Article acquisition device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an article acquisition device that makes it possible to individually control the force for gripping an article with a plurality of arm parts and an operation for opening / closing the plurality of arm parts, and thereby enables a high degree of freedom in setting and adjusting. [Solution] An article acquisition device 1 is characterized by: being provided in an article acquisition game device in which an article housed inside an article housing part can be acquired, being capable of acquiring an article on the basis of an operation by a player; and by comprising: a plurality of arm parts 20 for gripping the article, a first drive mechanism 30 capable of adjusting the force for gripping the article by the plurality of arm parts 20, and a second drive mechanism 40 for increasing or decreasing the distance between the tips of the plurality of arm parts 20.

Description

Goods acquisition device

[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.

[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 item acquisition device for such an item 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).

[0004] JP 2012-45204 A

[0005] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the opening and closing operation of the arm section and the strength of the force with which the arm section grips an item 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 conventional technology, 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 action of opening and closing the multiple arm sections.

[0007] (1) An item acquisition device that is provided in an item acquisition game device that can acquire items stored inside an item storage unit and can acquire the items based on the player's operation, characterized in that the item acquisition device comprises: a plurality of arm units that grasp the items; a first drive mechanism that can adjust the force with which the plurality of arm units grasp the items; and a second drive mechanism that moves the tips of the plurality of arm units closer to or farther apart from each other.

[0008] In the configuration (1), an item acquisition device is provided in an item acquisition game device capable of acquiring items stored inside an item storage unit, and capable of acquiring items based on a player's operation. The item acquisition device includes multiple arms, a first drive mechanism, and a second drive mechanism. The multiple arms grasp the items. The first drive mechanism is capable of adjusting the force with which the multiple arms grasp the items. The second drive mechanism moves the tips of the multiple arms closer or farther apart.

[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 arm sections grip the item and the action 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.

[0011] (2) The item acquisition device according to (1), wherein the second drive mechanism is capable of adjusting the distance between the tips of the plurality of arm sections without using a 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. However, because this technology uses a single drive mechanism to adjust the force and control 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 predetermined 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 arms can be adjusted by the second drive mechanism without using a physical member such as a physically adjustable stopper, which increases the degree of freedom to set the distance between the tips of the multiple arms to any dimension.

[0014] (3) The item acquisition device described in (1) or (2) further includes a base having a support portion that rotatably supports the multiple arm portions, wherein the arm portions have a tip portion that grips the item and a base portion that is located inside the base relative to the support portion, and when the base portion is pressed in an up-down direction, the tip portions of the multiple arm portions move in directions away from each other, and the second drive mechanism includes: a pressing portion that is provided on the base, moves in an up-down direction, and presses the base portions of the multiple arm portions in an up-down direction simultaneously; and a second drive portion that moves the pressing portion in an up-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 multiple arm portions. The arm portions have a tip portion that grips the item and a base portion that is located inside the base relative to the support portion, and when the base portion is pressed in an up-down 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 and moves in an up-down direction, pressing the base portions of the multiple arm portions in an up-down direction simultaneously. The second drive portion moves the pressing portion in an up-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 portion of the second drive mechanism downward, the multiple arm portions open (the tips move away from each other), and by moving the pressing portion upward, the multiple arm portions close under their own weight (the tips move toward each other). Furthermore, because multiple arm portions are opened and closed with a single pressing portion, the opening degree of the arm portions can be made uniform across the multiple arm portions. Therefore, instead of providing a separate member for setting the multiple arm portions to the initial state or manually performing the initial state setting, the initial state of the multiple arm portions can be adjusted by the second drive mechanism, simplifying the initial state adjustment process.

[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 action 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.

[0020] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view illustrating an item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a front view illustrating an item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a side view illustrating a second sensor unit of an item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a side view illustrating a second sensor unit of an item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a flowchart of an item acquisition process by a control unit that controls an item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] The present invention will be described in more detail below using preferred embodiments. However, the following embodiments are merely examples of realizing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. [Configuration of Item Acquisition Device] The configuration of an item acquisition device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an item acquisition device according to one 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 the 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 the item storage unit moves the item capture device 1 left and right and forward and backward, 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, and then opens the pair of arms 20 to drop the item into the drop hole, thereby discharging the item to the outside. This allows the player to capture the item placed in the item storage unit.

[0024] The item acquisition device 1 is provided within 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, a plurality of 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 portion 11 (see Figure 2 described later) that rotatably supports multiple arm portions 20, and is equipped with a first drive mechanism 30 and a second drive mechanism 40.

[0026] 2 and 3 are front views illustrating an item acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. To facilitate understanding of the arm unit 20, a cover and other components disposed on the front side of the arm unit 20 are removed in FIGS. 2 and 3. 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 arms 20 (two in the example shown in FIG. 2 ) are rotatably supported on the base 10, are arranged facing each other, and grip an article at their lower ends. While two arms 20 are provided in this embodiment, the number is not limited to two, and three or more arms 20 may be provided. Each arm 20 includes an engagement portion 21, a tip end portion 22, and a base end 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 engaging 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 underside of a pressing portion 413 of the second drive mechanism 40 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 reach the state shown in Figure 3 in which they are separated from each other.

