Anti-rotation Target Assembly for Pinball Game Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pinball targets in amusement game devices often become misaligned due to repetitive impacts, leading to inconsistent gameplay and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
An anti-rotation target assembly featuring a U-shaped shell that houses the switch stack, utilizing stiffening leaf springs and a deflection stop to maintain component alignment, reducing the need for external alignment aids and frequent operator adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional vertical targets are used in amusement game devices, then the target can be simply constructed and easily mounted, but the target becomes misaligned or moves from its intended playfield location over time due to repetitive impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The target assembly is divided into separate functional components: a target body for receiving impacts, a mounting bracket for attachment to the playfield, and an anti-rotation shell for stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to prevent misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-rotation shell acts as an intermediary component between the target body and the mounting bracket. It receives rotational forces from impacts and transfers them to the mounting structure, preventing the target body from rotating or misaligning while maintaining a simple overall construction.
2Device complexity
If traditional vertical targets are used, then the device complexity is low, but frequent playfield maintenance and operator adjustments are required to maintain alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation shell is pre-installed on the mounting bracket before the target body is attached. This preliminary stabilization prevents rotational movement from occurring during gameplay, eliminating the need for frequent maintenance adjustments and reducing operator intervention requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-rotation shell provides self-aligning functionality by automatically counteracting rotational forces generated during play. The structure serves itself by using the impact forces to engage the anti-rotation mechanism, eliminating the need for external alignment aids or frequent manual adjustments.
3Reliability
If the target is made more robust to prevent rotation, then alignment consistency improves, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation shell is constructed as a thin-walled structure that provides sufficient rotational resistance through its geometric configuration rather than material thickness. The shell's shape and positioning create the necessary stabilizing effect while minimizing added complexity and component bulk.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The anti-rotation target assembly effectively minimizes component movement and misalignment, ensuring consistent gameplay with reduced maintenance requirements by securely housing the switch stack within the anti-rotation shell.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing stiffening leaf springs and a deflection stop to maintain component alignment
Implementation Method 2
A anti-rotation target assembly featuring a U-shaped shell that houses the switch stack
Data Source
AI summary
A target assembly for an amusement device includes a switch stack comprising a target leaf spring, a contact leaf spring, and a spacer electrically isolating the target leaf spring from the contact leaf spring. An anti-rotation shell is mounted to the switch stack and at least partially surrounds one end of the target leaf spring and the contact leaf spring. The anti-rotation shell is sized and configured to substantially prevent relative movement between the target leaf spring and the contact leaf spring. In some examples, a switch mount bracket includes slot to receive side walls of the anti-rotation shell.