JP3545918B2 - Table tennis equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a table tennis apparatus provided with a ball launching unit that launches a ball toward a court on the player side of a table tennis table.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a ping-pong table with a net in the center, and a ball launcher that is arranged behind one court (the court on the machine side) and sequentially shoots the ball toward the other court (the court on the player side) And a plurality of light sensors, each having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element arranged on the left and right sides of the court on the machine side, are arranged in the front-rear direction of the court. There has been proposed a table tennis apparatus in which the position of a court in the front-back direction is detected by an optical sensor, and a score corresponding to the position is given to display a practice result as a specific numerical value (practical use). New model registration No. 3017687).
[0003]
The table tennis apparatus configured as described above is configured such that the ball launching portion is arranged at the center position in the left-right direction of the court, while the driving position of the player on the court can be changed. Is possible.
[0004]
Regarding the ball launching section, the configurations of the sending device and the swinging device are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-22229 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-7264, respectively.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional table tennis apparatus, since the ball launching portion is fixed at the central position in the left-right direction of the court, even if it is possible to change the driving position on the court on the player side, the ball is distributed in the front-rear direction of the court on the player side. The system only reproduces various aspects of actual battle play because it only gives a predetermined score by detecting only the drop position of the ball in the front and rear direction of the court with an optical sensor. As a result, there is naturally a limit to apply to practice or table tennis game based on actual competitive play.
[0006]
In addition, since the conventional table tennis device is not configured so that the ball launching section can change the so-called ball type of the ball, it can be applied to a practice or table tennis game suitable for actual battle play as described above. Is naturally limited.
[0007]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a table tennis apparatus that can improve practice results by realizing an aspect closer to actual battle play, and is also suitable for games.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a table tennis apparatus configured to repeatedly fire a ball toward a court on a player side of a table tennis table, and applies an urging force to the ball in a firing direction. A ball launching unit having an urging force imparting unit and an angle changing unit for changing a firing angle of a ball fired from a firing opening in a downward direction, a game mode selecting unit for selecting a game difficulty level, and a difficulty level of the selected game. When the degree is high, the angle changing means is operated such that the frequency of changing the firing angle is increased, and when the degree of difficulty of the selected game is low, the angle changing means is operated such that the frequency of changing the firing angle is reduced. Means, wherein the angle changing means is projected forward from a periphery of the discharge port.Together with, Is rotatably supported by the launching port in a direction intersecting the launch direction of the ball., The ball fired from the launch hole hits the ball to make it a mountainA guide member, and driving means for rotating the guide member.An angle regulating plate disposed at a position facing the guide member with the firing opening interposed therebetween, and restricting the size of the crest of the ball by touching the ball hitting the guide member.It is characterized by things.
[0009]
According to the above configuration, when the difficulty of the game is selected by the game mode selection unit, the firing angle of the ball fired from the firing port of the ball firing unit in the elevation direction according to the level of the selected difficulty is determined. The change frequency is made different. That is, when the mode with high difficulty is selected, the firing angle is frequently changed by the guide member being frequently rotated in the elevating direction by the driving means, and the firing is performed when the mode with low difficulty is selected. The angle is not changed much.Then, while the ball fired from the firing opening is formed into a mountain by the guide member, the size of the mountain is regulated by the angle regulating plate.
[0010]
MaClaims2The invention according to claimIn oneSuch a table tennis apparatus is characterized in that the urging force applying means can change the magnitude of the urging force applied to the ball.
[0011]
According to the above configuration, the speed of the ball fired from the firing port can be changed by the urging force imparting means, and the firing angle of the ball fired from the firing port by the ball speed and angle changing means in the elevation direction can be changed. Can be changed. The urging force applying means may be configured to apply a urging force that causes the ball to fly forward by rotating the roller while the ball is sandwiched between a pair of rollers, or the arm on the rear side of the ball. By hitting with a striking body such as the one described above, an urging force may be applied to the ball to jump forward.
[0012]
Claims3In the table tennis apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the biasing force applying means is arranged to face in a direction intersecting a direction in which the ball is fired, and a peripheral speed can be independently changed. The roller is provided.
[0013]
According to the above configuration, when the peripheral speeds of the pair of rollers are different from each other, the ball is spun. The launch angle of the ball launched from the launch port in the elevation direction can be changed by the ball spin and the angle changing means.
[0014]
Claims4The invention according to claim 13In the table tennis apparatus according to any one of the above, the table tennis table has a first court on a player side and a second court on a side on which a ball launching unit is arranged, and the ball launching unit includes the second court. It is characterized by being arranged behind the court.
[0015]
According to the above-described configuration, a mountain-shaped ball or various spinned balls are fired from the ball firing unit on the second court side toward the first court, so that a mode closer to actual battle play can be realized. It becomes. Thus, when the table tennis apparatus of the present invention is used for table tennis practice, the practice results can be enhanced, and when used for a table tennis game, the table tennis apparatus is rich in interest.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a table tennis apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the table tennis apparatus includes a table tennis table 10, a ball shooting unit 20 that shoots a ball toward a court on the player side of the table tennis table 10, a ball collection unit 30 that collects a ball dropped on a floor or the like, A display unit 40 for displaying a score, a demonstration screen, and the like, an audio unit 50 for outputting effect music and sound effects, an enclosure 60 surrounding the table tennis table 10, and various game (practice) modes are set. The control box 70 includes a control unit 80 that controls the entire operation of the apparatus, and a moving mechanism unit 90 that moves the ball firing unit 20 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, a direction between both end lines of the table tennis table 10 is referred to as a front-back direction with respect to the player, and a direction between both side lines of the table tennis table 10 is referred to as left-right direction with respect to the player. However, in the ping-pong table 10 of the ping-pong apparatus according to the present invention, it is not necessary to actually provide an end line or a side line.
[0017]
The table tennis table 10 includes a court 12 on the player side, a court 14 on a side where the ball launching unit 20 is arranged, and a net 16 arranged between the court 12 and the court 14 and stretched to have a predetermined height. I have. Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, the coat 14 includes a frame structure 141 and a plate 142 made of, for example, a white translucent resin plate or the like that covers an upper portion of the frame structure 141. I have.
[0018]
The frame structure 141 is divided into a plurality of regions by left and right partition walls 148 and 149 and front and rear partition walls 150 made of a material that does not transmit light. That is, the frame structure 141 divides the coat 14 into approximately three equal parts in the front-rear direction, a first area 143 on the front side, and a right second area 144 obtained by bisecting the central area in the left-right direction. A third region 145 on the left side, a fourth region 146 on the right half of the region on the rear side in the left-right direction, and a fifth region 147 on the left side are formed.
[0019]
In the second region 144 of the frame structure 141, for example, a plurality of cold cathode tubes 181 emitting green light are arranged, and in the third region 145, for example, cold cathode tubes 182 emitting blue light are arranged. ing. Further, in the fourth region 146, for example, a plurality of cold cathode tubes 183 emitting red light are arranged, and in the fifth region 147, for example, cold cathode tubes 184 emitting yellow light are arranged. Note that, instead of the cold cathode tubes 181 to 184, a color light bulb or the like that is lit by energizing the filament can also be used. In the present invention, a cold cathode tube or a light bulb is generally called a lamp.
[0020]
The translucent plate body 142 functions as a surface light source of each color emitted by each cold-cathode tube and also functions as a vibration plate that vibrates due to an impact when the ball falls, and is formed by the frame structure 141. Plate portion 151, second plate portion 152, third plate portion 153, fourth plate portion 154, and fifth plate portion corresponding to respective regions 143, 144, 145, 146, and 147, respectively. 155. Note that the first plate portion 151 is the first region E1 of the coat 14, the second plate portion 152 is the second region E2 of the coat 14, the third plate portion 153 is the third region E3 of the coat 14, The fourth plate portion 154 forms a fourth region E4 of the coat 14, and the fifth plate portion 155 forms a fifth region E5 of the coat 14. In the plate body 142, horizontal grooves 156, 157 and a vertical groove 158 are engraved on the lower surface of the boundary between the plate portions 151 to 155, while each of the plate portions 151 to 155 is formed by a surface light source of each color. By doing so, the illumination effect is obtained.
[0021]
Further, a pair of microphones 190 and 191 are arranged near the diagonal position of the lower surface of the first plate portion 151 of the plate member 142, and near the diagonal position of the lower surface of the second plate portion 152. A pair of microphones 192 and 193 are arranged, and a pair of microphones 194 and 195 are arranged on the third plate 153 near the diagonal position on the lower surface thereof. The fourth plate 154 has a pair of microphones 196 and 197 disposed near a diagonal position on the lower surface thereof, and the fifth plate 155 has a pair of microphones 198 near a diagonal position on the lower surface thereof. , 199 are arranged.
[0022]
These microphones 190 to 199 function as vibration sensors, respectively, and detect on which of the first to fifth plate portions 151 to 155 of the plate 142 the ball has fallen. That is, for example, when the ball falls on the second plate portion 152, the vibration propagates while attenuating radially from the fall point toward the peripheral portion. 193. The vibration at this time is also detected by a microphone of another plate body, but the dropped plate portion can be specified from a difference in the sensing level, a shift in the propagation time of the vibration, and the like. In particular, since the grooves 156, 157, and 158 are formed in the plate 142, the vibration is rapidly attenuated at these portions, thereby preventing erroneous sensing. The detection signals output from the microphones 190 to 199 are input to the control unit 80, and are used for score processing and the like.
