GB1454046A - Coin-released gaming machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1454046 Gaming machines P G SIMPER R J GATLEY A E J HARDY L E BULL [trading as PETER SIMPER & CO] 29 Jan 1975 [29 Jan 1974] 04001/74 Heading G4V A coin released gaming machine in which pay-out means is at least partially random and and having means for controlling the shortterm pay-out ratio which comprises means for computing an accumulated difference between the value of coins which would have been paid out over a short period at a desired long-term pay-out ratio and the value of coins actually paid out, and means responsive to the accumulated difference for influencing the short-term pay-out ratio of the machine so as to keep the accumulated difference to a minimum or within a predetermined range. Figs. 1 and 3 show a comparator unit having a chassis 1 consisting of plates 2 and 3, hollow posts 4 and legs 6. Two ratchet wheels 7 and 8 are connected by reduction gearing 9 and 10 and a differential assembly 11 to a cam assembly 12 arranged to operate a pair of microswitches 13 and 14 for affecting the hold-control circuit of a fruit machine. Ratchet wheel 8 is on shaft 16 and drives gear 18 which is in mesh with gear 19 on shaft 17. Also on the shaft is gear 20 in mesh with gear 21 of assembly 11. Gear 20 is free to rotate on shaft 22 which drives cams 12 but is fixed to level gear 23 which co-operates with pinion 24 rotatable on stub 25 secured to shaft 22. A similar gear train connects ratchet wheel 7 to shaft 22. Thus if wheels 7 and 8 are rotated in opposite directions by equal amounts there will be zero rotation of shaft 22 but if one wheel rotates more than the other the difference in amounts of rotation is transmitted to shaft 22. The wheels are stepped by similar ratchet mechanisms 31, 32. Mechanism 31 has a ferromagnetic arm 33 that is attracted to solenoid 41 when it is energized. The arm pivots about pivot 34 and moves ratchet detent 35 so that it will step the wheel when the arm is released. Ratchet detent 39 retains the wheel in each position. There are two cams 43, 44 that operate microswitches 13, 14 via pivoted switch arms 50 and buttons 51. The solenoids 41, 42 are pulsed in response respectively to coins inserted into the machine and to coins paid out. It is intended for the fruit machine to have a payout percentage of 78% and thus wheels 7, 8 have 50 and 39 teeth respectively. If after a number of games the payout has been 78% of those inserted the solenoids 41, 42 will have been pulsed in the ratio 50 : 39 and the cam assembly will have maintained its initial position. If this ratio is not maintained then the cam assembly will have been moved from its initial position. There can be three positions of the switches 13, 14. Switch 13 actuated, switch 14 unactuated; both the switches unactuated; switch 14 actuated, switch 13 unactuated. These conditions of the switches correspond to modes of the payout mechanism in which the long-term pay-out ratio is respectively less than, greater than and much greater than the desired 78%. Changes between the modes maintains the overall long-term pay-out ratio at 78%. There may be only two conditions of payout or more than the three conditions described. Fig. 6 (not shown) is a circuit diagram that shows how the hold conditions of three reels can be controlled to give the different pay-out ratios. At the lower end of shaft 22, Fig. 5 (not shown) there are two stop-members (54) that can each operate one of a pair of limit-switches (55) (56) to open-circuit an excessively pulsed solenoid. This would only occur if the machine had been tampered with or was faulty.