Coin or Token Transfer System

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.

Description

The invention relates to a coin transfer system and method of operation.

Coin and token transfer systems are widely used in games to transfer coins in coin or token games such as pusher games and coin fall games. For brevity, the rest of this specification will refer to “tokens” instead of “coins or tokens”—please note that the term “tokens” is intended to include coins.

“Pusher” games are games of a type with a generally flat table, normally at more than one level, and reciprocating motion of an arm or another level of table across the table. Tokens are generally introduced onto the table by the player, who attempts to have the tokens fall off the table into a win chute.

“Coin fall” games are those in which coins fall, typically singly, down a board. The player aims to cause the coin to fall into win zones.

Typically, coins or tokens arrive at the bottom of a game either after falling as part of the play of the game or after introduction into a coin slot. They are then raised to one or more from where they can be released onto a playing surface.

Existing approaches to raising tokens include an escalator hopper, which is a belt generally at an inclined angle that turns. Tokens are introduced onto the lower portion of the belt and raised on the belt to the top, where they fall off into an upper hopper. Such systems work well for height gains up to about 50 cm or so.

The alternative is to use some form of bucket lift system, i.e. a hopper that is lifted to the desired final location.

In general terms, coin fall or pusher games need some element of skill. This greatly enhances enjoyment of the game, and can be demanded by regulation in some markets. There is therefore a desire for the user to be able to control where the token is introduced onto the play surface.

In very old-fashioned games, this could be achieved by some form of mechanical ramp which could be moved by the player. However modern games are generally fully computer controlled and such ramps cannot easily be integrated in modern games. Instead, the skill can be increased by means of what is known as a “skill arm”. In such an arrangement, tokens are collected in an upper hopper, from where they are fed to the “skill arm”. Tokens can be brought to the upper hopper by an escalator hopper or an elevator as required. The skill arm can be moved by the player, generally by rotation about an axis, to cause the tokens to be directed as desired. However, this approach offers a limited range of possibilities for the introduction of tokens, since the skill arm cannot introduce tokens across a wide playing surface, since it needs to collect the tokens from the upper hopper.

Further, normally the skill arm is arranged to move continuously from side to side and the player selects when to release a token by pressing a button or other control. In some arrangements, pressing the button briefly pauses the motion of the skill arm while the token is introduced. However, this approach still only allows a limited range of token introduction positions.

WO07/096625 describes a game which combines a coin fall game with a flat panel display screen which forms the rear surface of a playing field. Tokens can be introduced at one of two different locations, either at the left or right of the playing field. In one embodiment, separate hoppers are provided, one for each token introduction point, each hopper having a separate bucket lift system. However, such limited choice of location for token introduction may not be sufficient to provide interest for many players, who would prefer greater freedom and the chance to exercise greater skill.

Accordingly, there remains a need for the provision of a flexible token introduction system in combination with a lift system.

According to the invention, there is provided a token game in which an upper hopper and a coin introduction system are mounted for lateral movement across a playfield as a unit so that the tokens can be introduced at various locations across the playfield; and the upper end of a lift system is linked to the unit so that the lift system follows the lateral movement of the unit so that coins can be raised by the lift system from the lower hopper to the upper hopper regardless of the location of the unit across the playfield.

The inventors have realised that by linking the lift system to the upper hopper and token dispenser it is possible to continuously supply tokens to the token introduction system without interrupting the game regardless of the location of the upper hopper. This in turn allows for a continuous play of the game without needing to return the upper hopper to a fixed docking position for refill which would interrupt the game.

For a better understanding of the invention, embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a token game according to a first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a token game is illustrated which has a substantially vertical playfield 2, in the present case formed by the front surface of a liquid crystal flat display screen 4. In this regard, the game is a development of the game described in WO07/096625 from which further details of the screen and operation may be obtained. Tokens 6 are collected in a lower hopper 8, either from the playfield 2 or when entered into the machine by a player.

An upper hopper 10 is connected to a token injection system 12. The upper hopper 10 and token injection system 12 can move as a unit 14 laterally across the top of the playfield 2 on horizontal rails 16. The token injection system 12 is arranged to inject single or multiple tokens onto the top of the playfield 2 for the play of the game. The tokens then fall across the playfield during the game and generally end directly or indirectly in the lower hopper 8.

Alternatively or additionally, the upper hopper 10 may be mounted on a belt (not shown) to drive the upper hopper from side to side. In this case, the rails 16 are optional—they provide greater stability to the upper hopper 10.

