fourth hinge to the rear surface of the display unit. FIG. [Figure 26] 1 is a perspective view showing the front part of the display unit and the rear part assembled to the machine in a disassembled state. FIG. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the support mechanism for the display unit as seen from the machine side. [Figure 28] 1A is a perspective view illustrating how the second cover is attached to the first cover, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of FIG. [Figure 29] 10A is a perspective view illustrating how the fourth cover is attached to the third cover, and FIG. 10B is a plan view of FIG. [Figure 30] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the support mechanism for the display unit, omitting the first, second, third, and fourth covers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the inter-machine unit 10 is disposed to the side of the gaming machine 12. In this embodiment, the gaming machine 12 is described as a medal-less gaming machine 12B, which is a slot machine that allows play without inserting medals (gaming media), but it goes without saying that the gaming machine 12 may also be a controlled gaming machine 12, which is a pachinko machine that allows play without inserting pachinko balls (gaming media). As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the machine 10 is configured to include a housing 14, a status indicator lamp 16, a bill / coin processing unit 18, a control unit 20, a card reader / writer 22, a display unit 24, etc.

[0012] The housing 14 has a vertically elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape and is hollow, comprising a bottom plate 1402, a pair of side plates 1404 standing on either side of the bottom plate 1402, a front plate 1406 and a back plate 1408 standing on the front and back of the bottom plate 1402, and a top plate 1410 connecting the upper ends of the side plates 1404, front plate 1406, and back plate 1408. The inside of the housing 14 contains, from top to bottom, a bill / coin processing unit 18, a control unit 20, and a card reader / writer 22, and the front panel 1406 is provided with, from top to bottom, a status indicator lamp 16, a coin insertion slot 1412, a display unit 24, a dispensing button 1416, a lending button 1418, a card return button 1420, and a card insertion slot 1414. These buttons 1416, 1418, and 1420 constitute the operation buttons 17 shown in FIG.

[0013] The status indicator lamp 16 indicates the status of the machine 10 and is provided at the top end of the front panel 1406. The banknote and coin processing unit 18 includes a currency insertion slot 1412, and identifies currency such as banknotes and coins inserted by a user through the currency insertion slot 1412, and outputs the currency value and status information of the banknote and coin processing unit 18. The control unit 20 performs various controls of the machine 10, and the specific configuration will be described later. The card reader / writer 22 reads information such as identification information, gaming value, and currency value of a card inserted by a user through the card insertion slot 1414 and outputs the information to an information processing unit 20A (see FIG. 7) described later, and also outputs status information in the card reader / writer 22 to the information processing unit 20A. In addition, the card reader / writer 22 performs processing to write various information to the card based on commands from the information processing unit 20A. Furthermore, by providing a stock section for general cards within the card reader / writer 22, it is also possible to issue and collect general cards. Furthermore, instead of the card reader / writer 22, it is also possible to use a card reader / writer (in which an antenna for near field communication is provided on the surface of the housing 14) that is generally used in NFC (Near Field Communication: a short-range wireless communication standard) In that case, the same processing as above is performed on a contactless IC card held over the antenna provided on the surface of the housing 14 by the user.

[0014] The display unit 24 displays information to be provided to the user, and is tiltably supported on the front panel 1406 of the housing 14 via a display unit support mechanism according to the present invention.

[0015] Next, the configuration of the inter-machine 10 and peripheral devices will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The control unit 20 of the inter-machine 10 includes an information processing unit 20A, a gaming value management unit 20B, a communication IF 20C, and an input / output port (I / O) 20D.

[0016] The information processing unit 20A is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM, a RAM, etc., and performs various controls and processes on the peripheral devices mounted on the machine 10 based on a program.

[0017] The gaming value management unit 20B transmits and receives information to and from the gaming machine 12. When the gaming value management unit 20B transmits gaming value information to the gaming machine 12, the gaming machine 12 that received the gaming value information becomes able to play a game. When a game ends on the gaming machine 12, the gaming machine 12 outputs gaming value information, and the gaming value management unit 20B receives the gaming value information. In addition, it is also possible to obtain gaming machine information (model information, performance information, installation information, gaming value IN / OUT information, fraud monitoring information, etc.) of the connected gaming machine 12 and gaming status information (bonus information, assist time information, probability variation information, time-saving information, etc.).

