JP4076377B2 - Hockey game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hockey game machine using a disk-shaped pack.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Hockey game machines in amusement parks, etc., have a disk-shaped pack lifted by air from the game board surface, and two players who confront each other across the game board play a game by hitting the pack with a racket. It encourages moderate exercise and is especially popular among young people. This hockey game machine always requires two players, and if there is a large difference in the skill of the players, it is easy to win. In addition, since it is more advantageous to launch the pack vigorously than to aim for the launch direction of the pack, it is often the case that the pack is struck back by force.
[0003]
In contrast to such a hockey game machine, the hockey game machine described in Japanese Patent No. 2686048 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-288236 has a single player that sets the game difficulty level according to his / her skill and athletic ability. It is designed so that not only young people and healthy people but also elderly people, for example, disabled people who need wheelchairs, can enjoy the game.
[0004]
In the hockey game machine described in the above publication, packs are fired from the back to the front of the game board, and the player advances the game by aiming at a predetermined target and the game proceeds. Therefore, it is necessary to strike back the puck more accurately in the target direction than the hit speed, and the player's skill is reflected in the game result more directly, creating a new interest that has not been found in previous hockey game machines. It is.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the above-mentioned hockey game machine is actually manufactured and played, it is very difficult to hit it back in the direction aimed at the puck launched from the back of the game board. Of course, the speed at which the pack is launched from the back of the game board is slowed down, the launch interval when the pack is launched sequentially, and the position at which the pack is launched from the back of the game board. Although it is possible to reduce the difficulty by displaying, even if these adjustments are made, it may be too difficult for the first player or the elderly.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a new game function to the hockey game machine known from the above-mentioned gazette, such as a beginner or an unskilled player, an elderly person, or a disabled person. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hockey game machine that allows a player having a handicap such as the above to enjoy a game on an appropriate level of difficulty.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention not only plays a game only in a so-called receive format in which a puck is struck out from the back of the game board, but also in a serve format in which a player strikes a puck at his own timing So that you can do it. Therefore, in the present invention, pack supply means for supplying packs to a serve area set in advance on the game board is provided on the front side of the game board. The hockey game machine uses a pack floating means for floating the pack from the upper surface of the game board so that the pack launched by the player is smoothly moved toward the back of the game board. For this reason, if a pack is simply supplied toward the serve area on the game board, the pack will flow out of the serve area, making it difficult for the player to perform a pack launch operation. Therefore, in the present invention, the operation of the pack floating means is partially suppressed so that the pack supplied on the game board is not moved out of the serve area until it is launched by the player.
[0008]
In order to change the difficulty level of the game, it is easy to change the supply position in the width direction of the game board when supplying the pack from the pack supply means. Further, as the pack floating means, it is preferable that air is blown out from a plurality of air blowing holes formed in the game board, and the pack is floated by blowing out the air. In this case, the blowout of air may be stopped from the air blowout holes belonging to the serve area by the pack floating suppression means. Furthermore, when the pack is lifted, the game board is inclined so that the pack flows under its own weight toward the back of the game board, and the time for which the pack is stopped in the serve area can be adjusted by the pack floating restraint means. Thus, if the puck flows out of the serve area after the stop time elapses, it becomes possible to limit the timing of the player's launch operation, which can be used for adjusting the difficulty level in the serve game. It becomes like this.
[0009]
The hockey game machine according to the present invention can be used not only in the serve game mode in which the pack is supplied by the pack supply means, but also in the receive game mode in which the pack launched from the back side of the game board is returned by the pack launcher. It is also effective to increase the difficulty level. In the receive game mode, when a pack that has been launched from a pack launcher is missed, the pack is collected from a slit provided on the front side of the game board. Incorporating means is advantageous for simplifying the configuration, and in the receive game mode, it is preferable to lower the pack supply means at the back of the slit so that the packs passing through the slit do not collide.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an external view and a schematic cross section of a main part of a hockey game machine to which the present invention is applied. The upper surface of the game machine body 2 is a game board 3, and the game board 3 is inclined by about 3 to 5 ° so as to be lowered from the front toward the back. The game board 3 is composed of three field boards 3a, 3b, 3c, each having a fine air blowing hole 4. Air chambers 5a, 5b, 5c spatially partitioned by a partition plate 5 are provided on the bottom surfaces of the field boards 3a, 3b, 3c. When the compressor 6 provided for each of these air chambers is operated, air blows out from the air blowing holes 4. By this blowing air, a floating force is applied to the pack 8 on the game board 3, and the pack 8 struck out by the racket 16 moves so as to slide on the game board 3. The pack 8 does not necessarily have to be lifted completely from the game board 3, and even if the bottom surface thereof is partially in contact with the game board 3, the pack 8 receives almost no friction due to the action of the lift force. Move on top. In FIG. 2, the air blowing holes 4 are not shown in order to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated.
