JP2011067339A - Chip counting device and management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chip counting device which, using the existing chips, can manage the number of chips stored in the tray during the game. <P>SOLUTION: A tray 13 which houses the accumulated game chips 12 is made of a transparent material. The image of the side of the stored and housed chips 12 in the tray 13 is read with a scanner 15. The chips 12 and their kinds are identified from the image taken by the scanner 15 and the number of the identified chips are sought after. The identified number of chips is either displayed on the display section 33 or transmitted to the management device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a chip counting device that counts gaming chips collected and stored in a tray, and a management system using the chip counting device.

  In a table game played on a table in a casino or the like, gaming chips are used. The dealer of the table game collects and stores chips by type in a tray placed on the table, takes out the chips to be paid out to the player by winning or losing the table game, and stores the chips collected from the table in the tray, In addition, the chip is taken out from the tray when the banknote and the chip possessed by the player are exchanged.

  Conventionally, the management of the number of chips (types of chips and the number of each type) stored in the tray in the game is strictly controlled so that the dealer can visually check and grasp the approximate number. Often not.

  For this reason, during the game, it is not possible to make a mistake in paying out a chip from the tray or to confirm that the dealer has illegally acquired the chip.

  In addition, a management system has been proposed in which a non-contact IC tag is embedded in a chip, a reading device that reads information registered in the non-contact IC tag of the chip in advance on a table, and the number of chips in a game is managed ( For example, see Patent Document 1.)

JP 2009-18021 A

  As described above, the management of the number of chips stored in the tray during the game is often not strictly managed so that the dealer can visually check and grasp the approximate number, During the game, there is a problem that a chip payout mistake or the like from the tray occurs or that the dealer cannot confirm the illegal acquisition of the chip.

  In addition, when using a chip embedded with a non-contact IC tag, the number of chips in the game can be managed, but it is necessary to replace the existing chip and replace the table. When existing chips that do not have a non-contact IC tag are mixed, there is a problem that the number of chips cannot be confirmed accurately.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. A chip counting device that can manage the number of chips stored in a tray in a game using an existing chip, and a management system using the chip counting device. The purpose is to provide.

  The chip counting device according to claim 1 includes a tray for accumulating and storing gaming chips, a reading unit for reading an image of a side surface of the chip accumulated and stored in the tray, a chip and an image read by the reading unit. An image recognition unit that recognizes the type of image and a counting unit that obtains the number of chips identified by the image recognition unit are provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the chip counting apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a display unit that displays the number of chips obtained by the counting unit.

  The chip counting device according to claim 3 is the chip counting device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising complementary timing determining means for determining the complementary timing of the chip with reference to the number of chips, and wherein the display unit includes the complementary When the timing determination means determines that it is a chip complement timing, a chip complement instruction is displayed.

  The chip counting device according to claim 4 is the chip counting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the history creating means for creating an increase / decrease history of the number of chips, and the increase / decrease in the number of chips created by the history creating means. A history display unit for displaying the history.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the chip counting apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a reading instruction unit that instructs the reading unit to read an image of the chip.

  The chip counting device according to claim 6 is the chip counting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reading unit is configured to input an amount to be exchanged for a chip, and to input the amount at the input unit. Read control means for reading the image of the chip, collation means for collating the amount of money input by the input unit and the decrease in the number of chips read by the reading unit, and in the case where the collation does not match by this collation means And a notification means for informing.

  A chip counting device according to claim 7 is the chip counting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a money counter that counts money exchanged with chips and outputs a counting result, and the money counter A reading control means for reading an image of a chip by the reading unit by counting money; a checking unit for checking an amount counted by the money counter and a decrease in the number of chips read by the reading unit; The collating means includes a notifying means for informing when the collation does not match.

  9. The chip counting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tray has a readable identification ID that identifies the tray, and reads the identification ID of the tray. And an identification ID reading unit.

  A management system according to a ninth aspect includes the chip counting device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, and a management device that acquires chip number information from the chip counting device.