[0018] The communication IF 20C is a port for transmitting and receiving various information to and from the higher-level devices 100, 102 (ball holding or medal holding server, ball saving or medal saving server, prepaid server, call button, hall computer, etc.). The information sent and received via the communication IF 20C includes, for example, currency value information of the currency inserted or fed into the banknote / coin processing unit 18, status information at the banknote / coin processing unit 18, card information read by the card reader / writer 22, write information to be written to the card, status information at the card reader / writer 22, game value information output to the gaming machine 12 by the game value management unit 20B, game value information and gaming machine 12 information acquired from the gaming machine 12 by the game value management unit 20B, game status information, membership information, information on balls or medals held, information on operations performed by the user on the inter-machine machine 10, status information at the inter-machine machine 10, and other information.

[0019] The input / output port 20D reads the pressing status of operation buttons (not shown) displayed on a display unit 24 (described later) operated by a user, and the status of contacts of switches, etc., and transmits the information to the information processing unit 20A. The input / output port 20D also controls the lighting of the status indicator lamp 16 and the generation of sounds. Furthermore, the input / output port 20D can output display information to the external display 104, and can input and output information relating to the transport of banknotes and coins to and from the external banknote / coin transport device 106. Furthermore, the input / output port 20D outputs information to be provided to the user on the display unit 24.

[0020] When a user plays a game using the gaming machine 12, for example, the user inserts a bill into the bill / coin processing unit 18 to transfer the currency value to the inter-machine machine 10. Next, when the user operates the lending button 1418, the inter-machine machine 10 generates game value information that converts the currency value into game value and outputs it to the gaming machine 12. The gaming machine 12 can execute a game based on the game value information acquired from the inter-machine machine 10. In addition, the inter-machine device 10 can also generate gaming value information based on currency information, held ball or medal information, or saved ball or medal information associated with the card, and output it to the gaming machine 12.

[0021] When the game is over and the user presses the counting button provided on the gaming machine 12, the gaming machine 12 outputs gaming value information to the inter-machine device 10. The inter-machine device 10 converts the gaming value information acquired from the gaming machine 12 into owned ball or owned medal information. When the user presses the card return button 1420, the owned ball or owned medal information is written onto a membership card or general card and discharged. Also, if the card reader / writer 22 is compatible with contactless IC cards, the owned ball or owned medal information can also be written onto a card (contactless IC card) that the user holds over the card reader / writer 22.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the display unit 24 is composed of a display unit housing 28, a display 30, and a touch panel 32, and the display unit 24 is supported so as to be tiltable by a support mechanism provided in the housing 14. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the display unit housing 28 has a rectangular plate shape that is long from top to bottom, and includes a rectangular plate-shaped back portion 2802, an upper surface portion 2804 and a lower surface portion 2806 that stand up from both ends of the length of the back portion 2802, a pair of side surfaces 2808 that stand up from both ends of the width of the back portion 2802 that is perpendicular to the length of the back portion 2802, and a rectangular frame-shaped front portion 2810 that connects the upper surface portion 2804, the lower surface portion 2806, and the pair of side surfaces 2808, and a rectangular opening 2812 is formed inside the front portion 2810.

[0023] The display 30 is configured, for example, by a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel, and has the shape of a long, narrow rectangular plate, and is housed and held inside the display housing 28 with its longitudinal direction aligned. The display 30 has a display surface 30A that displays information to be provided to the user, the display surface 30A is rectangular, is exposed through the opening 2812, and is provided on one of the thickness directions of the display housing 28. The information to be provided to the user includes, for example, the status of when a bill is inserted or when a coin is inserted into the bill / coin processing unit 18, the value of the currency inserted or inserted, the status of the card being read by the card reader / writer 22, the type of card, the information recorded on the card, membership information, information on held balls or medals, information on shared balls or medals, information on saved balls or medals, information on the transfer of saved balls or medals, information on the gaming value that can be used in the gaming machine 12, information on the gaming value obtained from the gaming machine 12, information on the next operation to be performed by the user, the status of the inter-machine machine 10, communication status, error information, maintenance information, advertisements, guidance, etc.

[0024] The touch panel 32 is provided overlaid on the surface of the display surface 30A, and is configured so that operation buttons (not shown) are displayed on the display surface 30A, and the user can perform operations by touching these operation buttons. That is, the operation buttons displayed on the display surface 30A include, for example, a card return button, a game value lending button, a PIN input button for a membership card or the like, a cancel button, a decision button, a cursor key, a display switching button, a button for sharing held balls or medals, an operation button for saving balls or medals, a card recovery button for maintenance, an information display button, a button for rest mode, a reset button, etc.

