U.S. patent application number 11/295113 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for rotating disks slot machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to IGT. Invention is credited to Robert A. Luciano, Alex J. Malavazos, Constantine Malavazos, Gregory A. Malavazos.
Application Number | 20060082057 11/295113 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22789595 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060082057 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luciano; Robert A. ; et
al. |
April 20, 2006 |
Rotating disks slot machine
Abstract
Gaming apparatus has rotatable disks turning about a common axis
of rotation and having annular bands of indicia of different
diameters on faces of the disks which extend toward the axis of
rotation. A player's winnings are determined by alignment of
particular indicia along one or more radii of the disks after a
period of rotation. In one form of the invention, the disks are
supported, driven and held in a centered relationship with the axis
of rotation by gear sets situated at angular intervals around the
periphery of the disks which engage gear teeth at the rims of the
disks. In another form, the disks are axially spaced apart flat
plates of progressively greater diameter extending from drive
shafting at the axis of rotation. In another form, the disks are at
least partially formed of transparent material enabling viewing of
indicia on disks which are behind other disks.
Inventors: |
Luciano; Robert A.; (Reno,
NV) ; Malavazos; Alex J.; (Carson City, NV) ;
Malavazos; Gregory A.; (Carson City, NV) ; Malavazos;
Constantine; (Carson City, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 6300
SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
IGT
Reno
NV
|
Family ID: |
22789595 |
Appl. No.: |
11/295113 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10997833 |
Nov 24, 2004 |
|
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11295113 |
Dec 6, 2005 |
|
|
|
10622859 |
Jul 17, 2003 |
|
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10997833 |
Nov 24, 2004 |
|
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|
09638666 |
Aug 14, 2000 |
6598877 |
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10622859 |
Jul 17, 2003 |
|
|
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09212108 |
Dec 15, 1998 |
6105962 |
|
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09638666 |
Aug 14, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/142R |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3213 20130101;
G07F 17/3211 20130101; G07F 17/3202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/142.00R |
International
Class: |
A63F 5/04 20060101
A63F005/04 |
Claims
1. A gaming apparatus comprising: (A) a plurality of rotatable
disks having a common axis of rotation, each of the rotatable
disks: i. being separately rotatable; ii. having a band of indicia
thereon; iii. having a peripheral region which is of greater
diameter than the band of indicia; and iv. having an annular band
of gear teeth at the peripheral region; (B) a plurality of drive
gears, each drive gear engaged with the band of gear teeth of a
rotatable disk; and (C) a plurality of drive motors, each drive
motor engaging a drive gear to turn the drive gear.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/997,833, filed Nov. 24, 2004, which is a
continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/622,859, filed on Jul. 17, 2003, which is a continuation
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/638,666, filed
on Aug. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,877, which is a
continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/212,108, filed on Dec. 15, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,962,
all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to amusement devices and more
particularly to gaming apparatus of the type in which a player's
score or winnings is determined by rotatable members which carry
indicia and which separately spin about a common axis and then come
to rest at any of a plurality of different angular orientations to
determine the player's score of winnings.
BACKGROUD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The traditional slot machine has a series of annular reels
disposed in side by side relationship that rotate separately about
a common axis. Player's scores or winnings are indicated by indicia
on the peripheral surfaces of the reels which may align in any of a
number of different combinations following a period of rotation of
the reels. Players of gaming apparatus typically find it enjoyable
to have a variety of different forms of gaming apparatus available.
For this purpose, slot machines of the spinning reel type have been
provided with a variety of different graphics, cabinet
configurations and other varied embellishments such as varying
visual or sound effects and differing scoring systems for example.
Modification of slot machines of this kind to enhance player
enjoyment are circumscribed if the above described basic geometry
of mechanical components of the apparatus is retained. The side by
side reel arrangement has in the past imparted an undesirable
degree of similarity to slot machines of this type notwithstanding
the superficial variations of the above described kind.
[0004] It has heretofore been proposed to make a basic change in
the geometry of the slot machine by replacing the side by side
reels with concentric rotating disks which turn about a common axis
and which face the operator of the slot machine. Annular bands of
differing indicia on faces of the disks are of progressively
greater diameter. A player's score is determined by alignment of
particular combinations of the indicia along a payline which
extends radially relative to the axis of rotation of the disks. As
heretofore envisioned, slot machines of the kind have required an
undesirably complex construction in order to support and drive the
disks and to position the faces of the disks in a coplanar
relationship.
