Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
\ This invention relates to coin or token-operated amusement-with-
prizes machines that dispense coins or tokens as prizes.
Coin-operated amusement-with-prizes machines generally include
counters to count the number of coins of different denominations that are
inserted into the machine and dispensed from it as prizes. This is done in
order that a check can be made on the value of the coins stored within a
machine at any time so as to deter operating personne~ such as supervisors
or maintenance staff from stealing coins from the machines. However, the
counters employed have been mechanical and electromechanical counters with
a visual display of their counting state, and these have proved to be
vulnerable to tampering, which has meant that the reliability of the check
provided by them has been reduced. An object of the present invention is
to provide a coin or token-operated amusement-with-prizes machine having more
reliable means for checking the value of coins or tokens stored therein.
This object is achieved according to the present invention by
providing a coin or token-operated amusement-with-pri7es machine which
includes start means operable by a player to cause a game to commence, coin
acceptor/re~ector means, coin dispensation means, and a solid state memory
in which are stored separate records of at least the total number of games
played on the machine, the total number of coins of each different denomination -
accepted by the machine, and the total number of coins of each denomination
paid out by the machine, the solid state memory being connected to the start
means, the coin acceptor/reject~r means and the coin dispensation means so
that each time they are operated the records are updated.
The solid state nature of the memory and the fact that the
totals are recorded without there being any visual indication of the totals
makes the memory inherently tamper-proof. ~he code used in making said
: recoFd; =ay be a non-standard code
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selected by the manufacturer or operator of the machine so
that the memory is more secure against tampering,
The memory may be of a type that is unaffected by
power failures ~o that disconnection of the power supply does
not give a person the opportunity to cancel the check facility
provided by the memory,
The memory may be an electrically alterable read-
only memory (EROM), but is preferabIy a solid state non- ~ :
volatile memory,
Because the memory gives no visual indication of
the recorded totals, specially adapted reading means has to be
provided, this being provided externally or internally of the
machine, For example, the memory may be provided as a plug-in
unit so,:that it can be removed for reading, the unit either
being connected to a special reading device carried by an
authorised collector and then being replaced in the machine, : .
or being replaced by another memory unit;!and then taken by
the collector to a central point for reading, Alternatively, :
reading means is provided within the machine, for example,
in the form of a magnetic read/write device into which a:
magnetic card is inserted by the collector, the card preferably
carrylng an identification code that is read, and when declared
valid, causes the recorded information to be read out of the
memory and written onto the card,
Also~ the machine may include a micro-processor that
controls recording in the memory and also other machine
functions such as the game plaved on the machine,
The invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
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Fiqure 1 is a front view of a machine according
to the inventiop/ and
Figure 2 is a block diagram of the machine of
Figure 1.
The illustrated amusement machine is of the
kind which selects a combination of symbols at
random during each game and awards prizes when
predetermined prize-winning combinations occur.
Said combination of symbols is selected by a
reel mechanism 1 of a known type comprising a
set of co-axial independently rotatable reels
2 each of which carries a plurality of symbols
3 around its circumference and can assume any one
of a plurality of predetermined stop positions in
which it ~isplays a corresponding one of the sym-
bols on a payline in a display window 4 so that
the reels together display a combination of sym-
bols on the payline, there being three reels
and therefore a combination of three symbols in
a row in the illustrated embodiment. During a
game on ~he machine, the reels are spun by an
electric motor and each is stopped at random
at one of said stop positions by individual
~top means.
The symbol 3 displayed by each reel 2 is
detected by an individual detector that produces
a coded output signal characteristic of said
symbol, the detector being any one of the known
types, such as rotary switch means that uses
rotation ~f the reel to selectively ma~e and
break electrical output cixcuits, or photoelectric
or magnetic detector means that senses coded
characteristics that rotate with the reel. These
coded output signals are fed to decoder means
which detexmines whether or not the signals
correspond to the display of a prize-winning
combination of symbols on the payline, and which
signals ~he award of a correspondin~ prize for
each prize-~inning combination that is detected.
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The machine is controlled by a microprocessor
5 which is interfaced with the machine through
interface circuitry 6 and which operates according
to programme instructions stored in a memory 7
so that the machine performs a set sequence of
operations during each and every game including
spinning and stopping the reels 2, decoding
the detector output signals, and signalling the
award of any prizes.