[0025] Next, the support mechanism for the display unit will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 8-13, the support mechanism for the display unit is composed of a four-bar link mechanism 40 consisting of a base link 34 that is attached to the inter-unit machine 10 and has a horizontal length, a tip link 36 that is attached to the display unit 24 and has a horizontal length shorter than that of the base link 34, and a pair of swing links 38 that have one end rotatably connected to both ends of the base link 34, protrude away from the inter-unit machine 10, and extend horizontally, and the other end rotatably connected to both ends of the tip link 36.

[0026] (Base link 34) As shown in FIG. 22(A), the base link 34 is configured to include a pair of base-end hinges 42 provided at positions spaced apart in the horizontal direction on the mounting plate of the inter-machine 10. The pair of base end side hinges 42 are a first hinge 42A and a second hinge 42B which are commercially available products, and the first hinge 42A and the second hinge 42B have the same shape. The pair of base end hinges 42 and the mounting plate 1002 of the inter-unit unit 10 are made of metal or synthetic resin, and in this embodiment, are made of metal. The first hinge 42A and the second hinge 42B have a base end support shaft 4202, which is a first support shaft 4202A and a second support shaft 4202B extending in the vertical direction, a base end flange 4204 for mounting the table interlocking machine that is swingably connected to the first support shaft 4202A and the second support shaft 4202B and attached to the mounting plate 1002 of the table interlocking machine 10, and a base end flange 4206 swingably connected to the first support shaft 4202A and the second support shaft 4202B.

[0027] The mounting plate 1002 of the table spacing machine 10 has a horizontal width and a vertical length, and as shown in Figures 22(A) and (B), a base end flange 4204 for mounting the table spacing machine of the first hinge 42A is attached to one end of the width direction at the top of the mounting plate 1002 via a bolt B, and a base end flange 4204 for mounting the table spacing machine of the second hinge 42B is attached to the other end of the width direction at a location of the mounting plate 1002 below the first hinge 42A via a bolt B. The first hinge 42A and the second hinge 42B are symmetrical with respect to a vertical line when attached to the attachment plate 1002. Therefore, first support shaft 4202A and second support shaft 4202B are located at positions separated in the horizontal direction and also separated in the vertical direction. Here, the vertically separated locations refer to locations where the pair of swing links 38, which will be described later, do not interfere with each other when the pair of swing links 38 swing. The first support shaft 4202A and the second support shaft 4202B are the points at which the base ends of a pair of swing links 38 are supported so that they can swing horizontally, and the base link 34 is formed by the location of the first hinge 42A that supports the first support shaft 4202A, the location of the second hinge 42B that supports the second support shaft 4202B, and the location of the mounting plate 1002 that connects them.

[0028] (Front link 36) As shown in FIG. 24, the tip link 36 is configured to include a pair of tip hinges 44 provided at positions spaced apart in the horizontal direction on the rear surface 2802 of the display unit 24 . The pair of distal end hinges 44 are a third hinge 44A and a fourth hinge 44B, which are commercially available products. The pair of tip side hinges 44 and the rear surface 2802 of the display unit 24 are made of metal or synthetic resin, and in this embodiment, are made of metal. The third hinge 44A and the fourth hinge 44B have a third support shaft 4402A and a fourth support shaft 4402B which are tip side support shafts 4402 extending in the vertical direction, a display unit mounting tip flange 4404 which is swingably connected to the third support shaft 4402A and the fourth support shaft 4402B and attached to the back part 2802 of the display unit 24, and a tip side flange 4406 which is swingably connected to the third support shaft 4402A and the fourth support shaft 4402B.

[0029] As shown in Figures 24, 25, and 30, the back part 2802 of the display unit 24 has a horizontal width and a vertical length, and the display unit mounting tip flange 4404 of the third hinge 44A is attached to one end side of the width direction at the top of the back part 2802 of the display unit 24 via a bolt plate 45 and a nut N, and the display unit mounting tip flange 4404 of the fourth hinge 44B is attached to the other end side of the width direction at a location on the mounting plate 1002 below the third hinge 44A via a bolt plate 45 and a nut N. In the drawing, reference numeral 47 denotes a frame member attached to the front plate 1002 of the inter-table machine 10 and covering the portion of the pair of swing links 38 near the base link 34 . The third hinge 44A and the fourth hinge 44B have the same shape. The third support shaft 4402A and the fourth support shaft 4402B are locations where the tips of a pair of swing links 38 are swingably supported, and the pair of swing links 38 swing in the horizontal direction. The tip link 36 is made up of the third hinge 44A that supports the third support shaft 4402A, the fourth hinge 44B that supports the fourth support shaft 4402B, and the back part 2802 of the display unit 24 that connects them.

