CA1127842A - Display devices - Google Patents
Display devicesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1127842A CA1127842A CA353,164A CA353164A CA1127842A CA 1127842 A CA1127842 A CA 1127842A CA 353164 A CA353164 A CA 353164A CA 1127842 A CA1127842 A CA 1127842A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- drive
- housing
- display device
- pinch roller
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
- G07F17/3204—Player-machine interfaces
- G07F17/3211—Display means
- G07F17/3213—Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
- Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
- Displays For Variable Information Using Movable Means (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A display device for a machine such as a poker machine or fruit machine in which information to be displayed is arranged on a closed loop of flexible strip material arranged to pass in front of a viewing window. The closed loop is moved around the predetermined path by driving means such as an electric motor. The closed loop can be stopped or started as required and when in motion its position is sensed by an electronic sensor, the output of which is fed to a microprocessor. In a poker or fruit machine a number of such loops of flexible strip material are arranged side by side in a casing which may have the appearance of a conventional fruit machine or poker machine.
A display device for a machine such as a poker machine or fruit machine in which information to be displayed is arranged on a closed loop of flexible strip material arranged to pass in front of a viewing window. The closed loop is moved around the predetermined path by driving means such as an electric motor. The closed loop can be stopped or started as required and when in motion its position is sensed by an electronic sensor, the output of which is fed to a microprocessor. In a poker or fruit machine a number of such loops of flexible strip material are arranged side by side in a casing which may have the appearance of a conventional fruit machine or poker machine.
Description
7~i.Z
The presen-t invention relates to a display device for machines in which information is recluired to be displayed in response to some input to the machine.
A~ i~mportant application of the invention is ~ coin froo-~ amusement machines, more commonly known as Fruit or Poker machines, and, by way of example the invention will be described in its application to such machi11es, the operation of which is usually based on a multipl.icity of (Ir1~1ns usually 3, 4 or 5, mounted adjacent to each other in a cabinet and viewed by the player througl1 a window. Inscribed on the outer periphery of these drums is a series of symbols usually depicting various kinds of fruits or playing cards.
The player inserts a coin into the machine which allows a game to be played usually, by either pulling a lever or pressing a button. This action causes the drums to spin in l1nison and stop at random one by one in a predetermined sequence. Each drum has a number of like symbols inscribed upon its periphery and shollld a ~iven number o~ the same symbols come to rest ac1jacent to each other a winning combi111tiol1 is formed and a prize is 1s~1alIy paid out auto1natically or creditecl on a Incter; the value of the prize vlries according to t11e value given to t}e combil1atioll of symbols ~-iisplayed.
Problems are inherent .in the design of such machines arising ~rom ~a) the mechanism required to spin the Irums;
~b) the mechanism required to stop them; (c) the mechan;sm needed to decode the symbols inscribed on the Irums so that ~he1l a winning combination shows in the viewiT1g window it can l)e identified and the correct value of prize be paîd out; (d) 3~ the cost o~ the mecl1anis1ns nee(1ed to achieve these ~uncti.ons;
(e) the com~lexity of these mechanisms.
There are many ways in wl1ich tllese ~-rol-lems are overco111e some mechan;ca]Ly and some elec-tronicaLly and some ~y a mixtuIe of both tech1~ologies.
o ~
~11 know1l coin ~ an11semel1t m(1(-hi1les, drums are use1 .: , .
~ 2 ~
to display the symbols because, although various other systems of displaying symbols, such as projecting ;m~ages on a screen or depicting them electronically have been proposed, they have been found unacceptable to the players of such machines due possibly to their contrived and artificial appearance.
It would seem that players prefer to see the actual symbols rotating on the periphery of a drum; apart from the excitement this movement itself creates, there is visual evidence that the symbols do exist in a fixed sequence and cannot be tampered Wit}l. Other systems where no such visual evidence exists are suspected of being the subject of unFair prior programming which could determine the frequency of winning combinations to the detriment of the player.
