BALL LAUNCHER AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE USING IT

Abstract

Disclosed is a ball launcher and an amusement machine using the ball launcher. The ball launcher includes: a controller that produces compressed air when the controller is hit; a cylinder that is disposed under the ball seat member and has a piston that is moved up/down by compressed air; a duct member that is connected to the lower portion of the ball seat member to send the compressed air produced by the controller to the cylinder; a rotary disc assembly that is disposed over the ball seat member, has two or more through-holes in which balls are seated, and is rotated by a motor to sequentially seat balls on the ball seat member; and a ball sensor that selectively operates the motor by determining whether there is a ball on the ball seat member. The ball launcher launches balls by controlling an external controller and easily collects the balls, so the ball launching function can be quickly controlled. Further, a user can control the ball launch direction and launch intensity in accordance with the operation amount of the controller, so the ball launcher can be more effectively used.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ball launcher and, more particularly to a ball launcher that launches balls depending on the power of hitting, launches hit balls toward a target, and collects balls, and an amusement machine using the ball launcher.

Description of the Related Art

There are various ball game machines having several ball holes and giving scores when a ball is put in the ball holes such as a putt ball game machine and a pocket ball game machine.

However, such ball game machines are designed to avoid obstacles in a plane or throw balls along selected courses, so they require the ability of reading courses to throw balls in or delicate handling.

Meanwhile, there are game machines that give scores when a thrown ball hits a target or is put into a target such as a basketball game machine or a shooting game machine.

These types of game machines using thrown balls require remarkable sensation of movement and training, so unskilled people have difficulty in sufficiently enjoying the games.

Accordingly, it has been required to provide games that users can enjoy with balls in various ways, and it has been also required to develop a ball launcher that anybody can enjoy through simple handling and a game machine using the ball launcher.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2013-0079062 (Jul. 10, 2013)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a ball launcher that is controlled to launch balls and collects and launches again the launched balls, and an amusement machine using the ball launcher.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball launcher that launches balls by hitting a punch ball and depending on its intensity, and an amusement machine using the ball launcher.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball launcher in which a controller and an air duct can be easily separated, and an amusement machine using the ball launcher.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball launcher in which balls can be stably maintained on a ball seat member by a rotary disc assembly and are not separated from the seat by a guide bracket, and an amusement machine using the ball launcher.

In order to achieve the objects of the present invention, a ball launcher includes: a controller that produces compressed air when the controller is hit; a cylinder that is disposed under the ball seat member and has a piston that is moved up/down by compressed air; a duct member that is connected to the lower portion of the ball seat member to send the compressed air produced by the controller to the cylinder; a rotary disc assembly that is disposed over the ball seat member, has two or more through-holes in which balls are seated, and is rotated by a motor to sequentially seat balls on the ball seat member; and a ball sensor that selectively operates the motor by determining whether there is a ball on the ball seat member.

The controller includes: a base bracket that has a compressed air outlet and an air inlet; a diaphragm that opens/closes the air inlet by moving up/down over the air inlet; and a semispherical punching ball that is attached and fixed to the edge of the top of the base bracket.

The duct member is formed in a pipe shape to send the compressed air produced by the controller to the cylinder, in which one end is in close contact with the compressed air outlet of the controller and the cylinder is inserted and fixed in the other end.

The ball seat member includes: a circular seat hole having a diameter smaller than those of the through-holes of the rotary disc assembly so that balls can be seated therein; and a guide hole formed at a side of the seat hole so that a ball that is rotated by hitting is guided deeper in the seat hole, and the guide hole and the seat hole are formed in a water drop shape.

The ball launcher further includes a guide bracket disposed between the ball seat member and the rotary disc assembly to prevent balls that are supplied by the rotary disc assembly from coming out of the seat hole.

The cylinder includes: a guide pipe that configures rod covers at upper and lower portions and in which a piston moving up/down is inserted; rod holes that are formed at the centers of the rod covers at the upper and lower portions; and an upper rod and a lower rod of the piston that are respectively inserted in the rod holes to move up/down.

The rotary disc assembly includes: a motor of which the lower end is fixed in the main body; a plate that is rotated by rotation of the motor; and two or more through-holes circumferentially arranged at a side of the plate.

