US 5,683,296 A · Apparatus for detecting reel position in a reel-type slot machine

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting the position of a reel in a reel-type slot machine is described. A drive gear is mounted on axis with each reel and stepper motor. The drive gear rotates with and is driven by the motor. The drive gear includes at least one flag to detect a home position once every revolution of the reel. The drive gear drives a second gear which has a proportional ratio to that of the drive gear corresponding to the number of symbols displayed on the reel. The driven gear also has one or more flags placed thereon. A detection device positioned near the mesh point of the gears signals both the home position of a reel and intermediate positions corresponding to each display symbol on the reel. Such apparatus can be used to detect the position of the reel with increased accuracy but without adding mass to the reels.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An apparatus for detecting the position of a reel in a reel-type slot machine comprising:

(a) at least one reel mounted for rotation having a plurality of display symbols thereon;
(b) drive means for rotating and stopping said reel(s) at specified symbol positions;
(c) a drive gear mounted on axis with each reel having a light shield mounted thereon to signal a home position once every complete revolution of said reel;
(d) a driven gear having at least one light shield mounted thereon, said driven gear meshed with said drive gear;
(e) detector means positioned proximate the mesh point of said drive and driven gears for generating signals when said light shields are detected;
(f) said driven gear having a gear ratio, relative to said drive gear, such that the light shield(s) thereon generate a signal corresponding to each display symbol on said reel;
whereby said detector means signals both the home position of a reel and intermediate positions corresponding to each display symbol on said reel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for detecting reel position in a reel-type slot machine

Life of this patent

Apparatus for detecting reel position in a reel-type slot machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8