Lottery Ball Guide Path With Adjuster to Prevent Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lottery game devices experience ball jamming issues due to the temporary stoppage of ball conveyance caused by push plates, leading to unstable operation and reduced player satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A game device configuration with a guide path and adjuster that aligns and guides balls one by one to the conveying unit, using a piston to prevent stacking and ensure stable conveyance, and a simple structure driven by a single power source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a push plate is used to push jammed balls into a recovery lane, then balls can be removed from the ball movement path, but the conveying unit cannot convey balls stably due to temporary stoppage and time differences
Solution Approach 1:
The adjuster performs preliminary action by moving stacked balls to other positions in the storage before they can cause jamming at the guide path entrance. This preventive measure ensures that balls are evenly distributed and prevents the formation of stacks that would block ball flow to the conveying unit, thereby maintaining stable conveyance without temporary stoppages.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the push plate working end is located near the conveying unit, then it can push balls away from the conveying unit, but it cannot eliminate ball jamming in the ball movement path located away from the conveying unit
Solution Approach 1:
The adjuster is extracted from the conventional push plate system and positioned in the storage area. This separate component specifically addresses ball stacking issues at the guide path entrance by moving stacked balls to other positions, while the guide path structure handles ball guidance throughout the entire movement path. This division of functions allows comprehensive ball jamming prevention across the whole system.
3Device complexity
If balls are allowed to move freely from storage to the conveying unit, then the system is simple, but balls can become stacked above the entrance height of the guide path causing jams
Solution Approach 1:
The adjuster acts as an intermediary between the storage and the guide path entrance. It monitors and corrects ball positioning by moving stacked balls to other positions, ensuring smooth ball flow into the guide path. This intermediary component maintains system simplicity while reliably preventing ball stacking that would cause jams at the guide path entrance.
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 solution effectively prevents ball jamming and ensures stable conveyance, enhancing player satisfaction by maintaining continuous gameplay.
Implementation Method 1
The adjuster may have a piston that pushes the balls in a direction away from the entrance
Data Source
AI summary
A game device includes: a play field in which a game is played using balls; a supplier that supplies the balls to the play field; and a storage that is configured to store the balls discharged from the play field and allow the balls to move towards the supplier. The supplier has a conveying unit that conveys the balls to the play field and a ball guide that guides the balls from the storage successively to the conveying unit. The ball guide includes: a guide path that passes the balls from the storage toward the conveying unit; and an adjuster that allows at least one of the balls near an entrance of the guide path on a side of the storage to move to another position in the storage, in response to the one of the balls being stacked to be above a height of the entrance.