Abstract:
The present invention relates to a game vending machine. The game vending machine includes: at least one premium hooking unit and a puller unit. The premium hooking unit hooks premium, and the puller unit pulls a front plate included in the premium hooking unit to allow the premium to drop down into a premium discharge part.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a game vending machine, and more particularly to a game vending machine which is configured such that a purchaser operates a key-shaped puller to acquire a prize, thereby efficiently arousing the purchaser&#39;s purchasing needs and interest. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Conventional methods of selling various toys including dolls through a game include a method in which a purchaser shoots a desired doll with an air gun to drop the doll, or a method in which a purchaser inserts a coin and then operates a lever to control a robot arm to pick up a toy stacked on a floor and to drop the toy to a discharge opening within a predetermined length of time. 
         [0003]    A conventional game vending machine is configured such that when a user inserts a coin or a bill into an inserting slot and then operates a button, a pusher is moved horizontally and vertically along a guide to push a prize to be dropped into a prize discharge box. 
         [0004]    In the game vending machine, if the pusher configured to be moved horizontally and vertically by operating the button was moved through a prize feeding hole in a prize plate formed in front of a display stand, a corresponding prize among various displayed prizes is dropped to and discharged through a take-out outlet. However, if the pusher configured to be moved horizontally and vertically by operating the button cannot pass through the prize feeding hole, it is impossible to take out the corresponding prize. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0005]    The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the present invention is to provide a game vending machine which allows a user (purchaser) to acquire various goods (prizes), including toys or dolls, through a, game, thereby inducing the user&#39;s interest. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0006]    In order to solve the technical problem, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game vending machine including: at least one prize hanger unit configured to hang a prize; and a puller unit configured to pull a front plate provided in the prize hanger to allow the prize to be dropped to a prize discharge part. 
         [0007]    The puller unit may be provided with a rotary body, which is configured to pass through a hole formed in the front plate and then to rotate to pull the front plate. 
         [0008]    The rotary body may have a front face of a key shape formed by combining a circular shape and a rectangular shape, and the hole of the front plate may have a shape equal to that of the front face of the rotary body, in which the hole is larger than the front face. 
         [0009]    The prize hanger unit may include: a slider unit coupled to an upper part of the rear side of the front plate; a case having a space for allowing the slide unit to be slid; and a support unit located between the bottom side of the case and the hole formed in the front plate, and configured to pass through a hole of a support bracket attached to the case to hang the prize on the support unit. When the puller unit pulls the front plate, the support unit may escape from the hole of the support bracket to allow the prize to be dropped to the prize discharge part. 
         [0010]    The puller unit may include: a first assembly that encloses a part of the rear side of the rotary body, the first assembly being configured to control the rotary body to rotate 180 degrees with reference to its initial position after passing through the hole formed in the front plate; and a second assembly configured to move the first assembly backward to pull the front plate. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game vending machine including: a main body; at least one prize hanger unit configured to be fixed within the main body and to hang a prize; a moving unit installed within the main body, the moving unit being configured to be moved left and right by a chain linked to a first driving unit, and to be moved vertically by a belt linked to a second driving motor; and a puller unit arranged above the moving unit, the puller unit being configured to be moved back and forth by gears linked to a third driving motor. The puller unit may be configured to pass through a hole formed in a front plate provided in the prize hanger unit and then rotate to pull the front plate, thereby allowing the prize to be dropped to a prize discharge part. 
       Advantageous Effects 
       [0012]    The inventive game vending machine can induce a user&#39;s purchasing needs and interest more actively by allowing the user to acquire various prizes including dolls or toys through a game. 
         [0013]    Since the inventive game vending machine is a new type of game machine that allows the user to acquire a prize by making the puller pass through a keyhole-shaped hole and then pull the front plate formed with the hole, it is possible to increase the user&#39;s desire to take out a prize, thereby increasing the income of the game vending machine administrator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the entirety of a game vending machine in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the game vending machine of  FIG. 1  in the state in which the door is opened; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view for describing the inside configuration of the game vending machine illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view for describing the actions of the moving unit and the puller unit illustrated in  FIG. 3  in more detail; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view for describing the puller unit illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   b  is a side elevational view for describing the puller unit illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6   a  is a side elevational view of a prize hanger unit when its front plate has not moved; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view of the prize hanger unit when its front plate has moved; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 6   c  is a side elevational view of the prize hanger unit when its front plate has moved. 
