Mechanical Reel Basket and Sled Assembly for Precise Cabinet Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machine cabinets face challenges with heavy and cumbersome belly doors and difficult reel installation processes due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to inconsistent reel positioning and time-consuming assembly.
Innovation Solution
A basket system with a tapered slot and locking tab for mounting mechanical reels, combined with an adjustable sled for self-adjustment, facilitates easy and precise reel installation and consistent positioning relative to the cabinet frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If predrilled or preformed holes are used for mounting reel devices, then the installation process becomes simpler, but the installation becomes difficult and time consuming due to location constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting member incorporates adjustable positioning features that allow the reel device to be mounted at multiple positions along elongated slots, transforming a static fixed-hole mounting system into a dynamic adjustable system that accommodates tolerance variations without requiring time-consuming redrilling or repositioning
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing the mounting position parameters by sliding the reel device along the elongated slots on the mounting member, enabling adjustment of the reel device position to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and achieve proper alignment with the cabinet frame
2Manufacturing precision
If separate mounting of each mechanical reel device is performed, then individual positioning is possible, but manufacturing tolerances cause inconsistent reel positioning relative to windows
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple reel devices are mounted on a single integrated mounting member with interconnected elongated slots, merging the positioning function across multiple reels into one unified structure that ensures consistent spacing and alignment relative to the cabinet frame windows
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting member acts as an intermediary component between the reel devices and the cabinet frame, providing a reference structure with elongated slots that mediates the positioning of multiple reel devices to ensure they are all positioned at correct, consistent intervals relative to the windows
3Strength
If the belly door is made heavy duty for structural integrity, then the door is strong and durable, but it becomes difficult and cumbersome to open for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The gas cylinder acts as an intermediary mechanical advantage device between the heavy belly door and the user, providing upward force to counteract the door's weight and make opening and closing operations feasible despite the door's heavy construction
Solution Approach 2:
The gas cylinder provides a counterbalancing force that opposes the gravitational force on the heavy belly door, effectively reducing the net weight the user must overcome to open or close the door while maintaining the door's structural integrity
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.