JP2601071Y2 - Ball storage management device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is intended to deposit a prize ball (pachinko ball or medal) obtained by a game in a pachinko parlor by a game (so-called pachinko or pachislot) into his / her account and deposit it into his / her account. The present invention relates to a ball storage management device used in a ball storage replay system that allows a player to draw a pachinko ball and a medal and play a game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional general pachinko parlor,
The prize balls obtained by the player through the game were exchanged for prizes on the day. In response to this, let the player register as a member and set up an account, temporarily deposit the prize balls acquired by this player into his own account using a membership card, and There has been considered a game method that enables a player to pull out deposited prize balls and play a game. In this way, by allowing pachinko parlors to deposit prize balls at pachinko parlors without exchanging them for prizes and withdraw them at other times or on different days to play games, the pachinko parlors can secure customers (gamers). Can be planned.

[0003] In such a gaming method, a ball storage management device is used for depositing / withdrawing prize balls to / from an account, managing each account, and the like. Such a ball storage management device includes a storage unit that manages the number of prize balls stored in each player's account, a card reader that reads a member card issued for each account and reads information, and counts prize balls. A prize ball counter which sends the counting result to the storage means, a prize ball withdrawal machine which lends the prize balls based on the information stored in the storage means, and the like.

[0004]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the account management of the above-mentioned game method is performed by using the ball management apparatus, the clerk of the pachinko parlor and a specific player collude with each other. There is a risk that the account may be manipulated illegally and the number of prize balls deposited may be changed. In other words, the pachinko clerk plays the pachinko ball (or medal) on the pachinko ball (or medal) counter so that it is not visible outside business hours, and uses the membership card of the conspirator, the player It is possible for fraud to increase the number of pachinko balls (or medals) deposited in his account and get a share.

As a method for preventing such misconduct, it is conceivable to make it impossible to deposit money in an account during a predetermined time zone. However, in this case, when the set time of the clock built in the pachinko ball counter or the medal counter does not match the set time of the clock built in the card reader, the counting of the pachinko ball or the medal is performed. It is conceivable that the card reader does not rewrite the account despite the operation. In order to prevent such troubles, the set time of each device may be checked sequentially, but such work is very troublesome, and due to a mistake in time setting, the set time of each device may be changed. A difference may occur.

[0006] Further, in the conventional ball storage management device,
Rather than depositing the counted pachinko balls (or medals) into an account, the counting results are printed on receipts and the like, and players can bring these receipts to prize exchanges and exchange them for prizes. However, even in such a case, there is a risk that the clerk of the pachinko parlor and a specific player collude and commit fraud. That is, a pachinko clerk sends a pachinko ball (or medal) to a counter of pachinko balls (or medals) outside business hours to issue a receipt fraudulently, and a conspiring player exchanges the prize after the next day. Such injustices are possible.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such disadvantages of the prior art, and it is possible to prevent unauthorized operation of a pachinko parlor's player account and to prevent trouble due to an error in a set time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball storage management device that can perform the game.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball management system, comprising: storage means for managing the number of prize balls stored in each player's account; A ball reader that includes a card reader that reads the information by taking in the member card issued to the player, and a prize ball counter that counts the prize balls and sends the counting result to the storage unit. The prize ball counter performs a deposit process for depositing the prize balls counted by the prize ball counter into an account corresponding to the information read from the member card only in a preset time zone, When the time of the clock built in the card reader belongs to the time zone in which the depositing process should be performed, and the time of the clock built in the prize ball counter does not belong to the time zone in which the depositing process should be performed. , This deposit And performing a physical. According to the ball storage management device according to the second configuration of the present invention, a storage means for managing the number of prize balls stored in each player's account and the like, and a membership card issued for each account are fetched. A card reader for reading information, award ball counting means for counting the award balls and recording and outputting the counting result on a recording sheet, and a count recorded on the recording sheet output by the award ball counting means An input means for inputting the result by manual input or optical reading and transmitting the result to the storage means, wherein the prize ball counting means records the counting result for a preset time. The optical reading is performed in a band, and the manual reading is performed only in other time periods.

