Grinding device

Abstract

To provide a polishing device capable of reliably feeding a polishing tape pulled out from a cassette set in a body to the outside without being affected by an error of a set position and return of the polishing tape.SOLUTION: A polishing device 30 for polishing and lifting game media collected from a game machine 2 includes a polishing gear 32 capable of rotating around an axis, with the game media held in tooth grooves 322 lined up in the circumferential direction, and a polishing member 330 arranged along an outer periphery of the polishing gear 32 and coming into contact with the game media to polish them. The polishing member 330 is a long tape and stored in a cassette 331 with it wound in a roll shape, where the cassette 331 is detachably attached to a body 31 with the polishing gear 32. When the cassette 331 is attached to the body 31, the polishing member 330 pulled out to the outside of the cassette 331 and then placed along the outer periphery of the polishing gear 32, can be fed in a direction parallel to the attaching / detaching direction of the cassette 331.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 129

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a polishing device for polishing gaming media collected from gaming machines. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, in gaming machine islands, game balls used in the gaming machines were collected within the gaming machine island, polished to remove dirt adhering to the surface, and then circulated back to the gaming machine for repeated use. Various types of polishing devices have been proposed for polishing game balls, and when used in so-called single islands where a single gaming machine is installed, types that not only polish game balls but also have the function of lifting game balls are also known.

[0003] Specifically, a polishing machine configured to polish game balls using polishing members arranged along the outer periphery of a polishing gear is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this polishing machine, a cassette containing polishing tape is set in a main body containing the polishing gear, and the polishing tape is clamped between a pair of rotating bodies and pulled out while moving along the outer periphery of the polishing gear. Here, the direction in which the polishing tape is pulled out was not particularly considered, but specifically, it was configured in a direction that intersected diagonally outward with the front-to-rear direction in which the cassette was set in the main body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-81634 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional polishing device described in Patent Document 1, there was a risk of problems occurring because the direction in which the polishing tape was pulled out intersected with the front-to-rear direction in which the cassette was set in the main body. That is, if there was a slight error in the front-to-rear direction in the setting position of the cassette relative to the main body, or if the polishing tape returned slightly, the polishing cloth would easily come off between the pair of rotating bodies, making it impossible to feed the polishing tape, and so an improvement in this regard was desired.

[0006] The present invention has been made in response to the problems of the prior art as described above, and aims to provide a polishing device that can reliably deliver polishing tape pulled out from a cassette set in the main body to the outside without being affected by errors in the set position or the return of the polishing tape. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: A grinding device for grinding game media collected from a game machine, a grinding gear that holds game media in tooth grooves arranged in a circumferential direction and is rotatable around an axis; and a grinding member that is arranged along the outer periphery of the grinding gear and is capable of grinding game media by contacting the game media; a driving means provided on the main body and a driven means provided on the cassette, the driving means facing each other while holding the polishing member at a midpoint thereof, for delivering the polishing member; Equipped with The polishing member ,mosquito the grinding gear is housed in a cassette, and the cassette is detachable from the main body on which the grinding gear is provided; the driven means is journalled to the cassette, and the driving means is journalled to the main body and can be driven by power, the cassette has a curved surface portion recessed in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the grinding gear at its front end side, and a guide groove formed in one side wall connected to one end of the curved surface portion and for drawing out the grinding member to the outside, the follower means is disposed on the other side wall connected to the other end of the curved surface portion, The grinding member is drawn out from the guide groove to one end side of the curved surface portion, and is sent out by the driving means and the driven means while moving along the outer periphery of the grinding gear. It is characterized by: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a front view showing the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a perspective view of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment, seen from below. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the inter-base member according to the present embodiment is attached. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another state in which the inter-base member according to the present embodiment is attached. [Figure 12] 1A and 1B are a plan view and a partially enlarged view showing the mounting structure of the inter-base member according to the present embodiment; [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are a plan view and a partially enlarged view showing the mounting structure of the inter-base member according to the present embodiment in another state; [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing the mounting structure of the inter-base member according to the present embodiment in yet another state. [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing the mounting structure of the inter-base member according to the present embodiment in yet another state. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing a modified example of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a modified example of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing a modified example of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a modified example of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 21]FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modified example of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the gaming machine island according to the present embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified gaming machine island according to the present embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of a modified gaming machine island according to the present embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lower frame guide according to the embodiment is attached. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which a lower frame guide according to the embodiment is attached. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the connecting member according to the embodiment is attached. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the connecting member according to the embodiment is attached. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper frame guide according to the embodiment is attached. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the upper frame guide according to the embodiment is attached. [Figure 31] FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing the mounting structure of the lower frame guide according to the embodiment. [Figure 32] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the mounting structure of the connecting member according to the embodiment. [Figure 33] 1 is a front view showing an example of installation of a gaming machine relative to a unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example in which an island attachment device is installed between units according to the present embodiment. [Figure 35] FIG. 10 is a front view showing an example in which an island attachment device is installed between units according to the present embodiment. [Figure 36] FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example in which an island attachment device is installed between units according to the present embodiment. [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an example in which an island attachment device is installed between units according to the present embodiment. [Figure 38]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 39] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit according to the embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 40] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit according to the embodiment, seen from behind. [Figure 41] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 42] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 43] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 44] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 45] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 46] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 47] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the unit according to the embodiment, as seen from below. [Figure 48] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a unit and a frame member according to the embodiment. [Figure 49] FIG. 10 is another exploded perspective view showing the unit and the frame member according to the embodiment. [Figure 50] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a unit and a base member according to the embodiment. [Figure 51] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit and the inter-base member according to the embodiment, seen from behind. [Figure 52] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the unit and the inter-base member according to the embodiment. [Figure 53] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a gaming machine and related devices are housed in a unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 54] 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a header panel member is attached to the unit according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 55] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which a header panel member is attached to the unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 56]1A and 1B are perspective views and partial enlarged views showing a state in which each member is attached to the front of the opening of the unit according to the present embodiment. [Figure 57] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the state in which each member is attached to the front of the opening of the unit according to the present embodiment. [Figure 58] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a wainscot member according to the present embodiment. [Figure 59] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the wainscot member according to the present embodiment. [Figure 60] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the wainscot member according to the present embodiment. [Figure 61] 10 is a perspective view showing an example of installation of a movable rear panel in the unit according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 62] 1A and 1B are a front view, a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a unit according to the present embodiment; [Figure 63] 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a partially enlarged view showing a state in which units according to the present embodiment are placed back to back; [Figure 64] FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing the state in which the units according to the embodiment are placed back to back. [Figure 65] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which units according to the present embodiment are placed back to back. [Figure 66] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which units according to the present embodiment are placed back to back. [Figure 67] FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the state in which the units according to the embodiment are placed back to back. [Figure 68] 1A and 1B are perspective views and partial enlarged views showing rail installation of a unit according to the present embodiment; [Figure 69] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rail installation of the unit according to the present embodiment, viewed from below. [Figure 70] FIG. 2 is a front view showing rail installation of the unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 71] 71 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 70 and a partially enlarged view thereof. [Figure 72] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing rail installation of the unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 73]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rail installation of the unit according to the present embodiment, viewed from below. [Figure 74] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a rail member according to the embodiment. [Figure 75] FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing the rail member according to the embodiment. [Figure 76] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the rail member according to the embodiment. [Figure 77] FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the rail member according to the embodiment. [Figure 78] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the rail member according to the embodiment. [Figure 79] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing the rail member according to the embodiment. [Figure 80] 2A and 2B are an exploded perspective view and a partially enlarged view showing a rail member and a base member according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 81] FIG. 10 is another exploded perspective view showing the rail member and the base member according to the embodiment. [Figure 82] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the rail members according to the present embodiment are joined together. [Figure 83] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rail members according to the embodiment, viewed from below, in a state where they are joined together. [Figure 84] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the rail members according to the present embodiment are joined together. [Figure 85] FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the rail members according to the embodiment in a joined state. [Figure 86] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the rail members according to the present embodiment are joined together. [Figure 87] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view showing a state in which the rail members according to the present embodiment are joined together. [Figure 88] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the rail members according to the present embodiment are joined together. [Figure 89] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rail members according to the embodiment, viewed from below, in a connected state. [Figure 90] 1A and 1B are a plan view and a partially enlarged view showing a state in which rail members according to the present embodiment are joined together; [Figure 91] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a slider of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 92] FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing the slider of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 93] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a slider of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 94] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a slider of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 95] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a slider of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 96] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the slider of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 97] 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing a state in which a slider is fastened to a rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 98] This is an explanatory diagram following Figure 97. [Figure 99] This is an explanatory diagram following Figure 98. [Figure 100] 1A and 1B are perspective and partially enlarged views showing a state in which an anchor for a rail according to the present embodiment is attached; [Figure 101] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the state in which the anchor of the rail according to the embodiment is attached, as seen from below. [Figure 102] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the unit and the base member of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 103] FIG. 10 is another exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the unit and the base member of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 104] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a reinforcing bracket of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 105] FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing the reinforcing bracket of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 106] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a reinforcing bracket of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 107] FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the reinforcing bracket of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 108] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a reinforcing bracket of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 109] FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the reinforcing bracket of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 110] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a reinforcing bracket of the rail according to the embodiment. [Figure 111] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the supply device according to the embodiment. [Figure 112] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the supply device according to the embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 113] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the supply device according to the embodiment. [Figure 114] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the supply device according to the embodiment. [Figure 115] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the supply device according to the embodiment. [Figure 116] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the supply device according to the embodiment. [Figure 117] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the replenishing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 118] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the supply device according to the embodiment. [Figure 119] 1 is a perspective view showing a lifting and polishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 120] 1 is a perspective view of the lifting and polishing device according to the present embodiment, as seen from below. [Figure 121] 1 is a front view showing a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 122] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the lifting and polishing apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 123] 1 is a left side view showing a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 124] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the lifting and polishing apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 125] 1 is a plan view showing a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 126] 1 is a plan view showing a state in which the shutter of the lifting and polishing apparatus according to the present embodiment is closed. FIG. [Figure 127] 10 is a bottom view showing the state in which the shutter of the lifting and polishing apparatus according to the present embodiment is closed. FIG. [Figure 128]1 is an enlarged front view showing a main part of a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 129] 129 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 128 and a partially enlarged view thereof. [Figure 130] 1 is an enlarged front view showing a main part of a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 131] 131 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 130. [Figure 132] 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the lifting and polishing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 133] 133 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 132. [Figure 134] 1 is an enlarged front view showing a main part of a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 135] 135 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 134. [Figure 136] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gear for grinding according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 137] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gear for grinding according to the embodiment, as seen from below. [Figure 138] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gear for grinding according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 139] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a gear for grinding according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 140] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the gear for grinding according to the embodiment. [Figure 141] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cassette according to the embodiment. [Figure 142] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cassette according to the embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 143] FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing the cassette according to the embodiment. [Figure 144] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the cassette according to the embodiment, as seen from below. [Figure 145] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a cassette according to the embodiment. [Figure 146] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the cassette according to the embodiment. [Figure 147] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the cassette according to the embodiment. [Figure 148]FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the cassette according to the embodiment. [Figure 149] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the cassette according to the embodiment. [Figure 150] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the cassette according to the embodiment. [Figure 151] 1 is a perspective view showing a main body of a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 152] FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the main body of the lifting and polishing apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 153] 1 is a front view showing a main body of a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 154] 2 is a left side view showing the main body of the lifting and polishing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 155] 1 is a plan view showing a main body of a lifting and polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 156] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a supply gutter according to the embodiment. [Figure 157] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the supply gutter according to the embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 158] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a supply gutter according to the present embodiment. [Figure 159] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the supply gutter according to the embodiment. [Figure 160] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the supply gutter according to the embodiment. [Figure 161] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the supply gutter according to the embodiment. [Figure 162] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the supply gutter according to the embodiment. [Figure 163] 2A and 2B are a front view and a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a supply gutter according to the present embodiment. [Fig. 164] 2A and 2B are a left side view and a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a supply gutter according to the present embodiment. [Figure 165] 3A and 3B are a left side view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the supply gutter according to the embodiment of the present invention at a different position, respectively. [Figure 166] 3A and 3B are a left side view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the supply gutter according to the embodiment of the present invention at a different position, respectively. [Figure 167] 3A and 3B are a left side view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the supply gutter according to the embodiment of the present invention at a different position, respectively. [Figure 168] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the supply gutter according to the embodiment. [Figure 169] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the supply gutter according to the embodiment, as seen from below. [Figure 170] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a supply gutter and a support bracket according to the embodiment. [Figure 171] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the supply gutter and the support bracket according to the embodiment, as viewed from below. [Fig. 172] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the supply gutter and the support bracket according to the embodiment. [Figure 173] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the supply gutter and the support bracket according to the embodiment. [Fig. 174] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a support bracket of the supply gutter according to the embodiment. [Figure 175] A plan view showing the flow state of game balls in the supply path of the supply gutter in this embodiment. [Figure 176] A plan view showing the flow state of game balls moving down the falling path of the supply trough in this embodiment. [Figure 177] A vertical cross-sectional view showing the overlapping behavior of game balls in a supply gutter in this embodiment. [Figure 178] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a storage tank according to the embodiment. [Figure 179] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage tank according to the embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 180] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the storage tank according to the embodiment. [Figure 181] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the storage tank according to the embodiment. [Figure 182] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the storage tank according to the embodiment. [Figure 183] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the storage tank according to the embodiment. [Figure 184] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the storage tank according to the embodiment. [Figure 185] 2A and 2B are a perspective view and a side view showing a shutter of a storage tank according to the present embodiment. [Figure 186] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the operation of the shutter of the storage tank according to the embodiment. [Figure 187] This is a cross-sectional view of line AA in Figure 186 and an enlarged portion thereof. [Figure 188] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lower sieve member according to the present embodiment. [Figure 189] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower sieve member according to the present embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 190] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the lower sieve member according to the present embodiment. [Figure 191] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a lower sieve member according to the present embodiment. [Figure 192] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the lower sieve member according to the embodiment. [Figure 193] 1A to 1C are a perspective view, a front view, and a plan view showing a combination pattern of stud members according to the present embodiment. [Figure 194] 10A to 10C are a perspective view, a front view, and a plan view showing another combination pattern of stud members according to the present embodiment. [Figure 195] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a combination pattern of the stud bracket according to the present embodiment. [Figure 196] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another combination pattern of the stud bracket according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, a representative embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 37 are drawings relating to the gaming machine island 1. Figures 38 to 67 are drawings relating to the units 10 that make up the gaming machine island 1. Figures 68 to 110 are drawings relating to the rails 20 on which the units 10 are installed. Figures 111 to 118 are drawings relating to the supply device 100 housed in the unit 10. Figures 119 to 155 are drawings relating to the pumping and polishing device 30. Figures 156 to 177 are drawings relating to the supply trough 50. Figures 178 to 192 are drawings relating to the storage tank 40. Figures 193 to 196 are drawings relating to the stud member 106.

[0010] In each drawing, the relative dimensional relationships and shapes of the components are subject to appropriate design changes and may differ from the actual ones. The scale ratios in each drawing are not necessarily the same. In addition, hatching is partially omitted in cross-sectional views. Note that the components, shapes, numerical values, etc. shown in this embodiment are merely examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Each component will be described below in order.

[0011] <Overview of Gaming Machine Island 1> First, an overview of the gaming machine island 1 will be explained. 1 to 9, the gaming machine island 1 comprises one or more units 10 installed on the floor, and each unit 10 houses not only a gaming machine 2 but also gaming-related equipment such as a pumping and grinding device 30, a storage tank 40, and a supply gutter 50, which will be described later. Each unit 10 constituting the gaming machine island 1 corresponds to an independent single island, with each gaming machine 2 corresponding to a different unit.

[0012] The unit 10 is configured to allow multiple types of gaming machines 2 to be installed individually. Examples of multiple types of gaming machines 2 include pachinko machines 2A and pachislot machines 2B. In this embodiment, two types of gaming machines 2, a pachinko machine 2A and a pachislot machine 2B, are exemplified, but the types of gaming machines 2 are not limited to these two. When referring to the pachinko machine 2A and the pachislot machine 2B collectively, they are simply referred to as gaming machines 2. Panel-shaped ceiling decorative panels 6 and sidewall decorative panels 7 are attached to the ceiling and sidewalls of the entire gaming machine island 1, which is assembled with the units 10. Heavy-duty casters may be provided at the bottom of the unit 10 to enable mobility.

