Crane game machine and prize placement structure

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a crane game machine having a prize placement structure that reduces the labor required for prize replenishment work. [Solution] A crane game machine in which prizes are obtained by operating a crane, which has a plurality of prize placement sections, numbered 1 to N, on which prizes are placed. The crane has a chain section that is controlled to rise and fall, a lifting member at the bottom end of the chain section, and a hook section that is linked to each of the plurality of prize placement sections. When the hook section is hooked and lifted with the lifting member, the first prize placement section tilts, causing the prize placed on it to fall. When the lifting member rises to a predetermined height, the lifting member detaches from the hook section. When the hook section is lifted again with the lifting member, the next second prize placement section tilts, causing the prize placed on it to fall, allowing the prizes that were placed on the first to Nth prize placement sections to be obtained in sequence.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a crane game machine in which prizes are obtained by operating a crane, and more particularly to a prize placement structure for the crane game machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional crane games involve players grabbing prizes with a catcher that has two, three, or more claws. This system of directly grabbing prizes with a catcher places restrictions on the size and shape of the prizes, and some players find the program-controlled opening and closing of the claws stressful. Therefore, the applicant has proposed a crane game machine in which, instead of directly grabbing the prize, the hook part is lifted by a lifting member attached to the crane, causing the prize placement part to tilt and the prize placed on it to slide down (Patent Document 1). In this case, one prize placement section corresponds to the operation of one hook section, so prizes need to be frequently replenished. Therefore, the present invention aims to further reduce the number of staff required. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3253459 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a crane game machine having a prize placement structure that reduces the labor required for prize replenishment work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The crane game machine of the present invention is a crane game machine in which a player operates a crane to win prizes, and has a plurality of prize placement sections, numbered 1 to N, on which prizes are placed. The crane has a chain section that is controlled to rise and fall, a lifting member at the lower end of the chain section, and a hook section that is linked to each of the plurality of prize placement sections. When the hook section is hooked and lifted by the lifting member, the first prize placement section tilts, causing the prize placed on it to fall. When the lifting member rises to a predetermined height, the lifting member detaches from the hook section. When the hook section is lifted again by the lifting member, the next second prize placement section tilts, causing the prize placed on it to fall, allowing the player to win the prizes that were placed on the first to Nth prize placement sections in sequence.

[0006] Here, having hook portions linked to each of the multiple prize placement sections means that the first to Nth placement sections are linked to the tilting movement in sequence with the lifting movement of the same hook portion. In the past, there were machines that automatically replenished prizes from the prize shelf when a prize was caught by the catcher, but there was no machine known that tilted the prize placement section in conjunction with the lifting action of the hook section, allowing the prize on top to slide down.

[0007] In the present invention, examples of a structure in which the lifting member disengages from the hook portion when the hook portion is raised to a predetermined height by the lifting member include a structure in which the lifting member is a ring member, the hook portion is approximately L-shaped, the ring member lifts the approximately L-shaped hook portion, the hook portion tilts as it is raised, and the ring member disengages from the hook portion, and a structure in which the lifting member is a ring member, the ring member has a separation portion on the lower side, the ring member lifts the hook portion, and when it is raised above a predetermined height, the separation portion opens and the ring member disengages from the hook portion. An example of a structure in which a separation portion is formed on the lower side of the ring member is one in which the lower ends of a pair of frame members are biased by a spring or the like so that they butt against each other. As long as the frame shape is ring-shaped as a whole, its outer shape may be circular, rectangular, polygonal, or the like, and there is no restriction on the structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the crane game machine of the present invention, a single hook section is lifted by the raising action of the lifting member attached to the lower end of the chain section of the crane, and is linked to multiple prize placement sections from the first to the Nth, so that staff do not need to replenish prizes until all N prizes are used up, thereby reducing the number of people required. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 shows an example of the configuration of a crane game machine according to the present invention. [Figure 2] An example is shown in which the movements of the hook part and the prize placing part are directly linked. [Figure 3] A separation section is formed on the lower side of the ring section, and the movement of lifting the hook section with the ring section is shown in (a) and (b). [Figure 4] Examples of the approximately L-shaped hook portion are shown in (a) and (b). [Figure 5] (a) and (b) show the movement of the hook part and the prize placement part, which are indirectly linked by an electrical signal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An example of the configuration of a crane game machine according to the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. A prize is placed on the prize placement section in a horizontal position, and when the hook section is lifted using the lifting member on the crane side, the prize placement section tilts (falls over) and the prize falls. The present invention is not limited to this example as long as multiple prize placement sections are linked to one hook section.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a crane game machine. The crane game machine 10 has a box shape and is made up of a front surface 10a made of a transparent panel, left and right side surfaces 10b and a rear surface 10c, all of which are also made of transparent panels. The rear surface portion 10c has a plurality of prize placement portions 11A1 to 11D1, 11A2 to 11D2, 11A3 to 11D3, and 11A4 to 11D4 (some reference numerals are omitted in FIG. 1) on the inside thereof.

