GB2379614A

GB2379614A - An entertainment machine having a means of detecting different playing pieces

Info

Publication number: GB2379614A
Application number: GB0121651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Wilson
Original assignee: Bell Fruit Games Ltd
Current assignee: Bell Fruit Games Ltd
Priority date: 2001-09-07
Filing date: 2001-09-07
Publication date: 2003-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-07
Also published as: GB2379614B; GB0121651D0

Abstract

An entertainment machine 100 of the coin pushing type found in amusement arcades comprises a supporting surface 101 on which are placed first and second playing pieces where the second playing pieces are discernable from the first playing pieces, where the entertainment machine has at least one edge over which the playing pieces can pass and where a detection means 102 is arranged to detect the first playing pieces within playing pieces passing over at least one edge of the surface. The first and second playing pieces may be of differing colours, materials, dimensions or have electronic tags associated with the playing pieces where the detection means is able to detect any of the aforementioned playing piece characteristics. A prize dispensing means 108 may be arranged to dispense a first or second prize when a predetermined number of first or second playing pieces have passed over the edge of the surface. Also included is a method for increasing player appeal of the machine by having one or more first or second playing pieces where the first playing pieces are discernable from the second playing pieces and a means for detecting the first playing pieces within playing pieces as they pass over the edge of the surface.

Description

ENTERTAINMENT MACHINE This invention relates to an entertainment machine and a method of increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a type of entertainment machine commonly referred to as a coin pusher entertainment machine.

Traditionally such entertainment machines have one or more surfaces arranged to hold coins and a coin pusher for pushing the coins along the, or each, surface. In some embodiments coins can be pushed off an edge of the surface into a win chute to be paid directly to a player.

In use, a player inserts coins into the machine, which are deposited onto the surface in the hope that a greater number of coins are pushed from the surface by the coin pusher. In some machines'special'prizes, such as watches, higher value coins or notes or other valuable items, are placed upon the surface and are intended to add extra incentive for a player to play the machine. A problem with these machines is that a person can tilt or/and shake the machines in an attempt to dislodge a number of the coins from the tray into the win hopper, which may also dislodge the special prizes. Furthermore, dishonest maintenance staff can remove coins, and or special prizes from the machines during servicing.

One prior art coin pusher machine attempts to overcome some of these problems by having a playing piece re-circulation loop, which forms a closed loop inside the machine. Such a machine is shown in

GB 2 303 309. A player inserts a coin into the machine to play and a . y VA Al %., L L I I t LJLI II. L t playing piece is dispensed onto the surface from an internal store. If any playing pieces are knocked from the surface, over a win edge region, a device detects the number pushed off the surface and dispenses to the

player the same number of coins from a store of coins. The playing pieces may or may not themselves be coins.

If a person tilts or shakes the machine this can be detected and any playing pieces which fall from the tray are not dispensed to the player. Therefore, extra security is provided. However, special prizes cannot be provided as the re-circulation loop cannot handle items of different shapes and sizes.

It is an object of the invention to overcome, or at least reduce, the problems of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention an entertainment machine comprises a surface arranged to support one or more playing pieces including at least one or more first playing pieces and one or more second playing pieces, wherein the second playing pieces are discernible from the first playing pieces, the machine having at least one edge over which playing pieces can pass, and a playing piece detection means arranged to detect first playing pieces within playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of the surface.

An advantage of such a machine is that the machine can be arranged to perform predetermined acts when first playing pieces are detected falling from the playing surface.

Preferably, the entertainment machine may further comprise a playing piece dispensing means for dispensing playing pieces onto the surface. Such an arrangement conveniently allows playing pieces to be placed onto the surface.

The first playing pieces and the second playing pieces may be thought of as types of playing pieces. The surface may be arranged to support a plurality of other types of playing pieces in addition to the first and second playing pieces. For example the surface of the machine may be arranged to support one or more third playing pieces, one or more fourth playing pieces, one or more fifth playing pieces, etc.

