Illumination device and gaming machine equipped with same

Abstract

To provide an illumination device capable of executing performances wider than ever before and enhancing an illumination effect in a game machine, and to provide a game machine equipped with the same.SOLUTION: An illumination device 10 is attached to a housing part 41 of a game machine 40 and includes an LED 21a for radiating light, a light guide plate 20, a rotary body 23, a plate-like member 24, a motor 31, a lower case 13, and a control part 44. A plurality of the light guide plates 20 are attached to the plate-like member 24. The light guide plate 20 includes an edge surface 20a on which light radiated from the LED 21a is made incident and a plane surface 20b for emitting the incident light. The plate-like member 24 supports the light guide plates 20. The motor 31 rotates the rotary body 23 in a desired direction. The lower case 13 in which the motor 31 is disposed, and to which the rotary body 23, etc. are connected in a relatively rotatable state is installed in the housing part 41 of the game machine 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an illumination device that is installed on the cabinet of a gaming machine in a gaming facility such as a casino, and to a gaming machine equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in gaming facilities such as casinos, illumination devices have been used that include a light guide plate that causes light emitted from a light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) to enter from an end surface, be reflected internally, and exit from another surface. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electric lighting device in which multiple light guide plates are arranged vertically at intervals from each other, and are tilted so that the rear is higher than the front and the light emitting surface faces the window, in order to provide a highly effective lighting effect to users positioned other than directly in front. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-140930 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-mentioned conventional illumination device has the following problems. In other words, the illumination device disclosed in the above publication has a configuration in which the light guide plate is fixedly positioned and the light from the light source is turned on / off, which has the problem that the illumination effect is uniform and it is difficult to make it distinctive. An object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device that enables a wider range of presentations and enhances illumination effects in a gaming machine than conventional devices, and a gaming machine equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The illumination device according to a first aspect of the present invention is an illumination device attached to the housing of a gaming machine, and includes a light source unit that irradiates light, a light guide plate, a holder, a rotation drive unit, a base unit, and a control unit. The light guide plate has an incident surface into which light irradiated from the light source unit is incident and an exit surface from which light incident from the incident surface is emitted. The holder holds the light source unit and the light guide plate. The rotation drive unit rotates the holder in a desired direction. The base unit is provided with a rotation drive unit, and the holder is connected to the base in a relatively rotatable state, and is attached to the housing of the gaming machine. The control unit controls the rotation of the holder by the rotation drive unit.

[0006] Here, for example, in an illumination device provided in the housing of a gaming machine such as a slot machine installed in an amusement facility such as a casino, a light guide plate is rotated so that light enters from a light source and exits from a predetermined exit surface. Here, the cabinet of the gaming machine on which the illumination device is installed is, for example, a frame on the front side of the gaming machine, and the illumination device is attached to both the left and right sides of the front side of the gaming machine, or to the upper end, etc.

[0007] The light source section is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or an LED substrate on which a plurality of light sources such as LEDs are arranged, and is disposed in a position facing the incident surface of the light guide plate. The holder that holds the light source unit and the light guide plates is, for example, a rotating member that is rotated by a rotation drive unit such as a motor while holding the light source unit and the plurality of light guide plates.

[0008] The rotation drive unit is, for example, a motor controlled by the control unit, and rotates the holder via a rotation shaft while holding the light source unit and the light guide plate. The base is, for example, a non-rotating member such as a case that houses a rotary drive unit such as a motor. The control unit controls, for example, the rotation speed, direction, and duration of rotation of the holding unit, and the rotation of a rotation drive unit such as a motor.

[0009] This allows the light guide plate to be rotated in the illumination device provided in the cabinet of the gaming machine, making it possible to produce a wider variety of effects than conventional illumination devices that include fixedly positioned light guide plates. As a result, the gaming machine can provide a wider range of effects than ever before, and can enhance the decorative illumination effect.

[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is the illumination device of the first aspect, wherein the light guide plate further has a first end face held by the holder, and the light source unit is disposed opposite the first end face and emits light incident on the first end face. This allows light to be incident on the light guide plate with the first end face held from the first end face, and by rotating the light guide plate, light can be emitted from the light guide plate that is erected to protrude from the holding portion, making it possible to create a wider range of effects than before and enhancing the decorative illumination effect.

