WO2004057548A1

WO2004057548A1 - Multiple playing position games machine

Info

Publication number: WO2004057548A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/005582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gordon James Crompton
Original assignee: Cromptons Leisure International Limited
Priority date: 2002-12-19
Filing date: 2003-12-19
Publication date: 2004-07-08
Also published as: AU2003294133A1

Abstract

A games machine has a plurality of playing positions (4), and a payout hopper moveable between locations corresponding to respective playing positions. In embodiments, some of the locations are payout positions (24) in which tokens are dispensed into win chutes (12) and others of the locations are feature locations in which tokens are dispensed on to the play fields (10) in front of a player.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Multiple Playing Position Games Machine

The invention relates to a multiple playing position games machine, of the type that uses tokens such as coins, and particularly but not exclusively to a pusher-type games machine having multiple playing positions.

A wide variety of games machines are known which have multiple playing positions. Generally, each playing position has a coin input, a pay cup for delivering coins, and a hopper for delivering coins into the pay cup when the user has effected payment either by inserting a coin into the coin slot or by other means such as by using a card. Effectively, the pay cup is used either to dispense change or to deliver winnings to the player.

A particular example of such machines is a pusher machine, having a play field on which a large number of coins are arranged, win chutes leading into respective pay cups and pushers for pushing coins on the play field. Generally, either the pusher or the play field or both are moveable and a large number of coins or tokens are stacked onto the play field. By introducing coins into the coin slot, the user adds to the number of coins on the play field and hopes that the addition of the coin will cause many coins to fall into the win chute.

Frequently, such systems have integral change facilities at each playing position to provide the user with the necessary large quantities of coins or tokens without requiring the user to leave his or her playing position. Thus, each playing position is provided with a change facility which accepts coins, notes, debit cards or credit cards as payments and delivers from a hopper associated with each playing position an appropriate number of tokens for the payment received.

A significant problem with this is that the change facilities are large and bulky and this can cause difficulties where the space to fit the change facility within the machine is restricted. Moreover, such machines with multiple playing positions can be very difficult and hence expensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system with multiple playing positions. In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a games machine having a plurality of playing positions; a plurality of pay cups at respective playing positions for dispensing winning tokens, each pay cup being accessible by a player at the playing position to allow the player to collect tokens in the pay cup; a payout hopper for holding tokens, the payout hopper being movable between a plurality of predetermined locations corresponding to respective playing positions, wherein the payout hopper is actuatable to dispense tokens at the predetermined locations, to result, directly or indirectly, in the player winning a variable number of tokens; and a refill device for refilling the payout hopper. Thus, a single payout hopper serves a number of the playing positions which reduces the number of hoppers required. This has the additional benefit that fewer tokens are needed in the payout hoppers and that less space is taken up.

As will be appreciated, the variable number of tokens won by the player will generally include the possibility of winning zero tokens, or a small number of tokens, or a large number of tokens, to enhance user interest. However, in principle there is no limit on the different numbers of tokens that may be won. The probabilities of the different numbers of tokens may be adjusted to ensure a fair return to the player whilst still allowing a reasonable profit for the operator.

In preferred embodiments, the predetermined locations include payout positions at respective playing positions. Actuation of the payout hopper at the payout position of a playing position causes tokens to be dispensed into the respective pay cup.

The payout hopper may be a hopper with an open top. In alternative embodiments, the payout hopper may be a tube, sized to hold the tokens.

Preferably, a coin change mechanism is provided to receive payment from a user at a playing position, arranged to cause the payout hopper to move to the respective payout position corresponding to the playing position and then to actuate the payout hopper to cause a number of tokens corresponding to the payment to be issued to the player. Conveniently this may be done by issuing the tokens into the pay cup though in alternative arrangements a separate change dispenser may be provided and the payout hopper dispenses tokens into the change dispenser.

Preferably, rather than have a mechanism for refilling the payout hopper at each playing position, the payout hopper can also be moved to a predetermined location that is a refill position. The refill device may be arranged to refill the payout hopper when the payout hopper is moved to the refill position.

