JP2010187874A - Game device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably detect a prize and to prevent erroneous detection. <P>SOLUTION: In the middle of a discharge path (3100), a sensor(3200) comprising an infrared light-emitting part (3210) and an infrared light-receiving part (3220) is provided. The infrared light-emitting part emits infrared rays so as to cross the discharge path in the vicinity of the surface of the discharge path. The infrared light-receiving part receives the infrared rays on the opposite side of the discharge path and detects that the prizes (P1, P2) intercept the infrared rays. Nearly in the center of the width direction of the discharge path, a projecting part (3120) extending along a prize-sliding direction is formed and intercepts the infrared rays passing through a gap between the prize and the discharge path. Infrared rays going toward the center in the width direction of the discharge path (shown with a light beam L5) is intercepted by the projecting part in the vicinity of the surface of the discharge path. When the prize 2 slides through the discharge path while being biased to one side of the projecting part, the gap between the prize and the surface of the discharge path has its one side intercepted by the projecting part, so that infrared rays do not pass through the gap. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game apparatus that acquires a prize by a prize acquisition means.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of game apparatus, there is a game apparatus provided with a sensor such as an infrared sensor that detects that a prize has been paid out to a take-out port, and counts the number of prizes acquired.

  However, the conventional game apparatus is intended for prizes of equal size, and does not provide goods of various sizes.

  Accordingly, the applicant of the present application has begun to develop a game device for prizes of various sizes, but various problems have occurred.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10, when the prize P3 of a large size and the prize P4 of a small size acquired by the prize acquisition means slide and descend the discharge path (slope) 300, the prize P3, Occurs when the sensor 200 for emitting infrared rays is provided so as to cross the position separated from the surface of the discharge path on the discharge path (slope) 300 in order to detect P4. In the figure, 210 is an infrared light emitting part of the sensor, and 220 is an infrared light receiving part.

At this time, the prize P3 can be detected because it blocks the infrared rays L1 to L3.
Further, the infrared ray L4 reflected by the slope 300 while passing through the gap between the prize P3 and the slope 300 has a long path length, so that it is sufficiently attenuated and is not detected by the infrared light receiving unit 220.

That is, the large-size prize P3 can be detected, but the small-size prize P4 cannot be detected because the infrared rays L1 to L3 pass above.
As described above, the configuration in which the sensor 200 is installed at a position separated from the surface of the discharge path cannot cope with a small-size prize.

Second, in order to solve the first problem, as shown in FIG. 13, the sensor 200 is moved below the lower end of the slope 300 to detect when the prizes P3 and P4 fall from the slope 300 to the takeout port 100. Occurs when it is installed.
In this case, both the prizes P3 and P4 can be detected, but the large-size prize P3 is erroneously detected by blocking the sensor 200 after dropping to the takeout port 100.

  Third, in order to solve the first and second problems, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the sensor 200 is arranged close to the surface of the slope 300 so that the infrared rays cross the slope 300. Occurs when passing.

  As a result, the prizes P3 and P4 should be detected by blocking the infrared rays L1 to L4 when sliding on the slope 300 while being in contact with the surface of the slope 300, regardless of the size, but not detected. was there.

The following are considered as the cause.
That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the contact surface PB between the prizes P3 and P4 and the surface of the slope 300 may not be sufficiently large, and the reflected light L4 passes through both sides of the contact surface PB. Therefore, a part of the reflected light L4 reaches the infrared light receiving unit 220.

The present invention was devised to solve such various problems, and an object thereof is to reliably detect prizes and to prevent erroneous detection.

The present invention includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of prizes, a prize payout part for delivering the prize, a discharge path for passing and moving the prize from the storage part to the prize payout part, and a middle of the discharge path. A light-emitting unit that emits a light beam that crosses the discharge path; and a light-receiving unit that receives the light beam; the light from the light-emitting unit is blocked by the prize passing through the discharge path and cannot be detected by the light-receiving unit. And a passage sensor that detects the passage of the prize, and the reflected light of the light beam on the passage surface through which the prize passes in the discharge path to the light receiving unit. Further provided is a light-shielding part that shields the light beam so that it does not reach. This makes it possible to reliably detect prizes and to prevent erroneous detection.

  In the game device according to the present invention, the light shielding portion is formed on the discharge path as a convex portion extending along the carry-out direction of the prize, for example. As a result, the light beam passing through the gap between the prize and the discharge path can be reliably blocked.

  In the game device according to the present invention, the discharge path is configured such that, for example, the premium slides on the passage surface and discharges the premium to the premium payout portion.

In the game device according to the present invention, for example, the light shielding portion is disposed at a substantially center between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. As a result, it is possible to reliably block the reflected light that is likely to reach the light receiving unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect prizes and to prevent erroneous detection.