[0011] The illumination device of the third invention is the illumination device of the first or second invention, further comprising a rotary connector provided between the holding part and the base part, which transmits power and electrical signals to the light source part held in the holding part which rotates by the rotary drive part. This allows power and electrical signals to be transmitted from the non-rotating side to the rotating side via the rotating connector while rotating the holding portion that holds the light guide plate or the like.

[0012] The illumination device of the fourth invention is an illumination device of any one of the first to third inventions, further comprising a bearing portion provided between the base portion and the holding portion, which allows the holding portion, to which the rotational driving force is transmitted from the rotational driving portion, to slide relative to the base portion. As a result, by providing a bearing portion between the base portion and the holding portion, the holding portion on the rotating side can be smoothly rotated relative to the base portion on the non-rotating side.

[0013] The illumination device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the illumination device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the holding portion holds a plurality of light guide plates and a plurality of light source portions along a substantially vertical direction. This allows a wide variety of effects to be produced on the side of the gaming machine's cabinet by rotating the multiple light guide plates and light source units held in the vertically elongated holding unit, for example, around a rotation axis arranged in an approximately vertical direction.

[0014] The illumination device of the sixth invention is an illumination device of any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the holding unit holds a plurality of light guide plates and a plurality of light source units along an outer peripheral surface centered on the rotation axis when rotated by the rotary drive unit. As a result, multiple light guide plates and light source units are held on the outer peripheral surface centered on the rotation axis of the holding unit, which further enhances the dramatic effect when rotated around the rotation axis.

[0015] A seventh aspect of the present invention is the illumination device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the holder has a plate-like member extending in a substantially vertical direction, and the plate-like member holds end faces of the plurality of light guide plates along the substantially vertical direction. As a result, the holding section is configured to include a plate-like member that holds multiple light guide plates and extends in an approximately vertical direction, so that the plate-like member to which the multiple light guide plates are attached can be rotated together with the rotating member to produce a wide variety of effects.

[0016] The illumination device of the eighth invention is the illumination device of the seventh invention, wherein the holding portion further has a rotating body having a plurality of plate-shaped members attached to its outer periphery and which rotates when a rotational driving force is transmitted from the rotational driving portion. This allows a rotating body having multiple plate-like members attached to its outer periphery to be rotated, thereby rotating the multiple light guide plates held by the plate-like members, thereby enabling a wide variety of effects to be produced.

[0017] The illumination device of the ninth invention is an illumination device of any one of the first to eighth inventions, further comprising an intermediate board provided in the holding section and electrically connecting the control section to the multiple light source sections. This allows an electrical signal from the control unit to be transmitted to each of the plurality of light source units via the relay board.

[0018] The illumination device of the tenth invention is an illumination device of any one of the first to ninth inventions, wherein the light guide plate further has a plurality of prisms that reflect light emitted from the light source unit to the incident surface in a predetermined direction. This allows the light guide plate to reflect light incident on the entrance surface by the prism and emit from the exit surface.

[0019] The illumination device of the 11th invention is an illumination device of any one of the first to tenth inventions, further comprising a connecting shaft that is connected to the rotation shaft of the rotation drive unit and engages with the connection part with the holding part in a state where it cannot rotate relative to the holding part, thereby transmitting the rotational drive force of the rotation drive unit to the holding part. Thus, by connecting the holding portion and the rotation drive portion via the connecting shaft, a rotation drive force can be transmitted to the holding portion, thereby driving it to rotate.

[0020] The illumination device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the illumination device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention, further comprising a cover member that covers the periphery of the holder and has optical transparency. This makes it possible to obtain a dramatic effect by the light emitted from the light guide plate and the rotation through a cover member molded from, for example, a light-transmitting resin.

[0021] The gaming machine of the thirteenth invention comprises an illumination device of any one of the first to twelfth inventions, a housing to which the illumination device is attached, a display unit that displays the game content, an operation unit into which the player inputs operation content, and a control unit that controls the rotation drive unit and light source unit of the illumination device. This allows a wider range of effects to be produced in a gaming machine having the above-mentioned illumination device attached to the cabinet, thereby enhancing the illumination effect.

[0022] A gaming machine according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit controls the rotation by the rotation drive unit in accordance with the gaming state of the gaming machine. Here, the gaming state of the gaming machine includes, for example, a state in which a slot machine is in a reach state, a state in which symbols displayed on stopped reels are aligned, a state in which a high probability mode is entered, and the like.

