Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20040041340?dq=5787445
Timestamp: 2017-05-24 11:55:11
Document Index: 281011986

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 13', 'art 13', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 22', 'art 23', 'art 22', 'art 23', 'art 22', 'art 9', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 9', 'art 27', 'art 9', 'art 61', 'arts 27', 'arts 27', 'arts 27']

Patent US20040041340 - Rotary reel unit for game machine - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA rotary reel unit for the game machine in the present invention provided to a frame through a support member fixedly provided at a vertical state, the rotary reel unit includes a fixing member fixed to one of sidewalls of the support member, having a attachment base plate; a movable member provided...http://www.google.com/patents/US20040041340?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20040041340 - Rotary reel unit for game machineAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS20040041340 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/232,697Publication dateMar 4, 2004Filing dateSep 3, 2002Priority dateJul 17, 2000Also published asUS6802507Publication number10232697, 232697, US 2004/0041340 A1, US 2004/041340 A1, US 20040041340 A1, US 20040041340A1, US 2004041340 A1, US 2004041340A1, US-A1-20040041340, US-A1-2004041340, US2004/0041340A1, US2004/041340A1, US20040041340 A1, US20040041340A1, US2004041340 A1, US2004041340A1InventorsHaruo InoueOriginal AssigneeHaruo InoueExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (21), Referenced by (53), Classifications (6), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRotary reel unit for game machine
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below referring to the accompanying drawings. [0022] [0022]FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the embodiment explained attached condition in a game machine (for example, slot machine). The numeral 1 shows a frame having three rotary reel units 2 in total attached therein at a parallel state via a plurality of adherence implements 3. In addition, the numeral 1 a shows sidewalls provided at right and left sides of frame 1, the numeral 1 b shows a bottom wall, the numeral 1 c shows an upper wall, and the forward and backward portions thereof have openings. [0023] [0023]FIG. 2 illustrates one of the rotary reel units 2. The rotary reel unit 2 basically includes a support member 4 fixed in the frame 1 at the perpendicular state; a fixing member 7 fixed to the support member 4 directly or indirectly; a movable member 21 provided adjustably the position to the fixing member 7, having a photograph sensor 40 as a sensor member; the fixing member 7 having an engaging means (or engaged means) 31, 32 engages with an engaged part (or engaging part) provided at the movable member 21 in serial; and a movable support axle 60 for adjustment provided to the fixing member 7, having a function for a fulcrum by sliding with an inner wall of an adjustable elongated slot 28 of the movable member 21 when the movable member 21 is adjusted to move to the circumferential direction of the rotary reel. Then it is explained to the principal part of this invention as follows. [0024] (1) Support Member [0025] The support member 4 further includes a support member body 5 formed in the shape of a square, fixing upper and bottom ends thereof to the bottom wall 1 b and upper wall 1 c of the frame 1 respectively; and a central support plate 6 formed in the shape of a base plate, fixing to a central part of one of the sidewalls to the horizontal direction. [0026] (2) Fixing Member [0027] The fixing member 7 is also used as a case covered around the drive motor in this embodiment. The fixing member 7 includes a case 8 for motors having an opening at the attachment side thereof and an attachment base plate 9 for the movable member which is used as one of sidewalls (it is equivalent to a perpendicular right-hand side wall in FIG. 2) of the case 8 for motors. In the case of situation based on FIG. 4, viewing from the arrow direction in FIG. 2, the numeral 10 shows a perpendicular wall, having the quadrangle shape, which constitutes the case 8 for motors. The perpendicular wall 10 is formed an engaged hole 11 for installing the drive motor in the central part of the perpendicular wall 10. The numeral 12 shows an opposite sidewall which is provided continuously to the intersection direction to the perpendicular wall 10, and the sidewalls 12 have attachment flange parts 13 provided with bending at the end part thereof respectively. In addition, holes 15 for adherence implements 14 are formed at the attachment flange part 13. In this embodiment of the present invention, the attachment base plate 9 for the movable member is formed in the shape of an angle (right-angled) at end and includes a short sidewall 9 a which constitutes a part of the case 8 for motors and a base part 9 b which is formed with bending at right-angled from the short sidewall 9 a, and extended outwardly. The base part 9 b positions to the support board body 5 at a parallel state as illustrated in FIG. 2. Then, the numeral 17 shows an opening formed in the shape of a rectangle and provided at the base part 9 b suitably. A plate 19 having a plurality of screw holes 18, formed in the shape of a small elongated-plate, is suitably fixed to the opening 17. Then, the plate 19 is fixed to the outer wall of the base part 9 b so that the opening 17 is covered and closed as illustrated in FIG. 2. The numeral 20 shows two screw holes in total formed at the base part 9 b respectively, and the screw holes 20 are located upward and downward positions at the base part 9 b