[0011]
An operation panel 9 is provided on the front side of the game board 3. The operation panel 9 includes a coin insertion slot, a credit card insertion slot, an operation dial, and touch keys. In the coin insertion slot and the card insertion slot, a coin is inserted or a prepaid card is inserted as a game start condition. The operation dial and touch keys are selected and operated by the player in order to select a game mode and determine the difficulty level of the game. It is also used when inputting personal data of the player, for example, data such as age, sex, and athletic ability. These personal data are referred to when the game is finished and the success or failure of the game is determined, and are also referred to when the distance that the player moves the body during the game is measured and the amount of exercise is evaluated.
[0012]
The front side of the game machine main body 2 is greatly scooped below, and a part of the front side of the game board 3 and the operation panel 9 protrude in a bowl shape. By securing a space in the width direction below the front side of the game machine main body 2 in this manner, even a player sitting on a wheelchair can play a game with the legs entering the space. In addition, in the case of an elderly person who finds it difficult to stay standing during the game period, the game can be performed even while sitting on a chair.
[0013]
In consideration of such usage, the height of the game board 3 is preferably about 70 to 90 cm, and the space has a height of 55 to 70 cm and a depth of about 30 to 50 cm, preferably 40 to 50 cm. The degree is good. In order to allow the player to exercise moderately, the lateral width of the game board 3 should be 200 cm or more, for example, about 240 cm. In this case, the depth is preferably about 3.5 to 4 m. These dimensions can be changed as appropriate in consideration of the installation space, and a game can be played by two people at the same time.
[0014]
A handrail 10 is provided on the front side of the operation panel 9. The handrail 10 has a pipe fixed along the width direction of the game board 3, and is particularly useful for a player who plays a game while sitting on a chair when moving the upper body without placing a heavy burden on the lower body. Become. At the front edge of the game machine main body 2, a movement measuring device 11 is provided in which a number of reflective photosensors are arranged along the width direction. Each photosensor projects near-infrared light toward the player, receives the reflected light, and detects the position of the player. By monitoring and integrating the individual detection signals from the photosensors throughout the game period, the moving distance of the player can be measured. A monitor CRT 12 is provided in the back of the game board 3. The monitor CRT 12 is used as a display for displaying the progress of the game, and a liquid crystal display panel, a CRT projection screen, a plasma display, or the like can also be used.
[0015]
Slits 13 and 14 through which the pack 8 passes are formed along the edges on the back side and the near side of the game board 3. Through the rear slit 13, the pack 8 fired from the pack launcher 15 toward the front side of the game board 3 or the pack 8 struck by the racket 16 by the player passes. The slit 14 on the front side is an outgate that accepts a pack fired by the pack launcher 15 and missed by the player. An in-gate sensor 17 and an out-gate sensor 18 for photoelectrically detecting the passage of the pack 6 are provided on the inner surface of the upper wall constituting the slits 13 and 14. A plurality of these sensors 17, 18 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the slits 13, 14. In particular, the in-gate sensor 17 on the back side determines which position the puck returned by the player is in the longitudinal direction of the slit 13. Used to detect whether it has passed.
[0016]
Five gate units 20 vertically and five side by side on the side walls contacting the left and right edges of the game board 3 with a gap between the upper surface of the game board 3 and six gate units 20 side by side above the slit 13 on the back side. Is provided. These gate units 20 are provided with a gate number indicator 20a for displaying numbers “1” to “16” by a liquid crystal panel, a 7-segment LED or the like as shown in the figure. The in-gate sensor 17 is used for each of the six gate units 20 on the back side, and detects under which gate unit 20 the pack has passed. Similarly, each gate unit 20 provided along the left and right edges of the game board 3 is also provided with an in-gate sensor 17 formed of a reflective photosensor, and photoelectrically detects a pack passing directly below. The configuration and function of these gate sensors are also described in detail in Japanese Patent No. 2686048. In addition, when the pack 8 moves along the side edge of the game board 3, the plurality of game units 20 are sequentially passed, and therefore, a baffle plate 21 is used to prevent this.