[0023] This allows a wide variety of effects to be performed to excite the player, such as rotating the light guide plate or changing the rotation speed depending on the state of the gaming machine, and gives the player a sense of exhilaration.

[0024] A gaming machine according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit controls at least one of the rotation speed, rotation direction, and rotation time of the holding unit. This allows the illumination device to perform a wider variety of effects than ever before, enhancing the illumination effect, by controlling to change at least one of the rotation speed, rotation direction, and rotation time of the holding part that holds the light guide plate.

[0025] The gaming machine of the 16th invention is a gaming machine of any one of the 13th to 15th inventions, wherein the control unit further controls at least one of the lighting pattern, lighting time, and lighting interval of the light from the light source unit. This allows for control to change at least one of the lighting pattern, lighting time, and lighting interval of the light from the light source unit that irradiates light onto the light guide plate, and in combination with the decorative lighting effect caused by the rotation of the holding unit that holds the light guide plate, it is possible to perform a wider variety of effects than before, thereby enhancing the decorative lighting effect. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] The illumination device according to the present invention enables a wider range of effects to be produced in a gaming machine than ever before, and enhances the illumination effect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1]1 is an overall perspective view showing the configuration of a gaming machine equipped with an illumination device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the gaming machine and the illumination device of FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an illumination device mounted on the gaming machine of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view showing the illumination device of FIG. 3 with a cover member removed. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing components constituting the illumination device of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the surrounding configuration of a cover member included in the illumination device of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a rotating member included in the illumination device of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a perspective view showing a plurality of light guide plates held by a plate-like member included in the rotating member in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a drive mechanism included in the illumination device of FIG. 3. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the drive mechanism and its surroundings in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] 10 is a perspective view showing the connection between the rotating member in FIG. 7 and the drive mechanism in FIG. 9. [Figure 12] An enlarged view of part A in Figure 11. [Figure 13] (a) is a front view showing the lower part of the rotating side, and (b) is a plan view showing the fitting groove on the rotating side as seen from the direction of the arrow in (a). [Figure 14] FIG. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of the rotating side of FIG. 7. [Figure 15] 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views taken along the line CC and DD in FIG. 14A and FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] An illumination device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention and a gaming machine 40 equipped with the same will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15(b). In the present embodiment, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of well-known matters or redundant explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following explanation and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the applicant provides the accompanying drawings and the following description to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present invention, and they are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0029] (1) Configuration of the gaming machine 40 As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 40 of this embodiment is a slot machine installed in a gaming facility such as a casino, and includes a cabinet unit 41, a display monitor (display unit) 42, an operation deck (operation unit) 43, a control unit 44 (see FIG. 2), and a memory unit 45 (see FIG. 2).

[0030] The cabinet 41 forms the outer shell of the gaming machine 40 and has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape oriented vertically. The cabinet 41 is provided with two display monitors 42 arranged vertically at a position corresponding to the eye level of the player playing the gaming machine 40 in front of the player. The cabinet 41 is also provided with an operation deck 43, on which the player performs operation inputs, below the display monitors 42 in a position directly in front of the player.

[0031] The display monitor 42 displays, for example, a plurality of reels that spin and stop in response to a player's operation, and a winning combination is determined by the combination of symbols displayed on the reels when the reels stop in response to a player's operation. As a result, the gaming machine 40 awards a prize according to the winning combination determined by the combination of symbols displayed on the stopped reels. In addition, in the gaming machine 40 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, illumination devices 10, which will be described later, are arranged on both the left and right sides of the display monitor 42 in the cabinet 41.

[0032] The reels may be displayed as images corresponding to the reels on a liquid crystal display screen or the like, or the reels themselves provided as rotating bodies may be arranged on the display monitor 42. The operation deck 43 is provided on the upper surface of a portion that protrudes toward the player at the bottom of the cabinet 41. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation deck 43 is provided with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 43a and push buttons 43b.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the operation deck 43 has an LCD 43a arranged from the center to the left side on the top surface, and a push button 43b arranged on the right side. The LCD 43a is, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device, and receives operation inputs from a player playing the gaming machine 40. In this embodiment, for example, an operation to specify the number of bets, an operation to rotate the reels, etc., from a player playing a slot machine are input to the LCD 43a.

