Reel mechanism and control assembly

This invention relates to reel mechanisms such as are used in entertainment machines.

Entertainment machines, such as fruit machines may have reels which are mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. A symbol-bearing band is fixed around the periphery of the reel and the reel is rotated and then brought to rest so that one or more selected symbols are displayed through a window.

The reel may comprise a frame structure which is mounted on the spindle of an electric motor which is fixed to a support which extends alongside the reel. The support is mounted on a supporting structure of the machine and electrical leads link the motor to the electrical control system of the machine.

It is known, as described for example in WO 99/48067 to mount the reel support on the machine supporting structure via a foot. The foot is fixed to the supporting structure and the reel support is detachably engaged with the foot. Also electrical leads from the motor are connected to the electrical system of the machine via detachably interengageable male and female connectors respectively on the reel support and the foot. With this know arrangement the reel and it support can be readily installed within the machine and also removed when required e.g. for repair and maintenance or for replacement of the symbol-bearing reel band. However, a relatively complicated mechanism is required to effect the releasable interengagement between the reel support and the foot bearing in mind that accurate, robust mounting of the reel is an important requirement.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved releasable mounting for a rotatable reel whereby secure, accurate mounting and easy release can be ensured with a structure which is convenient and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate the control of a plurality of reel mechanisms used in a gaming machine.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a reel control assembly for a plurality of like reel mechanisms for a gaming machine, each comprising an upstanding reel support, a reel mountable on a reel support so as to be rotatable about an axis transverse to the support, via a stepper motor, and an electronic connection means, the device comprising a support structure having a plurality of electronic connection ports for receiving one of said connection means, each of the connection ports being electronically linked to a master controller circuit board, which provides an electronic linkage to a gaming machine.

With this arrangement, a plurality of reels can be conveniently controlled from a central control device or hub which in turn can be connected to a gaming machine via a single link. This arrangement removes such control from a central control unit of a gaming machine, which is important where the functions and mechanisms employed to control the reel are complex.

The (or each) electronic connection means and connection ports preferably comprise male and female plug-and-socket structures. Therefore, the (or each) reel mechanism may comprise a forwardly projecting plug member and the support structure of the device may comprise a socket member.

The support structure may comprise a supporting base for mounting of said reel mechanisms thereon and an upstanding wall in which said ports are mounted for connection thereto via said connection means. The ports may be are arranged in side-by-side arrangement for facilitating side-by-side arrangement of said reel mechanisms.

The electronic linkage to a gaming machine preferable comprises a serial link The device may be operable to control any, some, or all of the following mechanisms or components incorporated by some or all of the reel mechanisms, either solely or in combination: stepper motor, light LED illuummaton, optic feedback, RGB, LED\'s, LCD or OLED screen.

The supporting base may provide location structures for cooperation with location structures provided by the reel mechanism which function to mount each reel mechanism in position and provide a guide for the accurate connection of the connection means and connection mechanism.

Therefore, according to a second aspect of the invention therefore there is provided a reel mechanism comprising an upstanding reel support a reel mountable on the reel support so as to be rotatable about an axis transverse to the support, a support structure having at least one first retention structure at a forward region thereof and at least one first location structure rearwardly of the (or each) first retention structure, a foot fixed to the support at a lower region thereof and extending transversely to the upstanding reel support and to the said rotation axis, said foot having at least one second retention structure at a forward end region thereof and at least one second location structure rearwardly of said forward end region, whereby the foot is detachably mountable on the support structure by releasable interengagement respectively of the first and second retention structures and the first and second location structure.

With this arrangement reliance on the use of two sets of releasably interengageable parts between the foot and the support structure facilitates secure accurate mounting of the rotatable reel whilst permitting ready installation and removal as required.

Moreover, insofar as the releasable interengagement relies on parts provided respectively on the foot and the support structure, it need not be necessary to rely on intricate compact structures whereby manufacture can be facilitated.

The first and second retention structures may comprise cooperable male and female plug-and-socket structures. These may consist of, or include electrical plug-and-socket structures. Thus, there may be a forwardly projecting plug member on the foot, which is cooperable with an upstanding rearwardly facing socket member on the support structure.

The first and second location structures may comprise cooperable projection and aperture structures whereby the (or each) projection fits into the respective aperture and prevents movement in at least one direction by engagement with peripheral regions of the aperture. This prevention of movement may be in one or more directions in the plane of the aperture. Additionally however it also is effective in a direction transversely to such plane e.g. such that the foot is restrained against lifting off the support structure. Thus, the aperture may have an enlargement e.g. of the nature of a keyhole, and the projection may be a headed projection, whereby the head can pass through the enlargement but is too wide to pass through the reminder of the aperture.

The aperture of the (or each) pair of cooperable location structures may be in the foot and the projection may be an upstanding projection, on the support structure.

The interengagement between the respective location and retention structures may be retained solely frictionally i.e. so that the structures are pushed into interengagement and disengagement is effected solely by pulling the structures apart. However, other means of retention may also apply. For example, the foot may be resiliently deformable whereby it has to be deformed slightly to move it into and out of interengagement so that it is held securely in engagement by the resilience of the foot. It is also possible to provide additional releasable catches or locks separate to or forming part of the retention or location structures.

To facilitate movement of the foot into and/or out of interengagement there may be an upstanding tab or gripping member on the foot e.g. at a rearward end portion thereof, which can be readily gripped in a persons hand.

The foot may be a generally flat structure which is arranged to overlie a generally flat top surface of the support structure.

The foot may be formed integrally with the reel support although detachable arrangements are also possible.

The reel support may also be a generally flat structure with a transversely projecting mounting part to receive an electric motor.