WO1996021204A1

WO1996021204A1 - Mixer machine for carrying out repeatable series of random draws of spheres

Info

Publication number: WO1996021204A1
Application number: PCT/IT1996/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Felice Gaudioso
Original assignee: Felice Gaudioso
Priority date: 1995-01-05
Filing date: 1996-01-04
Publication date: 1996-07-11
Also published as: ITRM950009A0; AU4354796A; IT1277134B1; ITRM950009A1

Abstract

A machine for carrying out repeatable series of random draws of spheres characterized in that it comprises a central mixer body endowed with a means for serially selecting and drawing a preset number of spheres and a means for recirculating the spheres themselves, to reinlet the spheres once drawn into the interior of the mixer body and so to be able to repeat the draw. The machine, moreover, is particularly conceived to offer the optimum conditions to play the games of 'Wormholegame Machine' and 'Wormholegame Dice'. A means is also provided for associating said mixer body with devices suitable for producing random events.

Description

Mixer machine for carrying out repeatable series of random draws of spheres

The present invention relates to the field of the machines for the random draw, for instance, of numbers, colours, graphic signs, names and, more generally, to the field of the machines used to create random associations among such numbers, colours, graphic signs or names and other preset events themselves too relevant to numbers, colours, graphic signs or names.

Machines of such a type can be used in lotteries, in draws or other things and are generally made up of rotating containers inside which are mixed small spheres or other objects to be subsequently drawn and associated with another random event of a predefinite type.

Moreover, devices of such a type can be necessary for the actuation of a lot of games, whereamong those of the project "Wormholegame" (registered trademark) and particularly the games "Wormholegame Machine" (registered trademark) and "Wormholegame Dice" (registered trademark) , wherefor the present invention has been conceived.

The rules of such games are characterized in that a single game allows five game hypotheses, that is the five matches, marked by the following trademarks:

"OPEN NUMBERS MATCH" (reg. trademark) "SHUT NUMBERS MATCH" (reg. trademark) "OPEN COLOURS MATCH" (reg. trademark) "SHUT COLOURS MATCH" reg. trademark "SUPER WORMHOLE MATCH" reg. trademark. The rules of the Wormholegame estabilish that in each one of the five matches can take part a maximum number of eight players and the bank, and only the eight players who take part to the SUPER WORMHOLE MATCH sit around the aforementioned machine. In any case, the participation of the specific number of eight players and of the bank itself anyhow is not bounding.

The rule are essentially articulated on the simultaneous draw of colours and scores in each single throw at the end whereof a series of eight draws of colours and nine draws of scores must be randomly carried out; however in the last throw the drawing of the colours remains simultaneous, while the scores can be drawn separately and progressively. In this way, in each draw each one of the eight players will have allotted a colour and a score randomly drawn from a predefined selection, while at the bank only one score will be allotted, again in a random way.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to allow a simple, quick and sure random draw of several spheres to achieve the association with further random events of the drawing in such a manner that this one turns out to be executable according to repeatable series .

A further object of the machine is particularly afforde the optimum conditions to play the the aforementioned games "Wormholegame machine" and "Wormholegame Dice" .

According to the present invention such an object has been reached by conceiving a machine for carrying out repeatable and simultaneous series of random draws of a preset number of colours with coloured spheres and of scores with suitable devices. The scores can also be drawn separately after the simultaneous draw of the colours. This machine, indeed, in the case of its specific application in the games "Wormholegame Machine" and "Wormholegame Dice" comprises:

- a central mixer body endowed with a means for selecting and drawing eight coloured spheres in series and a recirculating means to reinlet the drawn spheres into the interior of the mixer body, in order to be able to repeat the draw; said spheres, after the drawing, arrange themselves on the surface of the machine, each one in correspondence with the place occupied by a player; a mechanism that actuates suitable devices which can be, according to the type of game, either nine mechanical roulettes, each one with a white sphere that, at the end of the motion whereof hereinbelow, determinate the random draw of a score among the preset twelve, or nine mechanical stirrers each one with two dice which at the end of the motion whereof hereinbelow determinate through coupling of the faces of the same dice the random draw of a score among the preset twelve. These nine devices are equal and visible from outside as well as the drawn scores do.

