GB2250368A - Preventing accidental dispensation of items from coin operated machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A coin-operated item-dispensing machine (10), such as a pusher-type gaming machine, includes: coin detection means (20), arranged for providing a detection signal when a coin or token is introduced into the machine (10); item holding means (2, 4), such as one or more play areas, for holding a stock of items (such as coins) to be dispensed; gate means (11) interposed between the item holding means (2, 4) and an outlet aperture (15) of the machine (10) and movable between first and second operative dispositions for respectively preventing and permitting passage of such items from the item holding means (2, 4) along a predetermined dispensing path to the outlet aperture (15); and control means (22), connected to the coin detecting means (20), for receiving the said detection signal and, in response to reception thereof, causing the said gate means (11) to move from its first to its second operative disposition, to permit items to be dispensed. <IMAGE>

Description

PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL DISPENSATION OF ITEMS FROM COIN-OPERATED MACHINES The present invention relates to preventing accidental dispensation of items from coin-operated machines, which term is intended to include machines operated by insertion of any form of coin or token.

Many machines are in use which dispense items in response to introduction into the machine of a coin or token. In such machines it is desirable that accidental dispensing of items, when no coin or token has been introduced, is prevented.

Accidental dispensing of items is a particular problem in a type of gaming machine known as a "pusher"type gaming machine. In such a machine, as illustrated schematically in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, coins 1 are inserted by a user of the machine and accumulate on an upper substantially horizontal surface or play area 2 which reciprocates backwards and forwards in known manner. Eventually, as further coins are inserted, the inserted coins themselves or coins already accumulated on the play area 2 fall over an edge 3 of the play area 2 and land on a lower substantially horizontal play area 4.

Coins 1 which fall onto the lower play area 4 accumulate thereon and eventually fall over its leading edge 5 (as seen in Fig. 1) into a chute (not shown), and reach a location from which they are accessible to the user of the machine.

A problem arises with such a pusher-type machine in that because the reciprocating motion of the upper play area 2 is continuous, and takes place even when no coin has been inserted into the machine, there is a possibility that coins will be dispensed even when no coin has been introduced into the machine.

According to the present invention there is provided a coin-operated item-dispensing machine including: coin detection means, arranged for providing a detection signal when a coin or token is introduced into the machine; item holding means for holding a stock of items to be dispensed; gate means interposed between the said item holding means and an outlet aperture of the machine and movable between first and second operative dispositions for respectively preventing and permitting passage of such items from the item holding means along a predetermined dispensing path to the said outlet aperture; and control means, connected to the coin detecting means, for receiving the said detection signal and, in response to reception thereof, causing the said gate means to move from its first to its second operative disposition, thereby to permit such items to be dispensed.

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1, referred to hereinbefore, shows a front perspective view of part of the interior of an amusement machine; Fig. 2 shows a schematic side elevational view of parts of an amusement machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of circuitry included in the machine of Fig. 2; and Figs. 4A and 4B show a detailed circuit diagram corresponding to Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 shows parts of an amusement machine 10 embodying the present invention. The machine 10 includes the components 2 to 5 of the machine of Fig. 1, but also includes a moveable flap 11, connected with a solenoid 12, disposed below the lower play area 4 such that coins falling over the leading edge 5 of that play area 4 fall onto the flap 11. The machine 10 also includes an outlet chute 13 which is shaped at its lower end to provide a collecting dish 14. An outlet aperture 15 is provided in the machine casing adjacent to the collecting dish 14.

The machine 10 also has an internal storage vessel 17 which cannot be accessed by users.

As shown schematically in Fig. 2 the machine also includes coin detection means 20, disposed adjacent to an inlet aperture 19 of the machine, and a master alarm controller 21, including tilt detection means mounted within the machine so as to be susceptible to any extraneous vibration or tilting to which the machine is subject when in use. The function of the master alarm controller will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

Control means 22, connected with the coin detection means 20 and with the master alarm controller 21 and the solenoid 12, are also provided within the machine 10 for controlling its operation.

In use of the machine 10, in the absence of fresh coins (as detected by the coin detection means 20) the flap 11 is maintained in its lower position (denoted by the solid line in Fig. 2) by the solenoid 12. When the flap 11 is in this position, any coins falling from the leading edge 5 of the lower play area 4 drop into the internal storage vessel 17 of the machine, and are not dispensed via the chute 13 to the collecting dish 14.