Bearing these Eacts in mind it is consiclered that any improvcd design of such machines should ;ncorpor~te the principle of displaying the symbols in sllch a manner that a player can see that they exist in an unalterable sequence, iF
tlle machine is to be commercially acceptable.
An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for such m~chilles complyin6 ~ith this hasic rc~uiremellt whilst overcoming sorrle of the problems associated wi~h known machines.
The present invention consists in a display device for a machine in which information is to ~e displayed, the device consisting of a display Ullit consisting of a closed loop oF
~lexible strip material having on it a series of indicia spaced around the loop, means supporting said loop, means For guiding said loop in motion around a closed p~th, means for initi.ltillg motion of thc loop and means for arresting motion of the loop, a viewing w;n(low throtlgll whicll at least one o~
said indicia on tlle loop call be viewccl, clrive me.tns For tr.lll~portillg said loop i}rollllcl its patll, electl onic mealls For S~IlSillg the position Or tl~c Iool) arolllld its said p.lth, mealls For control]ing said motioll initiating an(l ~rresting mealls ~ ':
.
:`
7~2 whereby said loop is caused to move around said path and ;s brought to a halt with a predetermined or randomly selected indicium visible in said window. It ;s preferred that that portion of the path of the loop *~ which ~ is visihle through said viewing window is curved so that the loop ;n motion gives the appearance of t`he peripllery of a dr~lm passing the WilldOW. It is preEerred that the unit is in the form of a self contained cassette separately removeable from a machine.
It is preferred that a plural;ty of display devices as deined above be arranged side by side on a common base, the display unit sharing a common viewing window and sharing a common drive means.
Thus the present invention does not use a wheel or drum to d;splay the syrnbols but in preferred forms presents to the player the illusion that the symbols are in fact inscr;bed on a rotating drum.
It is to be observed that the use oE a drum to display the symbols means that, however light the construction, there is always tile màss o~ the drum to overcome to spin it at a desirable speed and conversely to stop it. Th;s is overcome in certain machines by using an ~lectric motor to drive thc drullls through a system of clutches but such systems suffer from a slower than desirable spinniilg speedO Such systems, due to this complexity, are costly to make and the present invention is considered to be capable of being constructed in a forln in which these costs can be much reduced.
In order that the the invention mcly be better understood all(l put into practice a preferred form thereof is llereinafter described by way of example Witll re~erence to the accoinpanying drawings -in which:-Figure 1 is a cross sectional view oÇ a display deviceacc~r(ling to the invention, and T`igure 2 is a fron~ view showing rln arrallgement in which five devices of the kind shown in ligure I are mounted side by side on a common base.
The display device shown in Figure l is in the form o~
what may be described as a plug-in cassette. The cassette Collsists of a housing 10 mounted on and attached to a base 11. The housing 10 and the base 11 are preferably forrned by moulding from plastic material and tlley can thus be constructed acurately but inexpensively. The upper part o~
the housing 10 is semi-circular and the smootll ;nternal surface of the housi~ng defines the path of a band 12 oE a light but stiff and strong plastic strip. This strip in the lower part of its travel passes between a spring loaded pinch roller 13 and a rubber tyred drive wheel 14. The drive wheel 14 is mounted on and coaxial with a rubber tyred driven wheel lS wll;ch is driven from the drive shaft l6 with wllich it is in Frictional engagement. The whee1s `L4 alld l5 clt'e carried on an arm 17 that is pivote~d at 18. The en(l oE the arm l7 is connected throllgll a spring 1~ to the armature 2l of the solenoid 22. In the position shown in Figure L the band l2 is gripped between the pinch roller l3 and the drive wheel
The presen-t invention relates to a display device for machines in which information is recluired to be displayed in response to some input to the machine.