[0012] The rear end of each prize placing section is pivotally attached to the inside of the rear surface section 10c, and prizes 1a to 1d are placed on each of them while held horizontally. When one of the hook sections 13 on the upper surface of the base members 12A to 12D can be lifted by operating the crane 20 with a lifting member consisting of a ring section 22 attached to a chain member 21 provided at the bottom of the crane 20, the front end of the corresponding prize placing section will fall downward (tilt), and the prize will fall into the drop opening 10h and can be obtained from the removal opening 10d. Although not shown, the crane 20 can be moved left and right and forward and backward by a rail-like running part. For example, the crane can be operated by inserting a coin or the like into the operation unit 10e and using the left and right operation buttons 10f and the front and back operation buttons 10g.

[0013] The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of prize placement sections are linked to one hook section 13. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, four prize placing sections 11A1 to 11D1 are arranged in four vertical tiers in relation to the hook section 13 of the base member 12A, and similarly, four tiers of prize placing sections 11A2 to 11D2 are arranged in relation to the hook section 13 of the base member 12B, four tiers of prize placing sections 11A3 to 11D3 are arranged in relation to the hook section 14 of the base member 12C, and four tiers of prize placing sections 11A4 to 11D4 are arranged in relation to the hook section 14 of the base member 12D. The ring portion 22 is designed to be released from the hook portion 13 when the hook portion 13 is lifted above a predetermined height. The structure will be described later. This allows players to continue playing until they get 16 prizes (4 rows x 4 locations) in this embodiment, which reduces the number of times staff need to replenish prizes and saves manpower.

[0014] Figures 2 and 3 show the side where the tilting action of the prize placement section 11, which falls forward from a horizontally held state, and the lifting action of the hook section 13 are directly linked, and when the hook section 13 is lifted above a predetermined height, the separation section 23a of the ring section 22 opens and comes off. In the following description, the multiple prize placement sections will be referred to as 11 and the multiple base members as 12.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the crane game machine has a crane 20 at the top of the box-shaped main body of the game machine, which is controlled to move left and right and forward and backward by a rail structure or the like (not shown), and a chain member 21 suspended from this crane 20, with a ring portion 22 attached to the lower end of this chain member 21 and controlling its raising and lowering. The chain member 21 is not limited to a plurality of ring pieces connected in series, but may be a string or a soft wire material, as long as the ring portion 22 can swing left and right and front and back. The front side of the game machine has an operation panel 10e into which coins or the like are inserted and operated, operation buttons 10g for moving the crane 20 left and right, and operation buttons 10f for moving it forward and backward.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the ring portion 22 has an attachment portion 23 on the upper side for attachment to the chain member 21 and a separation portion 23a on the lower side. Although the ring portion 22 in this embodiment has a circular shape, it may have any frame shape as long as it has the separation portion 23a on the lower side. The entire ring portion 22 may be formed from spring material, and the tip ends 22c, 22d of the pair of separating portions may be butted against each other. In this embodiment, the pair of frame pieces 22a, 22b are rotatably connected to the chain member 21 on the upper side at an attachment portion 23, and a spring member 24 is attached between the pair of frame pieces 22a, 22b, which applies a tensile force to both of them.

