Reel spin mechanism

Apparatus for spinning and indexing a rotatable reel of the type used in an amusement or game device, comprising:

• a reel mounted for rotation;
• a circular disc attached to said reel and having a plurality of notches located along the circumference of the disc, the notches being formed to receive a stop member for stopping rotation of and releasably holding the rotative position of the disc and reel and a drive member for imparting spin to the disc and reel;
• an elongated index arm means having attachment means at one end pivotally attaching said index arm means to a stationary support and having a stop member at the other end thereof for random engagement with any one of the notches when said index arm means is pivoted toward the disc;
• means connected to the stationary support for retracting the stop member from engagement with the indexed notch;
• a shaft mounted for rotation and extending parallel to the axis of the reel and disc;
• drive lever means pivotally mounted for independent rotation on said shaft and having a drive member at the distal end thereof for engagement with a notch when said drive lever means is pivoted toward the disc;
• means connected to said shaft for pivoting said drive lever means toward and away from the disc;
• means coordinating the pivoting of said drive lever means toward the disc for engagement thereof by the drive member with the retraction of the stop member from engagement with the disc to cause the drive member to be ready to seat in a notch before the stop member is disengaged from the indexed notch, whereby the disc and reel are not free to rotate during the transfer from engagement of the disc by the stop member to engagement of the disc by the drive member;
• means for permitting free rotation of the disc and reel when the drive member is thereafter moved out of engagement with the disc;
• means for imparting spin to the disc and reel, said spin means including a member connected to said shaft to rotate therewith;
• and
• means for randomly indexing the disc and reel by causing the stop member to engage one of the notches after the disc and reel are in full spinning motion.

Apparatus for spinning and indexing a rotatable reel of the type used in an amusement or game device, comprising:

• a reel mounted for rotation;
• a circular disc attached to said reel and having a plurality of notches located along the circumference of the disc, the notches being formed to receive a stop member for stopping rotation of and releasably holding the rotative position of the disc and reel and a drive member for imparting spin to the disc and reel;
• an elongated index arm means having attachment means at one end of pivotally attaching said index arm means to a stationary support and having a stop member at the other end thereof for random engagement with any one of the notches when said index arm means is pivoted toward the disc;
• means connected to the stationary support for retracting the stop member from engagement with the indexed notch, said means including an elongated bracket mounted on said index arm means and extending generally at right angles thereto in a direction away from the disc, a spring having one end connected to the distal end of said bracket and its other end connected to the stationary support at a location spaced away from the distal end of said bracket in a direction toward the disc, whereby the spring urges said stop member toward the disc, and a retraction lever means pivotally mounted at its midportion to the stationary support at the same location as the pivotal mounting of said elongated index arm means, one portion of said retraction lever means extending parallel to and adjacent said index arm means and another portion thereof extending parallel to said index arm means and beyond the mounting end, the portion of said retraction lever means adjacent said index arm means having a right angle extension that contacts the edge of said index arm means nearest the disc when that portion of the lever rotates away from the disc, and the portion of said retraction lever means extending beyond the pivotal mounting being connected to said interconnecting member for rotating that extension portion of the retraction lever in a direction toward the disc and thereby move said stop member out of engagement with the notch in the disc;
• a shaft mounted for rotation and extending parallel to the axis of the reel and discs;
• drive lever means pivotally mounted for independent rotation on said shaft and having a drive member at the distal end thereof for engagement with a notch when said drive lever means is pivoted toward the disc;
• means connected to said shaft for pivoting said drive lever means toward and away from the disc;
• means coordinating the pivoting of said drive lever means toward the disc for engagement thereof by the drive member with the retraction of the stop member from engagement with the disc to cause the drive member to be ready to seat in a notch before the stop member is disengaged from the indexed notch, whereby the disc and reel are not free to rotate during the transfer from engagement of the disc by the stop member to engagement of the disc by the drive member, said coordinating means including an interconnecting member that joins said stop member retracting means and said drive lever pivoting means;
• means for permitting free rotation of the disc and reel when the drive member is thereafter moved out of engagement with the disc;
• means for imparting spin to the disc and reel;
• and
• means for randomly indexing the disc and reel by causing the stop member to engage one of the notches after the disc and reel are in full spinning motion.