[0034] The push button 43b is an example of a gaming machine operation button included in the operation deck 43 of the gaming machine 40, and is pressed by a player playing the slot machine, for example, to start the rotation of the reels displayed on the display monitor 42. 2, the control unit 44 is connected to the display monitor 42, the operation deck 43, the storage unit 45, and the illumination device 10, and controls the gaming machine 40 during play, and also controls the rotation of the motor 31 of the illumination device 10 and the lighting of the LED 21a according to the game status of the gaming machine 40. That is, the control unit 44 controls the gaming machine 40 and also controls the illumination device 10.

[0035] Here, the gaming state of the gaming machine 40 means, for example, a state in which the gaming machine is in a reach state when it is a slot machine, a state in which the symbols shown on the stopped reels are aligned, a state in which the gaming machine has entered a high probability mode, etc. This makes it possible to attract the player's interest and further improve the illumination effect by controlling the lighting pattern, lighting time, and lighting interval of the LEDs 21a that irradiate the light guide plate 20 in the illumination device 10 according to the game status of the gaming machine 40, as well as the rotation speed, rotation direction, rotation time, etc. of the rotating body 23 to which the plate-like member 24 that holds the light guide plate 20 is attached. As a result, it is possible to obtain effects such as improving the operating rate of the gaming machine 40 or improving the recognition rate of the cabinet 41 of the gaming machine 40.

[0036] The storage unit 45 stores a control program and the like for controlling the operation of the gaming machine 40. The CPU reads the control program stored in the storage unit 45 and controls the game content of the gaming machine 40. The storage unit 45 also stores a control program and the like for controlling the lighting pattern and lighting color for lighting the LED 21a of the illumination device 10, and for controlling the rotation of the motor 31.

[0037] (2) Configuration of the illumination device 10 1, the illumination device 10 according to this embodiment is provided in a cabinet 41 of a gaming machine 40, such as a slot machine, installed in a gaming facility such as a casino. More specifically, the illumination device 10 is provided on both the left and right sides of the front of the gaming machine 40 as viewed from a player. The illumination device 10 rotates a plurality of light guide plates 20, which receive light from LEDs (light source units) 21a through incident surfaces (end surfaces 20a) and emit light from predetermined planes (exit surfaces) 20b. As shown in Figure 3, the illumination device 10, from an external perspective, comprises a cover member 11, an upper lid 12, a lower case (base) 13, a support portion 14, a back member 15 (see Figure 6), a support portion 16, a rotating member (such as a light guide plate 20) (see Figure 4), and a drive mechanism 30.

[0038] The cover member 11 is molded from a light-transmitting resin such as PC (polycarbonate), and is attached to the player side of the gaming machine 40 while playing. As shown in Fig. 4, the cover member 11 protects the multiple light guide plates 20 and other components that rotate inside. Furthermore, because the cover member 11 is molded from a light-transmitting resin, the effects produced by the light emitted by the light guide plates 20 can be seen from the outside. The top lid 12 is attached so as to cover the top of the cover member 11. As shown in Fig. 5, the top lid 12 is fixed to the top surface of the support part 14 using four screws 12a. As shown in Fig. 5, the lower case 13 is a non-rotating member attached to cover the lower part of the cover member 11, and contains a drive mechanism 30 such as a motor (rotation drive unit) 31. As shown in Fig. 5, the lower case 13 is fixed to the lower end surface of a support unit 16 attached to the lower end of the cover member 11 using three screws 13a. In addition, a rotor (holding unit) 23 (described later) is connected to the lower case 13 in a relatively rotatable state, and the lower case 13 is installed in a cabinet unit 41 of a gaming machine 40.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 4, the support part 14 is provided between the upper end portion of the cover member 11 and the upper lid 12. As shown in Fig. 5, the support part 14 rotatably supports the upper end portion of the rotating member (rotating body 23) by means of an internally contained ring-shaped pivot support part 14b, and is fixed to the upper end surface of the back member 15 by means of a plurality of screws 14a. 6, the back member 15 is, for example, a black plate-like member arranged on the back side of the illumination device 10, and forms the surface that is attached to the cabinet 41 of the gaming machine 40. The back member 15 is fixed to the cover member 11 by a plurality of screws 15a.

