EP2158015B1 - Table ball game device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a table ball game device (1), comprising a game field (2) and a game table comprising a game field edge (3), wherein on at least one narrow side (4) at least one launch apparatus (5) for launching spheres (6) at a ball (7) are pivotally disposed, wherein the at least one launch apparatus (5) is associated with a feed apparatus (8) for automatically feeding the spheres to the at least one launch apparatus (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a table ball game device having a playing field and a playing field edge comprehensive game table, wherein at least one launcher for firing balls on a game ball is pivotally mounted on at least one narrow side.

In known devices of this type, the dropped balls, for example, must be picked up by hand and entered into a ball discharge path or into a ball magazine provided in the housing of a launcher. This process is relatively cumbersome and counteracts a fast game flow.

In a further embodiment of a table ball game apparatus of the prior art ( DE 2 151 191 ), the delivery of the balls in the launcher of a launcher by a magnetic lever, which must be operated and which brings the balls in the launcher of the launcher. If there is no ball in the vicinity of the magnetic lever, the device must be moved along the edge of the field to a point where balls are located. Alternatively, balls with hands on the field must be pushed towards the device. This type of feeding the balls is relatively cumbersome and is a smooth flow of game clearly contrary. From the document EP-A-0306557 is a table ball game machine known which has a conveyor with a conveyor spiral for ball transport.

The present invention has for its object to provide a table ball game device available, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved by a table ball game device according to claim 1.

The feeder, which allows fully automatic feeding of the balls to the launcher, allows for a nearly continuous flow of game without the need to manually feed balls or by performing mechanical work (such as actuating a lever) on the launcher. Due to the automatic feed through the feeding device, the balls to be shot are permanently fed automatically to the launcher.

In one embodiment of the table ball game device according to the invention, the feed device comprises a, preferably permanently rotating, motorized pickup wheel for picking up and transporting the balls, and a cooperating with the receiving wheel ball magazine, preferably in the form of an elongated tube, wherein the pickup wheel feeds the balls into the ball magazine of where the balls in turn are fed sequentially into the launcher.

Due to the permanently rotating, motor-driven pick-up wheel, which feeds the balls into the ball magazine, fully automatic charging of the ball magazine is possible without manual assistance. Due to the presence of a ball magazine several balls can be stored in succession, which are fed one after the other into the launcher. In this way, no major gaps in the firing of individual balls can arise as shot bullets are immediately replaced by new, already waiting in the ball magazine balls.

In a preferred embodiment of the table ball game machine according to the invention, the pick-up wheel permanent magnet, preferably double-pole permanent magnet for receiving and transporting the preferably magnetizable balls, on. In this way, a particularly advantageous picking up and transporting the balls (in particular metal balls) is possible. Due to the preferably double pole of the permanent magnets, a magnetic charging of the balls is prevented, which in turn counteracts a sticking together of individual balls.

In one embodiment of the table ball game device according to the invention, which is suitable for playing a single player, a launcher is provided only on one narrow side, while on the opposite narrow side, a self-acting device (ball launcher) is arranged for automatically shooting back the ball, the direction of the back shot ball is preferably changing and random. The direction of the ball can be determined, for example, by a random generator.

In another embodiment of the table ball game device according to the invention, a launching device is arranged on both narrow sides. This embodiment is particularly suitable for two players playing against each other.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the table ball game device according to the invention for two players, the respective ball magazine can only accommodate a limited number of balls and excess balls that can no longer be taken up by the ball magazine are stripped from the pick-up wheel and, preferably via a transport channel, to one for each opposite narrow side downwardly inclined feed chute are passed through which these balls are transported to the respective opposite feeder.

In this way it is ensured that a constant balance of the balls between the two launcher is guaranteed. It is thus prevented that one player "go out" of the balls, while on the side of the other player all balls are. Thus, a smooth game flow is guaranteed.