[0023]
The grooves 156 to 158 provided in the plate 142 are not essential for detecting the drop position of the ball. Further, the plate body 142 may be one in which each of the plate portions 151 to 155 is formed of an independent member. When each of the plate portions 151 to 155 is formed of an independent member as described above, a member for preventing the propagation of vibration such as rubber is interposed in a gap between adjacent members, or a vibration of rubber or the like is provided at a boundary between the plate portions. It is more preferable to dispose a member for preventing the propagation of the noise, and to arrange the respective plate portions on this member with a slight gap. Further, the plate body 142 and the microphones 190 to 199 constitute a detecting means for detecting a drop position of the ball hit back by the player. Further, in this embodiment, one or more of the four areas E2 to E5 where the court 14 emits light emits light to urge the player to return to a light emitting area, and the player emits light. When the microphone detects that the ball has been hit back, a higher score can be obtained than when the ball is hit back in a non-light emitting area. Of course, a score may be given only when the player hits the light emitting area.
[0024]
The ball launching section 20 is disposed behind the court 14 in a state where substantially the entirety thereof is housed in the housing 200. 3 and 4 show the structure. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the ball launching section 20, and FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view thereof.
[0025]
In these figures, a ball firing unit 20 includes a ball firing cylinder 21 from which a ball is fired from a tip, a ball feeding cylinder 22 for feeding a ball to the ball firing cylinder 21, and a ball feeding cylinder 22. A ball supply unit 23 for supplying the ball, a ball feeding means 24 for feeding the balls in the ball feeding tube 22 one by one, and an urging force for applying a urging force in the firing direction to the ball fed to the ball firing tube 21 Means 25, rotating means 26 for rotating the ball launching cylinder 21 about its axis to change the type of ball, and rotating the ball launching cylinder 21 in the left-right direction of the ping-pong table 10 to change the launch direction of the ball. There is provided a swing mechanism 27 for changing the angle of the ball, and angle changing means 28 for changing the angle of the ball to be fired in the elevation direction.
[0026]
The ball launching cylinder 21 is disposed so that the launching opening 211 of the ball at the tip is slightly obliquely upward with the ball projecting outward from the horizontally long window portion 201 of the housing 200. The ball urged by the applying means 25 is fired toward the court 12. Notched portions 212 and 213 into which a part of a pair of rollers 251 and 252, which will be described later, constituting the urging force applying means 25 are formed at opposing positions of an intermediate portion of the ball firing cylinder 21.
[0027]
The ball feeding tube 22 is disposed in the housing 200 and has an L-shape including a horizontal portion 221 and a vertical portion 222, and the horizontal portion 221 is connected to the ball launching tube via a ball bearing 223. 21 is fitted around the rear end. As a result, the ball firing cylinder 21 can rotate around its axis. An opening 224 into which a part of a later-described plate cam 241 of the ball feeding means 24 enters is formed at the rear of the lower end of the vertical portion 222.
[0028]
The ball supply unit 23 is disposed above the ball firing unit 20 that can move in the left-right direction by a movement mechanism unit 90 described below, and is fixed to an upper part in the housing 200. The ball supply unit 23 includes a ball hopper 231 for storing a plurality of balls, and a flexible tube 233 connected to a supply port 232 at the bottom of the hopper 231 and a vertical portion 222 of the ball feed tube 22. . Further, the hopper 231 includes ball stirring means 236 including a hopper stirring motor 234 attached to the outside and a stirring rod 235 having elasticity, for example, disposed inside. The stirring rod 235 is driven by the hopper stirring motor 234. Is rotationally driven to prevent the ball BL from being clogged at the supply port 232.
[0029]
The ball feeding means 24 includes a plate cam 241 and a plate cam motor 242 for driving the plate cam 241 to rotate. The plate cam 241 is integrally fixed to a vertical rotation shaft 242 a of the plate cam motor 242 at a position behind the ball feeding cylinder 22. The plate cam 241 includes a small-diameter portion M and a cam portion N whose diameter sequentially increases in the rotation direction. The small-diameter portion M has a diameter that does not enter the ball feeding cylinder 22, and the cam portion N has a small-diameter dimension on one side adjacent to the small-diameter portion M and a large-diameter dimension on the other side for at least one ball. ing. The direction of the plate cam 241 is reversed between FIGS. 3 and 4 for convenience of description.
[0030]
The plate cam motor 242 is fixed upward to a motor mounting plate 222b mounted on the bottom of the vertical portion 222 of the ball feeding cylinder 22. Then, the plate cam motor 242 rotates and the plate cam 241 makes one rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, so that the balls fed to the lower end of the vertical portion 222 are fed out one by one to the horizontal portion 221 side. Like that. That is, when the small-diameter portion M of the plate cam 241 starts rotating from a position (initial position) facing the ball feeding cylinder 22, the ball fed to the lower end of the vertical portion 222 comes into contact with the cam portion N to be horizontal. It is fed out to the unit 221.
[0031]
An erect shield plate 241b is fixed on the plate cam 241 at a position away from the rotation shaft 242a. On the other hand, to the sensor mounting plate 222c above the plate cam 241, a plate cam sensor 243 composed of a photo interrupter in which the positions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are set so that the shielding plate 241b can pass through the gap is fixed. Thus, the initial position of the plate cam 241 is detected when the shielding plate 241b blocks the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the plate cam sensor 243, and the number of rotations of the plate cam 241 is counted each time the initial position is detected. It has become.
[0032]
The urging force applying means 25 includes a pair of rollers 251 and 252 arranged opposite to each other, and a pair of roller motors (the pair of rollers 251 and 252 each independently driving the pair of rollers 251 and 252 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3). DC motors) 253 and 254. The pair of rollers 251 and 252 are configured by arranging rubber members 251 b and 252 b on the outer periphery of the metal members 251 a and 252 a, and a part of each of the rubber members 251 a and 252 b is inserted into the cutout portions 212 and 213 of the ball firing cylinder 21. Has become. Further, the roller motors 253 and 254 are fixed to motor mounting plates 214 and 215 mounted on the ball firing cylinder 21, respectively.
[0033]
Accordingly, the pair of rollers 251 and 252 rotate together with the pair of roller motors 253 and 254 when the ball firing cylinder 21 rotates around the axis, and each of the pair of rollers 251 and 252 sandwiches the ball BL from both sides. By rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, a biasing force in the firing direction (forward direction) is applied to the ball BL. The pair of rollers 251 and 252 can apply a firing speed to the ball in accordance with the peripheral speed thereof, and can impart a spin to the ball fired from the ball firing cylinder 21 by providing a peripheral speed difference. .
[0034]
That is, if the peripheral speed of the roller 251 is relatively higher than the peripheral speed of the roller 252, a top spin (drive) can be applied to the ball, and conversely, a back spin (cut) can be applied to the ball. be able to. Further, when the peripheral speeds of the rollers 251 and 252 are substantially the same, a so-called knuckle-like ball can be obtained with almost no rotational force applied to the ball. Furthermore, when the peripheral speed difference is given to the rollers 251 and 252 in a state where the ball launching cylinder 21 is rotated around the axis by the rotating means 26 and the pair of rollers 251 and 252 are inclined, side spin is applied. The ball can be in a state.
[0035]
The rotating means 26 includes a driven gear 261 mounted on the outer periphery on the rear end side of the ball firing cylinder 21, a driving gear 262 meshing with the driven gear 261, and a firing cylinder rotating motor 263 for driving the driving gear 262 to rotate. And The motor 263 for rotating the firing cylinder is fixed to a motor mounting plate 221a mounted on the horizontal portion 221 of the ball feeding cylinder 22. The rotation of the motor 263 in both the forward and reverse directions causes the ball firing cylinder 21 to rotate about the axis. It will rotate around.
[0036]
Further, a shielding plate 262a extending in the radial direction is fixed to a side surface of the driving gear 262. On the other hand, a sensor mounting plate 221b is mounted on the motor mounting plate 221a, and a photo interrupter in which the positions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are set such that the shielding plate 262a can pass through the gap. The rotation sensor 264 is fixed. Thus, the shield plate 262a attached to the drive gear 262 blocks the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the rotation sensor 264, thereby detecting the initial position around the axis of the ball firing cylinder 21. The state in which the pair of rollers 251 and 252 are positioned in the up-down direction is defined as the initial position of the ball firing cylinder 21. Further, in this embodiment, the ball launching cylinder 21 is configured to rotate in the left and right directions within a range of 45 ° with respect to the initial position.
[0037]
The swing mechanism 27 is fixed to a cylindrical column 271 fixed to the base 91 (FIG. 5) and to the bottom of the horizontal portion 221 of the ball feeding cylinder 22, and a ball bearing 272 is inserted into the column 271. A rotating shaft 273 mounted thereon, a driven gear 274 fixed on the upper portion of the rotating shaft 273, a driving gear 275 meshed with the driven gear 274, and a firing unit swing motor 276 for driving the driving gear 275 to rotate. And The firing unit swing motor 276 is fixed to a motor mounting plate 221c mounted on the vertical portion 222 of the ball feeding cylinder 22, and the motor 276 rotates in both the forward and reverse directions so that the rotation shaft 273 is centered. The ball firing section 20 is rotated left and right to swing. Thereby, when the ball launching unit 20 is located in the front-back direction, a straight ball can be launched, and when the ball launching unit 20 is located at an angle, the ball is aimed at the left and right corners (corners) of the table tennis table 10. Will be able to fire. That is, the swing mechanism 27 can shoot not only a ball in the straight direction but also a ball in the cross direction.
