JP2005028023A - Device for gripping prize - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a prize gripping device for providing a proper grip force without excessively enlarging the grip force even when a grip arm is large and is to be closed by gravity. <P>SOLUTION: The device includes a pair of freely openable/closable grip arms 48 for gripping the prize and moving it in a put-out direction; and an opening/closing driving mechanism 50 for driving the opening/closing of a pair of grip arms 48. Opening direction springs 54 for energizing the pair of grip arms 48 in an opening direction are made to be attachable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a prize holding device, and more particularly to a prize holding device for holding a prize and moving it in a payout direction in a prize acquisition game device.

  A prize acquisition game device such as a so-called crane game machine for the purpose of acquiring a prize stored inside the case is interesting in its operation, and the player's willingness to challenge by using characters and the like that are popular with the prize Therefore, it is installed and widely used in various game centers and shopping centers.

  Such a prize acquisition game device acquires a prize by moving a prize gripping device called a catcher to a prize position by a moving device, gripping and lifting the prize, transporting it to the prize payout port, and dropping it. To get.

  For example, this prize gripping device is configured such that a pair of gripping arms urged by a spring in a closing direction is always opened and closed by an opening / closing drive mechanism to grip a prize (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, in such a prize acquisition game device, the prize to be handled may be changed, and when the size, weight, shape, etc. of the prize is changed, depending on the size, weight, shape, etc. of the prize Thus, the gripping arm of the prize gripping device is replaced with one having a different size.
JP 2003-164661 A

  Such a prize gripping device makes it easy to grab a prize if the gripping force is strong, while it becomes difficult to grip a prize if the gripping force is weak, so the gripping force of the prize gripping device will determine the difficulty of the game. .

  However, as described above, for example, when the prize is enlarged and the gripping arm is replaced with a larger one, the gripping arm is urged in the closing direction in addition to the gripping arm trying to close by its own weight. In this state, the gripping force becomes too great, and the prizes are taken too much.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a prize gripping device capable of imparting an appropriate gripping force by preventing a gripping force from becoming excessively large even when the gripping arm is large and attempting to close with its own weight. It is in.

To achieve the above object, a prize gripping device of the present invention includes a plurality of openable and closable gripping arms that grip a prize and move it in a payout direction,
In the prize gripping apparatus having an opening / closing drive mechanism for opening / closing the plurality of gripping arms,
An opening direction biasing means for biasing the plurality of gripping arms in the opening direction can be attached.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to attach an opening direction urging means for urging a plurality of gripping arms in the opening direction. By biasing the gripping arm in the opening direction by the biasing means, the gripping force does not become too large, and it is possible to prevent the prize from being taken too much.

  In the present invention, the plurality of gripping arms can be closed by a closing direction urging means for urging in the self-weight or the closing direction.

  With this configuration, when the gripping arm has an appropriate gripping force due to its own weight, the gripping arm is closed with its own weight as it is. When the gripping force is insufficient due to its own weight, the closing arm is biased in the closing direction. By closing with the urging means, it is possible to give an appropriate gripping force according to the size of the gripping arm.

  In the present invention, the plurality of gripping arms can be replaced with gripping arms having different sizes according to the size of the prize.

  By adopting such a configuration, even when replacing with a gripping arm of a different size according to the size of the prize, especially when replacing with a large gripping arm, the gripping force becomes too large so that the prize can be taken too much. Can be prevented.

  In this case, at least one of the opening direction urging means and the closing direction urging means can be used according to the size of the gripping arm.

  By adopting such a configuration, depending on the size of the gripping arm, the opening direction biasing means, the closing direction biasing means, or the opening direction biasing means and the closing direction biasing means can be used, so that A sufficient gripping force can be applied.

  In the present invention, the opening direction urging means can be engaged with or disengaged from the plurality of gripping arms.

  With such a configuration, when the opening direction biasing unit is used, the gripping arm is engaged, and when the opening direction biasing unit is not used, the gripping arm is disengaged. By doing so, it is possible to easily select the use or non-use state with the opening direction urging means attached.

  In the present invention, the opening direction biasing means can adjust the biasing force by the biasing force adjusting means.

  With such a configuration, an appropriate gripping force by the gripping arm can be easily adjusted by adjusting the biasing force in the opening direction by the biasing force adjusting means.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4 are views showing a prize gripping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing a crane game machine as a prize acquisition game apparatus using the prize gripping apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  In the crane game machine 10, a substantially upper half of the housing 12 is surrounded by a transparent plate 14 such as an acrylic plate, for example, and a game space 16 is formed therein, and the floor of the game space 16 is placed with prizes. Field 18 is designated.

