Inter-machine

Abstract

To provide an interspace machine for game machines including a panel display, being attachable to either the left and right side of a game machine, and having excellent strength.SOLUTION: An interspace machine for game machines is formed by detachably attaching a display module comprising a display panel part. The display module comprises a metal display panel base integrally subjected to sheet metal processing and including a U-shaped attachment part straddlingly clamping a front end of a body chassis part from both sides thereof, and a panel holding part that extends from the attachment part toward an opposite side of the clamped body chassis part and to which the display panel is fixed, where the attachment part is detachably attached to a front end in a left / right reversible manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an under-stage machine for a gaming machine equipped with a panel display, and particularly to an under-stage machine that can be attached to either the left or right side of the gaming table.

Background Art

[0002] In pachinko machines and slot machines, an under-stage machine (sand device) that lends out gaming media such as pachinko balls and coins is installed between the gaming tables. In recent years, management gaming machines (smart pachinko) and medal-less gaming machines that conduct games while enclosing the gaming media inside without taking them out of the gaming table have been introduced. In the case of such gaming machines, since the under-stage machine itself does not handle gaming media internally, the under-stage machines for management gaming machines as pachinko machines and medal-less gaming machines as slot machines can be made common by simply swapping software. On the other hand, since the under-stage machine is installed on the left side of the gaming table for pachinko machines and on the right side of the gaming table for slot machines, it is designed to be attached to either the left or right side of the gaming table.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, as an under-stage machine that can be attached to either the left or right side of the gaming table, a panel display that displays information such as the number of payouts of gaming media and the number of acquired gaming media is made rotatable around a support shaft extending in the vertical direction so that it can be viewed from either the left or the right side of the under-stage machine. Here, the support shaft is arranged further forward in the housing so that a larger rotation angle can be achieved compared to the tiltable panel display used in conventional under-stage machines.

[0004] Also, in Patent Document 2, an under-stage machine is disclosed in which a base attachment portion to which a panel display is attached can be inserted and removed in either the upper or lower direction in a recess of the housing attachment portion. The panel display is tiltable with respect to the base attachment portion, and after attaching the base attachment portion to the recess of the housing attachment portion with the display surface of the panel display facing left or right, it can be further tilted and adjusted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-93221 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-93300 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In inter-machine gaming machines equipped with panel displays, the display panel is often angled and protrudes forward from the front of the casing to ensure a wider display area than the machine's width and to make it easily visible to players sitting to the side. Furthermore, in inter-machine gaming machines that do not handle gaming media internally and can be installed on either the left or right side of the gaming machine, there is no need to hold gaming media internally, so the width can be made even narrower, making the aforementioned protruding panel display structure even more desirable. On the other hand, the protruding panel display structure is prone to malfunction or damage due to impact forces from rough handling by players or accidental collisions after installation on the island equipment, so it is necessary to increase its strength.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its objective is to provide a machine-interlocking device for gaming machines that is equipped with a panel display and can be attached to either the left or right side of the gaming machine, while also being highly durable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The inter-machine machine according to the present invention is an inter-machine machine for a game machine in which a display module equipped with a display panel is detachably attached, and the display module includes a metal display panel base made of integral sheet metal having a U-shaped mounting portion that straddles and clamps the front end of the main chassis portion from both sides thereof, and a panel holding portion that extends toward the opposite side from the main chassis portion that is clamped from the mounting portion and to which the display panel portion is fixed, and the display panel base is characterized in that the mounting portion can be detachably attached to the front end in a left-right reversible manner.

[0009] These features make it possible to increase the strength of the display module, which is attached to the main chassis via a base member, particularly its resistance to outward impacts.

[0010] In the invention described above, the panel holding portion may be characterized by extending outward along the periphery of the display panel portion. Alternatively, the panel holding portion may be a plate-like body with a window portion formed therein, allowing the display surface of the display panel portion to be viewed through the window portion. Such features allow for protection of the display panel portion.

[0011] In the invention described above, the display panel portion may be characterized by being inclined so as to be located inward from the width of the mounting portion. This feature makes it possible to increase the strength around the display panel portion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a table-to-table machine in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a panel display module in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the main chassis section where the panel display module is installed. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the display panel. [Figure 5]This is a perspective view showing the display panel and mounting hooks attached to the display panel base. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] An inter-table machine as one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the inter-machine unit 1 is an inter-machine unit for gaming machines equipped with a display module 10, and includes a holder unit 2 fixed to the island equipment and a main unit 3 attached thereto. The holder unit 2 is equipped with a power supply unit 7 at its lowest point. The main unit 3, on the other hand, is equipped with a banknote identification device 4 at its upper part, and the display module 10 is mounted below it so as to protrude toward the front. The main unit 3 further incorporates a control device 5 on its lower side, and a card reader / writer 6 is mounted even lower down and attached to the holder unit 2 so as to be placed on top of the power supply unit 7. Note that the directions up, down, left, and right are defined when facing the inter-machine unit 1 installed on the island equipment, with the back of the island equipment being referred to as rear and the front as the front.

