Article acquisition apparatus

Abstract

To provide an article acquisition device capable of setting and adjusting with a high degree of freedom by individually controlling a force for gripping an article by a plurality of arm parts and an operation for opening and closing the plurality of arm parts.SOLUTION: The article acquisition device 1 is provided in the article acquisition game device capable of acquiring the article housed inside the article housing portion, is capable of acquiring the article based on the operation of the player, and includes the plurality of arm portions 20 for gripping the article, the first drive mechanism 30 capable of adjusting the force of gripping the article by the plurality of arm portions 20, and the second drive mechanism 40 for separating or bringing the tips of the plurality of arm portions 20 close to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an item capturing device that is provided in an item capturing game device that can capture items stored inside an item storage unit, and that can capture the items based on a player's operation. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an item capturing game device in which a player operates an item capturing device to capture an item contained in an item container.

[0003] As an object acquisition device for such an object acquisition game device, for example, an object grasping device has been proposed that can be attached to a movable base and includes an arm section for grasping an object, a drive mechanism corresponding to the arm section, an elastic body connecting the arm section and the drive mechanism, an arm axis position detection section that detects the position of the arm axis when the arm section rotates, a drive mechanism position detection section that detects the position of the output axis of the drive mechanism, and a drive control section that controls the drive of a motor included in the drive mechanism based on the position of the arm axis and the position of the output axis (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-45204 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the opening and closing movement of the arm section and the strength of the force with which the arm section grips an article are controlled by a single drive mechanism, which means that there is little individual variation / reproducibility in the intervening elastic body, making it difficult to control the two in a balanced manner, and there is a problem in that it is difficult to set and adjust with a high degree of freedom.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and aims to provide an item acquisition device that can be set and adjusted with a high degree of freedom by making it possible to individually control the force with which multiple arm sections grip an item and the operation of opening and closing the multiple arm sections. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) An item acquisition device provided in an item acquisition game device capable of acquiring an item stored inside an item storage unit, the item acquisition device capable of acquiring the item based on an operation by a player, a plurality of arms for gripping the article; a first drive mechanism that can adjust the force with which the plurality of arms grip the article; and a second drive mechanism that increases or decreases the distance between the tips of the arm sections.

[0008] In the configuration (1), the item acquisition device is provided in an item acquisition game device that can acquire items stored inside an item storage unit, and the item acquisition device that can acquire items based on the player's operation includes multiple arm units, a first drive mechanism, and a second drive mechanism. The arms grip an article. The first drive mechanism is capable of adjusting the force with which the multiple arms grip an article. The second drive mechanism increases or decreases the distance between the tips of the multiple arm sections.

[0009] According to the configuration (1), the first drive mechanism adjusts the force with which the multiple arm sections grip an item, and the second drive mechanism can increase or decrease the distance between the tips of the multiple arm sections.

[0010] Therefore, by making it possible to individually control the force with which the multiple arms grip an item and the operation of opening and closing the multiple arms, it is possible to provide an item acquisition device that can be set and adjusted with a high degree of freedom.

[0011] (2) The item acquisition device according to (1), wherein the second drive mechanism is capable of adjusting the spacing between the tips of the arm sections without using any physical member.

[0012] Here, there has been a conventional technology that uses a single drive mechanism (e.g., a torque motor) to adjust the force with which multiple arms grip an item and to control the spacing between the tips of the multiple arms to increase or decrease. However, with this technology, because a single drive mechanism is used to adjust the force and increase or decrease the spacing between the arms, it is difficult to control the drive mechanism, and therefore it has been necessary to provide a physically adjustable stopper at the fully closed position of the multiple arms. Such a physically adjustable stopper sets the spacing between the tips of the multiple arms to a preset dimension, and there is no flexibility to set the spacing to an arbitrary dimension.

[0013] According to the configuration (2), the distance between the tips of the multiple arm portions can be adjusted by the second drive mechanism, without using a physical member such as a physically adjustable stopper. This improves the degree of freedom in setting the distance between the tips of the multiple arm portions to any desired dimension.

[0014] (3) The apparatus further includes a base having a support portion that rotatably supports the plurality of arm portions, the arm portion has a tip end portion that grips the article and a base end portion that is disposed inside the base with respect to the support portion, and when the base end portion is pressed in an up-down direction, the tip ends of the plurality of arm portions move in directions away from each other; The second drive mechanism is a pressing unit that is provided on the base and moves in an up-down direction to simultaneously press the base ends of the plurality of arm units in an up-down direction; The article acquisition device according to (1) or (2) further comprises a second drive unit that moves the pressing unit in the up and down direction.