[0030] As shown in Figure 13, in the four-bar link mechanism 40, theoretically, the imaginary line connecting the center of the first support shaft 4202A and the center of the second support shaft 4202B is the base link 34, and the length of this base link 34 is L1. The imaginary line connecting the center of the third support shaft 4402A and the center of the fourth support shaft 4402B is the tip link 36, and the length of this tip link 36 is L2. The length L2 of the tip link 36 is formed to be smaller than the length L1 of the base link 34.

[0031] (One swing link 38) The pair of swing links 38 extend horizontally, and one of the pair of swing links 38 is composed of a base end flange 4206 of the first hinge 42A, an intermediate plate 46, and a tip end flange 4406 of the third hinge 44A, as shown in Figures 14 to 17. The intermediate plate 46 is made of metal or synthetic resin, and in this embodiment, it is made of metal.

[0032] Describing one of the pair of swing links 38 in detail, the intermediate plate 46 has a base end flange mounting plate portion 4602 and a tip end flange mounting plate portion 4606 connected to the base end flange mounting plate portion 4602 via a bent portion 4604, as shown in Figure 14, and the tip of a bolt B inserted into the base end flange mounting plate portion 4602 is fastened by a nut N on the base end flange 4206 of the first hinge 42A, thereby joining the intermediate plate 46 and the base end flange 4206 of the first hinge 42A. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the tip flange 4406 of the third hinge 44A is placed on top of the tip flange mounting plate portion 4606 of the intermediate plate 46, and the tip of a bolt B inserted into the tip flange mounting plate portion 4606 is fastened with a nut N on a long groove 4408 provided in the tip flange 4406, thereby joining the tip flange mounting plate portion 4606 of the intermediate plate 46 and the base end flange 4406 of the third hinge 44A. Therefore, one of the pair of swing links 38 is made up of the base end flange 4206 of the first hinge 42A, the intermediate plate 46, and the tip end flange 4406 of the third hinge 44A.

[0033] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, a first cover 48 is provided which includes an outer plate portion 4802, an upper plate portion 4804 provided at the upper end of the outer plate portion 4802, an intermediate plate portion 4806 provided at a portion of the outer plate portion 4802 displaced downwardly from the upper plate portion 4804, and a lower plate portion 4808 provided at the lower end of the outer plate portion 4802, and as shown in Figure 28, a second cover 50 is provided which is fitted to the first cover 48, and the first cover 48 and the second cover 50 cover the connection portion between the tip flange mounting plate portion 4606 of the intermediate plate 46 and the tip flange 4406 of the third hinge 44A. The first cover 48 and the second cover 50 are made of synthetic resin.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the front flange 4406 of the third hinge 44A is superimposed on the front flange mounting plate portion 4606 of the intermediate plate 46 on the inner surface of the outer plate portion 4802 of the first cover 48. In detail, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, a convex portion 4810 on the inner surface of the outer plate portion 4802 is joined to a positioning hole 4608 of the tip flange mounting plate portion 4606, and the tip flange mounting plate portion 4606 and the tip flange 4406 of the third hinge 44A are inserted in an overlapping state between a vertical wall 4812 provided between the intermediate plate portion 4806 and the lower plate portion 4808 and the inner surface of the outer plate portion 4802. The space between the upper plate portion 4804 and the intermediate plate portion 4806 is formed as a wiring space for arranging a cable C that connects the display unit 24 shown in Figure 26 to the control unit 20 (Figure 7), and a notch 4814 is provided at the tip of the upper plate portion 4804 for removing the wiring.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 29, convex portions 2814 for hiding wiring are provided on the top and bottom of the rear surface 2802 of the display unit 24. As shown in Figures 28(A) and (B), the second cover 50 has an inner plate portion 5002 facing the outer plate portion 4802, and a guide plate 5004 provided on the inner plate portion 5002 is inserted into a guide groove 4816 (Figure 15) between the intermediate plate portion 4806 and the lower plate portion 4808, and a pair of claws 5006 provided on the inner plate portion 5002 are releasably coupled to an opening 4818 (Figure 15) in the vertical wall 4812, thereby attaching the second cover 50 to the first cover 48. As shown in Figures 28(A) and (B), this second cover 50 is provided to conceal internal structures such as the nut N (Figure 14) that connects the base end flange 4206 of the first hinge 42A to the intermediate plate 46, and the bolt B (Figure 22) that connects the mounting plate 1002 of the inter-unit unit 10 to the base end flange 4204 for mounting the inter-unit unit so that they cannot be seen from the outside.