  According to the chip counting apparatus of claim 1, the image of the side surface of the chip integrated and stored in the tray is read by the reading unit, the chip and its type are identified from the read image, and the number of chips is obtained. Using chips, you can manage the number of chips stored in the tray during the game.

  According to the chip counting device of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the chip counting device according to the first aspect, the number of chips obtained by the counting unit is displayed on the display unit, and thus is stored in the tray during the game. You can check the number of chips.

  According to the chip counting apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the chip counting apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the complementary timing of the chip is determined with reference to the number of chips, and is determined to be the complementary timing of the chip. By doing so, since the instruction for complementing the chip is displayed on the display unit, the timing for complementing the chip can be confirmed, and the chip can be complemented accurately.

  According to the chip counter of claim 4, in addition to the effects of the chip counter of any one of claims 1 to 3, a chip number increase / decrease history is created, and the created chip count increase / decrease history is recorded as a history. Since it is displayed on the display unit, it can be used as a judgment material for the player to participate in the game, and the game situation can be confirmed by the supervisor or the dealer himself.

  According to the chip counting apparatus of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effects of the chip counting apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the chip is read by the reading unit at an arbitrary (auto / manual) timing by the reading instruction unit. The number of chips stored in the tray can be confirmed.

  According to the chip counting apparatus of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect of the chip counting apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, an amount of money to be exchanged for a chip from, for example, money, bills and cards is input at the input unit. In order to read the image of the chip in the reading unit, the number of chips stored in the tray can be confirmed, and the amount of money input in the input unit is compared with the decrease in the number of chips read in the reading unit, Since the notification is made when the verification does not match, it is possible to prevent a chip payout error.

  According to the chip counting apparatus of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect of the chip counting apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, by counting the money exchanged with the chip with a money counter, When the chip image is read, the number of chips stored in the tray can be confirmed, and the amount counted by the money counter is compared with the decrease in the number of chips read by the reading unit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a chip payout error.

  According to the chip counting apparatus of the eighth aspect, in addition to the effect of the chip counting apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the identification ID reading unit reads the identification ID of the tray. You can also manage chips related to.

  According to the management system of the ninth aspect, the management device can acquire the chip number information from the chip counting device and centrally manage the number of chips and the operation status.

It is a perspective view of the table which installed the chip | tip counter which shows one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram along the scanning direction of the reading part of a chip counting device same as the above. It is a block diagram along the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction of the reading part of a chip counting device same as the above. It is a block diagram regarding a chip counting device same as the above. It is a block diagram of the management system using a chip counting device same as the above. It is the schematic diagram of the image which read the side surface of the chip | tip collected and accommodated in the tray of a chip counting device same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display which displays the increase / decrease log | history of a chip number by the display part of a chip | tip count device same as the above.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, 11 is a substantially semicircular table for playing a table game at a casino or the like, and on the straight edge side of this table 11 is a table game dealer and one person for each one or a plurality of tables 11. A supervisor who is an attached manager is located, and on the curved edge side of the table 11, a plurality of players playing the table game are located. In the table game, gaming chips 12 are used, and these chips 12 can be lent out within the amount of banknotes, bills, cards (pre-paid in cash) held by players against the dealer on the table 11. The card information is read by a dedicated card reader and the loan amount is subtracted.), And players such as VIP can be credited.

  There are multiple types of chips 12 having values such as $ 5, $ 10, $ 25, $ 50, and $ 100. Different types are distinguished by colors and patterns. The chips 12 are of different colors / patterns depending on the casino.

  The table 11 is provided near the center on the straight edge side with a tray placement section 14 in which a tray 13 for collecting and storing a plurality of chips 12 by type is detachably disposed. On the side, a scanner 15 is disposed as a reading unit that scans the inside of the tray 13 from the lower side of the tray 13 and reads an image of a side surface that is a part of the peripheral surface of the chip 12 that is accumulated and stored in the tray 13. .

