I claim:
1. An amusement machine comprising: a planar playing surface on which a plurality of playing pieces may be supported, a playing piece pusher element configured for reciprocating motion that moves over said playing surface to engage any playing pieces on said playing surface, wherein said playing surface further comprises a horizontal edge and said playing pieces, when engaged by said pusher element, can drop over said edge and pass to a collection location, a transport assembly for moving said playing pieces from said collection location to said playfield, said transport assembly comprising a motorized hopper and a track, said motorized hopper located below said playfield, and adapted to collect and sequentially eject said playing pieces into said track, and, said track adapted to receive said playing pieces and having a proximal end extending from said hopper and a distal end defining an exit passage, said exit passage facing said playfield, and a control switch that activates said motorized hopper and, a transport assembly motor configured to drive said transport assembly to cause it to pivot and thereby causing said track exit passage to sweep in an arc above said playfield.
2. The device recited in claims 1 claims 1 further comprised wherein said track exit passage further comprises a spring-biased pivotable retainer element on the end of said track wherein said retainer holds said playing pieces in said track when in a first position, and when a said playing piece is pushed against a stop member of said retainer element, said stop member pivots upward to a second position to allow for the release of playing piece from said track and when pieces exits said track, said spring pulls said retainer back to said first position causing said stop member to engage the rear of said piece and propel said piece through said exit passage. 14
3. The amusement machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said hopper comprises a rotary coin hopper.
4. The amusement machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said game pieces comprise either coins, tokens or both coins and tokens, and said transport system is configured to circulate a plurality of said coins, tokens or both coins and tokens in a closed system.
5. The amusement machine recited in claim 4 wherein said transport assembly is attached to a base member, and said base member is linked to said motor to provide for pivoting motion.
6. The amusement machine of recited in claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of said track is substantially horizontal.
7. The amusement machine recited in claim 1 further comprising a central controller, a first coin detector to detect coins as they pass from said hopper to said track and to transmit a signal to a controller reflecting the number of coins that passing into said track, and a player control switch to activate said hopper and cause said game pieces to enter said proximal end of said track forcing the release of pieces from the exit passage.
8. The amusement machine recited in claim 1 further comprising a detection device to detect coins that fall from said edge, and an award device for awarding a prize that corresponds to the detected number of coins that have fallen over said edge.
9. An amusement machine of the pusher type, comprising: a playing surface on which a plurality of playing pieces may be supported, a playing piece pusher element configured for reciprocating motion that moves over said playing surface to engage any playing pieces on said playing surface, wherein said playing surface further comprises a horizontal ledge and said playing pieces, when engaged by said pusher element, can drop over said ledge of said playing surface and pass to a collection location, a transport assembly for moving said playing pieces from said collection location to said playfield, 15 said transport assembly comprising a hopper and a track, said hopper for collecting and sequentially ejecting said playing pieces into said track, and said track adapted to receive said playing pieces, and comprising a first track section that extends from said hopper to a second section that extends over said playfield, wherein said track further comprises a spring-biased pivotable retainer element on the end of said track wherein said retainer holds said playing pieces in said track when in a first position, and when a said playing piece is pushed against a stop surface of said member, said member pivots upward to a second position to allow for the release of playing piece from said track, said machine further comprising a central controller, and player input control devices, said control devices comprising a player game piece release switch to allow players to activate said motor to cause said game pieces to be released from the end of said track.
14. The amusement machine as recited in claim 13 wherein said player control devices comprise a stop switch that allows a player to temporarily stop the motion of said pusher element.
15. The amusement game recited in claim 13 wherein said second track section is connected to a motor that causes said track section to sweep back and forth across said playfield.
16. The amusement machine as recited in claim 14 wherein said player control devices comprise a stop switch that allows a player to temporarily stop the motion of said second track section.
17. A transport assembly for moving said playing pieces from a collection location to an amusement game playfield, said transport assembly comprising a motorized hopper and a track, said motorized hopper adapted to collect and sequentially eject said playing pieces into said track, and, 16 said track defined by a bottom wall, two side walls and top wall and said track adapted to receive said playing pieces and having a proximal end extending from said hopper and a distal end defining an exit passage, a control switch that activates said motorized hopper and, a transport assembly motor attached to said assembly and configured to drive said transport assembly to cause it to pivot and thereby causing said track exit passage to sweep in an arc.
18. The track assembly recited in claim 17 wherein said track exit passage further comprises a spring-biased pivotable retainer element on the end of said track and said retainer holds said playing pieces in said track when in a first position, and when a said playing piece is pushed against a stop member of said retainer element, said stop member pivots to a second position to allow for the release of playing piece from said track and when pieces exits said track, said spring pulls said retainer back to said first position causing said stop member to engage the rear of said piece and propel said piece through said exit passage.
19. The track assembly recited in claim 17 wherein said playing pieces comprise coins, tokens or both and said track assembly is enclosed in cabinet having a transparent window .
20. The track assembly recited in claim 19 wherein said hopper motor control switch is located outside said cabinet and further comprising a second control switch located outside the cabinet that activates and deactivates said transport assembly motor. 17