[0017] Next, the structure for placing the prize 1 will be described. The structural example shown in Figure 1 shows an example in which one end 11a of a plate-shaped prize mounting portion 11 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction, and the other end 11b is engaged with an engaging portion 12b provided at the end of the horizontal holding means. The horizontal holding means in this embodiment is an example in which one end of a plate-shaped, bar-shaped or other base member 12 is pivotally attached by a pivot portion 12c, the other end 12a is a free end, and a locking portion 12b is formed at one end. In this example, left and right support bar members 12d, 12e are provided in parallel on the main body side of the game machine, and one end of one of the support bar members 12e, which has a locking portion 12b, is connected to a pivot portion 12c, and the other end 12a is placed on the support bar member 12d. A hook portion 13 is provided on the upper surface side of the base member 12. Although the hook portion 13 in this embodiment has a bent portion in a key shape, any bent shape may be used as long as it is key-shaped. The prize placing section 11 is in a horizontal position when the other end 11b on the free end side is engaged with the engaging section 12b, and the prize 1 is placed thereon. When the player operates the crane and is able to lift the hook portion 13 with the ring portion 22, the locking portion 12b rotates and disengages from the other end portion 11b of the prize placing portion 11 from the locking portion 12b. This causes the prize placing section 11 to tilt (fall) forward, allowing the prize to slide down into the drop opening 31 shown in FIG. 4 and be picked up from the outlet 32. As shown in Figures 2(a) and (b), the hook portion 13 lifted by the ring portion 22 rises as the base member 12 rotates, but since it cannot rise above a certain height, a downward force acts on the separation portion 23a of the ring portion 22, which force opens the separation portion 23a, causing the ring portion 22 to detach from the hook portion 13, and the separation portion 23a of the ring portion 22 to return to its original state due to its elastic force. Furthermore, when the hook portion is released from the ring portion, this hook portion also returns to the horizontal state shown in FIG. 1(a). This allows the player to continue playing the game.

[0018] FIG. 4 shows an example in which a substantially L-shaped hook portion 14 is attached to the upper surface of the base member 12. In this case, the hook portion 14 is composed of a rising portion 14a extending from the upper surface of the base member 12 and a hook portion 14b bent in a substantially horizontal direction toward the free end 12a of the base member 12. As a result, the hook portion 14 is lifted up by the ring portion 22 as shown in FIG. 4(b), and when the base member 12 tilts at a predetermined height, the ring portion 22 comes off the hook portion 14.

[0019] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the base member 12 is provided with the locking portion 12b, which directly holds the prize placing portion 11 horizontally. In contrast to this, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, a bar-shaped engaging piece 13a is connected and fixed obliquely from the end of the prize placing section 11 on the pivot part 11a side, and the tip of this engaging piece 13a is engaged with an engaging part 13c at the tip side of an engaging pin 13d which is controlled to protrude and retract by a driving part 13b such as a solenoid. In addition, a sensor for detecting the rising of the hook portion 13 is provided on the side of the base member 12 to which the hook portion 13 is attached. As a result, when the hook portion 13 is lifted by the ring portion 22, a signal is sent to the drive portion 13b, and the locking pin 13d sinks as shown in Figure 5(b), the locking piece 13a disengages from the locking portion 13c, and the prize placing portion 11 falls forward and tilts. In this way, the present invention is not limited to the interlocking method as long as the player hooks the ring portion 22 onto the hook portion 13 by operating the crane and the prize placing portion 11 tilts in conjunction with the lifting movement. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 1a~1d(1) Prizes 10 Crane Game Machine 10a Front part 10b Side part 10c rear part 10d outlet 10e Control unit 10f Operation buttons 10g Operation button 10h Drop opening 11A1~11D1(11) Prize placement area 12A~12D(12) Base member 12b Locking part 20 Crane 21 Chain member 22 Ring section 23a Separation part

Claims

1. A crane game machine in which a player operates a crane to win a prize, The prize placing section has first to Nth prize placing sections on which prizes are placed, The crane has a chain section that is controlled to rise and fall, and a lifting member at the lower end of the chain section; One end of each of the plurality of prize placement sections is pivotally supported so as to be freely rotatable in the vertical direction, and each is held in a horizontal state by engagement with first to Nth horizontal holding means provided corresponding to the first to Nth prize placement sections, respectively; The first to Nth horizontal holding means are sequentially linked to one hook portion, When the hook portion is hooked and lifted by the lifting member, the locking by the first horizontal holding means is released, and the first prize placing portion tilts, causing the prize placed thereon to fall, When the lifting member rises to a predetermined height, the lifting member is released from the hook portion, When the same hook part is lifted again by the lifting member, the lock of the second horizontal holding means is released, and the second prize placing part tilts, causing the prize placed thereon to fall, thereby allowing the prizes placed on the first to Nth prize placing parts to be obtained in sequence, in this crane game machine.

2. the lifting member is a ring member; The hook portion is substantially L-shaped, 2. The crane game machine according to claim 1, wherein the ring member lifts the generally L-shaped hook portion, and as the hook portion rises, the hook portion tilts and the ring member comes off the hook portion.

3. the lifting member is a ring member; The ring member has a separation portion on a lower side, 2. The crane game machine according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion is lifted by the ring member, and when the hook portion is raised above a predetermined height, the separation portion opens and the ring member is released from the hook portion.

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