  The tray 13 has a rectangular tray body 18, and a plurality of stacking storage portions 19 for stacking and storing the chips 12 are formed in parallel on the upper surface of the tray body 18 in the longitudinal direction of the tray body 18. Each stacking storage unit 19 stacks and stores a plurality of chips 12 in a state where the surface of the chip 12 faces in the short direction of the tray body 18, and the lower region of the side surface of the chip 12 is fitted therein. It is formed in a substantially semicircular concave shape in cross section. Further, the tray 13 is formed of a transparent material so that the entire tray body 18 or at least the accumulation housing portion 19 is formed so that the scanner 15 can read the image of the side surface of the chip 12.

  On the lower surface of the tray 13, an identification ID for specifying the tray 13 is displayed. This identification ID is configured by a bar code, a number, a symbol, or the like that can be read by the scanner 15. Therefore, the scanner 15 also functions as an identification ID reading unit that reads the identification ID of the tray 13.

  On the side of the tray placement section 14 of the table 11, a banknote inlet 22 for storing banknotes exchanged for chips 12 by a dealer, a drop box 23 for storing banknotes inserted from the banknote inlet 22, and the like are provided.

  Near one side of the linear edge of the table 11, a bill counter 26 as a currency counter for identifying and counting bills as money to be exchanged with the chip 12, an operation display unit capable of operation by the dealer and display to the dealer 27 and a transaction information display unit 28 for displaying transaction information including the amount of money identified and counted by the bill counter 26 is installed. The bill counter 26 and the operation display unit 27 are placed on a gantry 29 that is substantially the same height as the upper surface of the table 11. The transaction information display unit 28 is placed at a corner position on the table 11 so that the display can be viewed from both the player and the dealer.

  The banknote counter 26 takes in and transfers the banknotes received by the banknote receiving unit 30 one by one, identifies the banknotes transported inside, and pays out bankable banknotes among the identified banknotes to the banknote dispensing unit 31a. A bill that cannot be traded due to indistinguishability or the like is paid out to the reject unit 31b.

  The operation display unit 27 includes an operation unit 32 operated by the dealer and a display unit 33 displayed for the dealer. The operation unit 32 includes, for example, an input unit for manually inputting the amount to be exchanged for the chip 12 from, for example, money, bills, and cards including banknotes that cannot be identified by the banknote counter 26, and reading of the image of the chip 12 by the scanner 15. It also functions as a reading instruction unit for manually instructing. The display unit 33 means the number of chips 12 integrated and stored in the tray 13 (which means the type of chip 12 and the number of each type, and further includes the amount of money for each type and the total amount of money. Good) and chip 12 complement instructions can be displayed.

  In the vicinity of the other side of the linear edge side of the table 11, a terminal 36 connected to the scanner 15, the bill counter 26, the operation display unit 27, and the transaction information display unit 28 is installed. The terminal 36 includes a terminal main body 37 constituted by a personal computer and the like, and a monitor 38 as a history display unit connected to the terminal main body 37. The monitor 38 is mounted on the table 11 so as to be visible from a player or a person around the table 11.

  Next, FIGS. 2 and 3 show the configuration of the scanner 15. 2 and 3 are shown in a state where the chip 12 is lifted from the stacking storage part 19 of the tray 13 for the sake of explanation, the chip 12 actually fits into the stacking storage part 19 of the tray 13. Are collected and stored.

  This scanner 15 is installed below the tray placement portion 14 where the tray 13 is placed, and allows the scan head 41 to move in the scanning direction along the longitudinal direction of the tray 13, and the scan head 41 moves in the scanning direction. A moving mechanism 42 is provided. The scan head 41 is a color image sensor such as a line-shaped CCD that is long enough to read the chips 12 integrated and stored in the storage unit 19 of the tray 13, and light from the lower side of the tray 13 to the side of the chip 12. A light source such as a discharge lamp or an LED. The moving mechanism 42 rotates the belt stretched along the operation direction to drive the motor, and enables the scan head 41 to reciprocate between one end side and the other end side in the scanning direction. FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an image of the side surface of the chip 12 read by the scanner 15.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram relating to the chip counting device 45 for obtaining the number of chips integrated and stored in the tray 13. The chip counting device 45 includes a control unit 46 of the terminal body 37, the scanner 15, an operation unit 32 and a display unit 33 of the operation display unit 27, a monitor 38, and a communication unit 47 that communicates with the management system.

