Grabbing device and method for controlling the gripping force

Abstract

A device for picking up one or more objects, e.g., particular one or more prizes to be won, and subsequently moving the same to a dispensing position includes: a pick-up device, such as a grabber or a vacuum head; and a positioning device to be controlled by a user for positioning the pick-up device over one or more objects. A weight determination device is provided for determining the weight of the pick-up device, in which one or more picked up objects may be present in case of a successful pick-up attempt, or of a variable related to the weight.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game machine provided with a device according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate a device according to an example embodiment of the present invention in positions with and without, respectively, an object in a grabber.

FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically illustrate a device according to an example embodiment of the present invention in positions with and without, respectively, an object in a grabber.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an arrangement of a control unit and devices connected thereto.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an initialization method according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for controlling a gripping force according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a device according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view, analogous to the view of FIG. 7, but wherein part of the grabber unit is removed from the cabinet.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of a device according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for picking up at least one object and subsequently moving the at least one object to a dispensing position, comprising: a pick-up device;a positioning device controllable by a user to position the pick-up device over at least one object;a weight determination device configured to determine at least one of (a) a weight of the pick-up device, in which at least one picked-up item is present for a successful pick-up attempt, and (b) a variable related to the weight; anda control device configured to control a pick-up force as a function of the weight determined by the weight determination device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the object includes at least one prize to be won.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pick-up device includes at least one of (a) a grabber and (b) a vacuum head.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the weight determination device includes a weighing cell.

5. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a vertical movement device suspended from the weighing cell with the pick-up device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the weight determination device includes a pressure sensor.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a vertical movement device, the pick-up device suspended from the vertical movement device, the vertical movement device movably mounted, the vertical movement device exerting a pressure force on the pressure sensor by its own weight and by weight of the pick-up device, in which at least one object may be present.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the vertical movement device is pivotally connected to a carriage movable in a horizontal plane by the positioning device, the carriage including an abutment surface, the pressure sensor attached to the abutment surface.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein a repeat control function is configured to provide a further pick-up attempt if the weight determined on a first pick-up attempt indicates that no object was picked up.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: an audiovisual animation device; anda control unit configured to control the audiovisual animation device in accordance with the weight determined by the weight determination device.

11. A device for picking up at least one object of at least one type and subsequently moving the at least one object to a dispensing position, comprising: a pick-up device;a positioning device controllable by a user to position the pick-up device over at least one object;a weight determination device configured to determine at least one of (a) a weight of the pick-up device, in which at least one picked-up item is present for a successful pick-up attempt, and (b) a variable related to the weight; anda control unit configured to derive a type of object on in accordance with the weight determined by the at least one of (a) the weight and (b) the variable related to the weight.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the object includes at least one prize to be won.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the pick-up device includes at least one of (a) a grabber and (b) a vacuum head.

14. A device for picking up at least one object and subsequently moving the at least one object to a dispensing position, comprising: a pick-up device;a positioning device controllable by a user to position the pick-up device over at least one object;a weight determination device configured to determine at least one of (a) a weight of the pick-up device, in which at least one picked-up item is present for a successful pick-up attempt, and (b) a variable related to the weight;a vertical movement device configured to move the pick-up device up and down; anda control unit configured to control the vertical movement device in accordance with the weight determined by the weight determination device.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the object includes at least one prize to be won.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the pick-up device includes at least one of (a) a grabber and (b) a vacuum head.

17. A method for setting up a device during an initialization procedure of a device for picking up at least one object of at least one type and subsequently moving the at least one object to a dispensing position, which the device including a pick-up device and a positioning device controllable by a user to position the pick-up device over at least one object, comprising: (a) determining at least one of (a) a weight of all types of objects to be picked up and (b) a variable related to the weight by a weight determination device; and(b) storing the at least one of (a) the weight of all types of objects to be picked up and (b) the variable related to the weight determined in the determining step (a).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the object includes at least one prize to be won.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: (c) determining a required pick-up force for every type of object; and(d) storing the required pick-up force determined in the determining step (c).

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the required pick-up force is determined in the determining step (c) at least one of (a) automatically and (b) non-automatically.

21. A method for determining statistical data of a device for picking up at least one object of at least one type and subsequently moving the object to a dispensing position, the device including a pick-up device and a positioning device controllable by a user to position the pick-up device over at least one object, comprising: for each pick-up attempt, determining a weight of a picked up object; andstoring the weight determined in the determining step.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the object includes at least one prize to be one.

23. A method for controlling a device for picking up at least one object of at least one type and subsequently moving the object to a dispensing position, comprising: determining at least one of (a) a weight of the pick-up device, in which at least one object is present for a successful pick-up attempt, and (b) a variable related to the weight;deriving, from the determined weight, whether an object was picked up; andderiving, from the determined weight, which type of object was picked up.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the object includes at least one prize to be won.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising adjusting a pick-up force in accordance with the determined weight to at least one of (a) increase and (b) decrease a winning chance.

26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising: deriving, in accordance with the determined weight, if a picked-up object is falling from the pick-up device; andadjusting the pick-up force if it is derived that the picked-up object is falling.