The refill device may be an escalator hopper. Preferred embodiments include the coin elevator system as set out in EP805778 to Cromptons. The invention may in particular be used in machines with a playfield. For example, the game may be of a type where a user attempts to collect tokens from the play field, and in which input tokens are indirectly routed onto the play field. Thus, the machine may be of the grabber type. In this case, the tokens need not be coin shaped but they may be, for example, small gifts. Preferred embodiments of the invention implement the idea in a pusher type device. Accordingly, the games machine may include a play field on which tokens may be located and pushers for pushing the tokens. Either the pusher or the play field or both may laterally move. Preferably, to enhance user interest, quantities of tokens may be added from time to time to the play fields or direct to the player via the pay cups. Accordingly, the payout hopper may be moveable to feature positions at respective playing positions, and actuation of the payout hopper at the feature position of a playing position causes tokens to be dispensed onto the play field at the respective playing position. Alternatively, the payout hopper may be moveable to payout positions at the respective playing positions, and the payout hopper may be actuated to dispense tokens direct to the player.

The- games machine may further include a feature controller for causing tokens to be dispensed at the feature positions when predetermined conditions apply, such as after a predetermined time or when there are insufficient coins on the play field in front of any playing position. Preferably, the games machine further includes lose holes on the play fields so that the pusher box can push tokens either into the lose holes or into win chutes leading to respective pay cups. Preferably, coin chutes connect the lose holes to the escalator hopper so that tokens that fall from the play field into the lose holes are collected by the escalator hopper where they can be used to refill the payout hopper. There are a number of possible approaches to allowing the payout hopper to move. A track may be provided to guide the payout hopper between the locations. Alternatively, the payout hopper may be mounted on a disk that is rotatable to bring the payout hopper to each of the predetermined locations. The playfield may be of substantially circular shape around a central region and the payout hopper may be mounted on a disc above the central region, the disc being rotatable about the central axis of the playfield to bring the payout hopper to the predetermined locations. The central region can be solid or a gap in the centre of the playfield. Preferably, the central region may have a gap or gaps acting as lose holes, so that tokens being moved under the rotatable disc may fall into the lose holes.

A stepper motor may move the payout hopper in either of these approaches.

Preferably, more than one payout hopper is provided each moveable between predetermined locations. In particular, a first set of the playing positions may be served by one of a pair of payout hoppers and the remaining playing positions may be served by the other of the pair of payout hoppers . hi a particularly beneficial arrangement the games machine includes a counter to count the number of tokens won by the player, a win meter to record the counted number of tokens won by a player and a payout control arranged to pay out the winnings into the pay cup by moving the payout hopper to the respective pay cup and paying out the number of tokens recorded onto the win meter into the payout cup. In this way winnings need not be paid out but may be banked.

Each playing position may include a play control arranged so that actuation of the play control is arranged to cause the payout hopper to move to a predetermined location on the playfield corresponding to the respective playing position and to dispense one or more tokens at the predetermined location.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a games machine comprising: a plurality of playing positions; a payout hopper for holding tokens, the payout hopper being movable between a plurality of predetermined locations, at least some of the predetermined locations corresponding to respective playing positions, wherein the payout hopper is actuatable to dispense tokens at the predetermined locations; and a refill device for refilling the payout hopper.

For a better understanding of the invention, embodiments will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows part of an amusement machine according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the complete machine of the first embodiment;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a section through the second embodiment; and' Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Like components are given the same reference numerals in the first and second embodiments. .

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of an amusement machine 2 has a housing 50 having a Perspex screen 52. A plurality of playing positions 4 are provided each of which has a coin slot 6, a pay cup 8, and a change mechanism 44.

A play field 10 is substantially horizontal and includes a number of win chutes 12 which lead to respective pay cups 8 at the playing positions. The play field is visible through screen 52. Pushers 11 are arranged for lateral motion over the play field 10. Small lose holes 14 allow some coins to be collected without passing through the win chutes and accordingly provide the operator of the machine with his percentage profit.

Rails 16 guide a payout hopper 18 between a number of positions 20. The payout hopper 18 is shown in full lines at a feature payout position 22 and ghosted at a payout position 24. The payout hopper 18 may also be moved to a refill position 26. The payout hopper 18 has a token store 46 for storing tokens and an input funnel 48 for collecting tokens input and passing them to the token store 46.