In order to achieve the objects of the present invention, an amusement machine using a ball launcher includes: a main body that has a target; a floor that has a ball seat member on which a ball is seated, that is disposed in a space spaced apart forward away from the target, and that has a slope to collect balls to the ball seat member; and a ball launcher that includes a punching ball disposed ahead of the floor and a piston hitting a ball on the ball seat member such that the ball is launched toward the target when the punching ball is hit, in which balls launched from the ball launcher are seated on the ball seat member of the floor, and the ball launcher includes: a controller that produces compressed air when the controller is hit; a cylinder that is disposed under the ball seat member and has a piston that is moved up/down by compressed air; a duct member that is connected to the lower portion of the ball seat member to send the compressed air produced by the controller to the cylinder; a rotary disc assembly that is disposed over the ball seat member, has two or more through-holes in which balls are seated, and is rotated by a motor to sequentially seat balls on the ball seat member; and a ball sensor that selectively operates the motor by determining whether there is a ball on the ball seat member.

The amusement machine further includes a guide line disposed over the rotary disc assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an amusement machine using a ball launcher according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a rear side coupling portion of a controller and a duct of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of the coupling relationship of a rotary disc assembly and a duct of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 to 9 are views illustrating the operation of a punching ball of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a duct according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the duct;

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the configuration of a piston of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view showing exemplary installation of a guide line;

FIG. 14 is a detailed view of the configuration of the rotary disc assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the configuration of the rotary disc assembly of the present invention; and

FIGS. 16 to 18 are views showing an example of a base bracket of the rotary disc assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to typical meanings or dictionary definitions, but should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts relevant to the technical scope of the present invention based on the rule according to which an inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to describe most appropriately the best method he or she knows for carrying out the invention.

Throughout the present specification, unless explicitly described otherwise, “comprising” any components will be understood to imply the inclusion of other components rather than the exclusion of any other components. Further, the terms “˜ part”, “˜ unit”, “module”, “apparatus”, and the like mean a unit for processing at least one function or operation and may be implemented by a combination of hardware and/or software.

It should be understood throughout the specification that the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, the meaning of “a first item, a second item and/or a third item” means any and all combinations that can be presented from two or more items of the first and second and third items.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an amusement machine using a ball launcher according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a ball launcher 200 according to the present invention is an apparatus designed to launch balls to a target. The target may be a hall through which balls are passed. Further, as shown in the figure, the target may be used for apparatuses that are controlled to launch balls toward a target, such as the basket of basketball, a target that is dropped when it is hit such as a free gift, and a target that bursts when it is hit such as a balloon.

Referring to the figure, an amusement machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 600 having a target 610 and a ball launcher 10 that launches balls to the target 610.

The amusement machine further includes a floor 500 having a slope such that balls launched to the target 610 are dropped and returned to a ball seat member 450 and are then supplied back to the ball launcher 10.

That is, the ball launcher 10 has the ball seat member 450 where balls are collected in a space that is spaced part forward from the target 610 and the balls on the ball seat member 450 can be hit to be launched to the target 610 by means of a controller 200 disposed ahead of the floor 500.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 each showing in detail a rear side coupling portion of a controller and a duct of the present invention and showing the coupling relationship of a rotary disc assembly and the duct of the present invention, the ball launcher 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a punching ball 220 that produces compressed air when it is hit. The compressed air produced by the punching ball 220 is sent to a cylinder 30 and a piston 33 of the cylinder 30 hits the balls.

To this end, the cylinder 30 includes the piston 33 disposed under the ball seat member 450 and being able to be moved up/down by the compressed air, and a duct member 300 is connected to the rear side of the controller 200 and the lower portion of the ball seat member 450 to send the compressed air by the punching ball 220 to the cylinder 30.

First, the controller 200 is configured such that a user can control balls to be launched.

In the present invention, the controller 200 includes the punching ball 220 having elasticity, the punching ball 220 produces compressed air when it is hit, and the compressed air flows into the cylinder 30 and hits the piston 33, whereby an upper piston rod 33b hits and launches a ball.

Further, the controller 200 may have various buttons for using the ball launcher.

The configuration of the controller 200 is described in detail with FIGS. 4 to 9 illustrating the operation of the punching ball of the present invention.