[0038]
At the lower end of the rotating shaft 273, a shielding plate 273a having an upward end is attached. On the other hand, a sensor mounting plate 271a is attached to the column 271 at the front outer periphery at the lower end thereof, and the positions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are set on the sensor mounting plate 271a so that the shielding plate 273a can pass through the gap. A rotation sensor 277 including a photo interrupter is fixed. As a result, the shield plate 273a attached to the rotation shaft 273 blocks the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the rotation sensor 277 to detect the initial position of the ball emitting unit 20 in the rotation direction about the rotation axis 273. It has become. Note that a direction that is straight in the front-rear direction of the table tennis table 10 is an initial position of the ball firing unit 20.
[0039]
In addition, a sensor mounting plate 271b is attached to the column 271 at the rear outer periphery at the lower end, and a swing angle sensor 278 made of a variable resistor is mounted to the sensor mounting plate 271b. The rotation shaft 277 a of the swing angle sensor 278 is fixed concentrically to the rotation shaft 273 of the swing mechanism 27. Thus, the swing angle of the ball firing unit 20 is detected based on the voltage value output from the swing angle sensor 278 according to the amount of rotation of the rotating shaft 273, and the swing angle of the ball firing unit 20 is determined based on the initial position. Can be controlled.
[0040]
The angle changing means 28 includes a guide plate 281 rotatably attached to a peripheral portion of the ejection opening 211 at the tip of the ball launching cylinder 21 so as to protrude forward, and a ball ejected from the ejection opening 211 with the guide plate 281. And a guide plate motor 282 that rotates in a direction that blocks the path of the ball (that is, a direction that intersects the direction in which the ball is fired). When the ball launching cylinder 21 is at the initial position around the axis, the guide plate 281 is pivotally supported on both sides of the base end at positions facing the outer periphery of the distal end of the launching port 211. In other words, one of the base ends is pivotally supported by the projection 211a, and the other is pivotally supported by the rotation shaft 282a of the guide plate motor 282 fixed to the motor mounting plate 211b mounted at an appropriate location on the outer periphery of the firing port 211. .
[0041]
Thus, when the ball launching cylinder 21 is at the initial position around the axis, the guide plate 281 is rotated by rotating the guide plate motor 282 by a predetermined amount so that the ball launch direction is directed obliquely upward. (That is, the launch angle of the ball is changed). That is, as a result of the ball of the firing port 211 being directed upward by hitting the guide plate 281, it is possible to fire a ball in a mountain (parabola). The size of this peak (parabolic shape) can be adjusted by the amount of rotation (elevation angle) of the guide plate 281 and the firing speed of the ball. On the side facing the guide plate 281, an angle regulating plate 283 is arranged along the axial direction of the ball firing cylinder 21. Thus, when the firing angle of a ball with a high firing speed is greatly changed by the guide plate 281, the ball contacts the angle regulating plate 283 to regulate the size of the mountain, and the ball is less likely to go over the court 12. Like that.
[0042]
Further, a shielding plate 281a is attached to the base end side of the guide plate 281 so as to extend rearward. On the other hand, a sensor mounting plate 211c is mounted in the vicinity of the emission port 211, and a photo interrupter in which the positions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are set on the sensor mounting plate 211c so that the shielding plate 281a can pass through the gap. Is fixed. Thus, the shield plate 281a blocks the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the guide plate sensor 284 to detect the initial position of the guide plate 281. Note that the direction along the axial direction of the ball firing cylinder 21 is the initial position of the guide plate 281.
[0043]
A firing angle sensor 285 composed of a variable resistor is mounted on the sensor mounting plate 211c, and its rotating shaft 285a is fixed to a projection 281b of a guide plate 281 which is coaxial with the projection 211a. Thus, the amount of rotation of the guide plate 281 is detected based on the voltage value output from the firing angle sensor 285, and the firing angle of the ball can be controlled based on the initial position.
[0044]
Next, the moving mechanism unit 90 for moving the ball firing unit 20 in the left-right direction will be described. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the moving mechanism unit 90 includes a pair of guides 92 a and 92 b fixed to the bottom of the base 91 on which the ball firing unit 20 is mounted, and a housing covering the ball firing unit 20. A guide rail 93 is mounted on a table 202 fixed in the body 200 (FIG. 1), and is disposed along a left-right direction in which a pair of guides 92a and 92b slide. , A pair of pulleys 94a and 94b, a timing belt 95 that is bridged over the pair of pulleys 94a and 94b, and has a pair of guides 92a and 92b attached thereto, and a driving unit 96 that rotationally drives one of the pulleys 94a. And The driving means 96 is wound around a firing section moving motor (AC servo motor) 96a, a pulley 96c attached to a rotating shaft 96b of the firing section moving motor 96a, and a pulley 96c and a pulley 94a. And a timing belt 96d.
[0045]
A shielding plate 91a is attached at the center in the left-right direction behind the base 91 so as to extend downward. On the other hand, a sensor mounting plate 93a protruding rearward from the center in the left-right direction of the guide rail 93 has a central base made of a photo interrupter in which the positions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are set so that the shielding plate 91a can pass through the gap. The platform sensor 97 is fixed. As a result, the initial position of the base 91, that is, the initial position of the ball firing unit 20 in the left-right direction is detected by the shielding plate 91a blocking the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the central base sensor 97. I have. The center position of the table 202 in the left-right direction is set as the initial position of the ball firing unit 20, and the movement in the left-right direction is controlled based on this initial position.
[0046]
Further, sensor mounting plates 93b and 93c projecting rearward from a position closer to the left and a position closer to the right from the center of the guide rail 93 (both directions based on the player) so that the shielding plate 91a can pass through the gap. A left base sensor 98 and a right base sensor 99 composed of a photo interrupter in which the positions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are set are fixed. As a result, the shielding plate 91a blocks the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the left base sensor 98 or the right base sensor 99, thereby moving the base 91 in the left-right direction, that is, moving the ball firing unit 20 in the left-right direction. The limit position is detected so that the ball firing unit 20 does not overrun the movement limit position.
[0047]
The ball collection unit 30 includes a ball that is hit by the player from the ball firing unit 20 onto the court 12 and falls on the floor, a ball that has dropped from the left and right edge sides of the table tennis table 10 (a so-called sideline side), and The ball dropped from the rear edge side (the so-called end line side) of the ping-pong table 10 is collected on the ball emitting portion 20 side, and the defective ball deformed due to the player stepping on the foot by mistake or the like is collected as described below. A box 334 is selected and configured as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. 6 is a plan view around the table tennis table 10, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. FIG.
[0048]
In these figures, the ball collecting unit 30 includes a floor collecting unit 31 in an area where the player plays, a left collecting unit 32 arranged along the left side line of the table tennis table 10, and an end line of the table tennis table 10. A rear collecting unit 33 disposed along the right side line of the table tennis table 10, a right collecting unit 34 disposed along the right side line of the table tennis table 10, a vertical collecting unit 35 disposed in a vertical direction in the housing 200, and a housing. A horizontal collection unit 36 connected to the end of the vertical collection unit 35 in the inside 200, a ball pumping unit 37 for pumping the balls collected by the floor collection unit 31 and transferring the collected balls to the left collection unit 32; Ball pumping means 38 for pumping up the balls conveyed to the section 36 and transferring the balls into the hopper 231.
[0049]
The floor collecting section 31 is formed including a region where the player plays, and includes a first floor section 311 that is inclined toward the table tennis table 10 so as not to hinder the play, and The first floor 311 includes a second floor 312 connected to the table tennis table 10 side and a ball gathering part 313 formed at the center of the second floor 312. The second floor portion 312 is separated into a left floor portion 312a and a right floor portion 312b on both left and right sides of the ball collecting portion 313, and both the left floor portion 312a and the right floor portion 312b have a lower ball collecting portion 313 side. It is arranged in a state of being inclined so as to become. Further, the ball collecting part 313 is arranged in a state of being inclined such that the court 14 side is lowered.
[0050]
As a result, the balls that have dropped onto the first floor 311 roll on the first and second floors 311 and 312 and are collected by the ball collecting unit 313. Further, the balls collected in the ball collecting section 313 are moved up in a cylinder described later by the ball pumping means 37 and transferred to the left collecting section 32. In addition to the normal spherical ball, a partially concave defective ball that has rolled to the ball collecting section 313 is transferred to the left collecting section 32 by the ball pumping means 37.
[0051]
A plurality of (five in the figure) rails in which the left collecting part 32 is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction at a height lower than the table tennis table 10 and in a state where the rear collecting part 33 is inclined so as to be lower. A body 321 and a receiving plate 322 having a substantially C-shaped vertical cross section are arranged below the plurality of rail bodies 321 so as to be inclined in such a manner that the side of the rear recovery unit 33 becomes lower. The plurality of rail bodies 321 are arranged at intervals slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball. Therefore, a normal ball can be rolled between the adjacent rails 321, while a defective ball, which is partially dented by being stepped on by a player or the like, falls onto the receiving plate 322 from between the adjacent rails 321. Will be sorted out.