However, when a new coin is introduced into the machine via the inlet aperture, the coin is detected by the coin detection means 20, and the control means 22 of the machine operates the solenoid 12 to cause the flap 11 to be moved to its upper position, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 2. When the flap 11 is in this position, any coins falling over the leading edge 5 of the play area 4 slide down the flap 11 into the collection chute 13 and eventually reach the collecting dish 14. A player can receive such coins via the outlet aperture 15 of the machine 10.

A predetermined time period, for example 30 seconds, after the introduction of the coin was detected by the coin detection means 20, the control means 22 causes the solenoid 12 to restore the flap 11 to its lower (default) position. The introduction into the machine of a further coin, before the expiry of the said predetermined period, causes the control means 22 to maintain the flap 11 in its upper (dotted) position for the said predetermined time period following the introduction of that further coin.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the operation of the machine is such as to prevent nonplayers from benefiting from unauthorised or accidental winnings from the machine. Thus, a machine embodying the invention is effectively secure except for the abovementioned predetermined period following introduction of a coin.

It will be appreciated that in prior amusement machines, the flap 11 and solenoid 12 may have been provided to afford some kind of anti-tampering/alarm function. In this respect, an amusement machine may preferably include the above-mentioned master alarm controller, denoted at 21 in Fig. 2, which is operable to remove the power supply from parts of the machine in response to misuse thereof (for example tilting or vibration), the solenoid 12 being such that in its deenergised state (i.e. the state it assumes upon such removal of power supply) the flap 11 is restored -to its lower (default) position in which any coins drop safely into the internal storage vessel 17.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of circuitry included in the machine of Fig. 2.

The control means 22 includes a latch 30, a counter 31 and an oscillator 32, constituting a retriggerable timer. The output of the timer is applied to a normallyopen relay 34 also included in the control means 22. The relay 34 is connected between the live supply line (L) and one terminal of the solenoid 12. Resetting circuitry, shown schematically by an OR gate 35 in Fig.

3, is also included in the control means 22.

The master alarm controller 21 includes tilt detection means 40, a timer 41 and an alarm device 42, such as a bell. The master alarm controller also includes a normally-closed relay 43 controlled by the timer 41. The relays 43 and 34 are connected in series between the live supply line (L) and one terminal of the solenoid 12. The other terminal of the solenoid is connected to the neutral supply line (N).

Neon lighting tubes 50 of the machine may be connected between the neutral supply line (N) and the common connecting node of the relays 43 and 34.

In use of the circuitry of Fig. 3, the latch 30 of the control means 22 is initially reset so that the counter 31 is disabled and the relay 34 is in the opencircuit condition. Accordingly, no current flows through the solenoid 12, so that the flap 11 (see Fig. 2) is in its lower (default) position.

In addition, provided that no tilting of the machine is detected by the tilt detection means 40, the timer 41 and alarm device 42 of the master alarm controller will also be de-activated. When the timer is de-activated, the relay 43 remains in the closed circuit condition, such that the lighting tubes 50 are activated and the live supply reaches the relay 34.

When a coin is introduced into the machine 10, the coin detection means 20 produces a detection signal DET at its output which is applied to a set input (SET) of the latch 30 to cause the latch 30 to be set.

Accordingly, at the output of the latch 30 a control signal POS is produced which switches the relay 34 into the closed-circuit condition. Accordingly, current flows through the solenoid 12 so that the flap 11 is moved into, and then maintained in, the upper position (shown dotted in Fig. 2) while the control signal is maintained.

The detection signal DET of the coin detection is also applied to a reset input (ZERO) of the counter 31, so that upon detection of a coin the counter 31 is reset to zero. The control signal POS is applied also to an enable input (EN) of the counter 31, so that the counter begins to count from zero as soon as the control signal POS is produced at the output of the latch 30. The counter 31 counts clock pulses CLK provided by the oscillator 32. The frequency of the clock pulses may be for example 30-40 Hz.

When the count value held by the counter 31 reaches a predetermined count value an output signal VAL is provided thereby which is applied via the gate 35 to a reset input (RESET) of the latch 30 to cause it to be reset. Upon such resetting, the control signal POS is suspended, causing the relay 34 to revert to its opencircuit condition, such that the solenoid 12 is deactivated and the flap 11 is restored to its lower (default) position. The said predetermined count value and the clock pulse frequency are selected in accordance with the above-mentioned predetermined time period for which the flap 11 is to be maintained in the upper position.