[0005] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems discussed above.
SUMMARY OF ONE EMBODIEMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides gaming
apparatus having a plurality of rotatable disks centered on a
common axis of rotation, each disk being separately rotatable about
the axis of rotation. Each disk has an annular band of indicia
thereon which encircles the axis of rotation. A player's score is
determined by arrival of particular indicia at particular locations
following a period of rotation of the disks. The band of indicia of
each disk is on a face of the disk which extends inward toward the
axis of rotation. Each disk has a peripheral region which of
greater diameter than the band of indicia on the disk and
preferably each has an annular band of gear teeth at the peripheral
region of the disk, which band of gear teeth is centered on the
axis of rotation. Preferably, each band of gear of teeth is engaged
by a separate one of a plurality of drive gears and a separate one
of a plurality of drive motors is coupled to each drive gear to
turn the gear.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gaming
apparatus further includes a plurality of disk positioning gear
sets situated at the peripheries of the rotatable disks at
intervals around the axis of rotation thereof. Each gear set
includes a motor driven shaft with one of the drive gears being on
the shaft and being rotated thereby and a plurality of idler gears
on the driven shaft which are rotatable relative to the shaft. The
drive gear of each gear set engages the gear teeth of a separate
one of the rotatable disks. The idler gears of each gear set engage
the teeth of the ones of the rotatable disks that are not engaged
by the drive gear of the drive gear set. Thus the gear sets at the
peripheries of the rotatable disks preferably support and position
the disks in addition to driving the disks.
[0008] Another aspect the invention preferably provides gaming
apparatus having a plurality of disks which are centered on a
common axis of rotation, each disk being separately rotatable about
the axis of rotation. Each disk has an annular band of indicia
thereon which encircles the axis of rotation, the indicia being on
faces of the disks which extend inwards towards the axis of
rotation. A player's score is determined by arrival of particular
indicia at particular locations following a period of rotation of
the disks. Each disk is supported by a separate one of a plurality
of telescoped drive shafts which preferably extend along the axis
of rotation and a separate drive motor is coupled to each said
drive shafts. The faces of the disks at which the bands of indicia
are located preferably are spaced apart in a direction parallel to
the axis of rotation.
[0009] In still another aspect, the invention preferably provides
gaming apparatus having a plurality of rotatable members which are
centered on a common axis rotation, each of the rotatable members
being separately rotatable about the axis of rotation. Each
rotatable member has an annular band of indicia thereon which
encircles the axis of rotation, and a player's score is determined
by arrival of a particular indicia at particular locations
following a period of rotation of the rotatable members. The
annular band of indicia of each rotatable member is on a face of
the member which extends inward towards the axis of rotation from
the perimeter of the member. The annular bands of indicia of the
rotatable members are of differing diameters, and portions of at
least one rotatable member are in front of the annular band of
indicia of another rotatable member. At least portions of the
rotatable member that are in front of the annular band of indicia
of another rotatable member are formed preferably of transparent
material.
[0010] The invention preferably is applicable to a form of gaming
apparatus which enhances players' enjoyment, as it has a
configuration that is distinctly different from traditional slot
machines in which indicia are situated on side by side reels. The
player views the faces of rotating disks rather than the peripheral
surfaces of side by side reels. Indicia align radially relative to
the axis of rotation rather then in parallel relation to the axis
of rotation as in the traditional slot machine. The general
appearance of the moving components during operation is distinctly
different from that of the traditional slot machine. These factors
preferably create an intriguing ambiance for players of slot
machines. The invention preferably provides a simplified and
advantageous construction for the disk and disk support,
positioning and driving mechanism in gaming apparatus of this
kind.
