GB2459649A

GB2459649A - Gaming apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2459649A
Application number: GB0807674A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Les Brown; Richard William Cammegh; Frank Cammegh
Original assignee: Cammegh Ltd
Current assignee: Cammegh Ltd
Priority date: 2008-04-28
Filing date: 2008-04-28
Publication date: 2009-11-04
Also published as: GB0807674D0; WO2009133395A3; WO2009133395A2; WO2009133395A4

Abstract

A gaming apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted rotor (11) having pockets (13) into which a ball (50) can be received, each pocket being associated with a number, a peripheral inclined surface concentric with the rotor and having a circular ball track (14), a mechanical ejector (35) adapted to eject a ball received in a pocket onto the peripheral inclined surface, and a solid striker (30) adapted to strike and propel the ejected ball along the ball track.

Description

Gaming Apparatus The present invention relates to gaming apparatus, more particularly it relates to roulette wheels in which the ball is automatically put in play.

Background

Roulette is a well-known casino game which has been played for many years.

A typical roulette wheel includes a number ring bearing a circular array of numbered segments bearing numbers 1 through 36. In addition, the number ring typically includes the numbers 0 and 00 disposed at diametrically opposite locations on the number ring, or a "0" on its own. The numbers 1 through 36 are not disposed in numerical order, but are typically disposed in a predetermined arrangement, such that roulette wheels located in different casinos will have the same standard predetermined number ring arrangement.

The numbers disposed in a circular array in the number ring region of the wheel bear the alternating colours of red and black, with the exception of the 0 and 00 numbers, which are typically coloured green. A ring of pockets corresponding in number to the plurality of numbers of the circular number ring lies adjacent, but radially inward of the number ring, on the typical roulette wheel. In addition, a typical roulette wheel includes a circular, inclined ball track, disposed above, and radially outwardly of the number ring.

In operation of a typical roulette game, players place chips or tokens on a betting layout located on a roulette table, and then the croupier or dealer spins the roulette wheel to place the ball in motion about the circular ball track. As the wheel slows, the ball moves radially inwardly and comes to rest in one of the pockets associated with a particular number of the number ring. After the ball comes to rest in one of the pockets, the croupier or dealer settles the various wagers placed on the table layout in accordance with predetermined rules and wager odds and the process is repeated.

In order to reduce costs, automatic roulette wheels have been devised in which the process of putting the ball in play is done automatically. These machines can be made like slot machines with the bets being placed and winnings paid out using a machine rather than a croupier. This reduces the costs associated with security, chips, dealers, etc. In a known system, in order to recover the ball after each spin, a trap door opens beneath the pockets and the ball drops through this trap door and passes through a series of channels and is returned back up to its starting position. The ball can then be put in play by a solenoid firing the ball onto the ball track.

Another system is disclosed in US Patent 4735416 in which the wheel is displaced relative to a rim and the ball falls into the gap formed and into a return channel under the wheel for returning to its start position. Such systems involve the ball disappearing from view and involve complicated machinery to recover the ball and to fire it into play. Such complication requires a great deal of maintenance and servicing, particularly to maintain the accuracy of the wheel and the randomness of the winning numbers

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a roulette wheel comprising: a mechanical ejector adapted to eject a ball from a pocket of the wheel; and a mechanical propulsion means adapted to strike and propel the ejected ball along a ball track of the wheel.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming apparatus comprising: a rotatably mounted rotor having pockets into which a ball can be received, each pocket being associated with a number; a peripheral inclined surface concentric with the rotor, said surface comprising a circular ball track disposed radially outward of the rotor; a mechanical ejector adapted to eject a ball received in a pocket onto the peripheral inclined surface; and a solid striker adapted to strike and propel the ball along the ball track.

The apparatus is particularly suitable for use in playing roulette but it can be used for any other game which is played on a roulette wheel or roulette type wheel and can include games in which more than one ball is in play during the game.

The roulette wheel or rotor is able to be rotated in both directions.

The solid striker for propelling the ball along the said ball track preferably comprises one or more pivotally mounted flippers positioned at the edge of the ball track which can strike and thus propel the ball along the ball track. Further, it may be preferable to arrange such flippers to be retractable into a position which does not impede movement of a ball travelling on the ball track. The flippers may emerge from apertures in the rim of the apparatus, the apertures being positioned such they do not interrupt the surface on which the ball runs.

For example, a flipper may be in a cut-out positioned between the tangential tracks.

