GB2165387A - Gaming machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A reel 1 for a gaming machine has lamps 8 mounted internally to illuminate respective diffusing screens 15, one or more of which may carry a message to the user of the machine. The usual fruit symbols 4 are translucent and are carried by an opaque tape 2 mounted around the rim of the reel 1. Each symbol 4 is surrounded by a narrow transparent border 5 so that when the reel is rotating the message or messages on the screens 15 are intermittently visible through the transparent borders 5 and are seen by the viewer as a continuous image. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gaming machines This invention relates to gaming machines, sometimes referred to as fruit machines, or amusement machines. As is well known, such machines include a mechanism comprising a number of reels marked along their circumferential edges with symbols such as fruit which are printed on a length of strip ortape which is fixed in position around the edge of each reel.

In operation, the reels are caused to spin and when theycometo a standstill, the positionsofthe symbols on the different reels in relation to a so-called "win" line determinewhetherornotthe player has won.

The tape on which the symbols are printed is normally opaque and is externally illumiated by lamps mounted in the interior ofthe machine. As an alternative, however, translucent symbols may be included in an otherwise opaque tape and one or more lamps may be mounted internally within the circumference ofthe reel in the region of the win line. The lamp or lamps may be controlled by a microprocessorwhich also controls all the individual functions ofthe machine as a whole, being switched on just as the reels come to a standstill, so that the symbols lying along the win line are immediately accentuated. If, instead of a single lamp in each reel there are three such lamps arranged one above the other, the control may be such as either to illuminate the row of symbols on the win line or, alternatively, eitherthe row above or belowthe win line, thus adding varietyto the normal play.

According to the present invention, one or more lamps is mounted internally within a reel as just described and a diffusing screen for carrying a message is mounted between one or more of the lamps and thetape. The symbol-bearing tape needs to be formed with small areas oftransparency between adjacenttranslucent symbols, e.g. by means of a narrowtransparent border around each symbol or dividing lines between the symbols, and when such a tape is fitted to the reel,the message carried by the screen becomes visible through the tape when the associated lamp is illuminated and the reel is rotating.

The internal lamp and the diffusing screen are fitted as part the initial assembly ofthe reel mechanism, but thetape is normallyfitted according to a customer's requirements.

When the reel comes to a standstill atthe end of play, the message is obscured bythe stationary symbol which is opposite the lamp and is thus accentuated as already described. On the other hand, when the reel is rotating, the message becomes intermittentlyvisible in thetransparentareas between adjacent symbols and since these areas occur at regular intervals, and in viewofthe phenomenon of persistence of vision,the message is seen as a steady image during such time as the lamp is illuminated.

This illumination may be continuous so that the message is visible during the whole ofthetimethe reel is rotating, and disappears only when the reel comes to a standstill and during a short interval of time both before the reel stops and just after it re-starts. Alternatively, the lamp may be illuminated for one or more brief or longer periods during the rotation ofthe reel so that the message becomes visible during those periods.

As previously mentioned, more than one lamp may be included within each reel, e.g. three lamps for illuminating three separate positions of symbol and a diffusion screen carrying a message may be arranged adjacentanyorall ofthese lamps. In addition,a gaming machine includes at leastthree and often four reels and each reel may have one or more messages associated with it. By approriate control of the illumination of the lamps in the different reels, a sequence of symbols, signs or messages may be rendered visible so as to constitute a complete slogan or sentence. Each message may consist of one or more words or, for example advertising matter if no sentence or slogan isto be formed.

Asentenceorslogan may, for example, merely represent encouragementto the playerso asto induce him to continue playing, or a reminderthat it is time to insert more money. Alternatively, symbols may be shown where a set pattern may result in some advantagetothe player, or provide information asto a forthcoming machine event.

Yet again, the sentence or slogan may constitute some form of instruction to the player, e.g. relating to the operation ofthe machine, particularly ifthe machine includes features which the player may not previously have encountered, or notification as to the manner in which the final position ofthe symbols denotes a win.Generally speaking, it is the line of symbols coinciding with the win line which will be finally illuminated and which has to be read to determine whether or notthe player has won, but in some circumstances, eitherthe row of symbols above the win line or that belowthewin line may be illuminated and may have to be read to determine whether or note win has occurred; underthese circumstances an explanatory message may be made visible underthe control ofthe micro-processor shortly before the reels come to a standstill so that the player knows what to expect and can read the correct row of symbols. In some circumstances, the symbols to be read need not even constitute a straight line, but may lie in a predetermined pattern amongst different rows.If so, the relevant symbols are illuminated and a message to this effect is made visible before the reels come to a standstill.