[0011] Various embodiments of the invention, together with further
aspects and advantages thereof, may be further understood by
reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments
and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine embodying the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an elevation section view of the upper portion of
the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along the axis of rotation of rotary
components of the apparatus.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a broken out top view of the upper portion of the
slot machine of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and
which depicts a first gear set of the slot machine.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and
which depicts a second gear set of the slot machine.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line 6-6 FIG. 3 and
which depicts a third gear set of the slot machine.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a broken out side view of the upper portion of a
slot machine showing a second embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a vertical section view of the portion of the
mechanism of FIG. 7 that is enclosed by dashed line 8 thereof.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the upper portion of a
third embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a broken out side view of the upper portion of
the third embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a slot
machine 11 in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention
has a plurality of rotatable disks which in this example include a
front disk 13, an intermediate disk 14 and a rear disk 15 which
turn about a common axis of rotation 16 and which have front
surfaces 17 which extend inward from the peripheries of the disks
towards the axis of rotation. The disks 13, 14 and 15 of this
example have similar outer diameters. The front disk 13 is annular
with an open center defined by a hub portion 18 of the disk from
which the front surface 17 extends in a radially outward direction.
Intermediate disk 14 is also annular and has a hub portion 18 of
smaller diameter than the hub portion of the front disk 13. The
rear disk 15 of this example is a flat plate which has no center
opening and a conical projection 18a extends from the center of the
plate for decorative reasons. These disk configurations enable
viewing of an annular region of the front surface 17 of each of the
disks by a player who is situated in front of the slot machine
11.
[0023] Indicia 19 are imprinted on the visible annular regions 17
of each of the disks 13, 14 and 15 and are arranged in annular
bands of indicia which are centered on the axis of rotation 16,
which are of progressively increasing diameter and which are
preferably adjacent to or close to each other in the radial
direction on the disks. Individual indicia 19 of each of the disks
13, 14 and 15 are spaced at equal angular intervals around the axis
of rotation 16. The indicia 19 of each disk 13, 14 and 15 are of a
plurality of different designs. The designs may, for example, be
the traditional bars, bells, cherries, plums and the like that are
found on many prior slot machines or may be other symbols, such as
numerals or letters that are distinct from each other. As in other
slot machines, a players winnings or score if any is determined by
the particular indicia 19 that come to rest or into alignment at a
particular location following a period of rotation of the bands of
indicia. In contrast to the traditional reel type of slot machine,
the payline 20 at which such alignments occur extends radially
relative to the axis of rotation 16 rather than in parallel
relationship with the axis of rotation. In further contrast to a
traditional slot machine, it is possible to have more than one
payline 20 as all of the indicia 19 can be visible to the player at
the same time.
[0024] The disks 13, 14 and 15 of this example are housed in a
cabinet 21 behind a transparent circular window 22 of the cabinet.
The outermost regions of the disks 13, 14 and 15 are concealed by
an annular bezel member 23 situated immediately behind the window
22 and which curves rearwardly towards the front disk 13. Referring
to FIG. 1 in particular, the slot machine 11 may have a coin
receiver 24, a start play switch button 25 and an open coin payout
chamber 26. Coin receiver 24 may be replaced with our supplemented
by a paper currency or charge card validator and the button switch
24 may be replaced with or supplemented by a switch that is
operated by manually pivoting an arm in the manner of the
traditional slot machine. A display window 27 situated below the
visible portions of the disks 13, 14 16 or elsewhere may display
winning combinations of indicia to the player. An electronic
display screen 28 of the kind which produces changeable images may
be provided on the front of cabinet 21 to display winning
combinations of indicia when they occur. The coin receiver 24 and
coin processing mechanism 29 may be one of the known forms. Switch
button 25 and the electrical components of the slot machine 11
which respond to operation of the switch may also be of
conventional form except as hereinafter described. The slot machine
11 may be embellished with lights, bells and/or other visual and
audio effects in the manner known to the art.
[0025] Referring jointly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the periphery of each of
the rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15 is provided with gear teeth 31.
The disks 13, 14 and 15 are positioned, supported and driven by a
compact and simple mechanism which includes three gear sets 32a,
32b and 32c which engage gear teeth 31. The gear sets 32a, 32b and
32c are situated adjacent to the peripheral region of the disks 13,
14 and 15 and are angularly spaced apart relative to the axis of
rotation 16 of the disks. The angular interval between the gear
sets 32a, 32b and 32c around the axis of rotation 16 is less than
180.degree. for reasons which will hereinafter be discussed and is
preferably 120.degree. as in this particular example of the
invention.