Preferably the means for ejecting the ball from the pocket is a striker which passes through a hole in the pocket to strike a ball in the pocket and ejects it onto the peripheral surface. The striker can be driven magnetically, e.g. by a solenoid, or it can be spring energised, driven by a motorised cam arrangement. A ball detector means such as an optical sensing system of the type which is well known in the art or as referred to below, may be employed to sense which pocket the ball has finished in from the preceding game and the wheel may then be brought to a standstill with that pocket aligned with the striker.

The rotor may be rotated in the same direction each time or the rotation may be reversed randomly or any other arrangement for direction of spin can be used.

Additionally, the rotor may move at a random velocity each game.

Preferably the ejector is not connected to the rotor but is connected to the base of the roulette wheel.

In order to ensure that the ball is ejected at the correct velocity each time, it is preferable to accurately align the pocket with the ejector. In order to achieve the required degree of accuracy, a motor and encoder arrangement may be used to control rotation of the rotor.

The locations of the mechanical ejector and the solid striker are arranged so that, when the ball is ejected by the mechanical ejector it is automatically in the correct position to be struck and propelled by the solid striker.

There may be provided a plurality of mechanical ejectors and mechanical propulsion means e.g. 2, 4 or 8 spaced around the wheel. A computer control system may be provided to control the rotation of the rotor and the timing of mechanical ejector and/or the solid striker.

A transparent cover such as a glass or transparent plastic may be provided as a cover over the apparatus. The central rotor may then be mounted so that it fits beneath the sheet. Above the sheet a static turret may be provided. This turret preferably has a smooth reflective surface and can be, for example, in the shape of a cylinder or can have a circular cross section of varying diameter along its length i.e. of a curvilinear shape. In use, the numbers of the wheel may then be reflected in the turret such that, as the wheel rotates, the turret has the appearance of movement.

Preferably a plurality of ball stops/interrupters may be uniformly located around the peripheral inclined surface to introduce further unpredictability to the fall of the ball to the rotor pockets; in a typical wheel there can be six or eight ball stops and the means for ejecting the ball from the pocket is positioned so that the ball is ejected between the stops so that they may be avoided.

The operation of the wheel, the operation of the mechanical ejector and the operation of the mechanical propulsion means may be computer controlled.

In addition, to incorporate further random effects the direction and/or amplitude of the force applied to the ball by the mechanical propulsion means may be varied in each game or randomised so there is no predictability about the ball speed and direction.

A motor employed in the apparatus may be a stepper or DC servo motor which enables there to be accurate control of its operation and preferably the motor is coupled to the rotor e.g. directly or by a friction drive with a step down gearing to give high torque drive to the rotor which improves control. The speed of rotation of the rotor may be randomly set.

There can be a fixed outer rim peripherally outward and at the top of the ball track which can incorporate a ball reader so that the position of the ball in a pocket is automatically noted and recorded. A suitable reader is described in Patent Application WO 01/32278. Sensors may also be provided at the outer rim to measure the speed of the ball on the ball track.

The wheel may be controlled by a computer so that the output of a sensor or sensors which detect the location of the ball and/or the speed of the ball, the stopping of the motor, speed and direction of rotation of the rotor, the timing of the means for ejecting the ball from the pocket, the operation of the means to propel the ball along the ball track etc. are computer controlled. Alternatively one or more of these functions can be controlled by a croupier by means of a control switch, for example the starting of the rotor, the stopping of the rotor, or the launching of the ball can be manually controlled to ensure that all bets are in position.

The apparatus can be used in a range of configurations, for example a completely automatic one for use in betting terminals which operates without any human intervention; a semi automatic one for live gaming tables in which an operator controls operations such as starting the wheel or launching the ball, deciding when no more bets should be placed, and one for live gaming tables with betting terminals. These are not mutually exclusive and a configuration can be used as a live table and with betting terminals simultaneously.

A particular feature of the present invention is that it does not affect the structure or operation of the roulette wheel by means of trap doors beneath the pockets or moveable rims in order to recover the ball, making it easier to maintain the randomness of the wheel with the ball being in sight of the players at all times.

The invention is useful in conjunction with automatic roulette wheels in which bets are placed via slots or other similar mechanisms using coins, notes or tokens and the roulette wheel is spun automatically using the present invention.

A payout mechanism can be provided to calculate the winnings and to pay them out in coins, tokens, or by bank transfer for example. The payout mechanism can include a microprocessor to calculate the amount of winnings on different types of bets, thus enabling completely automatic gaming to take place.