[0032] Furthermore, it is desirable that the surface of the sliding contact portion 231 that comes into sliding contact with the lower surface of the pressing portion 413 be formed in an arc shape. This makes it possible to convert the force with which the base end portion 23 is pressed in the vertical direction by the pressing portion 413 into a force that smoothly rotates the arm portion 20 around the engaging 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 in 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 Figure 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 Figure 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 causes the tips of the multiple arm units 20 to return 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 predetermined 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 units 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 units 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 units 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 units 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 units 20, thereby achieving the preset torque.

[0040] 2, one second drive mechanism 40 is provided for each of the plurality of arm sections 20 on the base 10, and operates the plurality of arm sections 20 simultaneously by the same amount, thereby increasing or decreasing the distance between the tips (claw sections 221 of the tip sections 22) of the plurality of arm sections 20. The second drive mechanism 40 includes a second link section 41, a second drive section 42 (see FIG. 1), and a second sensor section 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 horizontally, with a screw thread formed in a hole extending vertically, which screws into the shaft portion 412, and the sliding contact portions 231 of the multiple arm portions 20 respectively abut against the underside of the pressing portion 413. With this configuration, the pressing portion 413 moves vertically 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 drive 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 portion 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, it detects whether the multiple arm units 20 are in a closed or 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 (when the arms 20 are closed). Fig. 5 shows the open state of the item acquisition device 1 (when the arms 20 are open).

[0049] In detail, the 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 the closed state detection unit 431 and detects the open state of the multiple arm units 20. When the closed state detection unit 431 detects the protrusion 413a of the pressing unit 413 (the state shown in FIG. 4), the second sensor unit 43 transmits closed state information to the control unit 50. When the open state detection unit 432 detects the protrusion 413a of the pressing unit 413 (the state shown in FIG. 5), the second sensor unit 43 transmits open state information to the 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 positions and timings at which the multiple arm units 20 are opened or closed. For example, if the opening degrees of the multiple arm units 20 are 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] 6 is a flowchart of an item acquisition process performed by a control unit that controls the item acquisition device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Next, the item acquisition process performed 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 portions 21, and the claws 221 of the tip portions 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 when it reaches 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 item (e.g., 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 drive unit 32. Also in step S6, the control unit 50 rotates the second drive unit 42 of the second drive mechanism 40 in one direction. This causes the shaft 412 to rotate forward, and the pressing unit 413 to move downward. Then, upon receiving open state information from the second sensor unit 43, the control unit 50 stops driving the second drive unit 42. At this time, the sliding contact portions 231 of the multiple arms 20 are pressed downward by the pressing unit 413, causing the arms 20 to rotate around the engagement portions 21, and the claws 221 of the tip portions 22 to move away from each other, as shown in FIG. 3 . If an item (e.g., a prize) is being held between the multiple arms 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 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, 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 units 20 grip the item, and the second drive mechanism 40 can move the tips of the multiple arm units 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 a direction away from each other.

[0063] As a result, by moving the pressing portion 413 of the second drive mechanism 40 downward, the multiple arm portions 20 open (the claw portions 221 of the tip portions 22 move in directions away from each other), and by moving the pressing portion 413 upward, the multiple arm portions 20 close under their own weight (the claw portions 221 of the tip portions 22 move in directions toward each other). Furthermore, because the multiple arm portions 20 are opened and closed by a single pressing portion 413, the opening degrees of the arm portions 20 can be made uniform across the multiple arm portions 20. Therefore, the initial state of the multiple arm portions 20 can be adjusted by the second drive mechanism 40, without providing a separate member for setting the arm portions 20 to the initial state or requiring manual work to set the arm portions 20 to the initial state, and the initial state adjustment work is simplified.

[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.

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

Claims

1. An item acquisition device that is provided in an item acquisition game device that can acquire items stored inside an item storage unit and can acquire the items based on the player's operation, characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of arm units that grasp the items; a first drive mechanism that can adjust the force with which the plurality of arm units grasp the items; and a second drive mechanism that moves the tips of the plurality of arm units closer to or farther apart from each other.

2. The item acquisition device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second drive mechanism is capable of adjusting the spacing between the tips of the multiple arm sections without using any physical members.

3. The item acquisition device described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a base having a support portion that rotatably supports the multiple arm portions, wherein the arm portions have a tip portion that grasps the item and a base portion that is located inside the base from the support portion, and when the base portion is pressed in an up and down direction, the tip portions of the multiple arm portions move in directions that move them away from each other, and the second drive mechanism comprises: a pressing portion that is provided on the base and moves in an up and down direction and presses the base portions of the multiple arm portions in an up and down direction simultaneously; and a second drive portion that moves the pressing portion in an up and down direction.

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