GB2224149A

GB2224149A - Money operated machines

Info

Publication number: GB2224149A
Application number: GB8904772A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Marsh
Original assignee: NEWHALL NOMINEES Ltd
Current assignee: NEWHALL NOMINEES Ltd
Priority date: 1988-04-05
Filing date: 1989-03-02
Publication date: 1990-04-25
Also published as: GB8904772D0; GB8807858D0

Abstract

A change giving machine is combined with a machine providing goods or services in return for the insertion of money or tokens, the combination comprising money storage means which is common to the two portions. When the goods or services providing machine provides money or tokens at payout means, the payout means may be common with that of the change giving portion. When the goods or services portion comprises an amusement with prizes machine, the value of the prizes can be controlled in accordance with the history of operation of the change giving machine. <IMAGE>

Description

MONEY OPERATED MACKINES This invention is concerned with two types of machines. The first type accepts money which may be in the form of bank notes or coin, and dispenses money or tokens, the money being in the form of bank notes or coin. These machines of the first type are commonly known as change-giving machines. The second type of machine is one which provides goods or services in return for the insertion of money or tokens. The services may include amusement possibly in connection with prizes which themselves may be in the form of money or tokens.

Patrons of machines of the second type may find themselves unable to use them because they do not have the correct denominations of money or tokens to operate them. Machines of the first type may therefore be provided adjacent to machines of the second type in order to change money into money or tokens of suitable denominations to operate machines of the second type. The machines of the two types may include similar devices, such as money checking and storing means and money or token dispensing means, and the present applicants have realised that such machines can be improved by providing a composite machine in which certain components function for the portion of the first type and or portions of the second type.

According to the invention there is provided a machine having a first portion which accepts money and dispenses at payout means money or tokens of equivalent value from money storage means and a second portion which accepts money or tokens and stores them in money storage means and provides services, said machine comprising money storage means which is common to the first portion and the second portion.

If -he services provided by the second portion includes prizes in the form of money or tokens dispensed at payout means the payout means of the second portion may be common with the payout means of the first portion.

The operation of the first portion may be controlled by the money storage means, and in particular the first portion may be disabled if the money in the money storage means drops below a threshold value.

When the second portion of the machine has a mode of operation which can be controlled, the control means may be responsive to the money storage means. For example, when the second portion is an amusement machine which provides prizes at a frequency which can be controlled, the control of the frequency may be responsive to the money storage means, either to the time elapsed since the money was inserted or exchanged for money or tokens of equivalent value or to the amount of money which was last inserted into the machine.

The dual function of certain components of the composite machine reduces the cost and size of the machine. When a single money storage device is used, collection of the accumulated money is simpler. Money or tokens inserted into the composite machine for the return of services may be used to replenish the stocks of money or tokens to be dispensed in exchange for money of equivalent value. Single security and recording means can operate for both portions of the machine.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figure, which shows a machine providing amusement services for money including coin handling apparatus. This apparatus accepts at an input 12 coins of, for example, lOp, 20p, 50p and 1 and tokens for 20p and stores them in a store 13. In response to the insertion of of such coins the machine activates the game 14 to allow a predetermined period of play. The machine accumulates lOp, 50p and 1 coins and 20p tokens in the store 13 from which prizes are dispensed at 15 if the result of the game is a win. The store 13 has a coin sensor which checks the value of coins stored in the machine.

An associated bank note changing machine 21 exchanges bank notes, which it stores at 22 and causes the paying out of an equivalent value of coins. The bank note exchange device is responsive to the value sensor in the store 13 to check that a predetermined value of coins is available for exchange for a bank note before it will accept the bank note. The bank note, once accepted, causes dispensing of an equivalent value of coins from the same store 13 through the same dispenser 15.The store 13 may keep a reserve stock of coins for use in the amusement machine 11, and only allow the bank note changing machine 21 to be operative when the value of the coin stored exceeds a predetermined reserve value.

In one example, the coin store 13 is responsive to the presence of at least 50 1 coins and when this number of coins is present, enables the bank note accepting device. Since it is desired that the user of the bank note exchange portion uses some of the coins obtained in exchange for his bank note in the amusement machine, it is preferred that the coins exchanged for the bank note are at least partly in low denominations which can be used in the amusement machine. For example, in return for a 5 bank note, the coin distribution device may pay out 4 1 coins, 1 50p coin and 5 lOp coins.

In another example, the machine 21 accepts 5 and 10 notes. The amusement machine 11 accepts 1, 50p, 20p and lOp coins and 20p tokens for playing the game and stores all except the 20p coins for use in paying prizes when a game is won. If the store 13 senses at least 50 1 coins present, it will pay out an equivalent number of 1 coins for a banknote inserted into the machine 21.

The operation of the machines 11 and 21 and in particular the value of money in the store 13 can be recorded on a single security checking system.

The combination of the two portions 11 and 21 has the advantage that transfer of coins and tokens to and frcm the machine is reduced, since the coins and tokens retained by the amusement machine 11 after dispensing prizes are used in the banknote exchange portion 21. The main value of money removed from the machine by a service engineer is in note form. As mentioned above, duplication of components is avoided.

Claims

CLAX:

1. A machine having a first portion which accepts money and dispenses at payout means money or tokens of equivalent value from money storage means and a second portion which accepts money or takens and stores them in money storage means and provides services, said machine comprising money storage means which is common to the first portion and the second portion.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the services provided by the second portion include prizes in the form of money or tokens dispensed at payout means the payout means of the second portion being common with the payout means of the first portion.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the operation of the first portion is controlled by the money storage means

4. A machine as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the first portion is disabled if the money in the money storage means drops below a threshold value.

5. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising control means for controlling the second portion of the machine, which control means is responsive to the money storage means.

6. A machine as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the control means controls the frequency at which prizes are provided by the second portion.

7. A machine as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the control means is responsive to the time elapsed since money was inserted or exchanged for money or tokens of equivalent value.

A machine as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the control means is responsive to the amount of money which was last inserted into the machine.

9. A machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.