       
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    In order to understand the present invention and the objects thereof accomplished by implementing the present invention, it is necessary to refer to accompanying drawings exemplifying various exemplary embodiments and contents described in the drawings. 
         [0025]    The exemplary embodiments are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. In the following description, the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals although they are shown in different drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a game vending machine  1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the game vending machine  1  includes a main body  2  and a door  10 . The game vending machine  1  may be referred to as a pointer game machine. 
         [0028]    The main body  2  serves as a case, and may be formed in a box shape. The material of the main body  2  may be a metal. 
         [0029]    On the front side of the main body  2 , a door  10  is installed which is capable of being opened/closed for maintenance and repair, in which on the upper part of the front side of the door  10 , a transparent window  11  is formed which allows a user to confirm the progress of the game, and on the lower part of the front side of the door  10 , a prize outlet  18  is formed which is configured to discharge a prize. 
         [0030]    An operating panel  12  and coin inserting units  16  and  17  may be formed adjacent to the front transparent window  11  of the door  10 , and an advertising board  3  may be installed on the upper part of the door  10  in which an advertisement may be put. The advertising board  3  may be constructed by any of an LED panel, an LCD panel and a fluorescence display device which can execute a dynamic advertisement. By executing a commercial advertisement, it is possible to further increase an operating profit and an advertisement effect. 
         [0031]    A side transparent window (or a transparent plate)  4  may be installed on a side of the main body  2  which may allow the user to confirm the kind of prizes. 
         [0032]    On the bottom of the main body  2 , four rollers  5  are installed at the left and right sides to allow the main body  2  to be moved. In addition, on the bottom of the main body  2 , four main body fixing units  6  are provided at the left and right sides to fix the position of the main body  2 . Each of the main body fixing units  6  extends vertically to fix the main body  2  to a floor, such as the ground. 
         [0033]    The coin inserting units  16  and  17  may be used to insert coins with different sizes. The user of the game vending machine  1  may visually confirm a process of moving a puller unit indicated by reference numerals  22 ,  23  and  24  to one of a plurality of prize hanger units  30  through the front transparent window  11 . 
         [0034]    The operating panel  12  is provided with an operating lever (or a joystick)  13  and an operating button  14 . The user may operate the operating lever  13  and the operating button  14  to drop a prize, and then to take out the prize from the prize outlet  18 . 
         [0035]    The operating lever  13  controls the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  and a moving unit indicated by reference numerals  20  and  21  positioned below the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  to move left and right. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the operating button  14  controls the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  to be moved upward, and then controls a key-shaped rotary body  24  installed in front of the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  to pass through a keyhole-shaped hole formed in each of the front plates of the prize hanger units  30  and then to be rotated by 180 degrees with reference to its initial position so that the rotary body  24  is caught by the lower part of the keyhole-shaped hole in the rear side of the corresponding front plate. Then, the operating button  14  controls the rotary body  24  to pull the front plate. When the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  pulls the front plate, the prize hung on the corresponding hanger unit  30  is dropped to a prize discharge part  19  (see  FIG. 2 ), so that the user can take out the prize from the prize outlet  18  connected to the prize discharge part  19 . The front plates may be fabricated from a transparent or semi-transparent synthetic resin. 
         [0037]    That is, the game vending machine  1  in accordance with the present exemplary embodiment is configured in such a manner that the user inserts a coin into any of the coin inserting units  16  and  17  and then makes a prize (for example, a doll) hung on any of the prize hanger units  30  be dropped to the prize discharge part within a predetermined length of time by using the key-shaped rotary body  24  included in the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24 , thereby acquiring the prize through the prize outlet  18 . 
         [0038]    A speaker  15  may produce an effect sound (a cheerful sound) to induce interest when the user operates the operating lever  13  and the operating button  14  after inserting a predetermined amount of money into any of the coin inserting units  16  and  17 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the game vending machine  1  of  FIG. 1  in the state in which the door  10  is opened. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the game vending machine  1  includes a control unit  40  for controlling the actions of the moving unit  20  and  21  and the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The control unit  40  is electrically connected to the operating lever  13  and the operating button  14  illustrated in  FIG. 1  to be functionally linked or coupled to the operating lever  13  and the operating button  14 . The control unit  40  may be electrically connected to a power supply unit (not shown). 