[0017]
As schematically shown in FIG. 2, a pack launcher 15 is provided behind the slit 13. The pack launcher 15 is movably held by a pair of guide rods 22 installed in the width direction of the game board 3 so that the firing position of the pack 8 can be varied in the width direction of the game board 3. . The pack launcher 15 operates effectively when the game mode is set to the receive game mode, and fires the pack 8 toward the front side of the game board 3. The pack launcher 15 is movable in the width direction of the game board 3, and the pack 8 can be launched at various stop positions. Further, the firing speed and firing direction of the pack, and the timing of launching can be appropriately changed according to the difficulty level of the game. The specific structure of the pack launcher 15 is known from the above-mentioned Japanese Patent No. 2686048 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-288236, and therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0018]
At the back of the slit 13, a plurality of check plates 22 are suspended in a bowl shape at a pitch narrower than the diameter of the pack 8 along the width direction of the game board 3, and the lower end thereof is lower than the upper surface of the game board 3. It is supposed to come down. When these check plates 22 swing about 20 ° to 30 ° counterclockwise from the illustrated position, they come into contact with the stopper to prevent further swinging, and the pack 8 passes in the clockwise direction. It can swing freely to the extent possible. As a result, the pack 8 fired by the pack launcher 15 is launched on the game board 3, whereas the pack 8 returned by the player can be prevented from colliding with the pack launcher 15.
[0019]
Pack recovery guide plates 24 and 25 are provided behind the slits 13 and 14, and the pack 8 that has passed through the slits 13 and 14 is dropped onto the pack recovery belt 26. The direction of movement of the pack collection belt 26 is switched according to the game mode, and in the case of a receive game using the pack launcher 15, the pack 8 that has dropped thereon is conveyed in the direction of the arrow X in the figure, which will be described later. At the time of a serve game, it is conveyed in the direction of arrow Y.
[0020]
The pack 8 transported to the back side of the game board 3 by the pack recovery belt 26 is stored in the recovery bucket and supplied to the pack launcher 15 as necessary. In order to supply the collected pack to the pack launcher 15, a pack replenishing device including a pack elevator 29 is used. The pack launcher 15 includes a pack storage tank, and can detect how many packs remain in the pack storage tank. When the number of packs stored becomes equal to or less than the predetermined number, the pack launcher 15 is moved to the replenishment position, and the pack elevator 29 is driven to receive the replenishment of the pack.
[0021]
This hockey game machine is provided with a serve game mode in which the pack launcher 15 is not used. In the serve game mode, the packs 8 are sequentially supplied in a substantially stationary state on the front side of the upper surface of the game board 3, and the game progresses as the player strikes them. Therefore, when the difficulty level is set to the lowest level, the player can aim the pack 8 at his / her own timing after sufficiently aiming, and even beginners can enjoy the game as such.
[0022]
A serve area S (see FIG. 1) is set on the front side of the game board 3 at a position where the player can easily perform a launch operation so that a serve game can be performed, and one pack 8 is placed in the serve area S one by one. A pack supply means for supplying is required. For this reason, a pack delivery unit 30 is incorporated below the operation panel 9. In order to replenish the pack delivery unit 30 with the pack, the pack collection belt 26 can also feed the pack 8 in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 2 by switching the rotation direction of the driving motor.
[0023]
The pack 8 sent in the direction of the arrow Y can be sent from the pack collection belt 26 to the pack delivery hopper 33 by the pack transfer unit 32. When the game is performed in the receive mode, the pack transfer unit 32 moves to the non-operating position, the pack 8 on the pack collection belt 26 is not sent to the pack delivery hopper 33, and the collection belt 26 is in the reverse direction. The pack 8 is sent to the pack elevator 29 by being driven.
[0024]
FIG. 3 schematically shows the mechanism after the pack transfer unit 32 and the pack delivery hopper 33. The pack transfer unit 32 includes a base plate 35 erected on the side of the pack collection belt 26, a rotary solenoid 36 attached to the base plate 35, and a passage plate 38 fixed to the shaft 36 a via an arm 37. Become. The passage plate 38 is attached obliquely to the tip of the arm 37, and when the rotary solenoid 36 is driven, it contacts the upper surface of the pack collection belt 26 so as to obliquely intersect, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure. Therefore, after the pack 8 sent in the direction of the arrow by the pack collection belt 26 contacts the passage plate 38, it is guided along the inclination and falls from the pack collection belt 26 to the bucket 33 a of the pack delivery hopper 33. .
