[0001] This invention relates to an operating system for a coin-freed machine particularly
although not exclusively a coin-freed pool table. The term coin as used herein includes
both coins and tokens.
[0002] A known kind of coin-freed pool table has a ball rack concealed within the table.
In order to play a game it is necessary to release the balls from the rack so that
they run along runways to an access opening at one end of the table. This is effected
by inserting a coin into an aperture in a coin mechanism slide and then pushing the
slide in to cause the ball rack to tilt.
[0003] This known arrangement is of a wholly mechanical nature and is of limited versatility.
Thus, the coin mechanism cannot readily be modified to allow for changes in game price,
nor can it accommodate coins of a range of different denominations. Also, in practice,
there are limited possibilities for collection of statistical data relating to use
of the table.
[0004] Electronic coin mechanisms are available but there is the problem of incorporating
these into tables, especially in the case of existing tables, without requiring undue
constructional modification and such that the desired versatility can in fact be achieved
in a convenient manner. Thus, if the coin mechanism is to be operatively connected
to the ball rack to effect automatic tilting then it would be necessary either to
run a power cable to the table or to provide a sufficiently powerful internal battery,
neither of which arrangements would be generally acceptable in practical terms. Also,
incorporation of the coin mechanism into the table to meet the requirements of: easy
operational access for the player, good protection against vandalism and theft, and
easy access to authorised personnel for maintenance, coin removal and data retrieval,
would inevitably involve major restructuring of the table.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a versatile operating system for
a coin-freed machine which is convenient to install and use.
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided an operating
system for a coin-freed machine, said system having a control unit, a link between
the contro unit and the machine, an operating device within the machine operable when
actuated to put the machine into an operational state, and a coin mechanism operable
to actuate the device when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into
the mechanism, characterised in that the control unit is at a location remote from
the machine, and the coin mechanism is provided within the unit whereby the device
is arranged to be actuated by the coin mechanism via the link between the machine
and the control unit.
[0007] With this arrangement considerable versatility is possible in that it is possible
to use an electronic or other desired coin mechanism, and this can be achieved in
a convenient manner, even where the operating system is fitted to an existing machine,
in so far as installation of the system need not require extensive structural modification
to the machine and access to the coin mechanism can be achieved as conveniently as
desired by appropriate design of the control unit. Moreover, the link being disposed
between the machine and the remote control system can be constructed as desired to
meet requirements with regard to the nature of the link and the nature and location
of the power source. In one embodiment, the link comprises a radiation link. In this
case the operating device may be an electromechanical device, and the link may be
a low voltage cable link where it is desired to avoid the inconvenience of a battery
power source within the table or the inconvenience and possible risk of a high voltage
(e.g. a.c. mains) power cable. Where a battery or other power source within the table
is acceptable it is feasible to use a radiation link e.g. an ultrasonic or infra-red
link. It is even possible to use a non-radiation non-electrical link e.g. a pneumatic
or hydraulic line with which a suitable operating device in the machine can be operated
by change in fluid pressure in the line effected by suitable apparatus in the control
unit. A pneumatic/hydraulic power source may be provided in the unit and/or the machine.
The arrangement of the invention can be advantageous over known systems even where
an internal battery source or other power source is provided in so far as the control
unit can be powered separately from the power source (e.g. from a local mains source)
whereby any failure of the battery need not involve failure of the coin mechanism
or of any associated control devices contained in the control unit.
[0008] A further advantage of the use of the remote control unit is that this can be conveniently
constructed, independently of the construction of the machine, to give good security
with easy access for authorised personnel.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, where the machine is a coin-freed pool table or other
floor-standing game-playing machine, the control unit may be housed in a box structure
mounted on a nearby room wall.
[0010] The said operating device may be an electromechanical device for example comprising
a solenoid or motor. Where the machine is a pool table, the device may be arranged
to tilt the usual ball rack or take other action to release balls to make these accessible
to the player.
[0011] The control unit preferably incorporates, in addition to the coin mechanism, electronic
circuitry arranged to monitor and record data pertaining to the usage of the machine,
for example, the number of times the machine is used, the value of coins inserted,
the frequency of use at different times of the day. This data may be made available
for access to an authorised person in any suitable manner. In particular, the data
may be stored so that it can be collected electronically for subsequent assessment
at a central control location. Thus, and in accordance with a second aspect of the
present invention there is provided an operating system for a coin-freed machine,
said system comprising a control unit, an operating device within the machine operable
when actuated to put the machine into an operational state, a coin mechanism operable
to actuate the device when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into
the mechanism, characterised in that the coin mechanism is provided within the unit
and electronic circuitry is provided within the unit connected to the coin mechanism
arranged to monitor and store data relating to operation of the mechanism, and an
interface is provided via which said stored data can be transferred to data receiving
equipment.