The playing piece dispensing means may be arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface in response to a player inserting a predetermined amount of credit into the machine. The credit can be purchased by any means common in the art such as coins, tokens, credit cards, etc.

Conveniently the machine comprises a transfer means to transfer playing pieces which have passed over the at least one edge of the surface to the playing piece dispensing means. The transfer means may be a coin escalator.

The machine may further comprise a playing piece counter arranged to count playing pieces passing over the edge of the surface. In some embodiments the playing piece counter and the playing piece detection means are provided by the same means rather than separate means.

Preferably, the surface, playing piece detection means, playing piece dispensing means, playing piece counter and transfer means constitute a closed loop for re-circulating the first and second playing pieces internally within the entertainment machine. Therefore, the playing pieces are not paid directly to a player and if the machine is tilted or

shaken prizes are not dispensed. & % Al U. In one embodiment the entertainment machine further comprises a prize dispensing means arranged to dispense a first prize when the playing

piece detection means detects a first playing piece passing over the edge of the surface. An advantage of such an arrangement is that the prize dispensing means can be arranged to dispense items other than coins, or playing pieces, and as such may provide a machine with more player appeal.

Preferably, the prize dispensing means is arranged to dispense a second prize in response to second playing pieces detected by the playing piece detector. In the preferred embodiment the prize dispensing means is arranged to dispense at least one coin for roughly each second playing piece that passes over the edge of the surface. Such an arrangement is

ly advantageous because it allows the machine to function similarly to prior art coin pushers.

Should the surface be arranged to support types playing pieces in addition to first and second playing pieces the prize dispensing means may be arranged to dispense a prize for each of said other types of playing pieces passing over the at least one edge.

The prize dispensing means may be arranged to dispense a plurality of prizes (which are preferably coins) for each second playing piece passing over the at least one edge. In other embodiments the prize dispensing means may be arranged to dispense a prize after a plurality of second playing pieces have fallen over the at least one edge.

The prize dispensing means may or may not be arranged to dispense a prize/plurality of prizes for each/a plurality of first playing piece passing over the at least one edge.

The first and the second prizes may be dispensed by a single prize dispensing means, or may be dispensed by separate prize dispensing

means. An advantage of providing them as the same prize dispensing means is that the first prize may simply be a plurality of second prizes. In one embodiment the second prize may be a coin, and the first prize may be a plurality of coins.

In one embodimentthe machine is arranged such that prizes are separated from the playing pieces so that access to the prizes does not allow access to the playing pieces and preferably vice-versa. Advantageously, maintenance staff may change, add or adjust the prizes to be dispensed and not have access to the playing pieces. Therefore, dishonest maintenance staff cannot remove playing pieces and/or prizes.

In one arrangement, the prize dispenser is arranged to issue tokens as a prize. Such an arrangement is advantageous because a player can exchange the token for a variety of prizes, which may be determined at the time of exchange.

The prize dispenser may be arranged to print a ticket as a tokens.

Alternatively, or additionally, the token may resemble a coin, or the like.

In alternative, or additional, embodiments the prize dispenser may be arranged to give prizes such as watches, notes, or the like.

In some embodiments the machine may be arranged to award a player with a number of points, or the like, when first and/or second playing pieces are detected passing over the at least one edge. Further, the machine may be arranged to allow a player to accumulate these points, or the like, so that they can win a larger prize. Such an arrangement is commonly referred to as a win bank.

In other embodiments, the machine may be arranged to allow a player to exchange points awarded thereto for credits for play of the game.

The playing piece detection means may be arranged to detect playing pieces passing over a win edge region of the surface. The win edge region preferably comprises a front edge region. It is traditional in coin pushers for coins falling over the front edge region of the surface to result in a win, and therefore such an arrangement is advantageous because it will be familiar to players of such machines.

The machine may also be arranged to allow playing pieces to fall over losing edge regions of the surface, in which no prize is given for playing pieces falling thereover. The losing region preferably comprises edge regions of the surface. Again, it is traditional in coin pushers for coins falling over edge regions to be lost from the game in progress, and such a machine will therefore be advantageous because it will be familiar to players of such machines.