[0025]
The pack delivery hopper 33 sends out the pack 8 accommodated in the bucket 33a to the guide passage 40 by driving the hopper motor. The guide passage 40 has a pack passage according to the thickness and diameter of the pack 8 as shown in the drawing, and the upper and lower sides thereof are gently curved. When the pack delivery hopper 33 is actuated, the packs 8 are fed one by one from the lower side of the guide passage 40, and the push-up force causes the pack 8 to move up the guide passage 40 in a continuous state. .
[0026]
A holding lever 41 that is spring-biased to prevent the pack 8 from falling naturally from the exit of the guide passage 40 is pivotally attached to the upper end portion of the guide passage 40. Thereby, in a state where the driving of the pack delivery hopper 33 is stopped, the pack 8 does not fall from the guide passage 40 even if vibration or impact is applied. In addition, when the pack delivery hopper 33 is driven in this state, the pack 8 is pushed out by the pushing-up force to be sent out. Further, on the upper part of the guide passage 40, a pack outlet sensor 42 that detects that the pack 8 has been sent to that position, and a pack discharge sensor 43 that detects that the pack 8 has been sent out from the upper end of the guide passage 40. And are provided. For the sensors 42 and 43, a micro switch or a photo sensor is used.
[0027]
The pack 8 dropped from the upper end of the guide passage 40 is supplied onto the serve position changing belt 45 of the pack delivery unit 30 through the chute plate 44. As shown in FIG. 4, the pack delivery unit 30 includes a main frame 47 and a serve position changing belt 45 and a driving motor 46 assembled thereto. The serve position changing belt 45 is a support plate 48 fixed to the main frame 47. It is supported flat. The pack pushing plate 50 is movably supported by the support plate 48 and moves between a standby position away from the field board 3a and a delivery position protruding toward the field board 3a as shown in the figure. When the pack pushing plate 50 moves from the standby position toward the delivery position, the pack 8 on the serve position changing belt 45 is supplied onto the field board 3a.
[0028]
A pair of racks 51 extending vertically downward are fixed to the bottom surface of the main frame 47, and guide plates 52 are fixed to both sides thereof. The rack 51 meshes with a gear 53 rotatably supported by a fixed portion of the game machine body 2, and the gear 53 meshes with a drive gear 55 fixed to the spindle of the lifting motor 54. By driving the elevating motor 54, the pack delivery unit 30 is moved between a lowered position retracted downward from the back of the slit 14 and an elevated position raised so as to block the slit 14, as shown in FIG. It becomes like this.
[0029]
The pack extruding plate 50 is guided between a standby position and a delivery position by engagement of a guide pin protruding from the support plate 48 and a long hole, and a spring hung between the main frame 47 as shown in FIG. 57 is biased from the standby position toward the delivery position. A rack 69 having a tooth row on the lower surface is integrally formed on the pack extrusion plate 50 so as to extend rearward, and a hook 60 that extends rearward and projects downward is also fixed. An inclined surface 50 a is formed on the front edge of the pack extrusion plate 50 on the side close to the chute plate 44. The slope 50 a is provided to prevent the pack 8 that has fallen from the chute plate 44 from getting on the pack extrusion plate 50. When the pack 8 is moved in the width direction of the game board 3 by driving the serve position changing belt 46, the pack 8 is shifted in the width direction of the serve position changing belt 46 by the inclined surface 50a, and the front of the pack pushing plate 50 is moved forward. It is kept in a position almost touching the edge.
[0030]
A charge gear 63 driven by a motor 62 fixed to the support plate 48 meshes with the tooth row of the rack 59, and a rod 64a of a solenoid 64 fixed to the support plate 48 engages and disengages with the hook 60. It has become. The charge gear 63 is assembled to the spindle of the motor 62 via a one-way clutch, and rotates when the motor 62 is driven counterclockwise to move the rack 59 backward.
[0031]
When the solenoid 64 is driven, the rod 64a is drawn and retracted from the locking surface 60a of the hook 60 as shown by the solid line in FIG. As a result, the pack pushing plate 50 is instantaneously moved from the standby position to the delivery position while the charge gear 63 is idling by the bias of the spring 57, and the pack 8 on the serve position changing belt 45 is sent to the field board 3a. . When the charge gear 63 is rotated by driving the motor 62, the pack pushing plate 50 is returned from the delivery position to the standby position via the rack 59, and the spring 57 is charged.