[0036] (The other swing link 38) Regarding the other swing link 38 of the pair of swing links 38 in detail, as shown in Figures 18 to 21, like the one swing link 38, the other swing link 38 is composed of a base end flange 4206 of the second hinge 42B, an intermediate plate 46, and a tip end flange 4406 of the fourth hinge 44B. As shown in Figure 18, the intermediate plate 46 has a base end flange mounting plate portion 4602 and a tip end flange mounting plate portion 4606 connected to the base end flange mounting plate portion 4602 via a bent portion 4604, and the tip of a bolt B inserted into the base end flange mounting plate portion 4602 is fastened with a nut N on the base end flange 4206 of the second hinge 42B, thereby joining the intermediate plate 46 and the base end flange 4206 of the second hinge 42B.

[0037] As shown in Figures 20 and 21, the base end flange 4406 of the fourth hinge 44B is placed on top of the tip end flange mounting plate portion 4606 of the intermediate plate 46, and the tip of a bolt B inserted into the tip end flange mounting plate portion 4606 is fastened with a nut N on a long groove 4408 provided in the base end flange 4406, thereby joining the tip end flange mounting plate portion 4606 of the intermediate plate 46 and the base end flange 4206 of the second hinge 42B. Therefore, the other swing link 38 of the pair of swing links 38 is made up of the base end flange 4206 of the second hinge 42B, the intermediate plate 46, and the tip end flange 4406 of the fourth hinge 44B. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 14 and 18, the intermediate plates 46 of the pair of swing links 38 have bent portions 4604, so that bent portions 3810 that protrude in directions toward each other are formed at locations of the pair of swing links 38 near the base links 34, as shown in Figures 8 to 12.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 20 and 21, a third cover 52 is provided which has an outer plate portion 5202, an upper plate portion 5204 provided at the upper end of the outer plate portion 5202, and a lower plate portion 5206 provided at the lower end of the outer plate portion 5202, and as shown in Figure 29, a fourth cover 54 is provided which is fitted to the third cover 52, and the third cover 52 and the fourth cover 54 cover the connection point between the tip flange mounting plate portion 4606 of the intermediate plate 46 and the tip flange 4406 of the fourth hinge 44B. The third cover 52 and the fourth cover 54 are made of synthetic resin.

[0039] In detail, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, the protrusion 5208 on the inner surface of the outer plate portion 5202 is joined to the positioning hole 4608 of the attachment plate portion 4606 for the tip flange, and the attachment plate portion 4606 for the tip flange and the tip flange 4406 of the fourth hinge 44B are inserted in an overlapping state between the vertical wall 5210 provided between the upper plate portion 5204 and the lower plate portion 5206 and the inner surface of the outer plate portion 5202. 29(A) and (B), the fourth cover 54 has an inner plate portion 5402 facing the outer plate portion 5202, and a guide plate 5404 provided on the inner plate portion 5402 is inserted into a guide groove 5212 (FIG. 19) between the upper plate portion 5204 and the lower plate portion 5206, and a pair of claws 5406 provided on the inner plate portion 5402 are releasably coupled to an opening 5214 (FIG. 19) in the vertical wall 5210, thereby attaching the fourth cover 54 to the third cover 52. This fourth cover 54 is provided to conceal internal structures such as the nut N (Figure 18) that connects the intermediate plate 46 to the base end flange 4206 of the second hinge 42B, and the bolt B (Figure 22) that connects the mounting plate 1002 of the inter-unit unit 10 to the inter-unit unit mounting flange 4204 so that they cannot be seen from the outside.

[0040] As shown in Figure 13, in the four-bar link mechanism 40, theoretically, one sway link 38 is an imaginary line connecting the center of the first support shaft 4202A and the center of the third support shaft 4402A, and the length of one sway link 38 is the length of this imaginary line, and the other sway link 38 is an imaginary line connecting the center of the second support shaft 4202B and the center of the fourth support shaft 4402B, and the length of the other sway link 38 is the length of this imaginary line, and the length of one sway link 38 and the length of the other sway link 38 are equal. Furthermore, first support shaft 4202A, second support shaft 4202B, third support shaft 4402A, and fourth support shaft 4402B are parallel to one another and extend in the vertical direction. The first support shaft 4202A and the second support shaft 4202B are located at different positions in the horizontal direction and also have different heights in the vertical direction, and the third support shaft 4402A and the fourth support shaft 4402B are located at different positions in the horizontal direction and also have different heights in the vertical direction. Furthermore, first support shaft 4202A and third support shaft 4402A are provided at the same height, and second support shaft 4202B and fourth support shaft 4402B are provided at the same height.

