gaming machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine that can make an operation button unit thinner and improve the efficiency of installation space.SOLUTION: A performance operation unit 60 includes an operation button 61 that can be displaced by an operation of a player, a base member 62 that supports the operation button 61 with respect to a front door 12, and a weight motor 63a that executes vibration performance. The operation button 61 has first and second operation members 66A, 66B and a third operation member 67, and engaging parts 66c, 66f, 67b extending from one of them are engaged with the other, thereby being connected to each other. A base member 62 has a second base 69 fixed to the front door 12 and a first base 68 provided closer on the front side than the second base 69 with a predetermined gap therebetween. The first base 68 is provided with a first insertion hole 68e through which the engaging parts 66c, 66f, 67b are inserted, and the second base 69 is provided with a second insertion hole 69d with which the weight motor 63a is received.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, typical examples of gaming machines include slot machines and pachinko machines. Such gaming machines are equipped with operation units such as operation buttons operated by players, and display means such as a display that displays various game effects. Operation buttons have been proposed that vibrate and emit light in response to game effects displayed on the display or pressing operations by the player (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The vibration and light-emitting operation button described in Patent Document 1 is configured as an effect operation unit, and the effect operation unit is housed in a housing that opens on the front panel of the gaming machine main body. The effect operation unit includes a case, a button supported on a base within the case so that it can move back and forth, a spring that urges the button in the protruding direction, a vibrator that imparts vibration to the button, a light-emitting body that makes the button light up, and a sensor that detects the button being pressed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-32653 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional vibration-light-emitting operation button units, various parts such as the button body, vibrator, button advance / retract section, spring, circuit board, etc. are arranged inside the unit in the advance / retract direction (height direction) of the button, and space is provided inside the unit for the button to move forward and backward, which creates the problem of the height dimension of the operation button unit becoming large.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine in which an operation button unit is made thinner, thereby enabling more efficient use of installation space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] That is, the invention described in claim 1 is as follows: an operating member that can be displaced by an operation by a player; a base member that supports the operation member relative to the gaming machine body; a vibrator provided on the base member for performing vibration effects; the operating member is displaceable between a first position in which it is not operated and a second position in which it is operated by a player, and has an abutting portion that abuts against an abutted portion of the base member at the second position; At least one of the contact portion and the contacted portion is formed to protrude toward the other, and the contact portion and the contacted portion are configured to be in point contact with each other, The vibrator is configured to be able to perform a vibration effect when the operation member is in the second position, The contact portion and the contacted portion are provided in plural along a direction intersecting the displacement direction of the operating member. 、 The vibration caused by the vibrating body is transmitted via the contact portion and the contacted portion. R This is a gaming machine characterized by the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the gaming machine of the present invention, the front side member and the back side member are connected by the engagement of the engagement portion, and the engagement portion is inserted into the first insertion hole of the intermediate member, so that the intermediate member is sandwiched between the base member and the operating member, and the operating member is assembled so that it can move forward and backward relative to the base member, so that there is no need to provide a separate forward and backward guide structure, and the machine can be made smaller. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine with the front door open. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the front door of the slot machine. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cabinet of the slot machine. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the front door. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the front door. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the structure of the front door. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are front and rear views showing the performance operation unit. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are side views showing the operation of the performance operation unit. [Figure 10] This is an exploded oblique view of the performance operation unit viewed from diagonally above. [Figure 11] This is an exploded oblique view of the performance operation unit seen from diagonally below. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the performance operation unit. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing a simplified representation of the performance operation unit. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing a simplified representation of the performance operation unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a reel-type gaming machine, which is one type of gaming machine, specifically a slot machine 10, will be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the slot machine 10, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine 10 with the front door 12 open, Fig. 3 is a rear view of the front door 12, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the cabinet 11.

[0011] [Overall structure of the gaming machine] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the slot machine 10 includes a housing 11 that forms its outer shell. The housing 11 is formed by assembling wooden panels and is generally box-shaped with an open front, and is attached to so-called island equipment when installed in an amusement hall by nailing or the like. The housing 11 is not limited to being made of wooden panels, but may also be made of synthetic resin panels or metal panels, or may be formed into a single box shape from synthetic resin or metal materials. A handle 11a is provided on the lower side of the housing 11 to be used when transporting the slot machine 10.

[0012] A front door 12 is attached to the front side of the housing 11 so as to be able to open and close. That is, the housing 11 is provided with three support shafts 13a, 13b, and 13c (see FIG. 4) at upper and lower locations on the left side when viewed from the front, and the front door 12 is provided with bearings 14a, 14b, and 14c (see FIG. 3) at positions corresponding to the support shafts 13a, 13b, and 13c. When the support shafts 13a, 13b, and 13c are inserted into the bearings 14a, 14b, and 14c, the front door 12 is supported relative to the housing 11 so as to be rotatable about an opening / closing axis extending in the vertical direction and connecting the support shafts 13a, 13b, and 13c, and the open front side of the housing 11 can be opened or closed by rotating the front door 12.

[0013] A locking device 15 is provided on the rear surface of the front door 12 opposite the opening / closing axis (the right side when viewed from the front), and a lock receiving portion 16 is provided on the housing 11 at a position corresponding to the locking device 15. This locking device 15 locks the front door 12, which is closed relative to the housing 11, so that it cannot be opened. A key cylinder 15a integrated with the locking device 15 is provided on the front right end of the front door 12, and the locking device 15 can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state by operating a predetermined key on the key cylinder 15a. That is, by operating the key cylinder 15a, the locking device 15 is engaged with the lock receiving portion 16 to lock the front door 12, making it impossible to open, and by disengaging the locking device 15 from the lock receiving portion 16 to unlock the front door 12, it can be opened. Note that an Omlock (registered trademark) with high fraud prevention capabilities is used as the key cylinder 15a.

[0014] A game panel 20 for displaying information related to games is provided in the center of the front surface of the front door 12. The game panel 20 is made of a transparent synthetic resin material, and the interior of the slot machine 10 can be seen through the game panel 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a reel unit 21 is attached to the back side of the front door 12 corresponding to the game panel 20. The reel unit 21 includes connectors 21a and 21b for connecting power distribution wiring (not shown) and signal lines (not shown) extending from a main relay board 71 (described later), and the operation of the reel unit 21 is controlled by a main control device 90.

[0015] The reel unit 21 includes a left reel 22L, a center reel 22M, and a right reel 22R, each of which is formed in a cylindrical (annular) shape. Each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R is rotatably supported such that its central axis coincides with the axis of rotation of the reel. The axes of rotation of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R are arranged on the same axis extending substantially horizontally, and a portion of the surface of each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R is visible through the game panel 20. Furthermore, when each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R rotates forward, the surface of each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R is visible through the game panel 20 as if it were moving from top to bottom.

[0016] Here, the configuration of the reel unit 21 will be briefly described. Each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R is connected to a stepping motor, and each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R can be rotated individually, i.e., independently, by driving each stepping motor. The stepping motor is set to rotate once by applying a drive signal (hereinafter also referred to as an excitation pulse) of, for example, 504 pulses, and this excitation pulse controls the rotational position of the stepping motor, i.e., the rotational position of the reel. In addition, the reel unit 21 is provided with a reel index sensor on each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R to detect when the reel has rotated once. Each time the reel index sensor detects that the reel has rotated once, it outputs a detection signal to the main control device 90, which will be described later. Therefore, the main control unit 90 can check and correct the angular position of each reel 22L, 22M, 22R for each rotation based on the detection signal of the reel index sensor and the number of excitation pulses output before the detection signal is input.

