Gaming Cabinet Belly Door Linkage for Counterbalanced Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machine cabinets face challenges with heavy and cumbersome belly doors that are difficult to open and close, and mechanical reel devices are challenging to install and align uniformly due to manufacturing tolerances and mounting issues.
Innovation Solution
A linkage mechanism for the door in a gaming machine cabinet, featuring an upright frame member, bracket, arm, and pin, allowing the door to move between closed, intermediate, and fully open positions, with a locking mechanism to prevent movement at the intermediate position, and a self-adjustable reel mounting sled for consistent reel alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a gas cylinder is used to reduce the force necessary to open and close the belly door, then the force required to operate the door is reduced, but the door remains heavy and cumbersome to open and close
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight mechanism is provided that includes a weight member and a linkage system. The weight member is positioned to balance the weight of the belly door, creating a counterbalancing force that offsets the door's weight. This allows the door to be easily opened and closed with minimal effort, as the counterweight compensates for the heavy mass of the door and its components.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanical reel devices are mounted using predrilled or preformed holes, then the mounting process is simplified, but the mechanical reels appear at different distances from the window due to manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
A sled mechanism is provided that allows the reel mounting assembly to move dynamically along a guide rail or track. The sled can be adjusted to different positions and locked in place, enabling fine-tuning of the reel alignment relative to the window. This dynamic adjustment capability compensates for manufacturing tolerances in the predrilled holes, ensuring that all mechanical reels appear at uniform distances from the window while maintaining the simplicity of preformed mounting holes.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine cabinet for a mechanical reel based gaming machine is provided. A plurality of reel devices, each including a mechanical reel and a basket, provides fast and easy installation of the mechanical reels in the gaming machine cabinet. The reel devices are mounted to a self-adjusting sled. The gaming machine cabinet includes a belly door that is coupled to the gaming machine cabinet and provides closed, intermediate, and fully open positions for the belly door.