[0013] A pachinko machine 2A is a machine in which games are played using game balls (pachinko balls) as game media. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 2A includes a handle 4 for shooting game balls onto a game board 3, a tray 5 for storing the game balls, and the like. Adjacent to the pachinko machine 2A is a card unit 8 for dispensing game balls by inserting banknotes or accepting cashless payment methods (credit cards, debit cards, electronic money cards, smartphones (contactless IC payment, two-dimensional barcode payment), etc.). The outer dimensions of this pachinko machine 2A are different from those of the pachislot machine 2B described below, and the handle 4 in particular is located lower on the machine body.

[0014] The pachislot machine 2B uses medals as gaming media, but in this embodiment, it is a type (a medal-less machine) that does not use actual medals but uses virtual medals that are counted as data. The pachislot machine 2B is equipped with a screen that can display each spinning reel and virtual medals, as well as an operation unit (not shown) such as buttons for spinning or stopping each reel on the screen. This type of pachislot machine 2B has different outer diameter dimensions from the pachinko machine 2A described above, and in particular, the operation unit is located near the center of the overall height.

[0015] The gaming machine island 1 shown in Figures 1 to 9 has two units 10 installed side by side on both sides, with a spacer 60 attached between each unit 10. Furthermore, the two units 10 are combined back to back in two rows, one in front and one in back. Therefore, the gaming machine island 1 has a total of four units 10. Here, the two units 10 lined up in each row, one in front and one in back, each house the same type of gaming machine 2, but as shown in Figure 33, the units 10 lined up on both sides may house different types of gaming machines 2 on the left and right.

[0016] <Unit 10> 38 to 45, the unit 10 is formed like a case frame with vertically long rectangular openings on the front and back sides, and is basically equipped with a pair of left and right side panels 11, 11. Here, the side panels 11 correspond to the "side portion" of the present invention. Openings 110 are provided at the lower ends of both side panels 11, 11, and form part of the mounting structure for the rails 20, which will be described later.

[0017] Also, a handle hole 111 is provided above the opening 110. The handle hole 111 allows the unit 10 to be easily carried when it is installed. The handle hole 111 is provided in a position inside the unit 11 that is not affected by ball spillage, that is, a position where there is no risk of balls spilling out. Specifically, for example, the handle hole 111 may be located below the top plate member 13. Furthermore, in the case of an enclosed gaming machine, since balls will not spill out, the handle hole 111 may be located above the top plate member 13 and below the cutout portion 112.

[0018] The upper halves of both side panels 11, 11 are provided with notches 112 cut out from the rear edge side. When the units 11 are assembled back to back, the notches 112 join together to form a single opening 112a (see Figure 63(a)). Here, the opening 112a provides a space for arranging gaming equipment (such as a transport device) that passes through the center of the island width of the entire gaming machine island 1.

[0019] In conventional single islands, the placement of related equipment between the single islands was not anticipated, and therefore there were no openings or the like in which a banknote transport device could be placed between the single islands. Here, the banknote transport device is, for example, a device for transporting banknotes inserted into the inter-machine service machine 8 to a banknote storage unit provided at the end of the gaming machine island. However, if the inter-machine service machine 8 dispenses gaming balls using cashless payment, the cutout 112 that provides space for the banknote transport device may not be provided.

[0020] The interior of the unit 10 is configured to be able to accommodate multiple types of gaming machines 2 with different external dimensions. The unit 10 of this embodiment is configured to be able to accommodate a pachinko machine 2A and a pachislot machine 2B after changing their layouts separately. As shown in FIG. 52, the interior of the unit 10 is partitioned, from bottom to top, into, for example, a storage section 101, an exchange arrangement section 102, and a gaming machine arrangement section 103 by approximately horizontal partition members 121 and 122 forming shelves, respectively, and a top panel member 13.

[0021] 52 and 53, the lower partition member 121 has a width on both sides and a depth that traverses the interior of the lower side of the unit 10, and is strong enough to support the related equipment, the lifting and grinding device 30 described below, and is formed, for example, from wood in a flat plate shape. The upper partition member 122 has a depth narrower than that of the partition member 121, and the top plate member 13 can be placed on it directly or via a lower arrangement member 15.

[0022] The top plate member 13 is used to install the gaming machine 2 and is formed with a greater depth width than each of the partition members 121, 122. As shown in FIGS. 46 to 49, the top plate member 13 is basically made of wood and formed in a flat plate shape, but the front half of its upper surface is covered with a metal plate 130. The surface of this metal plate is knurled. That is, the surface of the metal plate 130 is provided with fine irregularities extending parallel to the depth direction of the unit 10, which can reduce sliding resistance, particularly when placing the pachislot machine 2B. Note that the metal plate 130 does not need to be fixed to the surface of the top plate member 13, and can be pressed down from above by, for example, a presser bar 133 (see FIG. 46) installed between both side panels 11.

[0023] 52, storage section 101 in unit 10 is an internal space that extends from the floor between both side panels 11, 11, or from a bottom panel (not shown) installed on the floor as needed, through partition member 121 arranged at a predetermined height between both side panels 11, 11, and to partition member 122 arranged further above. Of storage section 101, the space from the floor (bottom panel) to partition member 121 above is used to store unused related equipment.

[0024] Furthermore, the space in the storage section 101 from the partition member 121 to the partition member 122 above it is a storage space for the main body 31 of the lifting and polishing device 30. Here, the lifting and polishing device 30 is used only in the pachinko machine 2A, but even if it is replaced with a pachislot machine 2B, it is fixed so that it will remain in the storage section 101 above the partition member 121. Therefore, the partition members 121 and 122 are fixed horizontally at the corresponding positions between the side panels 11, respectively.

[0025] In the storage section 101, the space other than the polishing device 30 can be used to appropriately accommodate components such as the storage tank 40 and supply gutter 50, which are not required for the pachinko slot machine 2B, as well as the upper arrangement member 16 and lower arrangement member 15, which will be described later. This eliminates the need to share the upper arrangement member 16 and the lower arrangement member 15, so even if the height of the upper portion of the gaming machine 2 does not match the difference in height between the top plate member 13 for the pachinko machine 2A and the top plate member 13 for the pachinko slot machine 2B, the pachinko machine 2A and the pachislot machine 2B can be converted and installed without any problems. Furthermore, a container-like member such as the storage tank 40 can be used as a small storage container for relatively small related components such as the counter 8a, thereby preventing small components from being lost.

[0026] The exchange arrangement section 102 is the internal space from the partition member 122 between both side panels 11, 11 to the top panel member 13 above it, and as shown in the unit 10 on the right in Figure 53, its height is maintained by a lower arrangement member 15, which will be described later. The exchange arrangement section 102 houses a storage tank 40, which is an associated device of the pachinko machine 2A, but the storage tank 40 is not necessary for the pachislot machine 2B. Therefore, the exchange arrangement section 102 is not necessary when the pachislot machine 2B is installed in the unit 10, and is integrated into the gaming machine arrangement section 103 above.

[0027] 53, when the lower arrangement member 15 and the storage tank 40 are removed and the top plate member 13 is placed on the partition member 122, the gaming machine arrangement section 103 becomes an area including the exchange arrangement section 102, and the installation height of the gaming machine 2 can be changed to a lower position. Such a gaming machine arrangement section 103 including the exchange arrangement section 102 is suitable for accommodating a pachislot machine 2B.

[0028] 46 and 47, the top plate member 13 is installed via a mounting bracket 131 installed between both side plates 11, 11, and its height position can be changed. That is, the mounting position of the mounting bracket 131 installed between both side plates 11, 11 can be changed between a position for the pachislot machine 2B on the partition member 122 and a position for the pachinko machine 2A on the lower arrangement member 15 arranged on the partition member 122. The mounting position of the mounting bracket 131 here can be changed by using engagement portions 12a and 12b similar to those in the case of the upper mounting member 127 described later.

[0029] Also, both side ends of the mounting bracket 131 are exposed on the inner surfaces of both side panels 11, 11 of the top panel member 13, but the entire portion is set to fit within a clearance K (see FIG. 12(c)) hidden behind the frame edge of the frame member 113 described below. In this way, when changing the gaming machine 2 within the unit 10, the mounting bracket 131 for changing the position of the top panel member 13 is housed inside the frame members 113 that form both ends of the front opening of the unit 10.

[0030] As a result, when viewed from the front, there are no other components that protrude inward from the inner surface of the side panel 11 beyond the edge of the frame member 11 at the front opening of the unit 10. Therefore, when the gaming machine 2 itself or related equipment is introduced through the front opening of the unit 10, there is no risk of interference with other components, and efficient installation is possible. If other components such as fixing devices were to protrude, they would interfere with the gaming machine 2 itself or other related equipment, so it would be necessary to use extra studs or the like (gap fillers) in the space available for installation.

[0031] This not only incurs extra costs, but also makes it difficult to use, as it may be necessary to check each time what can be installed. This configuration in which other components do not protrude inward beyond the edge of the frame member 11 from the inner surface of the side panel 11 is not limited to the attachment points of the top panel member 13, but also applies to the attachment points of all components, including the upper mounting member 127 described below and the partition members 121 and 122 described above, to the inner surfaces of the side panels 11, 11.

[0032] As shown in the unit 10 on the right side in Figure 53, when the top panel member 13 is in the position for the pachinko machine 2A, an upper partition member 128 is superimposed on the rear half of the top panel member 13, forming a step. Here, the rear end of the upper partition member 128 is also held down from above by a holding bracket 132 installed between the two side panels 11, 11. Because the depth width of the main body of the pachinko machine 2A is relatively narrow, the main body of the pachinko machine 2A is placed on the upper partition member 128 on the rear half of the top panel member 13, and the front half of the top panel member 13 becomes a space for placing ball boxes or for personal use by the player. When the pachinko machine 2A is placed on such a top panel member 13, the handle 4 is positioned at a height that is easy for the player to operate.

[0033] On the other hand, the pachislot machine 2B has a large depth width, so it cannot be contained within the top panel member 13 alone. Therefore, as shown in the unit 10 on the right side in Figure 50, a movable back panel 190, which is part of a back panel 19 described below, is removed and is arranged horizontally so as to connect to the rear edge of the top panel member 13. The pachislot machine 2B is placed on the entire movable back panel 190 and top panel member 13. The pachislot machine 2B on such top panel member 13 has an operating section at a height that is easy for a player to operate.

[0034] As shown in Figure 38 and other figures, an upper front member 125 and an upper rear member 126 are arranged side by side between the upper ends of both side panels 11 at the top of the unit 10. Furthermore, an upper mounting member 127 having a predetermined depth is mounted below the upper front member 125 between both side panels 11. The upper mounting member 127 serves as a portion on which related equipment such as a supply trough 50 (described later) is installed. The upper mounting member 127 is made of wood, for example, and is formed in the shape of a narrow plate extending horizontally on both sides, with a metal flange that rises to a predetermined height along its front edge.

[0035] The height position of the upper mounting member 127 can be changed. That is, the inner surfaces of both side panels 11, 11 are provided with engagement portions 12a, 12b that, for example, define two upper and lower positions. Each engagement portion 12a, 12b is made of a positioning material formed into a vertical plate having a thickness and depth that allows the edge of the upper mounting member 127 to be placed thereon. With both ends of the upper mounting member 127 placed on the upper edges of the engagement portions 12a, 12b facing each other on the inside of both side panels 11, 11, it can be fixed with fixing devices 12c such as brackets.

[0036] The supply gutter 50 used in the pachinko machine 2A is installed on the upper mounting member 127, and in this case, it is fixed in a lower position (above the engaging portion 12a) by the height of the supply gutter 50, as in the unit 10 on the left side in Fig. 52. On the other hand, the supply gutter 50 is not necessary in the pachislot machine 2B, so the upper mounting member 127 may be attached in an upper position (above the engaging portion 12b), as in the unit 10 on the right side in Fig. 52.

[0037] 33, 57, etc., the unit 10 has a lower arrangement member 15 arranged below the pachinko machine 2A and an upper arrangement member 16 arranged above the pachislot machine 2B. The upper arrangement member 16 is formed in a panel shape from a metal such as aluminum, and is arranged upright between the two side panels 11, 11 so as to cover the front opening on the upper partition member 128 of the unit 10. As shown in FIG. 53, the lower arrangement member 15 is a member with a substantially L-shaped cross section that includes a bottom wall and both side walls that allow the front wall to stand on its own, and is formed by combining wooden boards, for example.

[0038] Furthermore, the upper arrangement member 16 is provided with a bill insertion slot 16a, and a bill validator (not shown) is installed inside. Therefore, the height of the upper arrangement member 16 does not match the difference in height between the top plate member 13 of the pachinko machine 2A and the top plate member 13 of the pachislot machine 2B. However, as described above, by providing the storage section 101 capable of storing the upper arrangement member 16 or the lower arrangement member 15, there is no need to share the upper arrangement member 16 and the lower arrangement member 15, and therefore the pachinko machine 2A and the pachislot machine 2B can be converted and installed without any problems.

[0039] The upper arrangement member 16 and the lower arrangement member 15 are detachably attached without using any fastening means such as screws. When a pachinko machine 2A is installed in the unit 10, the storage tank 40 is housed in the exchange arrangement section 102 (see FIG. 52), and the front side of this exchange arrangement section 102 is covered by the lower arrangement member 15. On the other hand, when a pachislot machine 2B is installed in the unit 10, the storage tank 40 and the lower arrangement member 15 are removed from the exchange arrangement section 102 and housed in the storage section 101. At this time, the upper front side of the pachislot machine 2B is covered by the upper arrangement member 16 that was housed in the storage section 101. The specific mounting structure of the upper arrangement member 16 will be described later.

[0040] On the front side of the unit 10, as shown in Figure 33 and other figures, a waist board member 17 is provided below the lower arrangement member 15. The waist board member 17 is made of wood, for example, and is formed in a flat plate shape. The waist board member 17 is disposed between the two side boards 11, 11 so as to cover the lifting and sanding device 30 housed on the partition member 121 in the upper half of the storage section 101 (see Figure 52). The waist board member 17 must be opened during maintenance and inspection of the lifting and sanding device 30, and is therefore attached so that, for example, the lower edge can be rotated about the center and the upper edge can be opened forward.

[0041] As shown in Figures 58 to 60, when wainscot member 17 is made of wood and formed into a flat plate, both side edges and the bottom edge are reinforced with a metal frame, and a pair of rotating shafts 170, 170 protruding laterally are provided at both ends of the bottom edge. Rotating shafts 170 are rotatably fitted into bearing holes (not shown) provided on the inside of the front ends of both side panels 11, 11 or in frame member 113, which will be described later, and serve as the center for opening and closing wainscot member 17. Note that wainscot member 17 is not limited to being made of wood, and may be formed into a flat plate of a predetermined thickness by extrusion molding of a metal such as aluminum.

[0042] As another mounting structure for wainscot member 17, for example, long grooves (not shown) may be formed along both side edges of wainscot member 17, and a rotation shaft that fits into the long groove so as to be slidable and rotatable relative to the long groove may be provided on the inside of the front ends of both side panels 11, 11 or on frame member 113. With this configuration, wainscot member 17 can be slid while open, and can also be slid into unit 10 while open and stored.

[0043] On the front side of unit 10, as shown in Figure 33 etc., bottom placement members 171, 172 are provided, for example, above and below, below waist board member 17. Bottom placement members 171, 172 are made of, for example, metal and formed into panels, and are arranged between both side boards 11, 11 so as to cover the space on the lower half side (below partition member 121) of storage section 101 (see Figure 52). Note that, because bottom placement members 171, 172 are opened less frequently than waist board member 17, a detachable mounting structure is sufficient even if they cannot be opened or closed.

[0044] Furthermore, in unit 10, a curtain board member 18 is provided on the front of the upper end between both side panels 11, 11. Curtain board member 18 is formed into a panel shape, for example, from metal, and covers the opening above upper mounting member 127. In a layout in which a pachislot machine 2B is installed, such as unit 10 on the right side in Figure 33, curtain board member 18 is connected vertically to upper arrangement member 16.

[0045] 62, the top panel member 18 is a panel-like member with a thin cross section, and is formed with a cross-sectional shape that includes an attachment piece 181 that bends rearward at a right angle along the upper edge at a predetermined width, and a lower piece 182 that bends rearward at a right angle along the lower edge at a smaller width. However, the top panel member 18 may also be formed into a flat plate out of wood, for example, or, as described above with respect to the waist panel member 17, it may be formed into a flat plate of a predetermined thickness by extrusion molding of a metal such as aluminum.