[0015] In the configuration (2), the item acquisition device further includes a base. The base has a support portion that rotatably supports the plurality of arms. The arm portion has a tip portion that grasps an item and a base portion that is positioned inside the base from the support portion, and when the base portion is pressed in the vertical direction, the tip portions of the multiple arm portions move in a direction away from each other. The second drive mechanism includes a pressing portion and a second drive portion. The pressing portion is provided on the base, moves up and down, and presses the base ends of the plurality of arms up and down simultaneously. The second drive unit moves the pressing unit in the up and down direction.

[0016] Here, the initial state of the multiple arm sections (the state before the player plays, when the tips of the multiple arm sections are closest to each other) has traditionally been determined by providing a separate member in advance to maintain the tips of the multiple arm sections in the closest position, or by manually adjusting the initial state of the multiple arm sections.

[0017] According to the configuration (2), the pressing portion of the second drive mechanism simultaneously presses the base ends of the multiple arm portions in the vertical direction, thereby allowing the tip ends of the multiple arm portions to move (open) in a direction away from each other.

[0018] As a result, by moving the pressing part of the second drive mechanism downward, the multiple arm parts open (the tips move away from each other), and by moving the pressing part upward, the multiple arm parts close under their own weight (the tips move closer to each other). Also, since one pressing part opens and closes the multiple arm parts, the opening degree of the arm parts can be made uniform across the multiple arm parts. Therefore, instead of providing a separate component for setting the initial state or performing manual work to set the initial state, the second drive mechanism makes it possible to adjust the initial state of multiple arm sections, making the work of adjusting the initial state easier. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, by making it possible to individually control the force with which multiple arm sections grip an item and the operation of opening and closing the multiple arm sections, it is possible to provide an item acquisition device that can be set and adjusted with a high degree of freedom. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an article acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view illustrating an article acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a front view illustrating an article acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a second sensor unit of the object acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a second sensor unit of the object acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart of an item acquisition process performed by a control unit that controls the item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention will be described in more detail below using preferred embodiments, but the following embodiments are merely examples of realizing the present invention and the present invention is not limited thereto. [Configuration of the item acquisition device] The configuration of an article acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an article acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] The item acquisition game device on which the item acquisition device 1 is installed comprises a base (not shown) placed on the floor, an item storage section (not shown) placed on the base and storing items (prizes, etc.), a moving device (not shown) installed on top of the item storage section, the item acquisition device 1 attached to the moving device and capable of acquiring items, and a control unit 50 that controls the operation of the moving device and the item acquisition device 1.

[0023] In an item capture game device (not shown), for example, based on the player's operation of an operating unit such as a switch provided on the base, a moving device (not shown) provided on the top of an item storage unit moves the item capture device 1 left and right and front and back, then moves the item capture device 1 downward, clamps an item placed in the item capture device 1 between a pair of arms 20 of the item capture device, moves the item above a drop hole provided on the base, opens the pair of arms 20, and drops the item into the drop hole, thereby discharging the item to the outside. In this way, the player can capture the item placed in the item storage unit.

[0024] The item acquisition device 1 is provided in an item storage section (not shown) of such an item acquisition game device (not shown), is connected to a moving device (not shown) provided on top of the item storage section, and comprises a base 10, multiple arm sections 20, a first drive mechanism 30, and a second drive mechanism 40.

[0025] The base 10 is connected to a moving device (not shown) and has a support part 11 (see FIG. 2 described later) that rotatably supports a plurality of arm parts 20, and has a first drive mechanism 30 and a second drive mechanism 40 attached thereto.

[0026] 2 and 3 are front views illustrating an item acquisition device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In order to facilitate understanding of the arm unit 20, Figs. 2 and 3 show a state in which a cover and the like arranged on the front side of the arm unit 20 have been removed. Fig. 2 shows the item acquisition device 1 in its initial state (a state in which the tips of the multiple arm units 20 are closest to each other (closed state)). Fig. 3 shows the item acquisition device 1 in its open state (a state in which the tips of the multiple arm units 20 are spaced apart from each other (open state)).

[0027] The upper ends of the multiple (two in the example shown in FIG. 2) arm units 20 are rotatably supported on the base 10, are arranged facing each other, and grip an article at their lower ends. Note that, although two arm units 20 are provided in this embodiment, the number is not limited to this, and three or more arm units 20 may be provided. Each arm portion 20 includes an engagement portion 21, a tip portion 22, and a base portion 23.