The machine includes a coin acceptor/
rejecto~ mechanism 8 into which a player inserts
a coin-of one or more denominations in order
to play a game on the machine, and which signals
the acceptance of a valid coin and its value
to the microprocessor 5. A number of game
credits corresponding to the value of the inserted
coin is stored by the microprocessor in a random
access memory (RAM) 9, and once stored therein
the microprocessor activates a start actuator
10 so that the player can operate this to start
a game. Once the game is completed, the micro-
processor subtr~cts one from the number of game
credits stored in the memory 9. If one or more
game credits are still stored in the memory,
the player can play another game.
If a game results in a win this is signalled
by the win decoder means incorporated in the micro-
processor 5 and programme memory 7, and causes the
microprocessor to operate a coin dispenser mech~
anism 11 to dispense a corresponding number of coins.
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The coin acceptor/rejector mechanism 8
and coin dispenser mechanism 11 may both be any
of the well known types used in coin-operated
amusement-~ith-prizes machines.
.
The machine also includes a solid state
non-volatile memory 12 in which information
derived from the coin acceptor/rejector mechanism
8, the coin dispenser mechanism 11 and start
actuator 10 is recorded under control of the micro-
processor 5. The memor~ 12 is of the selecti~e word
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alterable type in which separate records of different
information can be recorded. Records are made
in binary digits using a special language for
reasons of security. The information derived
from the start actuator 10 consists of the total
number of games played, the recorded total being
increased by one each time the start actuator
10 starts a game. The information derived from
the coin acceptor/rejector mechanism 8 consists of
the total number of coins of each different
denomination accepted by the mechanism, a differ-
ent signal being produced by a coin of each
different denomination and causing a correspond-
ing total record to be increased by one. The infor-
mation derived from the coin dispenser mechanism
11 consists of the total number of coins of each
different denomination paid out by the mechanism.
The microprocessor may also process the coin
accepted and dispensed information and use this
to produce separate records of the total monetary
value of each and all the accepted coins and of
all the dispensed coins, and possibly a record of
the difference in value between the accepted
coins and dispensed coins.
The memory 12 may be a plug-in unit which is
located so that it can easily be removed by an
authorised collector and either taken away to a
central location for reading on a special reading
device, or read there and then on a special reading
device carried by the collector. This reading
device is adapted so that the memory unit 12 can
be plugged into it and all of the recorded in-
formation in the memory read out. The information
read out by the reading device may be presented on
a video display which the collector himself
reads and records, or may be recorded within
the reading device, for example, on a printed
or punched tape or a magnetic tape. In order to
identify the recorded information with the memory
12 from which it is taken, the memory may store
a recorded identification code which is also
read out by the reading device. Such an identific-
ation would also help to detect unauthorised
replacement of one memory unit 12 for another
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by persons attempting to change the recorded
information.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention,
special reading means is provided within the
machine to read out the recorded information
in memory 12. This may take the form of a
magnetic read/write device 13 (Figure 2) into
which a magnetic card can be inserted to cause
the recorded information to be read out of the
memory and written onto the card. The read/write
device 13 is controlled by the microprocessor 5.
Any of the known forms of magnetic card read/write
devices can be used. A suitable device is the
programme card reader made by Canon K.K. of Japan
in which a card inserted into an inlet slot is
drawn into the device to a set position and is
read in the process, and is then moved on through
the device to an outlet slot and is written on
during this subsequent movement. The information
read from the card is an identification code that is
checked by the microprocessor and has to be
judged valid before the device 13 is caused to
write the recorded information from memory 12 onto
the card. Also, fixed information such as the machine
type, the site of the machine and the name of the
lessee of the machine is recorded on the card so
that the recorded coin information is related to
the particular machine. If the identification
code on the card is not judged to be valid, the
card is ejected without any information being writ- I
ten onto it.
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In yet another alternative embodiment of the
invention, the special reading means 13 may take the
' ~ form of means which is adapted to receive a coded
key device, for example, a plug-in electrically
coded device or a magnetically coded key, and which
when triggered by the correctly coded key device
operates to cause the recorded information in
memory 12 to be displayed on visual display means
within the machine~ The visual display means may
~ be specially provided or may be means present in the
I machine for another purpose, for example, video display
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means that normally gives the player visual
instructions and information.
The solid state non-volatile memory 12 may
be that manufactured by Plessey as MN 9410
in their NOVOL range. This has a capacity of
256 bits.
In an alternative embodiment of the in-
vention the non-volatile memory 12 may be replaced
by an electrically alterable read-only memory
(EROM). This can only count up,and has a limited
counting capacity. Once this capacity has been
used the memory has to be reset by exposing it to
ultra-violet light.
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