[0032]
When the motor 62 is driven to move the pack pushing plate 50 to the standby position, the drive of the solenoid 64 is off, and the rod 64a protrudes to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. . Therefore, when the pack pusher plate 50 is gradually retracted by driving the motor 62, the tip of the rod 64a comes into contact with the inclined surface 60b of the hook 60 and is gradually pushed in, and the point when the inclined surface 60b passes the tip of the rod 64a. The rod 64a protrudes. As a result, the hook 60 is again locked by the rod 64a through the locking surface 60a.
[0033]
When the pack extruding plate 50 protrudes from the standby position to the delivery position, the pack 8 on the serve position changing belt 45 is sent out to the field board 3 a at the front edge of the pack extruding plate 50. Since air is blown out from the air blowing hole 4 of the field board 3a, the delivered pack 8 moves so as to slide lightly on the field board 3a and reaches the serve area S. When the pack 8 is supplied to the serve area S, the pack 8 stops in the serve area S because it is devised not to blow out air in the serve area S. The serve area S is set at a position where the player can easily perform a launch operation, for example, about 30 cm from the front edge of the field board 3a, and the width in the depth direction is set to about 10 to 20 cm.
[0034]
In order to stop the blowing of air in the serve area S, an air shielding plate 65 is provided inside the air chamber 5a of the field board 3a. The air shielding plate 65 is obtained by adhering a rubber sheet 65b made of, for example, urethane rubber to the upper surface of a support plate 65a having substantially the same area as the serve area S. As shown in FIG. 8, a motor 67 and a link mechanism 68 are provided. Can be raised and lowered freely. A guide rod 69 is fixed vertically to the lower surface of the support plate 65a, and a thrust bearing 70 of the guide rod 69 is fixed to the partition plate 5. Reference numeral 71 denotes a side plate that supports the side edge of the field board 3a and is relatively fixed to a fixed portion of the game machine main body 2.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 9, when the air shielding plate 65 is moved from the lowered position indicated by the two-dot chain line to the raised position indicated by the solid line by driving the motor 67, the air blowing hole 4 in the serve area S is blocked from the inside. Air blowing stops. Of course, when the air shielding plate 65 is lowered, air also blows out from the air blowing holes 4 in the serve area S. As a result, the air shielding plate 65 and its moving mechanism partially operate the pack floating means including the compressor 6 and the air blowing hole 4 so that the pack supplied to the serve area does not move outside the serve area. It is a pack levitation suppression means to suppress. In addition, the code | symbol 72 of FIG. 9 represents the upper surface cover of the pack extrusion board 50. FIG.
[0036]
By the way, as described above, when the size of the game board 3 is increased to, for example, about 240 cm in width and about 350 to 400 cm in depth, the game board 3 must be configured by combining about three field boards 3a to 3c. This is not only difficult to manufacture a single-sized game board 3 of such a size, but it can be said that it is almost inevitable in consideration of carrying into the installation place, installation, assembly work, and the like. In such a case, it is necessary to accurately adjust the height of the upper surface of the adjacent field board at the boundary between the field boards 3a to 3c. In particular, in this hockey game machine, the pack 8 moves in both directions on the game board 3, so if there is even a slight step in the joint between the field boards, the pack 8 will collide with the step and be smooth. It becomes difficult to move to.
[0037]
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10, slopes 73a and 73b are formed at the edges of the field boards 3a and 3b adjacent to each other, and air blowing grooves 74a and 74b hollowed out in a semicircular shape are formed. When the field boards 3 a and 3 b are combined, the air blowing grooves 74 a and 74 b constitute the air blowing hole 4. Further, the boundary portion of the field boards 3a and 3b is supported by the upper edge of the common side plate 71b, and the joint of the field boards 3a and 3b and the joint of the side plates 71a and 71b are shifted. As a result, the height positions of the upper surfaces of the field boards 3a and 3b can be adjusted almost accurately, and there is almost no step between these boundary portions. If the boundary between the field boards 3a and 3b is included in one of the air pockets 5a and air is blown out from the air blowing holes formed by the combination of the air blowing grooves 74a and 74b, the pack 8 smoothly passes through this boundary portion.
[0038]
The shape when the pack 8 is broken along its diameter is shown in FIG. The pack 8 is composed of a plastic injection-molded product, and has the same shape so that the conditions do not change even when the front and back are reversed. A concave portion 8a serving as an air reservoir is formed at the central portion, and an inclined surface 8b is formed at the outer peripheral edge. The concave portion 8a increases the floating efficiency by blowing air from the game board 3, and the inclined surface 8b is affected by a slight step at the boundary between the field boards 3a to 3c. Without the pack 8 moving smoothly.