[0052]
As a result, the normal ball rolls over the adjacent rail body 321 and is transferred to the rear collection unit 33 side, and the recessed defective ball collected by the floor collection unit 31 is removed from the adjacent rail body 321. 321 falls on the receiving plate 322 and rolls on the receiving plate 322 (or the non-rolling member hits a ball that falls later), and the receiving plate 332 of the rear collecting unit 33, which will be described later. Will be transferred to The ends of the plurality of rails 321 and the receiving plate 322 intersect with the rails 331 and the receiving plate 332 of the rear recovery unit 33 so that the balls can be transferred.
[0053]
A plurality of rear collection portions 33 are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction at a height lower than the table tennis table 10 and in a state where the right side (the lower side in FIG. 6) of the court 14 is inclined so as to be lower. 5 of them), a receiving plate 332 disposed below the plurality of rails 331 and inclined so that the right side is lower, and a right edge of the plurality of rails 331. The normal ball relay box 333 disposed below and the defective ball collection box 334 disposed below the right edge of the receiving plate 332 are provided.
[0054]
The plurality of rail bodies 331 are arranged at intervals slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball, similarly to the left recovery unit 32. Therefore, a normal ball can be rolled between the adjacent rail bodies 331, while a defective ball partly dented by being stepped on by a player or the like falls onto the receiving plate 332 from between the adjacent rail bodies 331. Will be sorted out. The normal ball relay box 333 has an opening on the housing 200 side, and is disposed in an inclined state such that the housing 200 side is lowered.
[0055]
In addition, since the recessed defective ball has been collected by the floor collection unit 31, most of the balls fall onto the receiving plate 322 from the gap between the rail bodies 321 adjacent to the left collection unit 32, Since the same portion of the ball on the rail body 321 rolls on the rail body with the same portion serving as a rolling axis, the ball does not fall from the gap of the rail body 321 when the portion crossing the rolling axis is concave. Become. Therefore, for a defective ball that has not fallen from the gap of the rail body 321, the rolling shaft is changed to the right-angled position by providing the rear collecting portion 33 perpendicular to the left collecting portion 32, thereby forming a concave. The rib portion is opposed to between the rail bodies 322, and a defective ball is dropped from the gap between the rail bodies 322.
[0056]
Thereby, the normal ball is delivered to the normal ball relay box 333 via the rail bodies 321 and 331, and the defective defective ball falls onto the receiving plate 322 or 332 on one of the rail bodies 321 and 331, and the defective ball is defective. It is delivered to the ball collection box 334.
[0057]
The right collecting part 34 is lower than the table tennis table 10, and is inclined so that the rear collecting part 33 side is lower, and is a plate body 341 arranged so as to be inclined such that the table tennis table 10 side is lower. It has. The rear end of the plate 341 projects above the normal ball relay box 333. Since the ball collected by the right collecting unit 34 has a high probability of being a normal ball hit by the player, the ball is rolled on the plate 341 and once passed to the normal ball relay box 333.
[0058]
The vertical collection unit 35 has a plurality of (four in the figure) rail bodies 351 arranged in a substantially horizontal direction in a state where the rear side is inclined so as to be lower, and the front side is lower below the plurality of rail bodies 351. And a receiving plate 352 arranged in such a state as to be inclined. The intervals between the plurality of rails 351 are set in the same manner as the rails 321 and 331 of the left recovery unit 32 and the rear recovery unit 33, and a normal ball rolls rearward across the rails 351. The recessed defective ball is made to fall onto the receiving plate 352 from the gap between the adjacent rail bodies 351.
[0059]
The front end of the receiving plate 352 is located above the defective ball collection box 334. In addition, since most of the concave defective balls have been recovered through the floor recovery unit 31, most of them should be recovered in the defective ball recovery box 334 at the stage where they have passed through the rear recovery unit 33. However, due to the relationship of the direction of the concave portion of the ball on the rail body 331, the one that did not fall from the gap between the adjacent rail bodies 331 of the rear recovery section 33 is the direction of the concave section with respect to the rail body 351 in the vertical recovery section 35. Is changed, it falls from the gap between the adjacent rail bodies 351.
[0060]
As a result, a normal ball rolls while straddling the adjacent rail body 351 and is transferred to the side of the horizontal recovery unit 36, and a defective defective ball is removed from the gap between the adjacent rail bodies 351 by the receiving plate. 352, and is collected in the defective ball collection box 334. Note that the ends of the plurality of rails 351 and the receiving plate 322 intersect with the rails 361 and the receiving plate 362 of the horizontal collecting unit 36 so that the balls can be transferred.
[0061]
The horizontal recovery unit 36 includes a plurality of (four in the figure) rail bodies 361 arranged in a substantially horizontal direction in a state where the left side is inclined so as to be lower, and a right side below the plurality of rail bodies 361. And a receiving plate 362 that is arranged to be inclined so as to be lower. The interval between the plurality of rails 361 is set in the same manner as the rails 361 and the like. A normal ball rolls to the left while straddling the rails 361, while a defective ball that is recessed has a gap between the adjacent rails 361. From above onto the receiving plate 362. The same applies to the case where the ball is collected from the right collecting unit 34 and guided to the vertical collecting unit 35 and the horizontal collecting unit 36. The collected ball from the right collecting unit 34 is connected to the left collecting unit 32 and the rear. Since the ball has not passed through the collecting section 33, the defective ball from the right collecting section 34 is sorted by the vertical collecting section 35 and the horizontal collecting section 36.
[0062]
Each of the plurality of rails 321, 331, 351, and 361 constitutes a ball sorting unit, and each of the receiving plates 322, 332, 352, and 362 constitutes a deformed ball transport unit. Each of the plurality of rails 321 and 351 constitutes a first ball sorting unit, and each of the plurality of rails 331 and 361 constitutes a second ball sorting unit.
[0063]
The ball pumping means 37 is configured as shown in FIGS. FIG. 10 is a top view of the ball pumping means 37, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. In these figures, a ball pumping means 37 is fixed on a substrate 371 and has a flat plate-shaped first guide plate 372 connected to the rear edge of the ball collecting portion 313, and the first guide plate 372. A curved second guide plate 373 connected to the second guide plate 372, a vertical transfer tube 374 vertically arranged above a rear edge of the second guide plate 373, and an upper portion of the vertical transfer tube 374. To the horizontal transfer cylinder 376, which is connected to the horizontal direction by a connecting cylinder 375, a ball agitating means 377 for preventing a ball from clogging on the rear end side of the first guide plate 372, and a second guide plate 373. Feeding means 378 for feeding the shot ball to the vertical transfer cylinder 374.
[0064]
The first guide plate 372 is disposed so as to be inclined such that the second guide plate 373 side is lowered, and the ball below the shaft 377e is located at a position opposed to a shaft 377e of the ball stirring means 377 described later. A notch 372a having a horizontally long shape for facilitating the passage of air is formed. The first guide plate 372 has narrowed upright portions 372c and 372d formed on the left and right sides on the rear end side, and a ball outlet 372b through which balls are passed one by one.
[0065]
The second guide plate 373 guides the ball rolled from the first guide plate 372 to the vertical transfer cylinder 374, and has a cushion material 373a such as a sponge attached to the upper surface thereof by sticking or the like.
[0066]
The ball stirring means 377 is rotatably supported by bearings 377a and 377b arranged on both the left and right sides, and a plurality of flexible stirring rods 377c and 377d are alternately arranged in opposite phase positions at intervals of substantially one ball. And a driving means 377f for driving the shaft 377e to rotate. The driving means 377f includes a gear 377g attached to one end of a shaft 377e, a gear 378e attached to one end of a shaft 378c to be described later, and a chain 377h bridged between the gears 377g and 378e. And is driven by a driving force of a stirring / feeding motor 379 that rotationally drives a shaft 378c described later. As a result, the shaft 377e is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 11, and a plurality of balls collected near the outlet 372b of the first guide plate 372 are stirred by the stirring rods 377c and 377d. I try not to.
[0067]
The feeding means 378 is rotatably supported by bearings 378a and 378b arranged on both left and right sides, and is located above the second guide plate 373 and in front of the vertical transfer cylinder 374 (left side in FIG. 11). A shaft 378c is provided, a feed roller 378d attached to the shaft 378c at a position facing the vertical transfer cylinder 374, and a stirring / feed motor 379 for driving the shaft 378c to rotate. The stirring / feeding motor 379 is fixed to a motor mounting plate 379a. The feeding roller 378d is formed of an elastic member such as sponge or rubber, and its diameter is slightly larger than the ball diameter of the cushion material 373a attached to the arc surface of the second guide plate 373. The dimensions are set to be smaller.
[0068]
Thus, when the shaft 378c is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 11 and the feed roller 378d rotates, the ball is elastically sandwiched between the feed roller 378d and the cushion material 373a of the second guide plate 373. In this state, the paper is fed into the vertical transfer cylinder 374. The balls fed into the vertical transfer tube 374 are sequentially pushed up by the sequentially fed balls and delivered to the upper horizontal transfer tube 376. The ball transferred to the horizontal transfer cylinder 376 is transferred to the left collecting unit 32 disposed on the left of the table tennis table 10.