[0046] It is also conceivable that the header member 18 can be attached so as to be openable and closable, similar to the waist board member 17 described above. That is, a pair of rotating shafts protruding laterally may be provided at both ends of the upper edge of the header member 18, for example, and the header member 18 may be attached to the inside of the front ends of both side panels 11, 11 or to a frame member 113 described below so as to be openable and closable via these rotating shafts. Furthermore, as another mounting structure for the header member 18, similar to the waist board member 17 described above, for example, long grooves (not shown) may be formed along both side edges of the header member 18, and rotating shafts that fit relatively slidably and rotatably into these long grooves may be provided on the inside of the front ends of both side panels 11, 11 or to the frame member 113.

[0047] This allows the panel member 18 to be detached and reused, and since it is located on the front side of the gaming machine 2, it also makes it possible to reinforce the unit 10 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, by using such an attachment structure for the panel member 18, the strength exerted on the unit 10 in the horizontal direction is improved, while the assembly and disassembly of the unit 10 can be carried out more easily than with conventional gaming machine islands.

[0048] The header panel member 18 is located at a height that makes it easy for players to see, and is therefore important in the design of the gaming machine island 1. Therefore, the surface of the header panel member 18 may be the appearance of the material itself or simply painted, but if the front side of the header panel member 18 is configured so that a decorative panel, sheet, etc. can be easily attached, it becomes possible to easily change the design of the header panel member 18. Here, one possible configuration for attaching a sheet, etc. is to provide slits, hooks, etc. at the top and bottom ends of the front side of the header panel member 18, facing each other, so that the top and bottom ends of the sheet, etc. can be inserted.

[0049] When a pachislot machine 2B is installed in the unit 10, as in the unit 10 on the right side in Figure 52, an upper partition member 128 that separates the upper end of the gaming machine placement section 103 is installed between both side panels 11, 11. Like the partition members 121, 122, the upper partition member 128 is formed, for example, from wood in the shape of a flat plate, and is arranged so as to be detachable from between both side panels 11, 11. Here, the mounting structure of the upper partition member 128 should also be configured so as to be detachable only by the engagement relationship between the members, without using any fastening means such as screws.

[0050] As shown in Figure 62(c), the lower edge of the upper positioning member 16 engages with the front end side of the upper partition member 128, and a groove 128a into which the lower edge of the upper positioning member 16 removably fits is formed along the front end side of the upper partition member 128. Meanwhile, the upper edge of the upper positioning member 16 engages with a lower end piece 182 of the header board member 18, and a groove 183 into which the upper edge of the upper positioning member 16 removably fits is formed along this lower end piece 182. This allows the upper positioning member 16 to be detachably attached between the header board member 18 and the upper partition member 128 without using any fastening means such as screws.

[0051] According to this mounting structure of the upper positioning member 16, the upper positioning member 16 cannot be removed without lifting the header panel member 18. Here, the upper positioning member 16 is important for preventing tampering because it conceals the supply gutter 50 described below, but the mounting structure described above makes it unnecessary to secure it with a lock or simply secure it with a magnet or the like to prevent it from opening. In addition, with regard to the mounting structure of the upper positioning member 16 or the header panel member 18, gaps may be intentionally provided between each of the two side edges and the inner surface of each side panel 11 to allow light to leak through, so that, for example, the light of an alarm lamp inside the unit 10 to notify the occurrence of some kind of error can be illuminated through the gap onto the frame member 113 to provide an alert.

[0052] This makes it possible to inform arcade staff of the occurrence of some kind of error (for example, a supply error, which will be described later) by indirect lighting, without providing an obvious alarm lamp on the outside of the unit 10. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to provide, instead of an alarm lamp, optical fibers or the like between the both side edges of the upper arrangement member 16 or the panel member 18 and the inner surface of each side panel 11, so that they will light up when an error occurs.

[0053] 40, the rear opening on the lower half side between both side panels 11, 11 of unit 10 is covered by rear panel 19. Rear panel 19 is made of wood, for example, and is formed into a flat plate, and is rectangular and fits below the height position of partition member 122 between both side panels 11, 11, and is attached upright. Directly above this rear panel 19, a movable rear panel 190, which is narrow in both vertical directions and extends in both directions, is arranged so as to be integrally connected.

[0054] The movable back panel 190 can be removed from above the back panel 19, and can be placed horizontally, connected to the rear edge of the top panel member 13, as shown in the unit 10 on the right side in Figure 56. The main body of the pachislot machine 2B, which has a large depth, can be placed on the entire movable back panel 190 and top panel member 13. The surfaces of the movable back panel 190 and top panel member 13 are connected horizontally on the same plane, and in this case the upper partition member 128 is placed in a position above the pachislot machine 2B.

[0055] According to the above-described unit 10, it is possible to easily change the type of gaming machine 2 for each unit 10. In particular, in any reassembly work, such as changing a pachinko machine 2A to a pachislot machine 2B, or vice versa, changing the arrangement of each component within the same unit 10, or using components stored within that unit 10, it is sufficient for all the necessary components to be contained within one unit 10.

[0056] In particular, with this unit 10, even when converting a pachinko machine 2A into a pachislot machine 2B, there is no need to remove the pumping and polishing device 30, and the pumping and polishing device 30 can be left in the storage section 101 while the pachinko machine 2A is being replaced with a pachislot machine 2B. This significantly reduces the amount of time required to replace the gaming machine 2. Furthermore, the storage tank 40 removed from the replacement storage section 102 in order to expand the gaming machine storage section 103 of the pachislot machine 2B can be stored in the available space in the lower level of the storage section 101, without the need to prepare a separate storage location.

[0057] Furthermore, even if the pachinko machine is an enclosed type pachinko machine that circulates game balls shot onto the game board, it can be handled in the same way as the above-mentioned recombination of pachislot machine 2B and pachinko machine 2A. In the case of an enclosed type pachinko machine, pumping and polishing device 30 is not necessary, but even if the pachinko machine 2A is replaced with an enclosed type pachinko machine, it can be used with or without pumping and polishing device 30 and storage tank 40 installed in unit 10.

[0058] Conventionally, there have been gaming machine islands that allow the types of gaming machines 2 to be rearranged, but components used only for the island configuration, such as the layout according to the type of gaming machine 2, had to be procured separately or brought from a separate storage location each time. Therefore, with conventional gaming machine islands, when rearranging the types of gaming machines 2, procuring the necessary components was ultimately a hassle, resulting in problems such as increased costs.

[0059] In particular, conventional gaming machine islands do not take into consideration the disposal of the supply device 100 (see Figure 111), which includes the pumping and grinding device 30. For example, in a normal gaming machine island that is not a single island, space is always provided in a fixed position within the island for installing the pumping and grinding device 30, the storage tank 40, and other components that are part of the supply device 100. However, when rearranging gaming machines 2 on such an gaming machine island, it is difficult to accommodate disposal such as changing the installation space for the supply device 100. Furthermore, when rearranging gaming machines 2, a separate space must be provided for storing each unnecessary component.

[0060] <Frame member 113> As shown in Figures 46 to 49, the unit 10 has frame members 113 erected on both side ends thereof. The frame members 113 are fixed so as to stand vertically along the front edges of both side panels 11, 11. The frame members 113 have grooves 113a that open outward in the vertical direction. As will be described later, both ends of the inter-base members 60 are detachably fitted into the grooves 113a of the frame members 113 that face each other between adjacent units 10.

[0061] This allows the inter-machine member 60 to be detached and reused, and since it is located on the front side of the gaming machine 2, it also makes it possible to reinforce the unit 10 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, by using such an attachment structure for the inter-machine member 60, the strength exerted on the unit 10 in the horizontal direction can be improved, while the assembly and disassembly of the unit 10 can be carried out more easily than with conventional gaming machine islands.

[0062] As shown in Figure 12(c), the frame member 113 has a fixing portion 114 with a roughly U-shaped cross section that engages with the dovetail grooves 11a, 11a on both sides of the front edge of the side panel 11 and covers the front edge. A pair of dovetail grooves 11a, 11a are formed in the front edge of the side panel 11, facing each other on both sides, and are recessed to the same depth, forming a slit shape along the entire length. The fixing portion 114 has a roughly U-shaped cross section, and a pair of flanges bent inward and facing each other are provided on both side edges.

[0063] One of a pair of flanges facing each other with the opening groove of the frame member 113 sandwiched between them extends longer than the other. Therefore, one end of the fixing portion 114 on the side with the longer flange is positioned farther away from the reference planes (external or internal) on both sides of the side panel 11 than the other end of the fixing portion 114 on the side with the shorter flange. This farther away one end of the fixing portion 114 is positioned on the internal side of the side panel 11 rather than the external side, and forms a frame edge that protrudes inward from the front opening of the unit 10. A clearance K is formed between this frame edge and the internal surface of the side panel 11, allowing other components attached to the internal surface to be hidden behind the frame edge in a front view.

[0064] 12(c), an angle portion 115 is integrally provided along the front end of the fixing portion 114 on the side opposite to the surface where the open groove is located. The angle portion 115 forms a groove 113a having a substantially U-shaped cross section together with the front end. The groove 113a opens outward over the entire length of the frame member 113. The opening of the groove 113a in the frame member 113 is perpendicular to the front opening of the unit 10, and the open end of the groove 113a overlaps with the outer surface of the side portion 11 in the depth direction of the unit 10.

[0065] Such frame member 113 can be attached to the side panel 11 simply by sliding it from one end, without using any fastening means such as screws, and therefore the work of attaching the frame member 113 can be easily performed when constructing or assembling the unit 10. Furthermore, if the frame member 113 is damaged or when the design is changed, the frame member 113 can be easily replaced.

[0066] <Base member 60> In the gaming machine island 1, inter-unit members 60 are detachably attached between adjacent units 10. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the inter-unit members 60 are formed, for example, from wood in the shape of a panel. As shown in Figure 12, both side edges of the inter-unit member 60 are fitted directly into the recessed grooves 113a of the frame members 113 located on both sides. The plate thickness of the inter-unit member 60 is designed to be slightly smaller than the opening width of the recessed grooves 113a. In this way, the inter-unit member 60 is detachably attached simply by engaging with the structure of the unit 10 itself.

[0067] 15 and 13, the inter-base member 60 is a vertically long rectangle when viewed from the front, and its width is wider than the dimension between the edges of the frame members 113 on both sides of each unit 10, and is set so that it can be inserted between the recessed grooves 113a on both sides while tilted diagonally around the vertical panel center line from the front side of the frame members 113. In other words, the inter-base member 60 can be inserted by shifting it diagonally from the front side relative to the front opening of the unit 10, as shown in FIG. 11, without having to be inserted into each of the recessed grooves 113a on both sides from above.

[0068] 12 and 14, the inter-base member 60 is inserted between the grooves 113a on both sides, and then aligned parallel to the front surface between the frame members 113 (the front opening of the unit 10), so that both side edges of the inter-base member 60 are positioned so as to be hidden within the grooves 113a on both sides when viewed from the front. At this time, both lower ends of the inter-base member 60 fit between stoppers 254 on the anchors 25, which will be described later, and the inter-base member 60 is positioned in this position. That is, the inter-base member 60 can be positioned in a central position where both side edges are hidden within the grooves 113a by moving it left and right while slightly lifting it and dropping it into the step between the stoppers 254 on both sides.

[0069] In this way, the inter-unit member 60 can be detachably attached without using fastening means such as screws, due to the structure of the units 10 themselves, i.e., engagement with the frame members 113, etc. Therefore, the inter-unit member 60 can be attached and detached extremely easily, shortening the work time and reducing costs. In particular, the inter-unit member 60 can be easily attached between the units 10 from the front side of the units 10, without having to lift the inter-unit member 60 above the units 10.

[0070] Between each unit 10, it is possible to attach inter-unit members 60 above and below. Of course, the layout can be freely set depending on the connections between each unit 10. Even with conventional gaming machine islands, for example, some allow the layout between each individual island to be freely set, but each individual member placed between each individual island is large and is combined with members of different shapes. On the other hand, the inter-unit members 60 are not very large, plate-like members that not only allow the layout to be freely set, but can also be easily attached integrally between each unit 10, are easy to remove and replace, and further enhance the decorativeness of the unified design.

[0071] Furthermore, in conventional gaming machine islands, for example, when connecting individual islands with panel-like members, it is assumed that fastening means such as screws will be used, which increases the number of parts and the installation labor. Also, if the panel-like member is simply inserted from above, it is necessary to lift the plate above the gaming machine island when attaching or detaching the member. Therefore, not only is the work of attaching or detaching the panel-like member difficult, but there is also the problem that it cannot be attached or detached in installation locations with low ceilings.

[0072] The inter-base member 60 is not limited to wood; it may be formed into a flat plate of a predetermined thickness by extrusion molding of a metal such as aluminum. A desired design can be applied to the surface of the inter-base member 60 by printing or other means to add a pattern or color, allowing for reversible use with different designs on the front and back. Of course, similar to the decorative panels 6 and 7 described above, multiple types of inter-base members 60 may be prepared in advance and replaced as needed. As shown in FIG. 10 , the upper edge of the inter-base member 60 is covered with a narrow, long cover member 601 extending in both directions. Cap members 602 for securing the cover member 601 are fitted to the upper ends of the frame members 113 located on both ends of the cover member 601.

[0073] <Connecting member 61> The gaming machine island 1A shown in Figures 16 to 24 has three units 10 arranged side by side. Here, there are no inter-unit members 60 attached between the units 10, and the units 10 are connected to each other by connecting members 61. Furthermore, the three units 10 are combined back to back in two rows, one in front and one in back. Therefore, the gaming machine island 1A has a total of six units 10. Here, each row of three units 10 in the front and back houses the same type of gaming machine 2, but each unit 10 may house different types of gaming machines 2.

[0074] As shown in Figures 25 to 32, the connecting member 61 is a frame for connecting the side panels 11 of adjacent units 10 in a state in which they are close to each other. The connecting member 61 includes a lower frame guide 62 and an upper frame guide 63 for attachment between the front edges of the side panels 11. Like the inter-unit member 60, the connecting member 61 also corresponds to the "inter-unit member" of the present invention that is attached between the units 10. Furthermore, the lower frame guide 62 or the upper frame guide 63 alone also corresponds to the "inter-unit member" of the present invention that is attached between the units 10.

[0075] 32, the connecting member 61 is formed as a metal frame with a substantially U-shaped cross section so as to cover the lower frame guide 62 and the upper frame guide 63, which join the front edges of the side panels 11 that are positioned close to each other. The connecting member 61 has a length that spans the entire height of the unit 10, and is an extrusion molded product made of, for example, aluminum. Here, the connecting member 61 can be attached so as to cover the front edges of each side panel 11, including the lower frame guide 62 and the upper frame guide 63.

[0076] As shown in Figure 31, the lower frame guide 62 is formed as a metal frame with a roughly U-shaped cross section that engages with the outward dovetail grooves 11a on the front edges of the adjacent side panels 11 and covers the front edges. A partition wall 621 with a roughly T-shaped cross section is provided at the center of the inner side of the opening groove of the lower frame guide 62, engaging with the inward dovetail grooves 11a on the front edges. The lower frame guide 62 allows the front edges of the adjacent side panels 11 to be joined together. The upper frame guide 63 is also basically formed as a frame with a roughly U-shaped cross section similar to the lower frame guide 62, but is provided with a stopper 631 (see Figure 29) at its upper end.

[0077] As shown in Figures 25 and 26, when connecting adjacent side panels 11 of each unit 10, first insert the lower frame guide 62 from above the front edge of each side panel 11 into the dovetail grooves 11a, 11a (see Figure 31) on both sides and slide it downward. When the lower frame guide 62 moves to the lower end of each unit 10, it can be positioned and fixed at that position with respect to a detachable structure on, for example, the base member 22 described below. The lower frame guide 62 is a relatively short member, so it can be easily handled from above each side panel 11.

[0078] 27 and 28, after attaching the lower frame guides 62 to the front edges of the side panels 11, the connecting members 61 are attached by inserting them from above the lower frame guides 62 into the gaps between the lower frame guides 62 and each side panel 11 (see FIG. 32). The connecting members 61 are then slid downward. When the connecting members 61 reach the lower ends of the units 10, they are configured so that, like the lower frame guides 62, they can be positioned and fixed at that position to a detachable structure on the base member 22, which will be described later, for example.

[0079] The connecting member 61 is a long member that spans the entire height of the unit 10, but when attaching it between the front edges of the side panels 11 and to the lower frame guides 62, it is sufficient to attach it from above the lower frame guides 62 without having to lift it all the way up to the top of the unit 10. In other words, as shown in Figure 32, the connecting member 61 can be easily attached directly from the front of the unit 10 to the front edges of the side panels 11 that are not covered by the lower frame guides 62. This makes it possible to attach and detach the connecting member 61 to the front edges of the side panels 11 without any trouble, even in installation locations with low ceilings.

