JPH114937A - Game ball projection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game ball projection device which is capable of retaining a rotary arm 1 at a rotary action standby position while curbing power consumption. SOLUTION: This game ball projection device is equipped with a rotary arm for projecting a game ball by a rotating action, a rotary motor 100 (stepping motor) for activating the rotary arm to rotate and a control means for controlling the rotary motor 100 (motor drive pulse producing circuit 120, constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130, current value changeover switch 140 and motor current value setting circuit 150). When set in a rotating action standby mode, current of a first current value is supplied to the stepping motor and at the same time, current of a high second current value is supplied to the stepping motor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game ball launching device that shoots a game ball in a predetermined direction by rotating a rotating member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a game ball launching device has been proposed which shoots a game ball in a predetermined direction by the rotational movement of a rotating member. With respect to this type of technology, see, for example,
No. 285253.

[0003] In this type of game ball launching device, a game ball falling on a rotating member is directly held by the rotating member while the ball is launched in a predetermined direction.
For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-134083, game balls sequentially sent by a holding member are held at a predetermined position, and the held game balls are sequentially rotated by a rotating member in a predetermined direction. A device that fires at a time has been proposed.

[0004]

However, as described above, the structure in which the game ball is held by the holding member and the rotating member driven to rotate by the rotating motor are directly
The configuration for holding a game ball also has the following problems. First, in the configuration in which the rotating member is held during the rotation operation standby only by the detent torque which is the torque when no current is supplied to the coil constituting the rotary motor, the detent torque needs to be set relatively large.
This causes the performance of the stepping motor to be significantly degraded, and as a result, the rotating state of the rotating motor is not always smooth, and so-called unevenness of the playing ball has occurred.

Second, in the case where the rotating member is held at the time of standby for the rotation operation by using the holding torque generated by supplying the hold current to the rotation motor,
Even during rotation operation, it is necessary to supply a current of the same value as this hold current to the rotation motor, so the power consumption of the rotation motor increases, and the rotation motor itself and the motor drive circuit that drives the rotation motor are configured However, there is a problem that the amount of heat generated by the IC becomes large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the power consumption and accurately hold a rotating member at a rotating operation standby position, and furthermore, directly. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game ball launching device that can hold a game ball even if it receives the ball.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for shooting a game ball given at a predetermined timing by a rotating operation of a rotating member. A rotation member for firing a given game ball in a predetermined direction by its own rotation operation, a rotation drive unit for rotating the rotation member, and a control unit for controlling the rotation drive unit, the control unit comprising: According to the present invention, there is provided a game ball launching device which controls the rotation member to be driven by different electric powers when the rotation member rotates and when the rotation member stands by.

[0008] More specifically, as in the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the rotation driving means includes:
The control means is configured to supply a first power to the stepping motor when the rotation member is in a standby state, and to control the first power to be larger than the first power during a rotation operation of the rotation member. 2 is supplied to the stepping motor, and the first power supplies a torque to the stepping motor such that the rotating member does not move even when the game ball falls on the rotating member. The stepping motor is characterized in that the stepping motor generates electric power or generates a minimum torque capable of holding the rotating member at a rotational operation standby position.

The control means includes, for example, a constant current chopper motor drive circuit for supplying a current to the stepping motor, a motor drive pulse generating circuit for generating a pulse train to be supplied to the circuit, and a constant current chopper motor drive circuit for the stepping motor. Motor current value setting circuit that sets two types of current values to be supplied to the motor, and current value switching that controls the constant current chopper motor drive circuit so that the current of one of the set current values can be supplied to the stepping motor And a switch.

[0010]

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 device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game ball launching device includes a rotating motor 100 having a rotating shaft 6 penetrating a circular fixed plate 11, This rotary motor 100
A rotating ball 1 rotatably fixed to the rotating shaft 6 of the game ball 10 and a game ball supply unit (not shown) for dropping the game balls 10 one by one onto the rotating arm 1 at a predetermined timing so as to be held by the rotating arm 1 Feeding tub 2 connected to the
, A circular inner wall 3 for forming the guide path 5 of the game ball 10, a circular outer wall 4 larger than the inner wall 3, and a firing for forming a firing path 7 for sending the fired game ball 10. And a path forming member 12.