[0069]
A sensor mounting plate 370a is mounted on the motor mounting plate 379a, and a first motor rotation sensor 370 including a photo interrupter having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is fixed to the sensor mounting plate 370a. I have. Then, the number of rotations of the stirring / feeding motor 379 is counted as the shielding plate 379c attached to the rotating shaft 379b of the stirring / feeding motor 379 passes between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the motor rotation sensor 370. It has become so.
[0070]
Since the ball pumping means 38 has the same configuration as the ball pumping means 37, the description is omitted.
[0071]
The display unit 40 is arranged on the front surface of the housing 200, and includes a score display unit 41 formed of a 7-segment display and an image display unit 42 formed of a dot matrix display. The score display unit 41 displays the number of remaining balls with respect to a preset number of balls, and the score obtained by the player hitting the ball shot from the ball shooting unit 20 onto the court 14 is added and updated each time. Is displayed. The image display section 42 displays a demonstration screen before the start of the play, an effect screen during the play, a demonstration screen at the end of the play, a high score, and the like.
[0072]
The audio unit 50 is composed of an amplifier, a speaker, and the like, and outputs staging music and sound effects while a demo screen is being displayed or during play, and outputs a ball firing sound each time a ball is fired from the ball firing unit 20. For example, when the ball hit by the player falls into the opponent's court 14, the sound effect is output.
[0073]
The enclosure 60 is formed of a net or the like, and is used to prevent a ball fired from the ball firing unit 20 or a ball hit by a player from flying far. Door 61 is provided.
[0074]
The control box 70 is installed on the right side of the table tennis table 10 on the court 12 side, and is arranged over the inside and outside of the enclosure 60. In the inner part, one game mode is selected from a coin insertion slot CE for inserting a predetermined coin before starting play, a start button SW1, and three types of game (practice) modes having different degrees of difficulty. Game mode selection buttons SS (beginner button SS1, intermediate button SS2 and advanced button SS3), and a coach mode selection button CS for two players to play.
[0075]
In addition, a start button SW2 and an area selection button PS for selecting a drop area (fall position) on the court 12 of the ball fired from the ball firing section 20 are provided on the outer side. The area selection buttons PS are used to select one of a total of six areas obtained by dividing the court 12 into two parts in the front-rear direction and three parts in the left-right direction. Six buttons PS1 for individually selecting each area are provided. , PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5 and PS6. Then, when one of the buttons is turned on, the ball fired from the ball firing unit 20 falls on the selected area by applying a spin to the ball.
[0076]
In this configuration, when a player plays alone, after inserting a coin into the coin insertion slot CE of the control box 70, a predetermined game mode is selected with the game mode selection button SS on the inner side, and the start button SW1 is turned on. By doing so, the game is started. When the player plays with two opponents imitated by the coach, the player inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot CE of the control box 70, turns on the coach mode selection button CS, and is outside the enclosure 60. The game is started when the opponent turns on the start button SW2 on the outer side. The opponent turns on a predetermined button before the ball is fired from the ball firing unit 20 in accordance with the skill of the player or the like, appropriately selects a drop area of the ball, and proceeds with the play. In addition, even if the coach mode selection button CS is turned on, if the area selection button PS is not turned on, the ball is fired under preset conditions.
[0077]
In addition, a ball type selection button, a ball speed selection button, a ball launch position selection button, a ball launch angle selection button, a ball launch direction selection button, and the like are provided on the outer side of the control box 70, and when the coach mode is selected. By turning on these selection buttons, the type of the ball, the speed, the firing position, and the like may be appropriately selected each time the ball is fired.
[0078]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a control block of the table tennis apparatus. In this figure, a control unit 80 is composed of a CPU 81 for performing predetermined arithmetic or control processing, a ROM 82 for storing a predetermined processing program, and a RAM 83 for temporarily storing data. The overall operation is controlled according to the processing program.
[0079]
The CPU 81 selects a game setting means 811 for setting the game content according to the selected mode when any one of the elementary, intermediate, and advanced game modes is selected, and selects the cold cathode tubes 181 to 184 according to the lighting instruction. A cold-cathode tube lighting means 812 that illuminates the first, a first judging means 813 for judging whether the ball has fallen on the court 14, and a second judging means for judging whether the ball has fallen into the lighting region of the cold-cathode tube The second score means 814, the cold-cathode tube blinking means 815 for selectively blinking the cold-cathode tube in response to a blink command, the first decision means 813 and the second decision means 814 determine the current score according to the decision result. Score adding means 816 for adding to the immediately preceding score, point display blinking means 817 for blinking the score display section 41 when the score is added, and a finger for setting the type of the ball fired from the ball firing section 20. Pitch setting means 818 for setting the speed of the ball fired from the ball firing unit 20 according to the setting command, and a firing position for setting the firing position of the ball from the ball firing unit 20 Setting means 820, a firing angle setting means 821 for setting the firing angle of the ball from the ball firing section 20, a firing direction setting means 822 for setting the firing direction of the ball from the ball firing section 20, when the coach mode is selected, The firing condition setting means 823 for setting the firing conditions of the ball so that the ball is fired toward the falling area selected in response to the ON operation of the area selection button, the second time when the ball bounces on the court 14 Each function realizing unit of the bounding ball addition prohibiting unit 824 that does not perform the score adding process for the fall is provided.
[0080]
Next, an example of the operation of the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above will be described. First, the initialization operation of each mechanism of the table tennis apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the power switch is turned on, a board check is performed to determine whether each component such as a CPU functions normally (step S1), and then each component is initialized (step S3). Next, the ball firing unit moving motor 296a is rotationally driven to move the ball firing unit 20 in the left-right direction (step S5), and after a predetermined time elapses, determines whether the ball firing unit 20 is located at the center of the table tennis table 10. Is determined (step S7), and when the determination is affirmed, the rotational drive of the ball-emitting-unit moving motor 296a is stopped (step S9).
[0081]
If the determination is negative in step S7, it is determined whether the ball launching unit 20 is located at the left end or the right end of the ping-pong table 10 (step S11). Is moved to the center of the ping-pong table 10 (step S13), and thereafter, the process returns to step S7. If the determination in step S11 is negative, it is determined that the ball shooting unit 20 is moving to the center of the ping-pong table 10, and the process returns to step S7, where the subsequent operations are executed.
[0082]
Next, the swing angle in the left-right direction with respect to the ball shooting unit 20 is set (step S15), and the ball shooting unit 20 is rotated in the left-right direction. Here, it is determined whether there is any abnormality in the swing angle and the swing sensor 277 (step S17). If the determination is affirmative, the firing angle of the firing port 211 is set (step S19). Thereafter, the guide plate 281 of the firing port 211 is rotated by an angle corresponding to the set firing angle, and it is determined whether the firing angle, the guide plate sensor 284, and the firing angle sensor 285 are normal (step S21). If the determination is affirmative, the initial settings of the score display unit 41, the image display unit 42, an unillustrated illuminated lamp and the like are performed (step S23), and then the cold cathode tubes 181 to 184 are initialized. (Step S25). When a negative determination is made in step S17 and step S21, error processing (for example, display of an abnormal portion on the image display unit 42) is performed (step S27, step S29).
[0083]
Next, the game operation will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not there is any abnormality in the initialization operation of each unit described above (step S31). If the determination is affirmative, a demo screen before the start of play is displayed on the image display unit 42 (step S33). ). Then, it is determined whether or not a coin has been inserted into the coin insertion slot CE of the control box 70 (step S35). If the determination is affirmative, initialization of game variables (number of remaining balls, firing angle, etc.) is performed. (Step S37).
[0084]
Next, it is determined whether a predetermined game course among the elementary course, the intermediate course, and the advanced course has been selected (step S39). If the determination is affirmative, the setting of the game content according to the selected game course is performed. This is performed (step S41). When a negative determination is made in step S31, error processing (for example, display of an abnormal portion on the image display unit 42) is performed (step S43), and the game cannot be started. When a negative determination is made in step S39, the determination is repeatedly performed until a game course is selected.
[0085]
When the game content is set in step S41, the ball pumping units 37 and 38 of the ball collection unit 30 operate (step S45), and the ball stirring unit 236 of the ball supply unit 23 operates (step S47). The cold-cathode tubes of a predetermined emission color among the cold-cathode tubes 181 to 184 of the court 14 are turned on immediately before the ball is fired (step S49). Then, the ball is launched from the ball launching unit 20 toward the court 12 (step S51), and the drop position of the ball hit back onto the court 14 by the player is detected, and a scoring process is performed (step S53). Then, it is determined from the count value of the plate cam sensor 243 of the ball feeding unit 24 whether or not a predetermined number of balls have been fired from the ball firing unit 20 (step S55). If the determination is affirmative, the game ending process is performed (step S55). Step S57). If the determination is negative in step S55, the process returns to step S45, and the subsequent operations are repeatedly executed.
[0086]
Next, each operation of steps S45, S47, S49, S51, S53 and S57 shown in FIG. 14 will be described in order with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The operations of steps S45, S47, S49, S51, S53, S55, and S57 are repeatedly performed at a predetermined cycle, for example, every 1/60 second. However, the flowcharts of FIGS. The description focuses on each operation for convenience of explanation.
