Bill acceptor for a gaming machine

Abstract

A bill acceptor 24.2 for a gaming machine includes a receiving zone for receiving a tendered bill. A sensing device 48 is arranged at an input region of the receiving zone for sensing at least one characteristic of the bill A controller 52 is in communication with the sensing device 48 for receiving an output signal from the sensing device 48. An annunciator 58 is controlled by the controller 52 to be activated when a bill acceptance rate of the controller 52 drops below a predetermined threshold.

1 . A bill acceptor for a gaming machine, the bill acceptor comprising a receiving zone for receiving a bill;
 a sensing device at an input region of the receiving zone for sensing at least one characteristic of the bill;   a controller in communication with the sensing device for receiving an output signal from the sensing device; and   an annunciator controlled by the controller to be activated when a bill acceptance rate of the controller drops below a predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       2 . The bill acceptor of  claim 1 , in which the receiving zone incorporates a platen on which the bill is received and a slot at an end of the platen into which the bill is to be inserted. 
   
   
       3 . The bill acceptor of  claim 2 , in which the sensing device is arranged inwardly of the slot. 
   
   
       4 . The bill acceptor of  claim 1 , in which the sensing device senses at least one of optical, magnetic and dimensional characteristics of the bill. 
   
   
       5 . The bill acceptor of  claim 2 , in which the receiving zone includes an attracting means for indicating to a patron where the bill is to be inserted into the slot. 
   
   
       6 . The bill acceptor of  claim 5 , in which the attracting means comprises an array of illuminating elements arranged in the platen of the receiving zone. 
   
   
       7 . The bill acceptor of  claim 6 , in which the annunciator is arranged in the receiving zone. 
   
   
       8 . The bill acceptor of  claim 7 , in which the controller causes the array of illuminating elements to be illuminated in a predetermined, first pattern and the annunciator is implemented in the form of an illumination of the illuminating elements in a second, different pattern. 
   
   
       9 . The bill acceptor of  claim 8 , in which the second pattern is activated after completion of the first pattern when the bill acceptance rate has dropped below said predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       10 . The bill acceptor of  claim 1 , in which, when the controller is connected to a network, a network monitoring system monitors the acceptance rate of bills by the controller and activates an alarm means when the acceptance rate drop below the predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       11 . A method of operating a bill acceptor of a gaming machine, the method including the steps of:
 sensing at least one characteristic of a bill inserted into the bill acceptor;   monitoring a bill acceptance rate by a controller; and   activating an annunciator when the bill acceptance rate drops below a predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , which includes energising illuminating elements of the bill acceptor in a predetermine pattern and, when the bill acceptance rate drops below said threshold, energising the illuminating elements in a second, different pattern, said second pattern of illumination of the illuminating elements serving as the annunciator. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , in which the second pattern of illumination of the illuminating elements follows completion of the first pattern. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , which includes transmitting a signal on a network to which the gaming machine is connected to a network monitoring system to activate an alarm means when the bill acceptance rate drops below said predetermined threshold.