Ball Launching Guide Assembly for Pinball Playfield Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The repeated launching of balls in amusement game devices, such as pinball machines, leads to damage of the protective hardcoat in the shooter groove, compromising the integrity of the playfield surface and requiring costly repairs or replacement.
Innovation Solution
A ball launching guide assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails is mounted in the ball launching alley to separate the ball from the playfield surface, providing a funnel effect for returning the ball to the launching position when launched with insufficient force, thus reducing impact damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the ball is launched directly from the ball launching alley onto the playfield, then the launch is simple and direct, but the protective hardcoat in the shooter groove becomes damaged due to repeated ball impacts
Solution Approach 1:
A ball launching guide assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the ball and the playfield surface. This guide assembly includes a guide surface that contacts the ball during launch, providing a mediator that distributes the impact force and prevents direct damage to the protective hardcoat while maintaining launch functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The guide assembly is positioned beforehand in the ball launching alley to cushion the ball's impact before it reaches the playfield surface. The guide surface absorbs and distributes the impact forces, preventing damage to the hardcoat in advance before the ball can cause harmful effects
2Ease of operation
If the ball rests in a machined groove (shooter groove) to center it, then the ball is properly positioned for launch, but the repeated impacts cause damage to the playfield surface integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The guide assembly serves as an intermediary that maintains proper ball positioning without requiring direct contact with the playfield surface. The guide surface provides the necessary constraints and centering function while protecting the playfield surface from impact damage
Solution Approach 2:
The ball launching function is segmented into separate components: the guide assembly for positioning and the playfield surface for game play. This segmentation allows the guide assembly to handle the mechanical stresses of ball centering and launch while the playfield surface remains protected from damage
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the protective hardcoat is damaged in the shooter groove, then the playfield surface integrity is compromised, but costly repair or replacement of the playfield is required
Solution Approach 1:
The guide assembly is installed beforehand to cushion and distribute impact forces, preventing damage to the protective hardcoat before it occurs. This proactive measure eliminates the need for costly repairs or replacements by preventing the harmful effects in the first place
Data Source
AI summary
A front cabinet panel piece, a back panel cabinet piece, a first side cabinet panel piece, and second side cabinet panel piece, each having a plurality of pre-formed openings, are arranged relative to one another to form an amusement game cabinet. The plurality of pre-formed openings are used to accept a corresponding plurality of knock-down hardware pieces each including a fastener locking component and a fastener. The fastener locking components are held within respective first ones of the pre-formed openings and the fastener is inserted into second ones of the pre-formed openings that are aligned with the first ones of the plurality of pre-formed openings. Each fastener is mated to its corresponding fastener locking component to complete assembly of the amusement game cabinet. The assembled amusement game cabinet is used to support a playfield and the playfield, in turn, is used to provide additional structural support to the amusement game cabinet.