[0087]
First, the operation of the ball pumping means 37, 38 of the ball collection unit 30 in step S45 shown in FIG. 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Since the ball pumping means 37 and 38 have the same operation, the ball pumping means 37 will be described here as an example. First, the rotation of the stirring / feeding motor 379 in the forward direction is started (step S71), and it is determined whether the stirring / feeding motor 379 has made one rotation (step S73). If the determination is affirmative, the rotation speed is counted up (step S75), and the rotation timer is subsequently counted up (step S77).
[0088]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the rotation timer has reached a specified number (step S79). If the determination is affirmative, it is determined whether or not the rotation number of the stirring / feeding motor 379 has reached the specified number. (Step S81). When the determination is affirmed, the error count is cleared (step S83). That is, when the stirring / feeding motor 379 is normally operating without the ball clogging in the vicinity of the ball stirring unit 377, the operations from step S71 to step S83 are repeatedly executed during the progress of the game. If the determination is negative in step S73, the process proceeds to step S77. If a negative determination is made in step S79, the process returns to step S73, and the subsequent operations are repeatedly performed until the rotation timer reaches the specified number.
[0089]
On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S81, the rotation of the stirring / feeding motor 379 is stopped, the rotation timer is cleared (step S85), and the stop timer is newly counted up (step S87). The case where the determination is negative in step S81 is a case where the ball is clogged near the ball stirring unit 377 and the stirring / feeding motor 379 is not rotating normally. Then, it is determined whether or not the stop timer has reached a specified number (step S89). If the determination is affirmative, the reverse rotation of the stirring / feeding motor 379 is started (step S91). That is, the reverse rotation of the stirring / feeding motor 379 is performed to eliminate the ball clogging that occurs near the ball stirring unit 377. If the determination in step 89 is negative, the process returns to step S87, and the determination is repeatedly performed until the stop timer reaches the specified number.
[0090]
Then, when the stirring / feeding motor 379 is rotated in the reverse direction in step S91, the stop timer is cleared, and the rotation timer is counted up (step S93). Then, it is determined whether the rotation timer has reached the specified number. Is determined (step S95). If the determination is affirmative, the rotation of the stirring / feeding motor 379 is stopped, the rotation timer is cleared (step S97), and the stop timer is counted up (step S99). Then, it is determined whether or not the stop timer has reached a specified number (step S101). If the determination is affirmative, the error is counted up (step S103). If the determination in step S101 is negative, the process returns to step S99, and the determination is repeatedly performed until the stop timer reaches the specified number.
[0091]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the error count has reached a specified number (for example, “3”) (step S105). If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S71, and the subsequent operations are repeatedly executed. That is, when the clogging of the ball is eliminated by rotating the agitating / feeding motor 379 in the reverse direction, the steps from step S71 to step S83 are repeatedly executed thereafter. Further, when the ball clogging is not resolved by the repetition operation of the specified number of times (for example, three times) from Step S85 to Step S103, the determination in Step S105 is affirmative, and the error processing (for example, the image display unit 42) is performed. Is displayed (step S107). In this case, since the ball is not fired from the ball firing unit 20 after a predetermined time, for example, the progress of the game is stopped when the ball is no longer fired.
[0092]
Next, the operation of the ball stirring means 236 of the ball supply unit 23 in step S47 shown in FIG. 14 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, rotation of the stirring motor 234 in the hopper is started (step S121). Next, the rotation timer is counted up (step S123), and thereafter, it is determined whether or not the rotation timer has reached a specified number (step S125). When the determination is affirmative, the rotation of the hopper stirring motor 234 is stopped and the rotation timer is cleared (step S127), and then the stop timer is counted up (step S129). Then, it is determined whether or not the stop timer has reached a specified number (step S131). If the determination is affirmative, the process returns to step 121, and the subsequent operations are repeatedly executed. If a negative determination is made in step S125, the process returns to step S123, and the determination is repeatedly performed until the rotation timer reaches the specified number. If the determination in step 131 is negative, the process returns to step S129, and the determination is repeatedly performed until the stop timer reaches the specified number.
[0093]
Next, the lighting operation of the cold cathode tubes 181 to 184 in step S49 shown in FIG. 14 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, difficulty processing is performed according to the game course, the score, and the number of remaining balls (step S141). That is, when a game course having a low degree of difficulty (for example, an elementary course and an intermediate course) is selected, the cold cathode tubes in a plurality of areas among the areas E2 to E5 of the court 14 are turned on in order to easily obtain a score. On the other hand, when a game course having a high degree of difficulty (for example, an advanced course) is selected, the cold-cathode tubes in any one of the areas E2 to E5 of the court 14 are turned on to make it difficult to obtain a score. The difficulty processing is performed. Further, for example, even when a game course having a low difficulty level is selected, if the score exceeds a predetermined value or the number of remaining balls becomes less than the predetermined value, it is difficult to obtain a score. The difficulty processing is performed so that the cold-cathode tubes in any one of the regions E5 to E5 are turned on.
[0094]
Then, before firing the ball from the ball firing unit 20, it is determined whether the difficulty level is low (step S143). If the determination is affirmative, the two left (or right) regions E3, E5 (or). The cold cathode tubes 182 and 184 (or 181 and 183) of E2 and E4) are simultaneously turned on (Step S145), and if the determination is negative (that is, if the difficulty level is high), the four regions E2 to E5 The cold cathode tubes 181, 182, 183 or 184 in any one area are turned on (step S147).
[0095]
Next, the ball firing operation of the ball firing unit 20 in step S51 shown in FIG. 14 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the specified number of balls have been fired from the ball firing unit 20 (step S161). If the determination is affirmative, the difficulty level of the game (the selected game course, the current score, and the current balance) is determined. The ball type and the ball speed of the ball to be fired next are determined according to the number of balls (step S163). That is, when the difficulty of the game is high, for example, the type of the ball such as drive and cut, the degree of spin, and the like are frequently changed, and the firing speed is also increased. When the difficulty level of the game is low, for example, the type of the ball, the degree of spin, and the like are not changed much, and the firing speed is reduced. If the determination in step S161 is negative, the operation shifts to the operation in step S53 shown in FIG.
[0096]
Next, the firing position of the ball to be fired next is determined according to the difficulty of the game (step S165). That is, when the difficulty level of the game is high, for example, the ball firing unit 20 is moved in the left-right direction of the rear edge of the court 14 in accordance with the position of the ball dropped on the court 14 hit back by the player. .
[0097]
That is, when falling on the second area E2 or the fourth area E4 on the right side of the court 14, the detection signal output from the pair of microphones 192, 193 or 196, 197 causes the detection of the second area E2 or the fourth area E4. Is determined to have dropped on the area E4, the ball launching unit 20 is moved to, for example, the center position or the right end position of the right half of the table tennis table 10. Also, when falling on the third area E3 or the fifth area E5 on the left side of the court 14, the signals output from the pair of microphones 194, 195 or 198, 199 indicate the third area E3 or the fifth area E5. It is determined that the ball shooting unit 20 has dropped onto the area E5, and the ball shooting unit 20 is moved to, for example, the center position or the left end position of the left half of the table tennis table 10. This movement is controlled by the number of pulses supplied to the firing unit moving motor 96a.
[0098]
When the difficulty level of the game is low, for example, the position of the ball launching section 20 is fixed to the center position of the table tennis table 10 regardless of the position of the ball dropped on the court 14 hit back by the player, For example, it is fixed to the left end position or the right end position of the ten.
[0099]
Next, the firing angle of the ball to be fired next is determined according to the difficulty level of the game (step S167). That is, when the degree of difficulty of the game is high, for example, the firing angle is frequently changed, or the firing rate of the ball at the peak is reduced, and the firing rate of the ball at the lower position is increased. When the difficulty level of the game is low, for example, the firing angle is not frequently changed, or the firing rate of the ball at the peak is increased, and the firing rate of the ball at the lower position is reduced.
[0100]
Next, the firing direction (straight direction or cross direction) of the ball to be fired next is determined according to the difficulty level of the game (step S169). That is, when the difficulty of the game is high, for example, the firing direction of the ball is frequently changed. When the difficulty level of the game is low, for example, the launch direction of the ball is not changed much.
[0101]
Then, the rotational speeds of the pair of roller motors 253 and 254 of the urging force applying means 25 are quickly changed by PWM control (pulse width modulation control), and the firing cylinder rotating motor 263 of the rotating means 26 is supplied. The ball launching unit 20 is driven by the predetermined number of pulses of voltage to rotate the ball launching unit 20 in the forward or reverse direction by a predetermined angle, and is set to have the pitch and the ball speed determined in step S163 ( Step S171). In addition, the firing unit moving motor 96a is driven by the supplied voltage of the predetermined number of pulses to move the ball firing unit 20 to the left or right predetermined position, and to move to the ball firing position determined in step S165. It is set (step S173). Note that the type of ball referred to in steps 163 and 171 refers to a type that is changed by the degree of spin applied by the urging force applying means 25 and the rotating means 26, but the ball speed changed by the urging force applying means 25 Also, a mountain ball or the like generated by the angle changing means 28 can be included in the ball type.
