Crane game machine

Abstract

To provide a crane game machine capable of easily and reliably preventing another player from playing the crane game machine even if a player has to leave the crane game machine for a predetermined period of time during play for exchange or the like, and capable of allowing income-related data to be confirmed easily.SOLUTION: A crane game machine includes a coil recognition section and a key switch, stops operation of the coin recognition section for a predetermined period of time by simultaneously operating a first operation section or a second operation section, and the key switch, and includes a game count calculation section, a prize recognition section, and a prize counting section, and displays a game count and the number of prizes by operating the key switch.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a so-called crane game machine in which a player operates a prize grasping means to grasp and win a prize placed on a prize placement section. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in crane game machines, the payout rate (prize payout rate) has been adjusted. In short, the payout rate is the ratio of the number of prizes that can be won to the number of games played.

[0003] The payout rate of a crane game machine is adjusted, for example, by adjusting the strength of the gripping force of the prize gripping means (Patent Document 1) or by changing the size, shape, and operation of the prize gripping means (Patent Document 2). In a crane game machine, the payout rate is sometimes adjusted so that the payout rate gradually increases with the number of plays, that is, it becomes easier to win prizes.

[0004] The player may know such an adjustment of the payout rate in the crane game machine, and therefore may also know the circumstances of how many more times the player needs to play in order to win a prize. Generally, a crane game machine can be played by inserting 100 yen coins into a coin slot. However, if the player has used up all of his / her 100 yen coins, he / she must go to a change machine located a certain distance away from the crane game machine to exchange them. During that time, there is a concern that other players may start playing the crane game machine where it is easier to win prizes. Therefore, currently, a tag indicating "Keep" or the like is attached to the coin slot of the crane game machine to prevent other players from playing the crane game machine during the exchange. However, attaching such a "Keep" tag is insufficient to prevent other players from playing the crane game machine, since the tag can be easily removed.

[0005] Also, in relation to the payout rate, players may complain that they have put in a large amount of money to play but have not won any prizes. In response to such complaints, the installers of the crane game machines calculate the number of times the game has been played and the number of prizes won from the values ​​counted by the analog count meter installed in the bottom of the machine's cabinet, and explain to the player that the payout rate is appropriate. However, this work requires the player to take the trouble of unlocking the bottom of the cabinet, which is locked, to check the count meter, and to calculate the number of times the game has been played and the number of prizes won from the count meter, which is extremely cumbersome.

[0006] Not only in the case of complaints like the one mentioned above, but in order to operate the facility where the crane game machine is installed, the installer needs to know income-related data such as the number of plays, the amount of money inserted, and the number of prizes won.However, even in this case, as mentioned above, it is necessary to take the trouble of unlocking the bottom of the locked cabinet to check the count meter and then calculate the number of plays and the number of prizes won from the count meter, which is extremely cumbersome. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-46730 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2006-116035 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] To provide a crane game machine which, even when a player must leave the crane game machine for a specified period of time to exchange money or the like, can easily and reliably prevent other players from playing the crane game machine, and which also enables easy confirmation of income-related data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A crane game machine (1) according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a cabinet (2), a prize gripping means (3) arranged to be movable horizontally and vertically within the cabinet (2), a prize placement section (4) and a prize drop hole (5) arranged in the middle of the vertical direction within the cabinet (2), a prize removal opening (6) arranged on the outer surface of the cabinet (2) and communicating with the prize drop hole (5), a coin insertion opening (7) arranged on the outer surface of the cabinet (2), a first operation means (8) for outputting a horizontal movement signal for the prize gripping means (3), and a second operation means (9) for outputting a downward movement signal for the prize gripping means (3). The crane game machine (1) is equipped with an operation means (9) and a control means (10) that controls the operation of the prize holding means (3) based on signals output from the first operation means (8) and the second operation means (9), and is equipped with a coin recognition means (11) that recognizes coins inserted from the coin insertion slot (7) and a key switch (12) provided outside the housing (2), and is characterized in that a stop signal is output to stop the operation of the coin recognition means (11) for a predetermined time by simultaneously operating the first operation means (8) or the second operation means (9) and the key switch (12), and based on the stop signal, the control means (10) stops the operation of the coin recognition means (11) for the predetermined time.

[0010] The crane game machine (1) of the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a display means (13) outside the housing (2), and the display means (13) displays the remaining time of the stop time of the coin recognition means (11).

