Automatic dice game

Description

[0001] The invention is for an automatic dice game consisting of a rotating drum containing a number of dice which are visible to the player and which are provided with code carriers which work in conjunction with a code reader and an interface unit for reading the dice symbols, when the drum comes to a standstill, after which this information is compared with a predetermined winning combination.

[0002] An automatic game is known from U.K. patent 1,180,560 consisting of a frame, a body or basket with two dice beds and capable of rotating on a shaft bearing in the frame, a driving means for turning the body or basket, a number of dice bodies with code carriers and dice symbols and placed in the body, a code reader for reading the code carriers and installed between the frame and the rotating body or basket.

[0003] This automatic game has, however, the disadvantage that the game proceeds relatively slowly.

[0004] In order to remedy this disadvantage and significantly limit the duration of the game as well as to shake the dice bodies thoroughly, an automatic dice game in accordance with the main characteristic of the invention has been realized which has in principal the characteristics described in claim 1 of the description given below.

[0005] By way of example but without in any way being exhaustive, a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the automatic dice game according to the invention is given below. This description refers to the attached drawing where:

fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the automatic dice game;

fig. 2 shows a side elevation of same;

fig. 3 shows a rear elevation;

fig. 4 shows a dice used in the game;

fig. 5 shows a section along the line V-V in fig. 4;

figures 6 and 7 show a block diagram and flow chart of the automatic dice game respectively.

[0006] In these figures can be seen a frame 1 which by preference slopes backwards in which an axle 3 is mounted on ball bearings 2 to which, a by preference octagonal drum 4 is fitted. A gearwheel 5 is also mounted on said axis over which a toothed belt 6 runs which likewise runs over a toothed pinion 7 fixed on the shaft of an electrical motor 8 mounted on afore-mentioned frame 1. The front of the drum is covered by a transparent wall 9 consisting of one or more parts which swing open. A dice bed 10 is fitted in the drum in which te dice bodies 11 of several dice are caught and positioned next to one another when the drum 4 comes to rest. Furthermore at least one cord 12 is stretched across and inside the drum in order to give the dice bodies an extra turn when the drum is rotated. In each plane of each dice body 11 their is a panel 13 on which the values 1 to 6 are marked and to which a code carrier 14 is attached. Behind the drum 4 and on the frame 1 a code reader 15 is mounted for reading said code carriers 14 on the dice bodies through the drum wall 16 when the drum comes to a standstill. An interface unit 17 operates in conjunction with said code reader 15 for capturing the signals transmitted by the code reader and converting these signals for a control card 18 of a control unit. Detection strips 19 are fitted to the drum wall 16 which work in conjunction with an optical sensor 20 which gives a signal to the motor 8 for transforming the rotary motion into a delayed back and forth motion of the drum 4, which motion is limited by aforesaid detection strips 19. A coin test unit 21 attends to the validation of the inserted coins in order to put the atuomatic game into motion by pressing a button 22. The control card 18 coordinates the group of components constituting the game and the performance of the calculations. A unit 23 displays the winning combinations of the dice game visually and a payment unit 24 pays the prize in the event of a win. Other provisions include a unit 25 for the power supply and the conversion of mains voltage to low voltage, a unit 26 for the acceptance of coins, a unit 27 of limiting the number of rotations of the drum 4, a unit 28 for slowing the rotational speed of the drum 4, and a unit 29 for checking the received codes by the code reader 15 and the interface unit 17.

[0007] When a coin is inserted in the coin insert of the dice game the coin is checked by the coin test units 21 and is stocked in a pay-out unit 24 after validation by unit 26. By then pressing on button 22 of the game the control card 18 of the control unit starts the electrical motor 8 and the drum 4 turns through a number of revolutions. Thereafter the combined action of the optical sensor 20 and the detection strips 19 causes the zero position of the drum to be detected, after which the control card 18 will cause the motor 8 to impart a slowed back and forth motion to the drum 4. During this back and forth motion the dice bodies 11 fall into one or another position next to one another in the dice bed 10, after which the code reader 15 reads the code carriers 14 on the dice bodies, which are closest to the code reader 15. The interface unit 17 connected to aforesaid code reader converts the signals received by the code reader into coded figures for control card 18. The coded dice symbols are visible to the player through the transparent wall 9. The drum 4 continues to move back and forth until the control card has received three different figures relating to the position assumed by the dice bodies 11, after which the drum 4 becomes stationary in its zero position. Afterwards the control card 18 checks the figure combination obtained against the predetermined winning figures. When these correspond the amount won is paid out by sending a signal to pay-out unit 24.

Claims

1. Automatic dice game consisting of a frame (1), a body (4) with dice bed and which can rotate about a shaft (3) mounted in the frame, a driving mechanism (5-6-7-8) for turning the body, a number of dice bodies (11) placed in the body with code carriers (14) and dice symbols, and a code reader (15) for reading the code carriers and installed between the frame (1) and the rotating body (4), characterized in that the dice bed (10) has a recess provided inside the casing of the rotating body (4) for catching and locating the dice bodies (11) next to one another, and that the automatic dice game is provided with an optical sensor (20) fitted on the frame (1) and a number of detection strips (19) fitted on the rotating body (4) and operating in conjunction with the optical sensor for giving a signal to the driving mechanism (5-6-7-8) of the rotating body (4) in order to put this into the zero position, to determine the direction of rotation of the rotating body (4) and to convert the rotational movement of the rotating body into a slowed back and forth motion.

2. Automatic game in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the rotating body (4) with the dice bed (10) consists of a polygonal, preferably octagonal rotating drum (4) with a transparent wall (9) and two door panels which can be swung open.