[0009]

The card reader and the prize ball counter according to the first embodiment of the present invention have the following features.
Since the depositing process of depositing the prize balls counted by the prize ball counter into the account corresponding to the information read from the member card is performed only during a preset time zone, the pachinko clerk can award the prize outside business hours. It is possible to prevent fraudulent activities such as counting the prize balls with the ball counter and increasing the number of prize balls deposited in the player's account, and the clock built in the prize ball counter. Even when the time does not belong to the time zone in which the deposit processing should be performed, if the time of the clock built in the card reader belongs to the time zone in which the deposit processing should be performed, the membership card can be processed by performing the deposit processing. Can be prevented from being performed despite the receipt of the request. According to the configuration of the ball storage management device according to the second configuration of the present invention, the prize ball counting means records the counting result so that the optical reading becomes possible in a preset time zone, In the time zone, the counting result is recorded so that only manual input is possible, so it is easy to visually recognize that counting may have been performed outside of normal business hours. This can prevent fraudulent acts such as the pachinko clerk counting the prize balls using the prize ball counter outside business hours and increasing the number of prize balls deposited in the player's account.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing the general outline of the ball storage management apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ball storage management apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises a terminal controller 10, an island end 2
0 and a counter unit 30. These units 10, 20, and 30 are connected by a serial communication line by a LAN (local area network), and can exchange data with each other.

The terminal controller 10 includes a workstation 11, a personal computer 12, a printer 13, and a card issuing machine 14.

The work station 11 corresponds to the storage means of the present invention, and stores and manages the stored ball data (stored separately for pachinko balls and medals) indicating the number of prize balls deposited in each account. . At the same time, ledger data including the address, name, age, gender, and telephone number of the member who opened the account, and member visit data may be stored and managed. Further, for example, in a case where a prize ball is lent free as a service to a customer, data of the number of lent balls and the number of medals may be stored and managed.

The personal computer 12 is connected to the above-mentioned workstation 11 via a LAN. The personal computer 12 registers a new account in the workstation 11 and performs statistical processing and correction of data stored in the workstation 11. Or when a clerk operates. When registering a new account, a new membership card is issued by the card issuing machine 14 based on the control by the personal computer.

The personal computer 12
Is also connected to the printer 13. This printer 1
According to 3, for example, a direct mail can be issued based on the ledger data stored in the workstation 11 described above.

Each part 1 in the terminal controller 10
The power supplies 1, 12, 13, and 14 are supplied by an uninterruptible power supply (not shown). As a result, it is possible to prevent the system from going down when the commercial power supply is cut off.

The workstation 11 is connected to an external management computer (not shown) by a dedicated communication line. Thus, data in the workstation 11 can be managed using the management computer. Further, the workstation 11
It is also connected to a ball number management computer (not shown) that manages the flow of pachinko balls and medals in the store, so that the pachinko balls and medals in the store can be comprehensively managed and grasped.

The island end 20 is provided with a pachinko ball withdrawing machine 21, a medal withdrawing machine 22, card readers 23 and 24, a pachinko ball counting machine 25 and a medal counting machine 26.

When the pachinko ball withdrawing machine 21 inserts a membership card and enters a password with a numeric keypad, the number of possible withdrawals (the number of pachinko balls deposited in the account)
Is configured to be displayed. Then, the player inputs the number of withdrawals using the numeric keypad and receives pachinko balls. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a pachinko ball cannot be withdrawn by a player based on the number of medals deposited in his or her account. Usually, in pachinko parlors,
This is because the sales management of pachinko machines and the sales management of pachislot machines are performed independently.

Similarly, the medal withdrawal machine 22 enters the membership card and then enters a password using the numeric keypad, and the number of possible withdrawals (the number of medals deposited in the account)
Is displayed, and the player inputs the number of withdrawals using the numeric keypad and receives a medal. In this case, it is assumed that the medal cannot be withdrawn by the player based on the number of pachinko balls deposited in his or her account.

The card reader 23 and the pachinko ball counting machine 25 are used when a player exchanges pachinko balls obtained by a game for prizes or deposits them in his / her account.

When a pachinko ball is exchanged for a prize, the pachinko ball counter 25 counts the number of pachinko balls. When the counting is completed, the pachinko ball counter 25 records the counting result on a recording sheet by the built-in printer 25a and outputs it.
Here, as will be described later, when this counting is performed in a time period other than the receipt issue / ball storage time, the built-in printer 25a records the counting result as a number and a bar code, and the receipt issue / ball stock time is not recorded. In the case where the counting is performed, the counting result is recorded only by a numeral. In addition, even when communication between the terminal controller 10 and the card reader 23 is interrupted, the counting result is recorded only with numerals. The player brings the output recording paper to a prize exchange to exchange for the prize.
The prize exchange is performed using a counter unit 30 described later.