[0011] A crane game machine (1) according to a third aspect of the present invention is a crane game machine (1) including a cabinet (2), a prize gripping means (3) arranged to be movable in the horizontal and vertical directions within the cabinet (2), a prize placement section (4) and a prize drop hole (5) arranged in the vertical middle position within the cabinet (2), a prize removal opening (6) connected to the prize drop hole (5) and arranged on the outer surface of the cabinet (2), a coin insertion opening (7) arranged on the outer surface of the cabinet (2), a first operation means (8) for outputting a horizontal movement signal for the prize gripping means (3), a second operation means (9) for outputting a downward movement signal for the prize gripping means (3), and a control means (10) for controlling the operation of the prize gripping means (3) based on signals output by the first operation means (8) and the second operation means (9), The machine is characterized by comprising a coin recognition means (11) which recognizes coins inserted from the entrance (7), a number of plays calculation means (14) which calculates the number of plays from the number of coins recognized by the coin recognition means (11), a prize recognition means (15) which recognizes prizes which have passed through the prize removal opening (6) from the prize drop hole (5), a prize counting means (16) which counts the number of prizes recognized by the prize recognition means (15), a key switch (12) provided outside the housing (2), and a display means (13) provided outside the housing (2), and by operating the key switch (12), a display signal is output which displays the number of plays calculated by the number of plays calculation means (14) and the number of prizes counted by the prize counting means (16), and the display means (13) displays the number of plays and the number of prizes based on the display signal. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation of the coin recognition means can be stopped for a predetermined time by simultaneously operating the first operation means or the second operation means and the key switch. Here, when the operation of the coin recognition means is stopped, even if a person who wants to play the crane game machine inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot, the coin recognition means does not recognize the coin and does not accept it, so the crane game machine does not enter a playable state. In other words, the crane game machine enters a play-stop state.

[0013] Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the crane game machine can be easily put into a play-stop state from the outside without performing complicated operations such as unlocking a locked housing and operating a switch inside the housing. Moreover, since a key switch is used for the operation to put the machine into a play-stop state, only a person who has the key of the key switch (the installer of the crane game machine) can perform the operation, and the player cannot perform the operation. Therefore, when a player of the crane game machine needs to leave the seat during the game to exchange money, etc., the installer of the crane game machine is called and the crane game machine is put into the play-stop state, so that other players cannot play the crane game machine for a predetermined time. Therefore, the crane game machine can be put into a so-called "kept" state so that other players cannot play the crane game machine, without using a "kept" tag. Moreover, since the crane game machine is put into a play-stop state, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the "kept" tag is removed and the machine is played by other players, and the crane game machine can be more reliably kept.

[0014] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display means displays the remaining time of the stop time of the coin recognition means, so that a player in the middle of playing with the crane game machine, other players, and the crane game machine installer can know the remaining stop time of the crane game machine, i.e., the remaining keep time.

[0015] According to the third aspect of the present invention, by operating a key switch, the display means displays the number of plays and the number of prizes won, so that the installer of the crane game machine can easily check the income-related data including the number of plays and the number of prizes won, without having to perform the cumbersome work of unlocking the locked cabinet and calculating the number of plays and the number of prizes won from an analog count meter inside the cabinet. Also, even if a player complains that "I can't win any prizes at all," it is easy to explain to the player with objective figures that the player has won a specified number of prizes or with a specified probability, because the number of plays and the number of prizes won can be easily displayed by operating the machine from the outside.

[0016] As mentioned above, the operation to display the income-related data can be easily performed externally, but because a key switch is used for this operation, only the person who has the key to the key switch (the person who installs the crane game machine) can perform this operation, and it is possible to prevent players from performing this operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a crane game machine of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the crane game machine of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the control panel of the crane game machine of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the control panel of the crane game machine of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] First, the basic configuration of the crane game machine 1 of the present invention will be described.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the crane game machine 1 of the present invention comprises a cabinet 2, a prize holding section 3 movable horizontally and vertically within the cabinet 2, a prize mounting section 4 and a prize drop hole 5 located in the middle position vertically within the cabinet 2, a prize removal opening 6 connected to the prize drop hole 5 and located on the outer surface of the cabinet 2, a coin insertion slot 7 located on the outer surface of the cabinet 2, a first operation section 8 that outputs a horizontal movement signal for the prize holding section 3, a second operation section 9 that outputs a downward movement signal for the prize holding section 3, and a control section 10 (not shown in FIG. 1) that controls the operation of the prize holding section 3 based on the signals output by the first operation section 8 and the second operation section 9.

