GB2247970A - Spinning reel mechanisms for gaming machines - Google Patents
Spinning reel mechanisms for gaming machines Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2247970A GB2247970A GB9116666A GB9116666A GB2247970A GB 2247970 A GB2247970 A GB 2247970A GB 9116666 A GB9116666 A GB 9116666A GB 9116666 A GB9116666 A GB 9116666A GB 2247970 A GB2247970 A GB 2247970A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- reel
- spinning reel
- strip
- edge
- annular slot
- 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.)
- Granted
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
Abstract
A spinning reel mechanism (10) comprises a reel strip (12) of elongate form which, when wrapped into cylindrical or frusto-conical shape, has one edge (14) thereof located within and supported by an annular slot (16) provided by a reel support (18). <IMAGE>
Description
Spinning Reel Mechanisms
The present invention relates generally to spinning reel mechanisms and is especially, but not exclusively, concerned with spinning reel mechanisms for use with gaming machines, sometimes referred to as fruit machines or amusement machines.
It is well known that gaming machines can include a mechanism comprising a number of adjacent reels marked around their circumferential surfaces with symbols such as fruit. In operation, the reels are caused to spin about a common axis by pulling on a handle or pressing a button.
When the reels come to a standstill, the positions of the symbols on the different reels in relation to one or more predetermined lines decide whether or not a player has won.
Although the circumferential surfaces of the reels are usually cylindrical, it is known for the circumferential surfaces of the reels to be frusto-conical.
Each of the reels is typically formed from a reel strip and a reel support.
The reel strip can be an elongate length of white card or plastics material with the symbols printed or otherwise formed thereon. It is also known for the reel strip to be translucent permitting illumination of the symbols from behind.
The reel support can be a cylindrical or frustoconical drum of plastics material having a peripheral surface around which the reel strip is wrapped. The axis about which the reel support is to be rotated is co-axial with the axis of the cylindrical or frusto-conical reel strip. It is also known for the reel support to be reduced to a skeletal form consisting of just a central drive spindle from which several spokes extend radially. The free ends of the radial spokes locate in specially formed pockets provided in the reel strip.
An aim of the present invention has been to maintain the advantages of reducing the volume and thus the weight of the reel support, to facilitate accurate drive thereof by a motor such as a stepper motor, but to avoid the disadvantages of restricting applicability by needing the reel strip to be specially constructed.
According to the present invention, a spinning reel mechanism comprises a reel strip of elongate form which, when wrapped into cylindrical or frustro-conical shape, has one edge thereof located within and supported by an annular slot provided by a reel support.
By supporting the reel strip at just one of its two circumferential edges, and in particular by not having a peripheral surface or transverse bars extending across a symbol-carrying portion of the reel strip, the spinning reel mechanism of the present invention is not only usable with different widths of reel strips, but with reel strips which have been provided with different numbers of symbols, without needing to be changed.
Unlike in the known prior art, where the free ends of the radial spokes of the reel support are located in pockets in the reel strip so that the reel strip is incapable of fine angular adjustment relatively to the reel support, the spinning reel mechanism of the present invention can allow the reel strip to be mounted at any desired angular position relatively to the reel support.
In practice, however, the reel strip may be of a length such that it must be slightly overlapped when secured to the reel support. The position of overlap can correspond with a part of the annular slot of increased width or could alternatively just be a tighter push fit in an annular slot of uniform width. There may be provision for an indication such as an opening in the reel support to enable the reel strip to be in its correct angular position relatively to an optic tab forming part of the control system of the gaming machine.
Preferably, said edge of the reel strip is a push-fit within said annular slot of the reel support, without the use of adhesive.
In a preferred embodiment: said annular slot is defined between a pair of concentric annular flanges of which at least one is formed with ribs for facilitating retention of said edge of the reel strip; lead-in surfaces of said pair of flanges are chamfered; and a base of said annular slot is formed with a protrusion for facilitating angular alignment of said edge of the reel strip.
A spinning reel mechanism, in accordance with the present invention, will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a half-sectioned side view of a reel strip and a reel support;
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side sectional view of a part of just the reel support omitting the reel strip for purposes of clarity; and
Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front sectional view of another part of just the reel support omitting the reel strip for purposes of clarity.
