JP4169812B2 - Game ball launcher - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game ball launching device that launches a game ball in a predetermined direction by a rotating operation of a rotating member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there has been proposed a game ball launching device that launches a game ball in a predetermined direction by a rotational movement of a rotating member. This type of technology is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-285253.
[0003]
In this type of game ball launching device, the game ball falling on the rotary member is directly held by the rotary member, and the ball is launched in a predetermined direction. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-134083 As described in the official gazette, a game ball that is sequentially sent by a holding member is held in a predetermined position, and the held game ball is sequentially fired in a predetermined direction by a rotating member is proposed. It was.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, there are the following problems even in the configuration in which the game ball is held by the holding member and in the configuration in which the rotary member that is rotationally driven by the rotary motor directly holds the game ball. . First, in the configuration in which the rotating member is held during the rotation operation standby only by the detent torque that is the torque when no current is supplied to the coil constituting the rotating motor, it is necessary to set the detent torque to a large value. As a result, the performance of the stepping motor is significantly deteriorated, and as a result, the rotation state of the rotary motor is not necessarily smooth, and so-called non-uniformity of the game ball occurs.
[0005]
Secondly, in the case where the rotating member is held at the time of waiting for the rotating operation by using the holding torque generated by supplying the holding current to the rotating motor, the holding current is applied to the rotating motor even during the rotating operation. Since it is necessary to supply the same current, the power consumption of the rotary motor increases, and the amount of heat generated by the IC that constitutes the rotary motor itself and the motor drive circuit that drives the rotary motor increases. was there.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, and its purpose is to reduce the power consumption while accurately holding the rotating member at the rotation operation standby position, and further directly playing the game ball. It is in the point which provides the game ball | bowl launcher which can be hold | maintained even if it receives.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game ball launching device that launches a game ball in response to a rotation operation of the handle , wherein the given game ball is rotated by its own rotation operation. Rotating member for launching in a predetermined direction, rotation driving means for rotating the rotating member, a timer for outputting a trigger signal at a predetermined cycle, and detecting that the rotating member is present at the rotation operation standby position. A detection means for outputting a detection signal; and a control means for inputting the trigger signal and the detection signal and controlling the rotation driving means. When the control means is operated to rotate the handle, In addition, a first electric power is supplied to the rotation driving means according to the input of the detection signal to stop the rotating member at the rotation operation standby position, and the rotation driving means according to the input of the trigger signal. Rotate operating the rotary member by supplying a second power, the first power, the game ball firing apparatus is provided for being less in comparison with the second power.
[0008]
More specifically, as in the invention according to claim 2, in claim 1, the rotation driving means is constituted by a stepping motor, and the control means responds to the amount of rotation operation of the handle. And a pulse generation circuit for generating a pulse train having a different frequency, and the rotational speed of the stepping motor is controlled in accordance with the generated pulse train .
[0009]
The control means includes, for example, a constant current chopper motor drive circuit that supplies current to the stepping motor, a motor drive pulse generation circuit that generates a pulse train to be supplied to the circuit, and a constant current chopper motor drive circuit that supplies the stepping motor. A motor current value setting circuit for setting two kinds of current values, a current value changeover switch for controlling a constant current chopper motor drive circuit so that a current of one of the set current values can be supplied to the stepping motor, Can be configured.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a game ball launching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game ball launching apparatus includes a rotary motor 100 including a rotary shaft 6 that passes through a circular fixed plate 11, and The rotary arm 1 rotatably fixed to the rotary shaft 6 of the rotary motor 100 and the game balls 10 are dropped onto the rotary arm 1 one by one at a predetermined timing and are held on the rotary arm 1 (not shown) A feeding rod 2 connected to the game ball supply unit, a circular inner wall 3 provided on the fixed plate 11 for forming the guide path 5 of the game ball 10, and a circular outer wall 4 larger than the inner wall 3 And a launch path forming member 12 that forms a launch path 7 through which the launched game ball 10 is sent out.
