Abstract: A coin or token game has a lower hopper 8 and upper hopper 10 and a lift system 18 for bringing tokens from the lower hopper to the upper hopper. The lift system 18 is pivoted around a point close to the lower hopper and fixed with respect to the upper hopper 10 in such a way that the upper end of the lift system follows the upper hopper 10 as the upper hopper 10 moves laterally across the playfield 2.

Abstract: A games machine (1) includes a video display screen (10) with a transparent front screen (10) in front and a token passage (14) between display screen and front screen. Tokens or coins may be introduced through one or more token inlets (50, 52) at the top of the token passage and the tokens fall under gravity through the token passage bouncing off a plurality of pins (16). The games machine is arranged to display one or more targets on the video display screen, the targets moving over time, and to record a hit when a token hits a pin or other target area at the time a target is displayed on the screen directly behind the pin or target area.

Abstract: A games machine (1) includes a video display screen (10) with a transparent front screen (10) in front and a token passage (14) between display screen and front screen. Tokens or coins may be introduced through one or more token inlets (50,52) at the top of the token passage and the tokens fall under gravity through the token passage bouncing off a plurality of pins (16). The games machine is arranged to display one or more targets on the video display screen, the targets moving over time, and to record a hit when a token hits a pin or other target area at the time a target is displayed on the screen directly behind the pin or target area.

Abstract: A shooting game uses items fired from shooter 4 towards screen 2. Moving targets 32 are displayed on screen 2, and impact of items 28 on targets 32 is detected. The screen image may represent a storyline that is changed depending on the targets hit.

Abstract: An amusement machine comprises a passage (3) having an entry and an exit and defining a plurality of routes through which playing pieces can be caused to pass by a user of the machine. A hopper (8) for playing pieces is positioned between the entry and the exit of the passage and adapted to receive and temporarily hold playing pieces which pass through at least one of the plurality of routes. A movable barrier (14) is arranged between the entry of the passage and the hopper and, depending on its position, permits playing pieces to enter the hopper, or prevents playing pieces from entering the hopper and diverts them to a different route which by-passes the hopper. A counter determines the quantity of playing pieces in the hopper. A gate (9) is cooperable with the hopper and the counter and, when a predetermined quantity of playing pieces is held in the hopper, is actuated to release playing pieces from the hopper, whereby the released playing pieces can pass to the exit of the passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coin-operated amusement machine. Coins are received on a play area (21). Coins may be displaced from the play area (21) by a mechanism such as a coin pusher (5) or by movement of the play area itself. A counting hopper (8) receives and counts coins which have been displaced from a defined part of the play area, and generates a signal depending on the number of coins counted. A coin dispenser (10) can be operated by a user of the machine to dispense additional coins onto the play area (21). Coins are transferred from the counting hopper (8) to the dispenser (10) by a coin transport mechanism (9).

Abstract: The invention relates to an amusement machine comprising a play area (3) for containing a plurality of small portable articles (30) which are accessible from above; a scoop means (4) remotely operable by a user of the machine for scooping articles from the play area (3) and transferring them directly or indirectly to a collection station (7); a sensor means (26) for detecting the amount of articles at the collection station (7); and a dispenser for dispensing a cash or non-cash prize in response to a signal from the sensor (26).