The use of computer controls can enable a plurality of roulette wheels to be accurately coordinated; for example two or more roulette wheels may be synchronised so that they start a turn at exactly the same time and finish a turn at the same time and this will enable bets to be placed on two numbers coming up together on different wheels. This enables multiple odds to be paid, for example if the odds on each wheel of a specific number coming up is 37:1 and the payout is 36:1 then the odds on two specific numbers coming upon two wheels are (37x37):1 and the payout is (36x36):1 and so on for three, four wheels etc. This enables very large payouts to be made, for example, a million to one, whilst normal bets can simultaneously be made on the individual wheels.

Embodiments may enable a traditional manually operated wheel to be replaced without any changes being needed to an existing supporting table. A croupier can start a new game by pressing a button for example.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of part of a roulette wheel according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 2a and 2b show an enlarged part of Figure 1 so as to illustrate the operation of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows an enlarged part of Figure 1 so as to illustrate the operation of an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is an alternative view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention Referring to fig. 1 a roulette wheel has a rotor 11 mounted on an axle 12. There are pockets 13 on the periphery of the rotor and each pocket is numbered and coloured. Surrounding the rotor 11 is a ball track 14. There is a fixed top rim 15 around the ball track 14 in which there is a number recording device (not visible) which detects which pocket a ball is in and enables this number to be displayed and recorded. There is a ball ejector 35 with a striker 41 in the rotor 11 and a striker 30 in the top rim 15. A ball trap 16 is provided in the top rim 15, the ball trap 16 having an arm 16a which extends above the ball track 14 and is movable between first and second positions. In the first position (as illustrated), the arm 16a retains a ball against the ball track 14 and the top rim 15. In the second position (indicated by dotted lines), the arm 16a is displaced from the first position so as to not cooperate with a ball in the vicinity of the top rim 15.

A transparent rigid plastics or glass cover 31 is provided over the wheel. The axle 12 stops beneath the cover 31 and there is a reflective turret 32 mounted over the axle 12.

The rotation of the rotor 11 is controlled by a motor and the sequence of events is controlled by computer. Ball interrupters 33 are provided on the inclined surface of the ball track 14 which divide the wheel into sections. The location of the pocket containing the ball is detected by a ball detector as will be described below and the timing of the ball ejector 35, the striker 30 and ball trap 16 in the top rim 15, and alignment of the ejector 35 and hole 36 are controlled by the computer. The ejector 35 is not connected to the rotor but is connected to the base of the roulette wheel.

The embodiments provide a roulette wheel comprising a mechanical ejector adapted to eject the ball from a pocket of the roulette wheel to the ball track of the peripheral inclined surface wherein it is then propelled along the ball track by mechanical propulsion means.

Referring to figs. 2a and 2b these show an embodiment of the invention. In fig. 2a the ball 50 is at rest in the pocket 42 in which there is a hole 44 behind which is mounted an ejector assembly 40 comprising a striker 41, a snail cam 45 and a spring 46. The striker 41 is aligned with the hole 44. In use, when the ball has come to rest in a pocket 42, the rotor 11 is stopped with the striker 41 aligned with the hole 44 in the pocket 42 with the ball 50 in it. When the time comes to start the next game the ejector assembly 40 is activated and the ball is ejected onto the peripherally inclined ball track surface 14 where it is rotated around the track by a striker 30 in the top rim 15 (Fig 1) (as described in more detail below). The control mechanism ensures that the striker 41 is exactly aligned with the hole 44, and that the striker 30 in the top rim 15 strikes the ball to push it around the track 14 at the time when the ball travels up the track 14 from the ejector assembly and reaches the top rim 15.

From Figures 2a and 2b it will be appreciated the striker 41 of the ejector assembly 40 is moved between two positions by rotation of the snail cam 45 and the resilient force of the spring 46. In the first position (illustrated in Figure 2a), the snail cam 45 is oriented such that the striker 41 is retracted into the rotor 11 and does not extend into the hole 44. Here, the spring is compressed against a back plate 47 by the striker 41, and the snail cam 45 is held in this position, thereby preventing expansion of the spring 46 and movement of the striker 41.