  The control unit 46 has the following functions.

  A function of the image recognition unit 51 that recognizes the chip 12 and its type from an image read by the scanner 15. The image recognition unit 51 refers to the side shape of the chip 12 registered in advance in the storage unit of the control unit 46, and the type such as color and pattern, and identifies each chip 12 from the image read by the scanner 15. The type of the identified chip 12 is identified.

  A function of the counting unit 52 that calculates the number of chips 12 identified by the image recognition unit 51, the number of chips for each type, and the number of chips including the amount of money for each type and the total amount.

  A function of the complementary timing determination means 53 that determines that it is the complementary timing of the chip 12 by referring to the number of chips and that the number of chips falls below a preset number of chips that is a complementary determination criterion. The complementary timing includes all timings for replenishing, collecting and replacing the chip 12.

  A function of the history creation means 54 for creating a history of increasing / decreasing the number of chips for the past several times read by the scanner 15, that is, for the past several times of the table game. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the history creating means 54 creates a history of increasing / decreasing the number of chips in the past eight table games, and graphs the amount of increase / decrease for each type of chip 12.

  The number of chips obtained by the counting unit 52 is displayed on the display unit 33, the complementary timing determined by the complementary timing determination unit 53 is displayed on the display unit 33 and the monitor 38, and the history graph created by the history creation unit 54 is monitored. The function of the display control means 55 displayed on 38.

  By counting the bills exchanged with the chip 12 by the banknote counter 26 or by manually inputting the amount of money to be exchanged for the chip 12 from, for example, money, bills and cards by the operation unit 32, the scanner 15 A function of reading control means 56 for reading an image.

  A function of collation means 57 for collating the amount counted by the bill counter 26 or the amount input by the operation unit 32 with the decrease in the number of chips read by the scanner 15.

  A function of an informing means 58 for informing when the collating means 57 does not match, for example by displaying that fact on the display unit 33 or generating a warning sound with a speaker or a warning sound generator.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a management system employed in a casino.

  A terminal 36 to which a scanner 15 and a bill counter 26 for each of the plurality of tables 11 installed in the casino are connected to a LAN, and a management server 61 and a sales management device 62 as management devices are respectively connected to the LAN. One unit is connected at a time.

  The terminal device 36 communicates with the scanner 15 and the bill counter 26, collects and manages the chip number information and the transaction information of the bill counter 26, and transmits the collected information to the management server 61 and the sales management device 62.

  The management server 61 acquires chip number information collected in the terminal 36 and transaction information of the banknote counter 26, and aggregates various information such as chip number information for each table 11 and transaction information of the banknote counter 26, Perform analysis.

  The sales management device 62 acquires various information collected by the management server 61 and manages sales.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  The dealer carries a tray 13 in which a predetermined amount of chips 12 determined and stored in advance is carried, and the tray 13 is placed on the tray placement portion 14 for the table 11.

  The scanner 15 starts the reading operation by detecting that the tray 13 is arranged by a sensor provided in the tray arrangement unit 14 or when the dealer manually operates the reading instruction by the operation unit 32. In the state where the light source of the scan head 41 is turned on and the tray 13 is illuminated from the lower side, the scanner 15 moves the scan head 41 in the scanning direction by the moving mechanism 42, thereby collecting the tray 13 as shown in FIG. While reading the image of the side surface of the chip 12 accommodated, the identification ID of the tray 13 displayed on the lower surface of the tray 13 is read.