[0017] On the outer periphery of each reel 22L, 22M, 22R, a plurality of symbols serving as identification information are drawn in the long side direction (circumferential direction) of the reel. Specifically, 21 symbols are drawn at equal intervals on each reel 22L, 22M, 22R, and three consecutive symbols are configured to be visible in the upper, middle, and lower positions of the gaming panel 20. Therefore, to switch from one symbol to the next symbol at a predetermined position, 24 excitation pulses (= 504 pulses ÷ 21 symbols) must be output. Furthermore, the main control device 90 can determine which symbols are visible from the gaming panel 20 and stop a predetermined symbol at a position visible from the gaming panel 20 based on the number of excitation pulses output after the reel index sensor detection signal is input.

[0018] A start lever 23 that is operated to start the rotation of each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R is provided on the lower left side of the game panel 20. The start lever 23 is a lever that a player pushes by hand (the direction in which it is pushed is not limited) when starting a game, and when the start lever 23 is operated after a predetermined number of medals have been inserted, the rotation of each of the reels 22L, 22M, and 22R starts all at once (however, not necessarily simultaneously).

[0019] Button-like stop switches 24L, 24M, and 24R are provided on the right side of the start lever 23. These switches are operated to individually stop the spinning reels 22L, 22M, and 22R. Each stop switch 24L, 24M, and 24R is located corresponding to the reel 22L, 22M, or 22R to be stopped. That is, when the left stop switch 24L is operated, the left reel 22L stops spinning, when the center stop switch 24M is operated, the center reel 22M stops spinning, and when the right stop switch 24R is operated, the right reel 22R stops spinning.

[0020] A medal insertion port 25 for inserting medals is provided on the lower right side of the game panel 20. Medals inserted through the medal insertion port 25 are guided to either an intake passage 26 or a discharge passage 27 by a selector (not shown) provided on the back surface of the front door 12. The medals guided to the intake passage 26 are then guided to a hopper device 31 housed inside the cabinet 11. Meanwhile, the medals guided to the discharge passage 27 are guided from a medal discharge port 28 provided on the lower front surface of the front door 12 to a medal tray 29 and are returned to the player.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the hopper device 31 is composed of a storage tank 32 that stores medals, and a payout device 33 that pays out medals to players. The payout device 33 rotates a medal payout rotary plate (not shown) to discharge medals into an opening 27a provided in the discharge passage 27, and pays out the medals to a medal tray 29 via the discharge passage 27. In addition, a spare tank 34 is provided to the right of the hopper device 31 to prevent more than a predetermined amount of medals from being stored in the storage tank 32. A guide plate (not shown) is provided inside the storage tank 32 of the hopper device 31 to discharge medals from the storage tank 32 to the spare tank 34. Therefore, if medals are stored above the height at which the guide plate is provided, those medals will be stored in the spare tank 34.

[0022] In addition, a settlement switch (not shown) is provided to the left of the start lever 23. This slot machine 10 has a credit function that stores and stores, as virtual medals, any surplus medals inserted up to a predetermined maximum value (equivalent to 50 medals) and medals paid out when a prize is won, and when the settlement switch is operated while virtual medals are stored and stored, the virtual medals are paid out as real medals from the medal discharge port 28 to the medal tray 29. In addition, when the settlement switch is operated while medals inserted into the medal insertion port 25 are stuck in the selector, the selector is mechanically linked and operated, and the medals stuck in the selector are returned from the medal discharge port 28.

[0023] A MAXBET button 36 for inserting the maximum number of credited virtual medals as gaming media (for example, inserting three at a time) is provided on the lower left side of the gaming panel 20. Although not provided in the slot machine 10 of this embodiment, a button for inserting two virtual medals at a time (2BET button) or a button for inserting one virtual medal (1BET button) may be provided near the MAXBET button 36. Since the settlement switch and the MAXBET button 36 are operation units for performing the main game operations in the slot machine 10, operation signals from these operation units are transmitted to and processed by a main control device 90, which will be described later.

[0024] An information display unit 37 is provided to the left of the MAXBET button 36. The information display unit 37 is composed of a 7-segment display that displays information about the number of medals, such as the number of virtual medals credited, the number of medals remaining to be paid out until the bonus state ends, and the number of medals paid out when a prize is won. The information display unit 37 is not limited to being composed of a 7-segment display, and may be composed of a liquid crystal display or the like that displays information about the number of medals to be displayed on a single screen. The display of the information display unit 37 is controlled by the main control unit 90.

[0025] An effect button 38 is provided at the center below the game panel 20 as an effect operation unit 60 (described later). The effect button 38 is used to switch between images and videos displayed on a liquid crystal display device 55 (described later) and to switch the lighting state of the upper lamp 51 and side lamp 53. Operation signals from the effect button 38 are transmitted to and processed by a sub-control device 80 (described later). Also, a lower plate 39 is attached above the medal tray 29, on which the name of the machine and characters related to the game are displayed.

[0026] On the front side of the front door 12, an upper lamp 51 and a pair of left and right speaker grills 52 are provided at the top, a pair of side lamps 53 are provided on both left and right sides, and a pair of left and right speaker grills 54 are provided on both sides of the lower plate 41. The upper lamp 51 and the side lamps 53 light up and flash as the game progresses to create effects. In addition, a liquid crystal display device 55 that provides various information to the player is provided above the game panel 20. The liquid crystal display device 55 is used to execute various display effects as the game progresses and to notify the player of the status when the power is turned on or when an error occurs, and is configured with a liquid crystal display 56 that displays images.

[0027] 3, on the rear side of the front door 12, a pair of left and right upper speakers 57 (the upper speaker on the right side is not shown in the figure) are provided at the top, a pair of left and right lower speakers 58 are provided at the bottom, and an auxiliary speaker (woofer) 59 is provided on the rear of the liquid crystal display device 55. The upper speaker 57 generates various sound effects as the game progresses, and these sound effects are sent out to the front side of the front door 12 through the speaker grill 52. The lower speaker 58 generates alert sounds to notify the player of the game status, and these alert sounds are sent out to the front side of the front door 12 through the speaker grill 54. The auxiliary speaker 59 generates sound effects such as deep bass as the game progresses.

[0028] The LCD device 55 has an outer casing formed by an LCD case 55a, which houses an LCD display and an LCD substrate (not shown). The LCD substrate is equipped with electronic components such as a VDP (Video Display Processor) that controls the overall video output and various memories. A connector port is formed in the LCD case 55a, and a connector 55b mounted on the LCD substrate is exposed on the rear side of the front door 12 through the connector port. Wiring (not shown) extending from the sub-controller 80, which will be described later, is connected to the connector 55b.

[0029] The upper lamps 51, the side lamps 53, the LCD display device 55, the upper speaker 57, the lower speaker 58, and the sub-speaker 59 are controlled by a sub-control device 80. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the sub-control device 80 is attached to the inner surface of the back panel 11c of the cabinet 11 via a main body base 85. Furthermore, a main control device 90 that controls the reel unit 21 and the hopper device 31 to supervise and manage games is attached to the main body base 85. A power supply box 70 is provided inside the cabinet 11 to the left of the hopper device 31. The power supply box 70 houses a power supply device (not shown) therein and is equipped with a power switch (not shown) for supplying power to the sub-control device 80, the main control device 90, and other components.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 3, a main relay board 71 and a sub-relay board 72 are provided on the back side of the front door 12. The main relay board 71 relays power supplied from the power supply box 70 via the main control device 90 and control signals transmitted from the main control device 90 to various components such as the reel unit 21, start lever 23, stop switches 24L, 24M, and 24R, the adjustment switch 5, the MAXBET button 36, and the information display unit 37. The sub-relay board 72 relays power supplied from the power supply box 70 via the sub-control device 80 and control signals transmitted from the sub-control device 80 to various components such as the effect button 38, the LCD display device 55, the upper lamp 51, the side lamp 53, the upper speaker 57, the lower speaker 58, and the sub-speaker 59. The main relay board 71 and the sub-relay board 72 are each provided with an input connector for connecting wiring (not shown) from the main control device 90 and the sub-control device 80 and a distribution connector for connecting distribution wiring (not shown) connected to various components.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, the sub-control device 80 has an outer casing formed by a circuit board case 81, and a sub-circuit board (not shown) housed in the circuit board case 81. The sub-circuit board is equipped with electronic components such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) that mainly controls the effect button 38, upper lamp 51, side lamp 53, upper speaker 57, lower speaker 58, and sub-speaker 59, as well as various memories, and multiple connectors 82 for electrical connection to the outside. The sub-circuit board is housed in the circuit board case 81 so that the surface on which the electronic components are mounted faces the front side of the sub-control device 80. The circuit board case 81 is composed of a base member (not shown) that forms the back side thereof and a cover member 83 that forms the front side thereof. A connector opening is formed in the cover member 83, and the connector 82 is exposed through the connector opening.