[0026] A pair of spaced apart circular support plates, including a
forward support plate 33 and rear support plate 34, extend
vertically within the upper region of cabinet 21 behind the
rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15. Bolts 32 secure the two support
plates together. Referring jointly to FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the
gear sets 32a, 32b and 32c has a rotatable drive shaft 36 which
extends from a back end bearing 37 mounted in the rear support
plate 34 through a bushing 38 mounted in the forward support plate
33 to a front end bearing 39 mounted in an annular front structural
member 41 which is situated immediately behind the bezel 23 and
which has an open center to enable viewing of the disks 13, 14, 15.
The drive shaft 36 of each gear set 32a, 32b and 32c is driven by a
separate one of three electric motors 42a, 42b and 42c which are
situated behind the rear support plate 34 and secured to that
support plate. Each such motor 42a, 42b and 42c turns a motor
output gear 43 situated between the forward and rear support plates
33 and 34 and which engages a smaller driven gear 44 situated on
the drive shaft 36 of the associated one of the gear sets 32a, 32b
and 32c at a location between the support plates. The drive shafts
36 are constrained to rotate with the driven gears 44 in this
example by keys 46 within the driven gears which seat in
longitudinal keyway slots 47 that extend along each drive shaft.
Alternately, the driven gears 44 may be locked to the drive shafts
36 by set screws or other means known to the art.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 in conjunction, each of the
gear sets 32a, 32b and 32c has three disk support gears disposed
along the drive shaft 36 including a front support gear 48, an
intermediate support gear 49 and a rear support gear 51. The front
support gear 48 engages the teeth 31 of front rotatable disk 13,
intermediate support gear 49 engages the teeth 31 of intermediate
rotatable disk 14 and the rear support gear 51 engages the teeth 31
of the rear rotatable disk 15. The support gears 48, 49 and 51 are
of equal outer diameter in this example of the invention and are
proportioned to abut against each other. A tubular sleeve 52 is
disposed on each drive shaft 36 in-coaxial relationship therewith
and extends between bushing 38 and the rear support gear 51 to hold
the support gears at the locations along the shaft at which they
engage the rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15.
[0028] Provided that the angular interval between successive ones
of the three gear sets 32a, 32b and 32c around the axis of rotation
of the rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15 is less than 180.degree. as
previously described, the support gears 48, 49 and 51 act to hold
each of the disks in a centered relationship relative to the axis
of rotation. The gear sets 32a, 32b and 32c also function to rotate
each of the disks 13, 14 and 15. In particular as shown in FIG. 4,
gear set 32a the front support gear 48 is constrained to rotate
with drive shaft 36 by an internal key 53 which seats in the drive
shaft keyway slot 47. The other two support gears 49 and 51 at gear
set 32a are idler gears which are free to rotate relative to the
drive shaft 36. Thus the first gear set 32a both supports and
drives the front rotatable disk 13 while serving only as a support
for the other rotatable disks 14 and 15.
[0029] At the second gear set 32b, as shown in FIG. 5, it is the
intermediate support gear 49 that is constrained to rotate with
drive shaft 36 by an internal key 53 while the front and rear
support gears 48 and 51 are idler gears that may turn relative to
the shaft. Thus the second gear set 32b drives the intermediate
rotatable disk 14 while also serving as a support for the other two
rotatable disks 13 and 15.
[0030] With reference to FIG. 6, at the third gear set 32c the rear
support gear 51 is constrained to rotate with drive shaft 36 by an
internal key 53 with the front and intermediate support gears 48
and 49 being free turning relative to the shaft. Accordingly the
third gear set drives the rear rotatable disk 15 while functioning
as a support for the other two rotatable disks 13 and 14.
[0031] Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the disks and disk support
and drive mechanism are unitized by connectors 35 which extend from
the annular front structural member 41 to the circular front
support plate 33 and the assembly has a maximum diameter that
enables insertion and withdrawal of the unitized mechanism through
the window opening 22a at the front of cabinet 21 upon removal of
the window 22 itself. This facilitates assembly and repairing of
the slot machine. The unitized mechanism is positioned at its back
end by a support bracket 50 which extends from rear support plate
34 into a socket 55 which is secured to the rear wall of cabinet
21.