On the other hand, when the player deposits pachinko balls in his / her own account, the pachinko ball counter 25 first counts the number of pachinko balls after inserting a membership card into the card reader 23. Thus, the workstation 11 inputs the account number recorded on the membership card and the counting result of the pachinko ball counting machine 25, and counts the number of pachinko balls deposited in the account corresponding to this account number. Is added for Here, as will be described later, it is assumed that such a pachinko ball is deposited only at a time other than the above-described receipt issue / ball storage disabled time, and cannot be performed during the receipt issue / ball storage disabled time.

Further, the card reader 24 and the medal counter 26 are used when a player exchanges medals obtained by the game for prizes or deposits them in his own account.

When a player exchanges medals for prizes,
The built-in printer 2 stores the medal count results in the medal counter 26
At 6a, the recording paper is recorded and output, and the outputted recording paper is brought to the prize exchange (the counter section 30) and exchanged for the prize. Also in this case, the built-in printer 26a records the counting result in a bar code when the counting is performed during a period other than the receipt issuance / ball storage period, and records the counting result when the counting is performed within the receipt issuance / ball storage period. Is recorded numerically. In addition, even when communication between the terminal controller 10 and the card reader 23 is interrupted, the counting result is recorded only with numerals. This prize exchange is also performed using a counter unit 30 described later.

On the other hand, when the player deposits medals into his / her own account, first, after inserting a membership card into the card reader 24, the medal counter 26 counts the number of medals, and the above-mentioned workstation 11 The number of medals deposited in the account indicated by the account number recorded on the member card is added by the count result. As will be described later, such a deposit of medals is also performed only during a time other than the above-described receipt issue / ball storage disabled time, and cannot be performed during the receipt issue / ball storage disabled time.

The counter section 30 includes a card reader 31, a premium exchange management machine 32, a scanner 33, a printer 34, and a premium automatic payout machine 35.

The card reader 31 is a premium exchange management machine 32
Is used to identify such an account when a pachinko ball or medal deposited in a player's account is exchanged for a prize.

As described above, the scanner 33 reads the bar code of the receipt output from each of the built-in printers 25a and 26a of the counters 25 and 26. Then, the read information (the counting results of the counters 25 and 26) is sent to the prize exchange manager 32.

The result of counting by the counters 25 and 26 is input to the prize exchange management machine 32 by the scanner 33 or the numeric keypad. Then, when the prize balls are left as a result of the prize exchange, the remaining prize balls are deposited in the player's account. Further, when the player wants to exchange the prize balls deposited in his / her account for a prize, the number of prize balls corresponding to the exchanged prize is deducted from the account. Further, when the player desires to exchange for a special prize (a prize that can be exchanged for cash), a predetermined number of special prizes are paid out by the prize automatic dispensing machine 35.

The printer 34 is connected to the prize exchange management machine 32, and can print out management data of the prize management machine 32. When a plurality of prize exchange management machines 32 are used, one prize exchange management machine 32 may be used as a master machine and the printer 34 may be connected only to the master machine.

The prize automatic payout machine 35 pays out the prize instructed by the prize exchange management machine 32 as described above.
In addition, a card reader may be incorporated in the automatic prize dispensing machine 35 so that the player can directly operate the prize balls deposited in his / her account and exchange it for special prizes.

In addition to the above-described ball storage management device, a cash ball lending machine as conventionally used is installed in a pachinko parlor, at an island end, or in an appropriate place in a store (not shown). ).

Next, a method of playing a game using such a ball storage management device will be described.

