Catcher for crane game machines

Abstract

The aim is to provide a crane game catcher that can rotate a pair of arms to match the direction in which the prize is placed. Furthermore, the aim is to provide a catcher that allows for easy control of the opening and closing of a pair of arms. [Solution] A catcher used in a crane game machine, characterized by having a pair of first arms and second arms, an opening and closing mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of the pair of first arms and second arms, and a rotation mechanism for controlling the rotation of the pair of first arms and second arms.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a catcher used in a crane game machine that operates a catcher with a crane to obtain a prize.

Background Art

[0002] The catcher used in a crane game machine has a structure that lifts a prize with a plurality of arms controlled to open and close. Conventionally used catchers include a three-claw type in which three arms are arranged radially and a two-claw type in which a pair of left and right arms open and close. In the case of the three-claw type, the prize is lifted by wrapping the periphery of the prize with three arms, while in the two-claw type, the opposing side portion of the prize is lifted. Therefore, depending on the type of prize, for example, in the case of horizontally long products or figure products, it may be difficult to lift them directly with two claws depending on the longitudinal direction of the prize placed on the prize placement part of the crane game machine. Especially when the player misses catching the prize, the longitudinal direction of the dropped prize may change, and the staff may be required to rearrange the prize.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a two-claw type catcher, which is provided with a spring that individually biases each arm in the closing direction and an opening structure, and the structure is complex. Although the pair of arms is controlled to open and close, it cannot turn in accordance with the longitudinal direction of a horizontally long prize.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a crane game catcher that can rotate a pair of arms to match the direction in which the prize is placed. Furthermore, the aim is to provide a catcher that allows for easy control of the opening and closing of a pair of arms. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The catcher for a crane game machine according to the present invention is characterized by having a pair of first arms and second arms, an opening and closing mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of the pair of first arms and second arms, and a swivel mechanism for controlling the rotation of the pair of first arms and second arms.

[0007] The present invention is characterized by its ability to control not only the opening and closing of a pair of arms, but also their rotation around the horizontal.

[0008] Furthermore, the opening and closing mechanism for the pair of arms is simplified by having a spring member between the first arm and the second arm that biases them in the closing direction, and a wound wire that pulls the first arm and the second arm in the opening direction.

[0009] Specific examples include a first arm and a second arm being pivotally attached to the lower side of the base so as to be openable and closable, and the upper side of the base being connected to a pivot drive unit constituting the pivot mechanism. More specifically, an example is in which the base ends of the first arm and the second arm are each pivotally attached to pivot points provided on the base, and there is a single winding member connected to an opening and closing drive unit constituting the opening and closing mechanism, the lower end of the first winding wire is fixed to the tip side of the pivot point of the first arm, the lower end of the second winding wire is fixed to the tip side of the pivot point of the second arm, and the upper ends of the first and second winding wires are each wound around the winding member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The catcher according to the present invention, even though it is a two-claw type with a pair of first and second arms that open and close, can rotate horizontally. Therefore, players can rotate the catcher to match the shape and length of the prize placed on it, and raise and lower the catcher, allowing for a new way to enjoy the game. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This shows an overall view of the crane game machine. [Figure 2] An example of a catcher's structure is shown. [Figure 3] (a) to (d) are diagrams illustrating how to rotate the catcher to match the direction in which the prize is placed. [Figure 4] This shows an illustration of how the catcher wins the prize. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The following will describe an example of the structure of a catcher according to the present invention, based on the figures. First, Figure 1 will describe an example of the overall structure of a crane game machine. This invention is characterized by its catcher, and there are no restrictions on the structure of the crane game machine as long as this catcher is used.

[0013] The crane game machine has a catcher 20 inside the cabinet 10 that is controlled by a crane 11 to move left and right, forward and backward, and downward and upward. In the example shown in Figure 1, the prize 1 placed on the prize placement section 12 is grabbed and obtained by the catcher 20. The first operation button 15a on the operation section 15 allows the crane 11 to be moved left and right or forward and backward, the second operation button 15b rotates the pair of arms to position the catcher 20 above the prize 1, and when the third operation button 15c is pressed, the gripping claws of the first arm 22 and the second arm 23 of the catcher 20 open and descend. When catcher 20 can grab prize 1, crane 11 moves catcher 20 above drop opening 13, a pair of arms open, prize 1 drops, and can be retrieved from retrieval opening 14.

