Cabinet and hopper combination for gaming machines including a controller and monitor for opening and closing thereof
AssigneeAurora Gaming
InventorsDavid D. Salour, James R. Woodhams, John R. Martinez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cabinet and hopper combination is set forth for slot machines which includes a cabinet structure having an opening for coins to drop from the machine into the hopper. The hopper is removably mounted in the cabinet and has a door slidable between a closed and an open position. A handle at the outside of the cabinet operates a linkage coupled to the door to open the hopper to dispense coins or tokens therein through the front of the cabinet. Also included are controls to lock the handle against unauthorized dispensing of coins or tokens.
Claims16
A system for locking and unlocking an actuator for discharging coins from a hopper contained in a cabinet comprising:
- a handle;
- a linkage coupled between the handle and a door for the hopper, said linkage in response to movement of said handle between a first and second position opening and closing said door respectively, said hopper when said door is in the open position discharging coins;
- means for locking the handle against movement from the the first to the second position, said locking means including,
- a plate pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis between a locked and an unlocked position, said plate in the locked position engaging said handle to prevent movement thereof,
- a driver member energized to displace said plate from said locked position to said unlocked position to free the handle for movement, and
- a controller for energizing said driver member.
A system for locking and unlocking an actuator for discharging coins from one or more hoppers each contained in a cabinet comprising:
- said actuator for each hopper including (i) a handle including a slot and (ii) a linkage coupled between the handle and a door for the hopper, said linkage in response to movement of said handle between a first and second position opening and closing said door respectively, said hopper when said door is in the open position discharging coins;
- means for locking the handle against movement from the the first to the second position, said locking means including,
- a plate pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis between a locked and an unlocked position, said plate in the locked position inserted into said slot to prevent movement thereof,
- a servo energized to displace a member to engage and move said plate from said locked position to said unlocked position to free the handle for movement,
- a processor in communication with said servos for energizing of selected ones thereof, and
- means for limiting communication by said processor to authorized personnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.