Preferably, height limits, preferably slots, are provided in the areas in front of the two launchers, which preferably extend from one longitudinal side of the table ball game device to the other longitudinal side of the table ball game device, through which only balls, but not the ball can pass. In this way, the game ball always remains on the actual playing field, whereas the shot bullets can penetrate into a rear area where they can be collected and picked up by the respective feeding device and brought to the launcher again.

With advantage, gates are arranged in the area in front of the launcher, in which the game ball is to be driven by means of the balls, wherein the gates are preferably formed by the height limits. In a particular embodiment of the table ball game device according to the invention, the gates are formed from rectangular indentations in the height limits. As a result, although goals can be scored without the ball disappears below or behind the height limit.

In general, photoelectric sensors are provided for the registration of goals achieved, the goals achieved are preferably displayed electronically. This arrangement greatly facilitates the counting of goals scored.

Preferably, the playing field is slightly inclined downwards from the middle to the two narrow sides. This prevents a ball or the ball from stopping on the field. All balls as well as the game ball always roll in the direction of one of the two opposing launcher.

In a preferred embodiment of the table ball game machine according to the invention, the launching device is operated by means of an electromagnet. These Device has proved to be particularly effective for the table ball game device according to the invention, as this particularly high launch frequencies can be achieved.

Advantageously, the launcher has a laser. By the laser beam emitted by the laser beam can be particularly well targeted to the game ball by the laser beam hits the ball and can be seen there.

Preferably, the launching device has a pistol-shaped shape with a handle, in which a trigger for triggering the firing mechanism is integrated, wherein when triggering the firing mechanism preferably an electromagnet is activated, which preferably sets a lever in motion, which in turn sets a firing pin in motion, which in turn sets a ball to be shot in motion.

Advantageously, the lever is moved when triggering the protective mechanism against the force of a spring, through which the lever is returned after the triggering of the shot back to its original position.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the drawings and the dependent claims. In this case, the individual features can be implemented individually or in combination with each other.

Figur 1:

eine Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Tischballspielgerät;

Figur 2:

eine Seitenansicht (teilweise längsgeschnitten, II-II) des Tischballspielgeräts von Figur 1;

Figur 3:

eine Seitenansicht (teilweise geschnitten, III-III) des Tischballspielgeräts von Figur 1;

Figur 4:

einen Querschnitt durch das Tischballspielgerät von Figur 1 im Bereich einer Abschussvorrichtung (Schnitt IV-IV);

Figur 5:

einen Querschnitt durch das Tischballspielgerät von Figur 1 (Schnitt V-V);

Figur 6:

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Abschussvorrichtung des Tischballspielgeräts von Figur 1 (Schnitt VI-VI) vor Abschuss einer Kugel;

Figur 7:

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Abschussvorrichtung des Tischballspielgeräts von Figur 1 (Schnitt VII-VII) nach Abschuss einer Kugel;

Figur 8:

perspektivische Darstellung der Zuführvorrichtung des Tischballspielgeräts von Figur 1 in Kombination mit der Abschussvorrichtung sowie der Abführvorrichtung;

Figur 9:

perspektivische Darstellung der Zuführvorrichtung des Tischballspielgeräts von Figur 1 in Kombination mit der Abschussvorrichtung sowie der Abführvorrichtung;

Figur 10:

einen Betätigungshebel einer erfindungsgemäßen Abschussvorrichtung;

Figur 11:

den Betätigungshebel von Figur 10 beim Auswechseln eines Schussbolzens.