In this way it is possible to add considerable versatility and variety to the operation of the machine.

The manner in which the symbols areto be read may be varied at random underthecontrol ofthe microprocessorwith an appropriate advance message to warn the player, or alternatively, if required, the player himself may be enabled to pre-select a pattern in which the symbols are to be read. In either case, the relevant pattern is illuminated bythe respective lamps underthe micro-processor control when the reels come to a standstill and an appropriate advance message is made visible.

Itwill be understood from the foregoing thatthe inclusion of more than one lamp, preferablythree, adds to the number of possibilities obtainable and if, for example, three lamps are used,they may be mounted in a common moulding having an arcuate face lying just behind the surface ofthe tape on the reel. This arcuateface may be divided into rectangular openings, one for each lamp, the width of each opening approximating to the width ofthe symbols so thatwhen a symbol is stationary in front of a lamp, it is fully illuminated.The diffusing, message-carrying screens may be removably mounted in the respective openings and the arcuate surface in which the openings are formed may constitute a separate componentwhich is readily removable from the moulding constituting the housing forthe lamps. to change one or more of the messages, it is then a relatively simple matter two remove the arcuate memberfrom the lamp housing and then to replace one or more ofthe screens as required.

An example of construction in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of part of a reel including a symbol-bearing tape which is broken away to show an internal arrangement of lamps and diffusing screens.

The outer rim of the reel is seen at 1, and carries a symbol bearing tape, part of which is seen at 2. The main body of the tape, constituting the general background, is opaque as seen at 3, while the normal fruit symbols seen at 4 are translucent so as to be accentuated by the illumination of internal lamps.

Each symbol 4 is surrounded by a narrow, transparent border 5.

Within the reel 1 is mounted an array of three lamp bulbs, two of which are seen at 8. These are mounted in a common housing constituted buy a moulding 10 supported within the interior ofthe reel and divided into three rectangular compartments 12 forth individual lamps8.Thefaceofthemoulding 10 adjacentthetape 2 is arcuate so asto maintain a relatively constant narrow gap between the moulding and the tape and the compartments 12 are closed by an arcuate member 13 which is removable to give accesstotheindividual lamps 8. The member 13is formed with three rectangular openings 14 opposite the respective lamps and of a width approximately equal to that ofthe symbols on the tape. Each opening 14 is able to receive a diffusing, message-carrying screen 15, one of which is seen in the lowermost opening 14.These screens make a push fit with the openings 14,sothattheyare readily inter-changeable.

The lamps 8 are controlled by a micro-processor as already described, and when the reel comes to a standstill, one or more of the lamps may be illuminated so asto accentuate the symbol which is in registerwiththe respective lamp. At this time, the presence of the screen translucent symbol prevents the message on the screen 15 being visible. Whilethe reel is rotating, however, and as long as one or more ofthe lamps 8 is illuminated, the message or messages appear intermittentlythrough the transparent borders 5 and are seen by the viewer as a continuous image, as previously explained.

Claims (6)

1. A reel assembly for a fruit machine comprising a reel,a lamp mounted internallywithinthe reel and a diffusing screen for carrying a message mounted between the lamp and the circumference ofthe reel so that when a symbol-bearing opaque tape formed with periodic small areas of transparency is fitted to the circumference ofthe reel, a message on the diffusing screen becomes visibletlirough the tape when the lamp is illuminated and the reel rotates.

2. A reel assembly according to claim 1, including three lamps mounted within the reel with a respective diffusing screen adjacent one or more of the lamps.

3. A reel assembly according to claim 2 in which the three lamps are mounted in a common housing having an arcuate face lying inwardly on the circumference ofthe reel.

4. A reel assembly according to claim 3 in which the arcuate face is formed by a component which is readily removable from the remainderofthe housing and is formed with rectangular openings, one opposite each lamp,forthefitting of correspondingly shaped diffusion screens.

5. A reel assembly according to any one of the preceding claims and including a symbol-bearing opaque tape fitted to the circumference of the reel.

6. A reel assembly according to claim 5 in which the areas oftransparency in the tape are formed by transparent borders around the symbols.