In order to use the ball storage management device, the player must first set up his own account at the pachinko parlor. Opening this account is the same as opening a bank account, and the player can enter the name, address, age, occupation, hobbies, telephone number, gender, card PIN, whether direct mail is required, etc. on the application form. Fill in and submit to the pachinko clerk. The clerk of the pachinko parlor inserts a member card in which the store number and the member number are recorded in advance into the card issuing machine 14.
When the player himself operates the numeric keypad of the card issuing machine 14 and inputs a personal identification number, the personal identification number is registered in the workstation 11, and the personal identification number, the member number, the registration time, and the like are registered. The used scramble processing is performed, and the processing result is recorded on the member card as a secret number, and the issuance of the member card is completed. Here, this secret number is checked at the time of reading to distinguish it from a forged card. At the same time as the issuance of this membership card or separately, the data entered by the player on the application form is transmitted to the personal computer 1
2 is entered by the clerk using the workstation 1
1 is registered.

When the account is opened in this way, the player can play a game (pachinko or pachislot) using this account. FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing a procedure when pachinko is performed using the ball storage management device of the present embodiment.

First, a player puts cash into a ball lending machine for cash and receives a loan of pachinko balls (S201), and starts pachinko using the pachinko balls (S202).

When the pachinko player finishes the pachinko game, it is determined whether the obtained pachinko ball is to be deposited in his own account or exchanged for a prize (S203). If the user wants to deposit the account, the deposit processing is performed as it is (S20).
4). When the prize is to be exchanged for a prize, the receipt for the prize exchange is output to the built-in printer 25a of the pachinko ball counting machine 25, and the fraction is deposited in its own account (S20).
5) Bring the receipt to a prize exchange (counter section 30) to exchange prizes. In this way, when the pachinko balls are deposited in their own account, the deposited pachinko balls are deducted in the next and subsequent games (S20).
6), can be used. When debiting pachinko balls deposited in an account, a certain percentage of pachinko balls are deducted from the account as a commission.

When a pachislot is performed using medals,
It is a matter of course that medals can be deposited in the user's account or deducted from the user's account in exactly the same procedure.

Next, the operation of the ball storage management apparatus according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, the operation of the pachinko ball withdrawing machine 21 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the standby state, the pachinko ball withdrawing machine 21
Are maintained in a state of waiting for the insertion of the membership card (S30).
1). At this time, on the display screen (not shown) of the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21, for example, the characters "Please insert a card" are displayed. Then, when the player inserts the membership card into the card insertion slot (not shown), the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21 reads the store number, the membership number, the secret number, and the like recorded on the inserted membership card, and reads the terminal controller. 10 (S302). The terminal controller 10 checks the shop number, the member number, the secret number, and the like, and sends the corresponding account password and the number of pachinko balls stored in the account to the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21, respectively. Further, the internal storage unit is set to the recording prohibited state. When a certain percentage of pachinko balls are collected as a withdrawal fee when the pachinko balls are withdrawn from the account, the number of collected pachinko balls is also sent to the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21.

When the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21 receives the information (S303), it enters a state of waiting for input of a password (S304). At this time, the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21
The display screen displays, for example, the characters "Please enter your password" to prompt the player to enter a password. When the player inputs a password using the numeric keypad (not shown) of the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21, the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21
The password input with the numeric keypad is compared with the password received from the terminal controller 10 (S305). If the passwords do not match, a message indicating that the password is incorrect is displayed and an abnormal stop is performed (S306). ). At this time, the player may be prompted to re-enter the personal identification number, and an abnormal stop may be performed when the personal identification numbers do not match a plurality of times in succession.

On the other hand, when both passwords match,
The pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21 displays the number of pachinko balls that can be withdrawn, and enters a state of waiting for input of the number of withdrawals (the number of pachinko balls withdrawn from the player's own account) (S307). Then, the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21 additionally displays, for example, the characters "Please enter the number of withdrawals" on the display screen to urge the player to input the number of withdrawals. When the player inputs the number of withdrawals using the numeric keypad, the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21 compares the inputted number of withdrawals with the number of accumulated balls (the number of pachinko balls accumulated in the account) (S308). If the number of debits entered is larger, the display screen displays, for example, "insufficient coins" (S309), and enters a state of waiting for an input of the number of debits (S307). At this time, if the cancel key (not shown) of the pachinko ball withdrawing machine 21 is pressed (S310), for example, "Return card" is displayed on the display screen, and then the terminal controller 10 is notified. A signal for releasing the recording inhibition state is output (S311). When a signal indicating that the recording prohibition state has been released is received from the terminal controller 10 (S312), the member card is ejected (S313), and the process returns to the initial state (S301).