[0015] Here, the display module 10 is detachably attached to the main body 3 and can be installed in reverse (left / right or up / down). In other words, it is possible to choose between installing the display panel 11 facing left, as shown in Figure (a), or installing the display panel 11 facing right, as shown in Figure (b). The display panel 11 is installed at an angle such that the normal vector extending from the display surface is tilted forward from either the left or the right, so that it faces the player seated on either the left or right side of the inter-machine 1. For example, if the inter-machine 1 is installed on the right side of the gaming machine (player), the normal vector extending from the display surface is initially directed to the left, and then tilted forward. The display panel 11 is made of, for example, a liquid crystal display device and is integrated with a display panel control board 11a (see Figure 5) on its back. The display panel control board 11a operates, for example, based on signals from the control device 5 and can control the images displayed on the display panel 11.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the display module 10 comprises a case body 12 that provides the external design, a display panel 11 positioned to face outwards from inside the case body 12 through a window 12a, and a display panel base 13 that fixes and holds the display panel 11 inside the case body 12. The display panel base 13 is a metal component formed from a single sheet metal part and includes a panel holding part 13a to which the display panel 11 is fixed, a mounting part 13b that is attached to the main chassis part 30 (see Figure 3), and a case body fixing part 13c to which the case body 12 is attached. The display panel base 13 fixes the case body 12 to the case body 12 by screws 15 through through holes provided in the upper and lower case body fixing parts 13c, respectively. The display module 10 also has mounting hooks 14 extending towards the rear, located near the upper and lower screws 15, respectively. The mounting hook 14 has a wedge shape with a tapered tip when viewed from the left or right, and a tip portion 14a with a step at its base, and has bending elasticity in the vertical direction.

[0017] Furthermore, the mounting portion 13b has a tongue-like shape, extending backward from two locations on the left and right sides at the center of the vertical direction of the rear end of the display panel base 13. The normal to the main surface of the mounting portion 13b is oriented in the left-right direction. The tip (rear end) of the mounting portion 13b is positioned to align with the rear end of the case body 12 that covers the outside, and a screw insertion hole 16 is provided at its center in the vertical direction, which penetrates both the case body 12 and the mounting portion 13b for inserting a screw.

[0018] On the other hand, referring to Figure 3, the main chassis portion 30 has a cable insertion hole 32 at its front end portion 31 that opens towards the front, approximately in the vertical center of the position where the display module 10 is to be mounted. In addition, fastening holes 34 for inserting mounting hooks 14 are provided near the upper and lower ends of the same position. In other words, when attaching the display module 10 to the main body portion 3, the tip portion 14a of the mounting hook 14 is inserted into the fastening hole 34, and the elasticity of the mounting hook 14 locks the step of the tip portion 14a in place, preventing it from coming loose, and also allowing for temporary fastening and positioning of the display module 10.

[0019] At the front end portion 31 of the main body chassis portion 30, the left and right sides of the cable insertion hole 32 are flat plate-like bodies having a plane with the left-right direction as the normal line as the main surface, and the vicinity of the front end thereof is the display fixing portion 33. The left and right display fixing portions 33 each have a fastening hole 34 with a female screw penetrating in the left-right direction. After temporarily fixing the display module 10 to the main body chassis portion 30 as described above, a screw is inserted into the screw insertion hole 16 of the display module 10 and screwed into the fastening hole 34 to be fastened to the display fixing portion 33, whereby the display module 10 can be fixed to the main body chassis portion 30. At this time, the two attachment portions 13b of the display panel base 13 are located outside the main body chassis portion 30 and are fixed so as to sandwich the main body chassis portion 30 from both sides.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, in the display panel base 13, the panel holding portion 13a extends from the attachment portion 13b in a direction inclined toward the side opposite to the main body chassis portion 30, that is, forward. And the attachment portion 13b extends rearward from the position connecting one to the panel holding portion 13a and extends rearward through a connecting portion 13d that extends from the same position to the inclined side of the panel holding portion 13a in the left or right direction. That is, the two attachment portions 13b and the connecting portion 13d are arranged in a substantially U-shape in a top view, and the connecting portion 13d is arranged so as to overlap the panel holding portion 13a when the U-shape is projected forward. And, as described above, the two attachment portions 13b sandwich the main body chassis portion 30 from both sides. That is, the two attachment portions​​​As described above, since the mounting portion 13b has its screw insertion hole 16 at the vertical center, the mounting portion 13b can be detachably attached to the front end portion 31 in a left - right reversible manner. Also, by sandwiching the front end portion 31 of the main body chassis portion 30 from both its side portions by the integrally press - formed metal display panel base 13, the strength of the display module 10 attached to the main body chassis portion 30 via the display panel base 13 can be enhanced. In particular, even when an impact force is applied to the display module 10 from the outer side, it has a high impact strength in either case while being left - right reversible.

