Roulette Ball Launcher with Movable Shuttle for Rejecting Defective Balls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roulette ball gaming systems face issues with malfunction due to ball wear and tear, pollution, and unreliable optical recognition, leading to reduced launch efficiency and increased downtime, as well as difficulties in maintaining game volatility and player interest.
Innovation Solution
A ball launcher system featuring a movable shuttle that transports balls from a receiving station to a launch tube, with an integrated ball quality detector for automatic or manual sorting of defective balls to a reject station, ensuring only high-quality balls are launched, and utilizing a non-circular launch tube cross-section for consistent spin and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a ball is continuously reused in the roulette system, then the quantity of balls remains constant and resource usage is efficient, but the ball undergoes wear and tear and pollution leading to malfunction and unreliable optical recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a ball recycling mechanism where balls that have undergone wear and tear or pollution are automatically detected and replaced with fresh balls from a storage magazine. This principle accepts that individual balls have limited service life and systematically replaces them before they cause system malfunction or recognition failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards balls that no longer meet quality standards (detected via optical sensors or mechanical inspection) and recovers them for replacement. The ball receiving station acts as a recovery point where used balls are collected and fresh balls are introduced, maintaining a continuous supply of reliable balls.
2Reliability
If manual inspection and replacement of balls is performed, then ball quality can be maintained, but the operational complexity and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-inspection of ball quality through integrated sensors (optical, mechanical, or both) that automatically detect wear, pollution, or defects. The system self-manages ball replacement by automatically selecting and deploying fresh balls from storage, eliminating the need for manual inspection and replacement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor ball conditions and provide information to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system automatically triggers ball replacement when quality thresholds are exceeded, creating a closed-loop quality control system that reduces operational complexity.
3Productivity
If the ball launch timing is predictable, then the game operation is smooth and consistent, but player interest and perceived randomness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts ball launch timing based on real-time game state, wheel position, and bet patterns. Rather than fixed intervals, the launch timing varies within acceptable ranges to maintain operational efficiency while introducing unpredictability that enhances game volatility and player engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes launch parameters (timing, force, angle) based on game conditions. The control system modifies these parameters dynamically to balance operational smoothness with game excitement, ensuring that balls are launched at optimal moments while maintaining perceived randomness for players.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances reliability and efficiency by preventing defective balls from launching, maintaining game quality, reducing downtime, and increasing player engagement through precise ball control and consistent gameplay.
Implementation Method 1
an airflow generator adapted to generate airflow for conveying the ball through said at least one launch tube into the gaming area
Implementation Method 2
at least one launch tube having a non-circular cross-section that gives spin to the ball when the ball is moved through the launch tube
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to a ball gaming system such as a roulette wheel apparatus, and in particular to a ball launcher for use in a gaming system such as a roulette wheel apparatus and to a gaming system such as a roulette wheel apparatus comprising the ball launcher, wherein the ball launcher includes a ball shuttle for transporting a ball from at least one ball-receiving station to at least one launch tube. According to the present invention, said ball shuttle is configured to move to a reject-ball station in response to a reject-ball signal to transport any old and/or defective ball to said reject-ball station instead of said at least one launch tube.