Eight of these devices are allotted to the players and circularly arranged outside the hole wherefrom the coloured sphere comes out .

The ninth device is allotted to the bank and is arranged at the centre of the machine over the mixer body.

The mechanism which actuates these devices preferably works contemporaneously with the mixer and together are able to repeat the number of desired drawns more times.

However, the command of the mechanism can also actuate the aforementioned devices singularly and in different times.

The achieved advantages essentially consist in the possibility of executing an even numerous series of random draws effected to any end in a repeatable manner, ensuring the greatest simplicity of use. A second advantage is given from the flexibility always offered by so a conceived machine which can particularly be so conformed as to carry out the draws requested by the rules of the games "Wormholegame Machine" and "Wormholegame Dice" and of other games connected with the project "Wormholegame" .

A third advantage is given by the possibility to set up with such machines environments for the economical exploitation of said games or even of other games inside more or less large structures equipped in suitable halls, television studios and in other places.

A final advantage is given by the possibility of an industrial exploitation for the production of said machine and of its components.

These and other further advantages will be better understood by anyone skilled in the art from the following disclosure and with the aid of the accompanying drawings, given not as a restricting example, wherein: - Fig.l shows a section view of the central mixer of a machine according to the present invention and a view of the means for the drawings of the spheres contained in the mixer itself;

- Figs,la and lb show a section view of the particular of the mixer of Fig.l that puts into evidence the path of recirculation of the spheres from the moment of the draw to that of the reinletting into the interior of the mixer;

- Figs.2a and 2b respectively show a top view and a section view of the novel conception mechanical roulette employed in the game "Wormholegame Machine" ;

- Fig.3 shows a section view of the central mixer that in a preferred embodiment encloses the central mechanical roulette in the upper portion of the machine;

- Fig.4 shows a top view of a gambling table for the "Wormholegame Machine" with an octagonal shape that is arranged upperly to the central body and it is integral part of the machine according to the present invention; - Figs.5a and 5b respectively show a top view and a front view of a dice mechanical stirrer of a novel conception employed in the game "Wormhole Dice" of the machine; - Fig.6 shows a section view of the central mixer that, in a preferred embodiment, encloses the central mechanical stirrer in the upper portion;

- Fig. 7 shows a top view of a gambling table for the "Wormholegame Dice" with a circular shape that is arranged upperly to the central body and it is integral part of the machine according to the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment visible in Figure 4, a machine for carrying out repeatable series of random and coupled draws and conceived in this particular case for the game "Wormholegame Machine", essentially comprises a central body in the shape of a right prism whereupon an octagonal surface of greater diametre is laid and more particularly it provides: a mechanical roulette of the type of Figure 2a e 2b at the centre; eight holes for the positioning of the coloured spheres drawn with beside eight cavities for the reinletting of the same coloured spheres into the mixer body for the execution of a new throw; eight mechanical roulettes of the type of Figure 2a and 2b, arranged outerly and in correspondence with said holes, circumscribed by a frame of octagonal shape and equally spaced along an internal circumference concentric with the surface itself; eight octagons impressed on the purposedly raised annular outer surface of the machine, each one marked with a number included between one and eight placed clockwise in sequence from the lowest number to the highest number that identifies the place of the player and one of the eight slices in which the surface is subdivided.