[0028] The engaging portion 21 engages with a first link portion 31 of a first drive mechanism 30 (described later) at the support portion 11 of the base 10.

[0029] The tip portion 22 is a portion of the arm portion 20 that is disposed on the tip side of the engagement portion 21, and is formed in a generally V-shape when viewed from the front, with a claw portion 221 disposed at the tip.

[0030] The base end 23 of the arm 20 is disposed inside the base 10 relative to the support 11 (engagement portion 21), and has a sliding contact portion 231 that comes into sliding contact with the lower surface of a pressing portion 413 of the second drive mechanism 40, which will be described later.

[0031] As a result, in the initial state shown in Figure 2, the tip ends 22 (claw portions 221) of the multiple arm portions 20 are pressed downward by the downward movement of the pressing portion 413 of the second drive mechanism 40 described later, causing the base ends 23 to rotate around the engagement portion 21, and the claw portions 221 of the tip ends 22 to move away from each other, as shown in Figure 3.

[0032] Furthermore, it is desirable that the surface of sliding contact portion 231 that comes into sliding contact with the lower surface of pressing portion 413 be formed in an arc shape. This makes it possible to convert the force applied by pressing portion 413 to base end portion 23 in the vertical direction into a force that smoothly rotates arm portion 20 around engagement portion 21.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, the first drive mechanism 30 is provided on the base 10 for each arm section 20, and comprises a first link section 31, a first drive section 32, and a first sensor section 33 (see Figure 2), and adjusts the force (torque) with which the multiple arm sections 20 grip an item.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the first link portion 31 is composed of a gear that engages with the engagement portion 21 of the arm portion 20 at the support portion 11 of the base 10 and rotates together with the arm portion 20, and transmits the rotational force of the first drive portion 32 to the arm portion 20.

[0035] The first drive unit 32 is configured by a torque motor, and is controlled by the control unit 50 to apply a rotational force to the first link unit 31.

[0036] The first sensor unit 33 (see FIG. 2) is provided on the base 10 for each of the multiple arm units 20, and detects the angle (hereinafter also referred to as "opening degree") of each arm unit 20 at a certain point in time relative to the initial position of each arm unit 20 (the position in the initial state of the item acquisition device 1 (the state in which the tips of the multiple arm units 20 are closest to each other)), and transmits opening degree information indicating the opening degree to the control unit 50 (see FIG. 1).

[0037] The control unit 50 (see Figure 1) is composed of, for example, a computer, and controls the rotational force of the first drive unit 32 so that the combined force of the closing torque generated by the weight of the arm unit 20 (the force that tries to return the tips of the multiple arm units 20 to the closest position to each other) and the torque generated by the first drive unit 32 (the rotational force that resists the closing torque) becomes a preset torque (the force that grips an item with the multiple arm units 20).

[0038] Here, when the opening degree of each arm unit 20 changes, the closing torque generated by the weight of the arm unit 20 changes. Therefore, the control unit 50 controls the rotational force of the first drive unit 32 based on the opening degree information received from the first sensor unit 33 (see FIG. 2) so that the torque becomes a preset value.

[0039] For example, when the preset torque is greater than the closing torque generated by the weight of the arm sections 20, the control unit 50 controls the rotational force of the first drive unit 32 so that the torque is in a direction (closing direction) that brings the tips of the multiple arm sections 20 closer to each other. On the other hand, when the preset torque is smaller than the closing torque generated by the weight of the arm sections 20, the control unit 50 controls the rotational force of the first drive unit 32 so that the torque is in a direction (opening direction) that moves the tips of the multiple arm sections 20 away from each other. In this way, the control unit 50 controls the rotational force of the first drive unit 32 so as to cancel out the closing torque generated by the weight of the arm unit 20, thereby achieving a preset torque.

[0040] As shown in Figure 2, one second drive mechanism 40 is provided for each of the multiple arm sections 20 on the base 10, and operates the multiple arm sections 20 simultaneously by the same amount, thereby increasing or decreasing the distance between the tips of the multiple arm sections 20 (claw sections 221 of tip sections 22). The second drive mechanism 40 includes a second link unit 41, a second drive unit 42 (see FIG. 1), and a second sensor unit 43 (see FIG. 1).

[0041] The second link portion 41 is driven by a rotational force generated by the second drive portion 42 (see FIG. 1), and includes a gear portion 411, a shaft portion 412, and a pressing portion 413.