[0041] Next, the movement of the four-bar link mechanism 40 will be described. As shown in Figure 8, the neutral position of the display unit 24 is when the center of the width of the display unit 24 is aligned with the center of the width of the front panel 1406 in front of the front panel 1406 of the machine 10 and the display unit 24 extends in the vertical direction. When this state is viewed from above, as shown in Figure 8, the pair of swing links 38 extend in front of the front plate 1406 in an axisymmetrical shape, and are positioned in a position where they do not interfere with each other when they swing. Furthermore, when this state is viewed from above, the imaginary line (base link 34) connecting the first support shaft 4202A and the second support shaft 4202B and the imaginary line (tip link 36) connecting the third support shaft 4402A and the fourth support shaft 4402B extend in a direction parallel to the width direction of the inter-machine 10.

[0042] Next, as shown in Figures 6(A) and (B), when the inter-machine machine 10 is placed on the left side of the gaming machine 12, if the display unit 24 is grasped and tilted so that the display surface 30A faces the gaming machine 12 from the neutral position shown in Figure 8 as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the pair of swing links 38 will swing in a direction away from the gaming machine 12, the imaginary line (tip link 36) connecting the third support shaft 4402A and the fourth support shaft 4402B will tilt, and the display unit 24 will face the gaming machine 12. Similarly, as shown in Figures 6(C) and (D), when the inter-machine machine 10 is placed to the right of the gaming machine 12, if the display unit 24 is grasped and tilted so that the display surface 30A faces the gaming machine 12 from the neutral position shown in Figure 8 as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the pair of swing links 38 will swing in a direction away from the gaming machine 12, the imaginary line (tip link 36) connecting the third support shaft 4402A and the fourth support shaft 4402B will tilt, and the display unit 24 will face the gaming machine 12. Similarly, the state of Figures 6(A) and (B) is changed to the state of Figures 6(C) and (D), and the state of Figures 6(C) and (D) is changed to the state of Figures 6(A) and (B).

[0043] In this embodiment, the support mechanism that supports the display unit 24 is composed of a four-bar link mechanism 40 that includes a base link 34 that is attached to the inter-machine 10 and has a horizontal length, a tip link 36 that is attached to the display unit 24 and has a horizontal length shorter than that of the base link 34, and a pair of oscillating links 38 that have one end rotatably connected to both ends of the length of the base link 34, protrude in a direction away from the inter-machine 10, and have the other end rotatably connected to both ends of the tip link 36.Therefore, as shown in Figures 10 and 12, when the display unit 24 is tilted most toward the gaming machine 12, the tip link 36 moves in a direction away from the gaming machine 12.Therefore, even if the width of the display unit 24 is increased, the end of the display unit 24 that is located on the gaming machine 12 side can be contained within the outline of the inter-machine 10 when viewed from the front. Therefore, when opening and closing the door of the gaming machine 12, the display unit 24 does not get in the way, and the door can be opened and closed smoothly, which is advantageous in terms of efficient maintenance work on the gaming machine 12. Furthermore, there is no need to mount the display unit 24 upside down, and there is no need to switch software, which is advantageous in reducing the cost required to install the machine 10.

[0044] In this embodiment, one end of the base link 34 in the longitudinal direction and one end of one of the pair of swing links 38 in the longitudinal direction are swingably coupled via a first support shaft 4202A, the other end of the base link 34 in the longitudinal direction and one end of the other of the pair of swing links 38 in the longitudinal direction are swingably coupled via a second support shaft 4202B, one end of the tip link 36 in the longitudinal direction and the other end of one of the pair of swing links 38 in the longitudinal direction are swingably coupled via a third support shaft 4402A, and the other end of the tip link 36 in the longitudinal direction and the other end of the pair of swing links 38 in the longitudinal direction are swingably coupled via a third support shaft 4402A. The other longitudinal end of the other swing link 38 of the pair of swing links 38 is swingably connected via the fourth support shaft 4402B, and the first support shaft 4202A, the second support shaft 4202B, the third support shaft 4402A and the fourth support shaft 4402B are parallel to each other, the first support shaft 4202A and the second support shaft 4202B are at different heights in the vertical direction, the first support shaft 4202A and the third support shaft 4402A are provided at the same height, and the second support shaft 4202B and the fourth support shaft 4402B are provided at the same height, and the pair of swing links 38 extend in a direction away from the inter-machine 10 and are configured so as not to interfere with each other when the pair of swing links 38 swing. In the present invention, the first support shaft 4202A, the second support shaft 4202B, the third support shaft 4402A, and the fourth support shaft 4402B may be at the same height, but if the first support shaft 4202A, the second support shaft 4202B, the third support shaft 4402A, and the fourth support shaft 4402B are set at the heights described above, they will not interfere with each other when the pair of swing links 38 swing, which is advantageous for tilting the display unit 24 significantly toward the gaming machine 12 and for pointing the display unit 24 in a position that is easy for the player to see.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a bent portion 3810 that protrudes toward each other is provided at a location near one end of the pair of swing links 38 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, as shown in Figures 10 and 12, when the display unit 24 is tilted significantly, the display unit 24 does not interfere with the pair of swing links 38, and the display unit 24 can be tilted significantly toward the gaming machine 12, which is advantageous in directing the display unit 24 to a location that is easy for the player to see.