  The image data read by the scanner 15 is acquired by the control unit 46, and by the function of the image recognition unit 51 of the control unit 46, the side shape, color, pattern, etc. of the chip 12 registered in advance in the storage unit of the control unit 46 Each chip 12 is identified from the image read by the scanner 15 and the type of the identified chip 12 is identified. Further, the counting unit 52 of the control unit 46 obtains the number of chips including the type of the chip 12 identified by the image recognition unit 51, the number of chips for each type, the type and the total amount. Further, the tray 13 is specified from the read identification ID.

  Then, the identification ID of the identified tray 13 and the number of chips are displayed on the display unit 33 and stored in the storage unit included in the control unit 46 to create a history. Further, these pieces of information are transmitted to the management server 61 and sales management device 62 of the management system.

  Further, during the table game between the dealer and the player, the dealer takes out the chip 12 to be paid out to the player from the tray 13 or stores the chip 12 collected from the table 11 in the tray 13 in accordance with the outcome of the table game. .

  At the end of one game, when the dealer manually operates the reading instruction with the operation unit 32, the scanner 15 performs the reading operation, as described above, identifies the number of chips accumulated and stored in the tray 13, and the display unit. The information is displayed on 33 and updated and stored in the storage unit of the control unit 46.

  During the table game, the scanner 15 automatically performs reading operation every predetermined time, and when the number of chips varies correspondingly after the end of one game, display and control on the display unit 33 The storage in the storage unit of the unit 46 may be updated.

  Further, on the table 11, exchange transactions between banknotes and chips 12 possessed by the player are possible. In the exchange transaction between banknotes and chips 12 at the table 11, the player hands the banknotes to the dealer, confirms the banknotes received by the dealer, and sets them in the banknote receiving unit 30 of the banknote counter 26. When the presence / absence detection sensor of the banknote receiving unit 30 detects the banknote set in the banknote receiving unit 30 of the banknote counter 26, the banknotes set in the banknote receiving unit 30 are taken into the inside one by one and transported inside. A bill that can be traded among the identified bills is paid out to the bill payout portion 31a, and a bill that cannot be traded due to inability to be identified is paid out to the reject portion 31b. When a banknote that cannot be traded is generated, the banknote is again recognized by the banknote counter 26, and if it is still not tradeable, the dealer confirms the banknote and determines that it can be traded. Enter the amount manually at 32 and add it to the counting result. If the counting result by the bill counter 26 is further manually input, the transaction information including the counting result added thereto is displayed on the transaction information display unit 28 and the display unit 33.

  The dealer shows the transaction information displayed on the transaction information display unit 28 to the player, and takes out the types and the number of chips 12 corresponding to the determined amount from the tray 13 with the approval of the player.

  After a predetermined time necessary for taking out the chip 12 from the tray 13 after counting the bills with the bill counter 26, the scanner 15 performs a reading operation by the reading control means 56 of the control unit 46, or When the dealer manually operates the reading instruction with the operation unit 32, the scanner 15 performs a reading operation, and as described above, identifies the number of chips accumulated and stored in the tray 13, and the collating unit 57 of the control unit 46 The amount counted by the bill counter 26 is collated with the decrease in the number of chips read by the scanner 15.

  If the collation results match, for example, the fact is displayed on the display unit 33, or the fact that the collation results match is displayed without any special display. In this case, the dealer pays out the chips 12 taken out from the tray 13 to the player and stores the banknotes in the drop box 23 from the banknote inlet 22.

  If the verification does not match, the notification unit 58 of the control unit 46 notifies the display unit 33 of the fact, for example, by displaying the fact on the display unit 33 or generating a warning sound with a speaker or a warning sound generator. In this case, the dealer confirms the chips 12 taken out from the tray 13, and if the number is small, the missing chips 12 are added and removed from the tray 13, and if there are many, the excess chips 12 are returned to the tray 13. After that, when the dealer manually operates the reading instruction with the operation unit 32, the scanner 15 performs the reading operation, identifies the number of chips accumulated and stored in the tray 13, and the amount counted again by the bill counter 26 And the decrease in the number of chips read by the scanner 15 are collated. The processing after the collation result is as described above.

