The Control Unit
The unit contains a motor, which continually operates, turning a shaft that extends the length of the unit. Attached to this shaft are many cams which operate sets of switches These cams are divided into groups, each of which (except for cam number 1) are clutch driven. The clutches are released, and thus the set of cams allowed to rotate, by the operation of solenoid coils called cam index coils.
Cam number 1 rotates all the time and provides basic timing pulses to the game's circuitry. Cams number 2 through number 9 are referred to as timer cams and rotate for 1 revolution each time a coin is deposited or replay played off. The switches operated by these cams provide timing and control pulses, and signals required during feature selection and extra ball feature attempts. These cams, and their associated switches, are set into motion each time the timer cam's index coil, mounted directly beneath them, is energized. They then make one revolution and stop.
Cams number 10 through number 14 are called the replay cams and operate only during payout (awarding of replays). The switches operated by these cams provide all timing for the payout operation and are set into motion by the energizing of the replay cam's index coil. That solenoid is kept energized until the proper number of replays have been scored and thus these cams continue to operate during replay scoring. The adjustment of the switches associated with cam number 13 are critical to proper scoring of replays.
The Search Disk
At one end of the control unit is a large disk studded with many circular rows of brass contacts. A set of switch wipers attached to the control unit's central shaft, is constantly rotating and making contact with the contact points in sequence. This disk is referred to as the search disk, and is the heart of the winner detection circuitry. Its wipers continue to rotate until a winner is detected, at which time they stop on that winner during payout.
After payout is complete they again start rotating, searching for possible additional winners. It should be noted that although the wipers on this unit are always rotating (except during payout) the rest of the winner detection circuitry is not enabled until the 4th ball is shot. This is the reason a bingo will never pay out until the 4th ball is in play, even though an in-line winner has already been made by the first 3 balls. During payout the rotation of the wipers is stopped by the energizing of the search index coil mounted next to the disk.
BINGOS - FOR AMUSEMENT ONLY