[0046] In this embodiment, the base link 34 is configured to include a pair of base-end hinges 42 provided at positions spaced apart in the horizontal direction of the inter-unit device 10, and the tip link 36 is configured to include a pair of tip-end hinges 44 provided at positions spaced apart in the horizontal direction of the display unit 24. The base-end hinge 42 includes a base-end support shaft 4202, a base-end flange 4204 for attaching the inter-unit device that is swingably connected to the base-end support shaft 4202 and attached to the inter-unit device 10, and a base-end flange 4204 swingably connected to the base-end support shaft 4202. The tip side hinge 44 has a tip side support shaft 4402, a display unit mounting tip flange 4404 that is swingably connected to the tip side support shaft 4402 and attached to the display unit 24, and a tip side flange 4406 that is swingably connected to the tip side support shaft 4402, and an intermediate plate 46 that connects the base side flange 4206 and the tip side flange 4406 is provided, and the pair of swing links 38 are configured to include the base side flange 4206, the tip side flange 4406, and the intermediate plate 46. In other words, in this embodiment, the four-bar link mechanism 40 can be easily and reliably constructed using two commercially available base-end hinges 42 and two tip-end hinges 44, and two intermediate plates 46, which is advantageous in easily and reliably manufacturing a support mechanism for the display unit 24 consisting of an inexpensive four-bar link mechanism 40.

[0047] In addition, in this embodiment, the intermediate plate 46 has a base end flange mounting plate portion 4602 that is attached to the base end flange 4206, and a tip end flange mounting plate portion 4606 that is attached to the tip end flange 4406, and the base end flange mounting plate portion 4602 and the tip end flange mounting plate portion 4606 are connected via a bending portion 4604, and the bending portion 4604 forms a bending portion 3810 that protrudes toward the pair of swing links 38 in directions toward each other. In other words, by providing a bent portion 4604 in the intermediate plate 46, a bent portion 3810 can be easily formed on the pair of oscillating links 38, which protrudes in a direction that brings them closer to each other. When the display unit 24 is tilted significantly, the display unit 24 does not interfere with the pair of oscillating links 38, which is advantageous for tilting the display unit 24 significantly toward the gaming machine 12 and for pointing the display unit 24 in a position that is easy for the player to see.