[0032] The main control device 90 has an outer shell formed by a circuit board case 91, which houses a main circuit board (not shown). The main circuit board is equipped with electronic components such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) that mainly controls the reel unit 21, hopper device 31, etc., various memories, and multiple connectors 92 for electrical connection to the outside. The main circuit board is housed in the circuit board case 91 so that the surface on which the electronic components are mounted faces the front side of the main control device 90. The circuit board case 91 is composed of a base member (not shown) that forms its back side and a cover member 93 that forms its front side. Multiple connector openings are formed in the cover member 93, and the connectors 92 are exposed through the connector openings. The main control device 90 is also provided with a reset switch 94 and a setting key insertion hole 95.

[0033] The reset switch 94 is a switch for resetting various states of the slot machine 10. The slot machine 10 has a function for backing up various data, so that in the event of a power outage, the state at the time of the power outage is maintained and the state at the time of power recovery (power restoration) can be restored. Therefore, when the power is turned off in the normal manner, such as when an amusement hall closes, the state before the power outage is stored and maintained, but when the power is turned on while pressing the reset switch 94, the backup data is reset (initialized). Furthermore, if the reset switch 94 is pressed while the power is on, the error state is reset.

[0034] The setting key insertion hole 95 is used by a hall manager or the like to adjust the number of medals dispensed. That is, a hall manager or the like can insert a setting key into the setting key insertion hole 95 and turn it to change the setting state of the slot machine 10 (setting the winning probability for each winning mode) from "Setting 1" to "Setting 6." When the setting state is set to "Setting 1," a lottery is performed to determine the winning mode (combination) that will minimize the expected number of medals paid out. When the setting state is set to "Setting 6," a lottery is performed to determine the winning mode that will maximize the expected number of medals paid out. The reset switch 94 is operated not only to reset an error state but also to change the setting state of the slot machine 10.

[0035] [Front door structure] The structure of the front door 12 will be described below with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the structure of the front door 12. Fig. 7 is a rear view showing the structure of the front door 12. The front door 12 comprises a metal chassis 12a as a base, and a resin front panel 12b attached to the front of the chassis 12a. The game panel 20 is attached so as to cover the opening of the chassis 12a, and the upper lamp 51 and side lamp 53 shown in Fig. 1 are attached to the front of the chassis 12a.

[0036] The front panel 12b has an upper surface 12c that extends slightly downwardly inclined toward the front of the gaming panel 20. The upper surface 12c is provided with a medal insertion slot 25, a MAXBET button 36, an information display unit 37, and an effect button 38. The upper surface 12c is formed with a first recess 12d that receives an effect operation unit (first operation unit) 60 serving as the effect button 38, and a recess 12e that receives the MAXBET button 36. A second recess 12f that receives a switch unit (second operation unit) 24a incorporating stop switches 24L, 24M, and 24R is also formed on the lower front side of the upper surface 12c. The first recess 12d opens upward, approximately perpendicular to the upper surface 12c, and the second recess 12f opens forward, and the first recess 12d and the second recess 12f are provided in communication with each other within the front panel 12b.

[0037] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, on the rear side of the front door 12, the chassis 12a is provided with a first unit mounting portion 12g for mounting the performance operation unit 60 and a second unit mounting portion 12h for mounting the switch unit 24a. The first unit mounting portion 12g and the second unit mounting portion 12h are arranged side by side vertically. The first unit mounting portion 12g has four screw holes 121 for inserting four screws (screw members) (not shown) to secure the performance operation unit 60. The second unit mounting portion 12h has four screw holes (not shown) for inserting four screws (screw members) 122 to secure the switch unit 24a. The first unit mounting portion 12g and the second unit mounting portion 12h are arranged adjacent to each other vertically and are arranged close together so that the screws 122, which are a part of each other, overlap when viewed left and right.

[0038] The performance operation unit 60 and the switch unit 24a are configured so that they can be individually attached to or detached from the first unit mounting portion 12g and the second unit mounting portion 12h from the rear side of the front door 12. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the performance operation unit 60 can be inserted and removed vertically into the first recess 12d even when the switch unit 24a is attached to the front door 12, and the performance operation unit 60 is attached by inserting the performance operation unit 60 into the first recess 12d and fastening it to the first unit mounting portion 12g from the rear side of the front door 12 with screws. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the switch unit 24a can be inserted and removed forward and backward into the second recess 12f even when the performance operation unit 60 is attached to the front door 12, and the switch unit 24a can be attached by inserting the switch unit 24a into the second recess 12f and fastening it to the second unit mounting portion 12h from the rear side of the front door 12 with screws.

[0039] [Structure of the production operation unit] The structure of the production operation unit 60 will be described below with reference to Figs. 8 to 14. Figs. 8(A) and (B) are front and rear views showing the production operation unit 60. Figs. 9(A) and (B) are side views showing the operation of the production operation unit 60. Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the production operation unit 60 seen from diagonally above. Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the production operation unit 60 seen from diagonally below. Figs. 12(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the production operation unit 60. Figs. 13(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views showing a simplified version of the production operation unit 60. Figs. 14(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views showing a simplified version of the production operation unit 60.

[0040] 8 to 14, the effect operation unit 60 includes an operation button 61 (effect button 38) as an operation member that can be pressed by a player, a base member 62 that supports the operation button 61 so that it can move back and forth, a vibration effect section 63 that adds a vibration effect to the operation button 61, a visual effect section 64 that adds a visual effect to the operation button 61, and a detection section 65 that detects the pressing of the operation button 61. This effect operation unit 60 is linked to game effects and the like displayed on the liquid crystal display 56, and when the player presses the operation button 61, the vibration effect section 63 vibrates the operation button 61 and the visual effect section 64 makes the operation button 61 emit light, thereby performing vibration effects and visual effects toward the player. The performance operation unit 60 is configured to be displaceable from an initial position (first position) in which the surface of the operation button 61 protrudes upward from the base member 62, as shown in Figure 9(A), to a pressed-in position (second position) in which the operation button 61 is pressed toward the base member 64, as shown in Figure 9(B).

[0041] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the operation button 61 is composed of a first operation member 66A as a front-side member exposed upward (on the front side) from the base member 64, a second operation member 66B as a front-side member housed inside the first operation member 66A, and a third operation member 67 as a back-side member connected to the first operation member 66A and the second operation member 66B. The first operation member 66A is formed from a transparent synthetic resin material in a dish shape with an opening downward, allowing the player to see through and view the interior. The first operation member 66A is formed with a polygonal top surface 66a that is elongated in the left-right direction, side surfaces 66b that extend downward from the periphery of the top surface 66a, and four engagement portions 66c that extend further downward from the side surfaces 66b. The second operating member 66B is formed from a translucent synthetic resin material in the shape of a dish that opens downward, and is formed to have an upper surface portion 66d provided with decorative portions such as letters, a side surface portion 66e extending downward from the periphery of the upper surface portion 66d, and two engaging portions 66f extending further downward from the side surface portion 66e. The first operating member 66A and the second operating member 66B are combined with each other with the surface of the upper surface portion 66d in close contact with the inner surface of the upper surface portion 66a and the outer surface of the side surface portion 66e in close contact with the inner surface of the side surface portion 66b.

