Pivoting Reel Unit for Game Machine Space Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing game machines with special symbol display devices waste space due to their separate arrangement from the usual reels, limiting the types of games that can be played and making it difficult to efficiently utilize available space.
Innovation Solution
A symbol display device with a reel unit that includes multiple reels aligned with coincident or parallel rotational axes, a pivoting unit that allows the reels to be positioned for different game modes, and a pointer system to indicate lateral symbols, enabling multiple game types while optimizing space usage and facilitating easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a special symbol display device is arranged at a different position from the usual reels, then players can play multiple types of games including subsidiary games, but space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the special symbol display device with the usual reels into a single integrated reel unit. The reel supporting member incorporates both the lateral wall with lateral symbols and the peripheral surface with peripheral symbols, merging two previously separate display systems into one unified structure that serves multiple game functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated reel unit serves multiple functions: it can display peripheral symbols for normal slot games and lateral symbols for subsidiary games. The single reel unit replaces what were previously two separate devices, enabling the system to perform both standard slot machine operations and special subsidiary game operations within one unified component.
2Ease of repair
If the pivoting unit is located above the reel unit, then the reel unit can be easily disengaged and engaged for repair, but the pivoting unit must support the weight of the reel unit
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting unit is positioned vertically above the reel unit rather than horizontally adjacent to it. This vertical arrangement allows the reel unit to be easily accessed from the front for repair while distributing the weight support through the vertical pivot connection, optimizing both maintenance accessibility and structural load management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the reel unit is designed to pivot to multiple angular positions, then players can play different game types using different symbol displays, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The reel unit is designed with a pivoting mechanism that allows dynamic repositioning between different angular positions. The unit can rotate to orient either the lateral wall or the peripheral surface toward the player, enabling transition between different game modes. This dynamic capability allows a single static physical structure to serve multiple functional purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A symbol display device for a game machine includes a reel unit having a plurality of reels, each having a peripheral surface with a plurality of peripheral symbols. A reel supporting member that supports the reels rotatably and independently includes a lateral wall having a plurality of lateral symbols arranged around the rotational axis of the end reel, whereby any one of the lateral symbols is indicated by a pointer that rotates about the rotational axis of the end reel. A pivoting unit pivots the reel unit to a first angular position where the peripheral surfaces of the reels are observable and to a second angular position where the pointer and the lateral symbols on the lateral wall of the reel supporting member are observable. The pivoting unit is located above the reel unit.