[0042] The gear portion 411 is configured by a gear that transmits the rotational force generated by the second driving portion 42 (see FIG. 1) to the shaft portion 412.

[0043] The shaft portion 412 is a shaft member that extends in the vertical direction, has a screw thread formed on its outer surface, and rotates around its axis by the rotational force transmitted from the gear portion 411.

[0044] The pressing portion 413 is a member extending in the horizontal direction, and has a screw thread formed in a hole extending in the vertical direction, which threads onto the shaft portion 412, and the sliding contact portions 231 of the multiple arm portions 20 respectively come into contact with the lower surface of the pressing portion 413. With this configuration, the pressing portion 413 moves in the vertical direction as the shaft portion 412 rotates about its axis. For example, the pressing portion 413 moves downward as the shaft portion 412 rotates forward, and moves upward as the shaft portion 412 rotates backward.

[0045] The pressing portion 413 also has a protrusion 413a that protrudes in the horizontal direction and is detected by the second driving portion 42 (see FIG. 1).

[0046] The second driving unit 42 (see FIG. 1) is configured by a motor, and is controlled by the control unit 50 to apply a rotational force to the shaft unit 412.

[0047] The second sensor unit 43 (see Figure 1) is provided on the base 10 at a position facing the pressing unit 413, and by detecting the position of the pressing unit 413, detects whether the multiple arm units 20 are in a closed state or an open state, and transmits the detected information to the control unit 50.

[0048] 4 and 5 are side views illustrating a second sensor unit of an item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows the initial state of the item acquisition device 1 (the multiple arm units 20 are closed). Fig. 5 shows the open state of the item acquisition device 1 (the multiple arm units 20 are open).

[0049] In detail, second sensor unit 43 includes a closed state detection unit 431 that detects the closed state of the multiple arm units 20, and an open state detection unit 432 that is provided below closed state detection unit 431 and detects the open state of the multiple arm units 20. When closed state detection unit 431 detects protrusion 413a of pressing unit 413 (the state shown in FIG. 4), second sensor unit 43 transmits closed state information to control unit 50. When open state detection unit 432 detects protrusion 413a of pressing unit 413 (the state shown in FIG. 5), second sensor unit 43 transmits open state information to control unit 50.

[0050] The item acquisition device 1 may also include an opening degree adjustment means that controls the second drive unit 42 (see FIG. 1) based on an operation by an administrator of the item acquisition game device to adjust the position and timing at which the multiple arm units 20 are opened or closed. For example, if the opening degree of the multiple arm units 20 is set to 0% during game standby (initial state), the opening degree adjustment means may adjust the opening degree to 100% when the item acquisition device 1 descends and to 50% when the item acquisition device 1 ascends.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an item acquisition process performed by a control unit that controls an item acquisition device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Next, the item acquisition process by the control unit 50 and the operation of the item acquisition device 1 will be described.

[0052] In step S1, the control unit 50 moves the item acquisition device 1 back and forth and left and right using the movement device based on the player's operation of the operation unit, and stops it at a position where it should be lowered.

[0053] In step S2, the control unit 50 rotates the second drive unit 42 of the second drive mechanism 40 in one direction. As a result, the shaft unit 412 rotates forward, and the pressing unit 413 moves downward. Then, when the control unit 50 receives open state information from the second sensor unit 43, it stops driving the second drive unit 42. At this time, the sliding contact portions 231 of the multiple arm units 20 are pressed downward by the pressing unit 413, and the arm units 20 rotate around the engagement units 21, and the claws 221 of the tip units 22 are separated from each other, as shown in FIG. 3 .

[0054] In step S3, the control unit 50 lowers the item acquisition device 1 using the moving device, and stops the descent when it detects contact with the floor or a prize, or at a predetermined position or at a timing based on the player's operation of the operating unit.

[0055] In step S4, the control unit 50 rotates the second drive unit 42 of the second drive mechanism 40 in the other direction. This causes the shaft unit 412 to rotate in the reverse direction, and the pressing unit 413 to move upward. Then, when the control unit 50 receives closed state information from the second sensor unit 43, it stops driving the second drive unit 42. At this time, if the multiple arm units 20 are holding an article (for example, a prize), the pressing unit 413 and the sliding contact unit 231 will be separated from each other.

[0056] In step S4, the control unit 50 controls the rotational force of the first drive unit 32 based on the opening degree information transmitted from the first sensor unit 33 so that the torque becomes a preset torque.

