JP6118495B2 - Game equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gaming apparatus that is provided corresponding to a gaming machine that pays out medals according to a result of a predetermined game and that can count medals inserted from a predetermined slot.

  As a game device of this type, for example, on the condition that a bill is inserted or a card is inserted, a predetermined number of medals are paid out according to the operation content, and a medal inserted from a medal slot is inserted. There has been a medal lending machine (for example, Patent Document 1) that counts medals in the medal storage tank when a medal is detected by a sensor of a medal storage tank that stores the medal or when a predetermined operation is detected.

JP 2010-252946 A

However, since the medals have a flat plate shape unlike a spherical shape such as a pachinko ball, the medals do not always flow down to a position where the medals stored in the medal storage tank can be counted by their own weight. For this reason, in the medal lending machine as described above, medals that have not been counted may be generated, for example, by not being counted without flowing down to a position where the medal storage tank can count. In this case, if the player leaves the seat, the player may suffer a disadvantage.

The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of inconvenience that a player suffers a disadvantage due to being not counted. That is.

(1) It is provided corresponding to a gaming machine (slot machine 1) that pays out medals according to a result of a predetermined game, and medals inserted from a predetermined slot (medal receiving port 54) can be counted. Game device (medal lending machine 50),
A storage unit (storage tray 55a) for storing medals input from the input port;
Taking-in means (counter hopper motor 58) for taking in the stored medal from the storage unit;
Operation means for accepting the operation (the touch panel of the display 70, the counting button 85, etc.);
The medal is taken into the take-in means until a predetermined end condition is satisfied after the predetermined operation is accepted by the operation means (from YES is determined in S301 in FIG. 7 until YES is determined in S313). Taking-in counting control means (S305 in FIG. 7) for taking-in counting control for counting the number of medals to be taken in,
Stored medal detection means (in-storage sensor 84) for detecting medals stored in the storage unit;
Notification means (S208, S209 in FIG. 6) for performing predetermined notification (such as count promotion notification) on the condition that a medal is detected by the stored medal detection means;
A recording medium receiving means capable of receiving the recording medium;
Specification processing means for executing processing for enabling identification of the number of medals counted by the take-in counting control means from the recording medium received by the recording medium receiving means;
An acceptance cancellation processing means for executing an acceptance cancellation process for canceling the acceptance by the recording medium acceptance means when a specific operation is accepted,
The accepting releasing processing means, said capturing means is in a state that does not incorporate a medal, the when the medal by medal detecting means is detected, said even specific operation is accepted accepted release processing not the execution.
(2) The gaming device of (1) further includes sound output means capable of outputting sound.
(3) The gaming device of (1) or (2) further includes imaging means capable of imaging the player.

According to this structure, you notice that by a predetermined notification is performed, because the medal accumulating part is Ru can be informed that it is stored, medals that have not been counted has occurred Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience that the player leaves the seat as it is and suffers a disadvantage to the player.

  The medals taken in by the take-in means are only required to be discharged out of the storage unit, and even if they are stored in the gaming device, they are discharged out of the gaming device. It may be.

  The taken-in medal detecting means may detect a medal that is surely taken in by the taking-in means, or may detect a medal actually taken in by the taking-in means. Good.

  Further, the stored medal detection means may detect the presence or absence of a medal stored in the storage unit as long as it detects the medal stored in the storage unit. The presence or absence of a medal at the position may be detected.

( 4 ) In the gaming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3) , the notification unit continues the notification from the start of the notification until no medal is detected by at least the stored medal detection unit. (S318, S321, S322 in FIG. 7).

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to make the player easily notice that predetermined notification is being performed, and it is possible to more reliably suppress forgetting to count.

( 5 ) In the gaming device of any one of (1) to (4), value medium receiving means (banknote identification machine 60, card R /) capable of receiving a player-owned value medium (banknote, IC card, etc.) W61)
Value medium processing related to the value medium (processing for fetching banknotes, processing according to operation (insert amount, number of medals, And a value medium processing executing means (such as S111 in FIG. 5) for executing the
The notification means starts the notification when a medal is detected by the stored medal detection means and the predetermined trigger is established (YES in S103 of FIG. 5) (S104 of FIG. 5, FIG. 5). 6 S209).