On the other hand, as a result of comparing the inputted number of withdrawals with the number of accumulated balls (S308), if the number of accumulated balls is larger,
The pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21 sends a command to execute the rewriting of the number of accumulated balls and the inputted withdrawal number to the terminal controller 10 (S314). As a result, the terminal controller 10 releases the recording prohibition state,
The number of saved coins in the account is rewritten to the number of saved coins after deduction. When the pachinko ball withdrawing machine 21 receives the number of stored balls after withdrawal (after rewriting) from the terminal controller 10 (S315), the pachinko balls withdrawal number is discharged to the receiving portion (not shown). At the same time, the number of accumulated coins after the withdrawal is displayed on the display screen. Thereafter, the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21 ejects the member card (S313), and returns to the initial state (S301).

When a certain number of pachinko balls are collected as the withdrawal fee as described above, the number of pachinko balls to be collected and the number of delinquents are replaced with the number of pachinko balls to be collected and the number of balls to be collected (S308). Is compared with the number of savings.

The operation of the pachinko ball withdrawal machine 21 has been described above, but the medal withdrawal machine 22 performs the same operation.

Next, the operation of the card reader 23 and the pachinko ball counter 25 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the standby state, the card reader 23
It is maintained in a state of waiting for the insertion of the member card (S40)
1). At this time, on the display screen (not shown) of the card reader 23, for example, the characters "Please insert a card" are displayed. And the pachinko ball counting machine 25
After the pachinko ball is inserted into the card reader 23, when the member card is inserted into a card insertion slot (not shown) of the card reader 23, the card reader 23 first issues a command to occupy the pachinko ball counter 25. Send to ball counter 25 (S
402). As a result, the pachinko ball counter 25 locks the operation button and turns off the display unit, and cannot be directly operated. Subsequently, the card reader 23
The store number and the member number recorded on the inserted member card are read and sent to the terminal controller 10 (S
403). The terminal controller 10 checks the store number and the member number, sends the result of the check to the card reader 23, and sets the internal storage unit to the recording prohibited state.

When the result of the check is taken in, the card reader 23 enters a state of waiting for an input of a ball storage key (not shown) (S404). At this time, the card reader 23 displays, for example, "Please press the ball storage key" on the display screen, and urges the player to depress the ball storage key. When the player depresses the ball storage key, the card reader 23 displays the pachinko ball counter 2
5, a signal requesting the pachinko ball count value is output (S4).
05) Then, it enters a state of waiting for the input of the counting result (S4).
06).

When the counting result is input from the pachinko ball counter 25, the card reader 23 enters a state of waiting for an instruction as to whether the pachinko balls inserted into the pachinko ball counter 25 are to be deposited in an account or exchanged for prizes ( S407). Note that when exchanging for prizes, as described above, the printer in which the number of pachinko balls is described is output to the built-in printer 25a of the pachinko ball counting machine 25, and the receipt is brought to the prize exchange (the counter section 30). Exchange for prizes. Here, the player may, for example, deposit all the pachinko balls in the account, or issue the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the maximum number of special prizes in the receipt and deposit only a fraction of the pachinko balls in the account. Alternatively, a desired number of pachinko balls corresponding to special prizes may be deposited in an account and a fraction thereof may be received with pachinko balls. The card reader 23 displays these options on the display screen to prompt the player for instructions.

When the player instructs the above pattern by button operation (S407), if a receipt is issued, the card reader records the receipt in the built-in printer 25a.
The output instruction and the number of pachinko balls to be recorded on the receipt are sent to the pachinko ball counter 25 (S408). Then, the card reader 23 sends to the terminal controller 10 a command to execute the rewriting of the number of stored balls and the number of pachinko balls to be deposited in the account (S409). As a result, the terminal controller 10 releases the recording prohibition state and adds the counting result to the number of coins stored in the account. Then, the card reader 23 is connected to the terminal controller 10.
When the number of stored coins after addition (after rewriting) is received from (S4)
10), the number of pachinko balls after the ball storage is displayed on the display screen (S411). Thereafter, the card reader 23 outputs a command to release the occupation of the pachinko ball counter 25 (S41).
2). Thereby, the pachinko ball counter 25 unlocks the operation button and restarts the display. Finally, the card reader 23 ejects the member card (S41).
3) Return to the initial state (S401).

