Band, wheel for symbol position detector of mechanical slot machine, symbol position detector for mechanical slot machine, and mechanical slot machine

Abstract

A mechanical slot machine is disclosed in which a band is arranged around a peripheral edge of a wheel capable of rotating together with a reel and coaxially with the rotational axis of the reel, for the purpose of detecting the positions of individual symbols formed on the reel. The band includes regions having mutually different attributes, and the boundary between the regions of the band shifts position across the width of the band as the boundary extends along the length of the band.

1 . A band for detecting positions of individual symbols formed on a reel of a mechanical slot machine, the band comprising: 
 regions having mutually different attributes; and    a boundary between the regions of the band that shifts position across a width of the band as the boundary extends along a length of the band;    wherein the band is arranged around a periphery of a wheel that is rotatable with the reel and coaxial with a rotational axis of the reel.    
   
   
       2 . The band set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the attributes are defined by brightness, chromaticity, or optical transmissivity that can be identified with an optical sensor, or by magnetization that can be identified with a magnetic sensor.  
   
   
       3 . A band for detecting positions of individual symbols formed on a reel of a mechanical slot machine, the band comprising: 
 regions having mutually different attributes; and    a boundary between the regions of the band;    wherein the band is arranged around a periphery of a wheel that is rotatable with the reel and coaxial with a rotational axis of the reel, and a position of the boundary with respect to a width of the band corresponds with a position of the boundary with respect to the length of the band.    
   
   
       4 . A wheel for a symbol position detector of a mechanical slot machine, comprising: 
 a band arranged around a periphery of the wheel, the band comprising regions having mutually different attributes, and a boundary between the regions of the band that shifts position across a width of the band as the boundary extends along a length of the band;    wherein the wheel is rotatable with a reel of the mechanical slot machine and coaxial with a rotational axis of the reel.    
   
   
       5 . The wheel set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the attributes are defined by brightness, chromaticity, or optical transmissivity that can be identified with an optical sensor, or by magnetization that can be identified with a magnetic sensor.  
   
   
       6 . A symbol position detector which sequentially detects positions of individual symbols formed on a reel of a mechanical slot machine, the symbol position detector comprising: 
 a wheel that is rotatable with the reel and coaxial with a rotational axis of the reel;    a band arranged around a periphery of the wheel, the band comprising regions having mutually different attributes, and a boundary between the regions of the band that shifts position across a width of the band as the boundary extends along a length of the band;    a sensor arranged near the band that sequentially detects the position of the boundary with respect to the width of the band;    a memory unit which stores data that correlates the positions of the boundary with respect to the width of the band with positions of the symbols formed on the reel; and    a symbol identification unit that identifies a symbol corresponding to a detected boundary position by comparing the detected boundary position with the data stored in the memory unit.    
   
   
       7 . The symbol position detector set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the attributes are defined by brightness, chromaticity, optical transmissivity, or magnetization; and 
 the sensor is an optical sensor capable of identifying different levels of brightness, chromaticity, or optical transmissivity, or a magnetic sensor capable of identifying different levels of magnetization.    
   
   
       8 . A mechanical slot machine equipped with the symbol position detector set forth in  claim 6.