Crane game machine with automatic prize placement function

Abstract

To provide a crane game machine having an automatic prize arrangement function for automatically adjusting the position of a prize placed in the crane game machine.SOLUTION: A showcase 2 in which a chance position CP is set in a prize arrangement space 200 where a prize is arranged, a crane means 3, a position sensor 41 used for generating reference data by detecting the prize placed in the prize arrangement space 200, and a prize arrangement detection sensor 42 for generating a notification signal when detecting that the prize is not arranged in the chance position CP; And a control means 5 used for controlling the movement control part 31 and the catcher part 32 on the basis of reference data from the position sensor 41 and arranging the prize at the chance position CP when receiving a notification signal from a sensing means 4 arranged away from the catcher part 32 of the crane means 3 and a prize arrangement detection sensor 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a crane game machine, and more particularly to a crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function.

Background Art

[0002] Regarding conventional crane game machines, for example, those described in Patent Document 1 can be cited. Further, an example of a conventional crane game machine is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the figure, this crane game machine 1 includes a showcase 10 that defines an internal space 100 suitable for placing a plurality of prizes (not shown), a catcher unit 11 that is disposed within the internal space 100 and is suitable for catching the prizes, and an operation interface 12 that is connected to the showcase 10 and is suitable for moving the catcher unit 11 by operation. During the game, after the player inserts a coin, the player operates the catcher unit 11 via the operation interface 12, thereby catching and obtaining the prizes placed in the internal space 100 by the operator of the crane game machine 1.

[0003] The operator of the crane game machine 1 needs to perform maintenance on the crane game machine 1. In particular, in addition to placing the prizes, adjustment work such as placing them at an appropriate position according to conditions such as the type, size, and weight of the prizes to be placed is required.

[0004] For example, players tend to judge the difficulty of acquisition based on the distance between the prize and the discharge port. That is, if they see that the prize is placed near the discharge port, they feel that it is relatively easy to obtain and their willingness to insert a coin increases. Conversely, if they see that the prize is located far from the discharge port, they feel that it is difficult to obtain and their willingness to play is reduced.

[0005] Therefore, the operator of crane game machine 1 needs to constantly adjust the position of the prizes relative to the dispenser in order to increase the players' willingness to bet. However, this work takes a lot of time, and it is difficult for the operator of crane game machine 1, who is not always near the machine, to constantly monitor the machine and move the prizes. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-138754 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a crane game machine that has an automatic prize placement function that automatically adjusts the position of the prizes placed inside the crane game machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a showcase that defines a prize placement space suitable for arranging prizes that can be caught, and has a prize discharge port that communicates with the prize placement space and discharges the prizes, and the prize placement space has at least one chance position set around the prize discharge port, A crane means is positioned within the prize placement space and has a movable control unit and a catcher unit that is movably connected to the movable control unit and suitable for catching prizes. The system includes a position sensor used to detect the prizes placed within the prize placement space and generate reference data, and a prize placement detection sensor that generates a notification signal when it detects that no prizes are placed at at least one chance location, and the sensing means is positioned away from the catcher portion of the crane means. The present invention provides a crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function, comprising: a control means that is signal-connected to the crane means and the sensing means, and which, upon receiving the notification signal from the sensing means, controls the movement control unit and the catcher unit based on the reference data to place at least one of the prizes at the at least one chance position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] As described above, in the crane game machine with the automatic prize placement function of the present invention, when the prize placement detection sensor (42) of the sensing means (4) detects that no prize is placed in the chance position (CP), the control means (5) controls the movement control unit (31) and the catcher unit (32) based on reference data to place the prize in the chance position (CP). This allows the crane game machine operator to automatically perform the task of observing the position of the prize and placing it in the appropriate position, which would otherwise have been done by the operator, thus benefiting the operation of the crane game machine. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing an example of a conventional crane game machine. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the effects of the embodiment. [Figure 4] This block diagram shows how the control means in this embodiment controls the crane means to move multiple prizes. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] To more clearly illustrate the object, technical means, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention, the technical means in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. It will be clear that the embodiments described are embodiments of parts of the present invention and not all embodiments. Typically, the components of the embodiments of the present invention depicted and shown in the accompanying drawings can be arranged and designed in a variety of different configurations.