         [0040]    The prize discharge part  19  is formed in a box shape formed with an inside space, and a guide plate  85  for guiding a prize is coupled to the upper part of the rear side of the prize discharge part  19 . The guide plate  85  has a downwardly inclined surface to guide the prizes to be smoothly received in the prize discharge part  19 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view for describing the inside of the game vending machine illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the game vending machine  1  may include at least one prize hanger unit  30  configured to hang a prize, and a puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  configured to pull a front plate included in the prize hanger unit  30  so as to allow the prize to be dropped to a prize discharge part  19  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0043]    The puller unit includes a first assembly  23 , a second assembly  22  and a rotary body  24 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the puller unit in the state in which it is moved to the top side from the bottom side by a motor assembly  21  enclosed in the moving unit. 
         [0044]    The rotary body  24  rotates after having moved through the hole formed in the front plate of any of the prize hanger units  30 , thereby pulling the front plate. The prize hanger units  30  may be installed (fixed) on horizontal frames  95  within the main body by, for example, bolts. 
         [0045]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5   a , the rotary unit  24  has a key-shaped front face formed by a circular shape and a rectangular shape, and the hole in each of the front plates may have a shape equal to that of the front face of the rotary body, in which the hole is larger than the front face. Since the rotary body  24  is configured to have the key shape, the rotary body  24  may pass through the hole formed in the front plate and may pull the front plate. That is, the rectangular part in the key-shaped construction of the rotary body  24  is caught by the rear side of the front plate, and the rotary body  24  serves as a holder. According to another exemplary embodiment, the rotary body  24  may have a triangular front face, and the hole of each front plate may have a shape equal to that of the front face of the rotary body, in which the hole is larger than the front face. The rotary body  24  may be fabricated from a synthetic resin, such as acryl, or a metal. 
         [0046]    The first assembly  23  may include a part of the rear side of the rotary body  24 , and may be mechanically controlled to rotate, for example, by 180 degrees with reference to the initial position after having passed through the hole formed in each of the front plates. The second assembly  22  moves the first assembly  23  backward, thereby pulling the front plate. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view for describing in more detail the actions of the moving unit and the puller unit illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the moving unit includes a support block  20  and a motor assembly  21 . The moving unit may be referred to as an X-axis moving unit. The support block  20  supports the motor assembly  21 , and the motor assembly  21  may be coupled to the support block  20  by bolts. 
         [0049]    On a side of the support block  20 , a driven gear  71  is installed, and the motor assembly  21  includes a driving motor. A driving pulley (or a belt pulley)  80  is connected to the driving shaft of the driving motor. 
         [0050]    A side edge of the support block  20  is coupled to a side edge of a guide box  54  by a support frame (vertical frame)  56 . A Y-axis guide (Y-axis guide rail) may be attached to the support frame  56  by rivets. The top end of the motor assembly  21  is coupled to the bottom end of the guide box  54  by support rods  57  and  58 . Each of the support rods  57  and  58  has a circular cross-section. 
         [0051]    That is, due to the above-described connective relationship, the moving unit  20  and  21 , the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24 , and the guide box  54  arranged above the moving unit  20  and  21  are moved as a unit. 
         [0052]    The moving unit  20  and  21  and the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  are moved (slid) left and right (in the X-axis direction) along a bottom side X-axis guide (X-axis guide rail)  60  and a top side X-axis guide  59  by a chain motor  70  mounted on a fixing bracket  53 , the driven gear  71  of the support block  20  and a chain  72 . A sprocket is provided on the driving shaft of the chain motor  70 . 
         [0053]    When the moving unit  20  and  21  and the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  are moved, a groove formed on the bottom side of the support block  20  and a guide block  55  located within the guide box  54  are used, and a X-axis wiring cable (X-axis wiring cable chain)  25  may be flexibly moved when the moving unit is moved left and right. The guide block  55  has an opening in the inside thereof, and may be referred to as a bearing. The X-axis wiring cable chain  25  may include a wiring for driving the driving motor included in the motor assembly  21 . 
         [0054]    Both ends of the chain  72  are connected to a side of the support block  20  by anchor pins  73  and  74 . The bottom side X-axis guide  60  is coupled to two fixing brackets  52  and  53  which are in turn fixed to the main body  2 . The top side X-axis guide  59  is coupled to two fixing brackets  50  and  51 , which are in turn fixed to the main body  2 . The fixing brackets may be coupled to an inner plate of the main body  2  through a coupling process, such as bolting or riveting. 