The playing piece detection means may be arranged to monitor the colour of playing pieces passing over the edge of the surface. Such an arrangement allows first and second playing pieces of different colours to be used, which is advantageous because it will be readily apparent to a player whether or not a first playing piece is in the vicinity to the edge of the surface (and therefore may soon be forced to pass over the edge).

Alternatively, or additionally, the playing piece detection means may be arranged to detect the material from which the playing piece is made.

Such an arrangement allows the first and second playing pieces to be made discernible by varying the material. Such an arrangement may provide a convenient way of detecting the first playing pieces.

The playing piece detection means may be able to detect playing pieces having roughly a predetermined metallic content.

In yet another alternative, or additional embodiment the playing piece detection means may be arranged to detect the presence of a tag within the playing pieces. In such an arrangement the tags are preferably electronic tags which may comprise inductive coils and/or integrated circuits, or the like, arranged to provide a detectable characteristic.

In yet a further additional, or alternative, embodiment the playing piece detection means may be arranged to monitor the dimensions of the playing pieces. Such an arrangement may be used to detect first playing pieces having a differing dimension to the second playing pieces.

Generally, the playing pieces will be roughly disc shaped and the playing piece detection means may be arranged to monitor any one or more of the following dimensions: diameter, depth, shape, presence of milling, presence of a groove.

The machine may be arranged to allow a plurality of players to play the machine at any one time (a multi-player game). However, in an alternative embodiment a single player machine may be provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an entertainment machine containing at least a plurality of first and a plurality of second playing pieces discernible from one another, the machine comprising a surface arranged to support the first and second playing pieces and having an edge over which playing pieces can pass, and a playing piece detection means arranged to detect first playing pieces within playing pieces passing over the edge of the surface.

Conveniently, the first and second playing pieces have substantially the same physical dimensions. Such an arrangement is advantageous because it allows both playing pieces to be handled by the same apparatus.

Preferably, the machine comprises a closed loop allowing playing pieces to be recirculated within the machine.

The first and second playing pieces may be different colours from one another. Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows a player to readily see which playing pieces are about to pass over the edge of the surface. Generally, the first and second playing pieces will be visually discernible from one another. This is advantageous because it makes it readily apparent to a player that a playing piece of a particular type (i. e. a first or second playing piece) may soon pass over the edge of the surface. It may of course be possible to make the playing pieces substantially visually the same. Such an arrangement would provide "surprise"prizes to the player since they would not know whether or not a first playing piece were to pass over the edge.

The machine may contain at least one further type of playing pieces discernible from both the first and second playing pieces within the machine. The machine may contain a plurality of further types of playing pieces. For example the machine may contain one or more third playing pieces, may be one or more fourth playing pieces, may be one or more fifth playing pieces, etc.

Alternatively, or additionally, the playing pieces may be fabricated from different materials. Such an arrangement may be convenient to detect.

Conveniently, the first and second playing pieces may be fabricated from different metals. Such an arrangement may be convenient because it may be convenient to detect with a means such as in induction coil.

In yet another, alternative, or additional, embodiment the playing pieces may have different physical dimensions. Preferably, the difference in the physical dimensions is small enough to allow the playing pieces to be handled by the same apparatus, but large enough to be detected.

In a preferred arrangement the number of second playing pieces may be greater than the number of first playing pieces, preferably significantly greater. Therefore, the prizes issued in response to the first playing pieces are won less frequently than prizes causes by the second playing pieces.

The entertainment machine may contain first playing pieces relative to the second playing pieces in roughly a ratio of 1: 10 (ten times as many second playing pieces as first). In other embodiments the playing pieces may be maintained in roughly any of the following ratios: 1: 5,1 : 7,1 : 12, 1: 15,1 : 20,1 : 25,1 : 50, or any ratio in between these. As the first playing pieces become less common relative to the second playing pieces it may be appropriate to increase the value of the prize dispensed for a first playing piece passing over the at least one edge.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising the steps of providing a surface arranged to support one or more playing pieces, the surface having at least one edge over which playing pieces can pass, providing at least one or more first playing pieces and one or more second playing pieces, wherein the first playing pieces are discernible from the second playing pieces and the method comprising detecting the

first playing pieces within the playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of the surface.

