Abstract: A slot machine has a coin sensor, which is connected to a CPU via a signal line, and generates a coin-detecting signal upon insertion of a coin. The slot machine stands by for execution of a game in response to the coin insertion, under the control of the CPU. A reel-stop switch is connected to the CPU via a signal line, and generates a reel-stop signal in response to a button depression. A test signal generator outputs a test signal to the signal line of the reel-stop switch. The CPU checks the signal line of the coin sensor. If the test signal is detected through the signal line of the coin sensor, execution of the game is inhibited, whereby a fraudulent operation is detected.

Abstract: A slot machine incorporates a coin dispenser, which has a discharge section that discharges a coin toward a discharge slot. A sensor is arranged at the discharge slot, and generates a detection signal upon detecting a coin. A counter counts the detection signal, to generate a count signal. A pay-out controller drives the discharge section in accordance with a pay-out signal, and prevents the discharge section from operating to complete the pay-out, when the count value equals a predetermined number of coins to be paid out. If the detecting signal is received before receiving the pay-out signal, the pay-out controller prevents the discharge section from operating, to protect the slot machine from a player's fraud. If the detection signal is received before receiving the pay-out signal or after completing the pay-out, the pay-out controller signals an error. A blocking plate is arranged to close the discharge slot. When pushed by the passing coin, the plate is opened to allow the coin to pass.

Abstract: A coin selector has a coin passageway wherein coins are inserted. A magnetic sensor inspects the coins in the coin passageway, and generates an inspection signal, which a controller evaluates to generate an acceptance or rejection signal. A gate plate responds to the acceptance or rejection signal, and selectively provides access to one of two chutes for the inspected coins, namely, an accepting chute for acceptable coins and a return chute for unacceptable coins. A photo sensor detects the acceptable coins in the accepting chute, and generates a detection signal. Counters are adapted to count the acceptance signals incrementally and the detection signals decrementally. A controller adds together the two counts of the counters, evaluates the sum of this addition, and generates an error signal in accordance with the sum evaluation. The error signal is utilized for the detection of fraud.

Abstract: A coin supply device includes a conveyor belt and a separating roller disposed above the conveyor belt. Upper coins of two or more overlapping coins are pushed back and separated by the separating roller rotating in a direction opposite to that of the conveyor belt. The lowermost coin is allowed to pass beneath the separating roller, and is fed to a pay-out hopper apparatus after passing under a coin sensor.

Abstract: A slot machine wherein a predetermined insurance premium value is set for example by inserting a predetermined number of coins besides a value, e.g. a number of coins, to be bet on each game prior to starting a game, thereby to start an insurance period. During the insurance period, the values having been bet on games are summed. When the sum reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined value of insurance is paid out, whereupon the insurance period is terminated. Also when a big hit occurs, the insurance period is terminated. A display displays the values having been bet on games played in the insurance period. The number of games may be used instead of the total values that have been bet on the games.

Abstract: A game machine displays in a display window a first and a second series of symbols in a column such that the first series of symbols are movingly displayed and thereafter a predetermined number of stationary symbols of the first series are displayed in a display window when the first series stops. If at that time a specific symbol of the first series, e.g. an opening or a transparent area, stops in the display window, the second series of symbols displayed in the position of the specific symbol are moved, and then a symbol of the second series is stopped in that position, whereby an additional game can be played in connection with the second symbol series.

Abstract: In a slot machine, pay-out data about previous games that represent the relationship between a total number of inserted coins and a total number of paid coins, are stored and displayed. There is further provided a game simulation device which simulates the games that are intended to occur thereafter. The simulated games are repeated at a high speed with neither coin insertion nor coin payment, during which time the reels are not rotated. Hypothetical coin pay-out data are formed based on a total number of coins assumed to be paid out for the simulated games on the assumption that a predetermined number of coins were inserted for each simulated game. Also, the hypothetical coin pay-out data on subsequent games are displayed on request.

Abstract: A game machine has a win judgment table. The table stores win information corresponding to each integer in a range of integers. An integers assigned to one special win paying the largest prize is located at the end of the range of integers. In the first game of a win cycle, one integer is randomly selected from the range of integers, and the win information corresponding to this integer is used to determine the outcome of the first game. In each subsequent game of said win cycle, the integer used to determine the outcome of the previous game is incremented and the resulting integer used for the current game. When the end of the integer range is reached, the special win occurs, and the next game becomes the first game of a new win cycle. It is thus assured that the special win occurs in each cycle of games, and that the number of games between special wins never exceeds a certain value.

Abstract: A slot machine has a memory in which first judgment data and second judgment data are stored. These first judgment data show for any first random number, whether any one of a group of prize-winning symbols can be selected, and the second judgment data show, for any second random number, the particular prize-winning combination to be displayed. A judgment is thus performed twice, using random numbers sequentially sampled from a random number generator, using the first and second data. According to the result of these two judgments, the stopped position of each reel is controlled such that the symbol combination of this specific winning combination will be displayed.

Abstract: Whether or not a game of a slot machine can result in a hit is determined before the symbol series stop moving, and preferably when a start lever is manipulated for starting the motion of the symbol series. For a game that can be a hit, the speed of movement of the symbol series is switched from a high speed to a low speed, or the speed is set at a low speed from the outset. For a game that cannot be a hit, the symbol series move at a high speed from the outset. From the difference between the speeds of movement, a player can know whether the game can be a hit even while the game is still in progress.

