Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for conveying material between a lower station and an upper station. The apparatus includes a bucket (16) for containing material to be conveyed, a guide channel (15) between the upper station and the lower station, a lower guide peg (14) attached to a lower part of the bucket (16) and arranged to slide along the guide channel (15), and an upper guide peg (17) attached to an upper part of the bucket (16) and arranged to slide along the guide channel (15). The bucket (16) is driven between the lower station and the upper station. A deflector guide (12) branches from the guide channel (15) so as to guide one of the guide pegs (17) away from the guide channel while the other guide peg (14) remains in the guide channel. The bucket (16) is thereby caused to pivot about the other guide peg (14) and thus tip out material contained therein.

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).