[0012] The arrangement may be such that portable data receiving equipment is plugged into
the interface to receive the data, and the equipment is then transported to a remote
central control location at which the data in the equipment is transferred to a computer
for storage and analysis.
[0013] The data received by the equipment may additionally include site information e.g.
identifying the machine and/or its location. This site information may be derived
from a plug-in key or the like which is inserted into the control unit which may therefore
be of standardised form. For security reasons, before data can be received by the
equipment it may be necessary for the person collecting the data to identify himself
or herself to the control unit e.g. by insertion of a plug-in key into the unit.
[0014] The system of the second aspect of the invention may have all of the features of
the first aspect of the invention.
[0015] The aforesaid electronic circuitry of the control unit may also act to control operation
of the coin mechanism and/or the machine in accordance with a predetermined operational
program. In particular the circuitry may include a real time clock and the arrangement
may be such that, in the case of a game-playing machine, the price per game is varied
at different times so that the price is reduced at less popular playing times.
[0016] Thus and in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, which may be
combined with the first and/or second aspect, there is provided an operating system
for a coin-freed machine, said system comprising a control unit, an operating device
within the machine operable when actuated to put the machine into an operational state,
and a coin mechanism which is pre-set to actuate the operating device when coins to
a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism, characterised in that
the coin mechanism is provided within the unit, and electronic circuitry is provided
within the unit connected to the coin mechanism, said circuitry including a real time
clock and being arranged to change the said pre-setting so as to change the predetermined
value of coins required to actuate the device at predetermined times.
[0017] The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of an operating system according
to the present invention connected to a coin-freed pool table;
Figure 2 is a block circuit diagram of the arrangement of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 shows equipment for use in obtaining data from the system of Figure 1.
[0018] With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a coin-freed pool table 1 connected
to a remote control unit 2. The pool table 1 is generally of conventional form and
comprises a large box structure body 3 mounted on floor-standing legs 4. The body
3 supports a top playing surface and within the body beneath this surface there is
an elongate ball rack 5 (Figure 2) which is connected via runways to pockets at the
periphery of the playing surface and also to an outlet aperture at one end of the
table.
[0019] The ball rack 5 has a support surface 6 on which the usual pool object balls can
be retained in a row when this surface is disposed generally horizontally. The rack
5 can be tilted to allow the balls to escape from the surface 6 over one longitudinal
edge 7 thereof to run to the outlet aperture in the table 1 and this tilting is effected
by longitudinal movement of a rod 8 connected to the rack 5 at one end thereof. With
a conventional all-mechanical table, the rod 8 is connected to a slide-operated coin
mechanism. A coin of the requisite denomination is inserted into the slide which projects
from the front side of the table, and the slide is pushed in so that the coin falls
into an internal cash box and the rod 8 is moved to tilt the rack. The slide is then
pulled out whereupon the balls are allowed to run to the outlet aperture and the rack
is returned to the horizontal position ready to retain pocketed object balls.
[0020] With the arrangement shown in the drawings, in place of the mechanical coin mechanism
there is an electromechanical actuator for example comprising an electric motor 9
connected via a crank linkage 10 to the rod 8. Rotation of the motor acts to move
the rod 8 axially backwards and forwards in like manner to the action of the conventional
coin slide.
[0021] The motor 9 is connected to the control unit 2 via a low voltage cable 11. The unit
2 is mounted at a convenient position, for example, on a nearby wall of the room in
which the table is located, and the cable 11 is suitably installed in a protected/concealed
manner down one leg of the table, along the floor, and up the room wall.
[0022] The control unit 2 comprises a box structure 12 having a locked front door 13 containing
a display panel 14. On the display panel 14, in addition to printed instructions and
the like, there is a coin slot 15 and an alphanumeric LED display 16. Within the box
structure 12 there is an electronic coin mechanism 17 connected to the coin slot 15
and electronic control circuitry 18 connected to the display 16 to the coin mechanism
17 to mains supply 19 to an interface arrangement 20 and to a triac switching circuit
interposed between a transformer 21ª connected to mains supply the low voltage cable
11, and to the cable 11 itself. The electronic control circuitry 18 includes a programmed
microprocessor-based control circuit 18ª and a real time clock 18
b The circuitry 18 is further connected to a door switch 32 and an audible alarm 33.
