A REEL DRIVING DEVICE FOR USE IN THE SLOT MACHINE

Abstract: This invention is a reel driving device which comprises a drive disk having a drive shaft fixing boss for prohibiting the drive shaft from idling, and impact mitigating bosses for mitigating an impact force exerted by the motor, provided therein opposed to each other with respect to the drive shaft fixing boss; a reel having holes for receiving the drive shaft fixing boss and the impact mitigating bosses provided at corresponding positions thereof; and reel fixing means for prohibiting the reel from moving along the drive shaft.

Description: This invention relates to a driving device for use in a slot machine in which a support member for supporting circumferentially spaced symbols is driven by a pulse motor or the like according to the preamble of claim 1. In a conventional slot machine, rotation of reels supporting circumferentially spaced symbols is started by a rotating force caused by an impact force mechanically given by a lever operation and is caused to stop by locking a paw preset for each symbol of each reel by pushing, e.g. a stop button. For judging a combination of symbols, the symbols of each reel has different signal grooves, and when the reels are stopped, a combination of symbols are judged based on their signal grooves. But the conventional mechanically driven slot machine has a number of mechanical parts, which makes its structure complicated with the result that costs are high and it is difficult to retain precision in fabricating them. In view of such problems, recently a slot machine which is driven by the pulse motor has been used. In such a slot machine, a signal for actuating the pulse motors of respective reels is generated by a lever operation to cause the pulse motors to rotate the reels, and the reels are stopped based on a signal for stopping the respective pulse motors generated by pushing a stop button. Symbols of the respective reels are judged by counting driving pulses supplied to the respective pulse motors and judging a combination of the counted signals by a microcomputer (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7268/1988, Japanese Utility Model Laid Open Publication No. 115566/1982 and U.S. Patent No. 4410178). Compared with the conventional mechanically driven slot machine, such pulse motor driven slot machine, in which the counted signal of the driving pulses is processed by a microcomputer to judge the symbols of the respective reels, has lower costs, lower possibility of abrasion and a drastically improved structure. But, the pulse motor, which has a small torque with respect to a load of the reel accelerates the rotation of the reel considerably less compared with the mechanical drive that the rotation of the reel is not regular and has low acceleration. This results in a problem of poorer images compared with the mechanically driven slot machine. Another problem with the pulse motor driven slot machine is that when the input of pulses to a pulse motor driving circuit is stopped to stop the pulse motor abruptly, the reel deviates at its stop position due to its inertia. In view of the above described problems this invention aims at providing a driving device for use in the slot machine for driving a reel by a pulse motor, whereby the reel may be driven with high acceleration and regularly, and deviates less when the reel is abruptly stopped. US-A-4410178 referred to above discloses a reel unit for a gaming machine in which an end of a drive shaft is provided with radially extending pins provided with resilient O-rings which fit within recesses in a boss of a reel to provide a degree of cushioning during torque transmission. DE-B2-28 38 339 discloses a driving device for use in a slot machine comprising: a drive member having a drive shaft fixing boss extending from one side of the drive member for receiving a drive shaft of a motor and fixing the shaft for rotation therewith, a support member for supporting circumferentially spaced symbols, and a drive coupling between said drive member and said support member comprising impact mitigating means disposed about said drive shaft fixing boss for mitigating an impact force of said motor, said support member having receiving means for receiving said impact mitigating means. In DE-B2-28 38 339, the above-mentioned impact mitigating means comprises two diametrically opposed rubber segments running concentrically with respect to the shaft, each segment having one end engaged in a respective hole on the support member and the other end abutting a respective arm on the drive member. The present invention provides a driving device as defined in the preamble of claim 1 characterised in that said impact mitigating means are provided on said drive member and comprise boss members extending from said one side of the drive member, which boss members are made of an elastic material, and said support member comprises a reel having a hole for receiving said drive shaft fixing boss. The invention also includes an assembly comprising a driving device as provided by the invention, wherein the drive shaft fixing boss and said impact mitigating means are received in the hole and receiving means therefor, and a shaft of a motor received in said drive shaft fixing boss and fixed for rotation therewith. The invention enables the inertia force of the reel generated in its operation is absorbed by the interaction among the drive member having the drive shaft fixing boss and the impact mitigating means, and the reel. Consequently the inertia force of the reel generated in an operation of the reel is absorbed, and the reel deviates less when suddenly stopped. The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not to be considered as limiting the present invention. Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. In the drawings : Fig. 1 is a broken perspective view of an assembly comprising a reel driving device; a reel and a drive shaft for use in a slot machine; Fig. 2 is a broken respective view of another such assembly; Fig 3A is a perspective view of a drive disk of the assembly of Fig 1; Figs. 3B-3F are views of different modifications to the drive disk of Fig 3A; and Fig 3G shows an alternative means for fixing the reel axially with respect to the drive shaft to that shown in Figs 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a broken perspective view including a reel driving device for use in a slot machine. A drive shaft 1 of a motor has a flat surface (A) formed axially on the end portion thereof and a circumferential groove (B) formed in the tip of the end portion. Accordingly the section of the drive shaft of the motor contains a chord and an arc. This embodiment basically comprises a drive disk 2, reel 3 and reel fixing means. Each element will be explained one by one. In drive disk 2 there are provided a drive shaft fixing boss 2a which receives the drive shaft 1 of the motor, and impact mitigating means 2b,2b, which mitigate the impact force generated when the motor is actuated and is suddenly stopped. The shaft fixing boss 2a is constructed so as to receive the drive shaft 1 of the motor and enables the drive shaft 1 to transmit the drive force of the motor to a reel disk without idling in the boss. That is the boss fixes the shaft received therein for rotation with the boss The impact mitigating means comprise boss members 2b₁,2b₁ arranged symmetrically to the drive shaft fixing boss and extend from the same side of the drive disk as the boss 2a. In this embodiment each boss member comprises a cylindrical member 2b1 made of an elastic material. In this embodiment the two cylindrical members 2b1 are arranged symmetrically. The number of the cylindrical members 2b1, and the distance between the drive shaft fixing boss and the respective impact mitigating means are variable depending on a generated impact force. The section of the cylindrical impact mitigating boss members is not limited to circular but may be, e.g., polygonal or elliptical. Furthermore, instead of being cylindrical, these boss members may be conical, e.g the may comprise circular conical, polygonal conical or elliptical conical members. In the case where each impact mitigating boss member is an elliptical conical member, the boss members are so arranged that the major axes of their cross-sections extend in the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the disk. This arrangement is effective to absorb the impact force. The reel 3 has a first boss hole 3a for receiving the drive shaft fixing boss 2a, and second holes 3b,3b for receiving the impact mitigating boss means formed therein so as to receive the drive force from the drive disk 2. The first boss hole 3a is for aligning the drive shaft 1 of the motor and the rotary axis of the reel 3. The second holes 3b,3b are for transmitting the drive force to the reel 3 and mitigating the impact force. Accordingly, it is preferable that the impact mitigating boss members 2b₁,2b₁ are inserted in the second holes 3b,3b without play therein. Instead of forming the second boss holes 3b,3b, which hold the impact mitigating boss members 2b₁,2b₁ reinforcing ribs 3c,3c for reinforcing the reel 3 may be provided at an interval such that the boss members are held between the reinforcing ribs 3c,3c. In this case, the extra second holes 3b,3b do not have to be provided, which can simplify the fabrication of the reel 3 and improve the strength of the reel 3. The reel fixing means comprise a washer 4 and an E ring 5. A washer 4 whose outer diameter is bigger than the inner diameter of the first boss hole 3a, and whose the inner diameter is bigger than the outer diameter of the drive shaft 1, is used. Next, assembly of the drive disk 2, the reel 3 and the reel fixing means will be explained. The reel 3 is assembled by mounting the drive disk 2 on the drive shaft 1, then inserting the drive shaft fixing boss 2a and the impact mitigating means of the drive disk 2 in the first boss hole 3a and the second holes 3b,3b, of the reel 3, and inserting the drive shaft 1 into a washer 4. Finally an E ring 5 is engaged in the groove in the drive shaft 1 so as to prohibit axial displacement of the reel 3. Circumferential displacement of the reel 3 is prohibited by the drive shaft 1 being inserted in the drive shaft fixing boss 2a, and the axial displacement of the reel 3 is prohibited by the drive shaft 1 being inserted in the washer 4. Next, operation of this embodiment will be explained. The drive force of the motor is transmitted from the drive shaft 1 to the drive shaft fixing boss 2a of the drive disk 2 and is transmitted from the impact mitigating means to the second holes 3b,3b of the reel 3. Accordingly, an impact force generated when the motor is driven elastically deforms the cylindrical members 2b1 of the drive disk 2, so that an inertia force of the reel 3 generated when the reel 3 is actuated is absorbed. An impact force generated when the motor is abruptly stopped is transmitted to the cylindrical members 2b₁ and deforms these members so that the deviation of the reel 3 is lessened when the reel 3 is stopped. Fig. 2 is a broken perspective view including the reel driving device for use in the slot machine according to another embodiment of this invention. This embodiment basically comprises a drive disk 2, a reel 3 and reel fixing means. The embodiment differs from the embodiment of Fig. 1 in that two further impact mitigating means comprising boss members 2b2,2b2 are provided equidistantly from the respective cylindrical members 2b1,2b1. The boss members 2b2,2b2 are illustrated as being cylindrical but are preferably conical tapered