[0011]
Further, an origin detection lever 8 is fixed to the rotary shaft 6, and an origin detection switch 9 that outputs an origin detection signal when the origin detection lever 8 passes through the rotation operation of the rotary shaft 6 is disposed. . The origin detection switch 9 can be realized by a transmissive photo interrupter configured to output an origin detection signal when the origin detection lever 8 interrupts the optical path, and a desired signal is output. Thus, the size of the origin detection lever 8 and the arrangement position of the origin detection switch 9 may be adjusted.
[0012]
Such an origin detection means (origin detection switch 9) is provided in order to reliably stop the rotary arm 1 at the rotational operation standby position. For example, a firing cycle timer described later and drive control synchronized therewith are provided. It is possible to realize a series of operations by rotating operation and stopping only with the use of alone. In this embodiment, a method of switching the supplied power by controlling the current value as one of the methods of switching the power supplied to the rotary motor 100 will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the applied voltage is not limited to this. A method of switching power by controlling is also conceivable.
[0013]
In this game ball launching device, a motor drive circuit (not shown) can supply a current of a first current value and a current of a second current value larger than this to the rotary motor 100. When the origin detection switch 9 detects that the rotary arm 1 is in a predetermined position (rotation operation standby position), the first current value is supplied to the rotary motor 100. Current is supplied to the rotary motor 100, and the first current value is such that even when the game ball 10 falls on the rotary arm 1, the torque is such that the rotary arm 1 does not move. It is characterized in that the current value is generated in 100.
[0014]
Now, the configuration and operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the control block configuration diagram of FIG. 2 and the operation timing chart of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit of this apparatus sets the origin switch 9 described above, the firing cycle timer 110 that outputs a trigger signal every 606 (ms), and the rotary motor 100 realized by a stepping motor. A constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 for supplying a current of any one of the generated current values, a motor current value setting circuit 150 capable of setting current values of two types of currents supplied to the rotary motor 100, and control A current value changeover switch 140 for switching the supply current of the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 so as to supply the rotary motor 100 with a current of any value set by the operation, and a handle of the gaming machine 160 generates a pulse train having a frequency corresponding to the amount of rotation operation and outputs a signal from the origin detection switch 9. That as having a motor drive pulse generating circuit 120 for controlling operation of the current value changeover switch 140.
[0015]
The control operation will be described below with reference to the operation timing chart of FIG. It is assumed that the motor current value setting circuit 150 sets current values of 1.0 (A) and 0.5 (A). Here, 0.5 (A) indicates that even when the game ball 10 falls on the rotary arm 1, the game ball 10 can be held in a state where the rotary arm 1 does not move due to its own weight or the like. This is a current value for generating torque in the rotary motor 100, and 1.0 (A) is also the rotary motor at the pulse train frequency when the launch intensity of the game ball 10 is maximized by the turning operation of the handle 160. 100 is a current value at which no step-out occurs.
[0016]
When the rotation operation amount of the handle 160 reaches a predetermined amount and the firing cycle timer 110 outputs a trigger signal, the motor drive pulse generation circuit 120 generates and generates a pulse train having a frequency corresponding to the rotation operation amount. The pulse train is supplied to the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130.
[0017]
At this time, the motor drive pulse generation circuit 120 controls the current value changeover switch 140, and the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 supplies a current having a current value of 1.0 (A) to the rotary motor 100. As a result, the rotary motor 100 rotates, and the rotating arm 1 rotates to guide the game ball 10 along the guide path 5. Further, the game ball 10 is sent out onto the launch path 7, and the game ball 10 is fired. Is done.
[0018]
Further, when the rotation arm 1 rotates and the origin detection lever 8 passes through the origin switch 9 and the origin detection signal is output from the origin detection switch 9, the motor drive pulse generation circuit 120 stops the rotation motor 100. The rotation operation standby control is performed, and the control operation of the current value changeover switch 140 is performed.
[0019]
Accordingly, the current value changeover switch 140 controls the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 so that the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 supplies a current having a current value of 0.5 (A) to the rotary motor 100. .
[0020]
As a result, the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 supplies a current of 0.5 (A) to the rotary motor 100, so that the rotary arm 1 does not move even when the game ball 10 falls on the rotary arm 1. Become.