It is a perspective view which shows the Example of the game device which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the prize acquisition apparatus in the game device of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the game device of FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially broken perspective view showing a prize holding state in the game apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows the discharge path of the prize in the game device of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI arrow line of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the VIII-VIII arrow line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the prize detection principle by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the prize detection condition in the prototype stage of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other premium detection situation in the prototype stage of this embodiment. It is a top view of FIG. . It is a figure which shows the other premium detection situation in the prototype stage of this embodiment.

  Next, preferred embodiments of the game device and the game control program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, the game apparatus 1000 has two prize storage rooms 1010 and 1020 for two players, and each of the prize storage rooms 1010 and 1020 is provided with a prize acquisition apparatus 1030 and 1040. ing. A plurality of prizes P1 (large size) and P2 (small size) are accommodated in a predetermined area of each prize storage chamber 1010, 1020 by a prize support 1050 in an orderly manner, arranged vertically and horizontally. Here, examples of prizes of two types are shown, but it goes without saying that prizes of more various sizes can be targeted.

  The game apparatus 1000 is provided with operation buttons 1060, 1062, 1070, and 1072 for moving up and down, left and right of the prize acquisition apparatuses 1030 and 1040, and insertion units 1080 and 1082 for inserting coins. Retrieval ports 1090 and 1092 are provided for retrieving the prizes acquired by 1030 and 1040, respectively.

Since the prize acquisition apparatuses 1030 and 1040 are similarly configured, the prize acquisition apparatus 1030 will be described as a representative.
In FIG. 2, the prize acquisition device 1030 includes a Y-direction rail 2000 that extends in the up-down direction within the prize storage chamber 1010, and a pair of X-direction rails 2010 that guide the upper and lower ends of the Y-direction rail 2000 in the horizontal direction. A carrier 2030 is mounted on the Y-direction rail 2000 so as to be movable up and down, and the carrier 2030 is provided with a clip 2040 that projects horizontally toward the prizes P1 and P2. The clip 2040 is closed at a predetermined position, and the prizes P1 and P2 are removed from the prize support 1050 if the clips 2040 are set at appropriate positions with respect to the prizes P1 and P2.

  The carrier 2030 and the Y-direction rail 2000 are driven by a driving unit 2060 (FIG. 3) such as a motor.

  The prize P1 is supported by the prize support 1050 as shown in FIG.

A desorption part 1054 is attached to the prize support 1050, and one end of the support rod 1052 is supported by the desorption part 1054. The other end of the support rod 1052 is inserted into and supported by a locking hole 1053 formed in the prize support 1050.
A lock wire 1055 is attached to the prize P1, and a support rod 1052 is inserted through the lock wire 1055, so that the prize P1 is held suspended.

  The detachable portion 1054 is provided with a chain 1058 that pulls the support rod 1052 so as to be pulled out from the locking hole 1053, and a locking plate 1056 is attached to the lower end portion of the chain 1058.

  When the clip 2040 of the prize acquisition device 1030 stops at an appropriate position with respect to the prize P1, the chain 1058 is sandwiched, the locking plate 1056 is pulled downward, and the support rod 1052 is pulled out from the locking hole 1053. As a result, the support rod 1052 is detached from the locking hole 1053, and the prize P1 is dropped from the support rod 1052.

  The prizes P1 and P2 dropped from the prize support 1050 are discharged to the discharge path 3100 and taken out from the takeout port 3110 (FIGS. 5 to 7).

  3, the control system of the game apparatus 1000 includes a control unit 3000 to which a drive unit 2060, a sensor 3200, and operation units 3020 such as operation buttons 1060, 1062, 1070, 1072, and input units 1080 and 1082 are connected. Furthermore, the control unit 3000 is connected to the operation of the drive unit 2060 corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 3020, a storage unit 3010 for storing other programs and data, various upward outputs, a display 3030 for production, and a speaker 3040. Has been.

  When the sensor 3200 detects the prize P1 or P2, the control unit 3000 outputs a video or sound that praises the prize acquisition and simultaneously performs a predetermined process such as counting up the number of acquisitions.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, slopes (discharge passages) 3100 are provided below the prize storage chambers 1010 and 1020, and take-out ports 1090 and 1092 are provided below the discharge passage 3100.

  A sensor 3200 including an infrared light emitting unit 3210 and an infrared light receiving unit 3220 is provided in the middle of the discharge path 3100, and the infrared light emission unit 3210 emits infrared light so as to cross the discharge path 3100 near the surface of the discharge path 3100. The infrared light receiving unit 3220 receives infrared light on the opposite side of the discharge path 3100 and detects that the prize P1 or P2 blocks the infrared light.

  A convex portion (light-shielding portion) 3120 extending along the prize running direction is formed at substantially the center in the width direction of the discharge path 3100 to block infrared rays passing through the gaps between the prizes P1 and P2 and the discharge path 3100.

