Game device

Abstract

To provide a novel technique enabling safe access to an internal space demarcated by a transparent cover.SOLUTION: A game device 3 comprises: multiple operation sections 20 provided with a gap in an outer periphery of the device in a top view; a transparent cover 10 for demarcating an internal space provided in the center of the device in a top view; a door section 13 provided in the transparent cover 10; and a support structure 58 for supporting the transparent cover 10 rotatably in a horizontal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Some game devices have an internal space defined by a transparent cover as a play space or a game space, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an example of this type of game device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-342843 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the above-mentioned gaming device is used as a pusher game device, it is necessary to replenish prizes paid out during operation and to perform maintenance on the automatic shovel, etc. For example, the replenishment of prizes involves decorative initial placement, such as piling up a large number of prizes on the pusher table or on a fixed table on which the pusher table reciprocates, in order to enhance the effect of attracting players. Patent Document 1 describes a gaming device in which one side of the transparent cover is used as a fulcrum, and the other side is raised while the transparent cover is fixed in place, and then replenishment, maintenance, and other operations are performed.

[0005] However, when working with one side of the transparent cover lifted, there is a risk that the worker's hand may be caught if the transparent dome falls during work. Also, there is a problem that the game device cannot be played while one side of the transparent dome is lifted.

[0006] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a new technique that allows safe access to an interior space defined by a transparent cover. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The first invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a game device comprising a plurality of operating sections spaced apart around the periphery of the device when viewed from above, a transparent cover defining an internal space in the center of the device when viewed from above, a door section provided in the transparent cover, and a support structure that supports the transparent cover so that it can rotate left and right.

[0008] According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to safely access the internal space through the door portion without lifting the transparent cover.

[0009] A second invention is a game device in which the transparent cover has a rotationally symmetric shape when viewed from above, and the door portion is provided on the side of the transparent cover so that it can be positioned in front of any of the operating portions by rotating the transparent cover left and right.

[0010] According to the second aspect of the present invention, by rotating the transparent cover left and right to a position in front of the operation unit, the operator can access the internal space from the front of the operation unit.

[0011] The third invention is a game device that is the above-mentioned game device, and is equipped with a rotation lock mechanism that locks the rotation of the transparent cover in the left-right direction, a lock operation unit that releases the lock caused by the rotation lock mechanism provided in the internal space, and a locking unit that locks the door unit.

[0012] According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to lock the rotation of the transparent cover in the left and right directions, and the locking part can prevent the door from being opened accidentally.

[0013] A fourth invention is a game device in which, in the above-mentioned game device, the rotation lock mechanism can lock the transparent cover when the left-right rotation position of the transparent cover is at a predetermined fixed position, and the lock operation unit is provided in a position where it can be operated when the door unit is opened when the rotation position is at the fixed position.

[0014] According to the fourth invention, the transparent cover is locked when it is positioned at a predetermined fixed position, and in order to unlock the transparent cover, it is necessary to unlock the door section and operate the lock operation section.

[0015] A fifth invention is a game device in which the width of the door section is equal to or less than the separation width between adjacent operating sections, and the fixed position is the rotational position when the door section is positioned between the adjacent operating sections.

[0016] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the transparent cover is in the fixed position, the door portion is located between the adjacent operation portions, so that the outline of the door portion does not obstruct the view of the player operating the operation portion.

[0017] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the game device described above, wherein the number of the operation units is four, and the door units are provided at positions that are two-fold symmetrical to the transparent cover when viewed from above.

[0018] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, two door sections are provided on opposite sides of the transparent cover for the four operating sections, which means that the angle by which the transparent cover is rotated to position the door section in the desired position is 180 degrees or less, improving the workability of maintenance and other operations.

[0019] A seventh invention is a game device in which, in the above-mentioned game device, the transparent cover has a hemispherical or approximately hemispherical shape, the door portion is located between the zenith portion and the lower end portion of the transparent cover, and the upper portion has a convex shape.

[0020] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, even if an opening into which the door portion is fitted is provided on the side surface of the semi-spherical or substantially semi-spherical transparent cover, it is relatively easy to ensure the strength of the transparent cover.