[0032] With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the disk drive
motors 42a, 42b and 42c are preferably controlled by a
microprocessor circuit, contained within a circuit housing 54,
which may be of the known design that is commonly used in
conventional modern slot machines. The motors 42a, 42b and 42c are
brake gear motors of the known stepping form which separately
rotate each disk 13, 14 and 15 through a predetermined number of
angular increments that is determined by the control circuitry and
which varies during successive playings of the slot machine 11.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the angular increment through which each
disk 13, 14 and 15 is traveled during each step of the rotary
movement corresponds to the angular spacing of the centers of
successive ones of the indicia 19 about the axis of rotation of the
disks. Thus indicia 19 of each disk 13, 14 and 15 are in alignment
along radii of the axis of rotation when the motors stop turning
the disks. The presence of particular indicia 19 or combinations of
indicia at payline 20 at that time determines the player's winnings
or score in the conventional manner.
[0033] Slot machine motor control circuits 54 which are
micorporocessor controller require tracking of the rotary movement
of the indicia carrying rotatable members by the mincroprocessor
56. For this purpose, tracking means 57 are provided for generating
repetitive electrical signal pulses including first, second and
third series of pulses each of which is indicative of rotary motion
of a separate one of the rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15. Successive
pulses in each series are produced in response to successive
increments of rotatry motion of the disk 13, 14 or 15 that is being
tracked by the particular series. In a manner known to the art,
this enables the microprocessor 56 to cause stopping of rotation of
the members at times when indicia are in alignment at the payline
and, by counting the pulses, to determine which indicia are at the
payline.
[0034] The tracking means 57 of this example of the invention
operates by photoelectric sensing of disk motion. Means 57 includes
a bracket 58 which extends forward from the front circular support
plate 33, past the peripheries of each of the rotatable disks 13,
14 and 15, and into the front structural member 41. Bracket 58 has
pairs of spaced apart tangs 59 and the tangs of each pair extend
along opposite sides of the gear teeth 31 of a separate one of the
rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15. One tang 59 of each pair supports a
small light source 61 positioned to direct light towards a light
detector 62 supported by the other tang of the pair and which is at
the other side of the gear teeth 31 of the disk 13, 14 or 15 which
extends between the pair of tangs. The light sources 61 may be of
any of a variety of types such as light emitting diodes for
example. The light detectors 62 may also be of any of a variety of
different types, phototransistors and photodiodes being
examples.
[0035] The gear teeth 31 of each rotatable disk 13, 14 and 16
repetitively pass through the light path between the associated
light source 61 and light detector 62. This causes the output
signal of the detector 62 to switch repetitively between a high
condition and a low condition thereby providing the desired series
of rotary motion tracking signal pulses. For reasons to be
hereinafter described, the rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15 in their
preferred form are made of translucent material. In instances where
this results in an undesirably small variation of the light
detector 62 outputs in response to the passage of gear teeth 31,
the sides of the gear teeth can be coated with paint or other
opaque material. It is also possible to situate the light sources
61 and detectors 62 at locations which are closer to the axis of
rotation than the peripheral gear teeth 31. The disks 13, 14 and 15
may then be provided with bands of light passages separated by
relatively opaque areas that travel between the light sources 61
and light detectors 62 as the disks turn.
[0036] Movement of the rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15 in a direction
parallel to the axis of rotation 16 is prevented by pads 63 which
are secured to the ends of the tangs 59 of bracket 58. The pads 63
are preferably formed of a low friction resilient material such as
felt. The pads 63 at each pair of tangs 59 extend towards and bear
against the sides of the disk 13, 14 or 15 which extends between
that pair of tangs. A pair of similar brackets 58a and 58b having
pads 63 extend from the front circular support plate 33 to restrain
axial movement of the rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15 at additional
locations which are angularly spaced apart around the axis of
rotation 16 of the disks. The brackets 58, 58a and 58b of this
particular example of the invention are at 120.degree. angular
intervals around the axis of rotation 16.
