Gaming machine having vertically translating currency accepting device

• US 10,445,977 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGS LLC (PlayAGS, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGS LLC (PlayAGS, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tovar, Brian Edward, Brandau, Mark Robert, Hohman, Kevin Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US15/712,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20190096169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 463 20, 194350
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

A gaming machine includes a vertically translating currency acceptor. The currency acceptor may be moved from a first, lowered position to a second, raised position along a substantially vertical path. The lowered position may comprise a use position where an acceptor slot of the currency acceptor is positioned for player input of currency but service access to the currency acceptor is limited. The raised position may comprise a service position where the acceptor is readily accessible for service.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet defining at least one interior space;

a button deck which extends outwardly from said cabinet;

at least one display device;

at least one player input device;

a memory device;

a controller;

machine-readable code stored in said memory device and executable by said controller to present one or more wagering games comprising the display of game information via said at least one display device; and

a currency acceptor having a currency acceptor head, said currency acceptor at least partially located in said at least one interior space and movably mounted to said cabinet for movement between a first vertical position and a second vertical position along a substantially vertical path, said currency acceptor head positioned above said button deck by a first distance when said currency acceptor is in said first vertical position and positioned above said button deck by a second distance which is greater than said first distance when said currency acceptor is in said second vertical position.

2. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said currency acceptor is movably mounted to a mounting bracket which is connected to said cabinet.

3. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein said mounting bracket defines at least one generally vertically extending slot and said currency acceptor is movably mounted along said at least one slot.

4. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said currency acceptor is movably mounted along said at least one slot by at least one pin which engages said at least one slot.

5. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for biasing which generates an upward biasing force upon said currency acceptor.

6. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for biasing comprises at least one shock having a body and an arm, said arm biased outwardly of said body.

7. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein said shock has a first end and a second end, one of said ends connected to said currency acceptor and the other of said ends supported by said cabinet of said gaming machine.

8. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 5 further comprising at least one locking element locking said currency acceptor in said first vertical position against said biasing force.

9. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said at least one locking element comprises at least one locking pin which engages a mounting bracket which is connected to said cabinet of said gaming machine.

10. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a biasing shock which is located below said currency acceptor and generates an upward biasing force upon said currency acceptor.

11. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said currency acceptor further comprises a housing, at least one reader, a currency storage area and at least one currency transport mechanism.

12. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said currency acceptor is configured to accept currency and printed monetary value tickets.

13. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said currency acceptor is movably mounted to an interior side of said cabinet.

14. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one interior space is accessible via a door which is positioned above said button deck and said currency acceptor is accessible when said door is in an open position.

15. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 14 wherein said currency acceptor includes a currency accepting head and said currency accepting head is accessible when said door is in said open position and said currency acceptor is in said second vertical position.

16. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cabinet has a reduced depth dimension from a front to a back of said cabinet which is less than at least one dimension of said currency acceptor.

17. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet defining at least one interior space;

a mounting bracket connected to said cabinet, said mounting bracket defining at least two mounting apertures therein which are in different positions relative to a z-axis passing through a front and back of said cabinet;

at least one display device;

at least one player input device;

a memory device;

a controller;

machine-readable code stored in said memory device and executable by said controller to present one or more wagering games comprising the display of game information via said at least one display device; and

a currency acceptor at least partially located in said at least one interior space and movably mounted to said mounting bracket, wherein a position of said currency acceptor may be adjusted to a first position along said z axis by moving said currency acceptor to said first position and engaging a fastener with a first one of said mounting apertures and may be adjusted to a second position along said z axis by moving said currency acceptor to said second position and engaging said fastener with a second one of said mounting apertures.

18. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 17 wherein said mounting bracket is connected to a mount of said cabinet and said cabinet defines at least one mounting hole and said fastener is engaged with one of said at least two mounting apertures and said at least one mounting hole.

19. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 17 wherein said a currency acceptor is further movably mounted to said cabinet for movement between a first vertical position and a second vertical position.

20. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 19 wherein said mounting bracket defines at least one sloping slot and said currency acceptor is movably mounted to said at least one sloping slot via at least one pin, whereby movement of said currency acceptor along said at least one sloping slot changes a position of said currency acceptor relative to said z axis and a y axis which is perpendicular to said z axis.