[0102]
Further, the guide plate motor 282 of the angle changing means 28 is driven until the voltage value output from the firing angle sensor 285 reaches a predetermined value, the guide plate 281 is rotated by a predetermined angle, and the ball determined in step S167. (Step S175). Further, the launching unit swing motor 276 of the swing unit 27 is driven until the voltage value output from the swing angle sensor 278 reaches a predetermined value, and the ball shooting unit 20 rotates left or right by a predetermined angle. Is moved and set to the launch direction of the ball determined in step S169 (step S177).
[0103]
When the coach mode selection switch CS of the control box 70 is turned on, each operation of steps 163 to 169 is performed by turning on one of the switches PS1 to PS6 of the area selection switch PS installed in the control box 70. Thus, processing is performed according to the output signal. Even if the coach mode selection switch CS is turned on and none of the area selection switches PS is turned on, the ball is fired under programmed conditions.
[0104]
Next, it is determined whether or not the ball firing timing (for example, firing once every two seconds) has arrived (step S179). If the determination is affirmative, the rotation of the plate cam motor 242 of the ball feeding means 24 starts. Then, the plate cam 241 is rotated accordingly (step S181). If a negative determination is made in step S179, the determination is repeatedly performed until the firing timing comes.
[0105]
Then, it is determined whether or not the plate cam 241 has made one rotation (step S183). If the determination is affirmative, a firing sound (for example, a dummy sound when a ball is hit with a racket) is generated (step S185). . Thereafter, the rotation of the plate cam motor 242 is stopped, and accordingly, the rotation of the plate cam 241 is stopped (step S187). If the determination is negative in step S183, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of rotation of the plate cam 241 (step S189). If the determination is positive, error processing (for example, ball clogging display) is performed. This is performed (step S191). If the determination is negative in step S189, the process returns to step S183, and the subsequent operations are repeatedly performed.
[0106]
Next, the detection of the drop position of the ball and the score processing in step S53 shown in FIG. 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not a ball has been fired from the ball firing unit 20 (step S221). If the determination is affirmative, it is determined whether or not the previous detection signals output from the microphones 190 to 199, which are vibration sensors, have been cleared. Is determined (step S223). Then, when the determination is affirmed, it is determined whether or not the ball hit back by the player has dropped on the court 14 (step S225). If the determination is negative in step S223, the determination is repeatedly performed until the detection signal is cleared, and the signal is ignored even if the next detection signal is output from the microphones 190 to 199 during that time. Has become.
[0107]
That is, if the determination is affirmative in step S221, a flag is set, and the detection signal output from the microphones 190 to 199 is sent to the score adding means only when the ball falls on the court 14 while the flag is set. On the other hand, if the detection signal is captured once by the score addition means, the flag falls, and even if the ball falls again on the court 14 due to bouncing and the detection signal is output, the signal is ignored and the score is ignored. It is not taken into the addition means.
[0108]
However, the ball fired earlier falls on the court 14 immediately before the next ball is fired, for example, by being hit back in a mountain shape, and then bounces and falls again on the court 14 immediately after the next ball is fired. In such a case, the points are overlapped and added due to the bounce of the previous ball, and the point is not added in the next ball. For this reason, the detection signal due to the first bounce is held for a fixed time (for example, 0.5 seconds), and even if the next detection signal is output within the holding time, the signal is ignored. I have. As a result, even if the previously fired ball falls on the court 14 immediately before the next ball is fired, and the bouncing ball falls again on the court 14 immediately after the next ball is fired, the score is duplicated. They are not added.
[0109]
To explain in a specific example, as shown in FIG. 21A, the first ball {1} is fired from the ball firing unit 20 at time t1 and a flag F is set. For example, at time t2 two seconds later, It is assumed that the second ball (2) is fired and the flag F is set. In this case, as shown in the figure, even if the first ball (1) hit back on the court 14 continues to bounce on the court 14 before the second ball (2) is fired, Since the flag F falls at the first bounce time t1a, the detection signal due to the later bounce is not taken into the score adding means.
[0110]
However, as shown in FIG. 21 (b), the ball (1) bounces on the court 14 at time t1b immediately before the launch of the ball (2), and further, the ball (1) becomes the second ball (2) Assuming that the ball bounces again on the court 14 at the time t1c immediately after the launch, the flag F due to the launch of the ball (1) is set immediately before the bounce at the time t1b, and the ball (2) immediately before the second bounce at the time t1c. Since the flag F due to the firing of ▼ is in a raised state, both detection signals are taken into the score adding means.
[0111]
In this case, as shown in the figure, the detection signal is held for, for example, 0.5 seconds from the first bounce time t1b, and a gate is provided so as not to accept a new detection signal during this time. If the clearing time is after the second bouncing time t1c of the ball (1), the detection signal by the first bouncing of the ball (1) is taken in by the score adding means, but the detection signal by the second bouncing is taken. Will not be.
[0112]
Note that the second ball {circle around (2)} usually bounces on the court 14 at time t2a after the detection signal of the first ball {circle around (1)} is cleared, and the detection signal due to the bouncing is detected. Will be taken into the score adding means. Accordingly, by appropriately setting the holding time of the detection signal with respect to the firing interval of the ball, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the score is repeatedly added for the same ball. Note that the above 0.5 second is merely an example, and may be set to a time corresponding to the maximum value of the bound time or a time slightly larger than the maximum value.
[0113]
Returning to FIG. 19, if the determination is negative in step S225, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (step S227). If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S55 shown in FIG. If a negative determination is made, the process returns to step S225, and the determination is repeatedly performed until a certain time has elapsed. If the determination is affirmative in step S225, it is determined whether the ball hit back by the player has fallen into the lit areas E2 to E5 of the cold cathode tubes 181 to 184 (step S229), and the determination is affirmative. And a high score (for example, two points) are added to the previous scores, and a sound effect such as music that awards the score is output for a fixed time (step S231). In this embodiment, when the cold cathode fluorescent lamp falls on the boundary between a lit area and a non-lit area, the scoring process is performed as if the cold cathode ray tube fell into the lit area. ing.
[0114]
Next, in order to obtain the illumination effect, the cold cathode tubes in the area where the ball has fallen are blinked for a certain period of time, while the cold cathode tubes in the other areas are all turned on for a certain period of time (step S233). The added score is displayed on the section 41, and the point display section 41 is blinked for a certain period of time to show that the score has been obtained (step S235).
[0115]
If a negative determination is made in step S229, the normal score (for example, one point) is added to the previous score, while a sound effect such as music that recognizes the score is output for a fixed time (step S237). ). Then, the added score is displayed on the score display unit 41, and the score display unit 41 is blinked for a certain period of time to show that the score has been obtained (step S239). When the blinking operation of the score display unit 41 in step S235 or step S239 ends, all the cold cathode tubes 181 to 184 are turned off (step S241).
[0116]
Next, the game end processing in step S57 shown in FIG. 14 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the motor 234 for stirring in the hopper of the ball firing unit 20, the motors 253 and 254 for rollers, the motor 263 for rotating the firing cylinder, the motor 276 for swinging the firing unit, the motor 282 for the guide plate, and the motor 96a for moving the firing unit 96a. The rotation is stopped (step S261), and a demonstration screen regarding the end of the game is displayed on the image display unit 42 (step S263). The demo screen for the end of the game includes updating of the high score, displaying the final score, and the like.
[0117]
Then, the launching part moving motor 96a of the moving means 90 is rotationally driven to return the ball launching part 20 to the initial position at the center of the table tennis table 10 (step S265), and the guide plate motor 282 of the angle changing means 28 is turned on. The guide plate 281 is rotated and returned to the initial position (step S267), and the firing unit oscillating motor 276 of the oscillating unit 27 is further rotationally driven to return the ball firing unit 20 to the initial position in the oscillating direction. (Step S269).
[0118]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S271). If the determination is affirmative, the rotational driving of the stirring / feeding motors 379, 389 of the ball pumping means 37, 38 is stopped (step S273). ). If the determination in step S271 is negative, the determination is repeatedly performed until a certain time has elapsed.
[0119]
As described above, the table tennis apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has the urging force applying means 25 for applying the urging force in the firing direction to the ball and the angle for changing the firing angle of the ball fired from the firing port 211 in the elevation direction. Since the ball firing unit 20 having the changing means 28 is provided, and the frequency of changing the firing angle by the angle changing means 28 is made different depending on the level of difficulty of the selected game, a mode close to actual competition play Becomes feasible. Therefore, when the table tennis apparatus of the present invention is used for table tennis practice, the practice results can be enhanced, and when used in a table tennis game, the game characteristics are enhanced and the game becomes more interesting.
[0120]
In the above embodiment, the court 14 of the ping-pong table 10 is divided into five vertical and horizontal areas. However, it is also possible to divide the net 16 into two areas on the left and right and to divide the area into six areas. . In this way, even if the ball is hit near the net 16, the next ball can be fired in accordance with which of the right and left hits. Although the court 14 is divided into two regions in the left-right direction, it can be divided into three or more regions. When three or more regions are formed in the left-right direction as described above and microphones are installed in each region, the ball launching unit 20 can be moved to a position closer to the direction in which the ball is hit back. It is possible to perform a battle play close to. Further, the cold cathode tubes may be arranged in all the regions, and the cold cathode tubes of the same color may be used in each region.