Figur 12:

eine Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Tischballspielgerät für einen Spieler;

Figur 13:

eine Seitenansicht (teilweise längsgeschnitten, VII-VII) des Tischballspielgeräts von Figur 12;

In the drawings show:

FIG. 1:

a plan view of an inventive table ball game machine;

FIG. 2:

a side view (partially longitudinal, II-II) of the table ball game machine of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3:

a side view (partially cut, III-III) of the table ball game machine of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4:

a cross section through the table ball game of FIG. 1 in the area of a launcher (section IV-IV);

FIG. 5:

a cross section through the table ball game of FIG. 1 (Section VV);

FIG. 6:

a longitudinal section through a launcher of the table ball game of FIG. 1 (Section VI-VI) before shooting a ball;

FIG. 7:

a longitudinal section through a launcher of the table ball game of FIG. 1 (Section VII-VII) after firing a ball;

FIG. 8:

perspective view of the feeding device of the table ball game machine of FIG. 1 in combination with the launcher and the discharge device;

FIG. 9:

perspective view of the feeding device of the table ball game machine of FIG. 1 in combination with the launcher and the discharge device;

FIG. 10:

an operating lever of a launching device according to the invention;

FIG. 11:

the operating lever of FIG. 10 when replacing a firing pin.

FIG. 12:

a plan view of an inventive table ball game device for a player;

FIG. 13:

a side view (partially cut longitudinally, VII-VII) of the table ball game machine of FIG. 12 ;

FIG. 1 shows a table ball game apparatus 1 according to the invention with a playing field 2 and a playing field edge 3, on whose opposite narrow sides 4 each a launcher 5 for firing balls 6 is pivotally mounted on a game ball 7, wherein each of the two launchers 5 a feeding device 8 for automatically feeding the balls 6 is assigned to the respective launchers 5. The launcher 5 are matched to the field 2 such that there is no blind spot on the field, ie that the ball 7 can be shot at in the corners of the field 2 with the balls 6. The launcher 5 can be mounted directly on the narrow sides 4. In the present embodiment, however, they are not arranged directly on the narrow sides 4, but in the region of the narrow sides 4 (the expression in claim 1 "on its opposite narrow sides" also includes embodiments in which the launching devices, as in FIG. 1 shown, are arranged in the area of the narrow sides).

The feed devices 8 each comprise a permanently rotating, motor-driven take-up wheel 9 (motor not visible here) and a ball magazine 10 cooperating with the take-up wheel in the form of an elongate tube. The pick-up wheel 9 feeds the balls 6 into the ball magazine 10, which in turn feeds the balls 6 into the launcher 5 one after the other (see detailed descriptions) FIG. 8 and 9 ). In the areas of the two launcher 5 each height limits in the form of plastic plates 11 are arranged. Through the plastic plates 11 are formed slots 12 through which although the balls 6 but not the game ball 7 can pass. The slots 12 extend from one longitudinal side 13a to the other longitudinal side 13b of the table ball game device 1. In the plastic plates 11 recesses 14 are introduced, which constitute the gates of the game device. In the region of the indentations 14, a light barrier 15 is arranged in each case, which emits a laser beam 16. If the light barrier, which is arranged in such a height that it can be interrupted by the game ball 7, but not by the balls 6, interrupted, so is a goal achieved by the display 17, which in turn with the photocell 15 in electrical contact is displayed electronically.

At the launchers 5, a laser 18 is arranged for aiming on the balls 6. The dashed arrow shown in the drawing to represent the emitted laser beam 19.

FIG. 2 shows the table ball game machine 1 of FIG. 1 cut along the line II-II. Good to see the launcher 5, which in conjunction with the FIGS. 6 and 7 are described in detail. It can also be clearly seen in this figure that the playing field 2 is inclined slightly downwards from the middle to the two narrow sides 4. As a result, the balls 6 or game ball 7 can not stop at one point in the area of the playing field, but always roll towards one of the two launching devices.

FIG. 3 shows the table ball game machine 1 of FIG. 1 cut along the line III-III. Good to see in this illustration is the arrangement of the height limits 11, which allow a passage of the balls 6, but not the game ball 7. The balls 6 can freely enter through the slots 12 formed by the plastic plates 11 in an area behind the playing field 2, and fall there on an inclined plane 20, which is inclined down to the opposing launcher 5 back. On the inclined plane 20, the balls 6 - following the force of gravity - roll towards the opposite receiving wheel 9. The balls 6, which are made of metal, are picked up by magnets 21, which are integrated in the receiving wheel 9, transported to the ball magazine 10 and fed into this (see detailed description FIGS. 8 and 9 ).

