crane game machine

Abstract

The goal is to provide a crane game machine that makes it easy to automatically press and move the prizes, and offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of the size and type of prizes it can handle. [Solution] The invention is characterized by comprising a table on which prizes are placed, a catcher for lifting and capturing prizes on the table, and a pusher for pressing and moving prizes on the table.

Description

Technical Field

[0005] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a crane game machine that captures and enjoys getting prizes with a catcher that can move in the left - right, front - back, and up - down directions, and particularly relates to a crane game machine that can automatically replenish prizes and adjust their movement.

Background Art

[0002] A crane game machine is a type of game machine that enjoys lifting a prize placed on a table with a catcher and dropping it into a prize slot to get it. When replenishing prizes on the table or when a prize dropped by a player during the game, the position of the prize does not necessarily settle at a predetermined position on the table. Until now, the staff at the game venue has dealt with this by rearranging it each time. Since it is difficult for the staff to handle this, there has been a demand to achieve labor - saving by automatically adjusting the position of the prizes or automating the replenishment of the prizes.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a crane game machine provided with a moving mechanism for moving a prize to a predetermined position on a placement table (on the table). However, the crane game machine disclosed in the same publication arranges a pair of U - shaped moving members along the diagonal line of the placement surface, and there are significant limitations on the size of the prizes that can be moved.

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 machine that allows for easy automatic pressing and moving of prizes and offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of the size and type of prizes it can handle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The crane game machine according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a table on which prizes are placed, a catcher for lifting and capturing prizes on the table, and a pusher for pressing and moving prizes on the table.

[0007] Here, "catcher" refers to a known catcher that is attached to a crane arm and is controlled to move left and right, forward and backward, and to rise and fall in order to capture prizes, and has opening and closing claws for capturing prizes.

[0008] In this invention, a pusher that presses and moves prizes on a table refers to a device that presses and moves prizes to a predetermined position on the table. Therefore, it has a pressing plate or pressing bar that contacts the prize from the side, and a drive unit that moves it forward and backward.

[0009] Here, it is preferable that the pusher has a first pusher that presses and moves the prize in the left-right direction and a second pusher that presses and moves it in the front-back direction. In this way, the prizes can be moved to their designated positions on the table using two simple pushers.

[0010] In recent years, prizes have become larger, and the slot for inserting prizes is often located on the left or right corner of the front of the machine. Therefore, it is preferable that the table has a prize insertion slot on either the left or right side of the front, the first pusher is located behind the prize insertion slot, and the second pusher pushes the prize that has been pushed and moved in the left-right direction by the first pusher in the front-back direction.

[0011] The crane game machine according to the present invention may have a prize stocker, and when a prize on the table is lifted, captured, and obtained by the catcher, the prize may be dropped from the stocker to be replenished. In this system, the stocker has a prize holder that holds prizes horizontally. When it automatically detects that there are no more prizes on the table, the front of this holder tilts downward, causing the prizes to fall onto the table under their own weight. A pusher then presses and moves the prizes to their designated positions. However, the automatic prize replenishment mechanism is not limited to this. This approach allows for further reductions in manpower. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In this invention, the position of a prize dropped by a player during the game can be returned to its predetermined original position, and the position of the next prize that has been automatically replenished can be automatically adjusted by pressing, eliminating the need to call in staff each time and thus reducing manpower. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] The appearance of the crane game machine according to the present invention is shown. [Figure 2] (a) to (e) show the flow of operations for pressing and moving the prize. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The configuration of the crane game according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the diagram. Figure 1 shows an external view. The system includes a table 11 on which prize 1 is placed, and a catcher 2 for capturing and obtaining the prize placed on the table 11. The catcher 2 can be moved in the left-right and front-back directions using the operating lever 15a provided on the control panel 15, and a known mechanism is used. When the catcher 2 is positioned above the prize 1, it descends, has opening and closing claws for capturing the prize, and has its operation button 15b.

[0015] This embodiment is an example having an inlet 16 for the prize lifted by the catcher 2 at the left corner portion on the front side of the table 11. The prize 1 that has fallen toward the inlet 16 can be taken out from the outlet 17 to get the prize 1. When the prize 1 runs out on the table 11, it is automatically detected, and the next prize 1 previously placed (stocked) on the stocker 14 is replenished onto the table 11. The stocker 14 in this embodiment has a plate-like placement member 14a held horizontally, and the prize 1 is stocked thereon. Although not shown in the figure, when the horizontal holding mechanism of this placement member is released, as shown in Fig. 2(b), the front end side of the placement member 14a inclines downward, and it is an example where the prize 1 falls.

[0016] The flow of moving the prize 1 to a predetermined position on the table 11 will be described based on Fig. 2. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2(a), there is an inlet 16 for the prize 1 at the left corner portion on the front side of the table 11. When the prize 1 captured by the opening and closing claws 2a, 2b, 2c of the catcher 2 is obtained from the outlet 17 via the inlet 16, it is automatically detected that the prize 1 has disappeared from the table 11. Then, the prize 1 falls from a predetermined stocker 14 and is replenished onto the table 11 as shown in Fig. 2(b).

[0017] Next, the first pusher 12 operates on the prize 1 replenished by falling onto the table 11, and presses and moves the prize 1 from the left to the right as shown in Fig. 2(c). Similar to the second pusher 13 described later, the first pusher 12 has a drive portion that moves a pressing member forward and backward. The drive portion is not particularly limited in its mechanism as long as the pressing member is supported to move forward and backward with respect to this drive portion. For example, examples include belt drive that drives an endless belt with a motor or the like, wire drive that stretches a wire or the like, and shaft drive by a ball screw or the like. Next, as shown in FIG. 2(d), the second pusher 13, which is composed of a pressing member connected via a support member 13b slidably supported by the drive unit 13a, operates to press and move the prize 1 to a predetermined position 11a on the front side. Thereby, the prize 1 is placed at a predetermined position. Such movement of the prize not only occurs when replenishing the next prize as described above, but also automatically operates to return the prize to its original position when the player fails to get the prize and the position of the dropped prize is displaced. Therefore, it is preferable to have a sensor that detects the position of the prize on the table, and the pusher can press and move the prize while detecting the position of the prize on the table using various sensors.

Explanation of Signs

[0018] 1 Prize 2 Catcher 11 Table 12 First Pusher 13 Second Pusher 14 Stocker 15 Operation Panel 16 Insertion Port 17 Extraction Port

Claims

1. A table for placing the prizes, The table is equipped with a catcher for lifting and capturing the prizes on the table, The table has a pusher that presses and moves the prizes on it, The pusher comprises a first pusher in the shape of a flat plate that presses and moves the prize in the left-right direction, and a second pusher in the shape of a flat plate that presses and moves in the front-back direction. The table has a prize insertion slot on either the left or right side of the front, and the first pusher is located behind the prize insertion slot. The crane game machine is characterized in that the second pusher pushes the prize that has been pushed and moved in the left-right direction by the first pusher in the front-back direction.

2. We have a prize storage unit, The crane game machine according to claim 1, characterized in that when a prize on the table is lifted, captured, and obtained by the catcher, a prize is dropped and replenished from the stocker.

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