Patent GB-986124-A (GB)
Abstract: 986,124. Electric bookmaking machines. R. E. WELLS. Aug. 8, 1961 [Aug. 10, 1960], No. 28606/61. Headings G4A and G4T. An automatic bookmaking machine for accepting wagers at specified odds, which may vary during the course of betting comprises a plurality of keyboard machines, a central control unit, the keyboard having means for transmitting to the central control data relating to the betting odds as well as to the amount staked for each individual wager, the central control having means for calculating the total amount staked on a contest and the amount payable for each contestant in the event of that contestant winning, means being provided at each keyboard machine for indicating the fluctuations as they occur in betting odds on the contestants. General arrangement. The apparatus includes a plurality of keyboard ticket-issuing machines having means for setting up on keys the contestant number, odds and amount staked for each wager and means for indicating the odds in respect of a selected contestant; and a central control having a "pay" accumulator individual to each contestant for calculating the total sum to be paid out should that contestant win, a "take" accumulator common to all the contestants for summing the total amount of money staked, multiplying means common to all the keyboard machines for calculating the individual "collect" for each wager (i.e. the amount to be paid out in respect of a particular wager should the chosen contestant win), an indicator panel for each contestant to indicate the profit or loss should that contestant win, each indicator panel optionally having a subtractor unit and an odds adjusting unit associated therewith. Means are provided for locating and indicating faults. Keyboard machines. Each keyboard machine includes, Fig. 2, three groups SK1-2, OK1-3, CK1-2 corresponding to "stake" "odds" and "contestant number", the column CK2 of keys being shown in Fig. 3. When a key is depressed it carries a lateral shoulder 4 through a slot 6 in a slide 3, the resulting lateral displacement of the slide 3 releasing any previously depressed keys, and operating a contact spring set 8 associated with the depressed key. Ticket printing. The slide 3, Fig. 3, is laterally displaced by an amount depending on the particular key 1-9, 0 depressed, a bent type strip 35, Fig. 5 being correspondingly displaced to bring the appropriate figure into printing position. A counter 48b is arranged to print a serial number on each ticket. When the data for a bet has been set up, a motor switch MS, Fig. 2, on the keyboard is depressed thereby operating a motor 46, Fig. 5, to drive shafts 44c, 54c through one revolution, thereby operating striker arms 38, 48. The arms 38, 48 print the set-up data on a carbon backed strip 58 and a betting ticket (not shown). A circuit (not described) may be provided to prevent effective operation of the motor start switch should an attempt be made to register a non-acceptable bet. Transmission of data from keyboard machines. Each keyboard has an associated set of bets relays A-G, Fig. 7, lines from the odds keys and stakes keys being connected to one side of contacts of the relays A-E, the other side of these contacts being multipled together with similar contacts in the other keyboards and connected to the multiplier equipment at the central control. When the motor switch MS is depressed, a disc 56 carried on the shaft 44c, Fig. 5, causes a pulse to be transmitted to a relay ASK, Fig. 7, which locks on and applies potential to a line (A) connected to contact M(CA) of a hunting switch C55 at the central control. When the switch C55 reaches the marked contact, its stepping is halted and potential is applied over line (B) to operate relays A-G. The operation of relays F, G causes operation of a relay HNR, Fig. 8, and the establishment of potential on a line IHP to operate the input relay of the "pay" accumulator of the selected contestant, in this case No. 1. The output of the multiplier equipment, which is connected in multiple to all the "pay" accumulators is thus received only by the No. 1 accumulator. Multiplier equipment This consists of various groups of relays (Figs. 11-16, not shown). The odds signals are received in an "odds decoder" relay group, connected to a "base" relay group, a "multiplying" relay group receiving signals from the "base" group via a "conversion" relay group. The output of the "multiplying" group is connected to the "pay" accumulator corresponding to the contestant selected. A "take decoder" relay group receives signals corresponding to the amount staked and is connected to supply this value to the "take" accumulator. When these values have been registered, the hunting switch C55, Fig. 9, steps on to seek the next requesting keyboard. Requesting and signalling odds. An optional feature of the apparatus is means for requesting from and indicating at each keyboard the odds on a selected