         [0055]    The puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  is moved vertically (in the Y-axis direction) along the Y-axis guide  61  by the driving motor provided within the motor assembly  21 , the driven pulley installed on the bottom side of the guide box  54  and a belt  81 . 
         [0056]    When the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  is moved, a groove formed on the Y-axis guide  61  and a slide unit included in the puller unit may be used, and a Y-axis wiring cable (Y-axis wiring cable chain)  26  may be flexibly moved. The puller unit may be referred to as a Y-axis moving unit. The Y-axis wiring cable  26  may include a wiring for driving a driving motor included in the second assembly  22  of the puller unit or driving a driving motor included in the first assembly  23 . Like the both ends of the chain  72  being connected on the side of the support block  20  by the anchor pins  73  and  74 , both ends of the belt  81  are connected to a side of the second assembly  22  by a connecting method similar to that of the chain  72  although not illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0057]    Since the rotary body  24  and the first assembly  23  included in the puller unit are moved back and forth (in the Z-axis direction) as described above, the puller unit may perform the function of a Z-axis moving unit. 
         [0058]    In summary, the moving unit is installed within the main body, and when the chain motor  70 , which is the first driving motor, is driven, the moving unit is moved left and right by the chain  72  linked to the chain motor  70 . In addition, when a driving motor, which is included in the motor assembly  21  as the second driving motor, is driven, the moving unit is moved vertically by the belt  81  linked to the second driving motor. 
         [0059]    The puller unit is located above the moving unit, and when a driving motor which is included in the second assembly  22  as the third driving motor, is driven, the puller unit may be moved back and forth by gears linked to the third driving motor. The puller unit passes through the hole formed in the front plate installed on the at least one hole fixed within the main body and hanging a prize, and then rotates to pull the front plate, thereby dropping the prize. 
         [0060]    In the exemplary embodiments described above, although it has been described that the leftward and rightward movement of the moving unit is conducted by the chain, the vertical movement of the puller unit is conducted by the belt, and the back and forth movement of the puller unit is conducted by the gears, in another exemplary embodiment, the leftward and rightward movement of the moving unit, the vertical movement of the puller unit and the back and forth movement of the puller unit may be conducted by any of chain, belt and wire or by a combination thereof. A motor corresponding to the chain, belt or wire may be included in the other exemplary embodiment. 
         [0061]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view for describing the puller unit illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5   b  is a side elevational view for describing the puller unit in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , the puller unit includes a first assembly  23 , a second assembly  22  and a rotary body  24 . 
         [0063]    The first assembly  23  including a part of the rear side of the rotary body  24  may be moved back and forth (in the Z-axis direction) by the driving motor included in the second assembly  22 . The part of the rear side of the rotary body  24  may have a circular cross-section. As the first assembly  23  is moved backward, the front plate of a prize hanger unit may be pulled. A pinion gear  240  included in the second assembly  22  is coupled to the driving shaft of the driving motor, and a rack gear  230  is formed on the bottom of the first assembly  23 . The pinion gear  240  tooth-meshes with the rack gear  230  such that the first assembly  23  including the rotary body  24  is moved back and forth. 
         [0064]    When the first assembly  23  is moved, four guide rollers  210  formed on the top of the second assembly  22  are slid along two slide grooves  220  formed on a side of the first assembly  23 . 
         [0065]    A slide unit  215  is slid along a slide groove formed on the Y-axis guide  61  when the puller unit is moved vertically (in the Y-axis direction) and attached to the side of the second assembly  22 . 
         [0066]    The first assembly  23  may include a motor for rotating the rotary body  24 , for example, by 180 degrees with reference to its initial position. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the rotary body  24  may be rotated only by an angle that can pull the front plate of the prize hanger unit. For example, the rotating angle of the rotary body may be 90 degrees. The rotating action of the rotary body  24  may be clockwise or counterclockwise. 
         [0067]      FIG. 6   a  is a side elevational view of a prize hanger unit  30  when the front plate of the prize hanger unit does not move,  FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view of the prize hanger  30  when the front plate of the prize hanger has moved, and  6   c  is a side elevational view of the prize hanger  30  when the front plate of the prize hanger has moved. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIGS. 6   a  to  6   c , the prize hanger unit  30  includes a front plate  31  and a case  35 . The prize hanger unit  30  may be referred to as a prize hanger assembly. 