Here, as described above, when the counting result of the pachinko balls is recorded on the receipt, if the time when the counting is performed using the pachinko ball counting machine 25 is other than the receipt issuing / ball storage disabled time, The built-in printer 25a records the counting result as a barcode, and records the counting result as a number when the counting is performed within the receipt issuance / ball storage impossible time.

When the pachinko ball counting is performed by directly operating the pachinko ball counting machine 25 without using the member card, the counting result is recorded on a receipt, or the maximum number of special prizes is recorded. Record only the equivalent number of pachinko balls on the receipt and receive a fractional number of pachinko balls,
You can choose.

The operation of the card reader 23 and the pachinko ball counter 25 has been described above.
The same operation is performed when medals are counted using the medals 4 and the medal counter 26.

Next, the operation of each component constituting the counter section 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 by taking as an example a case where a prize is exchanged by using a pachinko ball and a receipt stored in an account together. explain.

In the standby state, the card reader 31
It is maintained in a state of waiting for the insertion of the member card (S50)
1). At this time, for example, the characters "Please insert a card" are displayed on the display screen (not shown) of the card reader 31. Then, when the player inserts the membership card into the card insertion slot (not shown), the card reader 31
The store number and the member number recorded on the inserted member card are read and sent to the terminal controller 10 (S
502). At the same time, the card reader 31
A signal indicating that the membership card has been inserted is sent to the premium exchange management machine 32 (S503). The terminal controller 10 checks the inputted store number, member number, secret number, etc., and sends the corresponding account password, the number of pachinko balls and the number of medals stored in this account to the card reader 31, respectively. Then, the internal storage unit is set to the recording prohibition state. Further, the premium exchange management device 32 sends a signal indicating that a signal from the card reader 31 has been input to the card reader 31.

When the card reader 31 receives the information (S504), it sends the information of the number of pachinko balls and medals stored in the account to the prize exchange manager 32 (S505), and waits for input of a personal identification number. Enter (S50
6). At this time, the card reader 31 displays on the display screen, for example, "Please input your password in the case of withdrawal."
Is displayed to prompt the player to enter a personal identification number.
When the player enters a password using the numeric keypad (not shown) of the card reader 31, the card reader 31 enters the password entered with the numeric keypad into the terminal controller 1.
The password is compared with the password input from 0 (S507). If the passwords do not match, a message indicating that the password is incorrect is displayed and an abnormal stop is performed (S508). At this time, the player may be prompted to re-enter the personal identification number, and an abnormal stop may be performed when the personal identification numbers do not match a plurality of times in succession.

On the other hand, when both passwords match,
The card reader 31 sends a signal indicating that the password is correct to the prize exchange management machine 32 (S509), and displays the number of pachinko balls and medals stored in the account on the display screen (S510).

Upon receiving the above signal, the prize exchange manager 32 enters a state of waiting for input of a withdrawal key (not shown) provided in the prize exchange manager 32 (S511). Then, when the pachinko clerk presses the withdrawal key (in this embodiment,
The prize exchange management machine 32 is operated by a clerk), and then the prize exchange management machine 32 enters a state of waiting for an instruction whether to exchange pachinko balls for prizes or medals for prizes (S512). At this time, the premium exchange management machine 32 prompts this instruction on the display screen.

When the pachinko clerk selects a pachinko ball,
Next, the premium exchange management device 32 displays the number of pachinko balls stored in the account on the display screen (S513). And
It enters a state of waiting for input of the number of pachinko balls recorded on the receipt or depression of a premium key (not shown) (S51).
4,515). The number of pachinko balls recorded on the receipt is input by the scanner 33 (see FIG. 1) or by manual input using a numeric keypad. When this input is made, the prize exchange management machine 33 updates the input number of pachinko balls at any time,
It is displayed on the display screen (S516).

Thereafter, when the prize key is pressed, the prize exchange management machine 32 executes a process for prize exchange (S51).
7). At this time, when the pachinko clerk inputs the contents of the prize exchange, the display screen displays the remaining number of pachinko balls.
When the player desires a special prize, the special prize key is pressed and input. The prize can be specified any number of times as long as the number of remaining balls is available. However, if there is a remaining pachinko ball after the prize exchange, it is possible to deposit the remaining pachinko balls in the player's account.