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the table ball game machine 1 of FIG. 1 along the line IV-IV. In this illustration, the cycle of the balls 6 is shown particularly clearly: balls 6 arriving at the receiving wheel 9 are picked up by the latter by the magnets 21 and fed into the ball magazine 10. From the ball magazine 10, the balls are forwarded to the launcher 5 and fed into this. By the launcher the balls are shot down. If the ball magazine 10 - as shown in this illustration - full, so excess balls 6 are stripped from the receiving wheel 9 and fall into a discharge tube 22. The discharge tube 22, which is slightly inclined, transports the balls on the inclined plane 20 'of the discharge channel 23rd The inclined plane 20 'runs out of the plane slightly inclined downwards towards the opposite feed device (not shown here). As a result, the balls 6 roll on the inclined plane 20 'of the discharge channel 23 towards the opposite supply device, in particular the receiving wheel. There they are taken up by the pick-up wheel and in turn fed to the opposite launcher. If the opposite ball magazine is full, then excess balls fall onto the inclined plane 20 "of the discharge channel 23a and roll onto the receiving wheel 9, from which they are picked up again and transported to the launching device 5. In the area of the receiving wheel 9, the discharge channel 23a is there tilted so that the balls can roll on the receiving wheel 9. By the discharge of excess balls 6 ensures that the balls 6 at any time relatively equal to the individual launchers are distributed and none of the players experiences a ball shortage. Even balls that have entered through the slots in the area behind the actual playing field, roll through inclined planes on the respective Abführrinnen or get directly into the area of the arranged in this area receiving wheel.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section along the line VV. It can be clearly seen in this illustration that the ball 7 can also be hit by balls 6 in the corners of the playing field.

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through a launcher 5 along the line VI-VL. The launcher 5 has a gun-like shape with a handle 24, in which a trigger cock 25 is integrated to trigger the protection mechanism, wherein upon triggering of the protective mechanism, an electromagnet 26 is activated, which is in electrical connection with the trigger 25. The electromagnet 26 is connected to a lever 27 which is pivotally mounted. The lever 27 has the shape of an isosceles triangle, wherein a connected to the electromagnet pin 28 engages a corner of the lever 27 and a spring 29 engages the adjacent corner of the lever 27. The lever 27 has a pin 30 which protrudes from the third corner of the lever and engages in a recess 31 of the firing pin 32. FIG. 6 shows the launcher 5 before triggering a shot, ie at rest. In this phase, the lever 27 is pivoted by the force of the spring 29 such that the firing pin 32 releases a recess 33 through which an incoming ball 6 can enter through the firing channel 34. Directly below the recess 33, a magnet 35 is arranged in the launch channel 34, which holds the metal ball 6 in position. The end pin 32 has a further recess 33a, whereby the firing pin 32 can be turned by 180 ° when one side is worn, so that the second end face of the firing pin can be claimed.

In FIG. 7 is the launcher of FIG. 6 after the trigger cock 25 has activated the electromagnet 26. By activating the electromagnet 26 this pulls the pin 28 abruptly downwards, whereby the lever 27 is pivoted to the right against the spring force of the spring 29. As a result, the ball located in the firing channel 34 is shot from the firing channel 34 onto the field. In this position, no further ball can get into the launching channel 34. After the ball is launched, deactivation of the electromagnet 26 occurs, whereby the lever 27 is returned to the rest position by the spring force of the spring 29 (see FIG FIG. 6 ) is returned.