Referring to the figures, the controller 200 includes a base bracket 210 having a compressed air outlet 250 and an air inlet 260 on a side, a diaphragm 230 opening/closing the air inlet 260 by moving up/down over the air inlet 260, and the punching ball 220 having a semispherical shape and attached and fixed to the top of the edge of the base bracket 210.

Referring to FIG. 5, a hollow sub-bracket 242 is coupled around the air inlet 260 by fasteners 240 on the top of the base plate 210 having the air inlet 260.

The fasteners 240 are formed in a bolt shape with a thread on one end portion and fasten the rear side of the sub-bracket 242 around the air inlet 260. A thread is not formed at the heads of the fasteners and the diaphragm 230 is disposed between the top of the sub-bracket 242 and the heads to move up/down.

That is, the fasteners 240 may be step bolts having a book shape (a fabric cap bolt or a head bolt).

Referring to FIG. 4 again, the fasteners 240 are partially thread-fastened to the base plate 440 with the diaphragm 230 between the top of the base plate 440 and the heads of the fasteners 240.

The diaphragm 230 cover the top of the base plate 440 due to its own weight in a normal state, but when the punching ball 220 is hit, the punching ball 220 is pressed down and compressed air presses the top of the diaphragm 230, whereby the diaphragm 230 covers the air inlet 260. Accordingly, air cannot flow outside, so compressed air is discharged to the compressed air outlet 250.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the punching ball 220 is pressed down, the air remaining in the punching ball 220 is compressed and the compressed air presses the top of the diaphragm 230 in the direction of arrows. Accordingly, the air inlet 260 is more strongly closed and the compressed air is discharged to the compressed air outlet 250.

Thereafter, when the pressed punching ball 220 is restored, the diaphragm 230 over the air inlet 260 opens the air inlet 260 by the restoring force of the punching ball 220 and air flows into the punching ball 220, whereby the punching ball is easily restored.

Referring to FIG. 7, the diaphragm 230 moves up in the space x between the top of the sub-bracket 242 and the heads of the fasteners, so the closed air inlet 260 is opened and air flows into the air inlet.

In order to make sure of this operation, the outer side of the punching ball 220 should be coupled in close contact with the sub-bracket 242 to prevent leakage of air, so a flange 222 that is bonded by an adhesive or coupled by fasteners is formed.

The punching ball 220 should be easily crushed by external pressing or hitting such that the volume of air therein is reduced.

To this end, the punching ball 220 is made of an elastic material in a semispherical shape and has one or more patterns 223 each having a band shape and restoring ability and extending from the edge, that is, the inner side P1 of the flange at a side to the edge P3 at the other side through the apex P2.

Referring to FIG. 8, the punching ball 220 is made of elastic rubber 221 having a predetermined thickness in a semispherical shape, and the thickness should be increased as it goes to the edge from the apex P2 so that the punching ball can be easily deformed by a hit and immediately restored.

Referring to FIG. 9, three arc-shaped band patterns 223 are disposed laterally inside the semispherical punching ball to maintain the restoring ability of the punching ball 220.

Further, the portion around the apex of the punching ball 220 is made of elastic rubber having a predetermined thickness such that the thickness increases as it goes to the edge from the apex, which is advantageous in terms of restoring ability.

Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the thickness is increased as it goes downward up to a predetermined height y1 from the edge of the punching ball 220.

This configuration enables the top of the punching ball to be quickly restored even though the punching ball 220 is pressed and the portion around the apex P2 is crushed and compressed.

Referring to FIG. 6, air is suctioned through the air inlet 260, whereby the pressed apex P2 can be quickly restored, as shown in FIG. 7.

Meanwhile, the punching ball 220 and the cylinder 30 are combined to a duct member 300 in the present invention so that compressed air that is discharged when the punching ball 220 is pressed presses the cylinder 30 with a minimum loss and hits a ball.

To this end, the duct member 300 has a pipe-shaped duct 310 for sending compressed air from the controller 200 to the cylinder. An end of the duct 310 is in close contact with the compressed air outlet 250 of the controller 200 and the cylinder 300 is hermetically fixed to the other end.

The duct member 300 of the present invention can be easily separated from the controller 200, so it is possible to separate the controller 200 from the duct member 300 and repair the controller or to check the inside.

To this end, an end of the of the duct 310 is in close contact with or separated from the compressed air outlet 250 of the controller 200 and the joint is pressed by a sealing member 320 preventing leakage of compressed air.