The machine operates using tokens 28 a number of which are shown on the play field 10. It should be noted that although the term "tokens" is used in this patent specification, the term is intended to include coins and in fact in most applications coins may be used.

A central controller unit 30 including a processor 32 and memory 34 is connected to a stepper motor or drive capable of moving the payout hopper 18 along the track 16 between the various predetermined locations 20. Although this unit is shown on the outside of the machine so that it can be seen, in practice the controller unit 30 is conveniently mounted internally.

In use, the machine has a number of functions. The user may insert a coin into the changer mechanism 44 on each section. The changer mechanism 44 will then validate the input coin and if the coin is determined to be valid the controller 30 will then cause the payout hopper 18 to move to the payout position 24 corresponding to the playing position and will cause the payout hopper 18 to dispense the correct number of tokens into win chute 12 corresponding to the payment made. The tokens pass through the win chute into pay cup 8 where they may be collected by the user. In alternative arrangements a change mechanism capable of accepting notes, credit cards or other payment cards may alternatively or additionally be used.

To play the game, the user inputs the appropriate coins or tokens through the slot 6 and each token input causes one or more tokens to be added to the play field in front of the user. This may be done either by directly taking the token from the slot 6 and leading it on to the play field, or by causing the controller 30 to move the payout hopper 18 into the feature position 22 corresponding to the respective playing position and to deliver a single token on to the play field there.

The pusher 11 reciprocates backwards and forwards to push tokens either into the win chutes 12 or the lose holes 14. To enhance user interest, the machine is arranged to have the feature that under certain circumstances a number of tokens are dispensed on to the play field. This may occur to load sufficient tokens on to the play field to make it attractive for players to play. In this case, the payout hopper is moved to the feature position corresponding to a playing position and dispenses a number of tokens on to the play field 10 at that playing position 4. Alternatively, in some cases a payout may be made directly to the user by moving the payout hopper to the payout position and dispensing tokens there.

When the payout hopper 18 has paid out a predetermined percentage of its contents, for example, when it has paid out 50% or 80% of its original contents, it returns to the refill position 26 where it is refilled by a counting, escalator hopper 38. Chutes 36 lead from the lose holes 14 to the escalator hopper to collect the tokens passing through the lose holes to allow them to be used for filling the payout hopper 18. The whole operation of the machine is under the control of the controller 30. In a variation of the first embodiment a tube is used instead of an open hopper as the payout hopper. The tube may have coins introduced at one end and dispensed from the other end. Alternatively, the tube may be closed with coins introduced at one end at the refill position and dispensed from the same end in the other predetermined positions. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, an alternative embodiment has a number of playing positions 4. Each has a pay cup 8. The playing positions are arranged around the circumference of a machine with a substantially circular play field 10, divided into sections 11 corresponding to the playing positions 4. Win chutes 12 in the form of slots are provided between the sections and lead to the pay cups 8. A pair of payout hoppers 18 are mounted on a disc 60, in the example of perspex, supported on frame 64. The payout hoppers are diametrically opposed. The perspex disk 60 is moveable about a vertical axis 62 to move the payout hoppers 18 between the various predetermined location, including feature positions 24 and payout positions 22 at each playing position 4. As above, the payout hopper pays out onto the playfield in a feature position 24 and into the win chutes 12 in the payout position 22. A refill position is also provided in which tokens can be filled into the payout hopper 18 from the escalator hopper 38. Chutes 36 lead from a lose slot 14 at the centre of the playfield 10 under the perspex disc 60 to a reservoir 66 for collecting tokens falling through the lose holes. A central axial elevator 68 carries the tokens from the reservoir up through the centre of the machine to feed tokens into the payout hoppers.

In this case, each payout hopper is a simple open hopper having an open funnel which is tiltable to deliver the tokens as a feature onto the play field, or down the win chutes 12 to the pay cup 8. By rotating the hopper, the tokens can be delivered to the play field 10 corresponding to any of the playing positions. The delivery of the tokens in use enhances user interest.