[0057] In step S5, the control unit 50 causes the moving device to raise the item acquisition device 1 and move it to a predetermined open position (for example, above a drop hole provided in the base of the item acquisition game device). Note that in this step, the control unit 50 continues to control the rotational force of the first drive unit 32 from step S4.

[0058] In step S6, the control unit 50 stops driving the first driving unit 32. Furthermore, in step S6, the control unit 50 rotates the second drive unit 42 of the second drive mechanism 40 in one direction. As a result, the shaft unit 412 rotates forward, and the pressing unit 413 moves downward. Then, when the control unit 50 receives open state information from the second sensor unit 43, it stops driving the second drive unit 42. At this time, the sliding contact portions 231 of the multiple arm units 20 are pressed downward by the pressing unit 413, and the multiple arm units 20 rotate around the engagement portions 21, and the claw portions 221 of the tip portions 22 are separated from each other, as shown in FIG. 3 . Then, if an item (e.g., a prize) is sandwiched between the multiple arm units 20, the item will fall downward.

[0059] In step S7, the control unit 50 rotates the second drive unit 42 of the second drive mechanism 40 in the other direction. This causes the shaft 412 to rotate in the reverse direction, and the pressing unit 413 to move upward. Then, upon receiving closed state information from the second sensor unit 43, the control unit 50 stops driving the second drive unit 42. At this time, the multiple arm units 20 rotate around the engagement unit 21 due to their own weight, and reach the state shown in FIG. 2 where the claws 221 of the tip units 22 are closest to each other.

[0060] According to the item acquisition device 1 of this embodiment described above, the first drive mechanism 30 adjusts the force with which the multiple arm sections 20 grip the item, and the second drive mechanism 40 can move the tips of the multiple arm sections 20 closer or farther apart from each other.

[0061] Therefore, by making it possible to individually control the force with which the multiple arm units 20 grip an item and the operation of opening and closing the multiple arm units 20, it is possible to provide an item acquisition device that can be set and adjusted with a high degree of freedom.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the item acquisition device 1, the pressing portion 413 of the second drive mechanism 40 simultaneously presses the base ends 23 of the multiple arm portions 20 in the vertical direction, thereby allowing the claw portions 221 of the tip ends 22 of the multiple arm portions 20 to move (open) in directions away from each other.

[0063] As a result, by moving the pressing part 413 of the second drive mechanism 40 downward, the multiple arm parts 20 open (the claw parts 221 of the tip parts 22 move in directions away from each other), and by moving the pressing part 413 upward, the multiple arm parts 20 close under their own weight (the claw parts 221 of the tip parts 22 move in directions approaching each other). Also, since one pressing part 413 opens and closes the multiple arm parts 20, the opening degrees of the multiple arm parts 20 can be made uniform. Therefore, instead of providing a separate component for setting the initial state or performing manual work to set the initial state, the second drive mechanism 40 can adjust the initial state of multiple arm sections 20, making the work of adjusting the initial state easier.

[0064] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Furthermore, it is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Goods acquisition device 10 base 11 Support part 20 Arm section 21 Engagement portion 22 Tip 23 Proximal end 30 First drive mechanism 31 First link 32 First drive unit 33 First sensor section 40 Second drive mechanism 41 Second link 42 Second drive unit 43 Second sensor section 50 control section 221 Claw 231 Sliding contact part 411 Gear section 412 Shaft 413 Pressing part 413a Protrusion 431 Closed state detection unit 432 Open state detection unit

Claims

1. An item acquisition device is provided in an item acquisition game device that can acquire an item stored inside an item storage unit, and that can acquire the item based on an operation by a player, a plurality of arms for gripping the article; a first drive mechanism that can adjust the force with which the plurality of arms grip the article; and a second drive mechanism that increases or decreases the distance between the tips of the plurality of arm sections.

2. The article acquisition device according to claim 1 , wherein the second drive mechanism is capable of adjusting the distance between the tips of the plurality of arm portions without using a physical member.

3. a base having a support portion that rotatably supports the plurality of arm portions, the arm portion has a tip end portion that grips the article and a base end portion that is disposed inside the base with respect to the support portion, and when the base end portion is pressed in an up-down direction, the tip ends of the plurality of arm portions move in directions away from each other; The second drive mechanism is a pressing unit that is provided on the base and moves in an up-down direction to simultaneously press the base ends of the plurality of arm units in an up-down direction; The article acquisition device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a second drive unit that moves the pressing unit in a vertical direction.

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