[0039]
Hereinafter, the operation of the hockey game machine will be described according to the functional blocks shown in FIG. 12 and the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The system controller 77 is composed of a CPU, and controls the entire game machine according to a sequence program stored in the ROM area of the memory 78. The RAM area of the memory 78 is used as a working memory for storing data and flags obtained from each mechanism unit during the progress of the game.
[0040]
When the coin sensor / card reader / recorder 79 determines whether or not a coin inserted from a coin insertion slot or a card insertion slot provided in a required portion of the operation panel 9 or a prepaid card is appropriate, and detects that it is appropriate A start preparation signal is input to the system controller 77. As a result, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13, the operation input from the operation panel 9 is validated, and the player performs game content setting operations such as game mode selection, difficulty setting, and target score. At this time, the system controller 77 receives the start preparation signal and operates the monitor driver 80 to display on the monitor CRT 12 a display prompting the player to perform an input operation necessary for game start preparation. In addition, voice guidance can be provided by the speaker 81. In addition, driving of the compressor 6 is started, and air blowing is started from the air blowing hole 4 of the game board 3.
[0041]
The system controller 77 sends an activation command to either the serve game controller 83 or the receive game controller 84 depending on whether the serve game mode or the receive game mode is selected by an operation input from the player. When the serve game mode is selected, a command is sent to the motor driver 85 to move the pack collection belt 26 in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 2 and when the receive game mode is selected, in the direction of arrow Y.
[0042]
The pack gate driver 86 controls the 16 gate units 20 installed on the game board 3. Each time a game is newly started, a gate number of “1 to 16” is displayed on each gate number display 20a. The allocation of the gate number is performed using a random number generator built in the system controller 77, and the gate number is randomly changed for each game. The gate number corresponds to the number in the bingo table displayed on the monitor CRT 12, and the number arrangement in the bingo table displayed on the monitor CRT 12 is similarly updated randomly for each game.
[0043]
A small speaker is incorporated in each of the gate units 20, and a unique electronic sound is generated by an audio signal from the system controller 77. The tone color of each electronic sound is determined according to the number displayed on the gate number display 22a. Therefore, for example, the approximate position of the gate unit 18 on which the number “1” is displayed can be determined by listening to the sound.
[0044]
When the receive game mode is selected, the receive game controller 84 is activated and control of the pack launcher 15 and the pack supply device 87 including the pack elevator 29 is started. When there is a shortage of packs in the pack storage tank of the pack launcher 15, the pack supply device 87 is operated to move the pack launcher 15 to the supply position, and the pack is supplied via the pack elevator 29. . After the replenishment process is completed, the operation of the game start button provided in the operation panel 9 is validated, and the game is started when the player performs the operation. The packs 8 are sequentially fired from the pack launcher 15 toward the player, and the game progresses as the player strikes it back.
[0045]
During the receive mode game, the pack 8 that is missed by the player is collected from the slit 14. At this time, the pack delivery unit 30 is moved to a position lowered by the elevating motor 54, and the pack 8 entering from the slit 14 does not collide. The pack 8 passes over the upper cover 72 of the pack delivery unit 30 and falls to the pack collection belt 26 through the guide plate 25. Further, the pack 8 that the player strikes back passes through the slit 13 on the back side, but since the check plate 22 is provided in the back of the slit 13, the pack 8 does not collide with the pack launcher 15. Note that the game progress in the receive game mode is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-288236, and the details thereof are omitted.
[0046]
When the serve game mode is selected, the serve game process is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the serve game controller 83 is activated by a command from the system controller 77, the passage plate 38 is lowered to the position of the two-dot chain line in FIG. As a result, the pack 8 transported by the pack recovery belt 26 falls into the bucket 33a of the delivery hopper 33. Further, the motor 67 is driven and the air shielding plate 65 is raised, the air blowing holes 4 belonging to the serve area S are blocked from the lower surface side of the field board 3a, and the air blowing from the serve area S is stopped. Further, a reverse rotation command is sent from the system controller 77 to the motor driver 85, and the pack collection belt 26 starts conveying in the direction of arrow Y in FIG.
