GB2293774A

GB2293774A - Coin release mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2293774A
Application number: GB9420023A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Hunt
Original assignee: HUNT DEBORAH TRACY
Current assignee: HUNT DEBORAH TRACY
Priority date: 1994-10-05
Filing date: 1994-10-05
Publication date: 1996-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-05
Also published as: GB2293774B; GB9420023D0

Abstract

A coin release mechanism particularly suitable for use in a coin-operated amusement machine releases or permits the release of a plurality of coins of the same denomination. Thus, the mechanism 20 includes a hopper 22 which conveys the coins to a release point 24 where they are released onto the play-field of a coin pusher machine by actuation of a button 28. In an alternative the coin acceptor can be a multi-coin validator which is instructed to release a corresponding number of coins of a particular denomination. <IMAGE>

Description

COIN RELEASE MECHANISM The present invention relates to a coin release mechanism which is suitable for use in coin-operated amusement machines of the type which involve in the game the physical use of a coin.

An example of such amusement machines is the pusher type machine.

commonly known as "penny falls" in which coins are dropped onto a moving upper playfield of a play area. These coins, if dropped at the correct moment. land at the rear of the upper playfield and are pushed forward by the rear wall of the play area. This forward movement of the coins in turn mav cause coins which have collected on the upper playfield to be pushed over the front edge of the upper playfield and to drop onto a lower stationary playfield. Coins are won when pushed.

by virtue of the movement of a downwardly extending front wall of the upper playfield over the lower playfield, from the lower playfield into a "collect" tray.

Typically. with these amusement machines. several slots are provided for coins to be dropped into a particular play area. Only coins of a particular denomination should be inserted through these slots and once released into the slot the coins immediately drop into the play area.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a coin release mechanism which releases or allows the release of a plurality of coins of a particular denomination in response to insertion of a coin of said particular denomination. The desirable impression is that the player gets two or more coins released for a single coin and this increases the chance of winning.

Preferably the coin release mechanism includes a store for the coins of said particular denomination and desirably has means for transporting the coins the store to a point of release.

Preferably means are provided for loading said store.

In one embodiment the coin release mechanism has means by which release of the coins can be controlled bv a user. and in particular release can be effected by means of a push-button.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a coin-operated amusement machine having a playing area in which coins are physically used in play. including a coin release mechanism which releases or allows the release of a plurality of coins of a particular denomination in response to insertion of a coin of said particular denomination.

Preferably. the coin-operated amusement machine has means for loading said store from an outlet in said lower playfield.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described. by way of example. with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one section of a multi-section amusement machine having a coin release mechanism forming an embodiment of the present invention: Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the coin release mechanism of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of the section of the amusement machine of Figure 1. and Figure 4 is a side view of the section of the amusement machine of Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 3 show one section 10 of a multi-section amusement machine. the various sections of the machine being arranged side by side. The amusement machine has a rear wall 14. an upper playfield 30 and a lower playfield 50. The upper playfield 30 has a downwardly extending front wall 19 and moves towards and away from the front of the section 10 as indicated by the arrows 17.

Coins of a particular denomination are used in the game.

At the front of the lower playfield area is an outlet 15 for coins which drop into a collect tray below, from which the player can collect his winnings. At the sides of the lower playfield are further outlets 11, 12 for coins which are ultimately collected in a cash tray box 16 below the playfields 30 and 50.

The amusement machine has a plurality of slots 18 through which coins of the particular denomination are inserted and dropped onto the upper playfield.

The amusement machine 10 has a coin release mechanism 20 for releasing coins into the upper playfield 30, shown in detail in figure 2. This mechanism 20 includes a hopper 22 which is filled with coins dropping from the lower playfield 50 through the side outlet 11. Coins overflowing from the hopper 22 collect in the cash tray box 16. The hopper 22 is of the known type, commonly used in casinos, for conveying coins from one place to another. A suitable hopper would be of the "escalator" type which can convey coins upwardly. for example, models DH-750-3L/U1 or WH-2/Ul available from Asahi Seiko Co. Ltd. of Togo.

Japan.

The escalator hopper 22 conveys coins up to a release point 24 from which coins can be released, one at a time, onto a coin rail 26 located above and at the rear of the upper playfield 30. When a coin reaches the end of the coin rail it drops into play on the upper playfield 30.

A segment display push-button 28 is used to display the number of coins which can be released from the escalator hopper and the push button activates release of a coin from the release point 24 onto the coin rail 26. The end of the coin rail is located to drop the coin onto the rear of the playfield at the same point as one of the slots 18.

Additionally. the section of the amusement machine 10 is provided with a multi-coin validator 31 having a multi-coin slot 32. Coins of any denomination can be inserted to give the player a corresponding number of credits. each credit allowing for the release of a coin of the particular denomination used from the coin release mechanism 20.

The mechanism 20 is operated as follows. A player inserts a coin of the correct denomination into the machine through one of the slots 18 and the coin drops onto the upper playfield 30 in the usual manner. In addition the insertion of the coin gives the player one credit which is displayed on the display of the segment display push-button 28.

This credit can be utilised by the player pushing the push-button 25 to release a coin from the release point 24 at the top of the hopper 22.

Upon release. the coin rolls along the coin rail 26 and drops into play on the upper playfield 30.

Additionally. the section of the amusement machine 10 is provided with a multi-coin validator 30. Coins of any denomination can be inserted into a multi-coin slot 32 and give the player a corresponding number of credits which are displayed on the segment display push-button 28.

These credits allow the release of an appropriate number of correct denomination coins onto the upper playfield 30 from the coin release mechanism 20 in the same way as described above.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the coin release mechanism of the present invention can be used on a variety of coin operated amusement machines which involve the physical use of coins in the play area. Furthermore. the number of credits given to a player can be varied as appropriate to the game.

It will be appreciated that many variations and modifications can be made to the described embodiment and it is intended to include all such variation and modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A coin release mechanism which releases or allows the release of a plurality of coins of a particular denomination in response to insertion of a coin of said particular denomination.

2. A coin release mechanism as claimed in claim 1, including a store for coins of said particular denomination from which said plurality of coins are released.

3. A coin release mechanism as claimed in claim 2. further including means for transporting coins of said particular denomination from said store to a point of release.

4. A coin release mechanism as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3. in which means are provided for loading said store.

5. A coin release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, in which release of the second coin can be controlled by a user.

6. A coin release mechanism as claimed in claim 5. in which release of the second coin is controlled by means of a push-button.

7. A coin-operated amusement machine having a playing area in which coins are physically used in play, including a coin release mechanism which releases or allows the release of a plurality of coins of a particular denomination in response to insertion of a coin of said particular denomination.

S. A coin-operated amusement machine as claimed in claim ?, including a store for coins of said particular denomination from which said plurality of coins are released.

9. A coin-operated amusement machine as claimed in claim 8, further including means for transporting coins of said particular denomination from said store to a point of release.

10. A coin-operated amusement machine as claimed in claim S or claim 9, in which means are provided for loading said store from an outlet in said lower playfield.

11. A coin-operated amusement machine as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, in which a push button is provided to control release of said plurality of coins into play.

12. A coin release mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described.

with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

13. A coin-operated amusement machine substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

14. A coin-operated amusement machine having a playing area in which coins are physically used in play, including a multi-coin validator for insertion of coins of a number of denominations and enabling the release of a corresponding number of coins of a particular denomination into play.