Abstract: A slot machine having a drive controller for changing the time required for series of symbols to decelerate and stop. For a game that can result in a hit, the series of symbols are controlled to stop by the required stop time set, e.g. longer than that for a game that cannot result in a hit. From the difference between required stop times, a player can know whether the game can be a hit even while the game is still in progress. The monotony of waiting until the series of symbols has fully stopped is thus to some extent relieved.

Abstract: A slot machine of the type having a plurality of rotatable reels, each bearing an annular row of various symbols on the outer surface thereof, which selects combinations of symbols at random during each game, and which awards prize coins when predetermined prize-winning combinations of symbols occur on prize-winning rows previously selected. For selectively designating prize-winning rows, the slot machine is provided with push buttons which also start the rotation of the reels.

Abstract: A game machine comprises hit flag counters which count up each hit request and count down upon the occurrence of each hit game. In these hit flag counters, if a hit cannot occur in spite of a hit request, the hit request is stored for the following games until the corresponding hit is obtained. A hit can be obtained only when the number of stored hit requests is not less than the number of inserted coins, so that the pay-out rate of the game machine is exactly controlled to be constant in totality.

Abstract: In a control system wherein a master control unit controls a plurality of game machines, the master control unit is provided with two calculators and a microprocessor. The two calculators accumultate, at different rates, values each corresponding to the number of coins inserted into each of the game machines for every game. The two different accumulated values are used alternately to set the amount of money to be paid out for a particular hit and one of the values is indicated by an indicator. For every occurrence of a hit, the microprocessor orders that coins be paid out according to the indicated value and that the indicated value is alternately changed from one of the two accumulated values to the other.

Abstract: A sector is provided on a rotary shaft of a stepping motor. Two end edges of this sector define two reference positions. When a sensor detects one of the end edges, a reset signal generator generates a reset signal to reset a counter which counts driving pulses for the stepping motor or fractions thereof. The reset signal generator also generates a distinguishing signal representing which end edge of the sector is detected. The rotary position of the stepping motor is determined based on the content of the counter and the distinguishing signal.

Abstract: A rotating disk is rotated about an upright axis to feed coins placed thereon toward a rotating body. The rotating body is formed with a spiral groove in which the periphery of each coin is inserted and a guide barrel is disposed in such a manner as to maintain the rising coins in the groove in the rotating body. The coin, the periphery of which are engaged in the spiral groove, are received by the guide barrel and lifted in a generally horizontal posture by the rotation of the rotating body and then discharged outside from a discharge port formed at an upper portion of the guide barrel. A rubber-surfaced roller is disposed opposite the rotating body. The roller is adapted to press against the periphery of coins thereby to ensure the insertion of the coins into the spiral grooves.

Abstract: A slot machine has a single stop button which is manipulated by a player every time it is desired to stop a plurality of moving symbol columns one after another. A selection device selects a symbol column to be stopped every time the stop button is manipulated. A stop device stops the movement of the symbol column selected by the selection device. The player can stop all of the symbol columns sequentially in a predetermined order by manipulating the single stop button as many times as the number of symbol columns.

Abstract: A slot machine. In one embodiment, a given symbol is included in each of a series of symbols, and a judgment device is provided for locating the positions of a plurality of given symbols appearing within the windows but not all on the prize-winning line, after all the symbol series have stopped. Provision is also made for outputting a prize-winning signal when the plurality of given symbols form a predetermined arrangement. Symbol series stop position adjustment is also made, responsive to the prize-winning signal, for automatically causing at least one of the plurality of symbol series to move for the adjustment of stop position so as to attain a prize-winning symbol combination of the given symbols on the prize-winning line. In another embodiment, a specific symbol is included in one of the series of symbols; and the judgment device outputs a prize-winning signal when that specific symbol is positioned on the prize-winning line after all the symbol series have stopped.

Abstract: A token feed apparatus is attached to a token discharge port formed on a rear surface of a front door on the main body of a slot machine. The token feed apparatus has a bottom plate extending downwardly toward a token collection bucket and a side plate projecting upwardly from one side of the bottom plate. A token discharged from the token discharge port rolls down the token feed apparatus and is projected to the inner side of the token collection bucket due to the momentum of its rolling motion. The bucket thus fills from rear to front; and an overflow chute at the front of the bucket feeds overflowing tokens to an overflow bucket. A sufficient supply of tokens is thus maintained for the feed of a pay-out device beneath the bucket, at the same time that uncontrolled overflow of coins into the interior of the machine is avoided.

Abstract: A coin dispenser for discharging coins stored in a bucket in an automatic vending machine, a money exchanging machine, a coin-operated amusement machine such as a slot machine and the like, comprising a bucket for storing a number of coins therein which has an opening at its bottom, a rotary disk driven by a motor for receiving thereon coins supplied from the bucket through the opening, the rotary disk being adapted to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane and causing the coins placed thereon to slide outwardly with centrifugal force; and a guide wall adapted to guide the coins impelled by centrifugal force along the periphery of the rotary disk and formed with an opening for discharging the coins. The rotary disk comprises a rotary pedestal including a hub fixed to an output shaft of a motor and a plurality of frames projecting in the radial direction from the hub, and a thin disk fixed to the rotary pedestal and adapted to bear the coins thereon.