US2191735A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

` Feb. 27, 1940. H. E. wiLLlAMs GAME APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1940.

H. E. WILLIAMS GAME APPARATUS Filed March 16. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Har/y E I/l/z'/ [Jams if QJ/J CMA/mv His ArroRNEw @@wwm@ Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATEN-T-0FF1CE 2,191,735 y l GAME r.iPMmrrUs Harry E. Williams, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner,A l by mesne assignments, to Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill.,v a corporation of Delaware Application March 16, 1936,. Serial No. 69,154 1 claim. (ci. 1o1 fs6) l This invention relates to` game apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in use.

Another object of the present invention-is to provide a new and improved score-recording device which is particularly adapted for use Iin conjunction with amusement or game apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to.

provide a new and improved score-recordingA device which is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with amusement or game apparatus of the so-called pin and marblegamev type.

Additional objects of the present invention,

are: to provide a novel auxiliary and coinoperated control device for the resetting mechanism for the printing drum and whichcontrol device is rendered effective to reset the printing drum when the ball-retaining member is;` being-1rel turned to initial position after operation thereof; to provide a main and -non-coin-operated control device for the printing and web-severing mechanism; to construct the auxiliary control device for the printing and :web-severing mechanism in such a manner that the same works in conjunction with the coin slide, when the latter' is operated, to operate the printing and web-severing mechanism in the event that theplayer. for any reason, fails to operate the Ina-in and non-ccin-operated control device for the printing and web-severing mechanism lafter completing a game; and to construct the web-advancing device in such a manner that the :same is operated by the coin slide and associated mechanism only after the printing and web-severing operations have been effected by operation of the auxiliary control device for the y,printing and web-v severing mechanism.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists thenovel combination and arrangement of ,parts to be hereinafter f Fig. 3 vis a view on -line V3 3 in Fig. 1, partly in elevation and partly` in section, showing certain parts of the operating mechanism for the score-recording device;

Fig. 4 is apsectional view on lmet-4in Fig. 1, showing certain parts of the score-recording device and the operatingmechanism therefor;

Fig. 5 isa sectional detail` View on linev 5 5 in Fig; 1 showing the arrangement of the inking rollers relative to the printing drum.; v

-Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 6-7-6 in Fig.

1; showing the impression-transmitting and weby10 c n severing` device and showing the main ory noncoin-operated control device therefor;

Fig. 7 is a plan viewfshowing certain parts of the web-advancing device, and also showing certain parts of the auxiliary control device for thef 15 impression-transmitting and web-severing device; y y f Fig.' 8 is a bottom plan view of a part, ofthe web-advancing devicel shown in Fig.v 7;

Fig. 9'is a lschernaticdiagram of anelectrical 20` circuit embodied in the invention; and Fig. 10 is a perspective'detail View of the control switch for the resetting Vmechanism for lthe printing drum.

A preferred form of the present invention 'is shown in` thevdrawings, is therein generallyindicated at Ill,v and vis shown arranged in the cabinet II of a so-called pin and marble game, said cabinet including an inclined playing board I2 which is provided with ball exit openings I3. 30

Slidably mounted in the cabinet II, below the v inclined playing vboard I2, is a vball-retaining 1 member I4 which is provided with ball exit openings I5 and these exit openings I5 are normally disposed in registration with the ball exit 35 l openings I3. Likewise formed in `the inclined playing board I2 is a, ball-receiving ,pocket 93 (Fig. 2) and the lower `end portion yof the ballretaining 'member I4 is adapted tov temporarily retain or-support balls in this pocket 93. 40

Arranged ineach of the `ball-receiv'ing pocketsl j or exit openings l5` is a resilient switch element It and thisswitch element I6 is engageable with a relativelystationary switch elementy I1, each pair of 'these switch elements 'I5 and I1 forming .45

aswitch I8.` These switches I Barearranged-inf an electrical circuit VIll (Fig.` 9) which also includes .a suitable source of `current 2li, which may be, for example, a lbattery'of .dry cells or the like arranged inthe cabinet II. Likewise arrangedin 50 this circuit'y I9 is an electromagnet 2I and when l a ball enters one of thepockets I3 it closesjthe corresponding switch I 8 and `drops through the corresponding ball exit opening I5 in theslidable ball-.retaining member vI4.,Ywhence it [will fall intol is xed on a horizontal shaft 28, this shaft 28 being rotatably mounted in an upright supe.

porting frame 29 which is arranged in the cab-I inet Arranged on the shaft y28 is a resetting coil spring 19 (Fig. 4). y

likewise mounted on and xed to the horizontal shaft 28 is a printingor recording drum 3|) and engageable with this printing drum 39 are spaced upper and lower inking 1rolls 3| and 32 (Fig. 4).