A~ i~mportant application of the invention is ~ coin froo-~ amusement machines, more commonly known as Fruit or Poker machines, and, by way of example the invention will be described in its application to such machi11es, the operation of which is usually based on a multipl.icity of (Ir1~1ns usually 3, 4 or 5, mounted adjacent to each other in a cabinet and viewed by the player througl1 a window. Inscribed on the outer periphery of these drums is a series of symbols usually depicting various kinds of fruits or playing cards.
The player inserts a coin into the machine which allows a game to be played usually, by either pulling a lever or pressing a button. This action causes the drums to spin in l1nison and stop at random one by one in a predetermined sequence. Each drum has a number of like symbols inscribed upon its periphery and shollld a ~iven number o~ the same symbols come to rest ac1jacent to each other a winning combi111tiol1 is formed and a prize is 1s~1alIy paid out auto1natically or creditecl on a Incter; the value of the prize vlries according to t11e value given to t}e combil1atioll of symbols ~-iisplayed.
Problems are inherent .in the design of such machines arising ~rom ~a) the mechanism required to spin the Irums;
~b) the mechanism required to stop them; (c) the mechan;sm needed to decode the symbols inscribed on the Irums so that ~he1l a winning combination shows in the viewiT1g window it can l)e identified and the correct value of prize be paîd out; (d) 3~ the cost o~ the mecl1anis1ns nee(1ed to achieve these ~uncti.ons;
(e) the com~lexity of these mechanisms.
There are many ways in wl1ich tllese ~-rol-lems are overco111e some mechan;ca]Ly and some elec-tronicaLly and some ~y a mixtuIe of both tech1~ologies.
o ~
~11 know1l coin ~ an11semel1t m(1(-hi1les, drums are use1 .: , .
~ 2 ~
to display the symbols because, although various other systems of displaying symbols, such as projecting ;m~ages on a screen or depicting them electronically have been proposed, they have been found unacceptable to the players of such machines due possibly to their contrived and artificial appearance.
It would seem that players prefer to see the actual symbols rotating on the periphery of a drum; apart from the excitement this movement itself creates, there is visual evidence that the symbols do exist in a fixed sequence and cannot be tampered Wit}l. Other systems where no such visual evidence exists are suspected of being the subject of unFair prior programming which could determine the frequency of winning combinations to the detriment of the player.
Bearing these Eacts in mind it is consiclered that any improvcd design of such machines should ;ncorpor~te the principle of displaying the symbols in sllch a manner that a player can see that they exist in an unalterable sequence, iF
tlle machine is to be commercially acceptable.
An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for such m~chilles complyin6 ~ith this hasic rc~uiremellt whilst overcoming sorrle of the problems associated wi~h known machines.
The present invention consists in a display device for a machine in which information is to ~e displayed, the device consisting of a display Ullit consisting of a closed loop oF
~lexible strip material having on it a series of indicia spaced around the loop, means supporting said loop, means For guiding said loop in motion around a closed p~th, means for initi.ltillg motion of thc loop and means for arresting motion of the loop, a viewing w;n(low throtlgll whicll at least one o~
said indicia on tlle loop call be viewccl, clrive me.tns For tr.lll~portillg said loop i}rollllcl its patll, electl onic mealls For S~IlSillg the position Or tl~c Iool) arolllld its said p.lth, mealls For control]ing said motioll initiating an(l ~rresting mealls ~ ':
.
:`
7~2 whereby said loop is caused to move around said path and ;s brought to a halt with a predetermined or randomly selected indicium visible in said window. It ;s preferred that that portion of the path of the loop *~ which ~ is visihle through said viewing window is curved so that the loop ;n motion gives the appearance of t`he peripllery of a dr~lm passing the WilldOW. It is preEerred that the unit is in the form of a self contained cassette separately removeable from a machine.
It is preferred that a plural;ty of display devices as deined above be arranged side by side on a common base, the display unit sharing a common viewing window and sharing a common drive means.
Thus the present invention does not use a wheel or drum to d;splay the syrnbols but in preferred forms presents to the player the illusion that the symbols are in fact inscr;bed on a rotating drum.