[0021] An eighth invention is a game device in which, in the above-mentioned game device, the transparent cover has a lower end flange, and the support structure has a roller that supports the underside of the lower end flange, and an anti-slip structure that prevents the lower end flange from shifting inward and outward and upward.

[0022] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the transparent cover is supported by rollers and prevented from shifting inward, outward, or upward directions. This reduces the force required to rotate the transparent cover left and right, eliminating the need to worry about the transparent cover coming off during maintenance work, and improving the ease of maintenance work. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a game device. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a top view showing an example of the configuration of a game device. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] Enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the door area. [Figure 5] Enlarged vertical cross-section of the area around the door (with the door removed). [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the game device with the door removed and the access opening moved. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a top view showing an example of the configuration of a modified example of the game device. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective external view showing a configuration example of a modified example of the game device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but it goes without saying that the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the following embodiments.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective external view showing an example of the configuration of a game device 3 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view showing an example of the configuration of the game device 3. As shown in FIG. The game device 3 is a pusher game device. The game device 3 has a transparent cover 10 covering the center of the top of the base 5, defining an internal space in the center of the device, and has a total of four operation units 20 provided at intervals on the periphery of the device outside the transparent cover 10. The game device 3 has a set of automatic shovels 21, pusher tables 22, and fixed tables 24 arranged in a cross shape when viewed from above, corresponding to each operation unit 20. That is, the game device 3 is configured so that up to four people can play at the same time.

[0026] In the center of the internal space defined by the transparent cover 10, a tower section 30 is erected, which houses a mechanism for reciprocating the pusher table 22 on the fixed table 24. An annular valley section is formed around the lower part of the tower section 30, and an annular rotary table 32 is disposed at the bottom of the valley section. The annular rotary table 32 is disposed so as to be rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise when viewed from directly above about a central vertical axis (an axis that passes through the center of the game device 3 and is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the surface on which the game device 3 is installed). The operator places a large number of prizes, which are game media, on the annular rotary table 32. The prizes can be selected as appropriate, but may be, for example, sweets or small toys.

[0027] The operating unit 20 is provided with an operating switch and the like for operating the automatic shovel 21. When the player presses the first operation switch on the operation unit 20, the automatic shovel 21 is automatically controlled to extend its arm toward the circular rotary table 32, scoop up a prize with the bucket, and then retract its arm to return the bucket to above the pusher table 22. Then, when the player presses the second operation switch, the automatic shovel 21 is automatically controlled to return the bucket and drop the prize that it had scooped up onto the pusher table 22.

[0028] The pusher table 22 advances / retracts from the side of the tower section 30 and reciprocates along the top surface of the fixed table 24 toward the prize payout opening 40 (outward). The fixed table 24 extends from the tower portion 30 above each of the operating portions 20 so as to straddle the valley of the annular rotary table 32 .

[0029] The prizes dropped from the automatic shovel 21 onto the pusher table 22 join the prizes already placed on the pusher table 22, and some of the prizes on the pusher table 22 are pushed in a domino effect by the next reciprocating motion and drop onto the fixed table 24. The prize that falls onto the fixed table 24 joins the prizes already on the fixed table 24. The next reciprocating movement of the pusher table 22 pushes the prizes on the fixed table 24 in a domino effect, and if the prize successfully falls into the prize payout opening 40, the prize that fell will slide into the prize take-out opening 42 and can be taken out of the machine. In other words, the player can win a prize.

[0030] The transparent cover 10 is a hollow body that is rotationally symmetrical in top view, with a central vertical axis (the same as or approximately the same as the rotation axis of the annular rotary table 32) as the axis of symmetry. In the example of Figs. 1 and 2, the transparent cover 10 is made of transparent resin and has a hemispherical (or approximately hemispherical) shape. The transparent cover 10 is placed over the base 5 with the spherical opening facing downward (the open end facing the upper surface of the base 5) and the open end resting on the roller 50 exposed on the upper surface of the base 5.