3. Automatic game in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that there is at least one cord (12) stretched in drum (4) so that during the rotation of the drum an additional tumbling motion is imparted to the dice bodies (11).

4. Automatic game in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a coin test unit (21), a button (22) for starting the driving mechanism (5-6-7-8) of the rotating body (4), a unit (23) for indicating the winning combinations of the dice game, a payment unit (24) for paying out the price in the event of win, a unit (25) for converting main voltage into low voltage, a unit (26) for accepting coins, a unit (27) for limiting the number of rotations of the rotating body (4), a unit (28) for slowing the speed of revolution of the rotating body (4) and a unit (29) for verifying the codes received by the code reader (15) and an interface unit (17).

Ansprüche

1. Automatisches Würfelspiel bestehend aus einem Rahmen (1), einem Kasten (4) mit Würfelbett, der um eine im Rahmen integrierte Welle (3) dreht, einem Antrieb (5-6-7-8) zur Drehung des Kastens, einer Anzahl Würfelsteine (11) im Kasten mit Codeträgern (14) und Würfelsymbolen, sowie einem zwischen Rahmen (1) und Drehkasten (4) angebrachten Codeableser (15) zum Ablesen der Codeträger, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Würfelbett (10) eine Vertiefung im Gehäuse des Drehkastens (4) zur Aufnahme und Aufreihung der Würfelsteine (11) besitzt, und dass das automatische Würfelspiel einen am Rahmen (1) angebrachten optischen Messwertgeber (20) sowie eine Anzahl Erfassungsstreifen (19) am Drehkasten (4) aufweist, die zusammen mit dem optischen Messwertgeber dem Antrieb (5-6-7-8) des Drehkastens (4) signalisieren, diesen in die Nulstellung zu bringen, die Drehrichtung des Drehkastens (4) zu bestimmen und die Drehbewegung des Drehkastens in eine verlangsamte Rück- und Vorwärtsbewegung zu verwandeln.

2. Automatisches Spiel gemäss Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Drehkasten (4) mit dem Würfelbett (10) aus einer mehreckigen, vorzugsweise achteckigen Drehtrommel (4) mit durchsichtiger Wand (9) und zwei aufklappbaren Türfeldern besteht.

3. Automatisches Spiel, gemäss Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens ein Seil (12) in der Trommel (4) gespannt ist, so dass die Würfelsteine (11) während der Trommeldrehung einer zusätzlichen Taumelbewegung ausgesetzt werden.

4. Automatisches Spiel gemäss Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es eine Münzprüfeinrichtung (21) besitzt, einen Knopf (22) zum Betätigen des Antriebs (5-6-7-8) des Drehkastens (4), eine Einrichtung (23) zur Anzeige der Gewinnkombinationen des Würfelspiels, eine Zahleinrichtung (24) zur Auszahlung eines möglichen Gewinns, eine Einrichtung (25) zum Umschalten von Hochauf Niederspannung, eine Einrichtung (26) zur Münzannahme, eine Einrichtung (27) zur Einschränkung der Drehungen des Drehkastens (4), eine Einrichtung (28) zur Verlangsamung der Bewegung des Drehkastens (4) sowie eine Einrichtung (29) zur Überprüfung der vom Codeableser (15) empfangenen Codes, und eine Schnittstelle (17).

Revendications

1. Jeu de dès automatique comprenant un châssis (1), un corps (4) avec un lit de dès et qui peut pivoter autour d'un arbre (3) monté dans le châssis, un mécanisme de commande (5-6-7-8) pour faire tourner le corps, un nombre de corps de dé (11), placés dans le corps, munis de porteurs d'un code (14) et de symboles de dé, et d'un lecteur de codes (15) pour lire les porteurs de code et installés entre le châssis (1) et le corps rotatif (4), caractérisé en ce que le lit de dès (10) possède un évidement prévu à l'intérieur du boîtier du corps rotatif (4) pour attraper et localiser les corps de dé (11), l'un à côté de l'autre, et que le jeu de dès automatique est prévu d'un détecteur optique (20) monté sur le châssis (1) et d'un nombre de rubans détecteurs (19) montés sur le corps rotatif (4) et fonctionnant en conjonction avec le détecteur optique pour donner un signal au mécanisme de commande (5-6-7-8) du corps rotatif (4) afin de mettre celui-ci en position neutre, de déterminer le sens de rotation du corps rotatif (4) et de convertir ce mouvement rotatif du corps rotatif en un mouvement de va-et-vient ralenti.

2. Jeu de dès automatique selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le corps rotatif (4) avec le lit de dès (10) consiste en un tambour rotatif (4) polygonal, de préférence octogonal, avec une paroi transparente (9) et de deux panneaux de porte qui peuvent être ouverts.

3. Jeu de dès automatique selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il existe au moins une corde (12) qui s'étend dans le tambour (4), de sorte que les corps de dès (11) subissent un mouvement basculant additionnel lors de la rotation du tambour.

4. Jeu de dès automatiques selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il est muni d'une unité pour vérifier les pièces de monnaie (21), d'un bouton (22) pour démarrer le mécanisme de commande (5-6-7-8) du corps rotatif (4), d'une unité (23) pour indiquer les combinaisons gagnantes du jeu de dès, d'une unité de paiement (24) pour payer le prix au cas où l'on a gagné, d'une unité (25) pour transformer la haute tension en une basse tension, d'une unité (26) pour accepter des pièces de monnaie (27), d'une unité (27) pour limiter le nombre de rotations du corps rotatif (4), d'une unité (28) pour ralentir la vitesse de rotation du corps rotatif (4) et d'une unité (29) pour vérifier les codes reçus par le lecteur de codes (15) et d'une unité d'interface (17).

Drawing