Engageable with the ratchet 21, to prevent retractive movement of the same, is an arm 33A of a latch dog 34, this latch dog 34 being pivotally mounted, at 35, and having an arm 36 which isr attractable byan electromagnet 31 which is 'arranged in an auxiliary circuit 89 (Fig. 9), which is associatedwith' the principal circuit I9.

Arranged in the cabinet is a web 38 of imprint-receiving material, such as-paper, or the like, and this-web 38 is advanced-relative to and past the printing drum 38 4by means of a webadvancing roll y39 which is rotatably mounted in the cabinet Il, `for movement in a horizontal plane, upon a vertically extending shaft 4| (Fig. 4).. Provided on the peripheryI of the webadvancing roll .39 are lugs 40 and. these lugs 40 are engageable in corresponding openings which are formed in the vweb 38.

Mounted on the shaft 4|, to which the webadvancing roller 39 is fixed, is a ratchet 42 and engageable with this ratchet 42 is a 'pawl 43 which is pivotally mounted upon a rocker arm 44, and this rocker arm 44 floats, that is, is loosely mounted upon the shaft 4| (Figs. 7 and 8). Engageable with the ratchet 42, to prevent retrograde movement of the same, is a latch' dog 45. Carried by the rocker arm 44 is a roller 46 (Figs. 1 and 7) and engageable with this roller 46 is an end portion 9| of an elongated bar 41 which is pivotally mounted between its ends, as-

at 48 (Fig. 1) in the cabinet Il. Pivotally connected to this bar 41, at one end of the same,`

as at 49 (Fig. 1), is a link 5|)land this link 5|) is pivotally connected at its other end, as at 5|, to a coin slide 52 which is slidably mounted in an end wall 53 of the cabinet Pivotally connected to the rocker arm 44, as at 54 (Fig. 7), is an arm 55 and this arm 5 5 is pivotally connected, at one end, as at 56, to an arm 51 which is pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft 58 (Figs. 1 and rI) Likewise pivotally mounted on the shaft 58 that is, iloating thereon, is an operating member 59 which has a laterally projecting arm 60 and this arm 68 of the member 59 is engageable with the web-severing and impression-transmitting device or member 6I which is pivotally mounted inthe cabinet as at 62, this urging and web-severing device 6| including a knife edge 81 and a resilient or pressure member 86 (Fig. 6). Mounted in the cabinet upon the supporting wall 69 is a stationary knife edge 98 which cooperates with the knife edge: 81 to form a shear.

The rocker rarm 44 is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. '1) by aspring 63 which has one end attached, as at 64, to the rocker arm 44, the other end of this spring 63 being attached to the pivotal connection 56 between the link 55 and the arm 51 (Fig. 7). The operating member 59 and the web-severing and pressure member 6| are normally urged (in a clockwise direction, Figs. '1 and 6, respectively), by a spring 91 which has one end portion thereof attachedto the member 6| (Fig. 6), the other end of the spring 91 being anchored in the cabinet movement of the member 59, under the .action of the spring 91 (clockwise, Fig. '1) being limited by a stop 65 with which the member 59 "is engageable, this stop 65 being formed on a. stationary upright member 94 which is arranged in the cabinet il. Formed on this member 94 is a cam edge 92 (Fig. '1) and adapted to ride this cam edge 92-is a pawl 66 which is pivotally mounted on the arm 51. This pawl 66 is urged by a spring |09 into engagement with a notch 61 which is provided in the peripheral edge of the member 59 (Fig. 7).

The web 38 is fed through a guide slot 68 which is formed in an upright wall 69 of the supporting frame 96 (Fig. 6) and the web-severing and pressure member 6| is normally urged away from, or out of engagement with, the web 38 by means of the spring 91 (Fig. 6).

Attached to and depending from the slidable ball-retaining member |.4 (Fig. 10) is an arm 1|, and mounted on a vertical support 15 which is arranged in the cabinet Il, below the ballretaining member |4, is a switch 14 whichrincludes a relatively movable member 12 and a relatively stationary member 13.

