Reel device for a gaming machine

• US 9,530,286 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technological Group Limited, Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Gaming America Incorporated (Aruze Gaming America, Inc. /Okada/), Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Tanimura, Tatsuhiko, Kukita, Noritoshi, Ike, Hiroatsu, Sasaki, Yoshitomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US14/720,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.

Claims

1. A reel device comprising:

a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; and

a reel driving mechanism which is provided on an inner circumference side of the reel and rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols,

the reel including a blade mechanism surrounding at least a portion of the reel driving mechanism, which causes air on the inner circumference side of the reel to flow toward a center of rotation of the reel so as to cool the reel driving mechanism.

2. The reel device according to claim 1, wherein, the reel driving mechanism includes:

a reel motor which exerts a rotational force to the reel; and

a heat sink which dissipates heat by enlarging the size of a surface of the reel motor.

3. The reel device according to claim 1, wherein, the reel includes:

an annular reel band on which the symbols are lined up; and

a reel frame which has the annular reel band on the outer circumferential side and the blade mechanism on the inner circumference side.

4. The reel device according to claim 3, wherein, the reel frame includes:

a drive-side reel frame supporting one end of the annular reel band;

a driven-side reel frame supporting the other end of the annular reel band; and

a reel supporting member which is connected to the drive-side reel frame and receives a rotational force from the reel driving mechanism,

the blade mechanism having a plurality of plate portions provided on the reel supporting member to flow air forward or backward with respect to a position where the reel driving mechanism is provided.

5. A gaming machine comprising:

a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; and

a reel driving mechanism which is provided on an inner circumference side of the reel and rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols,

the reel including a blade mechanism surrounding at least a portion of the reel driving mechanism, which causes air on the inner circumference side of the reel to flow toward a center of rotation of the reel so as to cool the reel driving mechanism.