[0012] Figure 2 shows one embodiment of a crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function of this embodiment comprises a showcase 2 that defines a prize placement space 200 suitable for placing prizes that can be caught, a crane means 3 having a catcher part 32 and positioned within the prize placement space 200, a sensing means 4 positioned away from the catcher part 32 of the crane means 3, and a control means 5 that is signal-connected to the crane means 3 and the sensing means 4.

[0013] Showcase 2 has a prize discharge port 21 that communicates with the prize placement space 200 and is suitable for discharging prizes, and a discharge sensor 22 that is positioned in the prize discharge port 21 and is used to determine when a prize has passed through.

[0014] As shown in Figure 3, the prize placement space 200 has three chance positions CP set around the prize dispensing port 21. In actual implementation, the chance positions CP may have different shapes and dimensions than those shown in Figure 3, depending on conditions such as the type and size of the prize, and their number may also increase or decrease; in other words, it is sufficient to have at least one chance position CP set around the prize dispensing port 21. Any position located around the prize dispensing port 21 that makes the player recognize that there is a good chance of winning the prize if it is placed there corresponds to a chance position CP in this invention. Furthermore, the dispensing sensor 22 can be configured as an optical sensor, which generates a dispensing signal that can be used as a reference to indicate that a prize has been dispensed when the prize passes through the prize dispensing port 21.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the crane means 3 includes a movement control unit 31 positioned towards the upper part of the prize placement space 200, and the aforementioned catcher unit 32 which is movably connected to the movement control unit 31 and is suitable for catching prizes. Here, the catcher unit 32 employs a configuration that adjusts the drive coil based on the difference in power parameters, thereby making it possible to adjust the force with which the catcher arm of the catcher unit 32 operates, in particular the output when the catcher unit 32 picks up a prize.

[0016] The sensing means 4 is located away from the catcher section 32 of the crane means 3 and includes a position sensor 41 used to detect prizes moved by the catcher section 32 and generate reference data, and a prize placement detection sensor 42 that generates a notification signal when it detects that no prize is placed at at least one of the chance positions CP.

[0017] Here, the primary function of the position sensor 41 is to continuously detect and determine the relative position of a specific prize, thereby determining the status of the catcher unit 32's pick-up. Specifically, the position sensor 41 can be composed of an optical sensor, and the reference data indicates whether or not the catcher unit 32 has successfully caught the prize. Alternatively, the position sensor 41 can be composed of a distance sensor, in which case the reference data indicates the distance between the catcher unit 32 and the prize. By outputting this detection result as reference data to the control means 5, the control means 5 can perform more precise and detailed control.

[0018] In addition, by using an image recognition system as the position sensor 41, the catcher unit 32 outputs an image of the process of catching the prize to the control means 5 as reference data, so that the state of the prize being dropped, the time until the prize is dropped, the situation at the moment when the catcher unit 32 contacts the prize, or the state of the prize being discharged from the catcher unit 32 via the prize discharge port 21 can be provided to the control means 5.

[0019] In addition, in order to reliably detect whether there is a prize at the position determined as the chance position CP, an optical sensor or an image recognition system can be used as the prize placement detection sensor 42.