Optionally, a pusher arrangement (not shown) is provided at the bottom of playfield 2 and tokens from the playfield land on the pusher arrangement. In this case, it is tokens falling from the pusher arrangement that arrive in the lower hopper, thus indirectly from the playfield 2.

Alternatively, tokens from the playfield 2 are collected at the bottom of the playfield and directly passed to lower hopper 8. Both the lower hopper and upper hopper including coin counting mechanisms,

To get tokens from the lower hopper 8 to the upper hopper 10 a lift system 18 is provided. The lift system 18 is pivoted on pivot 20 arranged adjacent to the fixed lower hopper 8. The upper end of the lift system 18 is located on the upper hopper using a linkage 22 so that the upper end of the lift system follows the upper hopper 10 as the upper hopper moves horizontally along the rails.

In the embodiment shown, the lift system 18 is a bucket lift system having a bucket 22 and guide 24 that guides the bucket. The bucket 22 rises past the upper hopper 10 and is then inverted to deposit tokens from the bucket into the upper hopper 10. In the lower position, the bucket 22 is positioned to take coins from the lower hopper 8.

The upper surface of the upper hopper 10 has a flange 14 which acts as a funnel to collect tokens. In this way, the upper surface of the upper hopper can collect tokens even when the upper hopper is at the extreme ends of its travel.

The linkage between the upper hopper 10 and the lift system needs to allow sufficient flexibility to accommodate the pivoting of the lift system 18. One option is to provide two rollers 11 on either side of the upper hopper to contain the lift system 18. An alternative option is to use pins or struts instead of the rollers. However, the use of rollers allows for free motion of the pivoted lift system,

In an alternative embodiment, the lift system is an “vertical lift hopper” also known as an “escalator hopper”. Such systems have a metal channel which allows the token to be pushed up the channel by a rotating disc or other source mounted at the hopper. Such systems are commercially available, and are suitable in particular for height gains of up to 50 cm or 1 m, or even higher with suitable tokens.

The complete lift system 18 may itself have a frame to which the pivot is attached. Alternatively, a pivoted bar may be provided and the lift system 18 mounted on the bar.

The token game also includes a control system 26, in the form of a computer, that controls the operation of the token game.

The inventors have realised that by using a lift system 18 that pivots, it is possible to achieve a continuous delivery of tokens across the playfield under full control. The inventors originally conceived of the delivery of tokens to a fixed position of the upper hopper 10, and the need to bring the upper hopper 10 to this fixed position to load the upper hopper with tokens. This, however, would require the interruption of the game from time to time to load the upper hopper. In contrast, the pivoting lift system 18 allows tokens to be continuously delivered to the upper hopper.

Both the upper and lower hopper of the embodiment described include token counting features which are used to check correct operation of the apparatus. However, such token counting features may not be required in all applications and may be omitted.

Indeed, the upper and lower hoppers may have any form, for example cartridges. One option is for the upper hopper to be a cartridge holding a predetermined number of tokens that can eject those tokens—the number of tokens may be quite small in some examples. Of course, where the number of tokens in the cartridge is small, rapid refill of the cartridge wherever it is located is particularly useful For example, the upper hopper may be a cartridge holding only two tokens which may be rapidly ejected using a solenoid. Those skilled in the art will realise that many types of token container may be used as the upper and lower hoppers.

Those skilled in the art will realise that the invention can be applied equally to games of other types. For example, the invention can be applied to a games involving a static or rolling band where the player aims tokens at targets on the band.

Claims

1. A token game, comprising:

a playfield;

a lower hopper for collecting tokens;

an upper hopper for collecting tokens;

a token introduction system mounted with the upper hopper for introducing tokens from the upper hopper to the playfield; and

a lift system for raising tokens from the lower hopper to the upper hopper,

wherein the upper hopper and coin introduction system are mounted for lateral movement across the playfield as a unit so that the tokens can be introduced at various locations across the playfield; and

the upper end of the lift system is linked to the unit so that the lift system follows the lateral movement of the unit so that coins can be raised by the lift system from the lower hopper to the upper hopper regardless of the location of the unit across the playfield.

2. A token game according to claim 1 further comprising rollers on the unit to engage with the lift system

3. A token game according to claim 1 wherein the lower end of the lift system is pivoted adjacent to the lower hopper.

4. A token game according to claim 3, wherein the lift system is a bucket lift system having a guide along which a bucket moves, the guide being pivoted adjacent to the lower hopper and the upper hopper being connected to the guide so that the guide follows the motion of the unit across the playfield.

5. A token game according to claim 1 wherein the lift system is an vertical lift system having a guide for guiding tokens from the lower hopper to the upper hopper and a means for ejecting tokens up the guide at the lower hopper.