It is to be observed that the use oE a drum to display the symbols means that, however light the construction, there is always tile màss o~ the drum to overcome to spin it at a desirable speed and conversely to stop it. Th;s is overcome in certain machines by using an ~lectric motor to drive thc drullls through a system of clutches but such systems suffer from a slower than desirable spinniilg speedO Such systems, due to this complexity, are costly to make and the present invention is considered to be capable of being constructed in a forln in which these costs can be much reduced.
In order that the the invention mcly be better understood all(l put into practice a preferred form thereof is llereinafter described by way of example Witll re~erence to the accoinpanying drawings -in which:-Figure 1 is a cross sectional view oÇ a display deviceacc~r(ling to the invention, and T`igure 2 is a fron~ view showing rln arrallgement in which five devices of the kind shown in ligure I are mounted side by side on a common base.
The display device shown in Figure l is in the form o~
what may be described as a plug-in cassette. The cassette Collsists of a housing 10 mounted on and attached to a base 11. The housing 10 and the base 11 are preferably forrned by moulding from plastic material and tlley can thus be constructed acurately but inexpensively. The upper part o~
the housing 10 is semi-circular and the smootll ;nternal surface of the housi~ng defines the path of a band 12 oE a light but stiff and strong plastic strip. This strip in the lower part of its travel passes between a spring loaded pinch roller 13 and a rubber tyred drive wheel 14. The drive wheel 14 is mounted on and coaxial with a rubber tyred driven wheel lS wll;ch is driven from the drive shaft l6 with wllich it is in Frictional engagement. The whee1s `L4 alld l5 clt'e carried on an arm 17 that is pivote~d at 18. The en(l oE the arm l7 is connected throllgll a spring 1~ to the armature 2l of the solenoid 22. In the position shown in Figure L the band l2 is gripped between the pinch roller l3 and the drive wheel
2() 14; the driven wheel lS is held in contact with tlle drive sl~a~t IG so that drive is transmittcd to the band 12 which is ca~lsed to rotate around a closed path. Operation o~ the solcnoid 22 to extend the armature 21 causes the driven wheel :LS to come out oÇ contact with the drive shaft 16 thereby removing drive from the band 12 whicl will owing to its very low inertia stop substanti~lly instantaneously.
Reapplicltion o~ the drive by operat;on of solenoid 22 will restart movement of the band 12.
The band l2 has a set oÇ symbols silk-screened onto its vuter ~ace whicll as shown in ~igure 2 can consist oF
represcntatiolls of di~Ferent types oF frlit. In the particular embodimellt oF the invent;on shown in the drawirlgs the il-lner surÇlce o~ the barll 12 ;s white and it has printed Oll ttle white backgro~ln(l a series o~ codillg marks 23 in hl.lck. ()ne m.lrk 24 is m.lde 10ngel thln tllc others to provile ~2~2 a zero or reset position which can be readily identified.
One code mark is provided in respect o~ each symbol and is in a predetermined rela~ionship with that symbol Within the housing 10 there is mounted a code reading unit 25 which is fixed to an arm 26 pivoted at 27 and capable of a small amount o~ angular adjustment. The code reading unit 25 is a well known article o~ commerce consisting of a source of radiation, for example infra-red radiation and a receiver of radiation, for example a photo-diode. As the band 12 rotates the white segments between the black codin~
marks 23 reflect the light beam from the transmitter of the code reading unit 25 back to its receiver. However, when a coding marlc passes the code reading unit 25 the beam is not reflected and thus an electrical pul.se is produced each time a coding mark passes a code reading unit.
