Abstract: A game machine has indicia which indicate the proper time to control visible moving symbols. The indicia comprise lights or sounds to make a player recognize the proper time when predetermined prize-winning symbol or combination of symbols will occur on one or a plurality of rotatable reels in a stopped position of the reels as controlled by the player.

Abstract: A device for regulating the direction of rotation of a slot machine handle is disclosed, which ensures reliable forward and return motions of the handle. A rack member is moved through a guide member in an interlocked relation to the handle. A rachet pawl is rotatably mounted in the guide member. The rack member has a series of teeth thereon, with a recess at each end of the series. Only when the pawl is in one of those recesses, can the direction of movement of the rack be reversed. As a result, only when the handle has been fully pulled, or fully returned, can its direction of rotation be reversed.

Abstract: A slot machine is provided which has a winning probability table for storing a relation between a group and random numbers, the group being one of a plurality of groups made up by classifying prize-winning symbol combinations. The range of random numbers is properly fixed so that the winning probability is determined. Prior to the start of a game, one of the random numbers is sampled from a plurality of random numbers. The decisions on whether there is a win or not, and on which group the sampled random number belongs to if there is a win, are made with reference to the winning probability table. A hit request signal is generated for the latter decision. The hits are of different sizes, that is to say that different hits pay different numbers of wins. The larger the hit, the fewer random numbers correspond to it. The stopping series of symbols is controlled in accordance with the hit request signal.

Abstract: Two cylindrical stator magnetic poles are disposed with a suitable space therebetween, and a plunger is movably disposed within the two stator magnetic poles. A coil is wound around the outer periphery of the two stator magnetic poles, and a current flowing in the coil causes the plunger to advance forward. The current flow is interrupted before the plunger reaches the intermediate position between the two stator magnetic poles, and the plunger thereafter further advances by inertia and strikes a ball. After the ball is struck, the coil is again supplied with a current, and the plunger is in turn supplied with a magnetic force in a retreat direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discriminating coins or bank notes, in which sensors measure characteristics of coins or bank notes. Processing control apparatus provides a reference value setting mode and a discrimination mode. In the reference value setting mode, data of sample coins or bank notes obtained from the sensors are statistically processed to calculate minimum and maximum reference values, and these values are stored in a memory. In the discimination mode, a coin or bank note to be authenticated is checked as to whether its characteristics are within the range of minimum and maximum reference values. Genuine coins or bank notes are automatically separated from counterfeit.

Abstract: A hopper device has an insulating hopper member. A first electrode is mounted in the inner side of the hopper member in a lowermost portion thereof, and at least one second electrode is mounted in the inner side of the hopper member in a portion thereof at a higher level than the first electrode. When coins having conductivity are collected in the hopper member until their level reaches the second electrode, the first and second electrodes are electrically coupled together by the coins, whereby an electric signal representing the amount of collected coins is generated.

Abstract: A slot machine has a plurality of reels, each having an annular series of various symbols on the periphery thereof and having, on a side thereof, a plurality of light shield plates different in shape from each other for distinguishing regions into which the reel is divided. Pulse signals for causing a pulse motor to rotate by an angle corresponding to each region are counted. A position of the reel either in rotation or stopped is determined based on the number of counted pulse signals and the region as distinguished by the detection of the shape of the associated light shield plate.

Abstract: A device for locking a slot machine handle for causing the rotation of reels until a coin is inserted, is disclosed. When a coin is inserted, a solenoid is activated to move an interlock lever from a first position to a second position. When the interlock lever is in the first position, it holds a locking pawl in engagement with a locking member provided on the same shaft as the handle. When the interlock lever is brought to the second position, it is held in this position until the handle is returned to the initial position. With the interlock lever in the second position, the locking pawl is allowed to be disengaged from the locking member by a spring.

Abstract: A device for generating an impact sound for a slot machine is disclosed, which is constructed to intentionally produce an impact sound when reels start to be rotated by motors. An operating member is rotated in an interlocked relation to the rotation of a handle while storing restoring force in a spring. When the handle is turned to a predetermined extent, the motors are started to cause rotation of the reels. Substantially simultaneously with the start of rotation of the reels, the operating member is returned by the restoring force stored in the spring, and an impact force is generated with the collision of the returned operating member with a stopper.

Abstract: A device for removably holding a display plate with a pay-out table or like thereon at the front of a game machine body is disclosed. A transversally disposed lower plate retainer has a longitudinal groove, in which the lower end of the display plate is inserted, and notches extending from the front surface of the lower plate retainer to the groove. Hands can be inserted into the notches to grasp the lower edge of the display plate. A top bent portion of a cover plate is inserted in the groove of the lower plate retainer adjacent to the lower edge of the display plate. The cover plate covers the lower plate retainer and has a portion held urged by part of a front door.

Abstract: A slot machine has a plurality of rotatable reels with an annular series of symbols on the peripheral surfaces thereof. The reels rotate at high speed in an original game and at low speed in an immediately subsequent bonus game and can be brought to a stop, individually, by means of stop switches associated one with each of the reels. Therefore, in the bonus game, the player has an increased chance of causing a prize winning symbol or combination of symbols to appear in the windows in the selectively stopped positions of the reels.

Abstract: A playing field board for pinball game machines which is assembled with a playing surface thereof inclined, and along the inclined playing surface of which a round ball rolls downwardly by gravity and is driven upwardly by means of kicker apparatus, is made of a steel sheet and a transparent plastic layer of synthetic resin, e.g. urethane, disposed on the surface of the steel sheet. Between the steel sheet and the plastic layer of synthetic resin comprising the playing field, a buffer such as paper sheeting is interposed to dampen the noises made by a ball rolling along the playing surface of the playing field. Such paper sheeting can be in the form of a sandwich of metal foil between two paper sheets. The steel sheet contains a hole which is located beneath the transparent layer of plastic, and the hole is filled by a transparent plug. A metal hole is welded to the underside of the steel sheet. The holder supports an electric light bulb which shines upward through the transparent layer of plastic.

Abstract: A pinball game machine is provided with a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) visual display unit for indicating simultaneously scores in digital display corresponding to each of the players who are playing at one time. A player-related total score operated by a micro-computer is indicated on the screen of the CRT visual display unit in digital display. Upon using the CRT visual display unit, total scores, each of them corresponding to each of a plurality of players, may be simultaneously indicated. In this display, the score indication of the player who is up is performed using large digits so as to enable players to distinguish it easily from the scores of the other players.

Abstract: Kicker apparatus for a pinball machine having an inclined playing surface, comprises a kicker and mechanism for triggering the kicker to strike a ball and drive the ball up the inclined playing surface. The kicker is disposed in a triangular aperture in the playing surface, two of whose sides converge in the direction in which the ball is projected by the kicker, thereby to direct the ball without the need for upstanding guide members. The triangular aperture is closed from beneath by a plate that is mounted for downward movement under the weight of the ball as the ball rolls down into the triangular aperture by gravity, the plate actuating the triggering mechanism for the kicker.

Abstract: Target apparatus for pinball machines includes a plurality of longitudinally aligned targets disposed in a row on a downwardly inclined portion of the playing surface. Guides are disposed on both sides of the row of targets, to direct a ball up the incline into contact with the first target. The ball unseats the target, which is then pulled by a spring down through a hole in the playing surface. Thereafter the ball is free to contact the next target, and so on from target to target, the ball rolling back from the targets, on a trackway provided by the guides, under the influence of gravity. The retraction of each target actuates an electrical contact to change the score; and the targets can all be returned to their raised position by electrically operated mechanism.