contestant. Each keyboard is provided with an indicator panel, Fig. 17, the requested odds being indicated by the illumination of lamps in three central columns of lamps. In certain cases, e.g. odds of 6 to 1, additional lamps at the bottom of the panel will indicate alternative special odds, e.g. 50 to 8, at which bets can be accepted. When a key in the column CK1 of contestant keys is depressed, the sliding bar 3, Fig. 3, closes a contact pair 3b thereby energizing a relay O/Imp, Fig. 18, to mark a line O/A connected to a hunting switch (not shown) at the central control. When the marked contact is reached, relays O/B<SP>1</SP>, O/B<SP>2</SP> are energized thereby passing potential from the keyboard contacts associated with the selected contestant to a panel, Figs. 19, 19A at the central control and associated with that contestant. The panel contains a plurality of jacks having associated contacts which may be automatically or manually connected, as indicated by the shaded "2 to 1" jack, in dependence on the odds for that contestant. A relay of a relay group (Fig. 10, not shown) at central office, which group is common to all the panels, Fig. 19, 19A, and connected to all the keyboard machines, is operated to transmit a coded representation of the odds to relays (Fig. 21, not shown) connected to the indicator lamps, Fig. 17, of the requesting keyboard. The odds are similarly displayed whenever contestant keys are operated in the course of registering a bet at a keyboard. Profit or loss subtractor. A relay subtractor, Fig. 22, is provided at the central control for each contestant, all the subtractors being connected to the "take" accumulator and to one of the individual "pay" accumulators. The subtractor shown comprises "pay" P and " take" T relays for various values between ú100 and ú10, 000, the arrangement of contacts being such that the output line representing the required difference is marked thereby illuminating a pair of lamps, Fig. 19 corresponding to the difference value, the green lamps indicating a profit and the red lamps a loss for that contestant. Automatic odds adjuster. The apparatus may include means for adjusting automatically the odds for each contestant in dependence on the amount of profit or loss signalled by the subtractor associated with that contestant, the initial odds being set manually as described above. Each subtractor is connected to an individual relay circuit (Fig. 23, not shown) responsive to predetermine changes in the profit or less for that contestant to mark one of a number of output lines connected to contacts in a further set of relays (Fig. 24, not shown) consisting of a single group common to all the contestants. When a particular contestant is selected by a keyboard, an appropriate relay in the group, Fig. 24 (not shown), is energized depending on the odds preset for that contestant by the bridged contact jack, Fig. 19, the actual odds signalled to the keyboard being modified in accordance with the path taken through the relay contacts, Fig. 24, by the marked output line from the circuit of Fig. 23. Odds change alarm. Any change in odds on a contestant is automatically signalled to each keyboard machine, the contestant number being indicated on lamps G/No, Fig. 17, for an increase in odds and on lamp R/No for a reduction in odds, a buzzer being operated in the latter case. The lamps and buzzer remain operative until keys RS or GS, Fig. 2, at all keyboards have been depressed, the keyboard operators then keying the indicated contestant number to obtain the new odds. Wages at special odds. In the case of bets at certain odds e.g. 6 to 1, alternative slightly greater special odds e.g. 50 to 8, are offered, which may be made a specified number (one, two or four as described) of times, a key IT, 2T or 4T in column SK 2 of the stake keys being depressed to indicate this number when the data of a wager is entered on a keyboard. Preventing incorrect bets. To prevent keying of a wager at odds different from those signalled from the central control, clutches 43S, 53S, Fig. 5, in the printing mechanism drive are controlled by a relay MR, Fig. 28, whose operating potential is supplied through the switch MS, Fig. 2, via a series of normally open contacts which are closed only when the keyed odds and signalled odds are identical, special circuits (Fig. 27, not shown) being provided to cater for a bet at special odds. A further feature prevents acceptance of any bet for which the potential winning sum for the customer is in excess of about ú200 (Fig. 29, not shown). Fault localization. An indicator lamp panel, Fig. 30, 30A, is included at the central control and has two lamps associated with each keyboard, on indicating that a request is awaiting attention, the other indicating that a keyboard is in communication with the central control. A further column of lamps is connected to indicate which "pay" accumulator is operative. Two other columns of lamps are