The band 12 is visible externally tllrough a viewing window 28 which is arranged over part o~ the curved path of the band. A source o~ illumillation 29 is aranged inside the balld at this point to illuminclte symbo]s appearing ;n the viewing window 28.
in Figure 2 five plug-in cassettes such as that illustratèd in Pigure 1 are arranged side by side on a common base 11 and the dr;ving shaft 16 is common to all cassettes being driven by the electric motor 3l. Within the base ll is mounted a microprocessor, the printed circuit board oE which is indicated at 32. Each cassette has on it a socket 33 en~aging pins 34 extending upwardly from the printed circuit board 32. The microprocessor unit is provided w;th an inlet and outlet socket 35 by means of which external connections may be made to it. The code reading unit 25 of each cassette is connected to tlle microprocessor circuit by means o~
connectiolls which are not shown.
The whole arrangement shown in ligure 2 is contained within a cabinet which may be ident~cal with cahinets such .IS
aT-e ordillarily used ~or COill ~ amll.sement machines.
Associated with the cabinct is the usua] co;n receptacle, means for dispensing coins as prizes and means for initiating operation of the machine by pulling a handle or pushing a button. As all of these devices are well known in the art it is unnecessary ~o illustrate them or describe them in any -detail. To a player, a machine incorporating a display unit according to the invention need look llO dif~erent from a conventional machine.
~pera~r~
The operation of a coin ~ee~ amusement mach;ne incorporating the invention is as follows:-When a coin is inserted and the starting handle or button is operated the motor 31 driving the drive shaft 16 starts up. This rotates the drive shaft 16 and at the same time tile solenoids 22 in each of the cartridges are energised pulling their respective levers 17 upwards llntil the rubber tyred driven wheels 15 engage the drive shaEt :l6. The drive wheels 14 will then start to rotate . This will in turn cause tlle banc1s 12 to be driven around the interior oE the casings 10.
As each band 12 passes the viewing window 28 it will give to a player the impression o~ a wheel or drum s~inning, as the symbols imprinted on it will pass the viewing window at some speed.
Dur;ng the course of the band 12 moving in such a manner the code marks 23 on the band, one corresponding tn eacl~
symbol, will cause the code reading UIlit to produce a pulse as each symbol passes. I`his unit is connected to the microprocessor unit wh;ch will count each symbol as it passes the unit. The reset coding mark 24 will produce one pulse per complete revolution of the bancl and this tells theelectronic circuit when to start counting. The circuit will then know exactly what symbol is in the viewing window at any given time as the pulse COUIIt will be cons-talltly compared with ~ predetermined progI-amme of ~he clisposition of the symbols on the band.
~ ~ 7 ~ ~
When each band has rotated in this manner for the correct length of time the electronic circuit will stop each one in the correct sequence but in a random manner. To ensure the bands all stop with their respective symbols in the correct relationship with each other, i.e. a straight line-up, when the stop signal is sent the band will stop immediately the next pulse is received, by de-energising its solenoid. This will cause the band to stop accurately each time regardless of what symbol is in the viewing window.
The position of each code reading unit 25 is adjustable in the manner described so that the stop position of each band can be accurately lined up with the one adjacent to it ensuring a perfect line up of all symbols. As the microprocessor will know what s~lbol on each loop is in the viewing window it will then be able to compare this information with a predetermined programme and ldentify whether or not a winning combination has been ohtained. It can then initiat~ the correct value o~ prize to be paid out i~ a prize has been won.
The use o~ microprocessor units in controlling the operation o~ coin freed amusemenl: machines is well established and it is therefore not necessary to describe a particular microprocessor unit or a ~articular programme9 as these do not form part of the present invention and considerations involved in design and construction o~ such units and the devising o~ such program1nes are well understood by those skilled in the art. I~ is to be noted that while an arrangement for code sensing involving reflected light is described an arrangement in which transmitted light passes through holes in the band could be used equally well.
It is considered that the manu-facturing costs of such a simple arrangement will be minimal. It will also be seen that as each unit is in the form o~ a sim~le "p]ug-in"
cassette, service of the dev;ce as a whole becomes mainly a replacement task, eliminatillg the need for highly skilled : . ..