respectively. [0028] (3) Movable Member [0029] The movable member 21 is formed in the shape of a hook as a whole and includes an engaged plate part 22 formed in the shape of a arc, extending to the circumference direction of the rotary reel; a projected plate part 23 extending to a radius direction of the rotary reel from the engaged plate part 22; and an attachment board 24 formed in the shape of an angle, fixing at one-side part of the projected plate part 23. In addition, the attachment board 24 has screw holes 25 for attaching the photograph sensor, and an operation lever 26, formed in the shape of a fingertip, is provided at the center part of the engaged plate part 22 which overlaps with the base part 9 b of the fixing member 7 so that the operation lever 26 attends the sidewall of the central support board 6. [0030] (4) Principal Part of the Movable Member [0031] The engaged plate part 22, formed in the shape of an arc, of the movable member 21 extends at the slight arc shape to the circumferential direction of the rotary reel. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a plurality of engaged holes 27 is formed at the engaged plate part 22 (implications which have engaging hole, engaging groove, etc.) continuously so as to pass the base line L (the line is on concentric circle in rotary axle hole of the rotary reel in this embodiment) positioned to the same direction as a circumferential direction of the rotary reel. Moreover, adjustment slots 28 as an example of an adjustment part, which passes on the base line L, is formed at both ends of the engaged plate part 22 respectively. The engaged holes 27 is classified into engaged holes a1, a2, and a3 as the first group and engaged holes b1 and b2 as the second group in this embodiment, and one of a first engaging member 31 or a second engaging member 32 is always engaging either of the engaged holes a1, a2, a3, b1 or b2. When the movable member 21 is moved with steps at every 0.5 by operating the operation lever 26, the first and second engaging members 31 and 32 engage detachably with the corresponding holes alternately. If it elaborates, the step-movement between the engaged hole a1 and a2 of the first group, between the engaged hole a2 and a3 or between the engaged hole b1 and b2 of the second group needs “Two Click”, respectively. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8 for example, when the first engaging member 31 engages with the engaged hole a2, another second engaging member 32 removes from the engaged hole b1. Therefore, the word of “gradual” in this specification means that not only when one of the engaging members detaches to the engaging hole in serial continuously, but also the first and second engaging members 31 and 32 detach to the engaging hole of the movable member 21 by turns. [0032] (5) First and Second Engaging Members [0033] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first engaging member 31 includes a comparatively small hollow spiral rod 33 which is screwed into the screw hole 18 of the plate 19 and an engaging ball 35 which is engaged so as to project into a tip portion of the hollow spiral rod and biased towards the projection by the spring 34. The first engaging member 31 is attached detachably to the base part 9 b of the attachment base plate 9 by using a nut 36 as a fixing member which screwed on the hollow spiral rod 33. The second engaging member 32 is attached at same way of the first engaging member 32, therefore, the same mark is attached. After the first and second engaging members 31 and 32 are attached to the fixing member 7 via the plate 19, these engaging balls 35 are provided detachably to the engaged part 27 of the movable member 21 against the bias of the spring 34 as mentioned above. [0034] (6) Photograph Sensor [0035] The photograph sensor 40 equipped with luciferin element 40 a and receiving element 40 b is provided to the movable member 21 via an adherence means 41 to screw into the hole 25 of the attachment plate 24. The photograph sensor 40 is attached, capable of adjusting the position, to an index 51 (equivalent to the cover board) which is attached in the rotary reel 50. Since the photograph sensor is installed into the movable member 21 integrally, it naturally shifts when the movable member 21 moves in serial along the base line L. [0036] (7) Pivot for Adjustment [0037] Two pivots 60 for adjustment pass through the slot 28 for adjustment of the movable member 21 respectively and screw into the screw holes 20 of the attachment base plate 9 of the fixing member 7 respectively. The movable member 21 is screwed on the surface of the inner wall of the base part 9 b of the attachment base plate 9 via the pivot 60 formed in the shape of a bolt and plate 61 as a washer. When the pivots 60 are loosened, it is possible to adjust the position of the movable member 21. In addition, and the smooth movement is enabled since a projection part 61 a is provided at the plate 61 and it is inserted into the hole 28. [0038] (8) Rotary Reel [0039] The rotary reel 50 includes an outer circumferential wall 52, as a reel strip, which is arranged the symbol, an annular rib 53 arranged as an axle core of the output axle 65 of the drive motor which is not illustrated, a spoke 54 which connects to the outer circumferential wall 52 and annular rib 53 at the radial state, and an index 51 fixed to the annular rib 53 suitably so as to project to a horizontal direction. [0040] (9) Gradual Adjustment [0041] Next, it is explained in the case that the movable member 21 is adjusted gradually to the fixing member 7. After the movable member 21 is attached to the fixing member 7, each engaging ball 35 of the engaging members 31 and 32, screwed into the