[0080] As shown in Figures 29 and 30, after the connecting member 61 is attached between the front edges of each side panel 11, the upper frame guide 63 is inserted into the dovetail grooves 11a, 11a on both sides from above the front edge of each side panel 11, similar to the lower frame guide 62, and then slid downward. A stopper 631 is provided at the upper end of the upper frame guide 63, and when the stopper 631 moves to a position where it covers the upper side of the front edge of each side panel 11, attachment of the connecting member 61 is complete. The upper frame guide 63 is also a relatively short member, so it can be easily handled from above each side panel 11. Attachment of the connecting member 61 as described above can be performed simply by the engagement between the members, without using any fastening means such as screws.

[0081] This allows the connecting member 61 to be detached and reused, and since it is located on the front side of the gaming machine 2, it also makes it possible to reinforce the unit 10 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, by using such an attachment structure for the connecting member 61, the strength exerted on the unit 10 in the horizontal direction is improved, while the assembly and disassembly of the unit 10 can be carried out more easily than with conventional gaming machine islands.

[0082] <Island Auxiliary Device 9> 34 to 37, two units 10 are installed side by side on the front side of the back-to-back gaming machine island 1B, and three units 10 are installed side by side on the back side of the back-to-back gaming machine island 1B, similar to the above-mentioned gaming machine island 1A (see FIG. 16). In this way, the number of units 10 differs between the front and back of the back-to-back gaming machine island 1B, but on the front side where there are fewer units 10, island accessory devices 9 are arranged between each unit 10 to create personal space for players seated in front of each gaming machine 2.

[0083] The island-attached device 9 includes an installation section that continues onto the top panel member 13 for personal use by the player, a shelf above which players can store their belongings, and an optional panel-shaped partition 9a that separates the front of the units 10. Specifically, such an island-attached device 9 may utilize, for example, the invention described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-210798, which has already been proposed by the applicant. Therefore, while a detailed description of the island-attached device 9 will be omitted here, the island-attached device 9 can also be interpreted as the "inter-machine member" of the present invention.

[0084] <Fastening member 70> As shown in Figures 63 to 67, units 10 can be assembled back-to-back. That is, the units 10 can be assembled by butting the rear edges of the side panels 11, 11 together and screwing fastening members 70 from the inner surface of each side panel 11 below the notches 112. The fastening members 70 are made of, for example, metal and formed in the shape of a thin, rectangular plate. The fastening members 70 have a number of screw holes formed in series along the top and bottom edges, parallel to the depth direction of the units 10. This allows the positions at which the fastening members 70 are screwed to each side panel 11 that are butted back-to-back to each other to be adjusted as needed.

[0085] When the units 11 are assembled back to back, the notches 112 of the units 11 join together to form a single opening 112a. This opening 112a serves as a space for arranging gaming equipment (such as a carrier device) that passes through the center of the width of the entire gaming machine island 1. However, the units 10 do not necessarily need to be butted together, and they may be assembled with a distance between them, as shown in Figure 53, for example.

[0086] Combining units 10 back to back not only allows games to be played on both the front and back of the island, but also increases the installation area on the floor, increasing stability and the rigidity of the island as a whole. Furthermore, the units 10 combined back to back are not limited to one each in the front and back, but multiple units 10 may be combined back to back in rows, with multiple units 10 lined up side by side, such as two (see Figure 1) or three (see Figure 16), as described above.

[0087] Furthermore, the units 10 placed back to back do not necessarily have to be of the same shape, and for example, units 10 of different heights may be combined. In this case, the step due to the difference in height between the units 10 may be filled by, for example, arranging another structure or the like to make the overall heights the same. Furthermore, at least one of the front and rear units 10 placed back to back may be provided with an additional back panel to cover the rear opening above the normally provided back panel 19 and the movable back panel 190 above it. This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter from entering from the unit 10 behind.

[0088] For the same purpose, it is advisable to provide a contamination prevention material on the rear side of the unit 10 to prevent foreign matter from flying in from the back-to-back units 10 or from adjacent units 10. Here, the contamination prevention material is excellent, for example, as long as it is a flexible, flat material that can widely cover the rear opening of the unit 10 and can be easily opened like a curtain during maintenance. Therefore, specifically, a sheet-like net material such as a mesh is suitable as the contamination prevention material.

[0089] <Rail 20> 68 to 71, the unit 10 of this embodiment is fixed to the floor of an amusement parlor or the like via a rail 20. The unit 10 is movable along the longitudinal direction of the rail 20 and can be fixed to any desired installation position on the rail 20. The rail 20 is fixed to the floor and includes a rail member 21 that serves as a reference for the installation position of the unit 10, and a base member 22 that is fixed to the lower end of the unit 10 and movably engages with the rail member 21.

[0090] Such rails 20 allow the units 10 to be easily adjusted in position along the rail members 21 on the floor. This significantly reduces the workload at the construction site of the gaming machine island 1. Furthermore, even after the gaming machine island 1 is assembled, it is possible to adjust the installation position of each unit 10 or the entire gaming machine island 1. This allows the arrangement and layout of the gaming machine island 1 to be easily changed, allowing for rearrangement within the gaming parlor.

[0091] <<Rail member 21>> The rail members 21 are fixed as a pair aligned front to back in the depth direction of the unit 10 so as to extend linearly parallel to each other in a substantially horizontal state on the floor. The unit 10 has its lower ends on both side panels 11, 11 slidably supported on the pair of front and rear rail members 21, 21 via base members 22, respectively, and can be fixed immovably at any position on each rail member 21.

[0092] As shown in Figures 82 to 87, the rail member 21 is formed from a metal material with a groove-like cross section that is open on the upper side along the longitudinal direction. Here, the upper side of the rail member 21 is formed into a pair of flanges that are bent inward from the upper edges of both side walls, with a narrow open groove extending along the center between them. The rail member 21 is set to a predetermined length, for example, but can be cut to any length. In addition, a short rail member 21a is also prepared in advance for adjusting the length of the rail member 20 that has a basic length.

[0093] When one rail member 21 is not long enough, multiple rail members 21, or extension rail members 21a, are joined together in a straight line as shown in Figures 88 to 90. As shown in Figure 90(b), the bottom surface 210 of the rail members 21, 21a is provided with fixing holes 211 through which anchor bolts 200 for fixing to the floor are passed.

[0094] The fixing holes 211 located at the ends of the rail members 21, 21a are each divided into two semicircular holes on the bottom surfaces 210 that butt together. This makes it possible to fasten the end edges of the two rail members 21, 21a together with one anchor bolt 200 when fastening the rail members 21 to the floor, thereby reducing the number of anchor bolts 200 required.

[0095] As shown in Figure 71(b), a reinforcing plate 212 can be inserted inside the rail member 21 so as to overlap the bottom surface portion 210 thereof. The reinforcing plate 212 is made of, for example, a metal plate extending with a narrow width slightly smaller than the width of the bottom surface portion 210 of the rail member 21. If the reinforcing plate 212 has the same length as the rail member 21, it is advisable to provide semicircular fixing holes on its edge as well, similar to the fixing holes 211 on the bottom surface portion 210 described above. Note that the number of reinforcing plates is not limited to one, and the number can be adjusted appropriately depending on the required strength.

[0096] As shown in Figure 68, by threading and tightening a fastening bolt 220 inserted through an engaging portion 221 (described later) of the base member 22 into the slider 23 (see Figure 71(b)) inside the rail member 21, the upper surface side of the rail member 21 can be firmly clamped between the engaging portion 221 and the slider 23. Here, the fastening bolt 220 is fixed in advance to the upper wall 231 of the slider 23 so as to protrude upward.

[0097] <<Slider 23>> The slider 23 is inserted from the end of the rail member 21 to the inside, and is formed as a clamp-like fastening fixture that is movable in the rail longitudinal direction. As shown in Figures 91 to 96, the top wall 231 of the slider 23 that abuts the top surface side of the rail member 21 from the back side is rectangular with two long sides that are parallel to the rail longitudinal direction in a plan view. The fastening bolt 220 described above is fixed to approximately the center of the top surface portion 231.

[0098] The dimension of the long side of the top surface portion 231 is set to be smaller than the distance between both side walls on the inside of the rail member 21, and larger than the width of the opening groove on the top surface of the rail member 21. The dimension of the short side of the top surface portion 231 is set to be slightly smaller than the width of the opening groove on the top surface of the rail member 21. This allows the slider 23 to pass through the opening groove on the top surface of the rail member 21 only when its long side is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rail.

[0099] The slider 23 has leg wall portions 232, 232 hanging down from both long sides of an upper surface portion 231, and each leg wall portion 232 is provided with a bolt avoidance recess 233 so that its lower edge does not interfere with the anchor bolt 200. In addition, a pair of protrusions 234, 234 are provided on extension lines of ends of both long sides of the upper surface portion 231 that are diagonally opposite to each other, protruding in directions perpendicular to the two short sides and abutting against the inner walls of both side walls (both inner walls) of the rail member 21. Each protrusion 234 is provided so that one end of the leg wall portion 232 extends from a corner of the upper surface portion 231 in the long side direction.

[0100] 97 to 99, when the slider 23 rotates in the fastening direction of the fastening bolt 220 and the long side is perpendicular to the rail longitudinal direction, each protrusion 234 abuts against the inner walls of both side walls of the rail member 21 to prevent rotation. The fastening direction here is the direction in which the fastening bolt 220 is tightened against the nut 224 disposed on the engaging portion 221 of the base member 22, which will be described next. Therefore, the fastening direction is defined as the direction in which the nut 224 is tightened against the fastening bolt 220 in a plan view (clockwise in FIG. 97), rather than the direction in which the fastening bolt 220 is threaded into the nut 224 in a bottom view.

[0101] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 99 to 98, when the slider 23 rotates in the direction opposite to the fastening direction of the fastening bolt 220 (counterclockwise in Figure 99) and rotates at an angle where the long side intersects with the rail longitudinal direction, each of the protrusions 234 separates from the inner walls of both side walls of the rail member 21. This creates a gap between the inner walls of both side walls of the rail member 21 and each of the protrusions 234, making it possible to easily move the slider 23 in the rail longitudinal direction within the rail member 21. Also, when tightening the nut 224, the slider 23 with the fastening bolt 220 is prevented from rotating, allowing the fastening bolt 220 and the nut 224 to be tightened.

[0102] <<Base member 22>> 80, the base member 22 is formed as a bracket-shaped sheet metal material having an engagement portion 221 that abuts on the upper surface of the rail member 21 while spanning the open groove thereof, and a vertical wall portion 222 that stands approximately perpendicular to the engagement portion 221. The engagement portion 221 is a narrow plate that is disposed approximately horizontally, and is set to a length that spans across the upper surfaces of the pair of rail members 21. A pair of insertion holes 221a, 221a through which the fastening bolts 220 pass are provided in the engagement portion 221 at positions that match the fastening bolts 220 of the slider 23 that are visible through the open grooves of the pair of rail members 21, 21.

[0103] The vertical wall portion 222 is a portion that is fixed along the lower end side of the side panel 11 of the unit 10, and is formed in the shape of a plate that rises approximately vertically from one edge of the engagement portion 221. In addition, reinforcing side wall portions 223 are also formed integrally between both ends of the engagement portion 221 and both end edges of the vertical wall portion 222. The vertical wall portion 222 is provided with a pair of adjustment holes 222a, 222a that are arranged side by side at the same height. Each adjustment hole 222a is a guide groove that extends vertically so that the fastening position of a mounting bolt 240, which will be described later, can be adjusted in the vertical direction.

[0104] Furthermore, in the vertical wall portion 222, one side wall portion 223 on the front opening side of the unit 10 is provided with brackets 225 that receive both lower ends of the inter-base member 60. This bracket 225 is made of metal and formed in a bracket shape, and is configured to ground on the floor side in front of one rail member 21 and to abut against the lower end of the inter-base member 60 when the inter-base member 60 is positioned in the center between the recessed grooves 113a of the frame member 113. Furthermore, one side wall portion 223 is provided with another bracket 226 that forms a pair with the bracket 225 and grounds on the floor side behind the other rail member 21.

[0105] <<Reinforcement bracket 24>> As shown in Figures 102 and 103, the base member 22 is fixed to the side panel 11 of the unit 10 via a reinforcing bracket 24 and anchors 25. The reinforcing bracket 24 is a metal sheet used to fix the vertical wall portion 222 of the base member 22 to the lower end of the wooden side panel 11 of the unit 10. As shown in Figures 104 to 110, the reinforcing bracket 24 has an attachment surface portion 241 that covers the opening 110 in the side panel 11, and a fitting flange 242 of a predetermined height that is provided on one side of the attachment surface portion 241 and fits onto the inner peripheral edge of the opening 110.

[0106] The opening 110 cut out in the side panel 11 of the unit 10 is a horizontally long, approximately rectangular shape. The mounting surface portion 241 of the reinforcing bracket 24 is also a horizontally long, approximately rectangular shape, with a vertical width approximately equal to that of the opening 110 and a horizontal width greater than that of the opening 110, and extending a predetermined width from both ends of the opening 110. The fitting flange 242 is provided on one side of the mounting surface portion 241 that covers the opening 110, so as to resemble the inner peripheral edge of the opening 110. The fitting flange 242 in this embodiment is a substantially U-shaped flange that abuts the lower edge and both side edges of the opening 110, and is slightly larger than the opening 110 so as to fit tightly when inserted.

[0107] 104 to 110, a pair of mounting holes 243, 243 are provided side by side on the inside of the fitting flange 242 of the mounting surface portion 241 of the reinforcing bracket 24. Nuts 244 for tightening the mounting bolts 240 are fixed in advance around each mounting hole 243. Furthermore, the portions of the mounting surface portion 241 that extend outside the fitting flange 242, i.e., from both sides of the opening 110, are to be separately fastened to both sides of the opening 110 in the side panel 11 with screws as mounting pieces 241a.

[0108] As shown in Figures 102 and 103, the vertical wall portion 222 of the base member 22 is secured by overlapping it with the mounting surface portion 241 of the reinforcing bracket 24, and then threading and tightening the mounting bolts 240 that have been passed through the adjustment holes 222a (see Figure 80(b)) into the mounting holes 243 and nuts 244. Also, while the mounting bolts 240 are being tightened, the base member 22 with the mounting bolts 240 passing through the adjustment holes 222a can be moved up and down to adjust the fastening position of the base member 22 relative to the side panel 11 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the mounting bolts 240 are fastened not directly to the vertical wall portion 222 of the base member 22, but by engaging a plate 227 that also serves as a reinforcing member.

[0109] With this configuration, the fitting flanges 242 of the reinforcing bracket 24 contact the opening 110 in four directions, above and below, preventing misalignment. Furthermore, the mounting pieces 241a are fastened with wood screws in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing bracket 24, preventing the reinforcing bracket 24 from slipping out of the opening 110. Furthermore, the fitting flanges 242 fitted into the opening 110 provide reinforcement and prevent deformation of the reinforcing bracket 24. Furthermore, by firmly fastening the reinforcing bracket 24 to the wooden side panel 11, it becomes possible to construct a structure in which the sheet metal members, such as the base member 22, located below the reinforcing bracket 24 can be firmly fastened to the side panel 11.

[0110] A metal anchor 25 is also interposed between the vertical wall portion 222 of the base member 22 and the mounting surface portion 241 of the reinforcing bracket 24. As shown in Figure 100(b), the anchor 25 includes a support piece 251 that is sandwiched between the vertical wall portion 222 and the mounting surface portion 241, a horizontal bar 252 connected to the lower end of the support piece 251, and a pair of adjustment bolts 253, 253 provided on both ends of the horizontal bar 252.

[0111] The anchor 25 also makes it possible to adjust the level of the four corners of the unit 10 on the floor. Furthermore, the horizontal bar 252 of the anchor 25 is provided with a stopper 254 above one end side that is closer to the front opening of the unit 10, for positioning both lower ends of the inter-base member 60 described above. This stopper 254 is made of metal like the anchor 25 and is formed as a block-shaped bracket. The shape of the stopper 254 is not particularly limited as long as it has a structure that can position both lower ends of the inter-base member 60, and for example, it may be provided on the side of the base member 22 rather than on the anchor 25.

[0112] Conventionally, when fastening hardware to wood, it is common to fasten it with wood screws or the like in screw holes in the hardware, but this method has the following problems. Since the diameter of the screw hole is larger than the diameter of the screw, the hardware may become misaligned if a large force is applied. Furthermore, if the hardware is simply a board, when a large force is applied and the wood is deformed, the hardware will also become distorted. Furthermore, in some cases, there is a risk that the wood screws will come loose, completely losing their fastening power.