In a further embodiment in Fig.7 is visible the surface of the machine conceived in this particular case for the game "Wormholegame Dice" essentially comprises a central body in the shape of a right prism whereupon a circular surface of greater diametre is laid and more particularly it provides: a dice mechanical stirrer of the type illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b at the centre; eight holes for the positioning of the drawn coloured spheres with beside eight cavities for the reinletting of the coloured spheres themselves into the mixer body for the execution of a new throw; eight dice mechanical stirrers of the type illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b, arranged at the exterior and in correspondence with said holes, circumscribed by a frame of circular shape and equally spaced along an inner circumference concentric with the surface itself; eight circumferences impressed on the raised outer annular surface of the machine, each one marked with a number included between one and eight placed clockwise in sequence from the lowest to the highest number that identifies the player and one of the eight slices which the surface is subdivided into. As can be seen from Fig.l, the central body is made up of a hollow drum al with the inner bottom shaped as a cone and centrally pierced to house a rotation pin a2 wherewith a lamina a3 is connected the lower profile whereof repeats the conical shape of the bottom so as to sweep the entire surface thereof during any complete rotation.

From the inner maximum circumference of the conical bottom of drum al, eight equally spaced holes a4 start that terminate intersecting as many vertical through-holes a5, pierced in the solid portion of the drum and communicating with the upper and inner surfaces of the drum itself.

From Figs, la and lb, it can be seen that in correspondence with the intersection between each hole a5 and the upper surface of the drum, semispherical cavities a6, radially and angularly staggered relative to the holes a5 themselves, find themselves, connected with the outlet of holes a5. Each cavity a6 is in turn inferiorly endowed with a vertical hole a7 that terminates at about a half of the height of drum al, prosecuting with a tract aθ inclined downwards and that in turn leads to the inside of the cavity of drum al.

As many pistons a9 can slide in the eight holes a5, inferiorly fixed to a support alO substantially shaped as a disk, the motion whereof is controlled by the action of a cylinder all, for instance hydraulically operated, provided with an alternating vertical motion. The stops of cylinder all, moreover, are defined by two microswitches, an upper one al3 and a lower one al4 which are contacted by disk alO during the motion. Finally, cylinder all provides a pressure switch al5 capable of controlling the downward return stroke of pistons a9.

In operation, inside drum al eight spheres al2 are inlet, distinguished from each other with different colours or numbers or graphic signs, of a diametre slightly inferior than that of the sequence of holes a4, a5, a7 and a8.

Pin a2 rotates dragging spheres al2 through lamina a3 and compelling each one of them to enter one of inferior holes a4 and herefrom into the corresponding vertical hole a5, being lowerly supported by the head of pistons a9 that are so positioned as not to allow the inletting of a second sphere, so determining the distribution of the eight spheres al2 in all the eight holes a4.

In the moment in which all spheres al2 have occupied holes a5, the rotary motion of pin al2 stops begins the up stroke of hydraulic cylinder all and then of pistons a9. Such a stroke stops for the intervention of upper microswitch al3, which contacts the outer wall of disk alO just when spheres al2 emerge by a half on the upper surface of drum al and so are perfectly visible at the outside. This position is maintained till when the operator decides to again actuate cylinder all making it to continue its up stroke so as to make spheres al2 to exit from holes a5, and to make them to slide through cavities a6 , then through holes a7 and a8, till to reenter into the interior of drum al. The upper extremities of pistons a9, moreover, are advantageously chamfered so as to present a profile inclined toward semispherical cavities a6 and facilitate the stroke of the spheres to holes a7.

At the same time, the increase of pressure inside hydraulic cylinder all, which is in the stop position, causes, through pressure switch al5, the start of the down stroke of pistons a9, which terminates when the lower wall of disk alO contacts lower microswitch al4.

In this position, all the components have returned to their starting position, ready for the subsequent draw.

As already mentioned, in the execution of the game "Wormholegame Machine", for the association of other random events are used nine mechanical roulettes b of the type of Figs.2a and 2a, each one made up of a shaped plate bl, connected with a vertical pin b2 and which can rotate inside a cavity b3 covered with a transparent plate b4. Moreover, the central roulette of these nine roulettes, in the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3, is enclosed in the upper portion of the central mixer.