[0040] 5, the support part 16 is attached to the lower end part of the cover member 11. The support part 16 rotatably supports the lower end part of the rotating member (rotating body 23) by means of an internally contained ring-shaped pivot support part 16b, and is fixed to the lower end surface of the back member 15 by means of a plurality of screws 16a. As shown in FIG. 7, the rotating side member is configured to include a plurality of light guide plates 20, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) substrate 21, a rotating body (holding portion) 23, a plate-shaped member (holding portion) 24, a flange portion 25a, a cylindrical portion 25c, an upper end member 25e, a lower end member 26, a relay substrate 27, a flange case 28, and a bearing portion 29.

[0041] The light guide plate 20 is a plate-like member molded from a transparent resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, cycloolefin polymer, or acrylic resin. The light guide plate 20 has an end face (incident face, first end face) 20a into which light emitted from the LEDs 21a enters, and a flat face (exit face) 20b from which the light incident from the end face 20a exits. The light guide plate 20 diffuses the light incident from the end face 20a and emits it from the flat face 20b, thereby emitting substantially uniform light from the flat face 20b.

[0042] 8, the light guide plate 20 is fixed in a state where it is inserted into a fixing groove 24b formed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body 24a of the plate-shaped member 24. The LED substrate 21 is attached to the rear surface of the plate-shaped member 24 opposite to the surface on which the light guide plate 20 is attached, with the LEDs 21a arranged at positions facing the light guide plates 20. This allows each LED 21a of the LED substrate 21 to direct light to the end surface 20a of the light guide plate 20 arranged in front of it.

[0043] Furthermore, a plurality of prisms 20c are formed on almost the entire surface of the inner surface opposite to the flat surface 20b that functions as the exit surface of the light guide plate 20. The prisms 20c reflect light that has entered the inside of the light guide plate 20 from the end surface 20a, and emit the light from the exit surface (flat surface 20b) (see FIG. 15(a)). The LED (Light Emitting Diode) substrate (light source unit) 21 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body 23, with multiple LEDs 21a arranged along the longitudinal direction of a long tape-shaped member. More specifically, the LED substrate 21 is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body 23 and the back side of the main body 24a of the plate-shaped member 24, as shown in FIG.

[0044] The LED board 21 is connected to a control unit 44 (see FIG. 2) in the gaming machine 40, and the control unit 44 controls the lighting timing, lighting color, lighting duration, etc. of the LEDs 21a. Of the plurality of LEDs 21a, a specific LED 21a (see FIG. 15(a) and the like) is disposed at a position facing the end face 20a of the light guide plate 20, and irradiates light toward the end face 20a.

[0045] The rotating body (holding portion) 23 is a substantially hexagonal prism-shaped member, and rotates by receiving a rotational driving force from a motor 31 included in the drive mechanism 30. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7 and other figures, plate-like members 24 are attached to the outer peripheral surfaces (six faces) of the rotating body 23, respectively, and each plate-like member 24 holds a plurality of light guide plates 20 in a substantially vertical direction. Further, a fitting groove 23a (see FIG. 13(b)) for connection to the drive mechanism 30 side (connecting shaft 37) described later is formed at the lower end of the rotating body 23. The connection between the rotating side member and the drive mechanism 30 side will be described in detail later.

[0046] The plate-like member (holding portion) 24 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 23, and as shown in FIG. 8, has a main body portion 24a and a fixing groove 24b. As shown in FIG. 7, the main body 24a is a long plate material, and has a plurality of light guide plates 20 attached to its front surface, and is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the rotor 23 on its rear surface. As shown in FIG. 8, the fixing groove 24b is formed on the surface side of the main body portion 24a at an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 24a.

[0047] In this embodiment, in order to enhance the light production effect of the light guide plate 20, eight fixing grooves 24b are provided on the main body 24a, four of which in the upper half are formed to slope upward to the right, and four of which in the lower half are formed to slope downward to the right. 7, flange portion 25a forms the upper end portion of the rotating member, and is attached to the upper end of rotating body 23 via cylindrical portion 25c and upper end member 25e. When a rotational driving force is transmitted from drive mechanism 30 to rotating body 23, flange portion 25a rotates together with rotating body 23 and the like while being supported by the above-mentioned pivot support portion 14b (see FIG. 6).

[0048] 7, the cylindrical portion 25c is a substantially cylindrical member, and the flange portion 25a is attached to the outer periphery thereof in a state where the flange portion 25a cannot rotate relative to the cylindrical portion 25c. The cylindrical portion 25c is fixed to the upper surface of the upper end member 25e using the screws 25b. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper end member 25e is a member that is attached to the upper end of the rotating body 23, and is fixed to the upper end of the rotating body 23 using screws 25d.