  Further, the history creation means 54 of the control unit 46 creates an increase / decrease history of the number of chips in the past eight table games read by the scanner 15 as shown in FIG. Is graphed and displayed on the monitor 38. Based on the history displayed on the monitor 38, a person who has not participated in the table game of the table 11 can be used to determine whether or not to participate in the table game of the table 11. For example, if the history changes as shown in the graph of FIG. 7, the dealer tends to lose, and the history changes as shown in the history 4 to 8 shown in the graph of FIG. 7. If this is the case, dealers tend to win, and these tendencies can be used to determine whether to participate in table games.

  Further, the complementary timing determining means 53 of the control unit 46 refers to the number of chips stored in the tray 13, and when the number of chips falls below a preset complementary determination criterion, It is determined that it is a complementary timing. In this case, it is displayed on the display unit 33 or the monitor 38 that it is the complementary timing. Then, the complementary timing display displayed on the display unit 33 and the monitor 38 allows the supervisor who is the dealer and the manager of the table 11 to confirm that it is the complementary timing of the chip 12, and complements the chip 12 based on the supervisor's judgment. To do.

  The complement of the chip 12 is performed by exchanging the tray 13 arranged on the table 11 with a new tray 13 in which the complementary chips 12 are collected and stored. When the tray 13 is replaced with a new one, as described above, the sensor provided in the tray placement section 14 detects that the tray 13 is placed, or the dealer complements the chip 12 (tray in the operation section 32). 13) is manually operated, the scanner 15 performs a reading operation, identifies the identification ID of the tray 13, confirms the number of chips accumulated and stored in the tray 13, and identifies the identification ID of these trays 13. And the number of chips are displayed on the display unit 33 and stored in a storage unit included in the control unit 46 to create a history.

  Further, when the table is closed at the end of the table game on the table 11, the tray 13 and the drop box 23 in which the chips 12 are collected and stored are collected in the count room. In the count room, the number of chips and the amount of banknotes stored in the drop box 23 are obtained and collated with the information transmitted to the management server 61 or the sales management device 62 of the management system and tabulated.

  Thus, according to the chip counting device 45 of the present invention, the image of the side surface of the chip 12 integrated and stored in the tray 13 is read by the scanner 15, the chip 12 and its type are identified from the read image, and the number of chips Therefore, the number of chips stored in the tray 13 in the table game can be managed using the existing chips 12.

  Since the number of chips is displayed on the display unit 33, a dealer or a supervisor can check the number of chips stored in the tray 13 during the game.

  Since the increase / decrease history of the number of chips is created and the created increase / decrease history of the number of chips is displayed on the monitor 38, it is possible to use it as a judgment material for the player to participate in the table game.

  By determining the complement timing of the chip 12 with reference to the number of chips and determining that it is the complement timing of the chip 12, an instruction to complement the chip 12 is displayed on the display unit 33 or the monitor 38, so that the dealer or supervisor However, the complement timing of the chip 12 can be confirmed, and the chip can be complemented accurately.

  By operating the operation unit 32, the image of the chip 12 can be read by the scanner 15 and the number of chips stored in the tray 13 can be confirmed at any (automatic / manual) timing.

  The tray 15 is used to read the image of the chip 12 with the scanner 15 by counting the banknote exchanged with the chip 12 with the banknote counter 26 or by inputting the amount of money exchanged with the chip 12 with the operation unit 32. The number of chips stored in 13 can be confirmed, and the amount counted by the bill counter 26 or the amount input by the operation unit 32 is collated with the decrease in the number of chips read by the scanner 15, Since the notification is made when the verification does not match, it is possible to prevent the chip 12 from being paid out.

  Since the identification ID of the tray 13 is read by the scanner 15, the tray 13 can be identified and the chip 12 associated with the tray 13 can be managed. Thus, by displaying the identification ID of the tray 13 so that it can be read by the scanner 15, the identification ID of the tray 13 can be acquired simultaneously with the acquisition of the chip image, and the configuration can be simplified by using the scanner 15 as well. . The identification ID of the tray 13 may be a non-contact IC tag, for example. In this case, an identification ID reading unit that reads information from the non-contact IC tag may be used separately.