~ Z~7~
labour in the field. Because there is no move-men-t involved of any component of signi~icant weight or mass, wear will be minimal. The electronic control of the bands will mean that any number of conEigurations of symbols and symbol values can be easily achieved. The bands can be o~ varying lengths and widths and any number of symbols can be used. While the invention has been described in its application to a coin freed amusement machine it has a variety of o~her applications and in this connection it is to be noted, for 10 instance, that the symbols can be alphabetical or numerical and when a number of units are mounted adjacent to each other words or numbers could be assembled in any reasonahle configuration making the invention very useful ~or a variety of purposes.
Reapplicltion o~ the drive by operat;on of solenoid 22 will restart movement of the band 12.
The band l2 has a set oÇ symbols silk-screened onto its vuter ~ace whicll as shown in ~igure 2 can consist oF
represcntatiolls of di~Ferent types oF frlit. In the particular embodimellt oF the invent;on shown in the drawirlgs the il-lner surÇlce o~ the barll 12 ;s white and it has printed Oll ttle white backgro~ln(l a series o~ codillg marks 23 in hl.lck. ()ne m.lrk 24 is m.lde 10ngel thln tllc others to provile ~2~2 a zero or reset position which can be readily identified.
One code mark is provided in respect o~ each symbol and is in a predetermined rela~ionship with that symbol Within the housing 10 there is mounted a code reading unit 25 which is fixed to an arm 26 pivoted at 27 and capable of a small amount o~ angular adjustment. The code reading unit 25 is a well known article o~ commerce consisting of a source of radiation, for example infra-red radiation and a receiver of radiation, for example a photo-diode. As the band 12 rotates the white segments between the black codin~
marks 23 reflect the light beam from the transmitter of the code reading unit 25 back to its receiver. However, when a coding marlc passes the code reading unit 25 the beam is not reflected and thus an electrical pul.se is produced each time a coding mark passes a code reading unit.
The band 12 is visible externally tllrough a viewing window 28 which is arranged over part o~ the curved path of the band. A source o~ illumillation 29 is aranged inside the balld at this point to illuminclte symbo]s appearing ;n the viewing window 28.
in Figure 2 five plug-in cassettes such as that illustratèd in Pigure 1 are arranged side by side on a common base 11 and the dr;ving shaft 16 is common to all cassettes being driven by the electric motor 3l. Within the base ll is mounted a microprocessor, the printed circuit board oE which is indicated at 32. Each cassette has on it a socket 33 en~aging pins 34 extending upwardly from the printed circuit board 32. The microprocessor unit is provided w;th an inlet and outlet socket 35 by means of which external connections may be made to it. The code reading unit 25 of each cassette is connected to tlle microprocessor circuit by means o~
connectiolls which are not shown.
The whole arrangement shown in ligure 2 is contained within a cabinet which may be ident~cal with cahinets such .IS
aT-e ordillarily used ~or COill ~ amll.sement machines.
Associated with the cabinct is the usua] co;n receptacle, means for dispensing coins as prizes and means for initiating operation of the machine by pulling a handle or pushing a button. As all of these devices are well known in the art it is unnecessary ~o illustrate them or describe them in any -detail. To a player, a machine incorporating a display unit according to the invention need look llO dif~erent from a conventional machine.
~pera~r~
The operation of a coin ~ee~ amusement mach;ne incorporating the invention is as follows:-When a coin is inserted and the starting handle or button is operated the motor 31 driving the drive shaft 16 starts up. This rotates the drive shaft 16 and at the same time tile solenoids 22 in each of the cartridges are energised pulling their respective levers 17 upwards llntil the rubber tyred driven wheels 15 engage the drive shaEt :l6. The drive wheels 14 will then start to rotate . This will in turn cause tlle banc1s 12 to be driven around the interior oE the casings 10.
As each band 12 passes the viewing window 28 it will give to a player the impression o~ a wheel or drum s~inning, as the symbols imprinted on it will pass the viewing window at some speed.