[0021] The crane game machine 1 becomes playable when a predetermined coin is inserted into the coin slot 7. Then, the control unit 10 operates the prize gripper moving mechanism 17 in response to the operation of the first operation unit 8 by the player, and moves the prize gripper 3 horizontally from the initial standby position. When the player stops operating the first operation unit 8, the prize gripper 3 stops at that position. Next, in response to the operation of the second operation unit 8 by the player, the control unit 10 operates the prize gripper moving mechanism 17 to lower the prize gripper 3, and when it has lowered a predetermined distance, automatically closes the gripping claws 18 of the prize gripper 3 to grip the prize placed on the prize placement unit 4. Next, the control unit 10 raises the prize gripper 3, moves it above the prize drop hole 5, opens the gripping claws 18, and finally returns it to the initial standby position.

[0022] The housing 2 is mainly composed of, for example, a ceiling part 19, an upper housing part 20, and a lower housing part 21 from the top. A prize gripping part moving mechanism 17 is provided on the ceiling part 19. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper housing part 20 has a front and a main part of a side made of a transparent plate such as an acrylic plate. Therefore, the prize gripping part 3, the prize placed on the prize placement part 4, the prize drop hole 5, etc. can be seen from the outside of the housing 2. The lower housing part 21 houses the control part 10, the memory part 22, an analog count meter, etc. The lower housing part 21 is usually colored on the outside, so that the inside cannot be seen from the outside.

[0023] 1, the prize gripping unit 3 is provided so as to be movable horizontally and vertically within the housing 2. Specifically, the prize gripping unit 3 is operated by the control unit 10 and a prize gripping unit moving mechanism 17, and is a device that grips a prize placed on the prize placement unit 4 and drops the gripped prize into a prize drop hole 5. The prize gripping unit 3 is provided with a plurality of openable and closable gripping claws 18 for gripping a prize, and the gripping claws 18 open and close under the control of the control unit 10.

[0024] The prize placing section 4 is provided at a vertically central position within the housing 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the prize placing section 4 can be provided, for example, in the boundary area between the housing upper section 20 and the housing lower section 21. The prize placing section 4 is, for example, a plate-shaped member made of resin, and the prize is placed on the upper section thereof.

[0025] The prize drop hole 5 is provided in the vertical center position inside the housing 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the prize drop hole 5 can be provided by cutting out a part of the prize placement section 4. The prize drop hole 5 communicates with the prize outlet 6 and serves to guide the prize dropped from above by the prize gripping section 3 to the prize outlet 6.

[0026] It is also possible, and desirable, to provide a barrier (not shown) rising from the boundary area between the prize placement section 4 and the prize drop hole 5 to prevent prizes placed on the prize placement section 4 from rolling down the prize drop hole 5.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, a prize outlet 6 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 2. The prize outlet 6 communicates with the prize drop hole 5 and is an opening for a player to take out a prize that he or she has won.

[0028] 1, a coin slot 7 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 2. The coin slot 7 is a mechanism for receiving coins paid by a player to play the crane game machine 1.

[0029] The first operation unit 8 outputs a horizontal movement signal for the prize gripping unit 3. The first operation unit 8 is, for example, a joystick or arrow-shaped buttons facing forward, backward, left and right. The first operation unit 8 can be provided on a control panel 23 provided on the front surface of the housing 2, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, for example.

[0030] The second operation unit 9 outputs a downward movement signal for the prize gripping unit 3. The second operation unit 9 is, for example, a button or the like. For example, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the second operation unit 9 can be provided on a control panel 23 provided on the front surface of the housing 2.

[0031] The crane game machine 1 is equipped with computer functions, and the control unit 10 shown in Fig. 2 is composed of a processor, memory, etc., and controls the entire crane game machine 1. The control unit 10 realizes various functions by executing various programs stored in the storage unit 22. For example, the control unit 10 controls the operation of the prize gripping unit 3 based on signals output from the first operation unit 8 and the second operation unit 9.

[0032] The crane game machine 1 of the present invention includes a coin recognition unit 11 that recognizes coins inserted through the coin insertion slot 7. The coin recognition unit 11 is configured with a sensor or the like that detects inserted coins based on the shape and weight of the inserted coin, and is provided, for example, inside the housing 2 near the coin insertion slot 7.