Controller 30 is used to control the machine, as in the first embodiment. It will be appreciated that the machine of the second embodiment will have other components (not shown), including a pusher to move the tokens on the playfield, a perspex screen shielding the playfield, coin slots and other standard components that will be well known to those skilled in the art or from the above description of the first embodiment. Other components such as a change controller 44, described above with respect to the first embodiment, are also preferably incorporated - these will not be described further. The use of the machine proceeds substantially as described above with reference to the first embodiment. As above, when a user at a playing position 4 makes a payment the payout hopper 18 is moved to the corresponding payout position 22 and dispenses a suitable number of tokens 28 through slot 12 to the appropriate paycup, as illustrated on the right of Figure 3. When coins are to be added to the playfield 10, a payout hopper is moved to the appropriate feature position 24 and tokens dispensed onto the appropriate section 11 of the playfield 10, as illustrated on the left of Figure 3. The hopper 18 may be refilled by moving it to the appropriate refill position and refilling the hopper using elevator 68.

Figure 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a win meter 70 and a credit meter 72 are provided. This keeps the winnings separate from the credits paid for directly by the player. A play button 76 and a collect button 74 is provided; the functions of these buttons will be described later. To play the game, the player may insert single coins or tokens into pay slot 2.

Tokens inserted here are rolled onto the playfield and then pursed forward by a pusher box/arm.

Alternatively, the player may introduce coins into change mechanism 44. Generally, the coins inserted will be of higher value than the tokens used on the field of play. The change mechanism 44 validates the coins electronically and causes appropriate credit to be indicated on credit meter 72. The user then has a choice. The user can either operate the collect button 74, at which point the credit on the credit meter will cause an appropriate payout. In this case, the payout hopper 18 is moved to the payout position corresponding to the playing position and pays out the credit into the pay cup.

Alternatively, the user may operate the play button 76 which causes tokens corresponding to the indicated credit to be paid out onto the playfield 10.

For example, for machines for use in the UK, the change mechanism 44 can be arranged to take £1 coins, and the tokens may be lOp coins. When a user inserts £1 into the change mechanism, the user can either press the play button 76 to cause 10 lOp coins to be deposited on the play field, or can press the collect button 74 to pay out 10 lOp coins into the pay cup, which the user can then insert singly though coin slot 2 if desired.

When tokens 28 are won, rather than paying tokens out directly to the player the tokens are passed through a counter that counts the tokens and credits the win meter 70 with the number of tokens won. The win meter 70 thus provides a display of the winnings credited to the player. In this specific embodiment, the win meter 70 is a vacuum fluorescent display (VFT) though other display types can also be used. A collect button 74 is provided. When the player activates the collect button, the winnings recorded on the win meter are paid out. To achieve this, the hopper for the respective play station moves to the respective pay cup and deposits a number of tokens corresponding to the winnings in that pay cup. The win. meter is then zeroed. Alternatively, the player can continue to operate the play control 76 even when the number of credits is zero, if winnings are displayed. In this case, the winnings are used as credit to dispense tokens onto the playfield so that the player can to continue playing. For each token dispensed onto the playfield in this state, the displayed winnings are reduced by one. The number of tokens deposited onto the playfield 10 when the play button is depressed may be varied. For example, the play button 76 may cause all the tokens indicated on the credit meter to be deposited to the playfield 10 in one operation, or alternatively only a single token need be deposited. In other arrangements, a predetermined number of tokens, for example 2 to 10, may be deposited every time the play button 76 is operated. Obviously, if the credit is insufficient for the full predetermined number of tokens to be deposited, the number indicated on the credit meter will be deposited.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the design, manufacture and use of games machines and which may be used in addition to or instead of features described herein. Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of disclosure also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention. The applicants hereby give notice that new claims may be formulated to any such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further applications derived therefrom. The skilled person will appreciate that this invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In particular, it is not limited to pusher-type machines and may be used in other type machines where a coin change unit is required at a number of playing positions, and/or where payouts are required at those playing positions. For example, the invention may include machines where the object is to collect some number of tokens or other items from the playfield.