Thus, the entertainment machine increases player appeal by detecting when a first playing piece has passed over the edge of the surface and the machine can dispense a prize associated with the detection. The value of the prize may be arranged to be worth more than the cost associated with causing a single playing piece to be added to the surface and therefore, the appeal of the entertainment machine may be increased.

In one arrangement the method may further comprise the steps of transferring the playing pieces that have passed over the at least one edge of the surface to a playing piece dispensing means arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface.

Conveniently, the first and second playing pieces are arranged to be substantially the same dimensions. Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows both to be handled by the same apparatus.

Preferably, the method may further comprise the steps of dispensing a first prize when a first playing piece is detected passing over the at least one edge of the surface.

In a preferred embodiment the method causes the playing pieces capable of resting on the surface to be recirculated within a closed loop.

The method may provide further types of playing pieces in addition to the first and second playing pieces. Such an arrangement may allow a predetermined level of prize to be presented to a player for each type of playing piece passing over the edge of the surface.

Embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings :- Figure 1 shows an entertainment machine according to the first embodiment of the invention Figure 2 shows a tray and pusher according to one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 shows a first playing piece according to the embodiments of the invention.

Shown in Figure 1 is a coin pusher entertainment machine 100. The machine 100 has a surface 101, shown in more detail in Figure 2, and a playing piece detecting means 102 arranged to detect first playing pieces within a mixture of first and second playing pieces passing over at least one edge of the surface 101. A pusher 112 is provided above the surface 101 and arranged to reciprocate to cause playing pieces to move in the general direction of a front edge region of the surface 101.

However, there is some movement toward side edges of the surface 101.

A win chute 99 is arranged to catch playing pieces falling over a win edge region (the at least one edge), in this case the front edge, of the surface and direct them to the playing piece detecting means 102. A lose chute 103 is arranged to catch playing pieces falling over a lose edge region, in this case side edges, of the surface 101.

A directional playing piece dispensing means 104 dispenses playing pieces onto the surface 101 when activated by a player. The playing piece dispensing means 104 is arranged to constantly oscillate at a predetermined frequency over a roughly 900 arc, and a player must press

a button (not shown) when they wish a playing piece to be released from the dispensing means 104, assuming that he/she has enough credits. A transfer means, in this case an escalator 105, is provided to transfer playing pieces that have fallen into the win 99 or lose 103 chutes back to the playing piece dispensing means 104. Thus, playing pieces are circulated within a closed loop comprising the surface 101, the win 99/ lose 103 chutes, the playing piece detecting means 102, the escalator 105, and the dispensing means 104.

A coin slot 106 for receiving coins is connected to a coin validator 107 that validates the coins entered in the slot 106. A coin dispenser 108 is connected to the coin validator 107 so as to allow coins to pass from the validator 107 to the coin dispenser 108. The coin dispenser is further connected to a win hopper 109. A prize dispenser 110 is also connected to the win hopper 109 and can dispense prizes such as watches, high value coins or notes.

A control system 111 controls the functionality of the machine and is electrically connected to send and receive signals to and from the prize dispenser 110, win hopper 109, coin validator 108, playing piece detecting means 102, escalator 105, and playing piece dispensing device 104.