As shown in the accompanying drawings, a spinning reel mechanism 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a reel strip 12 of elongate form which, when wrapped into cylindrical or frusto-conical shape, has one edge 14 thereof located within and supported by an annular slot 16 provided by a reel support 18.
The reel strip 12 can be of conventional form including a planar rectangular sheet of card or plastics material having symbols 20 thereon.
The reel support 18 can also be of conventional form to the extent of having a central drive spindle 22 from which extend a plurality such as four radial spokes 24.
The outer ends of the radial spokes 24 join with an annular rim 26 which presents the annular slot 16 between a pair of opposed concentric flanges 28a, 28b. A protrusion 30 may be formed on the base of the slot 16 between the flanges 28a and 28b for angular alignment purposes. More particularly, when in a desired circumferential position a notch, or two notches if at an overlapped part, would be formed in the edge 14 of the reel strip 12 for locating with the protrusion 30. The position(s) of the notch(es) may be pre-marked. The outer flange 28a may be formed with a series of ribs 32 for facilitating retention of the reel strip 12 by gripping with the edge 14 of the reel strip 12.
The ribs 32 may be omitted where the reel strip 12 is to be overlapped such as opposite the protrusion 30 in the annular slot 16 presented by the reel support 18. Lead-in surfaces of the flanges 28a and 28b may be chamfered at 34 and 36 respectively.
The comparative lack of weight of the spinning reel mechanism 10 means that a more accurate and reliable stepper motor drive sequence can be achieved with a less demanding voltage supply. Advantages are gained also with the variable motor temperature not unduly affecting the drive.
Claims (6)
1. A spinning reel mechanism comprising a reel strip of elongate form which, when wrapped into cylindrical or frustro-conical shape, has one edge thereof located within and supported by an annular slot provided by a reel support.
2. A spinning reel mechanism according to claim 1, in which said edge of the reel strip is a push-fit within said annular slot of the reel support.
3. A spinning reel mechanism according to claim 2, in which said annular slot is defined between a pair of concentric annular flanges of which at least one is formed with ribs for facilitating retention of said edge of the reel strip.
4. A spinning reel mechanism according to claim 3, in which lead-in surfaces of said pair of flanges are chamfered.
5. A spinning reel mechanism according to any preceding claim, in which a base of said annular slot is formed with a protrusion for facilitating angular alignment of said edge of the reel strip.
6. A spinning reel mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB909016994A GB9016994D0 (en) | 1990-08-02 | 1990-08-02 | Spinning reel mechanisms |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9116666D0 GB9116666D0 (en) | 1991-09-18 |
| GB2247970A true GB2247970A (en) | 1992-03-18 |
| GB2247970B GB2247970B (en) | 1994-01-19 |
Family
ID=10680076
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB909016994A Pending GB9016994D0 (en) | 1990-08-02 | 1990-08-02 | Spinning reel mechanisms |
| GB9116666A Expired - Lifetime GB2247970B (en) | 1990-08-02 | 1991-08-01 | Spinning reel mechanisms |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB909016994A Pending GB9016994D0 (en) | 1990-08-02 | 1990-08-02 | Spinning reel mechanisms |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB9016994D0 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001004849A1 (en) * | 1999-07-14 | 2001-01-18 | Starpoint Electrics Limited | Spinning reel mechanisms |
| US8366536B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2013-02-05 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0081981A2 (en) * | 1981-12-10 | 1983-06-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Universal | Reel assembly for fruit machines |
-
1990
- 1990-08-02 GB GB909016994A patent/GB9016994D0/en active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-08-01 GB GB9116666A patent/GB2247970B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0081981A2 (en) * | 1981-12-10 | 1983-06-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Universal | Reel assembly for fruit machines |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001004849A1 (en) * | 1999-07-14 | 2001-01-18 | Starpoint Electrics Limited | Spinning reel mechanisms |
| GB2370403A (en) * | 1999-07-14 | 2002-06-26 | Starpoint Electrics Ltd | Spinning reel mechanisms |
| US8366536B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2013-02-05 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
| US9430911B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2016-08-30 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
| US10325444B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2019-06-18 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
| US11094160B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2021-08-17 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
| US11600135B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2023-03-07 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Gaming system and a method of gaming |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2247970B (en) | 1994-01-19 |
| GB9016994D0 (en) | 1990-09-19 |
| GB9116666D0 (en) | 1991-09-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Expiry date: 20110731 |