[0113] This same problem occurs when fastening hardware with bolts and nuts, because the diameter of the bolt through hole and the bolt diameter are different, resulting in misalignment. However, as mentioned above, unit 10 is configured so that base member 22, which is hardware, is fixed to its wooden side panel 11 via reinforcing brackets 24 and anchors 25. Therefore, even if an excessive load is applied to unit 10, for example, during a major earthquake, not only will misalignment of base member 22 with respect to side panel 11 be prevented, but deformation and damage to both can also be reliably prevented.

[0114] 23 and 24, the units 10 may be installed directly on the floor of an amusement facility or the like, without the aid of rails 20, as in the case of the units 10 on one side of a back-to-back arrangement. When the units 10 are fixed to the floor via the rails 20, the base members 22 are set to a size that allows them to be placed on the rail members 21. On the other hand, when the base members 22 are fixed directly to the floor, it is preferable to set the dimensions such as the height of the vertical wall portions 222 on the engagement portions 221 that contact the floor side to larger sizes.

[0115] <Supply device> As shown in the unit 10 on the left in Figure 52, when a pachinko machine 2A is installed, a supply device that circulates game balls used in the pachinko machine 2A is housed inside the unit 10 as related equipment. As shown in Figures 111 to 118, the supply device 100 is a collective term for each device that circulates game balls. When the game machine 2 in the unit 10 is replaced from the pachinko machine 2A to a pachislot machine 2B, the pumping and polishing device 30 described below is left as is, but the other storage tanks 40 and supply troughs 50 are removed and stored in the storage section 101.

[0116] The supply device 100 has a storage tank 40 that collects and stores game balls that have been used in the pachinko machine 2A and counted by the counter 8a (see Figure 52), a pumping and polishing device 30 that pumps the game balls supplied from the storage tank 40 while polishing them, and a supply gutter 50 that receives the game balls pumped by the pumping and polishing device 30 and supplies them to the pachinko machine 2A. The pumping and polishing device 30 is a polishing device with an added pumping function. Below, the pumping and polishing device 30, the supply gutter 50, and the storage tank 40 will be described in order.

[0117] <Lift polishing device 30> As shown in Figures 119 to 155, the pumping and polishing device 30 is a device that pumps and polishes game balls that have been used and collected in the pachinko machine 2A. The pumping and polishing device 30 includes a main body 31, a polishing gear 32, polishing means 33, a pumping path 34, a driving means 35, and a control means 36. Game balls are supplied to the pumping and polishing device 30 from a storage tank 40, and the polished game balls are pumped through the pumping path 34 to a supply gutter 50 located above the pachinko machine 2A.

[0118] <<Main body 31>> The main body 31 of the lifting and polishing device 30 is a metal housing formed in the shape of a flat rectangular box. A polishing gear 32 is disposed on a horizontal upper surface 310 of the main body 31 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. The polishing means 33 is disposed adjacent to the polishing gear 32 on the upper surface 310 of the main body 31. A driving means 35 and the like are also disposed on the upper surface 310 of the main body 31. A control means 36 and the like are also housed inside the main body 31.

[0119] <<Gear for grinding 32>> As shown in Figure 119, the grinding gear 32 is rotatably supported within a substantially cylindrical resin casing 320 and is disposed on the upper surface portion 310 of the main body 31. The axis of the grinding gear 32 extends in the up-down direction (vertical direction). The grinding gear 32 is made of resin and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The grinding gear 32 is formed by combining two pieces vertically.

[0120] 136 to 140, the grinding gear 32 has a generally cylindrical shape, with the upper half thereof being a large-diameter portion 32a, and the lower half of the large-diameter portion 32a being a reduced-diameter portion 32b whose outer diameter gradually tapers. Furthermore, the lower half of the reduced-diameter portion 32b is a thin-diameter portion 32c which extends to the same outer diameter as the minimum outer diameter of the lower end of the reduced-diameter portion 32b.

[0121] A plurality of guide teeth 321 are provided on the outer periphery of the large-diameter portion 32a in the circumferential direction along the generatrix of the cylindrical surface. The tooth grooves 322 between the guide teeth 321 are formed in an arc-shaped cross section so as to embrace more than half of the gaming ball. The opening width of the tooth grooves 322 is set narrower than the diameter of the gaming ball so that the gaming ball cannot escape from the inside of the tooth grooves 322 to the outside. In other words, the tooth grooves 322 are capable of guiding a gaming ball received from its upper end side to its lower end side, and are set so that multiple gaming balls can be stored sequentially in a state where they are stacked one above the other within the tooth grooves 322.

[0122] Furthermore, on the outer periphery of reduced diameter portion 32b, a plurality of locking teeth 323 are provided in the circumferential direction, continuing from guide teeth 321 and extending along the generatrix of the columnar surface. The pitch of each locking tooth 323 gradually narrows from the wider pitch of each guide tooth 321, and tooth grooves 324 between each locking tooth 323 are set so that game balls received from tooth grooves 322 gradually approach each other and come into contact with each other. Furthermore, on the outer periphery of reduced diameter portion 32b, a plurality of locking teeth 325 are provided in the circumferential direction, continuing from locking teeth 323 and extending along the generatrix of the columnar surface. Tooth grooves 326 between each locking tooth 325 are set so that game balls guided from tooth grooves 324 of locking teeth 323 are kept in contact with each other.

[0123] As shown in Figure 125, the top of the casing 320 is opened as a receiving port that receives game balls from a storage tank 40 (described later) and guides them to the upper opening of the tooth grooves 322 of the grinding gear 32. Also, a grinding window 320a (see Figure 128) is opened in the peripheral wall of the casing 320 at a portion facing a curved surface portion 332 of a cassette 331 (described later). The grinding window 320a is formed so that a grinding member 330 (described later) can be arranged along the outer periphery of the guide teeth 321 of the grinding gear 32. Furthermore, a communication passage 328 (see Figure 131) is also provided at the bottom of the casing 320, which aligns game balls pushed out from the lower end of the tooth grooves 324 by the rotation of the grinding gear 32 and guides them to the lifting passage 34.

[0124] As shown in Figure 119, an electric motor 350 is attached to the side of the polishing gear 32 in the main body 31. The drive shaft of the electric motor 350 is connected to the polishing gear 32 via a transmission mechanism consisting of gears and the like (not shown) so as to transmit rotational force, and the polishing gear 32 is configured to be rotationally driven by the electric motor 350. The electric motor 350 constitutes the drive means 35, which is the power system of the lifting and polishing device 30. A bearing 327 (see Figure 137) connected to the power transmission system of the drive means 35 is provided at the center of the lower end of the polishing gear 32.

[0125] <<Polishing means 33>> 129, the polishing means 33 includes a polishing member 330 disposed in the polishing window 320a of the casing 320, a cassette 331 that houses the polishing member 330 and is detachably mounted in a position facing the polishing gear 32, and a feed mechanism that draws the polishing member 330 out of the cassette 331 and moves it along the outer periphery of the polishing gear 32. Here, the feed mechanism includes a drive gear 351 journaled on the main body 31 side and a driven gear 352 journaled on the cassette 331 side.

[0126] The drive gear 351 is journaled by a vertical rotation shaft at a position on the upper surface 310 of the main body 31 near one end of the grinding window 320a of the casing 320. Here, the drive gear 351 is configured to be interlocked with the rotation of, for example, the grinding gear 32 via a transmission mechanism made up of gears and the like (not shown). The drive gear 351 is configured to pull out the grinding member 330 from the cassette 331 (described below) and move it along the outer periphery of the grinding gear 32 in accordance with the moving speed of the game balls caused by the rotation of the grinding gear 32. However, the drive gear 351 may be controlled to rotate separately from the rotation of the grinding gear 32.

[0127] 151 to 155, a cassette base 311 for detachably mounting a cassette 331 is provided on the upper surface 310 of the main body 31 of the lifting and polishing apparatus 30. The cassette 331 is rectangular in plan view as described below, and its longitudinal direction, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body 31, is the attachment / detachment direction relative to the cassette base 311. The specific attachment / detachment structure of the cassette 331 to the cassette base 311 will be described later.

[0128] As shown in Figures 141 to 150, cassette 331 houses grinding member 330. Cassette 331 is formed in the shape of a flat box-like case with a rectangular shape in plan view and a curved surface 332 recessed in an arc at the front end. Grinding member 330 is made of a material capable of grinding game balls, such as a nonwoven fabric processed into a long tape. Grinding member 330 is wound in a roll around a paper core tube, for example, and is housed rotatably inside cassette 331 as shown in Figure 129.

[0129] 143 and 144, the cassette 331 has a guide groove 333 formed in one side wall 331a connected to one end of the curved surface portion 332, for drawing out the end of the polishing member 330. Also, as shown in FIGS. 141 and 142, a driven gear 352 opposing the drive gear 351 is journaled on the other side wall 331b connected to the other end of the curved surface portion 332. The curved surface portion 332 is formed into an arc-shaped cross section so as to fit along the outer periphery of the polishing gear 32, and is fitted with a resilient cushioning material such as felt.

[0130] The grinding member 330 is pulled out to one end of the curved surface portion 332 through the guide groove 333 of the cassette 331 and moves along the outer periphery of the guide teeth 321 in a state in which it can press the game balls on the grinding gear 32 side by the elastic force of the cushioning material. Here, as shown in FIG. 129, the grinding member 330 is arranged so as to be sent out as is by a pair of drive gear 351 and driven gear 352 located on the other end side of the curved surface portion 332. The grinding member 330 separated from the outer periphery of the grinding gear 32 is set to be sent out in a direction parallel to the attachment / detachment direction of the cassette 331.

[0131] 129(b), a line a connecting the rotation axes of the pair of drive gear 351 and driven gear 352 is perpendicular to the direction b of attaching and detaching the cassette 331. Also, a line c that passes through the contact point between the drive gear 351 and the driven gear 352 and is perpendicular to the line a connecting the rotation axes of both gears 351, 352 is set to be aligned parallel to and very close to the tangent line of the grinding gear 32.

[0132] With such an arrangement of the gears 351 and 352 or the feeding direction of the grinding member 330, even if there is a slight error in the mounting position of the cassette 331 in its longitudinal direction (front-rear direction), the grinding member 330 can be reliably fed out once it is engaged between the gears 351 and 352. The drive gear 351 and the driven gear 352 are not necessarily limited to gear-shaped ones, and may be roller-shaped ones with anti-slip processing such as knurling on the outer circumferential surface, for example.

[0133] Furthermore, it is preferable that the width of both gears 351, 352 is as wide as possible relative to the width of polishing member 330. For example, if the width of both gears 351, 352 is narrower than the width of polishing member 330, only a portion of polishing member 330 in the width direction will be clamped between both gears 351, 352. If a portion of polishing member 330 near the center in the width direction is clamped and pulled, polishing member 330 will wrinkle in the width direction and become thin, which will also reduce the delivery efficiency.

[0134] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 150, in the example of the driven gear 352, of the structure in which three stages are arranged vertically, the middle stage is the actual driven gear 352, and the upper and lower stages are feed guides with gear specifications that rotate while coming into contact with the grinding member 330 over a wide area. The same is true for the drive gear 351 shown in Fig. 128. As a result, the grinding member 330 can be stably held between the two gears 351, 352, in conjunction with the upper and lower feed guides, and the grinding member 330 can be reliably fed out.

[0135] The polishing members 330 after being sent out by the drive gear 351 and the driven gear 352 are discharged through a slit-like guide path 334 (see FIG. 129) formed along the rear end from the front end (near the driven gear 352) of the other side wall 331b of the cassette 331. The used polishing members 330 discharged from the cassette 331 are collected, for example, at the rear of the cassette 331 and are collected as appropriate. When the polishing members 330 are used up, the cassette 331 is removed from the main body 31, the polishing members 330 therein are replaced with new ones, and the cassette 331 is then attached to the main body 31 again.

[0136] As shown in Figure 129(a), polishing member 330 is wound in a roll around a core tube made of, for example, paper and rotatably housed inside cassette 331. Cassette 331 is configured so that, for example, the upper half can be opened. A mounting shaft 335 for supporting the core tube of roll-shaped polishing member 330 is provided on the inner bottom wall inside cassette 331. Here, mounting shaft 335 can be a simple structure such as a boss or a screw.

[0137] The end of the polishing member 330 is attached to the core tube with an adhesive strength that allows it to peel off when pulled strongly. Specifically, for example, it may be attached using adhesive tape or glue, although not shown. Attaching the end of the polishing member 330 to the core tube in this manner facilitates the manufacture of the polishing member 330 and is preferable in terms of both the manufacturing process and the quality of the finished product. Furthermore, if the polishing member 330 is attached with an adhesive strength that allows it to peel off easily from the core tube, when the polishing member 330 is used up to the end, the polishing member 330 will peel off from the core tube and can be fed to the end.

[0138] This not only allows polishing member 330 to be used effectively to the end, but also prevents problems that would occur if polishing member 330 were left in place for too long, such as breakage or fuzzing of polishing member 330. Furthermore, by supporting the core tube of polishing member 330 on mounting shaft 335 as described above, the behavior of polishing member 330 within cassette 331 is stabilized, and polishing member 330 can be delivered stably.

[0139] The cassette 331 is configured to be attached to and detached from the cassette base 311 on the top surface 310 of the main body 31 in its own longitudinal direction, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body 31. As shown in FIG. 144, a total of four claw-shaped engagement portions 336, 337 for attachment are provided on the bottom outer wall of the cassette 331, two at the front and two at the back. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 151, the cassette base 311 is provided with a pair of open groove-shaped engaged portions 312, 312 into which the engaging portions 336, 337 enter when the cassette 331 is brought into contact with the cassette base 311, and into which the engaging portions 336, 337 engage when the cassette 331 is moved forward toward the grinding gear 32. Note that a simple locking mechanism for restraining the cassette 331 in the attached state may be provided on the cassette base 311 or the casing 320.

[0140] The engagement portions 336, 337 of the cassette 331 also function as a structure for preventing distortion and deformation of the bottom surface of the cassette 331 when the cassette 331 is set on the cassette base 311. In addition, a rib 338 extending parallel to the direction in which the cassette 331 is attached or detached is provided on the outer bottom wall of the cassette 331 so as to connect to the engagement portions 336, 337. The rib 338 not only further reinforces the bottom surface of the cassette 331, but also reduces sliding resistance with the cassette base 311 when the cassette 331 is attached or detached, and is designed to prevent snagging or the like.

[0141] As shown in Figure 119, the lifting path 34 lifts upward the gaming balls that are successively pushed out as the grinding gear 32 rotates. The inner diameter of the lifting path 34 is slightly larger than the diameter of the gaming balls, and is configured to lift the gaming balls while aligning them in a single row. More specifically, the lifting path 34 comprises a lower lifting path 341 that forms the lower end thereof, and a main lifting path 342 that is connected to the lower lifting path 341 and extends upward in a straight line. The lower lifting path 341 is configured by pasting together two semi-tubular molded pieces that have been previously divided into two parts into a tubular shape.

[0142] The lower lifting path 341 of the lifting path 34 is fixed to the main body 31 via a fixing bracket 340. The lower end inlet of the lower lifting path 341 is connected to the communication passage 328 (see Figure 131). The main lifting path 342 is formed, for example, from a resin pipe material. The main lifting path 342 is detachable from the upper end of the lower lifting path 341 and can be disposed inside the unit 10 in advance. As shown in Figures 133 and 135, the lower lifting path 341 is formed to bend, and a reinforcing wall 341a is provided on the outer periphery of the portion where it bends with a curvature equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0143] The specific shape of the reinforcing wall 341a is not particularly limited, but it may be formed, for example, as a rib extending at a predetermined width along the bottom of the cross section of the two-part molded product, so that two layers are stacked on top of each other. By providing the reinforcing wall 341a at a curved portion of the lower lifting passage 341 that is particularly susceptible to load from game balls, even if the inner wall of the lower lifting passage 341 wears, the base end side of the reinforcing wall 341a is exposed inward, so that the function as a path for game balls is maintained, thereby extending the life of the lifting passage 34.

[0144] Although omitted in some drawings, as shown in FIG. 119, a shutter 313 is provided between the grinding gear 32 and the electric motor 350 in the main body 31, and can be inserted into and removed from the main body 31 through, for example, a slit provided in the upper surface portion 310. The shutter 313 opens and closes a gap connecting the communication passage 328 located below it and the lower lifting passage 341. The shutter 313 is normally held in a position that does not block the gap, but by inserting it downward to block the gap, it is possible to prevent game balls from leaking out from the grinding gear 32. FIGS. 126 and 127 show the shutter 313 attached to the main body 31 so as to close it.