  The terminal 36 communicates with the scanner 15 and the bill counter 26, collects and manages the chip number information and the transaction information of the bill counter 26, and transmits the collected information to the management server 61 and the sales management device 62.

  In the management server 61, the chip number information collected in the terminal 36 and the transaction information of the banknote counter 26 are acquired, and various information such as the chip number information for each table 11 and the transaction information of the banknote counter 26 are aggregated, Perform analysis.

  The sales management device 62 acquires various information collected by the management server 61 and manages sales.

  As described above, according to the management system of the present invention, the management server 61 and the sales management device 62 can acquire the chip number information from the chip counting device 45 and centrally manage the number of chips and the operation status.

  The scanning direction of the chip 12 by the scanner 15 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and scanning may be performed in the front and back direction in FIG. 2 (up and down direction in FIG. 6).

  Further, although the tray 13 is made of a transparent material in the above embodiment, it may be made of an opaque material. In this case, a slit for reading is formed in a part of the stacking storage portion 19 along the stacking direction of the chips 12. May be. Further, if infrared rays are used for counting, it is not particularly necessary to be transparent.

  Note that the reading unit is not limited to the scanner 15, and an imaging device such as a camera that collects images of the chips 12 collected and stored in the tray 13 from the lower surface of the tray 13 may be used. When using an imaging device, the number of chips can be confirmed in real time.

  Further, the image on the side surface of the chip 12 may be read from above the tray 13 by the scanner 15 or the imaging device.

  In addition, the operation unit 32 and the display unit 33 of the chip counting device 45 are shared with the bill counter 26, but the operation unit 32 and the display unit 33 are dedicated to the chip counting device 45 and in the vicinity of the tray arrangement unit 14 of the table 11. You may install in.

12 chips
13 Tray
15 Scanner as reading unit and identification ID reading unit
26 Bill counter as a currency counter
32 Operation unit as input unit and reading instruction unit
33 Display
38 Monitor as history display
45 chip counter
51 Image recognition unit
52 Counter
53 Complementary timing judgment means
54 History creation means
56 Reading control means
57 Verification method
58 Notification means
61 Management server as a management device

Claims (9)

A tray for collecting and storing gaming chips;
A reading unit that reads an image of a side surface of a chip integrated and stored in the tray;
An image recognition unit for recognizing the chip and its type from the image read by the reading unit;
A chip counting device, comprising: a counting unit that obtains the number of chips identified by the image recognition unit. The chip counting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays the number of chips obtained by the counting unit. Complement timing judging means for judging the complement timing of the chip with reference to the number of chips,
3. The chip counting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a chip complement instruction by determining that the complement timing determination unit is a chip complement timing. 4. A history creation means for creating an increase / decrease history of the number of chips,
The chip counter according to claim 1, further comprising: a history display unit that displays an increase / decrease history of the number of chips created by the history creating unit. The chip counting device according to claim 1, further comprising a reading instruction unit that instructs reading of an image of the chip by the reading unit. An input unit for inputting the amount of money to be exchanged for the chip;
Read control means for reading the image of the chip by the reading unit by inputting the amount of money at the input unit,
Collation means for collating the amount of money input by the input unit and the decrease in the number of chips read by the reading unit;
6. A chip counting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for informing when the collation does not coincide with the collating means. A money counter that counts money exchanged with chips and outputs a counting result;
A reading control means for reading an image of the chip by the reading unit by counting money with the money counting machine;
Collating means for collating the amount of money counted by the money counter with a decrease in the number of chips read by the reading unit;
6. A chip counting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for informing when the collation does not coincide with the collating means. The tray has a readable identification ID that identifies the tray;
The chip counting device according to claim 1, further comprising an identification ID reading unit that reads an identification ID of the tray. A chip counter according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A management system comprising: a management device that acquires chip number information from the chip counting device.

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