toward the tip thereof. The shape and position of such conical members 2b2,2b2 are variable, depending on the impact force resulting from the inertia force of the reel 3. The second boss holes 3b,3b which receive the conical members 2b2,2b2 are so arranged that only the tip portions of the conical members 2b2,2b2 are received therein. Accordingly the flexibility of the constituent members can be fully exerted. Whilst the above proposes the use of both cylindrical members 2b1,2b1 and conical members 2b2,2b2, conical members 2b2,2b2 alone may be used. The other constituent members and their operation are the same as in the former embodiment, and their description is omitted. The shape of the forward end portion of the drive shaft 1 of the motor is not limited to the shape of the embodiments (comprising an arc and a chord) but may be a polygon, such as a square or a hexagon, or an ellipse. The number and the pitch of the impact mitigating means of the drive disk 2, and the distance between the center of the drive disk and the respective impact mitigating boss members 2b are variable, depending on an impact force to be mitigated. Generally a suitable value is determined, based on experimental and empirical data. Figs 3B to 3F shows modifications of the reel driving device of Fig 1 which is shown in Fig 3A Fig.3B is a perspective view of a first modification of the drive disk. The difference from the drive disk of Fig 1 shown in Fig 3A is that the impact mitigating means comprise elastic polygonal section members 2b. Fig.3C is a perspective view of a second modification of the drive disk. The difference from the drive disk of Fig 3A is that the impact mitigating means comprise elastic elliptical section members 2b. Fig. 3D is a perspective view of a third modification of the drive disk. The difference from the drive disk of Fig 3A is that the impact mitigating means comprise elastic conical members 2b. Fig. 3E is a perspective view of a fourth modification of the drive disk. The difference from the drive disk of Fig 3A is that the impact mitigating means comprise elastic polygonal conical members 2b. Fig.3F is a perspective view of a fifth modification of the drive disk. The difference from the drive disk of Fig 3A is that the impact mitigating means comprise elastic elliptical conical members 2b. Fig.3G is a perspective view of the modification of reel fixing means for the reel driving device. The difference from the embodiment described above (see Fig.1) is that the reel fixing means comprise a pin through the drive shaft.

Claims: A driving device for use in a slot machine comprising: a drive member (2) having a drive shaft fixing boss (2a) extending from one side of the drive member for receiving a drive shaft (1) of a motor and fixing the shaft for rotation therewith, a support member (3) for supporting circumferentially spaced symbols, and a drive coupling between said drive member and said support member comprising impact mitigating means (2b, 2c) disposed about said drive shaft fixing boss for mitigating an impact force of said motor, said support member having receiving means (3b, 3c) for receiving said impact mitigating means characterised in that said impact mitigating means are provided on said drive member and comprise boss members (2b) extending from said one side of the drive member, which boss members (2b) are made of an elastic material, and said support member comprises a reel having a hole (3a) for receiving said drive shaft fixing boss (2a). A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said boss members (2b) comprise cylindrical members. A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said boss members (2b) comprise polygonal sectional members. A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said boss members (2b) comprise elliptical sectional cylindrical members. A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said boss members (2b) comprise conical members. A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said boss members (2b) comprise polygonal conical members. A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said boss members comprise elliptical conical members. A driving device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said boss members (2b) are arranged equidistant from said drive shaft fixing boss (2a). A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said boss members (2b) comprise one set of conical members and one set of cylindrical members which members are arranged in a cross with said drive shaft fixing boss (2a) set at the intersection thereof. A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means for receiving said impact mitigating means comprises reinforcing ribs (3c) on said reel for holding said impact mitigating means therebetween. An assembly comprising a driving device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive shaft fixing boss (2a) and said impact mitigating means (2b) are received in the hole (3a) and receiving means (3b, 3c) therefor, and a shaft (1) of a motor received in said drive shaft fixing boss and fixed for rotation therewith. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein a locking member (5) is engaged in a groove (B) formed circumferentially in said drive shaft (1) for prohibiting said reel from moving along said shaft. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein an E ring (5) is inserted in a groove (B) formed circumferentially in said drive shaft (1) for prohibiting said reel from moving along said shaft. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein a pin is placed through said drive shaft (1) for prohibiting said reel from moving along said shaft.

Inventors: NAKAMURA, KIKUO
Applicants: SIGMA, INCORPORATED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G07F17
IPC codes: A63F9, A63F5, G07F17