For some applications, the hopper may payout directly into win chutes corresponding to the respective playing positions to reward the player having won the game.

The term tokens is not intended to restrict the shape of the tokens to flat discshaped objects and any form of token may be used if required.

Claims

1. A games machine, comprising: a plurality of playing positions; a plurality of pay cups at respective playing positions for dispensing winning tokens, each pay cup being accessible by a player at the playing position to allow the player to collect tokens in the pay cup; a payout hopper for holding tokens, the payout hopper being movable between a plurality of predetermined locations corresponding to respective playing positions, wherein the payout hopper is actuatable to dispense tokens at the predetermined locations, to result, directly or indirectly, in the player winning a variable number of tokens; and a refill device for refilling the payout hopper.

2. A games machine according to any preceding claim wherein the predetermined locations include payout positions at respective playing positions and where actuation of the payout hopper at the payout position of a playing position causes tokens to be dispensed into the respective pay cup.

3. A games machine according to claim 2 further comprising a change mechanism arranged to receive payment from a user at a playing position, wherein the games machine is arranged to cause the payout hopper to move to the respective payout position corresponding to the playing position and then to actuate the payout hopper to cause a number of tokens corresponding to the payment to be issued to the player, when a suitable payment is received in the coin change mechanism.

4. A games machine according to claim 2 or 3 wherein each playing position includes a counter to count the number of tokens won by the player at that playing position, a win meter to record the counted number of tokens won by a player and a payout control arranged so that operation of the payout control causes the winnings to be paid out into the pay cup by moving the payout hopper to the respective pay cup and paying out the number of tokens recorded on the win meter into the payout cup.

5. A games machine according to any preceding claim wherein the games machine is of the pusher type having a playfield for supporting tokens and pushers for pushing the tokens on the playfield.

6. A games machine according to claim 5 wherein each playing position includes a play control arranged so that actuation of the play control is arranged to cause the payout hopper to move to a predetermined location on the playfield corresponding to the respective playing position and to dispense one or more tokens at the predetermined location.

7. A games machine according to any preceding claim further comprising win chutes leading to respective pay cups, lose holes on the playfield, a pusher box for pushing coins either into the lose holes or the win chutes leading to the pay cups and coin chutes connected between the lose holes and the escalator hopper so that coins that fall from the playfield into the lose holes are collected by the escalator hopper so that they can be used to refill the payout hopper.

8. A games machine according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the payout hopper is movable to feature positions at respective playing positions, and wherem actuation of the payout hopper at the feature position of a playing position causes tokens to be dispensed onto the playfield at the respective playing position.

9. A games machine according to any preceding claim wherein the refill device is an escalator hopper.

10. A games machine according to any preceding claim wherein the predetermined locations include payout positions at respective playing positions and where actuation of the payout hopper at the payout position of a playing position causes tokens to be dispensed into the respective pay cup.

11. A games machine according to any preceding claim in which the predetermined locations between which the payout hopper is movable further include a refill position, wherein the refill device is arranged to refill the payout hopper when the payout hopper is in the refill position.

12. A games machine according to any preceding claim further comprising a track between the predetermined locations to guide the payout hopper between the predetermined locations.

13. A games machine according to any preceding claim wherein the payout hopper is mounted for rotation about a central axis whereby rotation of the payout hopper about the central axis is arranged to move the payout hopper between the predetermined locations.

14. A games machine according to any preceding claim comprising a pair of payout hoppers, each movable between some or all of the predetermined locations.

15. A games machine according to claim 14 wherein a first set of the playing positions are served by one of the pair of payout hoppers and the remaining playing positions are served by the other of the pair of payout hoppers.

16. A games machine according to any preceding claim wherein the payout hopper is a hopper having an open top.

17. A games machine according to any of claims 1 to 16 wherein the payout hopper is a tube.

18. A games machine comprising: a plurality of playing positions; a payout hopper for holding tokens, the payout hopper being movable between a plurality of predetermined locations, at least some of the predetermined locations corresponding to respective playing positions, wherein the payout hopper is actuatable to dispense tokens at the predetermined locations; and a refill device for refilling the payout hopper.

19. A games machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.