[0145] Such a shutter 313 can prevent game balls from spilling out during maintenance and inspection of the lifting and polishing device 30. Here, the shutter 313 does not need to be a dedicated part, and for example, the positioning member 314 of the lifting and polishing device 30 may be used in place of it. When the main body 31 of the lifting and polishing device 30 is placed on the partition member 121 (installation surface) of the unit 10, for example, a flat positioning member 314 is used to place one end of the main body 31 on and position it. It is also possible to use this positioning member 314 as is in place of the shutter 313.

[0146] As another configuration for stopping the flow of game balls in the lifting and polishing device 30, it is conceivable to change the location where the flow of game balls is stopped by using the shutter 313 or the positioning member 314. For example, it is conceivable to configure the main body 31 so that a shutter 313 or the like is insertable and detachable in the middle of the path of movement of the game balls from the receiving port side of the casing 320 that receives the game balls to the polishing gear 32, thereby stopping the supply of game balls to the polishing gear 32.

[0147] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a detector for detecting the presence or absence of the polishing member 330 in the cassette 331, somewhere along the path of movement of the polishing member 330 from the guide groove 333 to the pair of gears 351, 352. For example, it is possible to provide the detector near the guide groove 333 shown in FIG. 143 in a position that does not interfere with the polishing member 330. The detector detects the presence or absence of the polishing member 330, thereby determining that all of the polishing members 330 in the cassette 331 have been used up. Specifically, such a detector can be formed of various sensors, such as an optical sensor or a proximity sensor.

[0148] Furthermore, the main body 31 is integrally assembled with a drive means 35, which is the power system of the lifting and polishing device 30, and a control means for controlling the operation of the drive means 35. As described above, the drive means 35 is disposed on the top surface 310 of the main body 31. Although not shown, the control means is configured as a board equipped with a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and controls the electric motor 350 of the drive means 35, etc. It is preferable that such control means be disposed inside the main body 31. With such a configuration, it is possible to make the entire device compact and reduce the amount of wiring required.

[0149] The lifting and polishing device 30 is housed in the storage section 101 within the unit 10, but can be left on the partition member 121 as is, even when replacing the pachinko machine 2A with a pachislot machine 2B. This makes it easier to reassemble the gaming machine 2. On the other hand, the lifting and polishing device 30 has the drive means 35 and control means integrated into its main body 31, making it easy to replace the unit during maintenance or in the event of a problem. The lifting and polishing device 30 is housed in a state where it can be pulled out of the storage section 101 by opening the waist plate member 17.

[0150] <Supply Tunnel 50> As shown in Figures 52 and 53, the supply gutter 50 is disposed above the gaming machine 2 inside the unit 10, and is a component that supplies the pumped gaming balls to the gaming machine 2. The supply gutter 50 is equipped with a gutter main body 51 having a plurality of rail-like paths 52 arranged side by side on both sides, along which the gaming balls flow down in a single line. The gutter main body 51 is formed, for example, from resin into the shape shown in the figure. Each path 52 extends linearly parallel to the longitudinal direction of the gutter main body 51, and the bottom wall of each is formed with an arc-shaped cross section that is slightly wider than the diameter of the gaming balls.

[0151] In this embodiment, four paths 52 are provided as four-way conduits. The paths 52 at both ends of each path 52 form a pair of supply paths 52A, 52A that supply game balls to the gaming machine 2 or the inter-machine service machine 8. The paths 52 on the inside of the supply paths 52A, 52A at both ends form a pair of drop paths 52B, 52B that drop surplus game balls. The supply paths 52A, 52A at both ends are positioned higher than the drop paths 52B, 52B, and surplus game balls in each supply path 52A can move to the drop path 52B by the difference in height. Note that when the supply path 52A and the drop path 52B are collectively referred to as simply the path 52, they are distinguished as 52A and 52B in the drawings.

[0152] As shown in Figures 156 and 158, a receiving section 53 is provided at the base end of the gutter main body 51, which is located on the upstream side of each path 52, to receive game balls lifted by the lifting grinder 30. Each path 52 branches into four at the upstream side from the receiving section 53. As shown in Figure 163(b), along both side edges of the gutter main body 51, each supply path 52A is arranged at the same height, and inside them, each drop path 52B is arranged at the same height, one step lower.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 163(b), the partition wall 521 between the supply path 52A and the adjacent drop path 52B is set at a height that allows game balls to move from the supply path 52A to the drop path 52B. Here, the specific height of the partition wall 521 is set to, for example, about half the diameter of the game ball. In addition, a taper (inclined surface) that slopes toward the inner drop path 52B is formed at the upper end of the partition wall 521. In addition, the partition walls 522 between the respective drop paths 52B are set at a height that prevents game balls from moving between them.

[0154] Because the drop path 52B is located below the supply path 52A, the partition wall 522 between them does not need to be tapered. However, in rare cases, when game balls are moving in a line on the supply path 52A, some game balls may climb up the supply path 52A, as shown in FIG. 177(a). If the game balls continue to slide along the upper surface of the side wall of the gutter main body 51 in this state, it is expected that the game balls will bridge near the entrances to the ball outlets 523 and 524 (described later), as shown in FIG. 177(b). For this reason, by tapering the partition wall 522, game balls that have climbed up the supply path 52A can be reliably dropped to the drop path 52B side.

[0155] As shown in Figure 158, the receiving section 53 is formed like a stage extending in a semicircular shape from the upstream end of each of the paths 52 aligned in a row on both sides perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the gutter body 51 toward the base end in a plan view. A supply port 531 is provided near the top end of the semicircular shape of the receiving section 53, which is connected to the upstream end opening of the lifting path 34 of the lifting grinder 30. The receiving section 53 and the upstream sides of the supply paths 52A, 52A on both sides are surrounded by a guide wall 54 of a predetermined height from the rear, which is the opposite side of the ball flow direction, to the front, which is the ball flow direction. The guide wall 54 is formed, for example, from resin as a separate body from the gutter body 51 and is attached to the base end of the gutter body 51 by screws or the like.

[0156] The guide wall 54 surrounds the outer edge of the receiving section 53 in a semicircular shape, then narrows on both sides as it extends along the outer edges of the supply paths 52A, 52A on both sides, with the front edges 540 on both sides opening to face the inner upper side of each drop path 52B. Even if each path 52 is temporarily clogged with foreign matter or the like and game balls overflow, this front opening of the guide wall 54 maintains the flow of game balls from the front opening of the guide wall 54 to the drop path 52B, preventing the game balls from clogging up. The front end side of the guide wall 54, which extends to the front edge 540, is positioned above the upstream side of each supply path 52A at a height that does not obstruct the flow of game balls.

[0157] Furthermore, the portions on both sides of the guide wall 54 where the width narrows allow game balls that have piled up on each supply path 52A to collapse into the inner drop path 52B. Here, the portions on both sides of the guide wall 54 where the width narrows are provided with notches 541 that create gaps on the lower end side of the guide wall 54. These notches 541 prevent game balls flowing down the supply path 52A from strongly interfering with the lower end side of the guide wall 54, and can prevent bridges of overlapping game balls from occurring along the guide wall 54.

[0158] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 163 (b), the front end sides of both sides of the guide wall 54 curve inward so as to cross above the upstream sides of both supply paths 52A, 52A, and the front end edges 540 extend to the upper tapered portion inclined toward the falling path 52B side, slightly beyond the top end of the partition wall 521. This allows game balls that have piled up just before the opening of the guide wall 54 to be smoothly guided into the falling path 52B, preventing the game balls from clogging up.

[0159] As shown in Figures 156 and 158, the receiving unit 53 is provided with a guide section 532 for guiding supplied game balls to the outer supply path 52A rather than the inner drop path 52B. The guide section 532 is formed in the shape of a block with a semicircular cross section, which opens a passage through which game balls can pass, between the guide section 532 and the semicircular enclosure portion of the guide wall 54, forward of the supply port 531. Here, the outlet of the passage is set so as to face the upstream ends of the supply paths 52A, 52A on both sides. In other words, game balls supplied to the receiving unit 53 are guided to the supply path 52A rather than the drop path 52B.

[0160] As shown in Figure 165 (b), the height of the guide section 532 is set lower than the height of the guide wall 54. As a result, when excess game balls are lifted into the receiving section 53, the game balls will go over the guide section 532 and be guided to the falling path 52B without passing through the passage. Here, because the guide wall 54 is higher than the guide section 532, the game balls will not go over the guide section 532, go over the guide wall 54 and spill out.

[0161] With such a supply gutter 50, as shown in Figure 175, the game balls lifted up to the receiving section 53 flow down evenly into the supply paths 52A, 52A on both sides. Then, when one of the supply paths 52A, 52A on both sides is filled with game balls, as shown in Figure 176, the only supply path 52A through which the game balls lifted up to the receiving section 53 flow down is the other supply path 52A, and some of the game balls climb over the partition wall 521 (see Figure 163(b)) and are guided to the inner drop path 52B.

[0162] As shown in Figure 156, one of the supply paths 52A on both sides supplies game balls to a pachinko machine 2A, and its downstream end is connected to a ball outlet 523 that bends downward toward the pachinko machine 2A located below. The ball outlet 523 is connected to the game machine 2 via a bendable pipe member called a bellows (not shown). The other of the supply paths 52A supplies game balls to an inter-machine service machine 8, and its downstream end is connected to a ball outlet 524 that extends laterally toward the inter-machine service machine 8 located to the side. The ball outlet 524 is connected to the inter-machine service machine 8 via a bendable pipe member called a bellows (not shown).

[0163] Each drop path 52B allows excess game balls that have overflowed to drop into the storage tank 40, which will be described later, and the downstream end of each path is connected to a ball outlet 525 that bends downward toward the storage tank 40 located below. Each ball outlet 525 is connected to the storage tank 40 via a bendable pipe member (not shown) known as an accordion. Note that one ball outlet 525 is bent so as to move away from the other ball outlet 525 midway. This is to give the pipe members connected to each ball outlet 525 different directions to prevent interference.

[0164] As shown in Figure 163(b), each path 52 is formed with an arc-shaped cross section as described above. This allows the inner circumferential surfaces of each path 52 to be smoothly connected at the connection points between each path 52 and the cylindrical ball outlets 523-525. If each path 52 were a planar path with a flat bottom, a narrowed portion would be created at the connection points with the ball outlets 523-525. In such a narrowed portion, a reverse step would be created, which could hinder the flow of game balls at that point.

[0165] Furthermore, if a gaming ball that has flowed down each fall path 52B does not enter the ball outlet 525 and lands on the downstream upper half 510 described below, the gaming ball is set to continue flowing down the downstream upper half 510 and fall downward. This prevents gaming balls that do not enter the ball outlet 525 from returning to the fall path 52B side and becoming clogged.

[0166] As shown in Figures 168 and 169, the tip side of gutter body 51 is formed by dividing the upper half into downstream upper half 510 and the lower half, and downstream upper half 510 is combined integrally with the lower half. Each of spherical outlets 523, 524, 525 is provided at the tip side of gutter body 51, but is formed as if the lower half at the tip side of gutter body 51 and downstream upper half 510 were each divided into two parts that were later combined integrally. If a ridge and a groove that fit together are provided at the joint between the two halves of each of spherical outlets 523, 524, 525, it is possible to prevent the joint from shifting or coming loose due to vibration, etc.

[0167] In the downstream upper half 510, detectors 511, 512 capable of detecting game balls are provided at positions overlapping above the ball outlets 523, 524. Each detector 511, 512 is set to be continuously ON when game balls are trapped in the ball outlets 523, 524, respectively, and to output a signal that detects ball jamming as a supply error when the ON state continues for a predetermined time (e.g., 2 seconds) or more. Specifically, each detector 511, 512 is composed of various sensors, such as a magnetic sensor or a proximity sensor.

[0168] As shown in Figures 170 to 173, the supply gutter 50 is installed at the upper part of the unit 10 (see Figure 52) via a support bracket 55. As shown in Figures 164(b) and 165(b), ribs 513, 514 are provided on the bottom side of the gutter main body 51 so as to ensure a gradient that slopes each path 52 downward from the upstream end to the downstream end when the gutter main body 51 is placed on a horizontal support bracket 55. Also, as shown in Figure 167, the downstream ends of each path 52 are open at the tip side of the gutter main body 51, and reinforcing ribs 515, 516 are provided in appropriate positions to ensure the necessary strength.

[0169] 174, the support bracket 55 is formed from a rectangular sheet metal material extending in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view, and flanges 552, 553 that rise vertically to a predetermined height are formed on the front and rear ends of its bottom plate 551. The front flange 552 and the bottom plate 551 next to it are provided with an opening 554 large enough to allow the supply gutter 50 removed from the support bracket 55 to be inserted downward.

[0170] The bottom plate 551 has a through hole 555 formed in a position that matches the supply port 531 on the bottom side of the supply gutter 50 installed on top of it, for connecting through the upstream end of the main lifting passage 342. This through hole 555 is an elongated hole so that it can absorb any installation error of the supply gutter 50. The upper end side of the main lifting passage 342 is fixed by inserting it into the supply port 531 with a predetermined length of fitting margin, and this fixation makes it possible to maintain it in a state hanging down from the supply gutter 50.

[0171] The supply gutter 50 can be easily attached to the bottom plate 551 of the support bracket 55 by snap-fitting the engagement claws 517, 518 on the front and rear sides of the bottom of the gutter main body 51 into the attachment holes 556 and attachment grooves 557 in the bottom plate 551. That is, the pair of engagement claws 517, 517 on the front side of the gutter main body 51 can be engaged with and disengaged from the pair of attachment holes 556, 556 in front of the opening 554 of the bottom plate 551. In addition, the pair of engagement claws 518, 518 on the rear side of the gutter main body 51 can be engaged with and disengaged from both ends of the attachment groove 557 in the bottom plate 551.

[0172] Furthermore, a downwardly hanging mounting plate 558 is integrally formed on the bottom plate 551 of the support bracket 55 at a position near the front of one long side thereof. As shown in Figure 174, this mounting plate 558 is provided with a bracket-like fixture 559 that can grip and fix a pipe member (not shown) that is connected to each of the ball outlets 525. As mentioned above, the pipe member used is a bendable member known as an accordion.

[0173] <Storage Tank 40> As shown in Figure 111 etc., the storage tank 40 can be detachably fixed onto the main body 31 of the pumping and polishing device 30. As shown in Figure 52, inside the unit 10, the pumping and polishing device 30, including the main body 31, is installed in a storage section 101, and the storage tank 40 is installed in an exchange arrangement section 102. A partition member 122 separating the storage section 101 and the exchange arrangement section 102 has a narrow depth width (see Figure 53), and behind the partition member 122, the pumping and polishing device 30 and the storage tank 40 are combined integrally vertically.

[0174] As shown in Figures 178 to 184, the storage tank 40 is formed of sheet metal or the like in the shape of a roughly rectangular box with an open top. The storage tank 40 comprises a tank body 41 which forms the main part thereof, and an accessory part 42 which is connected to the upstream side of the tank body 41. The accessory part 42 is also formed of sheet metal or the like in the shape of a roughly rectangular box with an open top, but is short in length and shallow in depth.

[0175] By dividing the storage tank 40 into two parts, the tank body 41 and the attached portion 42, each part can be partially detached, and any errors in installation dimensions due to wiring etc. can be fully accommodated. In the following description, the side of the storage tank 40 farthest from the attached portion 42 in the longitudinal direction will be referred to as the "front side," and the side closer to the attached portion 42 will be referred to as the "rear side." Note that, for the storage tank 40 as a whole, the attached portion 42 is the most upstream end in the direction in which the game balls flow downstream.

[0176] The attached part 42 is box-shaped and also opens forward, and is configured to be detachable from a step 41a provided as the upstream end of the tank main body 41. When attached to the tank main body 41, the attached part 42 forms a continuous internal space with the tank main body 41, and the bottom surface of the attached part 42 is continuous with the bottom surface of the step 41a. On the other hand, even when the attached part 42 is separated, the tank main body 41 can store game balls without the game balls leaking from the opening side of the step 41a.

[0177] A plurality of pipe connection members 423, 424 for receiving game balls overflowing from the supply gutter 50 are fixed to the inside of the attachment 42 via separate fixing brackets 421, 422 in a vertically overlapping state. There are two pipe connection members 423, 424 and two fixing brackets 421, 422, corresponding to the two pipe members (not shown) extending from the supply gutter 50. Each pipe connection member 423, 424 is curved to reduce the momentum of the falling game balls, and one end of the pipe connection member is connected to the lower end of the pipe member (not shown), with the other end positioned to face the tank main body 41 side.