The ejector is operated by rotating the snail cam 45 clockwise about its axis of rotation 45a (for example, by means of a motor) so that the edge of the snail cam disengages with the striker 41 and the striker 41 is propelled forward by resilient force of the spring 46. Thus, the spring 46 propels striker 41 to the its second position so that the end of the striker 41 passes through the hole 44 and ejects the ball from the pocket 42 onto surface 14 as shown in Figure 2b.

After ejecting the ball from the pocket 42, the striker 41 is moved back to the first position of Figure 2a by further rotating the snail cam 45 in a clockwise direction about its axis 45a. Clockwise rotation of the snail cam 45 from the second position causes the striker 41 to be retracted back into rotor 11 and the spring 46 to be compressed. Once the snail cam 45 has been rotated to the first position, rotation of the snail cam 45 is stopped and the striker is held in the first position, with the spring 46 compressed, by the surface of the snail cam 45. The rotor 11 is then able to rotate once again and the ejector assembly is then ready to be activated again in order to eject a ball 50 from a pocket 42.

It will be understood that a roulette wheel may comprise a single ejector assembly located in the rotor. In such an embodiment, the location of a pocket containing the ball is detected by a ball detector and the position of the rotor is controlled by a motor servo positioning system so as to align the ball containing pocket with the striker of the ejector assembly.

Referring to figures 3 and 4 a ball trap 16 and flipper 30 mechanism is provided within the rim 15 of the roulette wheel and radially aligned with the ejector assembly 40. The ball trap 16 and flipper 30 mechanism is controlled by a computer so that it operates automatically.

The ball trap 16 is movable between a rest position (shown by solid lines in Figure 3, and shown by dotted lines in Figure 4) and an active position (shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, and shown by solid lines in Figure 4). In the rest position the arm 1 6a of the ball trap 16 is raised outside of a ball passage zone so that it cannot contact a ball 50 that may be present directly below it. When the rotor 11 stops and the ball 50 is ready to be ejected from a pocket 42 (as described in Figures 2a and 2b), the ball trap 16 is operated (pivoted by a solenoid 48) so that that the arm 16a is lowered to the active position wherein the arm 1 6a is able to contact a ball 50 present below it.

Momentarily before ejection from a pocket 42, the ball 50 is in position a' (shown in Figure 1). Upon ejection from the pocket 42 by the ejector assembly 40, the ball 50 moves radially outward from the rotor, up the inclined ball track 14 until is reaches position b' (shown in Figure 1) at the rim 15 of the wheel.

The momentum of the ball 50 when it reaches position b' is sufficient to drive the ball past the sprung arm 1 6a of the ball trap where it is then captured and retained against the ball track 14 and the rim 15 (as shown in Figure 3). A sensor 49 in the rim 15 detects the presence of the ball 50 and the ball trap 16 and, in response to such detection, the flipper 30 mechanism is activated to strike the ball 50 from the arm 16a of the ball trap 16 and cause the ball 50 to move around the ball track 14 on or near the rim 15. The sensor 49 also records successful ejection of a ball, and the speed of the propelled ball on successive passes. A signal from the sensor 49 is also used to signal a " no more bets" situation at a predetermined point in the measured speed decay of the ball..

When the flipper 30 mechanism is activated, the ball trap 16 is also deactivated to raise the arm 16a to the rest position so that it does not hinder movement of the ball 50 around the ball track 14. It will be understood that the arm 16a of the ball trap 16 may be retracted fractionally before the flipper 30 mechanism is activated A torsion spring or other resilient means (not shown) is used to return the activated flipper 30 to a parked position within the rim 15 after the ball is stuck from the ball trap 16.

The flipper mechanism 30 comprises two oppositely directed flippers 30a and 30b, each driven by a solenoid 51, enabling the ball 50 to be struck in opposite directions (clockwise or anticlockwise around the ball track 14). The flipper solenoids 51 can be driven by variable power so as to vary the velocity which the flippers 30a and 30b strike the ball 50.

Once the ball 50 has been set in motion around the ball track by the flipper 30a, and the rotor has been set spinning, the ball spirals down the inclined surface until it lands in a pocket (13) in the rotating rotor (11). The pocket is noted by the detection means as the rotor comes to rest and the bets are settled. Bets are settled as soon as winning number is established. This can happen before the rotor stops. This process can then be repeated.

On the next spin, the flipper mechanism 30 may be operated to cause the ball to circulate on the ball track 14 in the opposite direction.

A sequence for one embodiment of the invention is:- 1. The ball is sitting in a pocket in the rotating rotor as the previous game has closed. The location of the ball has been detected by a sensor. The rotor is slowed to a stop with the pocket with the ball in it aligned so the hole in the pocket is in line with the striker (41) (fig. 2a and 2b). Preferably, the rate of deceleration of the rotor is such that the rotor appears to slow on its own.

2. The ejector mechanism is activated which ejects the ball out of the pocket and up the ball track; the ball then moves to the outside of the ball track.

3. The flipper mechanism is activated to strike the ball around the ball track and the ball then circulates along the rim of the ball track.

4. As soon as the ball has left the rotor, the rotor is made to turn in the opposite direction to the ball by the motor at a speed at which a casino croupier would generally keep the wheel turning if it were a conventional manual wheel.

5. The "no more bets" signal is given, the ball will carry on and then spin as if it had been fired by the croupier. The ball spirals down in the same way as when fired by a croupier and comes to rest in a pocket. The location of the ball in the pocket is detected by the sensor and the rotor is slowed to a stop so that the pocket with the ball in it is stopped with the hole in the pocket aligned with the striker of the ejector. Payouts etc. can then be made.

6. The sequence is then restarted and the ball is ejected from the pocket by the ejector and struck by a flipper of the flipper mechanism when it reaches the rim of the wheel. The direction which the ball is struck around the rim can be the same as in the previous turn or it can be in the opposite direction.

A sequence for an alternative embodiment may include an additional step 2a after step 2 and preceding step 3, wherein step 2a comprises: 2a. The ball is captured by the ball trap and retained against the ball track and the rim so that it is held in a preferred stationary position ready for striking by a flipper.

The invention recreates what a croupier does, except that no dealer has a hand in the procedure and the ball remains visible at all times. In particular, in play, the ball spins one way and the rotor the other way and the ball comes to rest in a pocket as in manually operated games.

While specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications will be apparent to a person skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the ejector assembly may alternatively comprise a solenoid operated striker/pin. Also, the flippers and ball trap need not be operated by solenoids, but instead may be operated using rotary actuators, motors, or cam operated spring devices.

The sensor 49 depicted in Figure 4 is an infra red reflective device but other types of sensor could be employed. Preferably, the sensor should be a non-contact device.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A gaming apparatus comprising: a rotatably mounted rotor having pockets into which a ball can be received, each pocket being associated with a number; a peripheral inclined surface concentric with the rotor, said surface comprising a circular ball track disposed radially outward of the rotor; a mechanical ejector adapted to eject a ball received in a pocket onto the peripheral inclined surface; and a solid striker adapted to strike and propel the ejected ball along the ball track.
2. A gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ball trapping mechanism adapted to receive a ball ejected by the mechanical ejector and to restrict movement of the ball prior to the ball being propelled by the mechanical propulsion means.
3. A gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ball trapping mechanism comprises an arm operable to move between a first position in which the ball trapping mechanism does not restrict movement of the ball on the ball track and a second position in which the ball trapping mechanism is arranged to receive a ball ejected by the mechanical ejector and to restrict movement of the ball on the ball track.
4. A gaming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mechanical ejector comprises a firing pin which is operable to strike a ball from a pocket
5. A gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the firing pin is operated by a snail cam and a spring.
6. A gaming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the solid striker comprises a pivotally mounted flipper operable to strike the ejected ball.
7. A gaming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the solid striker is operated by a solenoid.
8. A gaming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising striker control means adapted to control the force applied to the ball by the solid striker
9. A gaming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a ball detector adapted to detect the presence of a ball at a location in the gaming apparatus.
10. A gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising computer control means adapted to control rotation of the rotor, wherein an output from the ball detector is fed to the computer control means and at least one of: a motor controlling the rotation of the rotor, the mechanical ejector, a ball trapping mechanism and the solid striker.
11. A gaming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising: a motor adapted to rotate the rotor; and motor control means adapted to stop the rotor so that a pocket containing a ball is aligned with the mechanical ejector.
12. A gaming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a fixed rim positioned peripherally outward and at the top of the ball track, wherein the solid striker is contained within the fixed rim.
13. A gaming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the apparatus is a roulette wheel.
14. A roulette wheel comprising: a mechanical ejector adapted to eject a ball from a pocket of the wheel; and a solid striker adapted to strike and propel the ejected ball along a ball track of the wheel.
15. A roulette wheel as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a ball trapping mechanism adapted to receive a ball ejected by the mechanical ejector and to restrict movement of the ball prior to the ball being propelled by the solid striker.