         [0069]    A slide unit  32  may be coupled to an upper part of the rear side of the front plate  31 . The case  35  has an inside space which allows the slide unit  32  to be slid. A support unit  33  is arranged between the bottom of the case  35  and a keyhole shaped hole formed in the front plate  31 , in which the support unit  33  may extend through holes of support brackets  37  and  38  which are attached to the bottom of the case  35 , thereby allowing a prize  90  to be hung on the support unit  33 . According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a single support bracket may be provided. The support units  33  are joined by an anchor pin  34  to the front plate  31  to be movable vertically. The prize  90  may be, for example, a doll or accessory having a hanging cord. 
         [0070]    One end of a spring  36  enclosed in the upper part of the case  35  is fixed to the case  35  by a fixing part  36   b , and the other end of the spring  36  is connected to the upper part of rear side of the slider unit  32  through a wire  36   a . When the front plate  31  does not move, the spring  36  is maintained in the original compressed state. 
         [0071]    When the front plate  31  is pulled and hence the puller unit is moved, the support unit  33  escapes from the holes of the support brackets  37  and  38  as illustrated in  FIG. 6   c , thereby allowing the prize  90  to be dropped to the prize discharge part  19  (see  FIG. 2 ). When the puller unit does not further pull the front plate  31  after the prize  90  has been dropped, the spring  36  pulls the slide unit  32  to return the prize hanger unit  30  to its original position as illustrated in  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0072]    The operation of the inventive game vending machine will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6   c.    
         [0073]    A user (purchaser) inserts a coin of a predetermined amount of money into any of the coin insertion units  16  and  17  provided on the door  10  of the main body  2 , and then selects one prize hanger unit, on which a prize desired by the user is hung, among a plurality of prize hanger units  30  provided in the main body  2 . 
         [0074]    In order to move the puller unit  22 ,  23  and  24  located above the moving unit  20  and  21  to the selected prize hanger unit, the user operates the operating lever  13  provided on the door  10  to move the puller unit to an X-axis position corresponding to the selected prize hanger unit. The puller unit is moved in the X-axis direction along the X-axis guides  59  and  60  by the first driving motor  70  and the chain  72 . 
         [0075]    Thereafter, the user pushes the operating button  14  provided on the door  10  to move the puller unit to a Y-axis position corresponding to the selected prize hanger unit. When the puller unit arrives at the Y-axis position, the user may stop pushing the operating button  14 . The puller unit is moved in the Y-axis direction along the Y-axis guide  61  by the second driving motor and the belt  81  included in the motor assembly  21 . 
         [0076]    When the user stops pushing the operating button  14 , the puller unit is automatically moved forward (in the Z-axis direction) toward the selected prize hanger unit. The puller unit is moved in the Z-axis direction by the driving motor included in the second assembly  22 , the pinion gear  240  included in the second assembly  22 , and the rack gear  230  formed in the first assembly  23 . When the rotary body  24  of the puller unit  24  passes through the key-hole shaped hole formed in the front plate of the selected prize hanger unit, the rotary body of the puller unit automatically rotates by 180 degrees with reference to its initial position and pushes the front plate of the selected prize hanger unit, thereby allowing the prize to be dropped to the prize discharge part  19 . The rotary body  24  of the puller unit is rotated by the motor included in the first assembly  23 . Then, the user can take out the prize through the prize outlet  18 . 
         [0077]    When the rotary body  24  of the puller unit cannot pass through the keyhole shaped hole formed in the front plate of the selected prize hanger unit or the prize is dropped by the rotary body  24 , the puller unit retains a standby condition by being moved (returned) to its initial position which is the leftmost and bottom side direction as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The situation in which the rotary body  24  cannot pass through the hole of the front plate is caused by a difference between a moving value of the puller unit and a positional value of the hole of the front plate, and when the rotary body  24  cannot pass through the hole of the front plate, the rotary body  24  runs into the front plate. 
         [0078]    The operating lever  13 , the operating button  14 , the coin insertion units  16  and  17 , the speaker  15 , the advertising board  3 , etc. are electrically connected to the control unit  40  and the power supply unit (not shown), and the control unit  40  controls the actions of the puller unit, the moving unit, the speaker, the advertizing board, and the other components included in the inventive game vending machine in the entirety. 
         [0079]    The invention has been described in connection with various aspects in the specification and drawings. Although specific terms are used therein, they are merely used for the purpose of describing the present invention rather than limiting a technical meaning or the scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, it will be appreciated by a person having an ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and equivalent embodiments can be made from the present invention. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention to be protected shall be determined by the technical idea defined in the claims.