[0023] The electronic coin mechanism 17 is of a known kind. It is capable of receiving and
validating coins of a range of denominations and it is arranged to produce an electrical
signal at an output 22 representative of the value of validated coins. The control
circuit 18 is arranged to store the level of credit and an output signal is fed to
the switch 21 when a predetermined level of credit is reached. This predetermined
level can be changed as explained hereinafter. Verified coins are discharged into
a cash box locked within the box structure 12.
[0024] As coins are inserted, the credited value is indicated on the display 16. This display
16 also provides information (e.g. the price of a game). When the requisite level
of credit has been attained the signal from the control circuit 18 causes the triac
switch 21 to be actuated so as to cause low voltage to be supplied to the motor 9
via the cable 11 thereby to cause the rod 8 to be moved to tilt the ball rack 5. A
limit switch (not shown) may be connected to the cam link 10 so that supply of power
is interrupted after tilting of the rack has been completed thereby to allow the rack
to return to the horizontal position under the influence of a spring. The load across
the cable 11 is monitored by the control circuit 18 and the switch 21 is deactuated
when the motor circuit is opened by the limit switch. Also, the control circuit 18
can monitor the load and take appropriate action (e.g. by switching off the coin mechanism
17 and preventing further use of the pool table) if there is a fault in the motor
circuit.
[0025] The control circuit 18 includes a memory device which is powered with a rechargeable
battery or is otherwise of a non-volatile nature. Data relating to use of the pool
table is stored in the memory device, such data comprising for example (but not necessarily
limited to) number of games played, value of coins inserted into and credited by the
coin mechanism, frequency of games played at different times of the day.
[0026] The interface arrangement 20 includes a jack socket 24 and two multi-pin sockets
25, 26. One socket 25 contains a site identifying key 27. This comprises a removable
plug the pins of which are interconnected in a predetermined pattern unique to the
site at which the pool table is located.
[0027] Periodically, when the door 13 is unlocked and coins are collected from the cash
box in the unit 2, the collector can also collect data with equipment 28 as shown
in Figure 3. The equipment 28 comprises a portable battery-powered unit containing
a memory device and having a keyboard 29 and an alphanumeric display device 30. There
is a trailing jack plug 31 which can be inserted into the socket 24. When the door
is unlocked the door switch 32 is actuated and the audible alarm device 33 is triggered
in the control unit 2. In order to silence the alarm and enable transfer of data from
the memory device of the control circuit 18 into the memory device of the equipment
28 it is necessary for the collector to insert an identifying plug into the other
multi-pin socket 26. The identifying plug has its pins interconnected in a predetermined
pattern unique to the collector. Data representing the game-playing information stored
in the memory device and also representing the site and collector identification codes
(and possibly a code identifying the table which may be programmed into the control
circuit 18 or may be defined by the site key 27 in the socket 25) is then transferred
serially from the interface 20 to the memory in the equipment 28. Data relating to
date and time of collection and also information relating to machine faults, attempt
at tampering with the unit, incidences of opening of the door 13 etc. may also be
transferred. The transfer operation can be controlled using the keyboard 29 in correspondence
with prompts appearing on the display 30. Other data can also be entered via the keyboard
and stored in the memory. In particular, the value of collected coins can be entered.
[0028] The collected coins and the equipment are then taken to a central control location
where the data stored in the equipment memory is transferred via the jack plug 31
to a computer for analysis purposes. For example, the cash collected can be compared
with the cash credited on the coin mechanism.
[0029] The arrangement described above permits great versatility. The coin mechanism 17
can be used with coins of a range of different denominations and there is the possibility
of storing credit so that two or more games can be purchased in advance. The circuit
18 can be pre-set for a desired price per game and the pre-setting can be readily
changed, to allow for changes in game pricing, as desired. In particular, the game
pricing may change in accordance with the time of day and the day of the week (as
determined from the real time clock) so that the game price is less expensive at less
popular times annd more expensive at very popular times. The pattern of price changing
may be selected for the particular site and may be programmed into the control unit
by means of press buttons or a keyboard within the unit utilised in conjunction with
the alphanumeric display 16. Alternatively the programming may be effected automatically
when the site identifying plug is inserted into the unit as determined by the coded
wiring of the plug.