[0049] The lower end member 26 is a member that is attached to the lower end of the rotating body 23, and is fixed to the lower end of the rotating body 23 using a screw 26a. The relay board 27 is a board provided as a member on the rotating side, and electrically connects the control unit 44 (see FIG. 2) to the plurality of LED boards 21, and relays the transmission and reception of signals and the supply of power from the control unit 44 to the LED boards 21. This allows the control unit 44 to perform separate control for each of the plurality of LED boards 21, such as causing the plurality of LED boards 21 to emit light of different colors. The relay board 27 is fixed to the lower end surface of the lower end member 26 using screws 27a, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 7, the flange case 28 is a substantially hexagonal cylindrical member that houses the relay board 27, the lower end member 26, etc., and constitutes the lower end portion of the rotating member. 7, bearing portion 29 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of flange case 28, and is provided at a position where it abuts against a non-rotating member in an installed state (see FIG. 10). Bearing portion 29 causes a rotating member (rotating body 23, etc.) to which a rotational driving force is transmitted from motor 31 of drive mechanism 30 to slide and rotate relative to a non-rotating member (lower case 13, drive mechanism 30, etc.).

[0051] As shown in FIG. 9, the drive mechanism 30 includes a motor (rotation drive unit) 31, a bracket 32, a coupling 34, a slip ring (rotation connector) 35, an upper case 36, a connecting shaft 37, and a harness 38. The motor 31 is connected to a control unit 44 (see FIG. 2) in the gaming machine 40, and the control unit 44 controls the rotation speed, rotation direction, rotation timing, rotation time, etc. of the rotating members including the light guide plate 20, etc. As shown in FIG. 9, the motor 31 is fixed to the underside of the bracket 32 ​​using screws 33. Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the motor 31 has a rotation shaft 31a, and by rotating the rotation shaft 31a, a rotational driving force is transmitted to the above-mentioned rotating members.

[0052] 9, bracket 32 ​​is a plate-like member bent into a substantially U-shape, with motor 31 attached to its lower surface and coupling 34 and other components attached to its upper surface. Bracket 32 ​​is also fixed to the lower surface of upper case 36 using screws 32a. As shown in FIG. 10, the coupling 34 connects the rotary shaft 31 a of the motor 31 to a connecting shaft 37 , and transmits the rotational driving force of the motor 31 to the connecting shaft 37 .

[0053] 9, the slip ring (rotary connector) 35 is fixed to the underside of the upper case 36 using screws 35a. The slip ring 35 is provided as a non-rotating member, and transmits power and electrical signals to the LED board 21 held by a rotating member (rotating body 23, plate-like member 24, etc.) that is rotated by the motor 31. As shown in Fig. 9, upper case 36 is a housing that forms the upper part of drive mechanism 30, and the lower end portions of the rotating-side members (rotating body 23, plate-like member 24, etc.) are attached to the upper surface side of upper case 36 as shown in Fig. 11. More specifically, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, flange case 28 and bearing portion 29 that form the lower part of the rotating-side members are attached so as to be inserted into upper case 36.

[0054] 11 and 12, the connecting shaft 37 is attached so as to be exposed on the upper surface side of the upper case 36, and transmits the rotational driving force of the motor 31 to the rotating members (rotating body 23, etc.). As shown in FIG. 10, the connecting shaft 37 has its lower end held by the coupling 34 and its upper end forming a substantially T-shaped locking portion 37a. The locking portion 37a is a portion that protrudes approximately perpendicular to the axial direction of the connecting shaft 37, and fits into a fitting groove 23a formed in the lower end surface of the rotating body 23, as shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b).

[0055] As a result, the rotational driving force of the motor 31 is transmitted from the rotating shaft 31a to the connecting shaft 37 via the coupling 34. Furthermore, the locking portion 37a of the connecting shaft 37 is fitted into the fitting groove 23a of the rotating body 23, so that the rotational driving force transmitted to the connecting shaft 37 is transmitted to the rotating body 23. 9, the harness 38 is provided as a rotating-side member, and electrically connects the non-rotating-side slip ring 35 and the rotating-side relay board 27. In this case, even when the relay board 27 and the harness 38 rotate as rotating-side members, power, control signals, and the like are transmitted via the slip ring 35.