[0022] Referring also to FIG. 5, the display panel base 13 forms a window portion 13e that penetrates substantially the center of the plate - shaped panel holding portion 13a, and the back side of the display panel portion 11 is abutted and fixed to the peripheral portion around the window portion 13e. The display panel portion 11 is fixed so that the outer peripheral portion on its display surface side is covered by the frame - shaped cover body 21 and pressed against the panel holding portion 13a on the back side. The cover body 21 has a fixing portion 21a that extends outward in the vertical direction beyond the outer periphery of the display panel portion 11, and is fixed to the panel holding portion 13a by screws through through - holes provided in the fixing portion 21a. Thereby, the vicinity of the outer periphery of the display panel portion 11 is sandwiched between the cover body 21 and the panel holding portion 13a, and the display panel portion 11 is fixed to the display panel base 13.

[0023] That is, the panel holding portion 13a extends at least in the vertical direction so as to be able to screw - fasten the fixing portion 21a, and extends to the outside along the periphery of the display panel portion 11. Also, since the panel holding portion 13a needs to extend to the mounting portion 13b even at its rear, it extends to the outside of the display panel portion 11. Thus, by extending the panel holding portion 13a, which is a part of the integrally press - formed metal display panel base 13, to the outside along the periphery of the display panel portion 11, the rigidity of the panel holding portion 13a can be enhanced, and the strength around the display panel portion 11 can be enhanced.

[0024] Furthermore, the display panel section 11 is positioned at an angle so as to be located inward from the width determined by the distance between the two mounting sections 13b of the display panel base 13. This reduces unnecessary protrusions and, as a result, increases the strength around the display panel section 11.

[0025] In the example described above, the display panel 11 is positioned on the front side of the panel holder 13a and fixed from the front with the cover body 21. The entire display panel control board 11a on its rear side is viewed from the back side through the window 13e, and the window 13e is used as a relief hole for the display panel control board 11a. In other words, fixing the display panel 11 to the panel holder 13a does not require any load to be applied that would pinch the display panel control board 11a. Alternatively, the display panel 11 may be positioned on the back side of the panel holder 13a and fixed from the back with the cover body. In this case, the display surface of the display panel control board 11a can be viewed from the outside of the display module 10 through the window 13e. In either case, the cover body 21 or the panel holder 13a is positioned on the front side of the display panel 11, protecting the display panel 11.

[0026] With the above configuration, the display module 10 can be reversibly attached to the main body 3. In particular, the strength of the display module 10 can be increased by securing it by sandwiching it across the main body chassis 30 with the integrally processed sheet metal display panel base 13 as described above. In particular, even if a player unexpectedly impacts the display module 10 outwards, its strength can be maintained at a high level.

[0027] To remove the display module 10, first remove the main body 3 of the inter-machine unit 1 from the holder 2, and remove the screws in the screw insertion holes 16. Then, press the tip 14a of the mounting hook 14 from the back side in a direction that separates it from the fastening hole 34 to release the locking mechanism caused by the step, and the display module 10 can be pulled out from the main body 3. Also, when installing the display module 10 with the left and right sides swapped, it is advisable to rewrite the program in the control device 5 for use with pachinko machines and slot machines, as these have different ball rental prices, etc.

[0028] Although embodiments and modifications based thereon have been described, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these examples. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will be able to find various alternative embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the attached claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1 Machine between machines 2. Holder section 3. Main body 10 Display Module 11 Display Panel 12 Case Body 13 Display Panel Base 13b Mounting part 30 Main chassis section 31 Front edge

Claims

1. A machine-to-machine inter-machine device for gaming machines, comprising a display module equipped with a display panel, which is detachably attached to the machine, The display module includes a metal display panel base made from a single sheet metal, having a U-shaped mounting portion that straddles and clamps the front end of the main chassis portion from both sides, and a panel holding portion that extends from the mounting portion toward the opposite side of the main chassis portion that is clamped and to which the display panel portion is fixed. The display panel base is characterized in that the mounting portion can be detachably attached to the front end in a way that is reversible from left to right.

2. The inter-unit machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the panel holding portion extends outward along the periphery of the display panel portion.

3. The inter-unit machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the panel holding portion is a plate-like body with a window portion formed therein, so that the display surface of the display panel portion can be viewed through the window portion.

4. The inter-unit machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the display panel portion is inclined to be located inside the width of the mounting portion.

Images