[0031] FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the roller 50 and its surroundings. The transparent cover 10 has a bottom flange 12 extending from the outer periphery of the opening. The bottom surface of the bottom flange 12 is flat and annular.

[0032] The base 5 has an annular guide groove 52 at a position opposite the lower end flange 12 of the transparent cover 10, and the rolling surface of a roller 50 fixed inside the base 5 is exposed upward at the bottom of the guide groove 52.

[0033] A plurality of rollers 50 are arranged along guide groove 52 so as to face bottom flange 12 of transparent cover 10. Each roller 50 is fixed so that its rolling direction is tangent to the annular shape of bottom flange 12 of transparent cover 10 at its respective position.

[0034] The transparent cover 10 is loosely fitted into the guide groove 52, with the lower flange 12 supported by a plurality of rollers 50. A flange cover 54 is placed over the lower flange 12 from above. The flange cover 54 is fixed to the base 5 by appropriate bolts or a fitting structure. The guide groove 52 and the flange cover 54 function as a slippage prevention structure 56 that prevents the lower flange 12 from slipping inward and outward and upward, and the transparent cover 10 is supported so as to be slidable in the groove direction of the guide groove 52, but will not come off upward from the guide groove 52.

[0035] In other words, the guide groove 52, flange cover 54, and roller 50 form a support structure 58 that allows the transparent cover 10 to slide left and right on a predetermined circular course and supports it rotatably around a vertical axis in the center of the device.

[0036] Although four rollers 50 are depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the number and arrangement of the rollers 50 are not limited to this and may be set as appropriate.

[0037] 1 and 2, the transparent cover 10 has two door sections 13 on its side that allow access to the internal space. The two door sections 13 are provided in a diametrical relationship (dichotomously symmetrical positions) when viewed from above.

[0038] The door portion 13 is designed as a removable lid-like door or hatch that can be fitted into an access opening 14 opened in the side of the transparent cover 10. Of course, it may also be a door supported by a hinge or a sliding hatch that opens and closes by sliding movement.

[0039] 1 and 2, door portion 13 is located between the top and bottom of transparent cover 10, and has an upper width that is narrower than the lower width, with an arc-shaped upper portion. When viewed from the front, door portion 13 can also be said to have a convex shape with an upper portion that forms a single arc.

[0040] The maximum width of the door section 13 is equal to or less than the separation width between adjacent operation sections 20. In other words, when the door section 13 is positioned between adjacent operation sections 20, the size is set so that the boundary line between the door section 13 and the access opening 14 does not overlap the front of the player's field of vision when the player faces forward away from the operation sections 20.

[0041] FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the door portion 13 and its surroundings. The game device 3 has a locking unit 60 that locks the door unit 13. The locking unit 60 can be realized by, for example, a cylinder lock 61 attached to the door unit 13, a key 62, and a flap 63.

[0042] Cylinder lock 61 has a structure that prevents key 62 from being removed when key 62 is inserted and turned to the unlocked position, and is a type of lock in which flap 63 rotates when locking / unlocking. Cylinder lock 61 is fixed so that the keyhole is exposed on the outside of transparent cover 10 and flap 63 is on the inside.

[0043] The access opening 14 has ribs 15 that are locally thicker toward the inside of the transparent cover 10. The ribs 15 not only serve as a frame for fitting the door portion 13, but also compensate for the loss of strength that occurs when an opening is provided on the side of the transparent cover 10.

[0044] When cylinder lock 61 is placed in the locked position, flap 63 engages with rib 15, fixing door section 13 to access opening 14. When door section 13 is fixed to access opening 14, the outer surface of door section 13 is flush with its surroundings, maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the hemispherical shape of transparent cover 10.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the game device 3 has four rotation lock mechanisms 70 that fix the transparent cover 10 to the base 5 at predetermined fixed positions and lock the rotation of the transparent cover 10 in the left and right directions.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the four operation units 20 are provided at positions of 0° (upward in FIG. 2), 90°, 180° (downward in FIG. 2), and 270°, with the upward direction when viewed from directly above the game device 3 being an angle of 0°. The four rotation lock mechanisms 70 are provided at positions of 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°. Two of the rotation lock mechanisms 70 are provided in accordance with the diametrical positional relationship of the door units 13. Therefore, when the rotational position of the transparent cover 10 is in the fixed position, the door units 13 are located at two diametrical positions among 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°, and are located between adjacent operation units 20.