  According to such a configuration, since the notification is started when a predetermined opportunity for executing the value medium processing is established and it is highly likely that the player is paying attention to the gaming device, the player is started. Can make it easier to notice.

  The value medium process is a process related to the value medium, such as a process for taking in or discharging the value medium itself or a process for updating (subtracting, adding, etc.) the value specified from the value medium. Any processing may be used.

( 6 ) In the gaming apparatus of ( 5 ), the value medium processing execution means is provided on the condition that the predetermined opportunity is established by accepting a discharge operation for discharging the value medium by the operation means. Including a value medium discharge process execution means (process for returning banknotes and IC cards) for executing a value medium discharge process for discharging the value medium,
When the medal is detected by the stored medal detection means, the value medium discharge process execution means regulates the execution of the value medium discharge process even when the discharge operation is accepted by the operation means ( S210 in FIG. 6).

  According to such a configuration, even if the discharging operation is accepted, the value medium is not discharged, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the player from leaving without noticing that there are medals forgetting to count.

( 7 ) In any one of the gaming devices of (1) to ( 6 ), an absence determination unit (based on a signal from the absence sensor 83) that determines that the player has left the seat when a predetermined condition is satisfied. And a process for determining whether or not the player has changed from the seated state to the seated state (see modification example (4)),
The notification means starts the notification when a medal is detected by the stored medal detection means and when it is determined by the absence determination means that the player has left the seat (S103 in FIG. 5). YES and NO in S204 of FIG. 6).

  According to such a configuration, since it is possible to notify the player who has left the seat, it is not possible to notice that there are medals that have been forgotten to be counted, and there is a disadvantage that causes the player to be disadvantaged. Can be deterred.

( 8 ) In the gaming device according to any one of (1) to ( 7 ), information that is output from the gaming machine and that is output on condition that a medal is inserted into the gaming machine Information receiving means (S111 in FIG. 5) for receiving information (insertion information) and payout medal information (payout information) output on condition that a medal has been paid out from the gaming machine;
A payout means (supply hopper motor 57) for paying out medals from the gaming device;
A payout counting means (a process of counting the number of supplied medals based on a signal from the supply sensor 64) for counting payout medals paid out by the payout means;
The number of payout medals counted by the payout counting means (the number of supply) and the number of payout medals paid out from the gaming machine specified from the payout medal information received by the information receiving means (the number of payouts) When the intake counting control medals number counted by means (the number of acquisition), the information receiving unit game machine side feed amount medal inserted into the gaming machine to be identified from the inserted medal information received Based on (the number of throws), the medal number calculating means (S401 in FIG. 8) for calculating the number of medals owned by the player (the number of medals held),
Abnormality for notifying that there is an abnormality on the condition that a medal is detected by the stored medal detection means and that the number of medals owned by the player calculated by the possession medal number calculation means is not more than a predetermined number Notifying means (S201 to S203 in FIG. 6, S402 to S404 in FIG. 8).

  According to such a configuration, fraud such as playing a game using medals brought in from outside the game hall or medals crossed by other players who play games on other gaming machines can be suppressed. The security of the venue can be improved.

( 9 ) In the gaming device according to any one of (1) to ( 8 ), the number of medals counted by the take-in counting control means in a non-detected state where no medal is detected by the stored medal detection means. Is provided with abnormality notifying means (S308 to 312 in FIG. 7) for notifying that there is an abnormality on the condition that a predetermined number or more has been counted.

  According to such a configuration, an abnormality of the stored medal detection means can be notified, so that the maintainability of the gaming apparatus can be improved.

1 is an overall front view of a slot machine that is an example of a gaming machine and a medal lending machine that is an example of a gaming apparatus that is used in parallel with the slot machine. FIG. It is sectional drawing which looked at the internal structure of the medal lending machine from the right side. It is sectional drawing which looked at the internal structure of the medal rental machine from the upper surface. It is a block diagram which shows the relationship between a control board and various electrical components. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which the microcomputer for control performs. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the process at the time of a detection which the microcomputer for control performs. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the count control process which the microcomputer for control performs. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the difference number calculation process which the microcomputer for control performs. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the display state of a display.