Moreover, on the upper surface of plate bl twelve inclined radial slots b5 are made, distinguished, in our case, by numbers, the bottom whereof coincides with the inner portion of conical surface b7, on the outer portion whereof white sphere b6 is kept for the duration of the maximum speed rotation. The side walls of each slot can be obtained in a preferential way by two vertical planes arranged radially relative to the axis of plate bl and by a cylinder sector with the axis vertical tangent to the aforementioned planes.

Advantageously the so realized slots are such that at the moment of the actuation of the mechanical roulettes, the spheres are pushed to the exterior by the centrifugal force, and remain on the outer track for all the duration of the rotation, in this way the decrease of the rotation speed of the shaped plate determines the random fall of white sphere b6 into one of slots b5.

Rotating pins a2 and b2 of the mixer and of the mechanical roulettes can be actuated contemporaneously or separately by one or more motors that can be of various types, and are driven through conventional belt or gear or other type drives; moreover, the angular speeds can be generally different.

Figure 4 shows a table for the game "Wormholegame Machine" in top view, which is placed above the just described mechanisms and which is integral portion of the machine being the subject of the present invention.

In a manner analogous to what described, the machine being the subject of the present invention can be utilized for the execution of the game "Wormholegame Dice" by substituting mechanical roulettes b with dice mechanical stirrers c depicted in Figures 5a and 5b, each of which makes a dice pair to rotate randomly determining the coupling of the faces of the dice themselves, faces that in our case are marked with numbers which based on the rules determine the draw of one of the twelve scores. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 6, the central stirrer is enclosed in the upper portion of the central mixer.

A mechanical stirrer c can be realized for instance with a prismatic container cl realized in a transparent material with at least a flat bottom, in Figures 5a and 5b it is represented with a flat bottom by a part and concave by the other one, wherewith are integral two spindles c2 and c3, coaxial with each other and coaxial with the flat bottom of the prism container cl. Spindles c2 and c3 are each one connected in an integral manner with one of the two cranks c4 and c5 rotating around axis A-A and staggered to each other by 180°, cranks splined on shafts c6 and c7 rotating on the two supports c8 and c9. The actuation of the two shafts c6 and c7 is contemporaneous and can be realized both mechanically through a gear, chain, belt drive, and hydraulically or pneumatically or electrically.

The position of prismatic container cl at the stop of the motion is always that with the flat bottom in horizontal position and with the concave bottom turned upwards relative to the horizontal bottom; such a position can be obtained for instance by fixing suitable counterweights clO and ell to the two rotating cranks c4 and c5.

Analogously to what already mentioned with reference to mechanical roulettes, it is understood that mechanical stirrers c too can be actuated at the same time of or separately from the central mixer. Finally, for the reading of the results of the draws the use can be advantageously envisaged of optical readers applied to the machine and capable of simultaneously storing and transmitting the data to suitable luminous displays for visualizing the results themselves.

The present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that equivalent modifications can be made by any one skilled in the art without so departing from the scope of the protection granted to the present patent for industrial invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A machine for carrying out repeatable series of random draws of spheres characterized in that it comprises a central mixer body (a) endowed with a means

(a2-a5,*a9) for serially selecting and drawing a preset number of spheres (al2) and a means (a6-a8) for recirculating the spheres themselves, to reinlet the spheres (al2) once drawn into the interior of the mixer body (a) and so to be able to repeat the draw.

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said central body (a) is made up of a hollow drum (al) the bottom whereof is shaped as a centrally pierced cone, from the maximum inner circumference whereof several equally spaced holes (a4) start that terminate intersecting as many vertical through-holes (a5) , pierced in the solid portion of the drum (al) and communicating with the upper surface of the drum itself whereupon semispherical cavities (a6) are provided, radially and angularly staggered relative to the holes (a5) , each cavity (a6) being in turn inferiorly endowed with a vertical hole (a7) which changes its direction at about a half of the height of the drum (al) prosecuting with a tract (a8) inclined downwards and communicating with the interior of the cavity of drum (al) .