Pivotally mounted on the support 15 (Fig. 10)

adjacentl theA switch 14is a switch-operating member 16 and this switch-operating'member 16 includes a central portion 11, and a laterally extending arm 69, which arm 99 is adapted toA be engaged by the depending arm 1| of the ballretaining member I4.

The switch-operating member`16 likewise includes an arm 18, to which f position the central portion 11 thereof engages with the movable element or contact 12 of the switch 14; the relative rigidity or strength ofv the movable switch element or contact 12 being suflicient to offset or counteractthe tendency of the spring 19 to move the resilient switch element or contact 12 into engagement with the stationary switch element or contact 13.

Slidably mounted in the end wall 53 of the cabinet (Fig. 6) is a main and non-coin-operated control member or plunger which is normally urged outwardly into its initial position (right to left, Fig. 6) by a resetting spring 8|, this plunger 88 having an inner end portion 82 which is engageable with the web-severing and pressure member 6I.

Provided in4 the cabinet is a delivery chute 83 (Fig. 6) and this chute 83opens at its lower end, exteriorly of the cabinet Il, through an outlet or delivery tray 84 which is formed in the end wall 53 of the cabinet Il.

Pivotally mounted` as at IBI in the cabinet is a dash pot 85 (Fig. 1) and this dash pot 85 includes a.v movable element or piston rod |96 which is pivotally connected, as at |61, to the member 55, 4for a .reason to be explained hereinafter.

Operation When a ball, gravitating over the inclined playing board'iZ, enters into one of the ball- -latter at 62 (counterclockwise, Fig. 6).

and bends the latter downwardly (from full tof dotted line position, Fig. 2)', thus causingy the said flexible element or contact I6 to engage the corresponding stationary switch element or contact I1 and `thus close the corresponding switch I8, and the circuit I9.

When the circuit I9 is thus closed it energizes the electromagnet 2l,v whereupon the latter attracts it's movable element or armature 22, there. by pivoting the latter, at 23 (clockwise, Fig. 3), against the action of its resetting spring 85, and this movement of the member 22 pivots `the arm 24 thereof, at 25, -relative to thepawl 26, thereby moving the pawl 26 into engagementv with the,l

ratchet 21 and thus moving the ratchet 21, shaft 28, and the printing drum 30 a circumferential distance (counterclockwise, Fig. 3) equal tothe circumferential distance between two of the teeth on the ratchet 21. In this manner the printing drum 3U is advanced, relative to the web 38, by the action of the played ballsentering the ball-receiving pockets I3 in the inclined playing board I2'.

After completing this printing drum-advancing operation, the spent rball will roll off the resilient and flexible contact I6 into the ball return` runway 95 for return to the elevating means (not shown). j

When the printing drum 3U is thus advanced, in a circumferential step by step movement, re1- ative to the webr38, the spring 10 is tensioned so that it may reset the printing drum in a manner to be explained presently. After the player has completed playing a `game upon the game apparatus which embodies the present invention,

he may cause a ticket, having the score of hisy game printed thereon, to be dispensed from the cabinet II, through the delivery outlet 84, byl i pushing in on the main control member or l plunger 80. When themain control member or plunger 80 is pushed in (left to right, Fig. 6) the inner end of the same engages' the web-severing and pressure member 6I and thereby pivots the During this operation the resilient or pressure arm 86 of the member 6I engagesthe free end portion of the web 38 and forces the same into printing engagement with the peripheral surface of the printing drum 30, which surface may be provided by a rubber band arranged upon the drum 30, this printing surface being inked by the inking rollers 3 Iv and 32. When the free 'end portion of the web 38 is thus forced into printing engagement with the printing surface of the drum 30 the knife edge 81 (Fig. 6) of the member 6I engages the free end portiony of the web 38 and coacts with the member 98 to sever the printed free end portion of the web 3.8 from the body' of the same, whereupon the plunger 'may be released so that the thus printed and severed free end portion of the web 38 will drop onto the delivery chute 83, whence it will fall, by gravity,

into the delivery outlet or tray 64 and from which it mayibe picked up by they player.

In thek use of the present invention the resetting of the printing drum 30 back into its initial position is effected by operation of the slidable ball-retaining member I4, which is moved (left to right, Fig. 2), by the action of the coin slide 52 when the latter is pushed in, the inner end portion ofthe coin slide engaging the depending arm 88 of the ball-retaining `member I4.

