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.