[0047]
Subsequently, the on / off state of the pack outlet sensor 42 is identified. If the pack outlet sensor 42 is in the on state, it means that the preparation of the pack 8 has been completed, so that the operation of the game start button provided in the operation panel 9 is validated and the player operates the operation. To start the game. If the pack outlet sensor 42 is off, the pack delivery hopper 33 is driven until the pack outlet sensor 42 is turned on, and the game start button is waited for.
[0048]
When the game start button is operated, the delivery hopper 33 is driven, and the pack 8 at the top of the guide passage 40 falls onto the serve position changing belt 45 via the chute plate 44. At this time, the pack discharge sensor 43 is instantaneously turned on to detect that the pack 8 has been discharged, and the detection signal is input to the serve game controller 83. The serve game controller 83 continues to drive the delivery hopper 33 even after receiving this detection signal, and stops the delivery hopper 33 when the pack outlet sensor 42 is turned on again. As a result, one pack 8 is supplied onto the serve position changing belt 45, and a new pack 8 is replenished at the top of the guide passage 40.
[0049]
In response to the detection signal from the pack discharge sensor 43, the serve game controller 83 activates the motor 46, and the serve position change belt 45 conveys the pack 8 in the width direction of the game board 3. The drive time from when the motor 46 is started to when it is stopped can be changed, and the set position of the pack 8 in the width direction of the game board 3 can be adjusted according to the drive time. When the motor 46 stops, a drive pulse is supplied to the solenoid 64, and the rod 64a is pulled in as shown by the solid line in FIG. 6 against the spring biasing force in the protruding direction. As a result, the hook 60 is unlocked, and the pack pushing plate 50 jumps out toward the game board 3 by the bias of the spring 57.
[0050]
As the pack push-out plate 50 pops out, the pack 8 on the serve position changing belt 45 is delivered onto the game board 3. The pack 8 is lightly moved on the upper surface of the game board 3 toward the serve area S in response to the floating force generated by the air blowing. When the pack 8 reaches the serve area S, the air blowing is suppressed by the air shielding plate 65 at that portion, so that the pack 8 stops its movement due to friction with the upper surface of the game board 3, and the pack 8 serves as a serve. It comes to stay in the area S.
[0051]
The pack pushing plate 50 moved to the delivery position is returned to the standby position while charging the spring 57 by driving the motor 62. When moved to the standby position, the rod 64a of the solenoid 64 protrudes to the locking position due to the spring bias, so that the pack pushing plate 50 is held at the standby position as it is even when the driving of the motor 62 is stopped.
[0052]
The puck 8 stopped in the serve area S can be easily launched by the player with the racket 16. The pack 8 launched from the serve area S receives the levitation force from the air blow again and moves lightly on the game board 3 and passes through one of the gate units 20. When the in-gate sensor 17 detects the passage of the pack 8, a progress screen of the game is displayed on the monitor CRT 12, and a gate number is additionally displayed in the score display or bingo table.
[0053]
By detecting the passage of the pack 8 by any one of the in-gate sensors 17, it can be identified that the player has performed the driving operation of the pack 8. Of course, in addition to the in-gate sensor 17, if an out-gate that does not lead to a score is provided at an appropriate location, it is possible to identify that the driving operation of the pack 8 has been similarly performed with the out-gate sensor. Is possible. Thus, when the operation of ejecting the pack 8 is detected, the supply process of the second pack 8 is performed. This process is performed in exactly the same way as the first pack supply process.
[0054]
Since the drive stop timing of the motor 46 is randomly controlled each time a new pack 8 is supplied, the set position of the pack 8 in the width direction of the game board 3 is changed one after another, and the player is required to exercise moderately. Become so. Furthermore, the difficulty can be adjusted by changing the transport speed of the serve position changing belt 45 or by adjusting the interval until a new pack 8 is supplied to the serve area S.
[0055]
One game ends when the pack for one game is digested as described above. The game results are displayed on the CRT monitor 12 according to the score and the result of the bingo game, and compared with the target score input by the player at the start of the game, and a message is also displayed. This hockey game machine can also be used in the receive game mode in which the pack 8 launched from the pack launcher 15 is returned according to the selection operation of the player at the start of the game. However, in the above-described serve mode game, the game board 3 is used. Since it is only necessary to launch the stopped pack 8, it is effective in increasing the difficulty of the game in a low direction, and it is possible for the elderly and disabled persons to fully enjoy the game.