3. The machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said pierced conical bottom of the drum (al) houses a rotation pin (a2) wherewith a lamina (a3) is connected, the lower profile whereof pcT/im/oooos

15

repeats the conical shape of the bottom so as to sweep the entire surface thereof.

4. The machine according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises several pistons (a9)

5 which can slide in the interior of the holes (a5) by being lowerly fixed to a support (alO) substantially shaped as a disk, the motion whereof is preferably controlled by the action of a cylinder (all) , operated hydraulically, endowed with an alternate vertical 0 motion.

5. The machine according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stops of said reciprocating motion of the cylinder (all) are defined by two microswitches, an upper one (al3) and a lower one (al4) 5 that are respectively contacted by the disk (alO) during the up and down strokes, the cylinder (all) providing, moreover, a pressure switch (al5) capable of controlling the return down stroke of the pistons (a9) .

6. The machine according to claims 1 to 5, 0 characterized in that it comprises suitable peripheral devices (b; c) intended to produce the outer events to be coupled in combination with said random draws performed by the machine itself, said peripheral devices (b, c) being associated with the machine 5 through a mechanical connecting means, that can simultaneously or separately operate the movement of the machine and the devices (b, c) connected thereto.

7. The machine according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said central body (a) is in the shape of a right octagonal prism surmounted by a concentric octagonal surface of a greater diametre whereupon nine mechanical roulette (b) are housed, performing the function of said peripheral devices, one whereof is in a central position and eight are arranged equally spaced along an inner circumference concentric with the surface itself and in a position corresponding to as many holes (a5) .

8. The machine according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said mechanical roulette (b) are each one made up of a shaped plate (bl) connected with a vertical pin (b2) through which it can rotate inside a cavity (b3) covered with a transparent plate (b4) , on the upper surface of the plate (bl) twelve radial slots (b5) being made inclined downwards toward the interior, distinguished from each other by the colour or graphical signs, and that terminate laterally in correspondence with an inner conical surface (b7) .

9. The machine according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said rotating pins (a2 and b2) respectively of the mixer (a) and of the roulette (b) can be actuated contemporaneously or separately by one or more motors and dragged into rotation through belt or gear drives with generally different angular speeds.

10. The machine according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises nine mechanical stirrers for dice (c) , performing the function of said peripherical devices, and which are essentially made up of a container (cl) in a transparent material with at least a flat bottom, wherewhich two spindles (c2 and c3) coaxial with each other and with the flat bottom of the prism container (cl) are integral, said spindles being each one connected in integral manner with one of two cranks (c4 and c5) which can rotate around an axis (A-A) being staggered to each other by 180°, and splined on shafts (c6 and c7) rotating on the two supports (c8 and c9) , each of said stirrers (c) determining through coupling of the faces of the dice the random draw of a score among the preset twelve.

11. The machine according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said dice mechanical stirrer (c) arranged centrally is embedded in the upper portion of the central body (a) .

12. The machine according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the side walls of said slots (b5) are obtained through two vertical planes arranged radially relative to the axis of the plate (bl) and from a cylinder sector with the axis vertical tangent to the aforementioned planes, so that, by effect of the mechanical actuation of the roulettes, the spheres (b6) of the roulettes themselves are pushed by the centrifugal force toward an outer track and remain here for all the duration of the rotation at maximum speed, so determining the random draw of a score among the preset twelve.

13. The machine according to claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the central body (al) presents a 200 cm diametre, while the surface resting on the body (al) has a 250 cm diametre.

14. The machine according to claims 1 to 13, characterized in that for the reading of the results of the draws the use is envisaged of optical readers applied to the machine and capable of simultaneously storing and transmitting the data to suitable luminous displays for visualizing the results themselves.