Crane game device

Abstract

To provide a crane game device for performing a novel play method.SOLUTION: A crane game device includes: a housing 2 encircling a game space 20 including a plurality of sub-areas 200 arranged in a prescribed lateral direction T; a plurality of operation means 3 arranged in the respective sub-areas 200 in the game space 20; and control means 4 signally connected to the respective operation means 3. Each of the operation means 3 is configured to have: a movement module 31 arranged a top of each corresponding one of the sub-areas 200; a catcher unit 32 connected to the movement module 31; and a drive module connected to the movement module 31 and controlling movement at the movement module 31 of the catcher unit 32. In addition, difference parameters exist among the respective operation means 3, and the control means 4 individually controls at least one in the respective operation means 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a crane game machine. [Background technology]

[0002] As shown in Patent Document 1 and Fig. 1, a conventional crane game machine 1 has a housing 10 surrounding a storage space 100 in which prizes (not shown) are stored, a catcher means 11 arranged within the storage space 100 and configured to enable the player to grab the prizes, and an operation unit 12 arranged on the housing 10 and configured to enable the player to operate the catcher means 11. In this way, the machine provides a game that challenges the player to see whether they can carry a prize to the exit by accurately controlling the movement of the catcher means 11 in the forward / backward and left / right directions and the timing of lowering the catcher means 11, but it cannot be denied that the machine is monotonous and stale because it can only provide such games. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-138754 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a crane game machine that can provide a different way of playing than conventional ones. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the crane game device of the present invention is a crane game device comprising a housing surrounding a game space including a plurality of sub-areas arranged in a predetermined horizontal direction, a plurality of operating means respectively arranged in each of the sub-areas within the game space, and a control means signal-connected to each of the operating means, wherein each of the operating means is configured to have a moving module arranged above the corresponding sub-area, a catcher unit connected to the moving module, and a drive module connected to the moving module and controlling the movement of the catcher unit in the moving module, and a difference parameter exists between each of the operating means, and the control means individually controls at least one of the operating means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] With the above configuration, the present invention has multiple operating means each having multiple catchers, so it can provide a new playing style that differs from the conventional technology which has only one catcher. Furthermore, since there are different parameters between each operating means, the movements of each catcher will not be consistent, which can create more variety in the play and increase the player's motivation to use the game device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional crane game machine. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of a crane game device of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing three operating means of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how each operating means is individually controlled by a control means in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating the simultaneous operation mode executed by a processor module of the control means. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating the simultaneous operation mode executed by a processor module of the control means. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the crane game machine of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In order to more clearly describe the objectives, technical means, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical means in the embodiments of the present invention in combination with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. It should be apparent that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention depicted and shown in the accompanying drawings can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided below in the accompanying drawings does not constitute any limitation on the protection scope of the present invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention.

[0009] Before describing the present invention in more detail, it should be noted that, where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

[0010] Also, in describing the present invention, terms such as "first", "second", etc. are used for distinction purposes only and do not teach or imply relative importance.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the crane game device of the present invention. As shown, the crane game device of this first embodiment comprises a cabinet 2 surrounding a game space 20 including a plurality of sub-areas 200 arranged in a predetermined horizontal direction T, a plurality of operating means 3 disposed in each sub-area 200 within the game space 20, and a control means 4 connected to each operating means 3 via signals.

[0012] The game space 20 is a space in which prizes can be placed. In this first embodiment, three actuation means 3 are arranged corresponding to the three sub-areas 200, but the present invention is not limited to this, and there is no particular limit to the number of actuation means 3 as long as there are two or more actuation means 3.

[0013] The three sub-areas 200 corresponding to the three actuating means 3 respectively can be configured to be separated by partitions, but the arrangement of partitions is not a necessary element. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each actuating means 3 is configured to have a moving module 31 arranged above the corresponding sub-area 200, a catcher unit 32 connected to the moving module 31, and a drive module 33 connected to the moving module 31 and controlling the movement of the catcher unit 32 in the moving module 31.

[0014] Each of the moving modules 31 of the actuation means 3 has a first rail 311 extending along a front-to-rear direction D perpendicular to the lateral direction T, a second rail 312 attached to the first rail 311 so as to be movable along the front-to-rear direction D and extending along the lateral direction T, and a main body 313 attached to the second rail 312 so as to be movable along the lateral direction T. In other words, the main body 313 of each moving module 31 can move within a corresponding one of the sub-areas 200 along the lateral direction T and / or the front-to-rear direction W together with the connected catcher unit 32 by the corresponding drive module 33.

[0015] The control means 4 individually controls at least one of the actuation means 3, and in this embodiment is configured to have an operation interface 41 signal-connected to the drive module 33 of each actuation means 3, and a processor module 42 signal-connected to the operation interface 41.

[0016] In order to vary the operation of each actuation means 3, at least one difference parameter is set between each actuation means 3. In this first embodiment, this difference parameter is an operating speed that is set in advance to correspond to each drive module 33. As a result, the processor module 42 outputs different control signals to each drive module 33 of each actuation means 3 according to the different difference parameters of each actuation means 3, and each drive module 33 operates at a different operating speed to drive each movement module 31.

