GB1278208A - Amusement and gaming machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1278208 Amusement device BELL-FRUIT MFG CO Ltd 21 May 1971 [21 Feb 1970] 8421/70 Heading A6H [Also in Division G4] An amusement device, which is either directly coin-freed or combined with and controlled by a fruit machine, comprises a series of spaced rotatable wheels each provided with pockets 7 about their peripheries, means for introducing an object, such as a ball, into the path of the pockets of a first wheel 1 by which the object is carried round and a transfer device 22 operable by a user of the device to transfer the object from the first wheel to a second wheel 2 by which it is similarly carried round. In the embodiment described three wheels are provided, a second transfer device 23 being, located between the second and third wheels, the three wheels being driven at the same speed by a common electric motor (12) via sprockets (11) and drive chain (13) (Fig. 2, not shown). The transfer device comprise L- shaped arms (34), (Fig. 4, not shown) normally urged away from openings 35 by springs but operable under the action of a solenoid (40) to protrude through the openings and effect transfer of the objects from one wheel to another. The solenoid is excitable by means of a capacitor discharge circuit so that the transfer devices can only be positioned for a limited period of time. If the transfer devices are not appropriately positioned the objects enter lose holes 24, 25 that direct the objects via a return chute (27) to the opening 19. The chute (27) is normally blocked by a solenoid operated member either directly controlled by a coin release mechanism or by the fruit machine. If the objects are successfully manipulated to an opening 26 they operate the arm 33 of a microswitch to actuate pay out mechanism.