[0037] Referring jointly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hereinbefore
described configuration of the rotatable disks 13, 14 and 15 causes
the indicia carrying surfaces 17 of the three disks to be at
progressively greater distances from the player of the slot machine
11. This creates a three dimensional effect that enhances player
enjoyment of the gaming apparatus. This can be further enhanced by
pulsed illumination at the three indicia displaying surfaces 17. To
enable such illumination, the disks 13, 14 and 15 are formed of
translucent plastic of other translucent material. Referring
jointly to FIGS. 2 and 3, three concentric circular fluorescent
light tubes 64 are situated behind the disks 13, 14 and 15, the
tubes being secured to the front circular support plate 33 by
brackets 66. The fluorescent light tubes 64 are centered on the
axis of rotation 16 of disks 13, 14 and 15 and have differing
diameters. The outermost tube 64 has a diameter corresponding to
the diameter of the indicia bearing surface 17 of the front disk
13, the middle tube 64 has a diameter corresponding to the diameter
of the indicia bearing surface 17 of the intermediate disk 14 and
the diameter of the innermost tube 64 corresponds to the diameter
of the indicia bearing surface of the rear disk 15.
[0038] A light diffuser plate 67 extends between the fluorescent
light tubes 64 and the rear rotatable disk 15 to provide for a more
uniform illumination of the indicia bearing surfaces 17 of the
disks. The diffuser plate 67 is supported by the previously
described brackets 58, 58a and 58. As best seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and
6, the rim of diffuser plate 67 has notches 68 to enable gear sets
32a, 32b and 32c to be situated at their previously described
locations.
[0039] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, strobing of the
fluorescent lights 64 on and off attracts the attention of
potential players of the slot machine 11 and contributes to player
interest during playing of the game. Rapid sequential strobing of
the three lights 64 enhances the three dimensional aspect of the
indicia display at the face of the slot machine.
[0040] The example of the invention described above with reference
to FIGS. 1 to 6 embodies a highly advantageous mechanism for
supporting and driving the indicia carrying rotatable disks 13, 14
and 15. Both functions, supporting and driving, are effected with
simple gear sets situated at the periphery of the disks. This
eliminates the complex and bulky telescoped shafting and other
components at the axis of rotation of the disks which has
heretofore been present in slot machines of this general type. The
rim drive also makes it possible to include open centered rotating
disks which need not extend to the axis of rotation thereby
enabling viewing of indicia bands of progressively smaller diameter
that are spaced apart along the axis of rotation of the disks. The
disk support and drive mechanism in the preferred form is easily
removable from the slot machine cabinet as a unit to facilitate
repairs.
[0041] While the rim driven construction discussed above
constitutes the preferred form of the invention, certain novel
features of the previously described embodiment can advantageously
be embodied in rotating disk slot machines which have center
shafting for the purpose of supporting and driving the disks. This
includes, for example, axial spacing of the rotating bands of
indicia to provide a three dimensional aspect to the indicia array
as viewed by the player. FIGS. 7 and 8 depict the disks and disk
support and drive mechanism of a slot machine 11b of this kind.
[0042] Referring jointly to FIGS. 7 and 8, front, intermediate and
rear rotatable disks 13a, 14a and 15a respectively, of this
embodiment are flat circular plates which are spaced apart along a
common axis of rotation 16a. The disks 13a, 14a and 15a have
progressively greater outside diameters thereby enabling viewing of
an annular region 17a of the front surface of each of the disks by
a player who situated in front of the slot machine which regions
are at the radially outermost portions of the disks. Annular bands
of indicia 19a of the previously described kind are imprinted on
the regions 17a of the disks. An interesting effect is created if
the annular regions 17a of the disks 13a, 14a and 15a are beveled
surfaces so that the indicia 19a of the three disks are in a
coplanar or near coplanar relationship.
[0043] Rotatable disks 13a, 14a and 15a are supported and
separately rotated by a drive system 69 which includes three
coaxial drive shafts 71, 72 and 73 of progressively shorter length.
The back end of the inner drive shaft 71 extends out of
intermediate drive shaft 72 and is supported by a first bearing 74
which is secured to one arm 76 of internal framing 77 within the
slot machine cabinet 21a. The front end of inner drive shaft 71
also extends out of the intermediate drive shaft 72 and has flange
79 seated in a conforming opening in a circular cap 81 which is in
front of the front disk 13a. Screws 82 extend through the front
disk 13a and cap 81 and engage in flange 79 thereby constraining
the disk to rotate with the inner drive shaft.