[0017] In addition, the processor module 42 is configured to be switchable between an individual operation mode in which the operation interface 41 outputs a control signal to only the drive module 33 of one actuation means 3, and a simultaneous operation mode in which control signals are simultaneously output to the drive modules 33 of multiple actuation means 3. Here, in the individual operation mode, depending on the operation on the operation interface 41, a control signal is output to only the drive module 33 of one selected from each actuation means 3, or a control signal is output sequentially to the drive modules 33 of each actuation means 3.

[0018] 3 and 4, the processor module 42 performs control according to a control mode determined by the number of coins inserted by the player or the player's selection, but if the individual operation mode is determined, when only one operating means 3 selected by the player or the processor module 42 is operated, the operating means 3 drives the corresponding drive module 33 based on the corresponding difference parameter, allowing the player to feel the speed when operating that operating means 3. For example, when the player attempts to operate each catcher unit 32 from the operation interface 41, the faster the movement speed of the catcher unit 32, the more difficult it is to operate accurately, so relatively expensive products can be placed in sub-areas 200 where the movement speed of the catcher unit 32 is set to be relatively fast, for example.

[0019] 2, 3, and 5, when the simultaneous operation mode is selected, the movement of the main bodies 313 and catcher units 32 of all of the operating means 3 is simultaneously controlled from the operation interface 41. In this case, each catcher unit 32 is controlled according to its corresponding differential parameter, so the player is required to perform operations that correspond to the movements of the main bodies 313 and catcher units 32 of the three operating means 3 that move simultaneously at different speeds, making accurate operation more difficult and requiring advanced operations to win prizes, thereby providing a new way of playing. For example, increasing the difficulty level in this way can stimulate the player's spirit of challenge and increase their desire to use the game device repeatedly.

[0020] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, if the moving speeds of the main body 313 and catcher unit 32 of each operating means 3 are different, as shown in Figure 6, even if the main body 313 and catcher unit 32 of one operating means 3 reaches the innermost limit position in the forward / backward direction W, the main body 313 and catcher unit 32 of the other operating means 3 may still be moving. In this case, the settings can be changed to allow the main body 313 and catcher unit 32 of the operating means 3 that are still moving to continue moving, or to stop the movement of the main body 313 and catcher unit 32 of all operating means 3, and this can be adjusted to suit the layout and design of the game.

[0021] 7, the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment of the crane game apparatus of the present invention is that the differential parameter between each operating means 3 is not a preset numerical value, but the physical weight of each catcher unit 32. Specifically, the size and weight of the catcher unit 32 of each operating means 3 can be changed depending on the prize placed in each sub-area 200, so not only do the movement habits of each catcher unit 32 differ depending on their size and weight, but even if the driving force from the drive module 33 (see FIG. 3) is the same, the difference in weight of each catcher unit 32 will result in the movement speed of the main body 313 to which each catcher unit 32 is attached also differing, and this design also makes it possible to differentiate the operation of each operating means 3.

[0022] To summarize the above, the crane game device of the present invention controls each operating means 3 with the control means 4, but the operation of each catcher unit 32 of each operating means 3 can be made different depending on the difference in the differential parameters between each operating means 3, which can create further variety in the game play and thereby achieve the object of the present invention.

[0023] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 2. Case 20 Game Space 200 subareas 3. Operating means 31 Mobile Module 311 First Rail 312 Second Rail 313 Main body 32 Catcher Unit 33 Drive Module 4. Control Measures 41 Operation Interface 42 processor modules T horizontal direction W Front-rear direction

Claims

1. A crane game device comprising: a housing enclosing a game space including a plurality of sub-areas arranged in a predetermined horizontal direction; a plurality of operating means disposed in each of the sub-areas within the game space; and control means connected to each of the operating means in a signal-wise manner, Each of the actuating means is a mobile module disposed above the corresponding sub-area; a catcher unit connected to the transfer module; a drive module connected to the moving module to control the movement of the catcher unit on the moving module, and a differential parameter exists between each of the actuating means; The control means individually controls at least one of the operation means.

2. 2. The crane game device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to have an operation interface that is signal-connected to the drive modules of each of the actuation means, and a processor module that is signal-connected to the operation interface and outputs a control signal based on the difference parameter to each of the drive modules.

3. 3. The crane game machine according to claim 2, wherein the difference parameter is an operating speed that is set in advance so as to correspond to each of the drive modules.

4. 2. The crane game device according to claim 1, wherein the processor module is configured to be switchable between an individual operation mode in which the operation interface outputs a control signal to only the drive module of one of the actuation means, and a simultaneous operation mode in which the operation interface simultaneously outputs control signals to the drive modules of multiple actuation means.

5. 5. The crane game machine according to claim 4, wherein in the individual operation mode, a control signal is output to only the drive module of one selected from the actuating means in response to an operation on the operation interface.

6. 5. The crane game machine according to claim 4, wherein in the individual operation mode, control signals are output sequentially to the drive modules of the respective operating means.

7. 7. The crane game machine according to claim 1, wherein the difference parameter is the weight of the catcher unit that each of the operating means has.

8. A crane game device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the moving modules of each of the operating means are configured to have a first rail extending along a front-to-rear direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, a second rail attached to the first rail so as to be movable along the front-to-rear direction and extending along the lateral direction, and a main body attached to the second rail so as to be movable along the lateral direction.

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