Dur;ng the course of the band 12 moving in such a manner the code marks 23 on the band, one corresponding tn eacl~
symbol, will cause the code reading UIlit to produce a pulse as each symbol passes. I`his unit is connected to the microprocessor unit wh;ch will count each symbol as it passes the unit. The reset coding mark 24 will produce one pulse per complete revolution of the bancl and this tells theelectronic circuit when to start counting. The circuit will then know exactly what symbol is in the viewing window at any given time as the pulse COUIIt will be cons-talltly compared with ~ predetermined progI-amme of ~he clisposition of the symbols on the band.
~ ~ 7 ~ ~
When each band has rotated in this manner for the correct length of time the electronic circuit will stop each one in the correct sequence but in a random manner. To ensure the bands all stop with their respective symbols in the correct relationship with each other, i.e. a straight line-up, when the stop signal is sent the band will stop immediately the next pulse is received, by de-energising its solenoid. This will cause the band to stop accurately each time regardless of what symbol is in the viewing window.
The position of each code reading unit 25 is adjustable in the manner described so that the stop position of each band can be accurately lined up with the one adjacent to it ensuring a perfect line up of all symbols. As the microprocessor will know what s~lbol on each loop is in the viewing window it will then be able to compare this information with a predetermined programme and ldentify whether or not a winning combination has been ohtained. It can then initiat~ the correct value o~ prize to be paid out i~ a prize has been won.
The use o~ microprocessor units in controlling the operation o~ coin freed amusemenl: machines is well established and it is therefore not necessary to describe a particular microprocessor unit or a ~articular programme9 as these do not form part of the present invention and considerations involved in design and construction o~ such units and the devising o~ such program1nes are well understood by those skilled in the art. I~ is to be noted that while an arrangement for code sensing involving reflected light is described an arrangement in which transmitted light passes through holes in the band could be used equally well.
It is considered that the manu-facturing costs of such a simple arrangement will be minimal. It will also be seen that as each unit is in the form o~ a sim~le "p]ug-in"
cassette, service of the dev;ce as a whole becomes mainly a replacement task, eliminatillg the need for highly skilled : . ..
~ Z~7~
labour in the field. Because there is no move-men-t involved of any component of signi~icant weight or mass, wear will be minimal. The electronic control of the bands will mean that any number of conEigurations of symbols and symbol values can be easily achieved. The bands can be o~ varying lengths and widths and any number of symbols can be used. While the invention has been described in its application to a coin freed amusement machine it has a variety of o~her applications and in this connection it is to be noted, for 10 instance, that the symbols can be alphabetical or numerical and when a number of units are mounted adjacent to each other words or numbers could be assembled in any reasonahle configuration making the invention very useful ~or a variety of purposes.
Claims (12)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A display device for an amusement or game machine wherein a series of indicia on a movable member are viewed through a window in a housing of the machine comprising a housing, a base supporting said housing, at least one window through the wall of said housing, at least one endless, flexible, closed loop tape disposed within said housing, a series of indicia on at least one surface of said tape, drive means for driving said tape around its closed loop path, means for supporting and guiding said tape past the inside of said window so that at least one of said indicia can be viewed therethrough, means for starting and stopping said drive means, electronic sensing means for sensing the position of said tape with respect to its path of travel, control means operatively associated with said sensing means for controlling said starting and stopping means in response to said sensing means whereby said tape is stopped in a predetermined or randomly selected position with at least one of said indicia in said window.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a pinch roller mechanism operatively engaging the opposite sides of said tape, a drive wheel for driving at least one of the rollers of said pinch roller mechanism, a drive shaft for driving said drive wheel, and means for driving said drive shaft, said starting and stopping means engaging said drive wheel with said drive shaft and disengaging said drive wheel from drive shaft, respectively.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pinch roller mechanism comprises a tape drive roller operatively connec-ted to said drive wheel, a tape drive roller support arm pivotally mounted between the ends thereof on said housing and having said tape drive roller rotatably mounted on one end thereof, a solenoid operatively connected to the other end of said support arm, a pinch roller support arm pivotably mounted between its ends on said housing, a pinch roller rotatably mounted on one end of said pinch roller support arm and means urging said pinch roller into engagement with said tape drive roller with said tape therebetween, said starting and stopping means comprising said solenoid being operatively connected to said control means, so that in one position of said solenoid the drive wheel engages said drive shaft and in the other position of said solenoid the drive wheel is disengaged from said drive shaft.