Referring to FIG. 2, the duct can be folded to be coupled or separated by the sealing member 320 forcibly coupled to the rear side of the compressed air outlet 250.

Accordingly, it is preferable to completely hermetically fix the sealing member 320 to an end of the duct 310 to maximize the sealing effect and to hermetically couple the other side to the rear side of the compressed air outlet 250 when the controller 200 is folded.

Further, a sealing member 212 made of rubber is also attached to the rear side of the compressed air outlet 250, so they are sealed by being forcibly coupled to each other when they are combined.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the controller 200 is rotated, the sealing member 320 which side is coupled to an end of the duct 310 and the sealing member 212 coupled to the rear side of the compressed air outlet 250 are separated and forcibly coupled.

An air outlet 370 for discharging air in the duct 310 to a sensor 430 may be further provided.

The air outlet 370 is provided to be able to remove dust or foreign substance on the sensor 430 by guiding and discharging some of the compressed air in the duct 310 to the sensor 430 every time a user hits the punching ball 220.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 which are respectively a perspective view of the duct according to an embodiment of the present invention and an exploded perspective view of the duct, it can be seen that the air outlet 370 is disposed at an end of the duct 310.

A ball seat hole 340 in which the bottom of a ball on the ball seat member 450 is inserted is further formed at the other end of the duct 310 and the cylinder 30 to be described below is disposed under the ball seat hole 340 such that piston 33 hits the ball in the ball seat hole 340.

Referring to the figures, a pair of semicircular ball seat holes 340 spaced apart from each other is formed at the other end of the duct 310 and the piston rod 33 of the cylinder is inserted between the ball seat holes 340.

This configuration enables the piston to hit the center of a ball in the ball seat hole 340.

That is, the piston rod 33 can accurately hit a ball only when the ball is placed in the ball seat hole 340, so the ball seat member 450 that accurately guides balls into the ball seat hole 340 is further provided.

The configuration of the ball seat member 450 will be described in detail below.

The cylinder 30 is described in detail hereafter.

The cylinder 30 is operated such that the compressed air discharged from the duct member 300 lifts the piston 33 in the cylinder and the upper piston rod 33b accurately hits a ball in the ball seat hole 340.

The piston 33 in the cylinder 30 should be lifted a predetermined height by the compressed air discharged to the cylinder and should hit the center of a ball as accurately as possible, so if the central axis is shaken when it is moved up/down, it cannot accurately hit the ball.

In order to prevent this problem, according to the present invention, the cylinder 30 includes a guide pipe 32 in which the piston 33 moves up/down inside an upper rod cover 35 and a lower rod cover 330, rod holes 35a formed at the centers of the upper and lower rod covers, and an upper piston rod 33b and a lower piston rod 33a inserted in the rod holes 35a to be moved up/down.

According to the present invention, although the lower rod cover 330 is disposed at an end of the duct 310, it may be disposed under the cylinder 30.

Reference numerals ‘31’ and ‘34’ not stated above indicate sealing members for preventing loss of compressed air when the upper rod cover 35 and the lower rod cover 330 are coupled to the top and bottom of the guide pipe 32.

Referring to FIG. 12 showing in detail the configuration of the piston of the present invention, the upper piston rod 33b and the lower piston rod 33a are combined over and under a circular compressive plate 33e.

The compressive plate 33e is fitted at the middle portion of an integrated piston rod and fixed by upper and lower fixing pins 33c and 33d.

The outer edge of the compressive plate 33e is in close contact with the inner side of the cylinder, that is, the inner side of the guide pipe 32 such that compressed air does not leak through a gap, and the compressive plate 33e is quickly lifted by compressed air flowing into the cylinder.

The piston rods are moved up/down through the rod holes formed at the centers of the upper and lower rod covers to hold a center such that up-down movement can be quickly generated in the guide pipe 32.

A spring (not shown) may be fitted on the upper piston rod 33b such that the upper piston rod can be quickly returned to the initial position after hitting a ball.

That is, when the compressive plate 33e is lifted by compressed air and the upper piston rod 33b hits a ball, the restoring force of the compressed spring pushes the compressive plate 33e, so the piston rod can be more quickly returned to the initial position.

The rotary disc assembly 400 supplies balls to the ball seat member 450 by rotating.