fixing member 7, engages alternatively with any one of the engaging holes 27. In this case, FIG. 8 illustrates to set at first stage; on the other hand, it is an example to which FIG. 10 illustrates to adjust the photograph sensor 40 step by step. In the condition illustrated in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, the first engaging member 31 engages with the engaging hole a2, on the other hand, the second engaging member 32 is located in the middle of the engaging hole b1 and engaging hole b2. That is, the first engaging member 31 engages with the engaging hole, on the other hand, the second engaging member 32 does not engage with the engaging hole. [0042] Then, after loosening two pivots 60 for adjustment suitably, a finger is hung on the operation lever 26 of the movable member 21, and the movable member 21 is moved slidely to the direction of arrow A illustrated in FIG. 7. The movable member 21 moves along the base line L to same direction as the circumference direction of the rotary reel 50 via the two slots 28 for adjustment and the pivot 60 for adjustment. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 9, after the movable member 21 is made to move to “0.5 Step”, the engaging ball 35 retreats when it resists the spring power of the spring 34 and rides on a flat surface 21 a of the movable member 21. On the other hand, the engaging ball 35 of the second engaging member 32 enters into the engaging hole b2 from the flat side 21 a of the movable member 21. Then, when “0.5 Step” movement of the movable member 21 is done further, it will be in the state illustrated in FIG. 10. [0043] Therefore, when a viewpoint is changed here, when it changes in the state illustrated in FIG. 10 from the state illustrated in FIG. 8, when the engaging ball 35 of the first engaging member 31 moves between the engaging hole a2 and a3 (one step) to the movable member 21, it is called “Two clicks were required”. In addition, because the first and second engaging member 31 and 32 located at the side of the fixing member detach in “every 0.5 steps” and “keeping turn by turns” to continuous engaging hole 27 located at the movable member-side, the position of the photograph sensor 40 is corrected relatively by 0.5 steps in the direction of arrow B illustrated in FIG. 7 on the basis of the pivot 60 when the movable member 21 moves on the base line L to the direction of arrow A illustrated in FIG. 7 to the fixing member 7. [0044] In this embodiment of the present invention, although there are the engaging members, especially two engaging members, it may be used one of the engaging members. Moreover, the engaging member 31 (32) is attached to the fixing member 7, on the other hand, the engaged parts 27, capable of detaching the engaging member 31 one by one, is formed continuously to the movable member 21, however, a person who skilled prior art may change the design as below. [0045] Accordingly, the attachment base plate 9 of the fixing member 7 has the engaged plate parts 27 provided continuously on the base line L, in the same direction as the circumferential direction of the rotary reel, and the movable member 21 overlapped the attachment base plate 9 is provided at least one engaging member 31 (32), the engaging member 31 may detach to the engaged plate parts 27 gradually when the position of the photograph sensor 40 is re-positioned by controlling the movable member 21. Therefore, such embodiment is also equivalents. [0046] Moreover, it is not necessary to coincide the angle which corrects the position of a sensor with the number of steps. For example, it can also set up and use for arbitrary angles including 0.5-degree, 1-degree and 1.5-degree etc. In addition, although the slot machine is explained in this embodiment, it may be used also to the reel unit as a variable display of a pachinko machine or other game machines. [0047] As set forth above, the advantages of the invention are as follows: [0048] (1) The position of a sensor is easily correctable even if the person is not an expert. [0049] (2) The position of a sensor is gradually correctable. [0050] (3) Also concerning a game machine equipped with rotary reels including a slot machine with a comparatively short radius, the narrow radius space of the rotary reel can be utilized effectively, and the object of the above-mentioned (2) can be attained. FIG. 11 illustrates that the engaging holes as an example of the engaged part overlap when a fine angle (gradual step-adjustment) is required to the rotary reel with the short radius on the assumption that one of the engaging member 31 (or 32) is used. Therefore, the invention described in claims 2 and 3 can fully acquire the effect of the mentioned in (3). [0051] (4) The number of parts to constitute can be lessened, and each part can be combined rationally. 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2017IgtGaming system display with graphical user interface* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification273/143.00RInternational ClassificationA63F7/02, G07F17/34, A63F5/04Cooperative ClassificationG07F17/34European ClassificationG07F17/34Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 25, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: DRAGON CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INOUE, HARUO;REEL/FRAME:013431/0269Effective date: 20020720Nov 30, 2004CCCertificate of correctionMar 13, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4May 28, 2012REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedOct 12, 2012LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesDec 4, 2012FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20121012RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services