[0033] Furthermore, in the case where the crane game machine 1 of the present invention is provided with a control panel 23 outside the cabinet 2, for example, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the key switch 12 can be provided on the side of the control panel 23. The key switch 12 is mainly composed of a key 24 and a keyhole 25, and is configured so that, for example, the switch can be switched by inserting the key 24 into the keyhole 25 and rotating it 45 degrees clockwise.

[0034] Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0035] In the first embodiment of the present invention, in the crane game machine 1, a stop signal is output to stop the operation of the coin recognition unit 11 for a predetermined time by simultaneously operating the first operation unit 8 or the second operation unit 9 and the key switch 12, and based on the stop signal, the control unit 10 stops the operation of the coin recognition unit 11 for a predetermined time.

[0036] Specifically, for example, if the second operation unit 9 is a button, by pressing the button and inserting the key 24 of the key switch 12 into the keyhole 25 and rotating it 45 degrees clockwise, a signal to stop the coin recognition unit 11 is output. Based on the stop signal, the control unit 10, for example, cuts off the power supply to the coin recognition unit 11 and stops the operation of the coin recognition unit 11 for a predetermined time.

[0037] The stop time can be set as appropriate. For example, if the stop time is set to 60 seconds, the operation of the coin recognition unit 11 will be stopped for 60 seconds, after which the control unit 10 will restore power to the coin recognition unit 11 and the operation of the coin recognition unit 11 will resume.

[0038] Incidentally, the operation of the coin verification unit 11 can be stopped by either stopping its operation while supplying power to the coin verification unit 11 or by stopping the supply of power to the coin verification unit 11. Therefore, the stop signal includes a command to stop the operation of the coin verification unit 11 while it is in a powered state, or a command to cut off the power supply to the coin verification unit 11, etc.

[0039] It is also possible, and desirable, to configure the key switch 12 to output a resume signal for resuming operation of the coin recognition unit 11 while the operation of the coin recognition unit 11 is stopped. This makes it possible to resume play on the crane game machine 1 during the stopped time even if the operation of the coin recognition unit 11 is stopped. Therefore, if a player who has left his / her seat to exchange money or the like returns to the crane game machine 1 before the set stopped time, he / she can quickly resume play.

[0040] As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily stop the operation of the crane game machine 1 by an external operation, while restricting the operation of stopping to a specific person who has the key 24 of the key switch 12. In addition, since the operation of the crane game machine 1 is stopped, it is possible to keep the crane game machine 1 reliably.

[0041] In the first embodiment, the crane game machine 1 preferably includes a display unit 13 outside the cabinet 2.

[0042] The display unit 13 is configured, for example, with a liquid crystal display, and specifically, can be provided on the control panel 23.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 3, the display unit 13 displays the remaining stop time of the coin verification unit 11. For example, if the stop time of the coin verification unit 11 is set to 60 seconds, the display unit 13 displays the remaining stop time counting down from 60 seconds. By having the display unit 13 display the remaining stop time of the coin verification unit 11, a player who is playing with the crane game machine 1, other players, and an installer of the crane game machine can know the remaining stop time of the crane game machine 1, i.e., the remaining keep time.

[0044] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0045] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the crane game machine 1 includes a play count calculation unit 14 that calculates the number of plays from the number of coins recognized by the coin recognition unit 11. For example, when the crane game machine 1 is set to be able to play once with one 100-yen coin, the play count calculation unit 14 counts the number of 100-yen coins recognized by the coin recognition unit 11 and calculates this as the number of plays. Also, when the crane game machine 1 is set to be able to play once with two 100-yen coins, the play count calculation unit 14 counts the number of 100-yen coins recognized by the coin recognition unit 11 and calculates the number obtained by dividing this number by two as the number of plays.

[0046] In the second embodiment, the crane game machine 1 is equipped with a prize recognition unit 15 that recognizes prizes that have passed through the prize outlet 6 from the prize drop hole 5. The prize recognition unit 15 is, for example, a sensor, and can be provided near the prize drop hole 5, near the prize outlet 6, or in a passage connecting the prize drop hole 5 and the prize outlet 6. Thus, the prize recognition unit 15 recognizes prizes that a player has won in the crane game machine 1.

[0047] In the second embodiment, the crane game machine 1 includes a prize counting unit 16 that counts the number of prizes recognized by the prize recognition unit 15. Therefore, the prize counting unit 16 stores the number of prizes won in the crane game machine 1.