[0056] As described above, the illumination device 10 of this embodiment is attached to the housing 41 of the gaming machine 40 and includes the LEDs 21a that emit light, the light guide plate 20, the rotating body 23, the plate-shaped member 24, the motor 31, the lower case 13, and the control unit 44. As shown in FIG. 14 , a plurality of light guide plates 20 are attached to the plate-shaped member 24 in a substantially vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 15( a) and 15(b), the light guide plate 20 has an end surface 20a onto which light irradiated from the LEDs 21a enters and a flat surface 20b from which the light incident from the end surface 20a exits. The rotating body 23 and the plate-shaped member 24 hold the LED substrate 21 and the light guide plate 20. The motor 31 rotates the rotating body 23 and the plate-shaped member 24 in a desired direction. The lower case 13 is provided with a motor 31, and is connected to the rotating body 23 and the plate-like member 24 in a relatively rotatable state, and is installed in the cabinet 41 of the gaming machine 40. The control unit 44 controls the rotation of the rotating body 23 and the plate-like member 24 by the motor 31.

[0057] This allows the light guide plate 20 to rotate in the illumination device 10 provided in the housing 41 of the gaming machine 40, making it possible to produce a wider variety of effects than with conventional illumination devices that include a fixedly positioned light guide plate. As a result, the gaming machine 40 can provide a wider range of effects than ever before, and can enhance the decorative illumination effect.

[0058] 15(a) and 15(b), in the illumination device 10 of this embodiment, a plurality of light guide plates 20 are provided along a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotating plate-like member 24, and are held at their end faces 20a by the plate-like member 24. LEDs 21a are arranged at positions facing the end faces 20a. This allows light to enter from the end faces 20a of the plurality of light guide plates 20 attached in an upright state to the plate-like member 24 and exit from the flat surfaces 20b, thereby further improving the decorative illumination effect.

[0059] In particular, in this embodiment, multiple light guide plates 20 are attached so as to be diagonal to the longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped member 24, so that when the rotating member is rotated by the motor 31, the light presentation effect of the light guide plates 20 is improved, and a wide variety of presentations can be produced.

[0060] [Other embodiments] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. (A) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the control unit 44 is provided inside the gaming machine 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a control unit that controls the rotation and / or lighting of the illumination device may be provided within the illumination device, separate from the control unit that controls the gaming machine.

[0061] (B) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the illumination devices 10 are attached to both the left and right sides of the cabinet 41 of the gaming machine 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the gaming machine may be configured such that only one illumination device is provided for the cabinet portion. Furthermore, the arrangement of the illumination device is not limited to both the left and right sides of the housing, but may be, for example, on the upper side of the housing, the lower side, or only on one of the left and right sides of the housing.

[0062] (C) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the control unit 44 is provided in the gaming machine 40, and the control unit 44 controls the rotation and / or lighting of the illumination device 10 in conjunction with the game status of the gaming machine 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the illumination device may be controlled without being linked to the game content of the gaming machine.

[0063] (D) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which light from the LED 21a is incident on the end surface 20a of the light guide plate 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the incident surface of the light guide plate is not limited to an end surface, but may be a large flat surface. Furthermore, the light exit surface of the light guide plate is not limited to a large flat surface, but may be an edge surface.

[0064] (E) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the plurality of light guide plates 20 are arranged along a substantially vertical direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be possible in which a plurality of light guide plates are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction or in a direction oblique to the horizontal direction.

[0065] (F) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a plurality of light guide plates 20 are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 23 while being held by elongated plate-like members 24 arranged substantially vertically. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of light guide plates are held directly on a rotating body.

[0066] (G) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the holder (the rotator 23 and the plate-like member 24) to which the plurality of light guide plates 20 are attached is rotated in a substantially vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of light guide plates held by the holder may be one, rather than a plurality.

[0067] (H) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the plate-like member 24 holding the plurality of light guide plates 20 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the substantially hexagonal prism-shaped rotor 23. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shape of the rotating body to which the plate-like member holding the light guide plate is attached is not limited to a substantially hexagonal prism, but may be another shape such as a substantially quadrangular prism or a substantially octagonal prism.