Referring to the exploded perspective view of FIG. 15 showing the rotary disc assembly and an exemplary view of FIG. 16 showing the base bracket of the rotary disc assembly, the ball launcher 10 of the present invention further includes: a rotary disc assembly 400 disposed over the ball seat member 450, having two or more through-holes 412 on which a ball is placed, and rotated by a motor 460 such that balls are sequentially placed on the ball seat member 450; and a ball sensor 430 selectively operating the motor 460 by determining whether a ball is on the ball seat member 450.

The rotary disc assembly 400 has two or more through-holes 412 in which balls are placed in a plate 410 rotated by the motor 460 and supplies balls to the ball seat member 450 by rotating.

Referring to the view showing in detail the rotary disc assembly of the present invention of FIG. 14 and the exploded perspective view showing the rotary disc assembly of the present invention of FIG. 15, the rotary disc assembly 400 includes the motor 460 having a lower end fixed in the main body 600, the plate 410 rotated by rotation of the motor 460, and two or more through-holes 412 circumferentially arranged at a side of the plate 410 around the motor 460.

Five through-holes 412 are shown in the figures and balls that are supplied are seated in the through-holes 412.

Accordingly, the rotary disc assembly 400 should be configured such that balls are delivered accurately to the ball seat member 450 by the through-holes 412, so the accurate angle of the plate 410 and whether there is a ball on the ball seat member 450 are sensed by the sensor 430 such that the rotary disc assembly 400 controls the plate.

For example, whether through-holes 412 are accurately moved to the ball seat member 450 is determined by sensing five protrusions 414 (because there are five through-holes) formed on the outer side of the plate to determine whether a ball is supplied to the ball seat member 450 by rotating the plate 410, and if a protrusion is not sensed, the plate is rotated again to accurately correct the position of the through-holes 412.

Whether a ball is seated on the ball seat member 450 is sensed by sensing whether there is a ball, and when a ball is not sensed, the plate is rotated again such that a ball is supplied.

In the present invention, a ball is stably supplied to a launching position by determining whether through-holes 412 are accurately positioned over the ball seat member 450 using the protrusions of the plate and then sensing whether a ball is on the ball seat member 450 even if the through-holes are accurately positioned.

The ball seat member 450 supports a ball in the through-holes 412 of the plate 410 such that the balls are quickly sent to the launching position.

That is, the ball seat member 450 includes a circular seat hole 451 having a diameter smaller than those of the through-holes 412 of the rotary disc assembly 410 so that balls can be seated therein, and the seat hole 451 is formed in a water drop shape by boring a side of the seat hole 451 so that a ball that is turned is guided deeper in the seat hole 451.

Referring to FIGS. 15, 16, and 18 showing an example of the base bracket of the rotary disc assembly of the present invention, it can be seen that the seat hole 451 is formed in a water drop shape.

Further, it can be seen that the rotary disc assembly 410 is disposed over the base plate 440 and the motor 460 for controlling the rotary disc assembly 410 is disposed under the base plate 440.

That is, the motor 460 is inserted in a motor hole 442 at a side of the base plate 440 and coupled to the base plate 440.

Reference numeral ‘432’ not stated above indicates a sub-bracket for fixing the sensor 430.

Further, the ball seat member 450 includes a guide bracket 452 disposed between the base bracket 440 and the rotary disc assembly 410 to prevent balls supplied by the rotary disc assembly to coming out of the seat hole 451.

The guide bracket 452 guides the supplied balls that are supplied such that the balls are accurately seated in the seat hole 451, and prevents the balls that are rotated and supplied from coming out of the seat hole 451

Referring to the figures, the guide bracket 452 is fitted in boss holes 444 formed on the base plate 440 by bosses 453, between the base bracket 210 and the rotary disc assembly 410.

That is, the guide bracket is spaced apart from the base bracket 210 by the thickness of the bosses, in the middle between the base bracket 210 and the rotary disc assembly 410.

The guide bracket 452 is formed substantially in an S-shape and fixed at both ends and at the center to the three boss holes 444 formed on the base plate 440, thereby preventing balls that are supplied by the rotary disc assembly 410 from coming out of the seat hole 451.

Referring to the figures, when a ball seated in a through-hole 412 of the rotary disc assembly 410 that is rotated counterclockwise is rotated and put into the seat hole 451, the ball is naturally guided and rotated to the seat hole 451 along the S-shaped end portion of the guide bracket 452, thereby preventing the ball that is rotated and supplied from coming out of the seat hole.

