Coin operated game machine

A coin operated game machine is adapted to operate through a plurality of coins, and includes a machine bed unit, an operation unit, and a back-end unit. The machine bed unit includes a main body defining a sealed space, and an operation table dividing the sealed space into a game region and a recognition region. The operation unit includes a coin-passing mechanism, a token-passing mechanism, a plurality of game tokens for being outputted to the sealed space, and an identification module identifying each of the game tokens that falls to the recognition region. The back-end unit includes a ticket-passing module configured to output at least one ticket according to identification of the identification module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 111113429, filed on Apr. 8, 2022.

FIELD

This invention relates to a game machine, more particularly to a coin operated game machine.

BACKGROUND

Referring toFIG.1, an existing coin operated game machine1is used in cooperation with a plurality of tokens20. The coin operated game machine1includes a main body11surrounding and defining an interior space110having a coin outlet111located at a bottom portion thereof, an introduction mechanism12connected to the main body11and adapted for introducing the tokens20into the interior space110, a platform13disposed in the interior space110and adapted for accumulating the tokens20, and a plurality of operating mechanisms14(only one is shown) disposed on the platform13and adapted for pushing the tokens20. To operate the coin operated game machine1, the tokens20are inserted one by one into the introduction mechanism12, and the platform13is stacked with the tokens20in advance. The status of the tokens20stacked on the platform13is changed by more tokens being inserted one by one through the induction mechanism12. By operation of the fixed mode of the operation mechanisms14, part of the tokens20on the platform13may be pushed and fall from the platform13, and be outputted from the coin outlet111.

However, when the existing coin operated game machine1is in operation, the number of the tokens20inputted into the introduction mechanism12and the number of the tokens20that are pushed and fall from the platform13are usually different. Furthermore, to balance game fairness and user enjoyment, the number of the tokens20that should be deposited on the platform13in advance needs to be prudently considered as well. Since the number of incoming tokens20cannot be known for certain, the stack status of the tokens20on the platform13needs to be frequently adjusted. Also, in addition to the contact occurred during the above mentioned maintenance and adjustment, the tokens may be frequently touched outside of the coin operated game machine1since they are usually circulated in game sites, which causes that the tokens20may become a medium of transmission for viruses or bacteria.

SUMMARY

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a coin operated game machine that is easy to maintain and that can improve sanitary conditions.

According to this invention, a coin operated game machine is adapted to operate through a plurality of coins, and includes a machine bed unit, an operation unit mounted to the machine bed unit, and a back-end unit connected to the operation unit. The machine bed unit includes a main body defining a sealed space, and an operation table disposed in the sealed space, the operation table dividing the sealed space into a game region, and a recognition region disposed underneath the game region, and has an end edge cooperating with the main body to define a drop opening that is disposed between the game region and the recognition region. The operation unit includes a coin-passing mechanism mounted to the main body and adapted for the coins to be disposed therein, a token-passing mechanism informationally connected to the coin-passing mechanism, a plurality of game tokens stored in the token-passing mechanism and adapted to be outputted to the sealed space after the coins are dispensed into the coin-passing mechanism, and an identification module disposed in the recognition region and identifying each of the game tokens that falls from the drop opening to the recognition region, and transmitting reward information according to the identification result. The back-end unit includes a ticket-passing module that is informationally connected to the identification module, and that is configured to output at least one ticket according to the reward information transmitted by the identification module. The effect of this invention resides in that, after the coins are inserted, the game tokens are used in the game played in the sealed space instead, and the reward obtained by playing the game is the at least one ticket. Thus no frequent maintenance or adjustment is required, and whether it is maintained or in the process of the game, the opportunity to be in contact with the tokens circulated outside is reduced, thereby optimizing the sanitary condition during use of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.2, an embodiment of a coin operated gaming machine according to the present invention is adapted to operate through a plurality of coins90. The present embodiment includes a machine bed unit3, an operation unit4mounted to the machine bed unit3, and a back-end unit5connected to the operation unit4, wherein, in this embodiment, which is described as one that is disposed in an amusement arcade, the coins90are metal coins that are exclusively used in the amusement arcade.

The machine bed unit3includes a main body31defining a sealed space310, an operation table32disposed in the sealed space310, and an interface board33disposed on a rear side of the operation table32. The operation table32divides the sealed space310into a game region311, and a recognition region312disposed underneath the game region311, and has an end edge321spaced apart from a front side of the main body31and cooperating with the front side of the main body31to define a drop opening319that is disposed between the game region311and the recognition region312. In addition to being the main platform for a game to take place, the operation table32is further disposed with a plurality of dynamic mechanisms, such as rollers of a pinball machine and/or a mechanical arm of a traditional coins pusher machine that are relevant to the topic, the game mechanics, or the operation mechanism of the game, etc., the details of which are omitted for the sake of brevity. The interface board33is used to display game information such as the number of coins, and the reward score, and specifically is located at a rear side of the operation table32opposite to the end edge321, so that it can be watched by a player without interfering with the game.