In the FIGS. 6 and 7 Furthermore, the laser 18 can be seen for aiming on the balls 6.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the feeding device 8 with the receiving wheel 9 and the ball magazine 10. In the receiving wheel 9 double-pole magnets 21 are integrated. The double pole prevents magnetic charging of the balls 6. The magnets 21 each hold a ball. By rotation of the receiving wheel 9 in the clockwise direction, the balls 6 are first moved through a recess 36 of a holding plate 37, which is arranged in the region of the receiving wheel 9, and finally pass through a recess 38 in the ball magazine 10 and are mechanically stripped there. In the present representation, the ball magazine 10 is not fully charged, so that even balls fit into the ball magazine 10. From the ball magazine 10, the balls enter successively through a recess 39 in the launcher 5 in the launcher 5 a. The balls 6 can only enter the launcher 5 individually. The launching device 5 comprises a turntable 5a and a run 5b, which passes through the turntable 5a and from where the bullets are fired. The entire launcher is (as already described above) pivotally mounted on the gaming table.

FIG. 9 shows the feeding device 8 from FIG. 8 at a stage where the ball magazine 10 is full and can not accommodate any more balls. comes now a ball 6'am full ball magazine 5, so the ball of the last ball located in the ball 6 "mechanically stripped from the take-up wheel 9, falls through a recess 40 in the support plate 37 and finally enters the discharge tube 22 in the - following gravity - rolls in the direction of the inclined plane 20 (not shown here) .The discharged ball 6 'finally rolls towards the opposite feeder.

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section through the lever 27. The pin 30 of the lever 27 is connected at its bottom with a cord 41. Further, located inside the lever 27, a spring 42. The cord 41 leads first through the windings of the spring 42 and then through a channel 43 in the lever 27 and finally opens to the outside. Will now (as in FIG. 11 shown) pulled on the cord, the pin 30 is pulled into the interior of the lever until the cap 44 of the pin 30 abuts the body of the lever 27. In this position, the pin can be pulled out of the recess 31 of the firing pin 32 described above, whereby the bolt can be easily replaced. For ease of interchangeability, the bolt 32 at its front sides in each case a magnet, so that with a bar magnet, the bolt can be easily retrieved from the launcher.

In the case of wear of the pin 30, this too can be easily replaced by pulling the pin 30 upwards out of the body of the lever 27.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment 100 of a table ball game device according to the invention, which is suitable for playing a single player. This apparatus 100 has on a narrow side 4a the same launching device 5 and the same feeding device 8 as the device 1 described above. On the opposite narrow side 4b, this device 100 has an automatic ball-shooting device 101. This ball-striking device comprises a shaft 102 mounted rotatably about its longitudinal axis, which in turn is equipped with weft rods 103 arranged in parallel. The distances between the individual weft rods The shaft 102 is fixed at one end to a hub 104, which in turn is driven by a drive belt 105 by an electric motor 106 and the shaft 102 is set in strong rotation.

If a game ball 7 now comes into contact with the rotating weft rods 103 of the rotating shaft 102, the ball 7 is driven away from the ball shooting device in the direction of the opposite narrow side by the weft rods impinging on it. The task of the (single) player is to keep the ball 7 away from the goal 14 by operating the launcher 5 and shooting balls 6 on the ball 7 and to prevent the goal from being scored by the ball-and-tug device 101. By bombarding the ball 7 with balls 6 of the ball 7 is driven back to the ballgun 101. The higher the speed with which the ball hits the rotating weft sticks 103, the higher the speed at which the ball is shot in the other direction (toward the player's goal). Further, the direction in which the ball is shot through the ballgun 101 is always dependent on how the ball 7 hits the weft rods 103 (e.g., at what angle). Therefore, the direction of the ball shot back is not predictable for the player, which of course increases the tension of the game.

In order to prevent the ball 7 being thrown upwards by the weft rods, interception rods 107 are arranged in the area of the ball-shooting device 101. The distances between the individual interception rods 107 are smaller than the diameter of the game ball 7. The interception rods 107 are arranged so that the weft rods 103 are offset from these and can rotate freely between the interception rods 107. The interception rods 107 are fixed to the frame 108.

