FR2619647A1 - Improvements to gaming machines of the poker type - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements to machines of the poker type. These improvements consist in incorporating in the machine a microprocessor which is programmed to control the operation of the machine in such a way that if a payment required from the machine is less than a certain value, the payment is made to a player by coins delivered in a plate 13, and if this payment exceeds the said value, a printed recording of the total of the payment is delivered to the player through a slot 12 on the front face of the machine. These improvements may equip machines of the poker type of known type.

Description

 The present invention essentially relates to slot machines of the poker type and relates more particularly to means so that these machines can pay a relatively large sum obtained in the form of a gain by a player.

 Players of poker type machines wishing to leave the machines or change them, collect any credit they may have by pressing a "collect" button, that is to say a coin delivery button.

If their credit is below a given or determined amount (for example 300 coins), the machine pays this by coins in a tray or a hopper, and this by decreasing the credit meter of the machine.

 Although the payment device or the hopper of the machine can contain twice the amount given or determined above when it is completely full, it often happens that it is not in this state, and large quantities of coins machine deliveries require re-filling of the machine, so the player often has to collect their dues with notes at the cashier counter, which provides unnecessary work.

 For this reason, and more importantly, for security reasons, larger payments are made by calling an employee to the machine. The employee inspects the machine, notes the display on the credit meter and enters this data in a register at the same time as the machine number so that the player can then sign, as well as the employee.

 Some clubs in which poker-type machines are installed pay the higher amounts won by players in the form of checks, which allows the club to cancel before payment, if fraud is suspected.

 When the player is paid, the employee turns a "credit cancellation" switch on the machine, which causes the credit counter to reset and the machines "credit canceled" counter is increased by the previous amount of the credit counter.

 The best category of poker machines allows the storage of a series of audit or verification information, which includes canceled credits, and an impression of this information (including the date and time) can be obtained on order. Printing can be done on a paper tape in the machine, or if the machines are connected by a communication line, it is also displayed on the club computer. On such installations, most of the computer equipment exists for the proposed invention.

 The object of the present invention is to provide means for paying larger gains, which greatly simplifies the procedure and has the advantages described below.

 The present invention essentially relates to a coin-operated machine of the poker type, characterized in that it comprises means controlled by microprocessor for determining whether a payment required from the machine exceeds a certain value, means for delivering coins to a place accessible to the player if the amount of the payment is less than said certain value and means for delivering to the player a printed record of the amount of payment together with instructions for its recovery if the amount is greater than said certain value.

In order to better understand the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of example, and in which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a poker type machine comprising the improvements of the invention; and
- Figure 2 is a block diagram of the operations performed by the machine according to this invention.

 The present invention applies to a conventional poker type machine comprising a credit counter 10 indicating the amount to the credit of a player resulting from a gain or winnings on the machine, and a button for collecting or delivering coins 11 on which press a player who wishes to withdraw the amount credited to his credit on the credit counter 10.

 Inside the machine is arranged a printing system for making prints on a paper roll, with means for controlling the operation of the printing system so that, under the effect of an appropriate command , the printing system prints detailed data or information on the paper ribbon which is explained below, and said printing system allows the extrusion of a certain length of paper ribbon on which the printing has been made, through a slot 12 on the front face of the machine. The printing apparatus and the means controlling the printing apparatus are of a conventional type and need not be described in detail herein.

 According to the invention, the entire operation of the poker type machine is now controlled by a microprocessor and suitable programs can be incorporated therein to monitor the operation of the printing system and the payment of coins.

 In use, when a player wishes to recover the credit due to him according to the credit counter 10, he presses the button 11. By means of a program incorporated in the microprocessor controlling the machine, when the "collect" button or "recovery" is pressed, the microprocessor acts on the basis of knowing whether or not the value of the sum indicated on the credit meter is above or below a predetermined value, for example the value equivalent to 300 parts with which the machine must operate. In the event that the value is below the predetermined value the normal coin payment mechanism in the machine is activated and the coins are delivered to the board 13 for recovery by the player. If, however, the value exceeds the predetermined amount , the printing system in the machine is activated so as to print the display of the credit counter, the date, the time and the number of the machine on the paper tape.

This ribbon of paper is preferably already pre-printed with instructions having an effect such that it constitutes a check payable only by the cashier of the club and that it can be paid for a given or determined period.

The printed length of ribbon exits through the slit 12 from which it can be torn as is the case in machines issuing tickets. A visual and audible display is made so as to draw the player's attention to the "check" issued. Simultaneously, the machine transmits the necessary information to the club computer.

 When presenting the check to the cashier for payment, the cashier makes the machine number in the computer and checks that the value and the time indicated on the ticket correspond with those given on the terminal. This verification is a guarantee against fraud. The cashier then honors the check by giving the player either money or a check drawn on the club's bank account.

 In Figure 2 is shown a block diagram showing the sequence of operations and the logic followed by the microprocessor to either pay for parts or print a "check". Programming a microprocessor to follow this logic is a routine operation.

 The different blocks illustrated in FIG. 2 will be described below.

 Block 1 materializes the fact that the player presses the collection or "recovery" button.

 Block 2 is representative of the following question: is the credit above a determined value? If this is not the case, the order is given to pay for coins in the tray, as indicated in block 3.

Otherwise, that is to say If the answer to the previous question is positive, an instruction signal occurs, as shown by block 4.

 Block 5 corresponds to the certification of the number of parts, the date, the time, and the number of the machine.

 Block 7 materializes the entry of this data into the club computer.

 Block 6 materializes the printing of the above data on check.

 Block 8 materializes the reset of the credit counter and the updating of canceled credits.

 Block 9 materializes the fact that the player takes the check to go to the cashier.

 Block 14 materializes the fact that the cashier interrogates the computer.

 Block 15 corresponds to the following question: does the ticket correspond to the computer? If yes, the player is paid as indicated by block 17. If not, payment is refused, as shown by block 16.

 Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only by way of example.

 On the contrary, the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations, if these are carried out according to the spirit.

Claims (2)

 1.- Slot machine of the poker type, characterized in that it comprises means controlled by microprocessor to note if a payment required from the machine exceeds a certain value, means for delivering coins in a place accessible to the player if the amount of payment is less than said certain value and means for providing a player with a printed record of the amount of payment together with instructions for its recovery if the amount is greater than said certain value.  2.- Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the printed recording is in the form of a paper tape delivered from a printing system in the machine.