[0042] The third operating member 67 of the operation button 61 is made of synthetic resin and has a generally plate-like shape. The third operating member 67 is disposed below the first operating member 66A and the second operating member 66B, sandwiching a first base 67 (described below) of the base member 64 between them. The third operating member 67 has a flat portion 67a, six engaging portions 67b protruding upward from the periphery thereof, and extending portions 67c extending laterally (in the left-right direction, which is the intersecting direction) from both left and right ends of the flat portion 67a. Of the six engaging portions 67b, four engaging portions 67b engage with engaging portions 66c of the first operating member 66A, and two engaging portions 67b engage with engaging portions 66f of the second operating member 66B, thereby connecting the first operating member 66A and the second operating member 66B to the third operating member 67. Two protrusions 67d serving as abutment portions spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction (the front-to-rear direction, which is the second intersecting direction) are formed on the underside of each of the left and right extending portions 67c, so that a total of four protrusions 67d are provided on the third operating member 67. A protrusion 67e (see FIGS. 12 to 14), which will be described later, is formed in the approximate center of the upper surface of the third operating member 67, and this protrusion 67e functions as a detectable portion that is detected by the detecting unit 65. A holding portion 67f that holds the vibration producing unit 63, two coil springs 67g that urge the operating button 61 in the protruding direction (upward), and two guide shafts 67h that guide the coil spring 67g are provided on the underside of the third operating member 67.

[0043] The base member 62 includes a first base 68 as an intermediate member and a second base 69 as a fixed member, each made of a synthetic resin material. The first base 68 has an annular flange 68a that abuts against the upper surface 12c of the front panel 12b, a cylindrical outer portion 68b that extends downward from the flange 68a and fits into the first recess 12d, and a bottom portion 68c that closes the lower end of the outer portion 68b. The first base 68 accommodates a first operating member 66A of the operation button 61 so as to be movable up and down, and a side portion 66b of the first operating member 66A is guided by the inner surface of the outer portion 68b. The bottom surface portion 68c is provided with four fixed posts 68d that extend downward and are fixed to the second base 69, and six first insertion holes 68e through which the engagement portions 66c, 66f, 67b of the operation button 61 are inserted. In addition, the visual effect portion 64 is held on the upper surface side of the bottom surface portion 68c, and an insertion hole 68f through which the detection portion 65 is inserted is formed in approximately the center of the bottom surface portion 68c.

[0044] The second base 69 is formed with a bottom surface portion 69a and an outer surface portion 69b that is continuous with the bottom surface portion 69a and extends upward. The bottom surface portion 69a and the outer surface portion 69b each have two fixing portions 69c that are fixed to the first unit mounting portion 12g of the chassis 12a with screws. A second insertion hole 69d is provided in the approximate center of the bottom surface portion 69a, through which the vibration production unit 63 is inserted. The bottom surface portion 69a also has four fixing portions 69e that are fixed to fixing posts 68d of the first base 68 with screws. The first base 68 and the second base 69 are joined together by fixing the fixing posts 68d and fixing portions 69e from below with screws, so that the outer surfaces 68b, 69b are continuous with each other, and the flat surface portion 67a of the third operating member 67 of the operation button 61 is located between the bottom surfaces 68c, 69c. The second base 69 has, at both left and right ends thereof, two notched portions (contact portions) 69f formed by cutting out the outer portion 69b, and the extending portion 67c of the third operating member 67 is positioned between these notched portions 69f and a bottom surface portion 68c of the first base 68. In addition, the bottom surface portion 69a has, at two left and right locations, guide tube portions 69g (third insertion holes) through which the guide shaft 67h of the third operating member 67 is inserted to guide the coil spring 67g.

[0045] The vibration effector 63 is composed of a weight motor 63a as a vibrating body fixed to the underside of the third operating member 67 of the operation button 61. The weight motor 63a is screwed to a holding portion 67f of the third operating member 67, connected to the sub-controller 80 by wiring, and driven and controlled by control signals from the sub-controller 80. The visual effector 64 is composed of a board 64a on which electronic components and the like are mounted, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 64b as light-emitting elements provided on the board 64a. The board 64a is screwed to a bottom surface 68c of the first base 68, connected to the sub-controller 80 by wiring, and the LEDs 64b are controlled to light up and down by control signals from the sub-controller 80. The detection unit 65 is composed of an optical sensor and detects whether the protrusion 67e of the third operating member 67 is in an ON state, where it blocks the light receiving portion of the optical sensor, or in an OFF state, where it opens the light receiving portion, and sends a detection signal to the sub-controller 80.

[0046] [Operation of the production operation unit] The operation of the performance operation unit 60 will be described below with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Figures 13(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views of the performance operation unit 60 cut in the short side direction (front-to-back direction), Figure 13(A) shows a state in which the operation button 61 is in its initial position before operation, and Figure 13(B) is a diagram showing a state in which the operation button 61 has been pushed in to its pressed position. Figures 14(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views of the performance operation unit 60 cut in the long side direction (left-to-right direction), Figure 14(A) shows a state in which the operation button 61 is in its initial position before operation, and Figure 14(B) is a diagram showing a state in which the operation button 61 has been pushed in to its pressed position.

[0047] 13(A) and 14(A), when the operation button 61 is in the initial position, the operation button 61 is urged upward by the urging force of the coil spring 67g, and the flat portion 67a of the third operation member 67 approaches the bottom surface portion 68c of the first base 68, and the extension portion 67c abuts against the lower end of the outer portion 68b, thereby maintaining the initial position. At this time, the weight motor 63a of the vibration production unit 63 is in a position exposed slightly downward from the second insertion hole 69d of the second base 69, and the guide shaft 67h of the third operation member 67 is housed in the guide tube portion 69g of the second base 69 so as not to protrude downward.

[0048] Furthermore, when the operation button 61 is in the initial position, the protrusion 67e of the third operation member 67 enters the light receiving portion of the optical sensor and blocks the light, turning the optical sensor ON, and the detection signal is sent to the sub-controller 80, thereby detecting that the operation button 61 is in the initial position. When the operation button 61 is in the initial position, the sub-controller 80 sends a control signal to the vibration production unit 63 to stop the weight motor 63a and to the visual production unit 64 to turn off the LED 64b. In other words, when the operation button 61 is in the initial position, neither the vibration production unit 63 nor the visual production unit 64 is executed.

[0049] Next, when the player operates the operation button 61, as shown in Figures 13(B) and 14(B), the operation button 61 is pressed down against the biasing force of the coil spring 67g, causing the flat portion 67a of the third operation member 67 to move away from the bottom surface 68c of the first base 68. Then, the protrusion 67d of the extension portion 67c of the third operation member 67 comes into contact with the upper surface (contact portion) of the notch portion 69f of the second base 69, restricting further downward movement of the operation button 61 and causing the operation button 61 to be pressed down to the pressed-in position. At this time, the weight motor 63a of the vibration production unit 63 protrudes downward from the second insertion hole 69d of the second base 69, and the guide shaft 67h of the third operation member 67 protrudes downward from the guide tube portion 69g of the second base 69.

[0050] When the operation button 61 is pressed to the depressed position, the protrusion 67e of the third operation member 67 separates from the light receiving portion of the optical sensor, turning the optical sensor OFF. This detection signal is sent to the sub-controller 80, and it is detected that the operation button 61 is in the depressed position. The sub-controller 80 transmits a control signal to the vibration effector 63 to rotate the weight motor 63a and to the visual effector 64 to illuminate the LED 64b. In other words, when the operation button 61 is in the depressed position, both the vibration effect by the vibration effector 63 and the visual effect by the visual effector 64 are executed. When the weight motor 63a of the vibration effector 63 rotates, the vibrations caused by the rotation are transmitted to the third operation member 67. The protrusion 67d of the extension 67c abuts against the upper surface of the notch 69f, causing the entire operation button 61 to vibrate strongly. The vibrations are transmitted to the player's hand, effectively executing the vibration effect. In addition, when the LED 64b of the visual presentation unit 64 emits light, the light that is scattered after passing through the decorative portion of the upper surface 66d of the second operating member 66B is irradiated through the upper surface 66a of the first operating member 66A, and a visual presentation is executed in which the operating button 61 emits light to the player.

[0051] According to this embodiment, the following actions and effects can be achieved. (1) In the effect operation unit 60, when the operation button 61 is pressed to the depressed position and a vibration effect is executed by the vibration effect section 63, the protrusion 67d of the extension section 67c of the third operation member 67 abuts against the upper surface of the cutout section 69f of the second base 69, and this point contact amplifies the vibration of the weight motor 63a, causing the entire operation button 61 to vibrate strongly, thereby enhancing the effect of the vibration effect on the player.

[0052] (2) The operation button 61 is provided with extensions 67c extending on both sides of the third operation member 67 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), and these extensions 67c are each formed with two protrusions 67d, one on the front and one on the back. This allows at least one or several of the four protrusions 67d to reliably abut against the left and right notched portions 69f of the second base 69. In other words, even if the operation button 61 is pressed carelessly, or even if the operation button 61 is pressed at a slight angle forward, backward, left, or right, at least one or several of the protrusions 67d can be made to abut against the upper surface of the notched portion 69f, and vibrations can be reliably transmitted to the player.

[0053] (3) In addition, in the operation button 61, a protrusion 67d is provided on the extension portion 67c extending on both sides of the third operation member 67 in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction), and an engagement portion 67b provided near the extension portion 67c engages with the engagement portions 66c, 66f of the first operation member 66A and the second operation member 66B. As a result, the vibrations amplified by the contact between the protrusion 67d and the cutout portion 69f are easily transmitted to the first operation member 66A and the second operation member 66B via the engagement portions 66c, 66f, 67b, and the vibrations can be reliably transmitted to the player.

[0054] (4) In addition, in the performance operation unit 60, the board 64a of the visual performance unit 64 is fixed to the first base 68 of the base member 62, so that vibrations of the operation button 61 are less likely to be transmitted to the board 64a, suppressing the effects of vibrations on the LEDs 64b and electronic components mounted on the board 64a and preventing breakdowns and deterioration of the board 64a. At this time, the engagement portions 66c, 66f, 67b of the operation button 61 are inserted into the first insertion holes 68e of the first base 68, and the various parts of the operation button 61 do not come into contact with the bottom surface 68c to which the board 64a is fixed. This further suppresses transmission of vibrations from the operation button 61 to the board 64a.

[0055] (5) In addition, in the performance operation unit 60, the first operation member 66A and the second operation member 66B are connected to the third operation member 67 by the engagement of the engagement portions 66c, 66f, and 67b, and the operation button 61 is assembled to the base member 62 by sandwiching the bottom surface portion 68c of the first base 68 with the engagement portions 66c, 66f, and 67b being inserted into the first insertion hole 68e of the first base 68. With this assembly structure, the operation button 61 is assembled to the base member 62 so that it can be advanced and retreated, so there is no need to provide a separate advance and retreat guide structure, which allows the performance operation unit 60 to be made smaller, and in particular, the height dimension of the operation button 61 in the advance and retreat direction (vertical direction) can be reduced.

[0056] (6) Furthermore, in the performance operation unit 60, when the operation button 61 is pushed to the depressed position, the weight motor 63a protrudes downward from the second insertion hole 69d of the second base 69, and the guide shaft 67h of the third operation member 67 protrudes downward from the guide tube portion 69g of the second base 69. Therefore, it is not necessary to completely house the weight motor 63a and the guide shaft 67h inside the performance operation unit 60 while ensuring the height dimensions of the weight motor 63a and the guide shaft 67h. On the other hand, when the operation button 61 is in the initial position, the weight motor 63a and the guide shaft 67h do not protrude downward significantly, so the height dimension of the performance operation unit 60 can be reduced.

[0057] (7) In addition, in the front door 12, a first recess 12d is provided on the upper surface 12c of the front panel 12b, a second recess 12f is provided on the front lower side of the upper surface 12c, the first recess 12d accommodates the performance operation unit 60 from above, and the second recess 12f accommodates the switch unit 24a from the front, and the performance operation unit 60 and the switch unit 24a are fixed from the back side of the front door 12 by the first unit mounting portion 12g and the second unit mounting portion 12h of the chassis 12a, respectively. With this fixing structure, the performance operation unit 60 and the switch unit 24a can be easily attached or detached, improving the efficiency of the assembly work.

[0058] (8) Furthermore, in the fixing structure of the performance operation unit 60 and the switch unit 24a, the first unit mounting portion 12g and the second unit mounting portion 12h are provided adjacent to each other on the chassis 12a on the rear side of the front door 12, and the performance operation unit 60 and the switch unit 24a are configured to be individually attachable or detachable, further improving the efficiency of the assembly work. Also, the first unit mounting portion 12g and the second unit mounting portion 12h are provided adjacent to each other on the top and bottom so that the screws 122, which are part of each other, overlap in the left-right direction, which is the adjacent intersecting direction, so that the installation space for the performance operation unit 60 and the switch unit 24a can be made compact.

[0059] (9) Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the height dimension of the performance operation unit 60 can be reduced, even when the unit is arranged vertically next to the switch unit 24a, these units can be arranged closer to each other in the vertical direction, thereby making it possible to efficiently use the installation space while preventing the front panel 12b from becoming larger.

[0060] [Modifications of each embodiment] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes modifications and improvements within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention. (1) In the above embodiment, the effect operation unit 60 as the first operation unit of the slot machine 10 was provided on the upper surface 12c of the front panel 12b of the front door 12, and the operation button 61 was provided so that it could be operated by pressing it downward, but the installation position of the effect operation unit may be any position that allows operation by a player, and the operation direction of the operation button (operation member) is not limited to the up-down direction, but may be the front-back direction, the left-right direction, or any diagonal direction. Also, in the above embodiment, the switch unit 24a as the second operation unit was provided adjacent to the front lower side of the effect operation unit 60, but the first operation unit and the second operation unit may be provided adjacent to each other not vertically but horizontally or diagonally.

[0061] (2) In the above embodiment, the effect operation unit 60 was provided with a light-emitting effect section (visual effect section 64) having a board on which electronic components including light-emitting elements were mounted, but the light-emitting effect section may be omitted, or the visual effect section may be provided with an image display section such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or a movable effect section in which a movable object moves. Also, the second operation unit is not limited to the switch unit 24a incorporating the stop switches 24L, 24M, and 24R, but may be the start lever 23, the MAXBET button 36, other operation buttons, switches, etc., as long as it has an operation section that can be operated by the player.

[0062] (3) In the above embodiment, the performance operation unit 60 has an operation button 61 as an operation member and a base member 62, and the operation button 61 is formed with a protrusion 67d as a contact portion and the base member 62 is formed with a notch 69f as a contacted portion. However, this is not limited to this. The contacted portion may be provided on the operation member and the contact portion may be provided on the base member. Also, in the above embodiment, four protrusions 67d are provided as contact portions. However, the number of contact portions is arbitrary, and may be one, two, three, five or more. Also, in the above embodiment, the contact portions and the contacted portions are provided symmetrically on both the left and right ends of the performance operation unit 60. However, the installation positions of the contact portions and the contacted portions are arbitrary, and may be provided symmetrically in the front and rear directions or may be provided in random positions.

[0063] (4) In the above embodiment, the detection unit 65 that detects displacement of the operation button 61 is composed of an optical sensor provided on the base member 62 and a protrusion 67e provided on the operation button 61. However, the optical sensor may be provided on the operation member, and a light-shielding unit such as a protrusion may be provided on the base member. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the operation member is in the first position (protruding position), the protrusion 67e is in an ON state blocking the light receiving unit of the optical sensor, and when the operation member is displaced to the second position (depressed position), the protrusion 67e is in an OFF state opening the light receiving unit of the optical sensor, i.e., a constantly ON configuration. However, this is not limiting, and the detection unit may be constantly OFF. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the vibration effector 63 is provided on the operation button 61, but it may be provided on the base member 62.

[0064] (5) In the above embodiment, the first base 68 serving as an intermediate member in the base member 62 is provided with the first insertion hole 68e, and the engaging portions 66c, 66f, and 67b of the operating member are inserted into the first insertion hole 68e. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Instead of the insertion hole, a notch may be provided in the periphery of the intermediate member, or the engaging portions may be configured to pass outside the periphery of the intermediate member. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the second base 69 serving as a fixed member in the base member 62 is provided with the second insertion hole 69d, and the weight motor 63a of the operating member is inserted into the second insertion hole 69d. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. An insertion hole or a recess may be provided in the intermediate member of the base member, and the vibrator may be inserted into the insertion hole or recess.

[0065] (6) Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the third operating member 67, which is the rear side member of the operating button 61, is provided with a guide shaft 67h for guiding the coil spring 67g, and the second base 69, which is the fixed member of the base member 62, is provided with a guide tube portion 69g (third insertion hole) for inserting the guide shaft 67h. However, this is not limited to this, and the guide shaft may be provided in an intermediate member or a fixed member of the base member, and an insertion hole for inserting the guide shaft may be provided in the rear side member of the operating member.

[0066] (7) In the above embodiment, the slot machine 10 has been described as an example of the gaming machine of the present invention. However, the gaming machine of the present invention may be a slot machine of a different type than the slot machine 10. Furthermore, the gaming machine of the present invention may be a pachinko machine that has various winning openings, such as a general winning opening and an activation opening, provided in the gaming area and pays out a predetermined number of gaming balls when gaming balls enter these winning openings, or may be another type of gaming machine such as an arrange ball machine or a mahjong ball machine.

[0067] [Inventions extracted from each embodiment] The following describes the features of the inventions extracted from the above-described embodiments. Note that, among the features of the inventions, the configurations corresponding to the above-described embodiments are shown in parentheses, but the features of the inventions are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc., and combinations of features within the scope of achieving the purpose of the features of the inventions are also included in the features of the inventions.

[0068] <Features Group A> Feature A1. an operating member (operation button 61) that can be displaced by the player's operation; A base member (base member 62) that supports the operating member on the gaming machine body; A vibrator (weight motor 63a) that performs vibration effects, The operating member is displaceable between a first position when not operated and a second position when operated by a player, and has an abutting portion (protrusion 67d) that abuts against an abutted portion (notch 69f) of the base member at the second position, At least one of the contact portion and the contacted portion is formed to protrude toward the other, and the contact portion and the contacted portion are configured to be in point contact with each other. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0069] According to feature A1 of the present invention, the contact portion of the operating member displaced to the second position contacts the contacted portion of the base member by point contact, thereby amplifying the vibration of the vibrator provided on the operating member and transmitting it to the player, thereby enhancing the vibration presentation effect.

[0070] Feature A2. In the gaming machine according to Feature A1 of the present invention, The contact portion and the contacted portion are provided at symmetrical positions on both ends along a direction intersecting the displacement direction of the operating member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0071] According to feature A2 of the present invention, the abutting portion and the abutted portion are provided at symmetrical positions on both ends along the intersecting direction that intersects with the displacement direction of the operating member, so that even if the operating member is pushed in unevenly and tilted in the intersecting direction, the abutting portion and the abutted portion on at least one of the ends can be brought into abutment, and the vibration of the vibrating body can be transmitted to the player.

[0072] Feature A3. In the gaming machine according to Feature A2 of the present invention, The contact portion and the contacted portion provided at the symmetrical positions are configured to be capable of point contact at two locations spaced apart in the displacement direction and a second intersecting direction intersecting the intersecting direction. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0073] According to Feature A3 of the present invention, the contact portion and the contacted portion are configured to be symmetrically positioned so as to be capable of point contact at two locations spaced apart in the second intersecting direction, allowing the contact portion and the contacted portion to come into contact at a total of four locations, thereby efficiently transmitting the vibration of the vibrator to the player. Furthermore, even if the operating member is tilted in the second intersecting direction, the contact portion and the contacted portion can be reliably brought into contact with each other.

[0074] Feature A4. In the gaming machine according to any one of Features A1 to A3 of the present invention, The device further includes a light-emitting element (visual element 64) having a substrate (substrate 64a) on which electronic components including a light-emitting element (LED 64b) are mounted, the substrate being fixed to the base member, and light from the light-emitting element passing through the operating member and being irradiated. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0075] According to Feature A4 of the present invention, by fixing a board on which electronic components including light-emitting elements are mounted to a base member, vibrations from a vibrator provided on the operating member are less likely to be transmitted to the board, thereby suppressing breakdowns in the electronic components. Furthermore, by providing a visual effect in which light from the light-emitting elements passes through the operating member in addition to the vibration effect of vibrating the operating member with the vibrator, the synergistic effect of the two types of effects can be further improved.

[0076] Feature A5. In the gaming machine according to any one of Features A1 to A4 of the present invention, The operation member has a front side member (first operation member 66A, second operation member 66B) provided on the front side and a rear side member (third operation member 67) provided on the rear side, and the front side member and the rear side member are connected to each other by engaging portions (engagement portions 66c, 66f, 67b) extending from at least one of them with the other. The base member has a fixed member (second base 69) fixed to the gaming machine body, and an intermediate member (first base 68) provided on the surface side of the fixed member with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the intermediate member is provided with a first insertion hole (insertion hole 68e) through which the engaging portion is inserted, As the operation member is displaced, the rear side member moves through a gap between the fixed member and the intermediate member of the base member, and the engagement portion moves without contact inside the first insertion hole. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0077] According to Feature A5 of the present invention, the operating member is assembled to the base member by sandwiching the intermediate member between the front and rear members through the engagement of the engagement portion, and the engagement portion is inserted into the first insertion hole of the intermediate member. This assembly structure allows the operating member to be assembled to the base member so that it can be advanced and retreated, eliminating the need for a separate advance and retreat guide structure and reducing the dimensions in the advance and retreat direction. Furthermore, if the circuit board of the light-emitting performance unit is fixed to the intermediate member of the base member, the engagement portion moves contactlessly within the first insertion hole, making it difficult for the vibration of the vibrator to be transmitted by the intermediate member and the circuit board, reducing the possibility of failure of electronic components.

[0078] Feature A6. In the gaming machine described in Feature A5 of the present invention, The fixing member is provided with a second insertion hole (insertion hole 69d) that receives the vibrator, As the operating member is displaced, the vibrating body is inserted into the second insertion hole of the fixing member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0079] According to Feature A6 of the present invention, the vibrator is inserted into the second insertion hole of the fixed member in response to displacement of the operating member, eliminating the need for clearance to accommodate movement of the vibrator, which has a relatively large volume, and reducing the dimension in the forward and backward directions. Also, if the substrate of the light-emitting performance unit is fixed to the base member, inserting the vibrator into the second insertion hole of the fixed member makes it difficult for vibrations of the vibrator to be transmitted by the base member and the substrate, further reducing the possibility of failure of electronic components.

[0080] According to the group of features A of the present invention, the vibration of the operation button is more easily transmitted to the player, and the vibration presentation effect can be enhanced, so that the following problem can be solved.

[0081] Conventionally, typical examples of gaming machines include slot machines and pachinko machines. Such gaming machines are equipped with operation units such as operation buttons operated by players and display means such as a display that displays various game effects. Operation buttons have been proposed that vibrate and emit light in response to game effects displayed on the display or pressing operations by the player. The vibration-and-light-emitting operation button is configured as an effect operation unit, and the effect operation unit is housed in a housing that opens in the front panel of the gaming machine main body. The effect operation unit includes a case, a button supported on a base within the case so as to be able to move back and forth, a spring that biases the button in a protruding direction, a vibrator that imparts vibration to the button, a light-emitting body that causes the button to emit light, and a sensor that detects the button being pressed.