[0121]
In the above embodiment, the ball firing unit 20 is arranged behind the court 14. However, the ball firing unit 20 may be arranged behind the court 12 on the player side without providing the court 14. Good. In this case, for example, a monitor that displays an image of a court, a hit ball, and the like is arranged behind the ball launching unit 20, and a large number of optical sensors are arranged along the left and right direction on the front side of the ball launching unit 20. In addition, it is also possible to detect the direction in which the ball returned by the player has passed through which optical sensor has passed, and to move the ball firing unit 20 in the left-right direction according to the detection result. Further, for example, instead of the coat 14, a board having a plurality of through holes arranged in a matrix or the like is arranged in the vertical direction, and the through hole through which the hit ball has passed is determined by an optical sensor, a mechanical switch, or the like. It is also possible to detect the ball hitting direction by detecting it and move the ball firing unit 20 in the left-right direction according to the hitting direction.
[0122]
Further, in the above embodiment, a lamp such as a cold cathode tube is not arranged in the first region E1 of the coat 14, but a lamp may be arranged also in the first region E1. Further, although lamps having different emission colors are used in the respective regions of the coat 14, it is also possible to use lamps having the same emission color. In addition, even when the light emission color is different in each region, the lamp can be white or the like and the plate 142 can be realized by using a colored lamp. Further, the surface light source is constituted by the lamps such as the cold cathode tubes 181 to 184 and the plate 142, and the surface light source is constituted by embedding a plurality of light emitting diodes in a matrix in the plate 142 or the like. Is also possible. Further, these surface light sources constitute identification means for identifying each area of the court 14, but the identification means is not limited to the surface light source, and may be an illumination lamp or the like which illuminates each area from above the court 14 or the like. It can also be constituted by other means.
[0123]
In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of rails 321 of the left recovery unit 32, the plurality of rails 331 of the rear recovery unit 33, the plurality of rails 351 of the vertical recovery unit 35, and the horizontal recovery unit are used as the ball selection unit. Although the plurality of rails 361 are provided, only the plurality of rails 321 of the left collecting part 32 and the plurality of rails 331 of the rear collecting part 33 around the table tennis table 10 may be provided. Alternatively, only the plurality of rail bodies 351 of the vertical collection unit 35 behind the table tennis table 10 and the plurality of rail bodies 361 of the horizontal collection unit 36 may be provided.
[0124]
In the case where only the plurality of rails 321 of the left collecting unit 32 and the plurality of rails 331 of the rear collecting unit 33 around the table tennis table 10 are provided, the ball rolling to the downstream side of the rail 331 is taken up by the ball pumping means 38. Then, it may be returned to the ball launching unit 20 side. When only the plurality of rail bodies 351 of the vertical collection unit 35 and the plurality of rail bodies 361 of the horizontal collection unit 36 are provided, the ball dropped around the table tennis table 10 is used for table tennis on the floor below the table tennis table 10, for example. The collected balls may be collected on the rear side of the table 10 and transferred to the rail body 351 of the vertical collection unit 35.
[0125]
Further, the ball sorting unit may include only one of the plurality of rails 321 of the left collection unit 32 and the plurality of rails 331 of the rear collection unit 33 around the table tennis table 10, or Only one of the plurality of rails 351 of the vertical collection unit 35 and the plurality of rails 361 of the horizontal collection unit 36 at the rear of 10 may be provided. In this case, the balls that have fallen around the table tennis table 10 may be collected by appropriate means and transferred onto the rail body of the ball selection unit. In addition, although the balls are rolled by arranging the rails in an inclined manner, the rails may be arranged in a horizontal direction without being inclined so that the balls roll by wind pressure or the like.
[0126]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the right recovery unit 34 is configured by the plate body 341, but may be configured similarly to the left recovery unit 32. Further, the left recovery unit 32 may be formed of the same plate as the right recovery unit 34. In this case, the ball that has rolled to the downstream side of the plate is transferred to the rail of the rear recovery unit 33. What is necessary is just to hand it over to the body 331 or the like.
[0127]
Further, in the above embodiment, the ball collected by the floor collecting unit 31 is transferred to the upstream side of the rail body 321 of the left collecting unit 32 by the ball suction unit 37. It may be extended to the rear of the ping-pong table 10 and transferred from the extended portion to the ball sorting section. In addition, although the ball is rolled in the floor collecting unit 31 by using the inclination, the ball can be rolled by wind pressure or the like.
[0128]
Further, in the above embodiment, the bounding ball addition prohibiting means 824 prevents the signal detected by the detecting means when the ball re-falls on the court 14 due to the bounce from being taken into the point adding means 816. When the addition process is performed due to the falling, the addition process may not be performed by disabling the detection operation itself by, for example, electrically disconnecting the circuit of the detection means for a certain period of time.
[0129]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, ball launching includes biasing force imparting means for imparting a biasing force to a ball in a firing direction and angle changing means for changing a firing angle of a ball fired from a firing opening in a downward direction. And a game mode selecting means for selecting the difficulty level of the game, and operating the angle changing means so that the firing angle changes more frequently when the difficulty level of the selected game is high, and the difficulty level of the selected game. Control means for operating the angle changing means so as to reduce the frequency of changing the firing angle when the angle is low, the angle changing means protruding forward from the periphery of the firing port.Together with, Is rotatably supported by the launch port in a direction intersecting the launch direction of the ball., The ball fired from the launch hole hits the ball to make it a mountainA guide member, and driving means for rotating the guide member.An angle regulating plate that is disposed at a position facing the guide member with the firing port interposed therebetween, and that regulates the size of the peak of the ball when the ball hits the guide member.As a result, it is possible to realize a mode closer to actual battle play, to enhance the practice results when using the game for table tennis, and to make the game more interesting when used for the table tennis game.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a table tennis apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of one court of a table tennis table in the table tennis apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a ball launching unit in the table tennis apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a ball launching unit in the table tennis apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a rear view showing a configuration of a moving mechanism of a ball launching unit in the table tennis apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a configuration of a ball collection unit in the table tennis apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the ball collection unit shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the ball collecting section shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of the ball collecting section shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a configuration of a ball pumping means of the ball collecting section shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line DD of the ball pumping means shown in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a control block of the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an initialization operation of the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a game operation of the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the ball pumping means of the ball collection unit in the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the ball stirring means of the ball supply unit in the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining a lighting operation of a cold cathode tube of a table tennis table in the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining a ball shooting operation of a ball shooting unit in the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of detecting the drop position of the ball and scoring processing in the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a game end process in the table tennis device according to the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of a ball scoring process in the table tennis apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 table tennis tables
12. Player court (first court)
14. Court on the side where the ball launcher is located (second court)
20 ball launcher
21 ball launcher
22 ball feeding cylinder
23 Ball supply unit
24 Ball feeding means
25 biasing means
26 Rotating means
27 Swing mechanism
28 Angle changing means
30 Ball collection unit
31 Floor collection part (floor ball collection part)
37 Ball pumping means (ball transfer means)
38 Ball pumping means (ball returning means)
40 Display
50 audio
60 Enclosure
70 Control Box
80 control unit (control means)
90 Moving mechanism
91 base
93 Guide rail
96 drive means
93a Central base sensor (sensor)
142 plate (surface light source, detecting means)
181, 182, 183, 184 Cold cathode tube (surface light source)
190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199 Microphone (vibration sensor, detecting means)
211 Ball Launch
231 ball hopper
233 Flexible tube
273 rotation axis
274 driven gear
275 drive gear
311 First floor (front floor)
321,331,351,361 Rail body (ball sorting section)
322, 332, 352, 362 Receiving plate (transformed ball carrier)
334 Bad ball collection box (ball collection box)
812 Cold cathode tube lighting means (identification control means)
814 Second discriminating means (discriminating means)
815 CCFL flashing means (intermittent control means)
816 score addition means
823 Launch condition setting means
824 Bound ball addition prohibition means (addition prohibition means)
SS game mode selection button (game mode selection means)

Claims (4)

A table tennis apparatus configured to repeatedly launch a ball toward a court on a player side of a table tennis table, comprising: an urging force applying means for applying an urging force to the ball in a firing direction; A ball firing unit having angle changing means for changing a firing angle; a game mode selecting means for selecting a game difficulty; and the angle changing so that the firing angle changes more frequently when the difficulty of the selected game is high. Control means for operating the angle changing means so as to reduce the frequency of changing the firing angle when the difficulty level of the selected game is low. parts protrude forward from Rutotomoni, is pivotally supported in a direction intersecting with the firing direction of the ball to the firing port, the ball fired from the firing port Ataruko In a guide member for the ball Nari mountains, and driving means for rotating the guide member, it is disposed at a position facing the guide member across the firing port, the ball striking the guide member touches A table tennis device comprising an angle regulating plate for regulating the size of the ridge of the ball . 2. The table tennis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the urging force applying means is capable of changing the magnitude of the urging force applied to the ball. The said urging | biasing force provision means was equipped with a pair of roller which was arrange | positioned facing in the direction which intersects with the ball firing direction, and whose peripheral speed could be changed independently. Table tennis equipment. The table tennis table has a first court on a player side and a second court on a side where a ball launching unit is arranged, and the ball launching unit is arranged behind the second court. The table tennis apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

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