[0044] A second bearing 83, supported by another framing arm 84,
supports the intermediate drive shaft 72 at a location which is
forward from the back end of the drive shaft 72. A flange 86 at the
front end of intermediate drive shaft 72 seats in a conforming
opening in the intermediate rotatable disk 14a and is secured to
that disk by additional screws 87. The outer drive shaft 73 is
supported at an intermediate location along the drive shaft by a
third bearing 88 which is secured to another arm 89 of the cabinet
framing 77. A flange 91 at the front end of the outer drive shaft
73 seats in a conforming opening in the rear rotatable disk 15a and
screws 92 secure the rear disk to the flange.
[0045] Front rotatable disk 13a, intermediate rotatable disk 14a
and rear rotatable disk 15a are driven by separate electrical
motors 93a, 93b and 93c respectively, motor 93c being behind motor
93b as seen in FIG. 7. The motors 93a, 93b and 93c are secured to
brackets 94 which extend from framing 77. Referring again to FIGS.
7 and 8 in conjunction, motor 93a is coupled to the inner drive
shaft 71 by a drive belt 96 which engages a pulley 97 that is keyed
to the inner drive shaft at a location adjacent to bearing 74.
Another drive belt 98 couples motor 93b to the intermediate drive
shaft 72 by engaging another pulley 99 which is keyed to the
intermediate drive shaft at a location which is between bearings 74
and 83. An annular collar 101 on intermediate drive shaft 72
extends between pulley 99 and bearing 83 to prevent movement of the
pulley along the shaft. The third motor 93c is coupled to outer
drive shaft 73 by a third drive belt 102 which engages another
pulley 103 that is keyed to the outer drive shaft at a location
immediately behind the third bearing 88. Another annular collar 104
is adjacent to pulley 103 and is held in place by a set screw 106
to prevent axial movement of the pulley along the shaft. Drive
belts 96, 98 and 102 are preferably of the non-slip type which have
teeth 107 that engage conforming grooves in the pulleys on which
they are engaged.
[0046] Motors 93a, 93b and 93c are brake gear motors of the
stepping type similar to those of the previously described
embodiment of the invention and function in a similar manner to
rotate each disk 13a, 14a and 15a through a predetermined number of
angular increments that is determined by the control circuit
54a.
[0047] Three circular timer plates 108, 109 and 111 enable
microprocessor tracking of the rotary movement of the disks 13a,
14a and 15a in the previously described manner. Timer plate 108 is
disposed in coaxial relationship with inner drive shaft 71 at a
location between pulleys 97 and 99 and is secured to an adjacent
annular collar 112 which is constrained to rotate with the inner
drive shaft by a set screw 113. Timer plate 109 is disposed on
intermediate drive shaft 72 in coaxial relationship therewith at a
location between timer plate 108 and pulley 99 and is secured to
another annular collar 114 which is constrained to rotate with the
intermediate drive shaft by another set screw 116. The third timer
plate 111 is situated between pulley 103 and bearing 83, in coaxial
relationship with the outer drive shaft 73, and is constrained to
rotate therewith by another annular collar 117.
[0048] The circular rim of each of the timer plates 108, 109 and
111 is indented by a series of notches 118 which have an angular
spacing relative to the axis of rotation that corresponds to the
hereinbefore described angular increment of rotary motion of the
disks 13a, 14a and 15a. A separate one of three photoelectric
sensors 119 is disposed at the rim of each timer plate 108, 109 and
111 and may be of one of the known types which have a small light
source 121 such as a light emitting diode for example and a light
detector 122 such as a phototransistor for example that produces an
electrical signal in response to light from the source. The light
sources 121 and detectors 122 are at opposite sides of the rims of
the timer plates 108, 109 and 111 at which notches 118 are located
thereby causing light to be transmitted from the sources 121 to the
detectors 122 each time that a notch passes between the two. Thus
each sensor transmits an electrical pulse to the control circuit
housing 54a each time that the associated timer plate 108, 109 or
111 is stepped through the above described angular increment of
motion by the associated drive motor 93a, 93b or 93c. As previously
described, this enables the microprocessor 56a to cause stopping of
the rotation of the disks 13a, 14a and 15a at times when indicia
are in alignment at the payline and, by counting the pulses, to
determine which indicia are at the payline.
[0049] Components of the slot machine 11a of FIGS. 7 and 8 which
are not depicted therein may be similar to those of the previously
described embodiment of the invention.