[0056]
Even in the serve game mode, the difficulty level can be adjusted by changing the time interval for supplying the pack 8 to the serve area S. Furthermore, if the pack stop time in the serve area S is limited and the motor 67 is driven to lower the air shielding plate 65 when that time has elapsed, the air is blown out from the air blowing holes 4 in the serve area S as well. The puck 8 stopped there flows to the back side according to the inclination of the game board 3, and the player cannot perform the launch operation. Accordingly, since the player has to aim and launch while the puck is stopped, the difficulty level can be changed by adjusting the puck stop time in the serve area S. .
[0057]
As described above, the present invention has been described according to the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be implemented in other forms. For example, it is possible to embed a magnet in the pack 8 and also incorporate an electromagnet in the game board 3 to give a floating force to the pack 8 using magnetic force. In this case, in order to stop the pack 8 in the serve area S, the electromagnet provided corresponding to the serve area S may be turned off.
[0058]
In addition, the number of packs used per game and the number of gate units 20 can be increased or decreased as appropriate. The score is also determined for each gate unit 20, and the score of the gate unit through which the pack has passed is set. In addition to associating horse numbers or race car numbers for each gate unit, the player selects a predetermined one from them, and the one corresponding to the gate unit through which the pack has passed depends on the score. It can also take the form of a horse racing game or a car racing game that is advanced toward the goal. In addition, it is possible to display various marks and patterns instead of numbers on the display provided for each gate unit 20, and to give points by combining them. Embodiments can be taken.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the hockey game machine of the present invention, it becomes possible to play a game in the serve mode in which the player supplies a stopped pack supplied to the serve area set on the front side of the game board, Even beginners, elderly people, and disabled people can enjoy the game at their own pace, and can play games with moderate exercise in a less burdensome manner.
[0060]
In addition to the above-mentioned serve mode, it is possible to play a higher level game by preparing a game in receive mode that returns a pack that is launched from the back of the game board, gender, age, It is possible to provide a game that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of physical ability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a hockey game machine embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part schematically showing the internal structure of the hockey game machine.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a pack transfer unit and a guide passage.
FIG. 4 is a front (game board side) perspective view schematically showing the pack delivery unit.
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view schematically showing the pack delivery unit.
6 is a plan view showing an outline of a locking mechanism of the pack extrusion plate 50. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an outline of an air blocking plate.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a drive mechanism for an air blocking plate.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the front side of the game board.
FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view showing a seam of a field board.
FIG. 11 is a central cutaway perspective view showing the shape of the pack.
FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a hockey game machine.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a basic processing flow of the hockey game machine.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process flow in a serve game mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Game console
3 Game board
4 Air blowout holes
5 Bulkhead plate
6 Compressor
8 packs
9 Operation panel
12 Monitor CRT
15 pack launcher
16 rackets
20 Gate unit
30 pack delivery unit
32 pack transfer unit
33 Delivery hopper
38 Passage plate
40 Guide passage
45 Saab position change belt
50 pack extrusion board
64 Solenoid
65 Air shielding plate

Claims (5)

A hockey game machine in which a player launches a pack supplied to the game board from the front of the game board toward the back, and a game score is given or a change in game progress is given according to the arrival position of the launched pack In
A pack levitation means for blowing out air from a number of air blowing holes formed in the game board so that the pack launched by the player easily moves along the game board upper surface;
A pack supply means for delivering a pack from the front side of the game board toward a serve area set in advance on the game board;
Pack floating suppression means for suppressing air blowing from the air blowing holes included in the serve area so that the pack supplied to the serve area by the pack supplying means stops in the serve area due to friction with the upper surface of the game board ; A hockey game machine characterized by comprising:   The hockey game machine according to claim 1, wherein the pack supply means varies a position for supplying a pack with respect to a width direction of the game board. The game board is inclined so that the pack levitated by the pack levitation means flows under its own weight toward the back of the game board, and air from the air blowing holes included in the serve area is evacuated by the pack levitation suppression means. The hockey game machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a time during which the balloon is suppressed is variable. A game in receive mode in which a pack launcher is provided on the back side of the game board, and a pack that has been launched from the pack launcher in front of the game board by a switching operation of the game mode by the player, and the pack supply means The hockey game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a game in a serve mode for launching a pack supplied to a serve area can be selected. On the front side of the game board, there is provided a slit for receiving a pack that has been launched by the pack launcher at the time of the game in the receive mode and failed to be returned, and the pack supply means is provided to be movable up and down behind the slit. The hockey game machine according to claim 4 .

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