  A prize payout opening 20 is provided in a part of the prize placing field 18, and a prize takeout opening 22 communicating with the prize payout opening 20 is provided in the lower front portion of the housing 12.

  In addition, a plurality of prizes 24 are placed on the prize placement field 18, and a prize gripping apparatus 26 that grips the prizes 24 and a prize gripping apparatus 26 are suspended and moved above the game space 16. A moving mechanism 28 is provided, and an operation unit 30 is provided on the front surface of the housing 12.

  Note that a control unit 32 that integrally controls the operation of the crane game machine 10 is provided inside the housing 12.

  The prize gripping device 26 is located at the lower end of the moving mechanism 28 and is openable and closable so that the prize 24 on the prize placement field 18 can be gripped.

  The moving mechanism 28 is movable along the X-axis rail 34 and the Y-axis rail 36 in the X- and Y-axis directions (left and right, front-rear direction), and is connected to the prize gripping device 26 via an elastic member 38. The prize gripping device 26 can be moved up and down in the Z-axis direction (vertical direction) by the expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction member 38.

  The operation unit 30 includes a coin insertion slot 40, a start button 42 for starting a game, and an operation button 44 for moving the prize gripping device 26.

  Then, the player presses the start button 42 of the operation unit 30 and operates the operation button 44 to move the prize gripping device 26 from the home position in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction by moving the moving mechanism 28. When positioning in the XY-axis direction is performed, the telescopic member 38 automatically starts to descend in the Z-axis direction under the control of the control unit 32, and the prize gripping unit 26 performs the prize gripping operation.

  Thereafter, the gripped prize 24 is lifted and conveyed toward the prize payout exit 20, and the prize 24 held just above the prize payout exit 20 is opened.

  Then, the prize 24 is dropped to the prize payout opening 20 so that the player can take out the prize 24 from the prize takeout opening 22, and then the prize gripping device 26 automatically returns to the home position.

  Next, details of the prize gripping device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  2 is an enlarged front view of the prize gripping device, FIG. 3 is a side view in which the gripping arm is omitted, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the opening direction biasing means and the biasing force adjusting means.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the prize gripping device 26 includes a frame 46, a gripping arm 48, an opening / closing drive mechanism 50, a closing direction spring 52 as a closing direction biasing means, and an opening direction biasing means. And an open direction spring 54.

  The frame 46 is connected to the lower end of the expansion / contraction member 38 (see FIG. 1), and can be moved up and down by the expansion / contraction of the expansion / contraction member 38.

  The gripping arms 48 are for gripping the prize 24 and are respectively attached to a pair of rotating plates 58 that are rotatable in the vertical direction around the rotation shaft 56 on both sides of the frame 46. The arm 48 can open and close the lower end side.

  Further, the gripping arm 48 is connected at the base end by an arm pressing plate 62 which can be attached to the rotating plate 58 with a screw 60. Depending on the size, weight, shape, etc., it can be exchanged for gripping arms 48 of different sizes.

  Furthermore, the gripping arm 48 is a curved or bent member having a gripping claw portion 64 at the tip, and is disposed so that the curved or bent inner sides face each other.

  The opening / closing drive mechanism 50 performs opening / closing driving of the gripping arm 48, and includes an opening / closing motor 66 and an elliptical cam 68.

  The opening / closing motor 66 is composed of a stepping motor capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions, and is connected to the control unit 32 by a flexible cable 70 as shown in FIG. .

  The opening / closing motor 66 is installed on the frame 46 so that the output shaft 72 is substantially vertically downward.

  The elliptical cam 68 is attached to the tip of the output shaft 72 of the opening / closing motor 66 and is disposed between the rotating plates 58 so as to be horizontally rotatable. The long arm side pushes and widens the grip arm 48 to open the short shaft side. Thus, the gripping arm 48 is closed.

  The frame 46 is provided with a closing stopper 74 for positioning the gripping arm 48 when closed. The closing stopper 74 is screwed into a nut 75 attached to the frame 46.

  The closing position of the gripping arm 48 can be adjusted by adjusting the screwing amount of the closing stopper 74 and adjusting the contact position with the rotating plate 58.

  Therefore, even when gripping arms 48 of different sizes are attached, it is possible to cope with gripping arms 48 of various sizes by adjusting the closing stopper 74 according to the size of the gripping arm 48. Become.

  The closing direction spring 52 is attached between an attaching piece 76 provided on each rotating plate 58 and an attaching piece 78 protruding from the lower end of the frame 46, and each of the gripping arms 48 is always in a closing direction (A direction in FIG. 2). ).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the opening direction spring 54 is constituted by a torsion coil spring, and the coil portion 54 a is attached to the rotating shaft 56 of each rotating plate 58 via a collar 80, and one end 54 b side thereof is on the frame 46 side. The other end 54c is in contact with the urging force adjusting means 82 attached to the rotating plate 58, so that the gripping arm 48 is always urged in the opening direction (B direction in FIG. 2). Yes.

