Abstract: A vend mechanism for transferring articles, or prizes, to a receiving area of a vending machine accessible from outside the machine, including an amusement game machine, has a plurality of conveyors arranged radially on each of a plurality of spaced plates. A first drive mechanism is provided to rotate an assembly of the plates so that a selected column of conveyors is in alignment with the receiving area and, for each plate, a second drive mechanism is provided to operate the conveyor that is in the transferring orientation so that an article, or prize, on the conveyor is transferred to the receiving area.

Abstract: An amusement game that includes a horizontally-oriented rotating wheel, a coin chute to introduce a coin to a central region of said rotating wheel wherein the coin slides on its lateral side, a stationary guide to direct the coin in a radial direction from the central region of the wheel toward the periphery of the wheel, and a plurality of payoff positions located at angular positions on the wheel. A detector is provided to determine if a coin introduced to the wheel intersects with a payoff position.

Abstract: A vend mechanism for transferring articles, or prizes, to a receiving area of a vending machine accessible from outside the machine, including an amusement game machine, has a plurality of conveyors arranged radially on each of a plurality of spaced plates. A first drive mechanism is provided to rotate an assembly of the plates so that a selected column of conveyors is in alignment with the receiving area and, for each plate, a second drive mechanism is provided to operate the conveyor that is in the transferring orientation so that an article, or prize, on the conveyor is transferred to the receiving area.

Abstract: An amusement game that includes a coin acceptor for the reception and analysis of a coin from a player and for directing genuine coins to a coin track. The coin track is inclined on an angle and allows coins to roll down the track to a coin chute, that then directs coins from the coin track to a rotating play field wheel that is horizontally-oriented. The coin chute is oriented to allow the coin to slide on a lateral side. A motor rotates the play field wheel around a central axis at a constant speed. Coins on the wheel are engaged by a coin guide that is positioned above the wheel and extends from the central axis toward a peripheral edge of the wheel. The coin guide engages the lateral side of coins that has been introduced to the wheel and directs them towards the periphery of the wheel. A plurality of payoff positions are located on the edge of the wheel. A coin detector and a wheel positioned detector determine if a coin intersects with one of the payoff positions.

Abstract: A device for tuning a stringed instrument includes a housing attachable to the instrument, an elongate output shaft extending from within a gear chamber of the housing and having a string spindle on a distal end zone thereof, and an in-line drive gear assembly within the gear chamber for turning the spindle in order to wind a string of the instrument thereabout, thereby adjusting the string tension. The drive gear assembly includes a first reduction gear assembly, operable by turning a first knob, for rotating the spindle in accordance with a first rate of rotation to make coarse adjustments, and a second reduction gear assembly, in-line with the first reduction gear assembly, and operable in conjunction therewith by turning a second knob, thereby rotating the spindle in accordance with a second rate of rotation for fine tuning the instrument.