[0021]
At this time, one game ball 10 is supplied via the feeding rod 2, and the above operation is repeated each time a new trigger signal is supplied from the firing cycle timer 110. In order to make the supply timing of the game ball 10 through the feeding rod 2 appropriate, for example, the supply timing of the game ball 10 may be synchronized with the trigger signal output from the firing cycle timer 110. That's fine.
[0022]
By performing such an operation, even when the game ball 10 falls on the rotating arm 1, the rotating arm 1 does not move, and as a result, it is reliably held at the rotating operation standby position, resulting in flying unevenness. Will not. In addition, the value of the current supplied to the rotary motor 100 is not kept constant, and when the signal is output from the origin detection switch 9, the supply to the rotary motor 100 is compared to other cases. Since the current is reduced, the motor power consumption is reduced as compared with the conventional case, and the amount of heat generated in the IC or the like constituting the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 is also reduced.
[0023]
Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a game ball launching device configured to have a holding member for holding the game ball 10 can be realized. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a part of this type of game ball launching device, in which the game ball 10 held by the holding member 210 provided at the lower portion of the feeding rod 2 is replaced with the holding member 210. , And a device that can be fired in a predetermined direction by the rotation operation of the rotary arm 1 having a U-shaped tip 200 capable of hitting the game ball 10. In this case, since the game ball to be fired next time is held by the holding member, it is sufficient to supply a current value that causes the stepping motor to generate a torque sufficient to hold the rotating arm 1 at the rotation operation standby position when waiting for the rotation operation. For this reason, compared with the thing of the structure which hold | maintains the game ball | bowl 10 directly, it can carry out with a smaller electric current value, and the further power saving is attained.
[0024]
Note that the control unit shown in FIG. 2 has a hardware-only configuration, for example, a CPU (central processing unit) that operates according to an operation program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM. It can also be realized with a microcomputer system.
[0025]
In this case, the control procedure may be stored in a storage medium readable by the CPU. Examples of the storage medium include a semiconductor storage medium such as a ROM and an IC card, an optical storage medium such as a CDROM and DVDROM, a flexible disk, and the like. And a magneto-optical storage medium such as MO.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the invention according to claim 1 or 2 , the control means for controlling the rotation driving means for rotating the rotating member for firing a given game ball in a predetermined direction by its own rotation operation. When the steering wheel is rotated, the first power is supplied to the rotation driving means in response to the input of the detection signal to stop the rotating member at the rotation operation standby position, and in response to the input of the trigger signal. since the rotary member by supplying a second power to the rotary drive means for controlling the so that by rotating operation Te, while reducing power consumption, supply a desired power only when the rotating member is present at a predetermined position It is possible to make it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a game ball launching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a control block configuration diagram of the game ball launching apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an operation timing chart of the game ball launching apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of a game ball launcher according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotating arm 2 Feeding rod 3 Inner wall 4 Outer wall 5 Guide path 6 Rotating shaft 7 Launch path 8 Origin detection lever 9 Origin detection switch 10 Game ball 11 Fixed plate 12 Launch path forming member 100 Rotation motor 110 Firing period timer 120 Motor drive Pulse generation circuit 130 Constant current chopper motor drive circuit 140 Current value changeover switch 150 Motor current value setting circuit 160 Handle

Claims (2)

A game ball launcher that launches a game ball in response to a rotation operation of a handle ,
A rotating member for launching a given game ball in a predetermined direction by its own rotation, rotation driving means for rotating the rotating member, a timer for outputting a trigger signal at a predetermined period, and the rotating member A detection unit that detects the presence of the rotation operation standby position and outputs a detection signal; and a control unit that receives the trigger signal and the detection signal and controls the rotation driving unit.
The control means is
When a rotation operation of the handle is performed, first electric power is supplied to the rotation driving unit in response to an input of the detection signal to stop the rotating member at the rotation operation standby position, and the trigger signal In response to an input, a second electric power is supplied to the rotation driving means to rotate the rotating member,
The game ball launcher characterized in that the first power is smaller than the second power . In claim 1,
The rotation driving means is composed of a stepping motor,
The control means includes a pulse generation circuit that generates a pulse train having a frequency corresponding to the amount of rotational operation of the handle, and controls the rotation speed of the stepping motor according to the generated pulse train. Launcher.

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