  The urging force adjusting means 82 includes a fixed bracket 86 that is attached and fixed to the rotating plate 58 with a cap bolt 84, and an urging force adjusting plate 88 that is movable with respect to the fixed bracket 86.

  Specifically, a long hole 90 extending in the vertical direction is provided on the upper side of the fixing bracket 86, and the flange socket 92 is screwed into the mounting hole 94 of the biasing force adjustment plate 88 through the long hole 90. Thus, the urging force adjusting plate 88 is attached to the fixed bracket 86.

  Then, the position of the biasing force adjusting plate 88 can be adjusted by loosening the flange socket 92, moving the biasing force adjusting plate 88 along the long hole 90, and tightening the flange socket 92 at an appropriate position. ing.

  A concave portion 96 is formed at the lower end of the biasing force adjusting plate 88, and the bent portion 98 formed at the other end 54c of the opening direction spring 54 is engaged with the concave portion 96 so that the engaged state can be maintained. It has become.

  The other end 54 c of the opening direction spring 54 can be disengaged from the opening direction spring 54 and the urging force adjusting plate 88 by operating the bent portion 98 and removing it from the recess 96 of the urging force adjusting plate 88. It is like that.

  Accordingly, the opening direction spring 54 applies the biasing force in the opening direction with respect to the biasing force of the closing direction spring 52 in the closing direction, so that the biasing force of the closing direction spring 52 disappears. An appropriate gripping force by the gripping arm 48 can be obtained.

  Moreover, the biasing force of the opening direction spring 54 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the position of the biasing force adjusting plate 88 of the biasing force adjusting means 82 and shifting the contact position with the other end 54c of the opening direction spring 54. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with changes in the size of the gripping arm 48.

  Further, for example, when the gripping arm 48 is small and light, the gripping force by the gripping arm 48 can be easily achieved by releasing the engagement of the other end 54c of the opening direction spring 54 with the concave portion 96 of the biasing force adjusting plate 88. Can strengthen.

  Furthermore, when the gripping arm 48 is large and the gripping force due to its own weight is strong, the gripping force can be weakened by removing the closing direction spring 52 and using only the opening direction spring 54.

  In some cases, the closing direction spring 52 is removed, and the engagement between the opening direction spring 54 and the urging force adjusting plate 88 is released so that the gripping force is obtained only by the weight of the gripping arm 48. it can.

  As described above, the gripping force can be easily adjusted with respect to the gripping arms 48 of various sizes.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified into various forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the elliptical cam is rotationally driven by the open / close motor as the grip arm open / close drive mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and various mechanisms can be used as long as the grip arm can be opened / closed. Can be adopted.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where a holding | grip arm was made into a pair, it is not restricted to this example but can also be made into three or more.

  Furthermore, although the case where a torsion coil spring is used as the opening direction biasing means has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this example, and biasing means such as a compression or tension coil spring can also be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it is set as the state which attached the opening direction spring (opening direction biasing means) beforehand, it does not attach to an opening direction spring beforehand but is made into the state which can attach an opening direction spring. You may keep it.

It is an external view which shows the crane game machine as a prize acquisition game device using the prize holding device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged front view of the prize gripping device of FIG. It is the side view which abbreviate | omitted the holding | grip arm of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows an opening direction biasing means and a biasing force adjusting means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Crane game machine 24 Prize 26 Prize grasping device 48 Grasping arm 50 Opening / closing drive mechanism 52 Closing direction spring 54 Opening direction spring 82 Energizing force adjusting means 88 Energizing force adjusting plate

Claims (6)

A plurality of freely openable and closable gripping arms that grip the prize and move it in the payout direction;
In the prize gripping apparatus having an opening / closing drive mechanism for opening / closing the plurality of gripping arms,
A prize gripping apparatus, characterized in that an opening direction biasing means for biasing the plurality of gripping arms in the opening direction can be attached. In claim 1,
The prize gripping device, wherein the plurality of gripping arms are closed by a closing direction urging means for urging the weight in a closing direction. In claim 2,
The prize gripping device, wherein the plurality of gripping arms are exchangeable with gripping arms having different sizes according to the size of the prize. In claim 3,
At least one of the opening direction biasing means and the closing direction biasing means is used according to the size of the gripping arm. In any one of Claims 1-4,
The prize gripping device, wherein the opening direction urging means can be engaged with or disengaged from the plurality of gripping arms. In any one of Claims 1-5,
The prize gripping device, wherein the biasing force of the opening direction biasing means is adjustable by a biasing force adjusting means.

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