Amusement devices: games – Games accessories – All video game accessories
Patent
1994-04-04
1995-02-07
Layno, Benjamin H.
Amusement devices: games
Games accessories
All video game accessories
273121B, 273143R, A63F 722
Patent
active
053869958
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a game medium circulation control system, and more particularly to a slot-machine game apparatus which enables an automatic and effective control of medal circulation in units of islands each consisting of a number of parallel arranged slot machines.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
In this type of conventional slot-machine game apparatus, it is common practice for individual customers to bring medals gained from slot machines for prizes to an adjustment corner for adjustment and for these collected medals to be returned to the individual slot machines after being polished by a medal polishing machine.
However, it is inconvenient to individual customers to bring a lot of medals, which are heavy, to the adjustment corner. If it is crowded at the adjustment corner, the customers will have a long wait for adjustments. Further, it is laborious and time-consuming to return the adjusted and collected medals to the individual slot machines after polishing.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
With the foregoing problems in view, it is an object of this invention to provide a game apparatus which enables an automatic and effective game medium or medal circulation control in units of islands. According to this invention, there is provided a game apparatus to be installed in units of islands each consisting of a number of parallel arranged game machines, the apparatus comprising: an upper game medium reservoir for supplying game mediums to the individual game machines via a supply conveyer; a game medium counter having a counting display; and a game medium polishing machine for collecting the game mediums from the game medium counter, the game medium polishing machine communicating with the game medium reservoir.
The game medium counter may be unitized with a printer or a card read/writer or may be equipped with a disburse button to be used in dispensing the game mediums after they are counted.
Therefore the medals gained from the individual game machines such as slot machines can be counted by the medal counter in units of islands and the value resulting from this counting can be indicated on the counting display. In the case where a printer or a card read/writer is connected to the medal counter, a premium coupon or a gift card is dispensed so that a customer can exchange it for a prize. To return the counted medals for reuse in a game, the disburse button is depressed so that the medals counted by the medal counter are conveyed, together with the spent medals discharged from the slot machines, to the medal polishing machine where the medals are polished and then successively conveyed to the upper medal reservoir. From the medal reservoir, the medals can be supplied to the individual slot machines by the supply conveyer. Thus it is possible to circulate game medals within a closed system, substantially without letting them out of the island.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view showing an island of slot machines in which a game apparatus according to one embodiment of this invention is incorporated;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a medal counter to be used in this invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a printer or a card read/writer to be used in this invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view showing an island of slot machines in which a game apparatus according to another embodiment of this invention is incorporated;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a modified medal counter to be used in this invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION
One embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.
FIG. 1 shows a portion of an island consisting of a number of parallel arranged slot machines, there being a medal dispenser D equipped between each pair of adjacent slot machines A, A so that an amount of game medals corresponding to the value of paper currency inserted can be dispensed. A supply conveyer 1, extending from an upper medal reservoir 2 disposed at an upper centra
REFERENCES:
patent: 4636951 (1987-01-01), Harlick
patent: 4837728 (1989-06-01), Barrie et al.
patent: 5116055 (1992-05-01), Tracy
patent: 5222583 (1993-06-01), Bergmann et al.
Kawashima Kazunari
Takemoto Takatoshi
Kabushiki Kaisha Ace Denken
Layno Benjamin H.
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