[0014] Figure 2 shows an example of the structure of catcher 20. A slewing drive unit 26, such as a slewing motor, is connected to the lower end of the crane 11, and the base unit 21 is controlled to rotate horizontally by this slewing drive unit 26. A pair of arms, a first arm 22 and a second arm 23, are provided facing each other at the lower part of the base 21. The first arm 22 and the second arm 23 are attached to the base portion 21 at pivot points 22a and 23a, respectively, so that they can rotate vertically. The first arm 22 and the second arm 23 each have gripping claws 22b and 23b at their tip ends, respectively, for grasping the prize 1, and a spring member 25 biases these pair of gripping claws 22b and 23b in a direction that closes them together. In this embodiment, to control the opening and closing of a pair of arms, the lower end 124b of the first wound wire 24b is fixed to the middle of the first arm 22 from the base towards the tip, and the lower end 124c of the second wound wire 24c is fixed to the middle of the second arm 23 from the base towards the tip, while the upper ends of the first and second wound wires 24b and 24c are wound around a single pulley-shaped winding section 24a. This winding section 24a is attached to one side of the base section 21 and connected to an opening / closing drive unit 24, such as a motor, which is attached to the other side, and its rotation is controlled. As a result, when the first and second winding wires are wound up in the winding section 24a, the pair of first and second arms open against the closing biasing force of the spring member 25. When the opening / closing drive unit 24 rotates in the reverse direction and the winding unit 24a is unwound, the first and second winding wires 24b and 24c loosen and move in a closing direction between them and the pair of gripping claws 22b and 23b. Here, the first wrapped wire material can be thread, string, wire, etc., as long as it can be wrapped around the wrapping section 24a; there are no restrictions on the material. In this embodiment, the first wound wire 24b and the second wound wire 24c are wound around a single winding portion 24a and the winding and rewinding operations are performed, so that the opening and closing operations of the first arm 22 and the second arm 23 are synchronized.

[0015] Next, the movement of the catcher 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), when the shape of the prize 1 is a figure of an animal or a person and is horizontally long, in order to pick it up with a pair of arms, it is easier to pick up if the opening and closing direction of the pair of arms is perpendicular to the long side portion 1a rather than the short side portion 1b of the prize 1. Therefore, as shown in (b), the first arm 22 and the second arm 23 are operated by the turning drive unit 26 so that they can turn in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the prize 1 placed thereon. In that state, as shown in (c) and (d), the interval between the pair of gripping claw portions 22b and 23b is widened, lowered, and then closed to pick up the prize 1. As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and (b), when the prize 1 can be successfully picked up, it moves above the drop hole 13 and the prize 1 can be obtained.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0016] 10 Housing 11 Crane 12 Prize Placement Section 13 Drop Hole 14 Outlet 15 Operation Section 20 Catcher 21 Base Section 22 First Arm 22a Axle Mounting Section 22b Gripping Claw Portion 23 Second Arm 23a Axle Mounting Section 23b Gripping Claw Portion 24 Opening and Closing Drive Unit 24a Winding Portion 24b First Wound Wire 24c Second Wound Wire 25 Spring Member 26 Turning Drive Unit

Claims

1. A catcher used in crane game machines, An opening and closing mechanism having a pair of first arms and second arms, and controlling the opening and closing of the pair of first arms and second arms, It has a pivoting mechanism that controls the rotation of the pair of first and second arms, The opening and closing mechanism between the first arm and the second arm includes a spring member that biases the first arm and the second arm in the closing direction, A catcher for a crane game machine, characterized by having a winding wire that pulls the first arm and the second arm in the opening direction.

2. The first and second arms are pivotally attached to the lower side of the base so as to be able to open and close. The catcher for a crane game machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper side of the base portion is connected to the swivel drive portion that constitutes the swivel mechanism.

3. The base ends of the first arm and the second arm are each pivotally attached to pivot points provided on the base portion. It has one winding member connected to the opening / closing drive unit that constitutes the opening / closing mechanism, The catcher for a crane game machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower end of the first winding wire is fixed to the tip side of the pivot attachment portion of the first arm, the lower end of the second winding wire is fixed to the tip side of the pivot attachment portion of the second arm, and the upper ends of the first and second winding wires are each wound around the winding member.

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