[0082] However, with conventional vibration-emitting operation buttons, even if the vibrating body vibrates in conjunction with pressing the button, the vibration is attenuated inside the unit, making it difficult for the vibration to be transmitted to the player's hand via the button, making it difficult to fully enhance the presentation effect.

[0083] <Feature Group B> Feature B1. an operating member (operation button 61) that can be displaced by the player's operation; A base member (base member 62) that supports the operating member on the gaming machine body; A vibrator (weight motor 63a) that performs vibration effects, The operation member has a front side member (first operation member 66A, second operation member 66B) provided on the front side and a rear side member (third operation member 67) provided on the rear side, and the front side member and the rear side member are connected to each other by engaging portions (engagement portions 66c, 66f, 67b) extending from at least one of them with the other. The base member has a fixed member (second base 69) fixed to the gaming machine body, and an intermediate member (first base 68) provided on the surface side of the fixed member with a predetermined gap therebetween, the intermediate member is provided with a first insertion hole (first insertion hole 68e) through which the engaging portion is inserted, and the fixed member is provided with a second insertion hole (second insertion hole 69d) through which the vibrator is received, As the operation member is displaced, the rear side member moves through the gap between the fixed member and the intermediate member of the base member, the engagement portion moves inside the first insertion hole, and the vibrator is inserted into the second insertion hole of the fixed member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0084] According to Feature B1 of the present invention group, the operating member is assembled to the base member by sandwiching the intermediate member by engaging the engaging portion between the front side member and the back side member, and by inserting the engaging portion into the first insertion hole of the intermediate member, and the operating member is assembled to be able to advance and retreat relative to the base member, so that a separate advance and retreat guide structure is not required and miniaturization can be achieved. Also, by inserting the vibrating body into the second insertion hole of the fixing member as the operating member is displaced, it is not necessary to provide a space within the unit to accommodate the movement of the vibrating body, which has a relatively large volume, and the dimension in the advance and retreat direction can be reduced.

[0085] Feature B2. In the gaming machine according to Feature B1 of the present invention, A spring (coil spring 67g) that biases the operating member in a protruding direction is provided between the rear side member and the fixed member, and a guide shaft (guide shaft 67h) that extends toward the fixed member and guides the spring is provided on the rear side member. The fixed member is provided with a third insertion hole (guide tube portion 69g) for receiving the guide shaft. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0086] According to feature B2 of the present invention group, a guide shaft for guiding the spring is provided on the rear side member, and a third insertion hole for receiving the guide shaft is provided on the fixed member, so that the tilt of the operating member can be suppressed and the forward / backward movement can be guided, and there is no need to provide space inside for the movement of the guide shaft, so the dimension in the forward / backward direction can be suppressed.

[0087] Feature B3. In the gaming machine according to feature B1 or B2 of the present invention, The operation member further includes a light-emitting element (visual element 64) having a substrate (substrate 64a) on which electronic components including a light-emitting element (LED 64b) are mounted, the substrate being fixed to the intermediate member of the base member, and light from the light-emitting element is irradiated through the surface-side member of the operation member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0088] According to Feature B3 of the present invention, by fixing a substrate on which electronic components including light-emitting elements are mounted to an intermediate member of a base member, vibrations from a vibrator provided on an operating member are less likely to be transmitted to the substrate, thereby suppressing breakdowns in the electronic components. Furthermore, by providing a visual effect in which light from a light-emitting element passes through the operating member in addition to the vibration effect of vibrating the operating member with the vibrator, the synergistic effect of the two types of effects can be further improved.

[0089] Feature B4. In the gaming machine according to Feature B2 or Feature B3 of the present invention, The operating member is displaceable between a first position when not operated and a second position when operated by a player, and has an abutting portion (protrusion 67d) that abuts against an abutted portion (notch 69f) of the base member at the second position, At least one of the contact portion and the contacted portion is formed to protrude toward the other, and the contact portion and the contacted portion are configured to be in point contact with each other. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0090] According to feature B4 of the present invention, the contact portion of the operating member displaced to the second position contacts the contacted portion of the base member by point contact, thereby amplifying the vibration of the vibrator provided on the operating member and transmitting it to the player, thereby enhancing the vibration presentation effect.

[0091] Feature B5. In the gaming machine described in feature B4 of the present invention, The contact portion and the contacted portion are provided at symmetrical positions on both ends along a transverse direction (left-right direction) that intersects with the displacement direction of the operating member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0092] According to feature B5 of the present invention, the abutting portion and the abutted portion are provided at symmetrical positions on both ends along the intersecting direction that intersects with the displacement direction of the operating member, so that even if the operating member is pushed in unevenly and tilted in the intersecting direction, the abutting portion and the abutted portion on at least one of the ends can be brought into abutment, and the vibration of the vibrating body can be transmitted to the player.

[0093] Feature B6. In the gaming machine described in feature B5 of the present invention, The contact portion and the contacted portion provided at the symmetrical positions are configured to be capable of point contact at two locations spaced apart in the displacement direction and a second intersecting direction (front-rear direction) intersecting the intersecting direction. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0094] According to Feature B6 of the present invention, the contact portion and the contacted portion are configured to be in point contact at two locations spaced apart in the second intersecting direction, so that the contact portion and the contacted portion can contact each other at four locations in total, thereby efficiently transmitting the vibration of the vibrator to the player. Furthermore, even if the operating member is tilted in the second intersecting direction, the contact portion and the contacted portion can be reliably contacted.

[0095] According to the feature group B of the present invention, the operation button unit can be made thinner and the installation space can be made more efficient, so that the following problems can be solved.

[0096] Conventionally, typical examples of gaming machines include slot machines and pachinko machines. Such gaming machines are equipped with operation units such as operation buttons operated by players and display means such as a display that displays various game effects. Operation buttons have been proposed that vibrate and emit light in response to game effects displayed on the display or pressing operations by the player. Conventional vibration-and-light-emitting operation buttons are configured as an effect operation unit, and the effect operation unit is housed in a housing that opens on the front panel of the gaming machine body. The effect operation unit includes a case, a button supported on a base within the case so as to be able to move back and forth, a spring that biases the button in a protruding direction, a vibrator that imparts vibration to the button, a light-emitting body that causes the button to emit light, and a sensor that detects the button being pressed.

[0097] However, in conventional vibration-light-emitting operation button units, various parts such as the button body, vibrator, button advance / retract section, spring, circuit board, etc. are arranged inside the unit in the advance / retract direction (height direction) of the button, and space is provided inside the unit for the button to move forward and backward, which creates the problem of the height dimension of the operation button unit becoming large.

[0098] <Feature C group> Feature C1. A gaming machine equipped with a first operation unit (performance operation unit 60) and a second operation unit (switch unit 24a) that accept operations from a player, A first recess (first recess 12d) and a second recess (second recess 12f) for receiving the first operation unit and the second operation unit, respectively, are provided on the outer side of the gaming machine body; The first recess and the second recess are open toward the outside of the gaming machine body in directions intersecting each other, and are provided in communication with each other inside the gaming machine body, A first unit mounting portion (first unit mounting portion 12g) and a second unit mounting portion (second unit mounting portion 12h) for fixing the first operation unit and the second operation unit, respectively, are provided adjacent to each other on the inside of the gaming machine main body, and the first unit mounting portion and the second unit mounting portion are provided so that a portion of each of them overlaps with each other in an adjacent cross direction; The first operation unit and the second operation unit are configured such that one of them is fixed to the gaming machine body and the other is detachable. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0099] According to Feature C1 of the present invention group, the first operation unit is accommodated in the first recess, and the second operation unit is accommodated in the second recess, and the first operation unit and the second operation unit are fixed from the rear side by the first unit mounting portion and the second unit mounting portion, respectively. This makes it easy to attach or detach each unit, improving the efficiency of the assembly work. Furthermore, since the first operation unit and the second operation unit are configured to be individually attachable or detachable, the efficiency of the assembly work can be further improved. Furthermore, since the first unit mounting portion and the second unit mounting portion are provided adjacent to each other so that portions of them overlap in the adjacent cross direction, the installation space for these units can be made compact.