  Hereinafter, an example of a form for carrying out the present invention is explained in detail based on a drawing. FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a slot machine 1 which is an example of a gaming machine installed in a game arcade and a medal lending machine 50 which is an example of a gaming device used in parallel with the slot machine 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the internal configuration of the medal lending machine 50 as viewed from the right side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the internal configuration of the medal lending machine 50 as viewed from above.

  First, the configuration of the medal lending machine 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The medal lending machine 50 includes first to fourth front frames 50a to 50d forming a front surface, and a main body 50e provided with various devices.

  Of the first to fourth front frames 50a to 50d, the third front frame 50c will be described first. The third front frame 50c is provided with a bill insertion slot 60a for inserting a bill as a value medium and an IC card insertion port 61a for inserting an IC card as a value medium.

  A bill discriminator 60 that accepts a bill inserted from the bill insertion slot 60a and discriminates the authenticity and bill type of the inserted bill is provided inside the main body 50e with respect to the bill insertion slot 60a. On the condition that the banknote discriminator 60 has determined that it is a true banknote, medals for the number of sheets (for example, 50 sheets) corresponding to a predetermined amount (for example, 1000 yen) within the range of the amount specified from the banknotes. Outputs a signal to enable lending. That is, the bill validator 60 performs a game enabling control for enabling a game by lending out medals within a range of the amount specified from the accepted bill. The banknote discriminator 60 includes a banknote storage box that stores a plurality of received banknotes.

  The IC card includes a visitor card and a membership card. The visitor card is also called an ordinary card, and is an IC card having a prepaid function issued to an ordinary player who has not registered as a member. The member card is an IC card issued to a member player who has registered as a member in the game hall.

  A card reader / writer (hereinafter referred to as a card R / W) 61 for receiving an IC card inserted from the IC card insertion slot 61a is provided inside the main body 50e with respect to the IC card insertion slot 61a. The card R / W 61 reads and writes the recorded information of the received IC card, and the game value (for example, the card balance, the number of medals, or the stored value) owned by the player specified from the information stored in the IC card. A signal for enabling renting or paying out medals within the range of the number of medals) is output. In other words, the card R / W 61 can lend and pay out medals within the range of the game value owned by the player specified from the received IC card, and can play games by lending and paying out medals according to operations. The game enabling control is performed. In the following, “lending” and “dispensing” are collectively referred to as “supply”.

  The lower end of the third front frame 50c is pivotally supported, and a predetermined key is inserted into the key hole 52 of the locking device provided on the back surface of the third front frame 50c and rotated in the clockwise direction. By performing a dynamic operation, the locking is released and the third front frame 50c can be opened. The game hall clerk opens the third front frame 50c, collects the banknotes inserted from the banknote insertion slot 60a, and performs various maintenance.

  A state indicator lamp 71 is provided on the first front frame 50a. The status indicator lamp 71 can be lit in a plurality of colors, and the status relating to the medal lending machine 50 is notified by the lighting color and lighting pattern. For example, it lights in blue during normal operation, and lights in red when an error occurs. Further, it is lit in green during bill insertion, and is blinked in green in the first mode (for example, a long interval) during medal lending or payout (medal supply). Further, it is lit in yellow while the visitor card is inserted, and blinks in yellow in the first mode (for example, with a long interval) while the medal is supplied. Further, it is lit in purple while the membership card is inserted, and is flashed in purple in the first mode (for example, with a long interval) while the medal is supplied. In addition, when the counting described later is performed, it is blinked in the second mode (for example, the interval is short) by the lighting color that has been lit.

  Further, the lower end of the first front frame 50a is pivotally supported, and a predetermined key is inserted into the key hole 51 of the locking device provided on the back surface of the first front frame 50a, and rotated in the clockwise direction. The first front frame 50a can be opened by unlocking the lock by moving. The game hall clerk opens the first front frame 50a and replenishes medals used for supplying medals.