As described above the playing pieces capable of resting on the surface 101 circulate in a closed loop. The coins entered by the player through coin slot 106 cannot enter this closed loop.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the surface 101 and pusher 112 The surface 101 has a substantially flat upper surface 202 arranged to hold one or more first playing pieces and one or more second playing pieces. The surface 101 has a win edge region 200, in this case comprising a

front edge of the surface over which the playing pieces can pass and fall into the playing piece detection means 102. The surface also comprises two losing edge regions 205,206, which in this case are front portions of the side edges of the surface 101. If playing pieces fall over the losing edge region they fall into the lose chute 103 and bypass the playing piece detecting means 102. A pusher 201 linearly reciprocates across the surface 201. Playing pieces (not shown) on the surface 201 are pushed towards the edge 203 of the surface 201 by the pusher 201.

In use, a player causes additional playing pieces to be added to the surface 201 in the hope that these additional playing pieces will cause playing pieces to be pushed over win edge region 200.

In this embodiment the first playing pieces are discernible from the second playing pieces as they are a different colour and have an integrated circuit embedded therein. The integrated circuit is detected by the playing piece detecting means 102 when the first playing pieces pass over the win edge region 200. The playing piece detection means 102 also counts all of the playing pieces passing therethrough and therefore, in this embodiment, functions as a playing piece counter. The different colour of the playing pieces allows a player to readily discern whether or not a first playing piece is near to the win edge region 200. A first playing piece 300 is shown in Figure 3. The playing piece is fabricated from a plastics material and has an integrated circuit 351 provided therein.

The number of second playing pieces within the closed loop is greater

11 A. u I : ~~ than the number of first playing pieces. In one embodiment the playing . t Y.. r, JLA % JJLI V UJL t. Lil I pieces are similarly dimensioned discs of similar size to coins, fabricated from a plastics material. However, in other embodiments coins may be used instead of the playing pieces.

In use, a player places a coin into coin slot 106, which is validated by coin validator 107. If the coin is valid a signal is sent to the control system 111 and the coin drops into coin dispenser 108. The control device 111 provides the player with a credit, which they can use to release a playing piece onto the surface 101. When the player presses a button on the machine the coin dispenser 104 releases an additional playing piece which drops onto the surface 101. This additional playing piece is simply the next playing piece provided to the playing piece dispensing means 104 by the escalator 105, and it may be a first, or second playing piece on a random basis. Because there are more second playing pieces within the closed loop it is of course more likely to be a second playing piece that is dispensed onto the surface 101.

The pusher 201 pushes the additional playing piece in a general direction of the win edge region 200. The additional playing piece contacts other playing pieces which are already on the surface 101 which are disturbed by the additional playing piece. This disturbing of the playing pieces on the surface 101 may cause playing pieces to fall over the win edge region 200, or the losing edge regions 205,206.

Any playing piece which pass over the win edge region 200 of the surface101 are collected by the win chute 99 and are passed for detection by the playing piece detecting means 102. The detecting means 102 sends a signal to the control system 111 indicating the number of first playing pieces and the number of second playing pieces which have passed over the win edge region 200 of the surface 101. The control system 111 sends signals to the coin dispensing device 108 and causes a coin to be dispensed to the win hopper 109 for every second playing piece that has passed over the win edge region 200. Further, the control system 111 sends a signal to the prize dispensing device 110 and causes a prize to be

dispensed for every first playing piece that has passed over the win edge region 200. Playing pieces that fall over the losing edge regions 205,206 do not enter the playing piece detection means 102 and are simply entered back into the escalator by the lose chute 103, after being counted. This embodiment of the invention therefore provides a coin pusher type entertainment machine having a closed loop, which can have playing pieces of different values.

In another embodiment the prize dispenser 110 issues tickets or tokens, which can be taken to a prize collection point external to the entertainment machine and exchanged for the award. In a further embodiment a player can collect many tickets which accumulate so as they can be exchanged for more desirable prizes, or the machine may provide points to a win bank, or account, that can be exchanged for a prize at a later time.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An entertainment machine comprising a surface arranged to support one or more playing pieces including at least one or more first playing pieces and at least one or more second playing pieces wherein the second playing pieces are discernible from the first playing pieces, the surface having at least one edge over which playing pieces can pass, and a playing piece detection means arranged to detect at least first playing pieces within playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of the surface.
2. The machine according to claim 1 which further comprises at least one prize dispensing means arranged to dispense a first prize when the playing piece detection means detects a predetermined number of first playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of the surface.
3. The machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which at least one prize dispensing means is arranged to dispense a second prize when the playing piece detection means detects a predetermined number of second playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of the surface.
4. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing piece detection means is arranged to monitor the colour of playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of the surface.
5. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing piece detection means is arranged to monitor the material from which playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of the surface.