In particular, as schematically shown in FIG. 9, the infrared rays toward the center in the width direction of the discharge path 3100 are blocked by the convex portion 3120 in the vicinity of the surface of the discharge path 3100 (indicated by the light beam L <b> 5). When the prizes P1 and P2 are biased to either side of the convex portion 3120 and slide on the discharge path 3100, the gap between the prizes P1 and P2 and the surface of the discharge path 3100 is blocked on one side by the convex portion 3120, and infrared rays Will never pass.
On the other hand, the infrared rays toward the surface closer to the infrared light emitting unit 3210 are largely reflected upward after being reflected on the discharge path surface and do not reach the infrared light receiving unit 3220. That is, the convex portion 3120 reliably blocks infrared rays that are likely to reach the infrared light receiving portion 3220.

  When the height of the infrared optical axis of the sensor 3200 (indicated by the light beam L1 in FIG. 9) from the slope 3100 is H and the height of the convex portion 3120 is h, for example, the sensor 3200 with H = 3.1 mm is When it is adopted, good results are obtained with h = 3.0 mm. That is, the height of the convex portion 3120 is preferably set so as not to block the optical axis of infrared rays.

  On the other hand, the infrared rays L1 and L2 passing above the convex portion 3120 are surely blocked by the prizes P3 and P4.

  As described above, by providing the convex portion 3120, it is possible to reliably block infrared rays when passing through the prizes P1 and P2, but as shown in FIG. 10, the convex portion 3120 has a cross section along the width direction of the discharge path 3100. However, a smooth gradient is formed on both sides, such as a substantially semicircular shape, so that the prizes P1 and P2 are biased to either side, and the infrared rays are reliably blocked.

  Further, R chamfers 3122 and 3124 are formed in a planar shape at both ends in the traveling direction of the prizes P1 and P2 on the convex portion 3120 (FIG. 5), and R chamfers 3126 and 3128 are formed in a longitudinal section. As a result, it is possible to prevent a failure that the prizes P1 and P2 cannot reach the extraction ports 1090 and 1092 due to the bumps 3120 hitting or being caught.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the infrared rays are surely blocked by the prizes P1 and P2, the prize can be reliably detected and erroneous detection can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the light shielding portion 3210 is a convex portion, but a part of the surface of the discharge path 3100 where the reflected light may reach the light receiving portion is formed of a material having a low reflection coefficient for infrared rays, or A configuration that exhibits a reflection suppressing effect, such as forming a long hole through which infrared rays pass downward, can be arbitrarily employed.
Other configurations that have a reflection suppression effect include a synthetic resin material with a low reflection coefficient for the discharge path, a matte black color, etc., and a color with a low reflection coefficient, so as not to impede the gliding of the prize. Depending on the embodiment, the surface of the material can be appropriately textured.

  In the above embodiment, in the discharge path 3100, the prizes P1 and P2 are discharged by sliding, but the discharge path 3100 is provided with means for conveying the prize by being driven by a driving source such as a belt conveyor. Is also possible.

P1, P2 Premium H Optical axis height h Convex height 1000 Game device 1010, 1020 Premium storage room 1030, 1040 Premium acquisition device 1050 Premium support 1052 Support rod 1053 Locking hole 1054 Detachment section 1055 Locking wire 1056 Locking Plate 1058 Chain 1060, 1062, 1070, 1072 Operation buttons 1080, 1082 Input unit 1090, 1092 Outlet 2000 Y direction rail 2010 X direction rail 2030 Carrier 2040 Clip 2060 Drive unit 3000 Control unit 3010 Storage unit 3020 Operation unit 3030 Display 3040 Speaker 3100 Discharge path 3120 Convex part 3122, 3124, 3126, 3128 Chamfer part 3200 Sensor 3210 Infrared light emitting part 3220 Infrared light receiving part

Claims (4)

A storage section for storing a plurality of prizes;
A prize dispensing unit for dispensing the prize;
A discharge path for passing and moving the prize from the storage part to the prize paying part;
A light-emitting unit that emits a light beam that crosses the discharge path in the middle of the discharge path; and a light-receiving unit that receives the light beam, the light from the light-emitting unit being blocked by the prize passing through the discharge path, A passage sensor that detects the passage of the prize by being unable to be detected by the light receiving unit;
A game device comprising:
A game apparatus, further comprising: a light-shielding unit that shields the light beam so that the reflected light of the light beam on the passage surface does not reach the light-receiving unit on a passage surface through which the prize passes in the discharge path. .
The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding portion is formed on the discharge path as a convex portion extending along a carry-out direction of the prize.
The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge path is configured such that the prize slides on the passage surface and discharges the prize to the prize payout portion.
The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding unit is disposed at a substantially center between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.

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