  The second front frame 50b is provided with a display 70, a guide nozzle 90, and a speaker 72 from above. The second front frame 50 b is formed with a hole for reporting sound corresponding to the speaker 72.

  The display device 70 can display various information and operation buttons, and the surface is configured by a transparent touch panel. Various operations can be performed by touching various display items displayed on the display unit of the display device 70 with a finger. It is configured to allow input.

  The various information includes the remaining amount of the inserted bill, the number of medals specified from the IC card, the number of stored medals, error information for notifying an error, and the like. The operation buttons include a lending button, a medal payout button, a stored medal payout button, a counting button, a stored medal button, and a return button.

  The lending button is a button for lending a predetermined number (50) of medals within the range of the amount of the inserted bill.

  The medal payout button is a button for paying out medals within the range of the number of medals when the medal is recorded on the inserted IC card. For example, medals are paid out within the range of the number of medals while the medal payout button is pressed. It should be noted that when the medal payout button is operated, the screen switches to a screen for inputting the number of medals to be paid out within the range of the number of medals, and medals may be paid out for the inputted number.

  The medal payout button is associated with identification information of the inserted IC card, and when a medal is recorded in the hole management computer 100, the medal is paid out within the range of the number of medal saved. It is a button for. For example, while the stored medal payout button is being pressed, medals are paid out within the range of the number of stored medals. It should be noted that when the stored medal payout button is operated, the screen is switched to a screen for inputting the number of medals to be paid out within the range of the number of stored medals, and medals for the inputted number may be paid out. When a medal is recorded on the inserted IC card, even if the stored medal payout button is operated, the medal is withdrawn with priority over the accumulated medal.

  Here, the hall management computer 100 is connected to a gaming machine such as a slot machine 1 installed in a game arcade and a gaming device such as a medal lending machine 50 provided corresponding to the gaming machine. A computer that performs various tabulations based on information from gaming machines and gaming devices and manages information for each member such as the number of medals. The medal lending machine 50 specifies the game information of the slot machine 1 corresponding to the medal lending machine 50 by two-way communication with the hall management computer 100, and outputs information for specifying the number of medals, etc. To do.

  The counting button is a button for causing the medal lending machine 50 described later to count medals. By counting, the player's hand-held medal is converted into a medal.

  The medal saving button is a button for depositing medals in the game hall within the range of the number of medals recorded on the inserted IC card. When the stored medal button is operated, the medal recorded on the inserted IC card is withdrawn, while the stored medal recorded on the hole management computer 100 or the like in association with the identification information of the IC card. Is added to For example, while the stored medal button is pressed, a process for converting a medal into a stored medal is performed within the range of the medal number. When the saving medal button is operated, the screen switches to a screen for inputting the number of medals to be converted into saving medals within the range of the number of medals, so that the number of medals that have been input are converted into saving medals. May be.

  The return button is a button for discharging the remaining amount of the inserted bill and the IC card. In addition, about the balance of a banknote, you may make it discharge | emit the banknote for the remainder, and it writes in the card | curd (member card, visitor card) stocked directly, and discharges it. You may do it.

  Here, the held medals and the stored medals will be described in comparison with each other. First, “held medal” refers to the number of hand-held medals owned by the player as a result of the player playing the game with the gaming machine and recorded on the card, which is still deposited in the game hall. Say no medals. Further, the “stored medal” is a medal deposited in a game hall, and generally refers to a medal managed by a management computer installed in the game hall. In general, a medal acquired by the player on the day at the game hall is referred to as “held medal”, and a medal acquired by the player before the previous day and deposited in the game hall is referred to as “stored medal”. In addition, you may manage a medal with the management apparatus for medal management set to the game hall. In short, the difference between “save medal” and “held medal” is a medal that has been deposited at the amusement hall by performing a saving medal operation to deposit at the amusement hall, or has not yet been deposited at the amusement park The point is whether it is a medal for the stage.

  In this embodiment, the stored medal data is not recorded directly on the membership card, but is stored in association with the membership card number that is the identification number in the hall server installed in the game hall such as the hall management computer 100 and the like. Based on this, the corresponding stored medals can be searched. On the other hand, medals are recorded directly on the card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and both may be stored in the hall server in association with the card number. Even in the case of a visitor card, the medal is recorded directly on the visitor card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the possessed medals may be stored in the hall server in association with the card number.