[0100] Feature C2. In the gaming machine according to feature C1 of the present invention, The first operation unit is an operating member (operation button 61) that can be displaced by the player's operation; A base member (base member 62) that supports the operating member on the gaming machine body; A vibrator (weight motor 63a) that performs vibration effects, The operation members include a front side member (first operation member 66A, second operation member 66B) provided on the front side and a rear side member (third operation member 67) provided on the rear side, The base member has a fixed member (second base 69) fixed to the gaming machine main body, and an intermediate member (first base 68) provided on the surface side of the fixed member with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the fixed member is provided with a second insertion hole (second insertion hole 69d) for receiving the vibrator. As the operation member is displaced, the rear side member moves through the gap between the fixed member and the intermediate member of the base member, and the vibrator is inserted into the second insertion hole of the fixed member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0101] According to Feature C2 of the present invention group, the operating member of the first operation unit has a front side member and a back side member, and the operating member is assembled between these members so that it can move back and forth with an intermediate member of the base member sandwiched therebetween, and the vibrator is inserted into the second insertion hole of the fixed member as the operating member is displaced, so that it is not necessary to provide a space inside the unit to accommodate the movement of the vibrator, which has a relatively large volume, and the size of the first operation unit in the moving direction of the operating member can be reduced. Therefore, the installation space for installing the first operation unit and the second operation unit side by side can be made even more compact.

[0102] Feature C3. In the gaming machine according to feature C2 of the present invention, the front surface side member and the back surface side member are connected to each other by engaging an engaging portion (engaging portions 66c, 66f, 67b) extending from at least one of them with the other, The intermediate member is provided with a first insertion hole (first insertion hole 68e) through which the engaging portion is inserted, The engaging portion moves inside the first insertion hole in accordance with the displacement of the operating member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0103] According to feature C3 of the present invention group, the operating member of the first operating unit connects the front side member and the back side member by engaging the engaging portion, and the engaging portion is inserted into the first insertion hole of the intermediate member, so there is no need to provide a separate forward / backward guide structure, and the first operating unit can be made smaller.

[0104] Feature C4. In the gaming machine according to Feature C2 or Feature C3 of the present invention, A spring (coil spring 67g) that biases the operating member in a protruding direction is provided between the rear side member and the fixed member, and a guide shaft (guide shaft 67h) that extends toward the fixed member and guides the spring is provided on the rear side member. The fixed member is provided with a third insertion hole for receiving the guide shaft. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0105] According to feature C4 of the present invention group, a guide shaft for guiding the spring is provided on the rear side member, and a third insertion hole for receiving the guide shaft is provided on the fixed member, so that the tilt of the operating member can be suppressed to guide its forward and backward movement, and there is no need to provide space for the movement of the guide shaft, so the dimension in the forward and backward direction can be suppressed.

[0106] Feature C5. In the gaming machine described in any one of Features C2 to C4 of the present invention, The first operation unit further includes a light-emitting element (visual element 64) having a substrate (substrate 64a) on which electronic components including a light-emitting element (LED 64b) are mounted, the substrate being fixed to the intermediate member of the base member, and light from the light-emitting element being irradiated through the surface-side member of the operation member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0107] According to Feature C5 of the present invention, by fixing a substrate on which electronic components including light-emitting elements are mounted to an intermediate member of a base member, vibrations from a vibrator provided on an operating member are less likely to be transmitted to the substrate, thereby suppressing breakdowns in the electronic components. Furthermore, by providing a visual effect in which light from a light-emitting element passes through the operating member in addition to the vibration effect of vibrating the operating member with the vibrator, the synergistic effect of the two types of effects can be further improved.

[0108] Feature C6. In the gaming machine described in any one of Features C1 to C5 of the present invention, The first unit mounting portion and the second unit mounting portion are provided on a plate-shaped base (chassis 12a) located inside the gaming machine main body, and are configured with screw members (screws 122) that are screwed from the inside toward the front, and the screw members of the first unit mounting portion and the second unit mounting portion are arranged overlapping in the adjacent cross direction (left-right direction). A gaming machine characterized by:

[0109] According to feature C5 of the present invention group, the first unit mounting portion and the second unit mounting portion are arranged close to each other vertically, with the screw members that are part of each other overlapping in the adjacent cross direction, so that the first operation unit and the second operation unit can be installed closer together, making the installation space for the units even more compact.

[0110] According to the feature group C of the present invention, the installation space of the operation unit can be efficiently used and the workability of the assembly work can be improved, so that the following problems can be solved.

[0111] Conventionally, typical examples of gaming machines include slot machines and pachinko machines. Such gaming machines are equipped with operation units such as operation buttons operated by players and display means such as a display that displays various game effects. Operation buttons have been proposed that vibrate and emit light in response to game effects displayed on the display or pressing operations by the player. Conventional vibration-and-light-emitting operation buttons are configured as an effect operation unit, and the effect operation unit is housed in a housing that opens on the front panel of the gaming machine body. The effect operation unit includes a case, a button supported on a base within the case so as to be able to move back and forth, a spring that biases the button in a protruding direction, a vibrator that imparts vibration to the button, a light-emitting body that causes the button to emit light, and a sensor that detects the button being pressed.

[0112] However, in conventional vibration-emitting operation buttons, various parts such as the button body, vibrator, button advance / retract section, spring, and circuit board are arranged inside the unit in the advance / retract direction (height direction) of the button, and a space for the button advance / retract movement is provided inside the unit, which results in a large height dimension of the operation button. This means that it is not possible to install another large operation unit in front of the button unit, etc., resulting in a problem of significant installation space constraints.

[0113] As described above, the present invention can be suitably used in gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines. [Explanation of symbols]

[0114] 10 Slot machines (amusement machines) 12 Front door (machine body) 12a Chassis (base) 12b Front Panel 12d First recess 12f 2nd recess 12g First unit mounting part 12h Second unit mounting part 24a Switch unit (second operation unit) 60 Production Operation Unit (First Operation Unit) 61 Operation button (operation member) 62 Base material 63 Vibration Production Department 63a Weight motor (vibrator) 64 Visual Production Department (Light Production Department) 64a board 64b LED (light-emitting element) 65 Detection unit 66A First operating member (surface side member) 66B Second operating member (surface side member) 66c,66f,67b Engagement part 67 Third operating member (rear side member) 67d Protrusion (contact part) 67g coil spring 67h Guide shaft 68 First base (intermediate member) 68e First insertion hole 69 Second base (fixing member) 69d Second insertion hole 69g Guide tube part (third insertion hole) 121 screw hole 122 Screws (threaded parts)

Claims

[Claim 1] an operating member that can be displaced by an operation by a player; a base member that supports the operation member relative to the gaming machine body; a vibrator provided on the base member for performing vibration effects; the operating member is displaceable between a first position in which it is not operated and a second position in which it is operated by a player, and has an abutting portion that abuts against an abutted portion of the base member at the second position; At least one of the contact portion and the contacted portion is formed to protrude toward the other, and the contact portion and the contacted portion are configured to be in point contact with each other, The vibrator is configured to be able to perform a vibration effect when the operation member is in the second position, a plurality of the contact portions and the contacted portions are provided along a direction intersecting with a displacement direction of the operating member, The vibration caused by the vibrating body is transmitted via the contact portion and the contacted portion. A gaming machine characterized by:

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