Further, since the seat hole 451 is formed in a water drop shape, the width is gradually increased in the rotating direction of a ball. Accordingly, a ball that is rotated and supplied is guided to the apex of the water drop shape of the seat hole 451 and seated deeper by moving in the seat hole 451 of which the width is gradually increased, whereby the rotating ball is more quickly and safely seated in the seat hole 451.

That is, since a ball that is supplied is supplied toward the wider portion of the seat hole 451 having a water drop shape, the ball can be more quickly seated.

Meanwhile, a guide line 510 may be diagonally disposed over the rotary disc assembly 400 to stably supply balls to the through-holes 412 of the rotary disc assembly 400.

Referring to FIG. 13 showing an example of installing a guide line, the guide line 510 is installed across the ball seat member 450 and the floor 500 so that balls that are supplied to the ball seat member 450 by the through-holes 412 of the rotary disc assembly 410 are not interfered with by balls that are directly supplied from the floor 500.

The operation of the ball launcher having this configuration is as follows.

First, when a user hits the punching ball 220 of the controller 200, compressed air that is produced when the punching ball is crushed in different shapes in accordance with the intensity of a hit is supplied to the cylinder 30 through the duct member 300.

The cylinder lifts the piston rod 33 by the compressed air and a ball in the seat hole 451 is hit, so the ball is launched toward the target 610 and the rotary disc assembly 400 is controlled to seat a ball in the seat hole 451.

Balls launched toward the target are collected to the rotary disc assembly 400 along the floor 500 that is sloped, and the collected balls are supplied to be launched again.

The ball launcher having this configuration is an apparatus that launches balls toward a target and can be used in various fields. For example, the target may be a hall through which balls are passed. Further, the target may be used for apparatuses that are controlled by a controller to launch balls toward a target, such as the basket of basketball, a target that is dropped when it is hit such as a free gift, and a target that bursts when it is hit such as a balloon.

Referring to FIG. 1, as described above, an amusement machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 600 having a target 610 and a ball launcher 10 that launches balls to the target 610.

A basket of basketball is exemplified as the target 610 in the figure.

That is, the ball launcher 10 launches balls toward the basket and the balls passing through the backboard or the target drop to the floor 500, moves on the slope of the floor 500, are supplied to the ball seat member 450, and are then launched again.

The material of the balls or the floor 500 should be determined such that the balls do not bounce up when they drop to the floor 500. In particular, it is preferable that the floor 500 is made of a shock-absorbing material that absorbs shock by dropping balls.

Therefore, according to the ball launcher and the amusement machine using the ball launcher of the present invention, it is possible to launch balls by controlling an external controller and easily collect the balls, so the ball launching function can be quickly controlled. Further, a user can control the ball launch direction and launch intensity in accordance with the operation amount of the controller, so the ball launcher can be more effectively used.

Further, according to the ball launcher and the amusement machine using the ball launcher of the present invention, since it is possible to hit the punching ball with various intensities, a user can use the ball launch in accordance with his/her intention.

Further, according to the ball launcher and the amusement machine using the ball launcher of the present invention, since the controller and the air duct can be easily combined and separated, even if the controller that is frequently hit is broken, it can be easily repaired.

Further, according to the ball launcher and the amusement machine using the ball launcher of the present invention, since the rotary disc assembly and the guide bracket are used, balls are prevented from coming out of the ball seat member, so balls can be quickly and stably supplied, and accordingly, a user can continuously launch balls without waiting.

Although the present invention was described with reference to the detailed embodiments, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be changed and modified in various ways without the scope of the present invention and it should be noted that the changes and modifications are included in claims.

Claims

1. A ball launcher having a ball seat member on which balls are seated on a main body and launching a ball seated on the ball seat member, the ball launcher comprising:

a controller that produces compressed air when the controller is hit;

a cylinder that is disposed under the ball seat member and has a piston that is moved up/down by compressed air;

a duct member that is connected to the lower portion of the ball seat member to send the compressed air produced by the controller to the cylinder;

a rotary disc assembly that is disposed over the ball seat member, has two or more through-holes in which balls are seated, and is rotated by a motor to sequentially seat balls on the ball seat member; and

a ball sensor that selectively operates the motor by determining whether there is a ball on the ball seat member.