  The guide nozzle 90 has a displacement portion and an angle change portion, and adjusts the displacement portion and the angle change portion according to the model of the adjacent slot machine so that the tip is opposed to the medal slot 34 of the slot machine 1. It is comprised so that it can hold | maintain. Thereby, at the time of medal supply, a medal can be guided and inserted to the medal insertion slot 34 of the slot machine 1. When a bill or IC card is accepted and medals can be supplied, or when there are medals that can supply medals, any of the lending button, the medal payout button, or the stored medal payout button is operated The medal is supplied to the guide nozzle 90 and is inserted into the medal slot 34 of the slot machine 1. The medal discharged from the guide nozzle 90 is detected by the nozzle sensor 68 and is inserted into the medal slot 34 of the slot machine 1. The medal lending machine 50 is not limited to the one provided with the guide nozzle 90, and may be any one provided with a payout means for paying out medals according to the supply of medals.

  The speaker 72 notifies various information by sound effects and voice. The various types of information include when an error occurs or forgetting to count. A predetermined sound effect or sound is emitted from the speaker 72 according to the type of information.

  The fourth front frame 50d is provided with a seat separation sensor 83, a counting button 85, and an insertion tray 55 for forming a medal receiving port 54 for receiving a medal into the main body 50e.

  The away sensor 83 is an infrared sensor. On the front surface of the slot machine 1 corresponding to the medal lending machine 50, a seat is provided for a player to take a seat when playing a game in the slot machine 1. The away sensor 83 detects a temperature distribution in a predetermined range located above the seat. That is, the infrared sensor detects whether or not a person is present in a predetermined range located in the seat information.

  The control microcomputer 3 to be described later specifies that the player has changed from the seated state to the seated state based on the detection signal received from the seating sensor 83. In the present embodiment, an example in which an infrared sensor is employed will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as it is possible to specify that a player has changed from a seated state to a seated state. For example, by adopting a camera, the control microcomputer 3 analyzes an image acquired by the camera so that the player changes from a seated state to a seated state. Also good.

  The counting button 85 is a button for performing counting described later. The function when operated is the same as when the counting button displayed on the display unit 70 is pressed, but the counting button 85 is configured by a physical detection switch on the display unit 70. Different from the displayed virtual counting button. The counting button 85 is provided on the fourth front frame 50d, which is the same as the loading tray 55, and is provided immediately above the loading tray 55. Therefore, the counting operation is performed after inserting medals into the loading tray 55. Forgetting that can be reduced as much as possible.

  The input tray 55 forms a medal receiving port 54, and a medal (medal paid out from the medal lending machine 50 or the slot machine 1) owned by the player through the medal receiving port 54 is used as a medal lending machine. 50 is configured so that it can be put into the interior.

  The upper end of the input tray 55 is pivotally supported so that the input tray 55 can be opened by pulling the lower end to the near side. The game hall clerk opens the input tray 55 and performs various maintenance and the like. An opening detection sensor 63 for detecting a state in which the input tray 55 is opened is provided inside the main body 50e with respect to the input tray 55.

  Next, the structure inside the main body 50e of the medal lending machine 50 will be described. In the main body 50e of the medal lending machine 50, the storage tray 55a and the counted medal are discharged to the outside of the medal lending machine 50 in addition to the display unit 70, the bill validator 60, and the card R / W 61 described above. A control board box containing a discharge member 94, a supply medal storage tank 57a for storing medals used for medal supply, and a control board 2 (see FIG. 4) for controlling various devices based on operation signals from various buttons. 73 is provided.

  The supply medal storage tank 57a is provided above the guide nozzle 90, and is discharged from the supply hopper motor 57 for rotating the rotating member to pay out the stored medals one by one from the discharge port 57b and the discharge port 57b. And a supply sensor 64 for detecting medals. In this way, the supply hopper motor 57 rotates and rotates the rotating member, whereby the medals stored in the supply medal storage tank 57a are supplied to the guide nozzle 90 one by one.