When the slidable ball-retaining member I4 is Il, thus pushed in (left to right, Figs. 2 and 10) the depending arm 1l thereof (Fig. 10) lengages the laterally extending arm- 99 lof the switch operating member 16 and thereby pivots the latter (counterclockwise, Fig. 10) against the action of its resetting spring 19, and during this operation the depending arm 1I passes or moves by the lateral arm 99 of the switch-operating member 16. However, when the ball-retaining member I4 is returned to its initial position, (right to left, Fig. l0), (by a resetting spring not shown) the depending arm 1I thereof engages the lateral arm 99 of the switch operating member 16 and thereby pivots the switch-operating member 18 (clockwise, Fig. 10), thus moving the central portion 11 of the switch-operating member 18 into engagement with the movable element or contact 12 of the switch 14, and thereby forcing the resilient switch element or contact 12 into engagement with the stationary switch element or contact 13 and thus closing the switch 14, after which the depending arm 'H passes or moves by the lateral arm 99 so that the member 16 is free to move back into normal position (Figs. 2 and 10) by action of the movable element 12 of the switch 14. A

When the switch14 is thus closed, it closes the auxiliary circuit 89 (Fig. 9) to the electromagnet 31, and thereby energizes the electromagnet 31, and when the electromagnet 31 is thus energized it attracts the arm 36 of the latch dog 34 and thereby pivots the latter, at (clockwise, Fig. 3), against the action of its resetting spring 90, thus moving the arm 33 of the latch dog 34 out of latching engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 21, whereupon the tensioned resetting spring 1I), on the shaft 28 (Fig. 4) will return the printing drum 3U back into its initial or zero position,

it being understood that the lapse of time required for the depending arm 1I to pass the laterally extending arm S9 is suicient to allow the foregoing resetting operation to take place, andk that when the switch 14 is returned to normal position the tensioned resetting spring 9E) (Fig. 3) will then urge the arm 33 of the latch dog 34 back into latching engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 21 so asy to prevent retroactive or retrograde movement of the latter. It will thus be noted that the printingv drum 39 is reset back into its initial position upon the return stroke of the ball-retaining member i4 (by the closing of the switch 14), and the reason why this resetting operation takes place at thisl time will' be made apparent presently.

When the coin slide 52 is pushed in (left to right, Fig. l) it also moves the link 5i) and this link 59 acts upon the arm 41 to pivot the latter rat 48 (clockwise, Fig- 1) and during this operament of the arm 51 the pawl 66, vengaging in the notched portion 61 of the operating member 59,

pivots orrocks themember 59, on the shaft 58- (ccunterclockwise, from full to dotted line position, Fig '1). During this operation the later-- ally extending arm 6U of the member 59 engages the member 6I and thereby pivots the latter, at

This movef 62 (counterclockwise, Fig. 6), thus 'causing the resilient portion or arm 86 of the member 6| to engage the free end portion of the web 38 in the event it has not been removed by the plunger 88 and thereby force the same into printing engagement with the printing drum 38, whereupon the cutting portion or knife edge 81 of the mem-v ber 6| engages the free end portion of the web 38 and coacts with the knife edge 98 to sever the thus printed free end portion of the web 38 from the body of the same, whereupon, the thus printed and severed free end portion of the web 38 will drop by gravity into the delivery chute 83 and will thence fall into the delivery outlet 84.

As the operating member 59 is pivoted (counterclockwise, from full to dotted line position,

'i member 59, whereupon the tensioned resetting spring 91, will pivot the member 6| back into its initial position (as in Fig. 6). During this operation the member 6| engages or bears against the laterally extending arm 68 of the operating member 59 and thereby pivots or rocks the latter about the shaft 58, back into its initial position (clockwise, from dotted to full line position, Fig. 7), and at the end of this movement the pawl 68 and the arm 51 are still in dotted line position, Fig. 7, and are retarded in their return to initial position in a manner to be described presently.