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6. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing piece detection means is arranged to detect the presence of a tag associated with the playing pieces.
7. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing piece detection means is arranged to monitor the dimensions of the playing pieces.
8. The machine according to any preceding claim which comprises a playing piece dispensing means arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface.
9. The machine according to claim 8 in which the playing piece dispensing means is arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface in response to a player inserting a predetermined amount of credit into the machine.
10. The machine according to claim 8 or 9 which comprises a transfer means arranged to transfer playing pieces which have passed over the at least one edge of the surface to the playing piece dispensing means.
11. The machine according to claim 10 in which the transfer means is a coin escalator.
12. The machine according to any one of claims 8 to 11 in which the playing piece dispensing means, the surface, the playing piece detection means and the transfer means provide a closed loop in which playing pieces are circulated.

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13. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims in which the surface is arranged to support playing pieces in addition to the first and second playing pieces.
14. An entertainment machine containing at least a plurality of first and a plurality of second playing pieces discernible from one another, the machine comprising a surface arranged to support the first and second playing pieces and having an edge over which playing pieces can pass and a playing piece detection means arranged to detect at least first playing pieces within playing pieces passing over the edge of the surface.
15. The lslachinc according to claim 14 in w hich the first playing pieces are of a first colour and the second playing pieces are of a second colour.
16. The machine according to claim 15 in which the playing piece detection means is arranged to detect the colour of a playing piece.
17. The machine according to any of claims 14 to 16 in which the first playing pieces are fabricated from a first material and the second playing pieces are fabricated from a second material and the playing piece detection means is arranged to detect the material from which a playing piece is fabricated.
18. The machine according to any of claims 14 to 17 in which the first playing pieces contain an electronic tag and the playing piece detection means is arranged to detect the presence of a tag.
19. The machine according to any of claims 14 to 18 in which the first playing pieces are of substantially the same dimensions as each other and the second playing pieces are of substantially the same dimension as each

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other and the dimensions of the first playing pieces differ from the dimensions of the second playing pieces and the playing piece detection means is arranged to monitor the dimensions of the playing pieces.
20. The machine according to claims 14 to 19 in which the playing piece detection means is arranged to detect second playing pieces within playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of the playing surface.
21. The machine according to claim 20 which further comprises a prize dispensing means arranged to dispense a first level of prize when the playing piece detection means detects a predetermined number of first playing pieces, and a second level of prize when the playing piece detection means detects a predetermined number of second playing pieces.
22. A method for increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising the steps of providing a surface arranged to support one or more playing pieces, the surface having at least one edge over which playing pieces can pass, providing at least one or more first and one or more second playing pieces, wherein the first playing pieces are discernible from the second playing pieces and the method comprising detecting at least the first playing pieces within the playing pieces over at least one edge of the surface.
23. The method of claim 22 which further comprises providing a prize dispenser which dispenses a prize on detection of a first playing piece.
24. The method of claim 22 or claim 23 which further comprises the

steps of transferring the playing pieces that have passed over the at least t, i one edge of the surface to a playing piece dispensing means arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface.

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25. The method of claims 22 to 24 which further comprises providing further types of playing pieces in addition to the first and second pieces identifying the type of playing piece and providing a prize dispenser which dispenses a predetermined level of prize for each type of playing piece passing over the at least one edge of the surface.
26. An entertainment machine substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 and 2.
27. An entertainment machine containing a plurality of playing pieces substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying

w ; vaS 1 1 Figures 1 3.
28. A method for increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying Figures 1-3.