[0020] The control means 5 is used to control the crane means 3 based on the reference data from the position sensor 41. Specifically, the control means 5 can be configured as software, hardware, firmware, or a machine that outputs a control command to the crane means 3 based on, for example, the numerical value of the reference data and by automatic calculation. Thereby, when the control means 5 receives a notification signal from the prize placement detection sensor 42 of the sensing means 4, that is, when no prize is placed at any chance position CP, the control means 5 controls the movement control unit 31 and the catcher unit 32 of the crane means 3 based on the reference data from the position sensor 41, and is used to place at least one prize placed at a position other than the chance position CP at the chance position CP where no prize is placed.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 together for explanation, when the operator of the crane game machine with the prize automatic placement function of the present invention places prizes in the prize placement space 200, first, prizes need to be placed at each chance position CP and spare prizes also need to be placed at locations other than the chance position CP. Then, when the prize placed at the chance position CP is acquired or moved outside the chance position CP, the prize placement detection sensor 42 of the detection means 4 detects this and outputs a notification signal to the control means 5. The control means 5 that receives the notification signal from the prize placement detection sensor 4 determines the position and distance of the spare prize at a location other than the chance position CP based on the reference data from the position sensor 41, and controls the movement control unit 31 and the catcher unit 32 of the crane means 3 to catch the spare prize at a location other than the chance position CP and move it to the vacant chance position CP for release. Thereby, the cumbersome operation of constantly observing the prizes in the game machine and placing the products at appropriate positions each time when necessary, which the operator of the crane game machine should have performed, can be automatically completed on behalf of the operator of the crane game machine.

[0022] Incidentally, regarding the timing when the operation of "lifting the spare prize at a location other than the chance position CP and moving it to the vacant chance position CP" is specifically performed, it can be set so that it is not executed during the player's operation, for example, during a predetermined maintenance time, an off-peak time zone, or when the time when it is not played exceeds a predetermined time, or when the situation where there is no prize at the chance position CP has elapsed for a predetermined time, etc., and can be appropriately determined by the operator of the crane game machine.

[0023] In summary, in the crane game machine with the automatic prize placement function of the present invention, when the prize placement detection sensor 42 of the sensing means 4 detects that no prize is placed at the chance position CP, the control means 5 controls the movement control unit 31 and the catcher unit 32 based on reference data to place the prize at the chance position CP. Therefore, the task of constantly monitoring the status of the crane game machine 1 and placing the prize in the appropriate position, which had to be done by the crane game machine operator, is performed automatically on behalf of the crane game machine operator, thus reliably achieving the objective of the present invention, which is to automatically adjust the position of the prizes placed inside the crane game machine.

[0024] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible without departing from its essence. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 2 Showcases 200 Prize Placement Spaces 21 Prize Dispensing Port 22 Discharge sensor 3. Crane means 31 Movement Control Unit 32 Catchers 4 Sensing means 41 Position sensor 42 Prize placement detection sensor 5. Control means CP Chance Position

Claims

1. A showcase comprising a prize placement space suitable for arranging prizes that can be caught, a prize discharge port communicating with the prize placement space and for discharging the prizes, and the prize placement space having at least one chance position set around the prize discharge port, A crane means is provided, which is positioned within the prize placement space and has a movable control unit and a catcher unit that is movably connected to the movable control unit and suitable for catching prizes. The crane means includes a position sensor used to continuously detect the relative positions of the prizes placed within the prize placement space and generate reference data, and a prize placement detection sensor that generates a notification signal when it detects that no prize is placed at at least one chance position, and the sensing means is positioned away from the catcher part of the crane means, A crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function, comprising: a control means that is signal-connected to the crane means and the sensing means, and which, upon receiving the notification signal from the sensing means, controls the movement control unit and the catcher unit based on the reference data to place at least one of the prizes at the at least one chance position.

2. The crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor of the sensing means is an optical sensor, and the reference data is data indicating whether or not the catcher unit has successfully caught the prize.

3. The crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor of the sensing means is a distance sensor, and the reference data is data indicating the distance between the catcher unit and the prize.

4. The crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor of the sensing means is an image recognition system, and the reference data is an image of the process in which the catcher unit catches the prize.

5. The prize placement detection sensor of the sensing means is an optical sensor or an image recognition system, the crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The crane game machine having an automatic prize placement function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the showcase is positioned at the prize discharge port and further comprises a discharge sensor used to determine when a prize has passed through.

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