If, before the counter 31 reaches the said predetermined count value, a further coin is introduced to the machine, the detection signal DET of the coin detection means 20 resets the counter 30 to zero, so that the count begins again. Accordingly, the flap 11 remains in its upper (dispensing) position for the said predetermined time period after introduction of the last coin.

If the machine is subjected to misuse, the tilt detection means 40 will produce an output signal TILT which activates the timer 41. The timer 41 then produces an alarm signal ALM for a preset period, for example 5 seconds, which alarm signal causes the relay 43 to be in the open-circuit condition so that no current is supplied to the lighting tubes 50 or the solenoid 12.

Accordingly, the flap 11, if it was in the upper (dispensing) position when this misuse occurred, will revert to the lower (default) position, preventing coins from being dispensed during the preset period. To ensure that upon expiry of the said preset period, i.e. when the alarm signal ALM is discontinued, the solenoid 12 cannot be immediately re-activated (causing the flap 11 to move back to the dispensing position) the alarm signal ALM from the timer 41 is also applied via the gate 35 to the reset input (RESET) of the latch 30. Thus, the control signal POS at the output of the latch 30 is suspended upon detection of misuse, such that the relay 34 will be in the open-circuit condition when the live supply for the solenoid 12 is restored by the relay 43.

Figs. 4A and 4B show respective detailed circuit diagrams corresponding to Fig. 3. As shown in these Figures, the coin detection means 20 may comprise a number of opto-electronic switches, three such switches 201, 202 and 203 being shown in Fig. 4B, and a NAND gate 204. The NAND gate 204 may, for example, be included in CMOS integrated circuit type 4023. The respective output signals of the three optical switches 201, 202 and 203 are connected to the inputs of the NAND gate 204. The gate provides the said detection signal DET at its output, which signal is applied to the set input (SET) of the latch 30. The latch 30 may, for example, be a D-type flip-flop included in CMOS integrated circuit type 4013.

The output of the latch 30, providing the said control signal POS, is connected via resistor R17 to transistor T2 to control the relay 34.

The oscillator 32 (Fig. 4A) comprises a Schmitttrigger NAND gate 321, a fixed resistor R4 connected in series with a variable resistor VR1, and a capacitor C6.

Adjustment of the variable resistor VR1 can permit the frequency of the clock pulses CLK provided at the output of the oscillator 32 to be varied. The NAND gate 321 may, for example, be included in CMOS integrated circuit type 4093.

The counter 31 is constituted by a further NAND gate 311, which may be included in CMOS integrated circuit type 4023, and by a binary counter/divider 312, which may be a 12-stage type such as CMOS IC type 4040. The gate 311 receives at one input clock pulses CLK from the oscillator 32, and at its other input the control signal POS from the latch 30. The output of the gate 311 is connected to the clock input (CLK) of the binary counter/divider 312. The detection signal DET from gate 204 is applied to the reset input (ZERO) of the counter/divider 312. The output signal VAL of the counter/divider 312 provided at an output Q10 thereof (corresponding to a predetermined count value of 210 = 1024) is applied via diode D5 and resistor R16 to the reset input (RESET) of the latch 30.

Incidentally, the alarm output of the master alarm controller 21 is also applied to the reset input (RESET) of the latch 30 via diode D6 and resistor R15. Thus, diodes D5 and D6 and resistors R15 and R16 together constitute the OR gate 35 of Fig. 3.

The tilt detection means 40 (Fig. 4A) may comprise, for example, a plurality of pendulum type tilt switches 401 to 409 connected in parallel with one another and disposed at different positions within the machine 10 so as to be susceptible to any movement or vibration thereof. The output signal TILT of the tilt detection means 40 is applied to a trigger input (TRIG) of the timer 41. The timer 41 may (as illustrated) be integrated circuit type 555, the values of the resistor R3 and the capacitor C3 determining the preset period for which the timer is activated.

As mentioned above, the output signal ALM of the timer 41 is applied to diode D6 (Fig. 4B), and is also applied to transistors T1 and T3 via resistors R5 and R6 respectively. The transistor T1 controls operation of the relay 43, while the transistor T3 controls operation of the alarm device 42 constituted by relay 421 and bell 422.

The relay 421 is of the normally-open type. The relays 43 and 34 are connected together in series, the lighting tubes 50 being connected between the common connecting node of the relays 43 and 34 and the neutral supply line (N). The solenoid 12 is connected between the relay 34 and neutral supply line (N).

