Coin collection system for a gaming machine
View Patent ↗A gaming machine comprises a cabinet, a coin outlet for dispensing coins, and a coin tray beneath the coin outlet. The coin tray is located a sufficient vertical distance from the coin outlet so as to accommodate a traditional coin collection cup between the coin outlet and the coin tray. The coin tray may contain a beverage cup holder and/or an ash tray, preferably located horizontally away from the coin outlet. The coin tray is coupled to the cabinet and extends below a level of the bottom of the cabinet. When the gaming machine sits on a stand in a gaming establishment, the cabinet sits on top of the stand while the coin tray hangs over a front wall of the stand.
1. A coin collection system for a gaming machine, said gaming machine being adapted to accept a wager and to depict indicia corresponding to an outcome of a wagering game, said coin collection system comprising:
a coin outlet for dispensing coins from the gaming machine;
a coin tray beneath the coin outlet; and
a guiding arrangement including a movable member coupled to the gaming machine and operable to assist in guiding the dispensed coins from one of the coin outlet and the coin tray to a coin collection cup, the guiding arrangement includes an exit opening in one end of the coin tray, the movable member including a sliding bar for sweeping coins in the coin tray through the exit opening and into the coin collection cup when the cup is held adjacent to the exit opening.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sliding bar is slidably anchored to the coin tray for movement between a first position to one side of both the exit opening and the coin outlet and a second position adjacent to the exit opening.
3. A gaming machine being adapted to accept a wager and to depict indicia corresponding to an outcome of a wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:
a coin tray for receiving dispensed coins;
a coin exit opening associated with the coin tray;
a movable member coupled to the gaming machine and located within the coin tray, the moveable member urging the dispensed coins within the coin tray toward the coin exit opening.
4. The gaming machine of claim 3 , further comprising a coin outlet for dispensing coins from the gaming machine.
5. The gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein the coin tray is located beneath the coin outlet.
6. The gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the movable member includes a sliding bar for sweeping the dispensed coins through the coin exit opening.
7. The gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein the dispensed coins are swept through the coin exit opening into a coin collection cup held adjacent to the coin exit opening.
8. The gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein the sliding bar is slidably anchored to the coin tray for movement between a first position to one side of both the exit opening and the coin outlet and a second position adjacent to the exit opening.
9. A method of collecting coins from a gaming machine comprising:
accepting a wager;
executing a game in response to the wager;
randomly selecting one of a plurality of possible outcomes of the game;
awarding winnings to a player in response to certain ones of the plurality of possible outcomes;
dispensing coins from a coin outlet into a coin tray; and
guiding the dispensed coins with a moveable member located within the coin tray to a coin exit opening in the coin tray.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the moveable member includes a sliding bar.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the act of guiding the dispensed coins includes sweeping the dispensed coins to the coin exit opening using the sliding bar.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dispensed coins are swept through the coin exit opening into a coin collection cup held adjacent to the coin exit opening.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sliding bar is slidably anchored to a coin tray for movement between a first position to one side of both the exit opening and the coin outlet and a second position adjacent to the exit opening.