Magnetic reel reading device

• US 4,071,246 A
• Filed: 08/18/1976
• Issued: 01/31/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corp. (Park Hotels & Resorts Inc.)
• Inventors: Hooker, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kramer, Arnold W.
• Application Number:
  US05/715,525
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143 C, 273/143 R, 273/143 A, 273/143 B, 273/143 D, 273/143 E, 273/138 A, 273/138 R, 273/139, 235/92 EA, 235/92 C, 310/168, 310/111, 310/70 R, 310/155, 322/DIG. 5
• US Class Current: 273/143.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A game device comprising a plurality of reels which are rotated and stopped at random and in which each reel has different symbols arranged on its circumference and wherein the reel is made of magnetic material and is formed with openings such that one or more magnets mounted ajacent the reel will detect and produce an output that can be supplied to a counter so as to indicate the position where the reels stop and thus energize an output circuit. A second magnet mounted adjacent each reel can detect and produce an indexing output so as to reset the counter for each rotation of the reel. Additionally, a magnetic operated locking device for the reels are provided.

Claims

1. Means for detecting the position of a reel having a portion of magnetic material in an outer cylindrical rim portion with a first plurality of aligned openings formed in said magnetic material and circumferentially spaced about the rim portion, comprising, a first magnetic detector mounted adjacent said openings in said magnetic material such that an output pulse is produced each time an opening passes said detector, a counting means receiving the output of said first magnetic detector, an indexing opening formed in the magnetic material in said reel offset from said first plurality of openings, a second magnetic detector mounted adjacent said reel, an indexing pulse produced each time said indexing opening passes said second magnetic detector, the output of said second magnetic detector being connected to a reset terminal of said counting means, and said cylindrical rim being of magnetic material and said first plurality of openings and said indexing opening being formed in said rim.

2. Means for detecting according to claim 1 wherein said first and second magnetic detectors comprise first and second permanent magnets with first ends mounted so that said first plurality of openings and said indexing opening move therepast and detecting coils wound about said first and second permanent magnets to produce said output pulses as said reel moves relative to said permanent magnets.

3. Means for detecting the position of a reel according to claim 2 including means for driving said reel and detent means for stopping said reel at an indexed position.

4. An amusement machine comprising:

a frame member,

at least first and second reels rotatably supported by said frame and at least an outer circumferential rim portion of each formed of magnetic material,

means for intermittently driving said reels such that they stop at random positions,

a first pair of magnetic detectors mounted on said frame adjacent said first one of said reels,

a first plurality of openings formed and circumferentially spaced and aligned in the magnetic portion of said first reel and positioned so as to be aligned with said first one of said first pair of magnetic detectors to detect a discrete position of said first reel,

a first indexing opening formed in the magnetic portion of said first reel offset from said first plurality of openings and aligned with a second one of said first pair of magnetic detectors,

a first counter connected to the first pair of magnetic detectors with the first one connected to the upcounting input of said first counter and the second one connected to the reset input of said first counter, an output pulse being produced by the magnetic detectors when an opening passes the detectors,

a second pair of magnetic detectors mounted on said frame adjacent said second reel,

a second plurality of openings formed and circumferentially spaced and aligned in the magnetic portion of said second reel and positioned so as to be aligned with a first one of said second pair of magnetic detectors to detect a discrete position of said second reel,

a second indexing opening formed in the magnetic portion of said second reel offset from said second plurality of openings and aligned with a second one of said second magnetic detectors,

a second counter connected to the second pair of magnetic detectors with the first one connected to the up-counting input of said second counter and the second one connected to the reset input of said second counter, an output pulse being produced by the magnetic detectors when an opening passes the detectors,

a pay out circuit,

first and second AND gates supplying inputs to said pay out circuit,

certain selected outputs of said first and second counters connected to said first and second AND gates which are enabled such that said pay out circuit is actuated on certain preset positions of said first and second reels when said first and second reels come to rest at discrete positions, and indexing means for said first and second reels such that they stop at discrete positions.

5. An amusement device according to claim 4 including a third reel formed with a third plurality of circumferentially spaced and aligned openings and a third indexing opening offset from said third plurality of openings a third pair of magnetic detectors mounted on the frame adjacent said third plurality of openings and said third indexing opening, a third counter with its up-counting input connected to the first one of said third pair of magnetic detectors and its reset input connected to the second one of said third pair of magnetic detectors, a third AND gate connected to said pay out circuit, and certain selected outputs of said first, second and third counters connected to said third AND gate, and certain outputs of said third counter connected to said first and second AND gates.

6. An amusement device according to claim 5 wherein said first, second and third pair of magnetic detectors are permanent magnets with detecting coils wound thereabout.

7. An amusement device according to claim 6 wherein said first, second and third plurality of openings and said first, second and third indexing openings are formed in rims of said first, second and third reels.