[0048] It is optional to provide the display unit 24 with a camera that captures the face of the user (player) for facial authentication purposes. In this case, the camera may be provided in the center of the width direction at the top of the front part 2810 of the display unit 24. The camera photographs the face of the user (player), for example, when the player operates the touch panel 32, and the image information captured by the camera is transmitted to the communication IF 20C, where it is read by the information processing unit 20A of the inter-machine machine 10 for subsequent processing, or a higher-level camera server can be provided and this camera server can manage the captured images. In addition, photographs can be taken periodically using a camera, and images taken when an event occurs, such as when cash is inserted, a card is inserted, a card is returned, an error is detected, fraud is detected, or the loan button is operated, can be used to authenticate users or determine whether users are being replaced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10 machine 1002 Mounting plate 12 Gaming machines 14. Case 1402 Bottom plate 1404 Side plate 1406 Front plate 1408 Back plate 1410 Top plate 1412 Money slot 1414 Card slot 1416 Dispatch button 1418 Loan button 1420 Card return button 16 Status indicator lamp 17 Operation buttons 18 Banknote and coin processing section 20 Control Unit 20A Information Processing Section 20B Gaming Value Management Department 20C Communication IF 20D Input / Output Ports (I / O) 22 Card reader / writer 24 Display section 28 Display housing 2802 Back part 2804 Top part 2806 Bottom part 2808 Side part 2810 Front part 2812 Opening 2814 Convex 30 Display 30A display surface 32 Touch Panel 34 Base Link 36 Front link 38 Swing link 3810 Bend 40 Four-bar link mechanism 42 Pair of proximal hinges 42A First Hinge 42B Second hinge 4202 Base end support shaft 4202A 1st spindle 4202B 2nd spindle 4204 Base flange for mounting between machines 4206 Base end flange 44 Pair of tip hinges 44A 3rd hinge 44B 4th hinge 4402 Tip side support shaft 4402A 3rd spindle 4402B 4th spindle 4404 Display unit mounting flange 4406 Tip flange 4408 Nagamizo 45 bolted plate 46 Intermediate plate 4602 Base end flange mounting plate 4604 Bend 4606 Mounting plate for tip flange 4608 Positioning hole 48 First Cover 4802 Outer plate part 4804 Upper plate 4806 Intermediate plate 4808 Lower plate part 4810 Convex part 4812 Vertical wall 4814 Missing part 4816 Guide groove 4818 Opening 50 Second Cover 5002 Inner plate part 5004 Guide plate 5006 Pair of Claws 5008 Curved surface section 5010 Inclined plate section 52 Third Cover 5202 Outer plate part 5204 Upper plate 5206 Lower plate part 5208 Convex part 5210 Vertical wall 5212 Guide groove 5214 Opening 54 4th Cover 5402 Inner plate part 5404 Guide plate 5406 Pair of Claws 5408 Inclined plate section 100, 102 Upper equipment 104 External display 106 Banknote and coin transport device B Bolt N nut C Cable

Claims

1. A support mechanism for a display unit used in a machine located beside a gaming machine, The support mechanism includes: a base link provided on the inter-machine and having a horizontal length; a tip link provided on the display unit and having a horizontal length shorter than that of the base link; a pair of swing links, one end of which in the longitudinal direction is rotatably connected to both ends of the base link in the longitudinal direction, protruding in a direction away from the base machine, and the other end of which in the longitudinal direction is rotatably connected to both ends of the tip link, A display support mechanism characterized by:

2. one end in the longitudinal direction of the base link and one end in the longitudinal direction of one of the pair of swing links are swingably coupled via a first support shaft, the other end of the base link in the longitudinal direction and one end of the other of the pair of swing links in the longitudinal direction are swingably coupled via a second support shaft, one end of the tip link in the longitudinal direction and the other end of one of the pair of swing links in the longitudinal direction are swingably coupled via a third support shaft, the other end of the tip link in the longitudinal direction and the other end of the other swing link of the pair of swing links in the longitudinal direction are swingably coupled via a fourth support shaft, the first support shaft, the second support shaft, the third support shaft, and the fourth support shaft are parallel to each other, The first support shaft and the second support shaft have different heights in the up-down direction, the first support shaft and the third support shaft are provided at the same height, and the second support shaft and the fourth support shaft are provided at the same height, The pair of swing links extend in a direction away from the inter-unit machine and do not interfere with each other when the pair of swing links swing.

2. The display support mechanism according to claim 1.

3. The pair of swing links are provided with bent portions protruding in directions approaching each other at positions near one end in the length direction thereof.

3. The display support mechanism according to claim 2.

4. The base link includes a pair of base-end hinges provided at positions spaced apart in the horizontal direction of the machine, the tip link includes a pair of tip hinges provided at positions spaced apart in the horizontal direction of the display unit, the base-end hinge has a base-end support shaft, a base-end flange for attaching the base-end machine that is swingably connected to the base-end support shaft and attached to the base-end machine, and a base-end flange swingably connected to the base-end support shaft, the tip side hinge has a tip side support shaft, a display unit mounting tip flange swingably coupled to the tip side support shaft and attached to the display unit, and a tip side flange swingably coupled to the tip side support shaft, an intermediate plate is provided that connects the base end flange and the tip end flange; The pair of swing links are configured to include the base end flange, the tip end flange, and the intermediate plate.

2. The display support mechanism according to claim 1.

5. the intermediate plate has a base end flange mounting plate portion attached to the base end flange and a tip end flange mounting plate portion attached to the tip end flange, the base end flange mounting plate portion and the tip end flange mounting plate portion are connected via a bent portion, The bent portions form bent portions that protrude in directions toward each other on the pair of swing links.

5. The display support mechanism according to claim 4.

Images