In this manner the free end portion of the web 38 is printed, and the printed portion thereof is severed from the body of the same, by operation of the coin slide 52, so that in the event that a player who has made a relatively low score, or for any other reason fails to operate the main control member or plunger 8|) and print his score upon the free end portion of the web 38, and sever the same from the body of the web 38, this ticket printing and web-severing operation will, nevertheless, be performed when the next succeeding player moves the coin slide 52 into full stroke position and` it will be noted, in this connection, that thisy auxiliary ticket-printing and web-severing operation takes place slightly prior to the time that the web-advancing operation (which will `be described presently), takes place, as will now be explained, so that a clean, that is, unprinted, portion of the web 38 will be presented to the printing surface of the printing drum 38 to have imprinted thereon the score of the next succeeding game played upon the apparatus with which the present invention is associated.

When the coin slide 52 is released and is returned to its initial position (by a resetting spring not shown) the member i1-9| ,is returned to its initial position (as in Figs. 1 and 7) whereupon the tensioned spring 63 actsl upon the rocker arm 44 to pivot the same and the pawl 43 carried thereby,'upon the shaft'dl (counterclockwise, from dotted to full line position, Fig. 7), and during this movement of the rocker arm 44 and pawl 43 the latter engages the ratchet 42 and thereby rotates the ratchet 42, shaft 4|, and the web-advancing roll 39, which is mounted upon the shaft 4|, a circumferential distance equal to the circumferential distance between vtwo of the teeth. on the ratchet 4.2.y This movement lof the web-advancing roll 39 advances the-free end. portion of the web 38 through theguide slot 68 (Fig. 6)- and relative to and past the printing drum 3|), and between the latter `and the pressure and rWeb-severing member 6|-86-81.

Upon the return of the rocker arm 44 lto initial position the arms 55v and 51 are likewise returned to initial position (dotted to full line; Fig. 7) by the action'of the tensioned spring 63 Howevenit is to be noted that .the movement:

of the rocker arm 44 and arms 55 and 51 to.-

ward their initial position is retarded by the.

pivotal connection `|91 of the piston rod |96 of the dash pct to the arm 55, thereby assuring a gradual movement of the web 38 along. its path through the guide slot 68 into impres-` sion-receiving position, that is, into a position between the web severing andprinting member 6| and the printing drum 30.

It will thus be seen that if, for any reason,

the player does not operate the main control member or plunger 88 to perform the Web-printing and severing operations, at the end ofga game, these printing and web-severing operations;

will nevertheless be performed by .the .auxiliary control device 52-58-41--9I--56-44-55-51 -66-61-59 for the printing and web-severing or urging device 6|-86-81 when the coin slide 52 is again operated, that is, onthe inward stroke of the coin slide 52 (left to right, Figs.

1 and 2), and it will further be noted, in this. connection, that the auxiliary control device` 52-50-41-9|-48--44-55-51-66-61-59 for. the printing and web-severing, `or urging, de-

ward stroke of the coin slide 52 (left to right,- Figs. 1 and 2), causes the printing and websevering device 6|-86-81 to perform the printing and web-severing operations prior tov the time that the printing'drum 30 is reset back-y into its initial position by its resetting springv 10, since this operation of resetting the printing drum 38 takes place on the return movement of the ball-retaining member I4 (and coinslide 52), when the depending arm 1| of the ball-retaining memberg|4 engages the lateral arm 99 of the switch-operating member 16 to close the control .switch 14 (Fig. 10) for the electromagnet 31. It is thus assured that the Web-severing and printing operations will always take place, through the operation of the auxiliary and coin-operated control devicef52 5I-50-49--41-9|4644f54 55-51-66 61-59-69, for the printing and web-severing device 6|-86-81 even though the player fails to, or neglects to, operate the main and noncoin-operated control device 88-82 for the printing and web-severing device 6|-86-81 at the end of a game. l

While I have illustrated land described the preferred form of construction for carrying my Y invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without rdeparting from thev spirit of the invention'. I, therefore, do notwish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire' to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: I

The combination with a game apparatus comprising a reciprocable-'coinslide andlaswitch closable by a game playing member, of a score printing drum, means tending to return said drum to a given'position, means controlled by said switch for actuating said drum to a score printing position upon closure of said switch by a playing member, means for retaining said drum in said position against the action of said returning means, means for feeding the web seetion into printing position with respect to said drum, web severingy means, means actuatable by said coin slide during a stroke thereof in one means operable by said slide during a stroke thereof in the opposite direction for eieoting the operation of said web feeding means for feeding a succeeding section of the Web into printing position and effecting the release of said drum by said retaining means for restoration of the same to initial position by said drum return means.

HARRY E. WILLIAMS.

` direction for effecting the printing of a score upon said web section andv severing the same, and

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