The operation unit4includes a coin-passing mechanism41mounted to the main body31and adapted for the coins90to be disposed therein, a token-passing mechanism42informationally connected to the coin-passing mechanism41, a plurality of game tokens43stored in the token-passing mechanism42and adapted to be outputted to the sealed space310after the coins90are dispensed into the coin-passing mechanism41, and an identification module44disposed in the recognition region312, identifying each of the game tokens43that falls from the drop opening319to the recognition region312, and transmitting reward information according to the identification result. Specifically, when a player inserts the coins90into the coin-passing mechanism41, the coins90do not fall directly onto the operation table32, and instead the game tokens43are outputted onto the operation table32by the token-passing mechanism42. While the operation table32has been stacked with a preset number of the game tokens43, the game is played with the additional game tokens43that fall onto the operation table32.

Referring toFIG.3, each of the game tokens43includes a radio frequency identification chip431and a forming block432wrapping and fixing the radio frequency identification chip431thereinto. The radio frequency identification chips431are implemented by radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, and therefore the identification module44(seeFIG.2orFIG.4) is an equipment capable of reading radio frequency signals. Each of the radio frequency identification chips431of the game tokens43includes a plurality of value information representing different values, and specifically, the value information is the information related to game scores, such as the currency value of the game tokens43. The forming block432is preferably be made from a plastic material so that it is suitable to be shaped into an appropriate size according to the game requirements.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.4, the back-end unit5includes a ticket-passing module51informationally connected to the identification module44and configured to output at least one ticket80according to the reward information transmitted by the identification module44, and a circulation mechanism52disposed in the recognition region312and in spatial communication with the token-passing mechanism42. The circulation mechanism52is for receiving the game tokens43falling into the recognition region312and directing the game tokens43back to the token-passing mechanism42.

In this embodiment, after the coins90are inserted into the coin mechanism41, a number of the game tokens43are correspondingly outputted according to a currency converting rule between the coins90and the game tokens43that has been determined beforehand from the token-passing mechanism42. Then, the game tokens43are introduced into the sealed space310by the token-passing mechanism42and drop onto the operation table32for gaming. When any of the game tokens43falls from the drop opening319to the recognition region312during the process of the game, the identification module44reads the value information of the dropping game token43to thereby generate the reward information relevant to the game score, and transmits the corresponding reward information. When the ticket-passing module51receives the reward information, it will output a specific number of tickets80corresponding to the game score, and a player may exchange the tickets80with prizes according to the exchanging rule of the amusement arcade. During the operations described above, because players only insert the coins90, which they have exchanged with money, into the coin-passing mechanism41, and because what they receive from the coin operated game machine are the tickets80instead of the coins90, the opportunity of contacting or touching the coins90is reduced, which naturally reduces the probability of being infected by bacteria or coming in contact with pathogenic bacteria on the coins90. For both players and maintenance personnel, sanitary conditions are significantly improved.

It should be particularly noted that, in addition to the game tokens43previously set on the operation table32due to the game balance, the token-passing mechanism42also stores a certain number of the game tokens43. As for the game tokens43that are outputted from the token-passing mechanism42, apart from those that stay on the operation table32, the game tokens43that drop into the circulation mechanism52during the gaming process are directed back into the token-passing mechanism42to be stored and be ready for the following output. That is, the game tokens43in this embodiment can be continuously circulated for operation, as long as the number of the game tokens43is set to be sufficient enough to maintain operation. It is not necessary to fill additional game tokens43into the coin operated game machine. Therefore, the frequency of maintenance is reduced, and the game tokens43will not be frequently touched in this embodiment, which is also helpful for improving sanitary conditions.

In summary, the embodiment of the coin operated game machine of this invention maintains the game operation by circulating a certain number of the game tokens43, which reduces the frequency of maintenance, and which further reduces the opportunity of touching or exchanging the coins90that are circulated outside the coin operated game machine, and thus it can also improve the sanitary condition during maintenance or gaming process.

However, the above is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and certainly should not be limited to the scope of this invention. Any equivalent variation and modification made according to the claims of the present invention and the specification should still be deemed to fall within the scope covered by the present invention.