[0068] (I) In the above embodiment, the fixing grooves 24b are formed so that the upper half (four grooves) of the main body 24a are formed to slope upward to the right, and the lower half (four grooves) are formed to slope downward to the right. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the arrangement, orientation, number, etc. of the fixing grooves for holding the light guide plate are not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and other arrangements, orientations, etc. may be used. [Industrial Applicability]

[0069] The illumination device of the present invention has the effect of enabling a wider range of presentations and enhancing the illumination effect in gaming machines than conventional devices, and therefore can be widely applied as an illumination device for various gaming machines installed in gaming facilities such as casinos. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10. Lighting Device 11 Cover member 12 Top lid 12a screw 13 Lower case (base) 13a screw 14 Support part 14a screw 14b Axial support 15 Back member 15a screw 16 Support part 16a screw 16b Axial support 20 Light guide plate 20a End surface (incident surface, first end surface) 20b plane (output surface) 20c Prism 21 LED board (light source) 21a LED (light source) 23 Rotating body (holding part) 23a Fitting groove 24 Plate-shaped member (holding portion) 24a Main body 24b Fixed groove 25a flange 25b screw 25c cylindrical part 25d screw 25e Upper end member 26 Lower end member 26a screw 27 Relay board 27a Screw 28 Flange case 29 Bearing 30 Drive mechanism 31 Motor (rotation drive unit) 31a Rotation axis 32 Bracket 32a screw 33 screws 34 Coupling 35 Slip ring (rotating connector) 35a screw 36 Upper case 37 Connecting shaft 37a Locking part 38 Harness 40 Gaming Machines 41 Housing 42 Display monitor (display unit) 43 Operation Deck 43a LCD (operation unit) 43b Push button (operation part) 44 Control Unit 45 Storage section

Claims

1. An illumination device attached to the housing of a gaming machine, a light source unit that irradiates light; a light guide plate having an incident surface onto which light emitted from the light source unit is incident and an exit surface from which the light incident from the incident surface exits; a holder that holds the light source unit and the light guide plate; a rotation drive unit that rotates the holding unit in a desired direction; a base portion to which the rotation drive portion is provided, the holding portion is connected in a relatively rotatable state, and the base portion is attached to a cabinet portion of the gaming machine; Equipped with the holding portion holds the plurality of light guide plates and the plurality of light source portions along a substantially vertical direction, The plurality of light guide plates are held by the holding portion at an angle with respect to the vertical direction. Electrical equipment.

2. the light guide plate further has a first end surface held by the holding portion, the light source unit is disposed opposite to the first end surface and emits light incident on the first end surface; The illumination device according to claim 1 .

3. The light source unit may further include a rotary connector that is provided between the holder and the base and transmits power and electrical signals to the light source unit held in the holder that is rotated by the rotary drive unit. The illumination device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The rotary drive unit further includes a bearing unit provided between the base unit and the holding unit, and causing the holding unit to slide relative to the base unit when a rotational driving force is transmitted from the rotational driving unit. The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the holding unit holds the plurality of light guide plates and the plurality of light source units along an outer circumferential surface about a rotation axis when rotated by the rotation drive unit. The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the holding portion has a plate-like member extending in a substantially vertical direction, the plate-like member holds end surfaces of the plurality of light guide plates along a substantially vertical direction; The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. the holding unit further includes a rotating body having a plurality of the plate-like members attached to its outer periphery and rotating when a rotational driving force is transmitted from the rotation driving unit. The illumination device according to claim 6.

8. The light source unit further includes a relay substrate that is provided on the holding portion and electrically connects the plurality of light source units. The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The light guide plate further includes a plurality of prisms that reflect the light emitted from the light source unit to the incident surface in a predetermined direction. The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The rotary drive unit further includes a connecting shaft that is connected to the rotary shaft of the rotary drive unit and is fitted into a connection portion with the holding unit in a state where the connection portion is non-rotatable relative to the holding unit, thereby transmitting the rotary drive force of the rotary drive unit to the holding unit. The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The device further includes a cover member that covers the periphery of the holding portion and has optical transparency. The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 11; a housing to which the illumination device is attached; A display unit that displays the details of the game; an operation unit into which operation details are input by a player; a control unit that controls the rotation drive unit and the light source unit of the illumination device; A gaming machine equipped with:

13. the control unit controls the rotation by the rotation drive unit in accordance with the gaming state of the gaming machine. The gaming machine according to claim 12.

14. The control unit controls at least one of a rotation speed, a rotation direction, and a rotation time of the holding unit.

14. The gaming machine according to claim 12 or 13.

15. The control unit further controls at least one of a lighting pattern, a lighting time, and a lighting interval of the light from the light source unit.

15. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

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