[0048] In a second embodiment of the present invention, the crane game machine 1 further includes a display unit 13 outside the cabinet 2, and by operating the key switch 12, specifically, for example, by inserting the key 24 of the key switch 12 into the keyhole 25 and rotating it 45 degrees clockwise, a display signal is output indicating the number of plays calculated by the play count calculation unit 14 and the number of prizes counted by the prize counting unit 16, and the control unit 10 causes the display unit 13 to display the number of plays and the number of prizes based on the display signal, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0049] The crane game machine 1 of the present invention, like a normal crane game machine, is capable of switching the power of the entire crane game machine 1 on and off. It is also possible to set it so that when the power of the crane game machine 1 is turned off, the number of plays calculated by the number-of-plays calculation unit 14 and the number of prizes counted by the prize counting unit 16 are reset.

[0050] In this case, the play count calculation unit 14 basically calculates the number of plays since the power was turned on, and the prize counting unit 16 counts the number of prizes won since the power was turned on. The play count calculation unit 14 can also be configured to calculate the number of plays since the previous prize was won, that is, since the prize recognition unit 15 last detected a prize, which is desirable.

[0051] Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the crane game machine 1 can display on the display unit 13, as shown in FIG. 4, the number of plays since the power was turned on, the number of prizes won since the power was turned on, and the number of plays since the last time a prize was won.

[0052] As a result, in the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily display the income-related data of the crane game machine 1 by external operation, while restricting the display operation to specific persons who have the key 24 of the key switch 12. Therefore, it is possible to easily effectively operate the crane game machine 1 using the income-related data, and it is also possible to easily present objective numerical values ​​when a player makes a complaint. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. Crane game machine 2. Chassis 3 Prize holding section 4 Prize placement area 5 Prize Drop Hole 6 Prize outlet 7 Coin slot 8 First operation section 9 Second operation part 10 Control section 11 Coin Recognition Unit 12 Key Switches 13 Display section 14 Play count calculation section 15 Prize Recognition Department 16 Prize Counting Department 17 Prize gripper movement mechanism 18 Gripping claw 19 Ceiling 20 Top of the case 21 Lower part of the housing 22 Memory section 23 Control Panel 24 keys 25 Keyhole

Claims

1. A housing and A prize gripping means provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction within the housing; A prize placement section and a prize drop hole provided at a vertically intermediate position within the housing; A prize outlet provided on the outer surface of the housing and communicating with the prize drop hole; A coin insertion slot provided on an outer surface of the housing; A first operating means for outputting a horizontal movement signal of the prize gripping means; A second operating means for outputting a downward movement signal of the prize gripping means; A crane game machine including a control means for controlling the operation of the prize gripping means based on signals output from the first operation means and the second operation means, a coin recognition means for recognizing a coin inserted through the coin insertion slot; A key switch is provided outside the housing, a stop signal for stopping the operation of the coin recognition means for a predetermined time is output by simultaneously operating the first operation means or the second operation means and the key switch; The crane game machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means stops the operation of the coin recognition means for a predetermined period of time based on the stop signal.

2. A display means is provided outside the housing, 2. The crane game machine according to claim 1, wherein said display means displays the remaining time of the stop time of said coin recognition means.

3. A housing and A prize gripping means provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction within the housing; A prize placement section and a prize drop hole provided at a vertically intermediate position within the housing; A prize outlet provided on the outer surface of the housing and communicating with the prize drop hole; A coin insertion slot provided on an outer surface of the housing; A first operating means for outputting a horizontal movement signal of the prize gripping means; A second operating means for outputting a downward movement signal of the prize gripping means; A crane game machine including a control means for controlling the operation of the prize gripping means based on signals output from the first operation means and the second operation means, a coin recognition means for recognizing a coin inserted through the coin insertion slot; a game number calculation means for calculating a game number from the number of coins recognized by the coin recognition means; a prize recognition means for recognizing a prize that has passed through the prize drop hole and the prize outlet; a prize counting means for counting the number of prizes recognized by the prize recognition means; A key switch provided outside the housing; A display means is provided outside the housing, By operating the key switch, a display signal is outputted to display the number of games calculated by the number-of-games calculation means and the number of prizes counted by the prize counting means; The display means displays the number of plays and the number of prizes based on the display signal.

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