US 12,629,585 B2Granted

Dice shaking mechanism

AssigneeTCS John Huxley Europe Limited

InventorGavin Jackson

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Abstract

There is described an automated dice shaking mechanism for use for example in casinos. The dice shaking mechanism comprises a driving member; a drive shaft connected to the driving member and wherein the drive shaft is arranged in communication with a crank pin. The mechanism is operable such that the drive shaft is arranged to rotate about a drive shaft axis, the crank pin having a crank pin axis offset from the drive shaft axis; a control arm and a lifting member and wherein the control arm has a first end and an opposing second end. In the mechanism the first end is connected to the crank pin, the control arm is then arranged to move the lifting member along a vertical axis of the dice shaking mechanism. The lifting member comprises a frame attached to the second end of the control arm; and a platform attached to the frame, and in this way the platform movement provides the dice shaking and activation. The mechanism provides for improvements in reliability, repeatability and robustness of the casino gaming equipment.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A dice shaking mechanism comprising:

a driving member;
a drive shaft connected to the driving member and a cam wheel connected to the drive shaft, the driving member being configured to drive the drive shaft to rotate the cam wheel about a drive shaft axis;
a frame configured to support a horizontal platform and to move along a vertical axis of the dice shaking mechanism, wherein the frame comprises a plate arranged to extend in a vertical plane and comprising a first side and a second, opposite, side;
a control arm configured to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft and to control vertical motion of the plate, the control arm comprising:
a first end configured to be connected to the cam wheel by a crank pin configured to permit rotation of the cam wheel relative to the control arm;
and an opposing second end configured to be connected to the plate;
and a first guiding mechanism and a second guiding mechanism, the first guiding mechanism and the second guiding mechanism being arranged to restrict horizontal motion of the horizontal platform of the dice shaking mechanism, wherein the first guiding mechanism and the second guiding mechanism are slidably attached to the first side of the plate, wherein the control arm is rotatably attached to the second, opposite side of the plate such that at least a portion of at least one of the driving member, drive shaft, cam wheel, or crank pin is arranged underneath the plate.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.