An origin detecting lever 8 is provided on the rotating shaft 6.
Is fixed, and an origin detection switch 9 that outputs an origin detection signal when the origin detection lever 8 passes by the rotation operation of the rotating shaft 6 is disposed. The origin detection switch 9 can be realized by, for example, a transmission type photointerrupter configured to output an origin detection signal when the origin detection lever 8 interrupts the optical path, and outputs a desired signal. Thus, the size of the origin detection lever 8 and the position of the origin detection switch 9 may be adjusted.

Such an origin detecting means (origin detecting switch 9) is provided for surely stopping the rotary arm 1 at the rotational operation standby position. For example, a firing cycle timer which will be described later and a synchronous timer therefor are provided. A series of operations by rotating and stopping can be realized only by the drive control performed. In the present embodiment, a method for switching the supply power by controlling the current value will be described as one of the methods for switching the power supplied to the rotary motor 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A method of controlling and switching the power is also conceivable.

In this game ball launching device, a motor drive circuit (not shown) can supply a current having a first current value and a current having a second current value larger than the first current value to the rotary motor 100. When the current of the second current value is supplied to the rotary motor 100 and the origin detection switch 9 detects that the rotary arm 1 is at a predetermined position (rotational operation standby position), the first current is output. Is supplied to the rotary motor 100, and the first current value is such a torque that the rotating arm 1 does not move even when the game ball 10 falls on the rotating arm 1. Is a current value that causes the rotating motor 100 to generate

The configuration and operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG. 2 and the operation timing chart of FIG. FIG.
As shown in (1), the control unit of this device is set in the origin switch 9 described above, the firing cycle timer 110 that outputs a trigger signal every 606 (ms), and the rotating motor 100 realized by a stepping motor. A constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 for supplying a current of any one of the current values, a motor current value setting circuit 150 capable of setting two kinds of current values to be supplied to the rotary motor 100; The current of any one of the current values set by performing
A signal from 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 current to the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130, a pulse train of a frequency corresponding to the amount of rotation of the handle 160 of the gaming machine, and a signal from the origin detection switch 9 And a motor drive pulse generation circuit 120 that controls the current value switch 140 when output.

Hereinafter, the control operation will be described with reference to the operation timing chart of FIG. It should be noted that the motor current value setting circuit 150 determines that 1.0 (A) and 0.5 (A)
It is assumed that the current value of (A) is set. here,
0.5 (A) means that even when the game ball 10 falls on the rotary arm 1, the torque that can hold the game ball 10 in a state where the rotary arm 1 does not move due to the weight of the game ball 10 or the like is rotated. A current value generated in the motor 100,
1.0 (A) is a current value at which the rotary motor 100 does not lose synchronism even at the frequency of the pulse train when the firing intensity of the game ball 10 is maximized by the turning operation of the handle 160.

When the amount of rotation 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 a pulse train having a frequency corresponding to the amount of rotation. Then, the generated pulse train is supplied to the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130.
To supply.

At this time, the motor drive pulse generation circuit 12
0 controls the current value changeover switch 140, and the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130
A current having a current value of 1.0 (A) is supplied to the rotary motor 100. As a result, the rotating motor 100 rotates to guide the game ball 10 along the guide path 5 by the rotation operation of the rotary arm 1, and further, sends the game ball 10 onto the launch path 7, and launches the game ball 10. Is performed.

Further, when the rotary arm 1 rotates and the reference point detecting lever 8 passes through the reference point switch 9 and the reference point detection signal is output from the reference point detection switch 9, the motor drive pulse generation circuit 120 starts the rotation of the rotating motor. A rotation operation standby control for stopping the motor 100 is performed, and a control operation of the current value switch 140 is performed.