[0047] FIG. 4 also serves as an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the rotation lock mechanism 70 and its surroundings. One rotation lock mechanism 70 has a lock hole 71 , a lock pin 72 , a pull solenoid 73 , and a locking switch 74 .

[0048] The lock hole 71 is a hole for fitting a lock pin 72 recessed upward from the bottom surface of the lower end flange 12 of the transparent cover 10. When the lock pin 72 is fitted into the lock hole 71, the transparent cover 10 cannot slide relative to the base 5.

[0049] The lock pin 72 is a pin that penetrates the bottom of the guide groove 52 and protrudes upward, and may also serve as the armature of the pull solenoid 73.

[0050] The locking switch 74 is a lock operation unit 75 that locks / unlocks (releases) the lock provided by the rotation lock mechanism 70, and is a switch that opens and closes a circuit that supplies an operating current to the pull solenoid 73.

[0051] The transparent cover 10 can be fixed and locked to the base 5 when the front of the door portion 13 is at any of the angles of 45°, 135°, 225°, or 315° as shown in Figure 2. The door portion 13 fits between adjacent operating portions 20, and the door portion 13 and the access opening 14 do not obstruct the player's view.

[0052] Next, a method for accessing the internal space of the transparent cover 10 using the door portion 13 will be described. As shown in Figure 5, the worker inserts key 62 into the keyhole of cylinder lock 61 and turns it to the unlock position. In the unlock position, key 62 cannot be removed from the cylinder, so the worker uses this as a handle to pull door portion 13 toward themselves and remove it from access opening 14.

[0053] When the door portion 13 is removed, the worker can access the internal space of the transparent cover 10 through the access opening 14, and the worker can replenish the prizes.

[0054] The worker does not need to lift the transparent cover 10, nor does he need to fix one side of the transparent cover 10 in a lifted state. Furthermore, there is no need to insert a hand under the lifted transparent cover 10 to work. Therefore, even if the lifted transparent cover 10 falls, the worker's hand will not be pinched. Furthermore, even if one access opening 14 is open, the transparent cover 10 remains in front of each operation unit 20 as usual, allowing access to the internal space without interrupting operation of the game device 3.

[0055] The locking switch 74 is located immediately when the operator inserts his / her hand through the access opening 14. The operator inserts his / her hand into the opening of the access opening 14 and presses the nearest locking switch 74 to unlock the transparent cover 10. This allows the transparent cover 10 to slide left and right along the guide groove 52.

[0056] The ribs 15 at the access opening 14 are thickened and suitable for gripping by hand. An operator can move the access opening 14 to a desired position by placing their hand on it and pulling or pushing it left or right, as shown by the arc-shaped arrow in Figure 6. In other words, when the rotation lock mechanism 70 is unlocked, the door 13 and access opening 14 can be positioned directly in front of any operating unit 20 by rotating the transparent cover 10 left or right.

[0057] By sliding the transparent cover 10 so that the access opening 14 is positioned in front of the operation unit 20, maintenance of the automatic shovel 21 of the operation unit 20 can be performed. In addition, tasks such as stacking prizes on the pusher table 22 or fixed table 24 can be performed without stopping operation of the game device 3.

[0058] After completing the necessary work on the internal space, the worker rotates the transparent cover 10 to position the access opening 14 between the adjacent operating units 20. Then, the worker presses the locking switch 74 to activate the pull solenoid 73, and secures the transparent cover 10 to the base 5.

[0059] Finally, the worker fits the door section 13 into the access opening 14, turns the key 62 to the lock position, and removes it. This causes the flap 63 to engage with the rib 15 of the access opening 14, fixing the door section 13 to the access opening 14 and locking it.

[0060] According to this embodiment, safe access to the internal space defined by the transparent cover is possible, allowing workers to perform tasks such as replenishing and arranging prizes and performing maintenance on the mechanisms housed within the internal space more safely than before.