FIG. 13 shows the table ball game machine 100 of FIG. 12 cut along the line VII-VII. The ball 7 can roll under the mounting board 109 and is driven in contact with the rotating weft bars 103 in the direction of the launcher 5.

Fallen bullets fall in the area of the shotgun device on an inclined plane lying below the playing field (not shown here), on which they roll to the opposite feeder 8 and are fed back into the launcher 5.

In this illustration, one of several juxtaposed blocking pins 110 can be seen. These blocking pins serve to keep the game ball 7 at a certain distance from the narrow side 4b, in order to prevent the rotating weft rods 103 from hitting the ball 7 and thus blocking the ballgun 101.

FIG. 14 shows the table ball game machine 100 of FIG. 12 and 13, respectively, with the interception rods 107 removed. Now you can see the blocking pins 110 directly underneath. The distance between the individual blocking pins to each other is less than the diameter of the ball 7. This allows the ball 7 does not roll between two Abblockstifte 110 and is always blocked. The weft rods 103 each rotate between two blocking pins 110.

Claims (14)

1. Table ball game device (1, 100) with a playing table comprising a playing field (2) and a playing field edge (3), wherein at least one launching device (5) for launching balls (6) at a playing ball (7) is arranged pivotably on at least one narrow side (4), and wherein the at least one launching device (5) is assigned a supply device (8) for automatically supplying the balls to the at least one launching device (5), characterized in that the supply device (8) comprises a motor-operated pickup wheel (9) for picking up and transporting the balls (6), and a ball magazine (10) which interacts with the pickup wheel, the pickup wheel feeding the balls into the ball magazine which, in turn, feeds the balls into the launching device (5).
2. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pickup wheel (9) continuously rotates and the ball magazine (10) is preferably ain elongate tube.
3. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the pickup wheel has permanent magnets (21), preferably double-pole permanent magnets, for picking up and transporting magnetizable balls (6), in particular metal balls.
4. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a launching device (5) is provided only of one narrow side (4a) while an automatically acting device (101) for automatically shooting back the ball (7) is arranged on the opposite narrow side (4b), the direction of the shot-back ball preferably changing and being random.
5. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to once of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a launching device (5) is arranged on both narrow sides (4).
6. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the respective ball magazine (100) can only receive a limited number of balls (6), and excess balls which can no longer be received by the ball magazine are removed by the pickup wheel (9) and conducted, preferably via a transport launching barrel (22), to a supply channel (23, 23a) which is downwardly inclined toward the respectively opposite narrow side (4) and by means of which said balls are transported to the respectively opposite supply device (8).
7. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that vertical delimitations (11), preferably slots (12), are provided in each case in the regions in front of the launching devices (5), said vertical delimitations preferably extending from one longitudinal side (13a) of the table ball game device to the other longitudinal side (13b) of the table ball game device and through which only the balls (6) but not the playing ball (7) can pass.
8. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that goals (14) into which the playing ball (7) is intended to be driven with the aid of the balls (6) are arranged in the region in front of the launching devices (14), the goals preferably being formed by the vertical delimitations (11).
9. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that light barriers (15) for recording scored goals are provided, the scored goals preferably being displayable electronically.
10. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the paying field (2) slightly inclined downward from the center toward the two narrow sides (4).
11. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the launching device (5) is operated with the aid of a solenoid (26).
12. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the launching device (5) has a laser (18).
13. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the launching device (5) has a pistol-shaped design with a handle (24) in which a trigger (25) for triggering the shooting mechanism is integrated, a solenoid (26) preferably being activated when the shooting mechanism is triggered, the solenoid preferably setting a lever (27) into motion, said lever, in turn, setting a shooting pin (32) into motion, the shooting pin setting a ball (6) which is to be launched into motion.
14. Table ball game device (1, 100) according to Claim 13, characterized in that, when the shooting mechanism is triggered, the lever (27) is moved counter to the force of the spring (29) by means of which the lever is returned again into its original position after the shot is triggered.

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