When the pachinko clerk presses the end key, the prize exchange input content is determined, and a prize exchange process is performed. If the player desires a special prize, the prize exchange management machine 32
Makes the premium automatic payment machine 35 pay out special premiums.
When the prize exchange management machine 32 is not connected, the special prize is handed directly to the player by the capacity. Thereby, the premium exchange management machine 32 determines that the premium exchange has been completed (S518). And the end notice, member number,
After the information such as the number of pachinko balls to be left in the account after the prize exchange is sent to the card reader 31 (S519), the process returns to the standby state.

The card reader 31 checks the consistency of the input information (S520). If there is a match, the member number, the number of pachinko balls in the account after the exchange of prizes, and a command to execute account rewriting are sent to the terminal controller 10 (S521). As a result, the terminal controller 10 releases the recording prohibition state and rewrites the number of pachinko balls of the account to a new value.
Then, the card reader 31 displays the number of pachinko balls of the account after rewriting on the display screen for a certain period of time (S52).
2) The member card is ejected (S523), and the process returns to the initial state (S501).

Although the case where the pachinko balls stored in the account and the receipt are used to receive a prize exchange has been described as an example, the same operation is performed when the medal stored in the account is used. It is also possible to use only pachinko balls or medals stored in the account, or to use only receipts.

Further, after inputting the number of pachinko balls or medals recorded on the receipt, a member card handling process (S501 to S509) may be performed.

In addition, after performing a prize exchange using a receipt, another prize can be exchanged by adding another receipt, or after the prize exchange, a prize exchange can be performed by inserting a membership card. It is possible.

Next, a description will be given of a method of setting a time in the ball storage management apparatus of this embodiment.

In the ball storage management apparatus of this embodiment, a clock is incorporated in each of the workstation 11, the personal computer 12, the card readers 23, 24, 31, the counters 25 and 26, and the premium exchange management apparatus 32. These internal clocks are backed up by a battery so that turning off the power will not disrupt the time.

First, the main menu is displayed on the display device of the personal computer 12, and the system management menu is selected. FIG. 7 shows an example of the main menu screen display.

Subsequently, the date / time setting screen is opened from the system management menu, and the date and time are set. FIG. 8 shows a display example of the date / time setting screen. First, the date and time of the internal clock of the workstation 11 and the personal computer 12 are input using the keyboard of the personal computer 12. Then, when the operator (pachinko clerk) presses a predetermined key (for example, F1 key),
The date and time of the workstation 11 and the personal computer 12 are set, and the set date and time are transmitted to the card readers 23, 24, and 3 by communication.
1, sent to the internal clocks of the counters 25 and 26 and the premium exchange management device 32, and the internal clocks of these units are also set.

The time of the workstation 11 is downloaded not only when the pachinko clerk operates the personal computer 12 to set the date and time, but also when the system power is turned on at the start of business. , Other parts 12, 23, 24, 31, 25, 2
The set times of the internal clocks 6 and 32 are reset.

Next, a user parameter setting screen is selected from the system management menu. This user parameter setting screen consists of two types of screens. FIG. 9 shows a display example of the first screen, and FIG. 10 shows a display example of the second screen.

On the second screen, first, a ball return impossible start time is set in [I]. Thus, at a time later than the ball return impossible start time, the prize balls are counted by the counter 2.
It becomes impossible to return to the player the fraction obtained when counting at 5, 26 and depositing it in the account or exchanging for prizes.

Next, in [J], it is set whether or not to set a receipt issuance / ball storage impossible time. Decide and enter.
Here, if "No" is selected, the subsequent [K]
And [L] need not be set. On the other hand, "do"
When is selected, [K] sets the receipt issuance / ball storage impossible start time, and further sets [L] the receipt issuance / ball storage impossible end time.

Note that these set values are stored in the personal computer 12 and the workstation 11 and sent to the card readers 23, 24, 31 and the counters 25, 26. Also, these settings
Like the date and time described above, when the system power is turned on at the start of business, it is sent from the workstation 11 to the other units 12, 23, 24, 31, 25, 26, and 32,
It is reset.

As described above, by setting the receipt issuance / ball storage impossible time,
Players will not be able to deposit prize balls into their accounts.

Therefore, the pachinko clerk plays the pachinko ball or the medal on the counter so as not to be noticed outside business hours, and deposits the pachinko ball in the account of the player using the membership card of the conspiring player. It is not possible to perform fraud such as increasing the number (or the number of medals).