In use of the circuitry of Fig. 4, insertion of a coin into the machine causes the output of one (or possibly more than one) of the opto-electronic switches 201 to 203 to change from the high to low logic level, such that the detection signal DET at the output of the gate 204 assumes the high logic level. Accordingly, the latch 30 is set and the control signal POS at its output assumes the high logic level. In accordance with this logic change at the output of the latch 30 the transistor T2 is turned on, closing the relay 34. Thus, the solenoid 12 is turned on and the flap 11 is moved to the upper (dispensing) position.

The detection signal DET from the gate 204 is also applied to the reset input (ZERO) of the counter/divider 312, such that the counter is reset upon introduction of a coin into the machine. While the control signal POS provided by the latch 30 is at the high logic level, clock pulses from the oscillator 32 are passed by the gate 311 to the clock input (CLK) of the counter/divider 312. Thus, the gate 311 functions as the enable input (EN) of the counter 31, mentioned above with reference to Fig. 3. Accordingly, the counter/divider 312 counts such clock pulses while the latch 30 is set.

Eventually, upon expiry of the said predetermined time period the count reaches the above-mentioned predetermined value (in this example, 1024) and the output signal Q10 of the counter 31 changes from the low logic level to the high logic level, whereupon the latch 30 is reset, turning off transistor T2 and returning the relay 34 to the open-circuit condition. Thus the solenoid 12 is turned off and the flap 11 reverts to its lower (default) position. If a further coin is inserted into the machine before the count reaches that predetermined value the counter is reset and counting commences again from zero.

If the machine is subjected to tilting, one (or more) of the tilt switches 401 to 409 of the tilt detection means 40 will close, such that the trigger input (TRIG) of the timer 41 assumes the low logic level.

In such a case, the alarm signal ALM provided at the output of the timer 41 is switched from the low logic level to the high logic level, which results in the transistors T1 and T3 being turned on. Accordingly, the relay 43 is placed in the open-circuit condition, turning off the lighting tubes 50 and the solenoid 12 (if activated). The relay 421 of the alarm device 42 is placed in the closed circuit condition, causing the bell 422 to ring. Simultaneously, application of the alarm signal ALM to the latch 30 (via the diode D6 and resistor R15) causes the latch 30 to be reset, placing the relay 34 in the open-circuit condition.

In a pusher-type gaming machine in which there is more than one lower play area (4 in Fig. 1) it may be desirable to provide a plurality of flaps 11 and corresponding solenoids 12, together with respective control means 22. The master alarm controller 21 and the oscillator 32 can be common to all play areas, so that only the circuitry shown in Fig. 4B need be repeated for each playing area.

The present invention has been described hereinbefore with reference to a pusher-type gaming machine, but it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the invention can be applied to any form of machine which is required to dispense items in response to insertion therein of coins or coin-tokens.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. A coin-operated item-dispensing machine including: coin detection means, arranged for providing a detection signal when a coin or token is introduced into the machine; item holding means for holding a stock of items to be dispensed; gate means interposed between the said item holding means and an outlet aperture of the machine and movable between first and second operative dispositions for respectively preventing and permitting passage of such items from the item holding means along a predetermined dispensing path to the said outlet aperture; and control means, connected to the coin detecting means, for receiving the said detection signal and, in response to reception thereof, causing the said gate means to move from its first to its second operative disposition, thereby to permit such items to be dispensed.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said control means is operable in response to reception of the said detection signal to cause the said gate means to move from its first to its second operative disposition and then, after a predetermined time period, to cause it to move back to its first operative disposition.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said control means maintains the said gate means in its second disposition by applying a control signal thereto throughout the said predetermined time period.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein when the said gate means are in the said first operative disposition, items entering the said predetermined dispensing path pass therefrom via the said gate means into internal storage means of the machine.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a master alarm controller, including tilt detection means disposed within the machine so as to be susceptible to vibration and/or tilting to which the machine is subject, for causing the said gate means to move from the said second operative disposition to the first operative disposition when such vibration and/or tilting occurs.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said master alarm controller is operable to interrupt the supply of power to the said gate means when such vibration and/or tilting occurs, the gate means being such that in the absence of such power supply the gate means are maintained in the said first operative disposition.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said master alarm controller is operable to apply a reset signal to the said control means when such vibration and/or tilting occurs, for preventing the said gate means from returning to the said second operative disposition upon resumption of the said power supply if the said predetermined time period following the last introduction of a coin or token has not expired prior to the said resumption.

8. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said gate means comprise a movable flap and a solenoid connected with the said flap for bringing about movement thereof.

9. A pusher-type amusement machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.