Thus, the current value switch 1
40 is a constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130
Generates a current having a current value of 0.5 (A)
The constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 is controlled so as to supply the power to the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130.

As a result, the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 supplies the rotating motor 100 with 0.5
Since the current of (A) is supplied, even when the game ball 10 falls on the rotating arm 1, the rotating arm 1 does not move.

At this time, one game ball 10 is
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 balls 10 through the feeding tub 2 appropriate, for example, the supply timing of the game balls 10 is set to be synchronized with a trigger signal output from the firing cycle timer 110. I just need.

By performing such an operation, even when the game ball 10 falls on the rotary arm 1, the rotary arm 1 does not move. As a result, the rotary ball 1 is reliably held at the rotary operation standby position. No unevenness occurs.
Also, the value of the current supplied to the rotary motor 100 is not kept constant, and when a signal is output from the origin detection switch 9, the current supplied to the rotary motor 100 is lower than in other cases. Since the current is reduced, the power consumption of the motor is reduced as compared with the related art, and the amount of heat generated by the IC and the like constituting the constant current chopper motor drive circuit 130 is also reduced.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention,
The present invention can also be realized by a game ball launching device configured to have a holding member for holding the game ball 10. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a part of the game ball launching device of this type, in which the game ball 10 held by the holding member 210 provided at the lower part of the feed tub 2 is moved to the holding member 210. , And can be fired in a predetermined direction by the rotating operation of the rotating arm 1 having the U-shaped cross-sectional end portion 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 for causing the stepping motor to generate a torque enough to hold the rotating arm 1 at the rotation operation standby position during the rotation operation standby. For this reason,
This can be performed with a current value smaller than that of the configuration in which the game balls 10 are directly held, and further power saving can be achieved.

Note that the control unit shown in FIG. 2 is, of course, made up of only hardware, for example, RO
The present invention can also be realized by a microcomputer system having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that operates according to an operation program stored in a storage medium such as M.

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.
Examples include optical storage media such as CDROM and DVDROM, magnetic storage media such as flexible disks, and magneto-optical storage media such as MO.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the rotation driving means for rotating the rotating member for firing a given game ball in a predetermined direction by its own rotation operation is controlled. The controlling means controls the rotation driving means to drive the rotating member with different power during the rotating operation of the rotating member and during the rotating operation standby, so that the rotating member is moved to a predetermined position while reducing power consumption. It is possible to supply the desired power only when it is present.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the control means supplies the first power to the stepping motor and waits for the rotation of the rotating member when the rotating member is in a standby state. At the time of the rotation operation, the second power greater than the first power is supplied to the stepping motor, and the supply of the first power allows the rotation member to move even when the game ball falls on the rotation member. Or the rotation member can be held at the rotation operation standby position.

[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 a 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 launching apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotating arm 2 Feeding tub 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 Fixing plate 12 Launch path forming member 100 Rotary motor 110 Launch cycle 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)

[Claims] 1. A device for firing a game ball given at a predetermined timing by a rotating operation of a rotating member, comprising: a rotating member for firing a given game ball in a predetermined direction by its own rotating operation; A rotation driving means for rotating the rotation member; and a control means for controlling the rotation driving means, the control means rotating the rotation member during the rotation operation of the rotation member and during the rotation operation standby. A game ball launching device that controls the driving means to drive with different powers. 2. The stepping motor according to claim 1, wherein the rotation driving unit includes a stepping motor, and the control unit supplies the first power to the stepping motor while the rotation member is in a standby state. At the time of the rotation operation of the rotating member, it is configured to supply a second electric power larger than the first electric power to the stepping motor, and the first electric power causes the game ball to fall on the rotating member. The stepping motor generates electric power such that the rotating member does not move even when the stepping motor is operated, or the electric power generates the minimum torque capable of holding the rotating member at the rotation operation standby position. A game ball launching device.