[0178] Each of the fixing brackets 421, 422 is in the form of a bracket that straddles one end and the other end of each of the curved, adjacent pipe connection members 423, 424 from above and holds them together, with a gap equal to the outer diameter of the pipe members 421, etc. Although only the upper fixing bracket 421 is visible in Figure 178, the lower fixing bracket 422 is actually also fixed inside this fixing bracket 421. Separating the upper and lower fixing brackets 421, 422 in this way not only simplifies installation but also prevents both from coming loose during maintenance and inspection.

[0179] As shown in Figures 178 to 184, the tank body 41 is surrounded by the step 41a at its upstream end, as well as a bottom plate 410, both side plates 411, 411, a front plate 412, and a rear plate 413. The bottom plate 410 is inclined downward from the front plate 412 side to the rear plate 413 side so that game balls flow down under their own weight. Also, as shown in Figures 186 and 187, an upper gutter member 43 is disposed near the middle of the tank body 41 so as to be inclined in the opposite direction to the inclination of the bottom plate 410.

[0180] The upper gutter member 43 is formed of resin in a generally rectangular plate shape, and is made of a particularly transparent resin to allow for downward visibility. The upper gutter member 43 is composed of two plates arranged front to back, and the upper gutter member 43 on the front panel 412 side is arranged so that its rear end edge, which is its upstream end, is connected to the attached portion 42 described below. The upper gutter member 43 on the rear panel 413 side is arranged at a distance from the front panel 412 so that its front end edge, which is its downstream end, forms an opening for game balls to fall between it and the front panel 412. Because the upper gutter member 43 is transparent and downward visibility is possible, it is possible to check for clogging with foreign objects downstream and maintenance can be easily performed. The upper gutter member 43 is configured to be removable and fit within the tank body 41.

[0181] As shown in Figure 187, two lower sieve members 44 that separate foreign matter from gaming balls are arranged side by side, front and back, on the bottom plate 410 of the tank body 41. As shown in Figure 179, an opening 414 is formed in the bottom portion 410 at the attachment point of each lower sieve member 44 to allow foreign matter to fall downward. As shown in Figures 188 to 194, the lower sieve member 44 is made of resin, and has an introduction surface portion 441 on the side facing the downstream flow direction of the gaming balls, and a foreign matter falling portion 442 continuous with the introduction surface portion 441.

[0182] The introduction surface 441 is formed in the shape of a flat plate, and the upper surface onto which the game balls flow down is set at an inclination that is approximately the same as the inclination angle of the bottom plate 410 of the tank main body 41. The foreign object drop section 442 has lanes arranged side by side on the left and right, and each lane consists of a vertical plate-like protrusion 443 that forms the lane bottom surface with a narrow width equal to the plate thickness, and partition plates 444 that partition both sides of it at intervals that allow the game balls to pass through.

[0183] The protrusions 443 of the lane have a different inclination angle than the introduction surface 441. That is, in the normal installation state of the storage tank 40, the inclination angle of the introduction surface 441, which is upstream of the lower sieve member 44 itself, is set to be steeper than the inclination angle of the protrusions 443 that form the lane bottom surface in the foreign object dropping section 442. This prevents the gaming balls from overlapping (commonly known as bridging) due to a decrease in the flow speed of the gaming balls when they are separated into each lane in the foreign object dropping section 442.

[0184] The upper edge of each partition plate 444 is inclined from the top of the introduction surface 441 to the rear in the opposite direction to the inclination of the bottom plate 410, so that the balls can be sorted and flowed down one row at a time. Furthermore, a ball breaking bar 445 is installed between the rear ends of the upper edges of each partition plate 444 to break up the overlapping of the game balls and level them out into a single row.

[0185] As shown in FIG. 187, the rear end of the foreign object dropping portion 442 of the lower sieve member 44 on the front panel 412 side and the front end of the introduction surface portion 441 of the lower sieve member 44 on the rear panel 413 side are connected to each other. A step 446 that descends one step downstream is provided at the connection between these lower sieve members 44. This step 446 adds a motion that causes the gaming balls to drop, making it possible to more reliably drop any foreign objects that may be on top of the gaming balls downward. The lower sieve member 44 can be easily attached to the bottom portion 410 of the tank body 41 by snap-fitting the engagement claws 447, 448 on the front and rear sides of the bottom of the lower sieve member 44 into attachment holes (not shown) around the opening 414 of the bottom portion 410.

[0186] Furthermore, the downstream end of the bottom surface 410 of the tank main body 41 forms an approximately horizontal surface, and this portion is provided with a ball discharge port 415. As shown in Figure 111, etc., when the storage tank 40 is combined with the main body 31 of the pumping and polishing device 30, the ball discharge port 415 of the tank main body 41 is configured to communicate with the receiving port of the casing 320 on the main body 31. Next to the ball discharge port 415, an attachment portion 416 is provided that can insert and remove a shutter 45 that opens and closes the ball discharge port 415.

[0187] As shown in Figure 185, the shutter 45 is formed from a substantially rectangular flat metal plate, and flanges that are guided by the mounting portion, for example, are formed to rise from one short side that is the operation side and from both long sides. As shown in Figure 186, the shutter 45 is inserted below the ball discharge port 415 from an insertion direction a that is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction of the tank body 41. The other short side of the shutter 45 that faces the insertion direction a is not parallel to the one short side on the operation side, but is formed as an inclined edge 450 that intersects with the insertion direction a.

[0188] The inclined edge 450 of the shutter 45 is inclined so as to allow the game balls to escape toward the downstream end rather than the upstream side in the flow direction of the game balls within the tank body 41. With this inclined edge 450, even when game balls are piled up and pressed against each other below the ball discharge port 415, they can be inserted below the ball discharge port 415 with a weak force. In other words, game balls that come into contact with the inclined edge 450 escape as if pushed toward the downstream end in the flow direction, and can therefore be easily inserted below the ball discharge port 415.

[0189] <Stud member 106> 33, stud members 105 and the like are arranged on both sides of the gaming machine 2 installed in the unit 10 to close the gap between the inner surfaces of both side panels 11, 11. As shown in the unit 10 on the left in FIG. 33, when a pachinko machine 2A is installed, an inter-machine service machine 8 is arranged on the left side, and two stud members 106 are arranged on the right side, each with its wide front wall 106a facing forward.

[0190] On the other hand, as shown in the unit 10 on the right side in Figure 33, when a pachislot machine 2B is installed, a dedicated stud member 105 is arranged on the right side, and two stud members 106 are arranged on the left side, one with its wide front wall 106a facing forward and the other with its narrow side wall 106b facing forward. In this way, the stud member 105 has its wide front wall 106a and narrow side wall 106b.

[0191] As shown in Figure 193, by combining two stud members 106 so that their respective front walls 106a face forward, it is possible to close a wider gap between the gaming machine 2 and the side panel 11. As shown in Figure 194, by combining two stud members 106 so that one wide front wall 106a and the other narrow side wall 106b face forward, the width becomes narrower than in the case of Figure 193.

[0192] In this way, two different widths can be selected for just one stud member 106, and it is possible to adjust it to close a variety of gaps even with a small number of parts. As shown in Figure 33, the number of stud members 106 does not increase or decrease when installing pachinko machine 2A or pachislot machine 2B, and only two stud members 106 are required in either case.

[0193] Additionally, stud brackets 107 are used on the top and bottom to attach the stud member 106, and just one stud bracket 107 can accommodate the two positions of the stud member 106 described above. In other words, the stud bracket 107 is equipped with a wide mounting piece 107a and a narrow mounting piece 107b that bends at a right angle to it, and can be attached to the top and bottom ends of the stud bracket 107 in different orientations.

[0194] When fixing the wide front wall 106a of the stud member 106 facing forward, it is attached to the upper and lower ends of the stud bracket 107 in the position shown in Figures 195(a) and 195(b). On the other hand, when fixing the narrow side wall 106b of the stud member 106 facing forward, it is attached to the upper and lower ends of the stud bracket 107 in the position shown in Figures 196(a) and 196(b). In Figures 195 and 196, the left front side of the paper surface corresponds to the front.

[0195] The wide front wall 106a of the stud member 106 is set to the same width as the inter-machine service device 8. Therefore, when inserting the inter-machine service device 8, only one stud member 106 needs to be removed. At this time, the remaining stud member 106 can be installed so that it can be stored behind the stud member 106 that has already been installed.

[0196] <About the present invention> Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present invention derived from the above-described embodiments will be described below. [1] In a grinding device 30 that grinds and lifts game media collected from a game machine 2, The grinding gear 32 holds game media in tooth grooves 322 arranged in the circumferential direction and is rotatable around an axis, and a grinding member 330 is arranged along the outer periphery of the grinding gear 32 and is capable of grinding game media by contacting the game media, The polishing member 330 is a long tape wound in a roll and stored in a cassette 331, and the cassette 331 is detachable from the main body 31 on which the polishing gear 32 is provided. The cassette 331 is characterized in that, when attached to the main body 31, the polishing member 330 drawn out of the cassette 331 can be aligned along the outer periphery of the polishing gear 32 and then sent out in a direction parallel to the attachment / detachment direction of the cassette 331.

[0197] [2] A pair of rotating bodies 351 and 352 are provided to rotate the polishing member 330 while sandwiching the polishing member 330 in between, in order to deliver the polishing member 330; The pair of rotors 351 and 352 are characterized in that the line connecting the respective rotation axes is perpendicular to the direction in which the cassette 331 is attached and detached. Here, the rotating bodies 351 and 352 are not limited to gears, but may be rollers with anti-slip treatment on the outer periphery.

[0198] [3] One of the pair of rotors 351, 352 is a driven rotor 352 that is axially supported on the cassette 331, and the other is a driving rotor 351 that is axially supported on the main body 31 and is driven to rotate by power.

[0199] [4] The cassette 331 has a curved surface portion 332 recessed in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the grinding gear 32 at its front end side, and a guide groove 333 opened in one side wall 331a connected to one end of the curved surface portion 332, for drawing out the grinding member 330 to the outside, The driven rotor 352 is disposed on the other side wall 331b connected to the other end of the curved surface portion 332, The polishing member 330 is characterized in that it is pulled out from the guide groove 333 to one end side of the curved surface portion 332, and is sent out by the driving rotor 351 and the driven rotor 352 while moving along the outer periphery of the polishing gear 32.

[0200] [5] A detector for detecting the presence or absence of the polishing member 330 is provided in the cassette 331 along the path of movement of the polishing member 330 from the guide groove 333 to the pair of rotating bodies 351, 352.

[0201] [6] The main body 31 is characterized in that a driving means 35, which is a power system of the polishing device 30, and a control means for controlling the operation of the driving means 35 are integrally assembled.

[0202] [7] A flat-plate-shaped positioning member 314 is provided for placing one end of the main body 31 on the installation surface to position the main body 31, The positioning member is insertable and detachable in the middle of the path of movement of the game ball from the grinding gear 32 in the main body 31 to the discharge side of the game ball, and when inserted in the middle, it also serves as a shutter that stops the outflow of game balls from the grinding gear 32.

[0203] [8] A lifting path 34 is provided to lift the game balls pushed out successively as the grinding gear 32 rotates, The lifting passage 34 is characterized in that a reinforcing wall 341a is provided on the outer periphery of the portion that bends at a curvature of a predetermined value or more.

[0204] <Regarding Separate Invention 1> Furthermore, the above-described embodiment leads to the following separate invention 1. [1] In a structure (unit 10) of a gaming machine island 1 in which multiple types of gaming machines 2 can be installed one by one, The gaming machine has a lower arrangement member 15 arranged below one gaming machine 2A and an upper arrangement member 16 arranged above another gaming machine 2B, and is provided with a storage section 101 capable of storing the lower arrangement member 15 or the upper arrangement member 16; When changing the installation from the one gaming machine 2A to the other gaming machine 2B, the upper arrangement member 16 stored in the storage section 101 is removed and placed above the other gaming machine 2B, and the lower arrangement member 15 is removed and stored in the storage section 101. When changing from the other gaming machine 2B to the one gaming machine 2A and installing it, the lower arrangement member 15 stored in the storage section 101 is removed and placed below the one gaming machine 2A, and the upper arrangement member 16 is removed and stored in the storage section 101.

[0205] [2] The lower arrangement member 15 and the upper arrangement member 16 are characterized in that they are formed in a flat plate shape.

[0206] [3] The storage section 101 is characterized in that it is arranged below the lower arrangement member 15.

[0207] [4] The storage section 101 is characterized in that it contains a lifting machine that lifts the game media. Here, the lifting machine may be the above-mentioned lifting and polishing machine 30 to which a polishing function for game media is added.

[0208] In a conventional gaming machine island, for example, as described in JP 2001-224826 A, when a pachinko machine is to be installed, a ball box shelf is placed on the top surface of the lower frame, a tray (top plate member) is placed on top of this ball box shelf, and the pachinko machine is placed on top of that; when a pachislot machine is to be installed, a tray is placed on the top surface of the lower frame, the pachislot machine is placed on top of that, and a ball box shelf is placed on top of that.

[0209] In this case, it is assumed that the difference in height between the tray of the pachinko machine and the tray of the pachislot machine matches the height of the ball box shelf. Therefore, it is possible to use the ball box shelf as a shared component for the pachinko machine and the pachislot machine, but this cannot be applied if the height above the gaming machine does not match the difference in height between the tray of the pachinko machine and the tray of the pachislot machine due to the installation of a bill validator, etc.

[0210] In contrast, the structure (unit 10) of this gaming machine island 1 has an upper arrangement member 16 arranged above the pachislot machine 2B and a lower arrangement member 15 arranged below the pachinko machine 2A, and is provided with a storage section 101 that can store the upper arrangement member 16 or the lower arrangement member 15. This eliminates the need to share the upper arrangement member 16 and the lower arrangement member 15, so it can be applied without any problems even when the height above the gaming machine 2 does not match the difference in height between the top plate member 13 corresponding to the pachinko machine 2A and the top plate member 13 corresponding to the pachislot machine 2B.

[0211] <Regarding Separate Invention 2> Furthermore, the above-described embodiment leads to the following Alternative Invention 2 in relation to the Alternative Invention 1. [1] The inside of the unit 10 is divided into at least a storage section 101, an exchange arrangement section 102, and a gaming machine arrangement section 103, in that order from the bottom. The exchange arrangement unit 102 can be integrated into the gaming machine arrangement unit depending on the type of gaming machine, When one gaming machine 2A is installed, the related equipment of the one gaming machine 2A is accommodated in the exchange arrangement section 102, and the front side of the exchange arrangement section 102 is covered by the lower arrangement member 15, When installing another gaming machine 2B, the related equipment of the first gaming machine 2A is removed from the exchange arrangement section 102 and stored in the storage section 101 together with the lower arrangement member 15, and the vacant exchange arrangement section 102 is integrated with the gaming machine arrangement section to store the other gaming machine 2B, and the upper front side of the other gaming machine 2B is covered by the upper arrangement member 16 that was stored in the storage section 101. Here, the related equipment of one gaming machine 2A accommodated in the exchange arrangement section 102 corresponds to, for example, the storage tank 40 and the like.

[0212] [2] The storage section 101 accommodates a lifting and grinding machine 30 that lifts and grinds the gaming media used in one gaming machine 2A, The lifting and polishing machine 30 is characterized in that it remains in the storage section 101 even after being reassembled into another gaming machine 2B that does not use the lifting and polishing machine 30. Here, the lifting and polishing machine 30 is configured integrally with its control means, and the lifting machine and control unit are characterized in that they can be attached and detached as a unit to the lifting machine arrangement section during maintenance and inspection (including replacement).

[0213] [3] The unit 10 is characterized by including partition members 121 that divide the interior of the unit 10 into a plurality of upper and lower regions.

[0214] [4] The unit 10 is characterized in that an engagement portion 12a or the like is provided on the inner surface thereof, on which the partition member 121 or the like can be installed. Here, it is preferable to provide a plurality of engaging portions 12a, etc., at different positions above and below on the inner surface of the side panel 11 of the unit 10, for example.

[0215] [5] The unused partition members 121 and the like can be stored in any area inside the unit 10. Here, the certain area is, for example, the storage section 101.

[0216] <Regarding Separate Invention 3> Furthermore, the above-described embodiment leads to the following separate invention 3. [1] In a gaming machine island 1 consisting of a unit 10 on which a gaming machine 2 can be installed, The unit 10 is fixed to the floor via rails 20. The unit 10 is characterized in that it is movable along the longitudinal direction of the rail 20 and can be fixed at any desired installation position on the rail 20.

[0217] [2] The rail 20 is characterized by comprising a rail member 21 fixed to the floor side and serving as a reference for the installation position of the unit 10, and a base member 22 fixed to the lower end side of the unit 10 and movably fitted to the rail member 21.