4. A display device as claimed in claim 2 wherein that portion of the path of the tape in which the tape is visible through said viewing window is curved so that the tape in motion gives the appearance of the periphery of a drum passing the window.
5. A display device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for supporting and guiding said tape over said curved portion of its path comprises a smooth inner curved surface of said housing at least adjacent said window.
6. A display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electronic sensing means for sensing the position of said tape comprises means for projecting a ray of light on to said tape, means for receiving light passing through or reflected from said tape and at least one code means on said tape for each of said indicia responsive to said ray of light so that an electrical pulse is produced in said receiving means on the passage of each said code means past said ray of light.
7. A display device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said code means include at least one code means to produce one distinguish-able pulse in said receiving means for each rotation of said tape.
8. A display device as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said housing is moulded from plastic material, and means for demountably attaching said housing to said base.
9. A display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of closed loop tapes and drive means and separate windows therefore are mounted side by side on said base.
10. A display device as claimed in claim 9 including micro processor means to receive and process pulses produced by said electronic means.
11. A display device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of said closed loop tapes, separate viewing windows and separate pinch roller mechanism therefore are mounted side by side on said base and said drive wheels are driven by a common drive shaft.
12. A display device as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of said closed loop tapes and pinch roller mechanism is in the from of a cassette which is removably insertable in said housing member so that the drive wheel of each is engageable with said drive shaft.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPD914579 | 1979-06-11 | ||
| AUPD9145/79 | 1979-06-11 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1127842A true CA1127842A (en) | 1982-07-20 |
Family
ID=3768140
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA353,164A Expired CA1127842A (en) | 1979-06-11 | 1980-06-02 | Display devices |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4326351A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS561184A (en) |
| AT (1) | AT367919B (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1127842A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3021731C2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8102380A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2458860A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2052823B (en) |
| IE (1) | IE49486B1 (en) |
| NL (1) | NL8003213A (en) |
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-
1980
- 1980-05-27 GB GB8017261A patent/GB2052823B/en not_active Expired
- 1980-05-30 ES ES492010A patent/ES8102380A1/en not_active Expired
- 1980-06-02 CA CA353,164A patent/CA1127842A/en not_active Expired
- 1980-06-02 NL NL8003213A patent/NL8003213A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1980-06-02 US US06/155,752 patent/US4326351A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1980-06-10 IE IE1195/80A patent/IE49486B1/en unknown
- 1980-06-10 DE DE3021731A patent/DE3021731C2/en not_active Expired
- 1980-06-10 JP JP7828480A patent/JPS561184A/en active Granted
- 1980-06-11 AT AT0307880A patent/AT367919B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-06-11 FR FR8012951A patent/FR2458860A1/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AT367919B (en) | 1982-08-10 |
| US4326351A (en) | 1982-04-27 |
| GB2052823B (en) | 1983-04-27 |
| FR2458860B1 (en) | 1985-02-08 |
| DE3021731C2 (en) | 1983-04-21 |
| JPS5652599B2 (en) | 1981-12-12 |
| ES492010A0 (en) | 1980-12-16 |
| FR2458860A1 (en) | 1981-01-02 |
| JPS561184A (en) | 1981-01-08 |
| GB2052823A (en) | 1981-01-28 |
| ATA307880A (en) | 1981-12-15 |
| IE801195L (en) | 1980-12-11 |
| IE49486B1 (en) | 1985-10-16 |
| ES8102380A1 (en) | 1980-12-16 |
| NL8003213A (en) | 1980-12-15 |
| DE3021731A1 (en) | 1981-01-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |