GB2579219A

GB2579219A - Float tray

Info

Publication number: GB2579219A
Application number: GB1819170.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Cammegh Richard; Chalmers Ronald
Original assignee: Cammegh Ltd
Current assignee: Cammegh Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-26
Filing date: 2018-11-26
Publication date: 2020-06-17
Also published as: GB201820609D0; GB201819170D0; GB2580889A

Abstract

A float tray includes a plurality of storage rows 4, each row capable of storing one or more chips or tokens. At least some of the storage rows are individually formed for movement independent of adjacent storage rows and are associated with a weight sensor 32 for weighing the tokens in the respective storage row a colour detector 20 for determining the colour of tokens stored in the storage row. The float tray may be connected to a computer that determines the total value of the tokens stored in the tray using the output from the sensors.

Description

Float Tra

Field of Invention

The invention relates to a tray for holding chips, tokens or the like.

Background to the Invention

A number of casino games use chips to represent sums of money bet and payouts made. There is accordingly a need for the dealer or croupier at each table to have a store of chips in order to collect chips corresponding to bids made and to make payouts. Such chips may be stored in a float tray, which are formed to include a number of hem icylindrical impressions each capable of holding a stack of chips. The float tray may include other components, such as for example a lockable lid to protect the chips.

In order to automate this process, attempts have been made to integrate radio frequency identification, RFID, chip readers in the float tray and use RFID tags in each casino chip. However, there are a number of problems with such approaches. Firstly, it is necessary to use special casino chips with integrated RFID tags. Secondly, it has proved difficult to accurately count the chips as float trays may contain hundreds of chips and the electronics in the chips can interfere with each other making it difficult to reliably count the exact number of chips in each float tray.

An alternative float tray is proposed by US 9,795,870 which teaches a gaming chip tray counting device with a laser for measuring the distance to the top of each stack of chips in the tray and hence counts the number of chips in each stack. In this way real time information about the value of chips in the float tray may be calculated.

However, in spite of these attempts such apparatus for automatically counting chips in float trays has not been widely adopted in casinos worldwide. This may be due to regulation of casinos and of the equipment used in casinos, which is extremely strict in many countries. It therefore remains necessary to manually count the chips in each tray, which can interrupt the game while it takes place.

It will be appreciated that this need extends to other casino equipment, such as plaque boxes that may be used to store larger plaques in some casinos or chip trays of the type that may be used with roulette or other casino games. The term "tokens" will be used in this specification for chips, plaques or other tokens of the type used in such games.

There thus remains a need for apparatus suitable for use in casinos for automatically counting the number of tokens in a tray.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a float tray, comprising: a plurality of storage rows for storing rows of like tokens; wherein at least some of the storage rows are individually formed for movement independent of adjacent storage rows, are associated with a weight sensor for weighing the tokens in the respective storage row, and are associated with a colour detector for determining the colour of tokens stored in the storage row.

The inventors have realised that by providing individually formed storage rows, not a flat tray or other tray formed out of a single piece of material as in a conventional float tray, the weight of tokens in each of the storage rows can be measured. By combining this information with the information from the colour detector to determine the colour of the tokens, the total value of the tokens in each storage row can be determined automatically.

The colour detector can detect simply the colour of the token at one end of the storage row as in practice casinos store tokens only of a single colour and hence single value in each row.

It will however be appreciated that by measuring the colour of the token rather than using predetermined rows for tokens of predetermined colours a significant level of flexibility can be provided without risking inaccurate counting if pre-programmed storage rows are used for tokens of a different value. For example, in the case that one table uses a large number of $10 chips and another table uses a large number of $50 or $100 chips the casino operative at each table can simply use multiple rows for each of the most popular type of chip at that table without needing to carry out any kind of setup operation which would incur the risk of error and hence m is-counting.

The optical sensor can capture the colour over a significant area of the token as some 3 tokens may have regions of different colours that may be the same on different tokens typically many tokens have white or pale areas.

In one alternative, the weight sensors can be load cells which are widely used for carrying out solid state measurements. Such load cells are relatively inexpensive and to can be fitted with relative ease.

However, the inventors have realised that load cells can be overstressed and damaged by excess weight, for example if a casino operative leans on the chips or the float tray. Such damage might be difficult to detect and lead to unreliable or inaccurate counting.

In particular, load cells can overload if the load cell sensor is pushed beyond its elastic limit, for example if somebody accidentally or deliberately leans on the float tray storage rows. In such a case, the response to the load cell can become non-linear. It may be possible to recalibrate the load cell, but this is not guaranteed and it would first be necessary to detect the overload. Thus, the use of load cells can give rise to inaccuracies in counting.

Accordingly, at least some of the storage rows may comprise: a pivot for supporting the storage row; and a resilient means for supporting the storage row; wherein the weight sensor detects movement of the storage row about the pivot when tokens are stored in the storage row and outputs a weight signal.

In this way, hidden damage in load cells may be avoided. Moreover, by using a pivot mechanism the storage row can move at least 1 mm (measured at the location of the weight sensor) between the state when the storage row is empty and the state where the load cell is full. In contrast, load cells typically have very small ranges of movement which might be blocked by small particles of contamination. Thus, unexpectedly, in this application a pivot mechanism can provide better results than a load cell.

A stop may be provided to stop movement of the storage rows beyond a certain point, to protect the weight sensor. The significant movement that may be obtained by using a pivot and resilient means allows for such a stop to function correctly. On load cells it is difficult to provide such an end stop as the travel is very small. In alternative 3 embodiments, the compression of a spring used as the resilient means limits the travel.

The pivot may be provided spaced from one end of the storage row and the weight sensor may be provided at the opposite end of the storage row.

In an alternative arrangement the pivot may be provided between the ends of the storage row and the resilient means may be provided on either side of the pivot towards the ends of the storage row.

The resilient means may be a spring. The spring constant of the spring may be sufficiently small that the storage row at the weight sensor moves at least 1 mm between the state when the storage row is empty of tokens and the state when the storage row is full of tokens.

The individually formed storage rows may comprise a lip extending along the storage row along one side of the storage row, the lip overlapping the adjacent storage row on the said side to cover the gap between the storage rows. In this way, the lip can prevent or reduce contamination getting into the gaps between the adjacent storage rows.

In alternative arrangement to prevent or reduce contamination, a silicone membrane may be provided between adjoining storage rows to prevent ingress of dust and contamination. This alternative approach has the advantage that there is no risk of a lip interfering with the motion of adjacent tubes.

Each weight sensor may comprise a capacitance weight sensor comprising two plates, one plate being connected to the respective storage row for movement together with the storage row and with respect to the other plate so that the overlap between the two plates varies as the storage row moves under the weight of tokens in the storage row. Such sensors can provide very high resolution sensing for example such sensors may be 21 bit sensors able to resolve over 2 000 000 different positions.

One of the plates of the capacitance weight sensor may be tapered in the direction of motion of the plates with respect to each other. In this way, the sensitivity of the weight sensor may be arranged to be non-constant. This can compensate for non-linear movement of the storage row with respect to numbers of tokens, that is to say greater movement of the storage row for each token when the row is full compared with when the row is empty.

In another aspect the invention relates to a casino system comprising: a tray as set out above; and a controller connected to the weight sensors and to the colour detectors; wherein the controller is adapted to determine the number of tokens in each row from the outputs of the weight sensor, to determine the token value stored in each storage row from the output of the colour detectors and to calculate the total value of 15 tokens stored in the tray from the respective numbers of tokens and token values.

In order to compensate for non-linearity in the response of the weight sensor to tokens across the range from an empty storage row to a full storage row, the casino system may contain at least one non-linear calibration curve for converting the output of the 20 weight sensor into the number of tokens.

The system may further comprise a drop box for collecting cash and a cash sensor for determining the value of cash added to the drop box. The computer may be adapted to output both the total value of tokens stored in the tray and the total value of cash stored in the drop box.

The drop box may be separate to the float tray. In some cases, cash added to the drop box may be manually input by a touch screen either on a separate device or incorporated into the float tray. Alternatively, the drop box may comprise a bill acceptor capable of identifying an introduced note or bill and automatically communicating this to the controller. The drop box may also be configured to accept payments by another means, for example contactless payments using a debit or credit card. In this case, the drop box need not contain physical bills but can act to capture electronic payments at the table.

The system may further comprise a computer adapted to identify tables where the total value of tokens or the total value of cash and tokens drops below predetermined values or drops faster than a predetermined speed. In this way, tables which need refilling with tokens can be identified -at present this is often done by a person with a clipboard.

3 Such a computer may also be programmed to identify dubious transactions. After such identification, it may be possible to monitor such tables more closely.

The system may have a number of trays, typically installed at a number of tables, and a computer may be provided adapted to output the total value for each of the trays. In this way, the casino operator may be provided with real-time access to data relating to the total float and cash for all the connected tables.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrams, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray; Figure 2 is a cross section through two adjacent storage rows; Figure 3 is a side view of one storage row; Figure 4 illustrates a capacitive sensor; Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative tray; Figure 6 illustrates a more complete system; and Figure 7 illustrates the sensitivity of the system.

The Figures are schematic and not to scale. 2j

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows a tray in the form of a float tray 2 which has a plurality of storage rows 4 arranged in parallel within a frame 38. Unlike conventional float trays, which are formed as an integral unit, each storage row is formed independently, i.e. as a separate component, as may be seen in the cross section of Figure 2 which shows two adjacent storage rows 4. The storage rows have an approximately hemi-cylindrical shape that is to enable them to store round tokens in the form of chips 18. In alternate embodiments, the shape can be cylindrical but with less than half the circumference present.

In the event that some non-circular tokens, or tokens of different sizes, are required, correspondingly shaped storage rows may be provided. It will be appreciated that by using independently formed storage rows, the float tray can be adapted to the requirements of individual casinos by manufacturing independently formed storage rows 3 for each different chip or token that may be required, and then assembling appropriate storage rows together to form a float tray.

In some arrangements, the individual storage rows can be removed and replaced, which may allow for replacement of damaged or stained storage rows or for different sizes or shapes of chips or tokens.

Note that a lip 6 is provided extending along one edge of the storage row along the length direction of the storage row. The lip 6 overlaps the adjacent storage row and provides a cover for the gap 8 between adjacent storage rows.

Referring to Figure 3, which illustrates a single storage row 4 in side view, a pivot 10 is provided which is connected to a first end 14 of the storage row 4 by a pivot arm 12. The storage row can rotate about the pivot 10.

A number of chips 18 are seen provided in the storage row, extending from the first end 14 towards the opposite second end 16.

A resilient means in the form of a spring 30 is provided closer to the second end 16 than the first end, such that when chips 18 are introduced into the storage row 4 the weight of the chips 18 compresses the spring 30 and the second end 16 moves downwards slightly. The spring 30 is chosen to have a spring constant that generates significant motion -at least 1mm and preferably 1.5mm, between the state with the storage row 4 being empty of chips and the storage row 4 being full of chips. This can provide enough motion for reliable sensing. Moreover, this amount of motion can be enough to dislodge small particles or dust.

In some examples, springs having spring constants above 100 N/m may be used, for example in the range 250 N/m to 25000 N/m, in particular for example between 1000 N/m and 10000 N/m, the exact spring constant chosen depending on the intended weight of chips, location of the pivot, number of springs, and the need to support also the storage row as well as the chips it holds.

A capacitive weight sensor 32 is provided at the second end 16 of the storage row 4 3 which is made up of a moving plate 34 and a stationary plate 36. The capacitive weight sensor 32 is fixed to frame 38. As the storage row 4 pivots under the weight of chips 18, illustrated by arrow 22, the moving plate 34 moves to overlap the stationary plate varying the capacitance between the moving and stationary plates 34, 36.

to Such capacitive weight sensors 32 are commercially available with moving plate 34 and stationary plate 36 both being in rectangular form.

However, in the present embodiment the moving plate is tapered as illustrated in Figure 4, an end view, so that the change in capacitance between the plates varies more for each millimetre of motion at one end of the travel of the storage row 4 about the pivot arm than at the other. The reason for this will be discussed below.

A stop 40 is provided to limit the motion of the storage row 4 about the pivot to prevent any possible damage to the spring 30.

Returning to Figure 3, a colour sensor 20 is provided at the first end 14 of the storage row. The colour sensor 20 is an optical sensor with a light source in the form of an LED and a detector. The detector is arranged to capture light from a significant fraction of the area of the first chip 18 at the first end 14 of the storage row 4 so that if any small areas of the chip are of a different colour to the rest of the chip a reliable reading of the chip 18 can still be made as the sensor in effect measures the average colour over a significant area of the first chip 18.

Alternatively or additionally, the colour sensor is located to face the edge of a chip 18 at the first end 14 of the storage row 4. Chips are designed to be recognisable by the edge and hence this arrangement can provide reliable identification of the colour of the chip.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment with a central pivot 10 and two springs 30. This arrangement provides greater sensitivity at the ends of the range of motion of the storage row 4, i.e. when the storage row is nearly full or nearly empty. An additional sensor 50 is provided towards the centre of the row for detecting if a chip is present at the midpoint of the storage row just above the pivot 10.

3 As illustrated in Figure 6, the float tray 2 may be connected as part of a casino system 60. The float tray 2 has a plurality of storage rows 4 each of which has a respective weight sensor 32 and colour sensor 20. The casino system 60 includes weight measurement electronics 62 connected to each weight sensor 32 of a storage tray and colour sensor electronics 64 connected to each colour sensor 20 of a storage tray.

These are in turn connected to central computer system 70. Note that the central computer system may be in turn connected to other trays 2 at other tables around the casino as illustrated. The weight measurement electronics 62 may include a commercially available sensor such as the 24 bit capacitance to digital converter with temperature sensor sold under the part numbers AD7745 and AD7746 by Analog Devices.

Although Figure 6 illustrates separate weight measurement electronics 62 and colour sensor electronics 64, together these may be considered to constitute a controller 62,64. In alternative embodiments, a single controller 62,64 may be provided to carry 20 out both weight measurement and colour sensing.

The computer system 70 contains code 72 adapted to cause the computer system to take the measurements from the colour sensor electronics 64 and use these two to calculate which type of chip is in each of the storage rows 4 of the tray or trays 2. The computer system can then use the information from the weight measurement electronics 62 to calculate the total number and value of chips in each storage row. The total and the breakdown can be output, for example on screen 74 or communicated through network 76 to other systems.

It will be appreciated that the response of the weight sensor is not simply a linear response to the number of chips 18 in each storage row 4 as the moment that each chip causes around pivot 10 will be greater towards the second end 16 far from the pivot 10 than around the first end 14 close to the pivot 10. For this reason, a non-linear calibration curve 80 as illustrated in Figure 7 (stored in the computer system 70) may be used to convert the output of the weight measurement electronics into the number of chips corresponding to that output. In the case that different chips have different weights, a respective calibration curve 80 may be provided for each type of chip present in the casino.

3 Figure 7 shows the output from the capacitance to digital converter in the weight measurement electronics as a function of the number of tokens for the end pivot of Figure 3 as well as the centre pivot of Figure 5. Note that in the case of the end pivot the change in output for each token (the sensitivity) increases as the number of tokens increases, while in the case of the centre pivot the change in output for each token has o a minimum for half the number of tokens.

In order to make the calibration curve more linear and to thereby increase the reliability and accuracy of the chip count over the whole range, the sensitivity of the capacitive weight sensor 32 may be arranged to vary over the range. In the example illustrated in Figure 4, this is achieved by providing a measurement plate, here the moving plate 34 in tapered form (here triangular) so that amount of overlap for each mm of motion is different at different ends of the range of motion. This can be arranged to partially compensate for the non-linearity illustrated in Figure 7. Either the stationary plate 36 or the moving plate 34 or both may be tapered as a tapered measurement plate.

It will be appreciated that other shapes may be used. In particular, a diamond shape of measurement plate may be suitable in a central pivot type arrangement as illustrated in Figure 5. Such a tapered measurement plate, which may be either the moving plate 34 or the stationary plate 36 is tapered with respect to the direction of travel indicated by the arrow, i.e. the width of the tapered measurement plate overlapping the other plate varies as the moving plate 34 moves with respect to the stationary plate 36.

Note that capacitive sensors of the type illustrated may provide very accurate readings to a high number of decimal places -the sensors chosen in the specific embodiment above provide over 2 000 000 different outputs i.e. a resolution of 21 bits. Such highly accurate sensors may provide accurate counts which can be important in a casino. Of course, other sensors may have different numbers of different outputs and such sensors may be used as an alternative. However, it is generally preferred that the accuracy of weight measurement corresponds to better than one chip so that the correct integer number of chips can be calculated.

A drop box 80 is provided at each table, i.e. adjacent to each float tray, with a note sensor 82 connected to the network 76. Notes or bills may be introduced into the drop box and identified by the note sensor 82. The computer can combine the information of 3 the notes or bills in the drop box 80 with the total value of chips in the corresponding float tray 2 to provide an indication of the total value of cash and chips at each table of a casino or other business.

Those skilled in the art will realise that a number of alternative approaches may be made to the specific embodiments illustrated above. In some cases, provision may be made for plaques, i.e. large tokens, which are used in some casinos. If a casino uses chips of different sizes, specific storage rows may be provided for each size of chip.

Alternative weight measurement approaches may also be used.

Instead of the type of colour sensor proposed, any suitable means of determining chip value may be used.

Claims

Claims 1. A tray for storing tokens for a casino, comprising: a plurality of storage rows for storing rows of like tokens; wherein at least some of the storage rows are individually formed for movement independent of adjacent storage rows, are associated with a weight sensor for weighing the tokens in the respective storage row, and are associated with a colour detector for determining the colour of tokens stored in the storage row.
2. A tray according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the storage rows comprise: a pivot for supporting the storage row; and a resilient means for supporting the storage row; wherein the weight sensor detects movement of the storage row about the pivot when tokens are stored in the storage row and outputs a weight signal.
3. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the pivot is provided spaced from one end of the storage row and the weight sensor is provided at the opposite end of the storage row.
4. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the pivot is provided between the ends of the storage row and the resilient means are provided on either side of the pivot towards the ends of the storage row.
5. A tray according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the resilient means is at least one spring.
6. A tray according to claim 5, wherein the spring constant of the spring is sufficiently small that the storage row at the weight sensor moves at least 1 mm between the state when the storage row is empty of tokens and the state when the storage row is full of tokens.
7. A tray according to any preceding claim, wherein the individually formed storage rows comprise a lip extending along the storage row along one side of the storage row, the lip overlapping the adjacent storage row on the said side to cover the gap between the storage rows.
8. A tray according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein a flexible membrane is provided between adjacent storage rows.
9. A tray according to any preceding claim, wherein each weight sensor is a 3 capacitance weight sensor comprising two plates, one plate being connected to the respective storage row for movement with the storage row with respect to the other plate so that the overlap between the two plates varies as the storage row moves under the weight of tokens in the storage row.
10. A tray according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the plates of the capacitance weight sensor is tapered in the direction of motion of the plates with respect to each other.
11. A casino system comprising: a tray according to any preceding claim; and a computer connected to the weight sensors and to the colour detectors; wherein the computer is adapted to determine the number of tokens in each row from the outputs of the weight sensor, to determine the token value stored in each storage row from the output of the colour detectors and to calculate the total value of 20 tokens stored in the tray from the respective number of tokens and token values.
12. A casino system according to claim 11, wherein the computer contains at least one non-linear calibration curve for converting the output of the weight sensor into the number of tokens.
13. A casino system according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a drop box for collecting cash and a cash sensor for determining the value of cash added to the drop box.
14. A casino system according to claim 13 wherein the computer is adapted to output both the total value of tokens stored in the tray and the total value of cash stored in the drop box.
15. A casino system according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 comprising a plurality of trays according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein the computer is further adapted to output the total value for each of the trays.