[0061] In addition, according to this embodiment, the game device remains playable even while work is being performed, and the time the game device is down due to work can be reduced compared to conventional methods, enabling more efficient operation.

[0062] [Modification] Although examples of embodiments to which the present invention is applied have been described above, the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above forms, and constituent elements can be added, omitted, or modified as appropriate.

[0063] (Variation 1) For example, in the above embodiment, the game device 3 is a pusher game machine, but the content of the game played on the game device 3 is not limited to a pusher game. Also, although a hemisphere is exemplified as the transparent cover 10, this is not limiting. The number of door portions 13 provided on the transparent cover 10 is not limited to two.

[0064] For example, Figure 7 is a top view of a game device 3B to which the present invention is applied, and the same components as those in the game device 3 of the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. The game device 3B basically has the same configuration as the game device 3, but has operation units 20 provided in three locations. The transparent cover 10B is a hexagonal prism that is hexagonal when viewed from above, and has flat door portions 13B in three locations.

[0065] 8 is a perspective view of a gaming device 3C to which the present invention is applied, and the same components as those in the gaming device 3 of the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. The gaming device 3C is an example of a crane game machine in which four operation units 20 are arranged in a cross shape when viewed from above and can be played by up to four people simultaneously. Players enjoy the game by operating the crane units 26 corresponding to each operation unit 20.

[0066] The transparent cover 10C of the game device 3C has an inverted bottomed cylinder shape and is provided with only one door portion 13C. The rotation lock mechanism 70 was also provided every 90° as viewed from above in FIG. 2 in the above embodiment, but in the game device 3B, it is provided in only one location. Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0067] (Variation 2) Also, for example, the lock pin 72, pull solenoid 73, and locking switch 74 may be omitted from three of the four rotation lock mechanisms 70, and the lock pin 72, pull solenoid 73, and locking switch 74 may be provided for only one of them. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 3...Game device 10...Transparent cover 12...Bottom flange 13...Door section 20...Operation unit 22...Pusher table 24...Fixed table 50...Laura 52...Guide groove 56...Slip prevention structure 58...Support structure 60...Lock section 61...Cylinder lock 62...Key 70...Rotation lock mechanism 73...Pull solenoid 74...Locking switch 75...Lock operation section

Claims

1. a plurality of operation units provided at intervals on the outer periphery of the device when viewed from above; a transparent cover provided in a central portion of the device in a top view and defining an internal space; a door portion provided on the transparent cover; a support structure that supports the transparent cover so that the transparent cover can rotate left and right; A game device comprising:

2. the transparent cover has a rotationally symmetric shape in a top view, The door portion is provided on a side of the transparent cover so that it can be positioned in front of any of the operation units by rotating the transparent cover left and right.

2. The game device according to claim 1.

3. a rotation lock mechanism that locks the rotation of the transparent cover in the left and right directions; a lock operation unit that releases the lock by the rotation lock mechanism provided in the internal space; a locking unit that locks the door unit; The game device according to claim 1 , comprising:

4. the rotation lock mechanism can lock the transparent cover when the rotation position of the transparent cover in the left-right direction is at a predetermined fixed position; The lock operation unit is provided at a position where it can be operated when the door unit is opened while the rotation position is at the fixed position.

4. The game device according to claim 3.

5. The width of the door portion is equal to or less than the separation width between the adjacent operation portions, The fixed position is the rotation position when the door unit is positioned between the adjacent operation units.

5. The game device according to claim 4.

6. The operation units are four in number, The door portion is provided at a position that is two-fold symmetrical to the transparent cover when viewed from above.

6. The game device according to claim 1.

7. the transparent cover has a hemispherical or substantially hemispherical shape; The door portion is located between the top and bottom ends of the transparent cover, and has a convex upper portion.

6. The game device according to claim 1.

8. the transparent cover has a bottom flange; The support structure includes: a roller supporting the lower surface of the lower end flange; a displacement prevention structure that prevents the lower end flange from displacing inward and outward and upward; having 6. The game device according to claim 1.

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