[0218] [3] The rail member 21 is formed in a groove-like cross section with an open upper surface along the longitudinal direction, The base member 22 has an engagement portion 221 on the upper surface of the rail member 21 that abuts the opening of the rail member 21 and straddles the opening. a slider 23 that is inserted inside the rail member 21 and is movable; The engaging portion 221 of the base member 22 is screwed to the slider 23 with the upper surface side of the rail member 21 in between, and the upper surface side of the rail member 21 is clamped and fixed between the slider 23 and the screw by tightening the screw. The term "screw" here also includes bolts.

[0219] [4] The rail members 21 are provided as a pair aligned in the front and rear direction in the depth direction of the unit 10, The base members 22 are provided on the lower end sides of both side ends of the unit 10, The engaging portion 221 of each base member 22 is characterized in that it is disposed between the upper surfaces of the pair of rail members 21 .

[0220] [5] The slider 23 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and a pair of protrusions 234, 234 that abut on both inner walls of the rail member 21 are provided at the ends of two long sides that are parallel to the rail longitudinal direction and are located diagonally opposite each other, The pair of protrusions 234, 234 are characterized in that when the slider 23 rotates in the screw fastening direction and the two long sides become perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail, they abut against the inner walls on both sides of the rail member 21 to prevent rotation, and when the slider 23 rotates in the direction opposite to the screw fastening direction and the two long sides become at an angle that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the rail, they detach from the inner walls on both sides of the rail member 21.

[0221] [6] The base member 22 is fixed to the lower end of the side panel 11 that forms both side ends of the unit 10 via a metal reinforcing bracket 24. The base member 22 includes a vertical wall portion 222 that rises substantially perpendicularly from the engagement portion 221 and is aligned along the lower end side of the side panel 11. The reinforcing bracket 24 includes a mounting surface portion 241 that covers the opening 110 cut out in the side panel 11, and a flange 242 that is provided on the mounting surface portion 241 and fits onto the inner peripheral edge of the opening 110, The vertical wall portion 222 of the base member 22 is overlapped with the mounting surface portion 241 of the reinforcing bracket 24 and fixed by screws.

[0222] <Regarding Separate Invention 4> Furthermore, the above-described embodiment leads to the following invention 4. [1] In a gaming machine island 1 having a plurality of units 10 in which gaming machines 2 can be installed one by one, The units 10 are arranged side by side on both sides, and a platform member 60 can be detachably attached between adjacent units 10 by engaging with the structure of the units 10 themselves. Here, the inter-unit member 60 includes not only the panel-shaped inter-unit member 60 but also the connecting member 61 that connects the units 10 together.

[0223] [2] The unit 10 has frame members 113 erected on both ends thereof. The frame member 113 is provided with a recessed groove 113a that opens outward along the vertical direction. The frame members 113 are arranged between adjacent units 10, and have opposite grooves 113a in the frame members 113, which are opposed to each other, and both ends of the inter-base members 60 are detachably fitted into the grooves 113a.

[0224] [3] The base-to-base member 60 is formed in a panel shape, and its both side edges are fitted into the recessed grooves 113a.

[0225] [4] The unit 10 has side portions (side panels) 11 that are parallel to each other at both ends thereof, The frame member 113 is fixed along the front edge of the side surface portion 11, The frame member 113 is characterized in that the frame edge that borders the front opening of the unit 10 is fixed along the front edge of the side portion 11 in a state where it protrudes inward from the inner surface of the side portion 11 toward the inside of the front opening, and a clearance is formed between the frame edge and the inner surface of the side portion 11 so that other components attached to the inner surface are hidden behind the frame edge when viewed from the front.

[0226] [5] The frame member 113 is provided with a fixing portion 114 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that engages with the dovetail groove 11a formed in the front edge of the side surface portion 11 and covers the front edge, and one end side of the fixing portion 114 forms the frame edge, A feature of this embodiment is that an angle portion 115 is integrally provided along the front end of the fixing portion 114, which forms the recessed groove 113a with a substantially U-shaped cross section together with the front end.

[0227] [6] The width of the base-to-base member 60 is wider than the dimension between the frame members 113 of each unit 10, and is set so that it can be inserted between the grooves 113a on both sides while being tilted obliquely around the vertical panel center line from the front side of the frame members 113, When the inter-base member 60 inserted between the grooves 113a on both sides is positioned parallel to the front between each frame member 113 and in a left-right position where both side edges are hidden within the grooves 113a on both sides, the inter-base member 60 is provided with stoppers 254 into which both lower ends thereof fit and are positioned in that position.

[0228] [7] The unit 10 includes a rear portion (movable rear panel) 190 that covers at least a part of the rear side of the unit 10, The rear portion (movable rear plate) 190 is detachable, and when detached, can be placed between the side portions 11 and used as part of the placement surface of the gaming machine 2.

[0229] <Regarding Separate Invention 5> Furthermore, the above-described embodiment leads to the following Alternative Invention 5 in relation to Alternative Invention 4. [1] In a unit 10 in which a gaming machine 2 can be installed one by one, A frame member 113 is erected at the corner of the unit 10, a groove portion 113a is formed in the frame member 113, and a fitting member is provided on the front or back side of the gaming machine 2 and around the gaming machine 2, and the fitting member is attached by fitting both opposing edges of the fitting member into the groove portion 113a.

[0230] [2] The fitting member is a base-to-base member 60 attached between the units 10 spaced apart from each other.

[0231] [3] The fitting member is a panel member 18 attached to the top of the gaming machine 2. With regard to the above-mentioned panel member 18, if a pair of rotating shafts protruding laterally are provided at both ends of the upper edge, and the panel member 18 is attached to the inside of the front ends of both side panels 11, 11 or to the frame member 113 in an openable and closable manner via these rotating shafts, it can also be interpreted as a type of fitting member.

[0232] Furthermore, with regard to the connecting member 61, if the lower frame guide 62 and the upper frame guide 63 are considered to be equivalent to "frame members" and parts of these are considered to be equivalent to "groove portions," it is also possible to interpret it as a type of fitting member.

[0233] Furthermore, with regard to the attachment of the rear plate 19, the movable rear plate 190, the lower arrangement member 15, and the upper arrangement member 16, it is also possible to configure them so that they can be attached using the groove portion 113 of the frame member 113, or to provide the frame member 113 with a groove portion into which the lower arrangement member 15, etc. can be fitted and attached, separate from the groove portion 113. With such a configuration, the rear plate 19, the movable rear plate 190, the lower arrangement member 15, and the upper arrangement member 16 can also be interpreted as a type of fitting member.

[0234] In a conventional gaming machine island, for example, the one described in JP 2017-144343 A, when attaching a side decorative panel to a side panel, special fastening means such as a receiving portion and an insert portion were required, and the side decorative panel could be attached to the side panel by inserting the receiving portion into the insert portion from above. Also, the rear decorative panel was attached to the case frame by inserting the receiving portions at the top and bottom of the inner wall of the rear decorative panel from above into the insert portions on the lower and upper reinforcing plates on the rear side of the case frame.

[0235] In contrast, the unit 10 of this embodiment is provided with a fitting member on the front or rear side of the gaming machine 2 and around the gaming machine 2, and the fitting member is attached by fitting opposing edges of the fitting member into the groove 113a of the frame member 113, thereby making it possible to reuse the fitting member that can be used for reinforcement. Also, while improving the strength of the gaming machine island 1 in the horizontal direction, the assembly and disassembly of the gaming machine island 1 can be carried out more easily than with conventional gaming machine islands.

[0236] <Regarding Separate Invention 6> Furthermore, the above-described embodiment leads to the following invention 6. [1] In a supply trough 50 arranged above the gaming machine 2 and supplying gaming balls to the gaming machine 2, A plurality of rail-like paths 52 along which the game balls flow down in a line are arranged in parallel on both sides. Of the paths 52, the paths 52 at both ends form supply paths 52A that supply game balls to the gaming machine 2 or related equipment 8, and the path 52 on the inside of both supply paths 52A forms a drop path 52B that drops excess game balls.

[0237] [2] The two supply paths 52A are positioned higher than the drop path 52B, and excess game balls in the two supply paths 52A can be moved to the drop path 52B by the difference in height.

[0238] [3] The partition wall 521 between the supply path 52A and the adjacent drop path 52B is set at a height that allows game balls to move from the supply path 52A to the drop path 52B, The upper end of the partition wall 521 is inclined toward the inner drop path 52B.

[0239] [4] A receiving section 53 for receiving the pumped game balls is provided on the upstream side of each of the paths 52, Each of the paths 52 is characterized in that its upstream side branches off into four branches from the receiving section 53, and the two drop paths 52B are provided side by side in a pair inside the two supply paths 52A.

[0240] [5] The partition walls 522 between the respective fall paths 52B are set at a height such that the game balls cannot move between them.

[0241] [6] The receiving section 53 and the upstream sides of both supply paths 52A are surrounded by a guide wall 54 of a predetermined height from the rear, which is the opposite side of the ball flow direction, to the front, which is the ball flow direction, The front side of the guide wall 54 opens above the drop path 52B, and the vicinity of the opening is arranged above the upstream side of both supply paths 52A in a state that does not interfere with the flow of game balls down; The receiving section 53 is characterized in that it is provided with a guide section 532 that guides the game balls from the drop path 52B to both supply paths 52A.

[0242] <Regarding Another Invention 7> Furthermore, the above-described embodiment leads to the following invention 7. [1] In the storage tank 40 for storing game balls used in the gaming machine 2, The tank includes a tank body 41 and an attachment part 42 that is detachable from the tank body 41. When the accessory part 42 is attached to the tank body 41, it forms a continuous internal space with the tank body 41, The tank body 41 is characterized in that it can store game balls even when the attached part 42 is separated.

[0243] [2] The accessory 42 is detachable from the upstream end of the tank body 41; A plurality of pipe members 423, 424 for receiving game balls from the outside are fixed inside the attached portion 42 in a vertically overlapping state via separate fixing brackets 421, 422 in a removable manner in sequence.

[0244] [3] An upper gutter member 43 is disposed near the middle of the tank body 41, and is inclined in the opposite direction to the inclination of the bottom plate 410 of the tank body 41. The upper gutter member 43 is characterized in that it is made of a transparent resin so that the lower part can be seen through.

[0245] [4] Lower sieve members 44 for separating foreign matter from game balls are arranged in a front-to-back arrangement on the bottom plate 410 of the tank body 41, and a step 446 that is one step lower from the upstream side to the downstream side is provided between each adjacent lower sieve member 44 in the front-to-back direction.

[0246] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. For example, the arrangement and number of units 10 on the gaming machine island 1 are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and when the units are installed along the wall inside the gaming facility, the units 10 are arranged only on both sides, not back to back.

[0247] Furthermore, not only the frame members 113, top panel members 13, lower arrangement members 15, upper arrangement members 16, waist panel members 17, and header members 18 that constitute the unit 10 itself, but also the rails 20 and the like can be reused repeatedly. In addition, all of the components and equipment related to the unit 10 or the gaming machine island 1 of this embodiment, including the inter-machine members 60, connecting members 61, and fastening members 70 related to the structure of the gaming machine island 1, as well as the related equipment such as the storage tank 40, the pumping and polishing device 30, and the supply gutter 50, can also be reused repeatedly. [Industrial Applicability]

[0248] The polishing device according to the present invention can be widely applied as a device to be installed in gaming machine islands that include pachinko machines and pachislot machines as gaming machines. [Explanation of symbols]

[0249] 1...Amusement Machine Island 1A...Amusement machine island 1B...Amusement machine island 2...Amusement machines 2A...Pachinko machine 2B...Slot machine 3...Game board 4...Handle 5...Saucer 6...Ceiling decorative panel 7...Side wall decorative panel 8...Inter-machine service machine 8a...ball counter 9...Island accessory equipment 10...Unit 100…Supply device 101...Storage section 102...Replacement arrangement part 103...Amusement machine placement section 105...Stud member 106...Stud member 107...Stud bracket 11…Side plate 11a…Dovetail groove 110...Opening 111...Handle hole 112...Notch 113...Frame member 113a...concave groove 114...Fixed part 115...Angle part 12a...Engagement part 12b...Engagement part 121...Partition member (fixed) 122...Partition member (fixed) 125…Top end front member 126…Top end rear member 127...upper mounting member 128...Upper partition member 128a...Groove 13...Top plate material 130...Metal plate 131...Mounting bracket 132...Pressing bracket 133...Presser bar 15...Lower placement member 16...Upper placement member 17...Waist board member 170...Rotation axis 171...Lowestest placement member 172...Lowestest arranged member 18...Curtain board member 181...Mounting piece 182…Lower end piece 183a...Groove 19...Back plate 190…Movable back plate 20...Rail 200...Anchor bolt 21...Rail member 21a...Rail member 210…Bottom part 211…Fixing hole 212...Reinforcing plate 22...Base member 220... Fastening bolt 221...Engagement portion 221a...Through hole 222...Vertical wall part 222a…adjustment hole 223...Side wall 224...Nut 225…Bracket 226…Bracket 227...Plate 23...Slider 231...Top part 232…Leg wall part 233...recess 234...projection piece 24...Reinforcement bracket 240...Mounting bolt 241...Mounting surface 241a...Mounting piece 242...Mating flange 243...Mounting hole 244...Nut 25...Anchor 251...Support piece 252...Horizontal bar 253...Adjuster bolt 254...Stopper 30…Lift polishing device 31...Main body 310…Top part 311...Cassette stand 312...engaged portion 313...Shutter 314... Positioning member 32...Gear for grinding 32a...Large diameter part 32b…Reduced diameter part 32c…Thin diameter part 320...Casing 320a…Polishing window 321...guiding tooth 322...tooth groove 328...Connecting passage 33...polishing means 330...Abrasive material 331...Cassette 331a…One side wall 331b…Other side wall 332...Curved surface part 333...Guide groove 334...Guideway 335...Mounting shaft 336, 337...Engagement portion 338...Rib 34…Unloading route 340...Fixed bracket 341…Lower liftway 341a...Reinforced wall 342…Main unloading route 35...Drive means 350...electric motor 351...Drive gear 352...Driven gear 36...Control means 40...Storage tank 41...Tank body 41a...Stepped section 410…Bottom plate 411…Side plate 412...Front plate 413...Rear plate 414...Opening 415...Ball outlet 416...Mounting part 42...Attachment 421, 422...Fixing bracket 423,424…Pipe members 43...Upper gutter member 44...Lower sieve member 441...Introduction surface part 442…Foreign object drop area 443...projection 444...Partition board 445...Ball breaking bar 446...Step 447, 448...Engagement piece 45...Shutter 450…Slanted edge 50...Supply trough 51...Gutter body 510…Upstream upper half 511…Detection unit 512…Detection unit 513,514,515,516…Rib 517...Engagement claw 52...Route 52A...Supply Route 52B...Fall path 521...Partition wall 522...Partition wall 523…Ball exit 524…Ball exit 525…Ball exit 53…Acceptance Department 531...supply port 532...Guide section 54...Guide wall 540...Front edge 541...Notch 55...Support bracket 551...Bottom plate 552, 553...Flanges 554...Opening 555...Through hole 556...Mounting hole 557...Mounting groove 558...Mounting plate 559…Fixing tool 60...Inter-base member 601...Cover member 602...Cap member 61...Connecting member 62...Lower frame guide 63...Upper frame guide 70...Fastening member

Claims

[Claim 1] A grinding device for grinding game media collected from a game machine, The grinding gear holds the game medium in tooth grooves arranged in the circumferential direction and is rotatable around an axis, and a grinding member is arranged along the outer periphery of the grinding gear and is capable of grinding the game medium by contacting it, the polishing member is housed in a cassette, and the cassette is detachable from a main body on which the polishing gear is provided; a driving means provided on the main body and a driven means provided on the cassette, the driving means facing each other while holding the polishing member midway therebetween, in order to deliver the polishing member; the driven means is journalled to the cassette, and the driving means is journalled to the main body and can be driven by power, the cassette has a curved surface portion recessed in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the grinding gear at its front end side, and a guide groove formed in one side wall connected to one end of the curved surface portion and for drawing out the grinding member to the outside, the follower means is disposed on the other side wall connected to the other end of the curved surface portion, the polishing member is drawn out from the guide groove to one end side of the curved surface portion, and is sent out by the driving means and the driven means while moving along the outer periphery of the polishing gear, A polishing device characterized in that the used polishing member sent beyond the other end of the curved surface portion by the driving means and the driven means is discharged to the outside of the cassette through a slit-shaped guide path formed along the front end to the rear end of the other side wall for discharging the used polishing member.

Images