[0030] It will be appreciated that the system described above can be fitted to an existing
pool table in a particularly simple and convenient manner. Thus, it may only be necessary
to remove the usual coin mechanism, fit the actuator within the table, close the coin
mechanism aperture with a suitable plate 34, and run the cable 11 to the nearby control
unit 2. Extensive structural modification of the table is not required. Moreover,
it will be undestood that a standardised control unit 2 can be used with different
pool tables, differences in requirements being accommodated by differences in programming
of the circuit 18 derived from the coding of the site key 27 and/or as entered on
setting up the unit 2 with press buttons or the like as mentioned above.
[0031] The coded plug 27 inserted into the socket 25 and the plug inserted into the socket
26 are described as wired plugs but alternatively (and preferably) one or both (preferably
both) may include a readable memory device (e.g. ROM) additionally or alternatively
(preferably alternatively) to the coded wiring.
[0032] Additionally or alternatively to transfer of data using the portable device 28, the
control circuit 18 may be arranged to be connected to the remote central computer
via a telephone line or other data link so that data can be transferred remotely.
Such a link may also be used to transmit data or instructions to the circuit 18 e.g.
instructions for the changing of the price per game.
[0033] It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted
to the above details which are described by way of example only. For example, alternatively
or additionally to controlling release of balls from a ball rack as described, the
control circuit 18 may act to control playing time using the timing facility incorporated
in the circuit 18. Thus, after accumulation of sufficient credit for a game, the balls
may be released e.g. by lifting of a barrier whereby pocketed balls are returned to
the player until a predetermined time has elapsed whereupon the barrier is lowered
and balls are retained as they are pocketed. Any other suitable time-based control
procedure may be utilised. Alternatively or additionally, auxiliary functions may
be time controlled, such as lighting of the table. Thus, the usual overhead canopy
light may be switched on at the start of a game and switched off after a predetermined
time.
[0034] The control unit may be arranged to give a bonus credit if a predetermined amount
of money is inserted; e.g. insertion of £1.00 may give £1.20 game playing credit.
1. An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system having a control unit
(2), a link (11) between the control unit (2) and the machine (1), an operating device
(9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to put the machine (1) into an operational
state, and a coin mechanism (17) operable to actuate the device (9) when coins to
a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism (17), characterised in
that the control unit (2) is at a location remote from the machine, and the coin mechanism
(17) is provided within the unit (2) whereby the device (9) is arranged to be actuated
by the coin mechanism (17) via the link (11) between the machine (1) and the control
unit (2).
2. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that power is supplied along the
link (11) from the control unit (2) to the operating device (9) for powering operation
thereof.
3. A system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the said
machine (1) is a pool table.
4. A system according to claim 3, characterised in that the operating device (9) is
arranged to release balls from a storage rack (5) of the table.
5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the control
unit further incorporates electronic circuitry (18) arranged to monitor and record
data pertaining to the usage of the machine (1).
6. An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system comprising a control
unit (2), an operating device (9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to
put the machine into an operational state, a coin mechanism (17) operable to actuate
the device (9) when coins to a predetermined value have been inserted into the mechanism
(17), characterised in that the coin mechanism (17) is provided within the unit (2)
and electronic circuitry (18) is provided within the unit connected to the coin mechanism
arranged to monitor and store data relating to operation of the mechanism, and an
interface (20) is provided via which said stored data can be transferred to data receiving
equipment (28).
7. A system according to claim 6, characterised in that portable data receiving equipment
(28) is arranged to be plugged into the interface (20) to receive the data.
8. A system according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the receiving equipment
(28) is arranged additionally to receive site information data.
9. A system according to claim 8, characterised in that the site information is derived
from a plug-in key inserted into the control unit (2).
10. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that data can
only be received by the said equipment (28) after insertion of a plug-in identification
key into the unit.
11. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 10, which is also a system according
to any one of claims 1 to 5.
12. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the control
unit (2) contains electronic circuitry (18) arranged to control operation of the coin
mechanism (17) and/or the machine (1) in accordance with a predetermined operational
program.
13. An operating system for a coin-freed machine, said system comprising a control
unit (2), an operating device (9) within the machine (1) operable when actuated to
put the machine into an operational state, and a coin mechanism (17) which is pre-set
to actuate the operating device (9) when coins to a predetermined value have been
inserted into the mechanism (17), characterised in that the coin mechanism is provided
within the unit, and electronic circuitry (18) is provided within the unit connected
to the coin mechanism, said circuitry including a real time clock (18b) and being
arranged to change the said pre-setting so as to change the predetermined value of
coins required to actuate the device (9) at predetermined times.
14. A system according to claim 13, which is also a system according to any one of
claims 1 to 12.