[0050] The invention is not limited to slot machines of the motor
driven, microprocessor controlled type. Pulleys 97, 99 and 103 may,
for example, be spun manually by the player preferably with lever
arm operated mechanism of the kind found in older forms of slot
machine. Embodiments of the invention of this kind do not
necessarily require timer plates 108, 109 and 111 and sensors
119.
[0051] In the embodiment of the invention which has been described
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, visibility of indicia on disks
which are behind other disks is provided for by using disks which
are open centered except for the rear disk. In the embodiment which
has been described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, visibility of
the successive bands of indicia is provided for by using disks of
progressively greater diameter. Referring jointly to FIGS. 9. and
10, visibility of the bands of indicia can also be realized in a
construction where the rotatable disks 13b, 14b and 15b have the
same outside diameter and are not necessarily open centered. An
Advantage of disks which have the same diameter is the they may
then be driven by simple gearing situated at the periphery of the
disks.
[0052] Disks 13b, 14b and 15b carry annular bands of indicia 19b of
progressively smaller diameter and which may be of the previously
described kind. The front disk 13b, intermediate disk 14b and rear
disk 15b each have gear teeth 31b at the peripheries of the disk.
Disks 13b, 14b and 15b are supported by a vertically extending
internal frame member 123 within the slot machine cabinet 21b and
are positioned to be viewable through the transparent front window
22b of the cabinet. In particular, an axle 124 extends forward from
frame member 124 through the centers of the disks 13b, 14b and 15b
and has a flange 126 at its forward end which acts to retain the
disks on the axle. Each of the disks 13b, 14b and 15b is rotatable
about axle 124 and preferably a pair of thin, flat annular shims
127 encircle the axle between the disks, between front disk 13b and
flange 126 and between rear disk 15b and frame member 124 to create
a small spacing between these components.
[0053] Disks 13b, 14b and 15b are each driven by a separate
electrical motor 128a, 128b and 128c respectively which motors are
similar to the drive motors of the previously described embodiments
of the invention. Each such motor 128a, 128b and 128c turns a shaft
129 that extends in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation
16b of the disks and which has a spur gear 131 at its forward end
which engages the gear teeth 31b of the particular disk 13b, 14b
and 15b that is driven by the particular motor. In this example,
motor 128b which drives the intermediate disk 14b is situated
directly below the axis of rotation 16b of the disks. Motor 128b
which drives the front disk 13b and motor 128c which drives the
rear disk 15b are at opposite sides of the axis of rotation 16b and
at a higher elevation.
[0054] Photoelectric sensors 119b for producing signals that track
rotation of the disks 13b, 14b, 15b in the previously described
manner do not necessarily require timer plates of the previously
described kind if the gear teeth 31b of the disks are formed of
opaque material or if the teeth have an opaque coating. The sensors
119b may simply be positioned to direct light towards the gear
teeth 31b and to respond to transmission of light through the
openings between successive gear teeth.
[0055] Appearance of the slot machine can be enhanced by providing
an opaque mask 132 on the cabinet window 22b that is configured to
conceal the peripheral regions of the disks 13b, 14b, 15b at which
the gear teeth 31b are located.
[0056] The annular bands of indicia 19b of the successive disks
13b, 14b and 15b are of progressively increasing diameter in this
embodiment but can be of progressively diminishing diameter in
other embodiments. In either case, viewing of each of the bands of
indicia 19b is enabled by forming the disks of transparent material
such as transparent plastic or at least the regions of the front
disk 13b and intermediate disk 14b that are in front of a band of
indicia of another disk are formed of such material.
[0057] Except as herein described, the slot machine of FIGS. 9 and
10 may be similar to the embodiment of the invention which has been
previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
[0058] The embodiment of the invention which have been herein
described for purposes of example have rotating disks which extend
in vertical planes. The disks and disk drive and support systems
can be reoriented so that the disks extend in horizontal planes or
have an inclined orientation.
[0059] The herein described examples of the invention are slot
machines of the type used in gambling casinos that require
insertion of coins or paper currency and which pay monetary rewards
to successful players. The apparatus can also be configured as an
amusement device that does not require nor pay out money and
wherein the player or players simply earn points when particular
indicia come to rest at particular locations or align in particular
combinations at such locations.
[0060] While the invention has been described with respect to
certain specific embodiments for purposes of examples, many
modifications and variations are possible and it is not intended to
limit the invention except as defined in the following claims.
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