2. The ball launcher of claim 1, wherein the controller includes:

a base bracket that has a compressed air outlet and an air inlet;

a diaphragm that opens/closes the air inlet by moving up/down over the air inlet; and

a semispherical punching ball that is attached and fixed to the edge of the top of the base bracket.

3. The ball launcher of claim 2, wherein the punching ball has one or more patterns each having a band shape and restoring ability and extending from an edge at a side to an edge at the other side through an apex.

4. The ball launcher of claim 2, wherein the punching ball is made of elastic rubber having a predetermined thickness and the thickness is increased as it goes to the edge from the apex.

5. The ball launcher of claim 1, wherein the duct member is formed in a pipe shape to send the compressed air produced by the controller to the cylinder, in which one end is in close contact with the compressed air outlet of the controller and the cylinder is inserted and fixed in the other end.

6. The ball launcher of claim 5, wherein an end of the duct is in close contact with or separated from the compressed air outlet of the controller and the joint is pressed by a sealing member preventing leakage of compressed air.

7. The ball launcher of claim 5, further comprising an air outlet for discharging some of the air in the duct member to the sensor.

8. The ball launcher of claim 5, wherein the other end of the duct member further has a ball seat hole in which the bottom of a ball seated on the ball seat member is inserted, and a piston rod disposed under the ball seat hole and protruding from the cylinder hits the ball seated in the seat hole.

9. The ball launcher of claim 1, comprising a guide line disposed over the rotary disc assembly.

10. The ball launcher of claim 1, wherein the ball seat member includes:

a circular seat hole having a diameter smaller than those of the through-holes of the rotary disc assembly so that balls can be seated therein; and

a guide hole formed at a side of the seat hole so that a ball that is rotated is guided deeper in the seat hole, and

the guide hole and the seat hole are formed in a water drop shape.

11. The ball launcher of claim 10, further comprising a guide bracket disposed between the base bracket and the rotary disc assembly to prevent balls that are supplied by the rotary disc assembly from coming out of the seat hole.

12. The ball launcher of claim 1, wherein the cylinder includes:

a guide pipe that configures rod covers at upper and lower portions and in which a piston moving up/down is inserted;

rod holes that are formed at the centers of the rod covers at the upper and lower portions; and

an upper rod and a lower rod of the piston that are respectively inserted in the rod holes to move up/down.

13. The ball launcher of claim 12, comprising a spring that is fitted on the upper rod of the piston so that the piston is returned after hitting a ball.

14. The ball launcher of claim 1, wherein the rotary disc assembly includes:

a motor of which the lower end is fixed in the main body;

a plate that is rotated by rotation of the motor; and

two or more through-holes circumferentially arranged at a side of the plate.

15. An amusement machine using a ball launcher, the amusement machine comprising:

a main body that has a target;

a floor that has a ball seat member on which a ball is seated, that is disposed in a space spaced apart forward away from the target, and that has a slope to collect balls to the ball seat member; and

a ball launcher that includes a punching ball disposed ahead of the floor and a piston hitting a ball on the ball seat member such that the ball is launched toward the target when the punching ball is hit,

wherein balls launched from the ball launcher are seated on the ball seat member of the floor, and the ball launcher includes:

a controller that produces compressed air when the controller is hit;

a cylinder that is disposed under the ball seat member and has a piston that is moved up/down by compressed air;

a duct member that is connected to the lower portion of the ball seat member to send the compressed air produced by the controller to the cylinder;

a rotary disc assembly that is disposed over the ball seat member, has two or more through-holes in which balls are seated, and is rotated by a motor to sequentially seat balls on the ball seat member; and

a ball sensor that selectively operates the motor by determining whether there is a ball on the ball seat member.

16. The amusement machine of claim 15, wherein the floor is made of a shock-absorbing material that absorbs shock by dropping balls.

17. The amusement machine of claim 15, further comprising a guide line disposed over the rotary disc assembly.

18. The amusement machine of claim 15, wherein the controller includes:

a base bracket that has a compressed air outlet and an air inlet;

a diaphragm that opens/closes the air inlet by moving up/down over the air inlet; and

a semispherical punching ball that is attached and fixed to the edge of the top of the base bracket and disposed ahead of the floor.