Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for deterring gaming machine theft and fraud by weighing the number of coins accumulated in a gaming machine hopper assembly (9). In one preferred embodiment, a coin weighing apparatus (12) consisting of a load cell (13) and internal strain gauge (18) is constructed integrally with the coin hopper assembly and fits between the coin hopper (10) and its base plate (14). In other preferred embodiments, the coin weighing apparatus (22, 43, 50) is constructed separately from the coin hopper assembly. In these other preferred embodiments, the weighing apparatus includes upper (24, 46, 52) and lower plates (26, 48, 60) which are separated by one or more load cell weighing instruments (28, 45, 56). In operation, the lower plate of this stand-alone weighing apparatus is typically placed against the bottom (8) of the slot machine and the hopper is then simply placed on top of the weighing apparatus' upper plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a weighing apparatus for weighing coins accumulated in a coin hopper using a load cell and automatically taking periodic readings of the number of coins accumulated in the hopper. By periodically monitoring the hopper and automatically calculating the number of coins in the hopper, preventive fills and automatic inventorying can be effected. Knowing the coin count and being able to transmit coin counts to a central location allows for central accounting. Monitoring the coin count locally or centrally allows for "preemptive fills" where a hopper running low on coins is filled during periods of inactivity prior to the hopper being completely empty. The number of coins in the hopper at any given time is determined from the combined weight of the hopper and the coins accumulated in the hopper.