When the receipt issuance / ball storage impossible time is set as described above, the barcode is not printed when the receipt is issued. FIG. 11A shows an example of a receipt on which a barcode is printed, and FIG. 11B shows an example of a receipt on which no barcode is printed.
In this manner, the date and time of printing are recorded on the receipt, regardless of whether or not the receipt issuance / storage is not possible. Therefore, by checking the date and time, it is possible to determine whether there is a possibility that the receipt is issued improperly. For example, if the receipt is issued very late after the pachinko parlor closes, it can be said that there is a high possibility that the fraud has occurred. But,
If the pachinko clerk is busy with this receipt during a busy time, the pachinko clerk may fail to check the date and time,
It is conceivable that the injustice is overlooked. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the bar code is not printed on the receipt issued during the receipt issuance / ball storage period, and the pachinko clerk must manually input the premium exchange management device 32. This can alert the pachinko clerk, and there is no risk of overlooking fraud.

However, the counters 25 and 26 input the occupation signals (see S402 in FIG. 4) from the card readers 23 and 24 even when the time of the built-in clock belongs to the receipt issue / non-storage period. When this is done (that is, when the internal clocks of the card readers 23 and 24 do not belong to the receipt issuance / ball storage impossible time), the prize balls are counted. Therefore, even when the set times of the internal clocks of the counters 24 and 25 do not match the set times of the internal clocks of the card readers 23 and 24, the counting of the pachinko balls or medals is performed. Card reader 23, 2
There is no possibility that the inconvenience that the account 4 does not rewrite the account will occur.

Similarly, the prize exchange management device 32 is also configured to exchange prizes and deposit the prize when the card reader 31 is performing a predetermined operation (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Therefore, there is no risk of inconvenience such as not being able to store the prize balls remaining as a fraction after the exchange of prizes in the account. In the present embodiment, the receipt using ordinary recording paper has been described as an example. Instead of such a receipt, for example, a rewritable card may be used. In this case, even if the counting is performed a plurality of times by the counters 25 and 26, the recorded content of the card may be rewritten each time, so that there is an advantage that the player does not need to carry a plurality of receipts. .

[0083]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an illegal operation of a pachinko parlor's player account and to prevent trouble due to an error in a set time. An apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram schematically showing the entirety of a ball storage management device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a procedure for performing pachinko using a ball management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the pachinko ball withdrawing machine provided in the island end shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a card reader and a pachinko ball counter provided in the island end shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a premium exchange management machine and a card reader provided in the counter section shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of a premium exchange management machine and a card reader provided in the counter unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a screen display of a main menu of a personal computer provided in the terminal controller shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a date / time setting screen of the personal computer.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a user parameter setting screen of the personal computer.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a user parameter setting screen of the personal computer.

FIG. 11A is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a receipt on which a barcode is printed, and FIG. 11B is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a receipt on which a barcode is not printed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Terminal controller 11 Workstation 12 Personal computer 13 Printer 20 Island end 21 Pachinko ball withdrawal machine 22 Medal withdrawal machine 23,24 Card reader 25 Pachinko ball counter 26 Medal counter 30 Counter unit 31 Card reader 32 Scanner 33 Premium exchange management Machine 34 printer 35 automatic prize dispensing machine

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A63F 7/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A storage means for managing the number of prize balls stored in each player's account, a card reader for reading information by taking in a member card issued for each account, And a prize ball counter which sends a count result to the storage means. The card reader and the prize ball counter are awarded balls counted by the prize ball counter. The deposit process for depositing the class into the account corresponding to the information read from the member card is performed only in a preset time zone, and the time of the clock built in the card reader belongs to the time zone in which the deposit process should be performed The deposit management device performs the deposit process when the time of a clock built in the prize ball counter does not belong to the time zone in which the deposit process is to be performed. 2. A storage means for managing the number of prize balls stored in each player's account, a card reader for reading information by taking in a membership card issued for each account, Prize sphere counting means for performing counting and recording and outputting the counting result on recording paper, and manually or optically inputting the counting result recorded on the recording paper output by the prize ball counting means. And an input means for sending to the storage means, wherein the prize ball counting means enables the optical reading of a record of the counting result in a preset time zone. In such a way as to allow only manual input in other time zones.