  The game hall clerk can replenish medals in the supply medal storage tank 57a in which a large amount of medals used for medal supply are stored by opening the first front frame 50a. The medal supply to the supply medal storage tank 57a may be performed by an automatic medal supply device (not shown) installed on each island of the game arcade.

  The storage tray 55a is inclined downward toward the back of the medal lending machine 50, can store a predetermined amount of medals, and can be counted by the counting hopper motor 58 by the own weight of the medals received from the medal receiving port 54. It is formed to flow down to a predetermined position. In addition, an in-storage sensor 84 that detects medals flowing down by the storage tray 55a is provided at the lowermost end of the storage tray 55a. The lowermost end of the storage tray 55a is a boundary with a device for counting medals, which will be described later. Since the medal is caught or the inclination angle is different at the boundary, the medal is compared with other places. It can be said that it is difficult to flow down. In this embodiment, the in-storage sensor 84 is provided at a position where a medal can be detected at a place where it is difficult for the medal to flow down as compared with other places.

  The in-storage sensor 84 is configured by an optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not medals remain at a predetermined position of the storage tray 55a based on the detection result of the in-storage sensor 84. The in-storage sensor 84 is not limited to the one configured with the optical sensor, and may be configured with a proximity sensor or a continuity sensor as long as the stored medal can be detected.

  The apparatus for counting medals rotates a rotating member to take in medals stored on the storage tray 55a one by one and discharge them from the storage tray 55a to the discharge member 94 side. And a counting sensor 65 for detecting medals discharged to the discharge member 94 side. The medals discharged by the discharge member 94 are collected by a medal collection device installed on each island of the game hall.

  FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the counting hopper motor 58 as seen from above. Referring to FIG. 3A, an in-storage sensor 84 is provided at the boundary between the storage tray 55a and the counting hopper motor 58. For this reason, the presence or absence of medals can be detected by the in-storage sensor 84 at the lowermost end of the inclination by the storage tray 55a. The medals flowing down the storage tray 55a are taken in one by one by rotating the rotating member by the counting hopper motor 58 and sent out to the side opposite to the storage tray 55a side. The sent medals are detected by the counting sensor 65 and discharged to the outside of the medal lending machine 50 by the discharge member 94.

  FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the supply hopper motor 57 as seen from above. Referring to FIG. 3B, the rotating member is driven to rotate by supply hopper motor 57, so that medals stored in supply medal storage tank 57a are paid out one by one. The paid-out medals are supplied to the guide nozzle 90 via the supply member 79 and discharged from the tip of the guide nozzle 90.

  The control board box 73 accommodates a control board 2 that performs medal supply control and counting control, which will be described later. Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the relationship between the control board 2 and the various electric components connected to the control board 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the control board 2 and various electrical components.

  A control microcomputer 3 for controlling the medal lending machine 50 according to a program is mounted on the control board 2. The control microcomputer 3 includes a CPU 4 for controlling various electrical components connected in accordance with a program, a RAM 5 as a storage means used as a work memory, a ROM 6 for storing a medal supply control program, and various electrical components and signals. Includes an I / O port unit 7 for transmitting and receiving. Data stored in the RAM 5 is backed up by a backup power source (not shown). For this reason, the control microcomputer 3 can resume the control based on the data stored before the occurrence of the power failure when the power failure is recovered.

  The control microcomputer 3 is connected to a bill validator 60, a card R / W 61, a display 70, and a hall management computer 100 so that bidirectional communication is possible. The control microcomputer 3 stores the specified amount of money to be inserted, the number of medals, and the number of stored medals in the RAM 5 based on the signal from the bill validator 60, the card R / W 61 or the signal from the hall management computer 100. At the same time, a process for outputting the specified input amount, the number of medals, the number of stored medals, and a signal for displaying the corresponding operation button to the display unit 70 is displayed. Further, the control microcomputer 3 performs a corresponding process based on an operation signal from the touch panel of the display 70.

  In addition, a status indicator lamp 71 and a speaker 72 are connected to the control microcomputer 3. The control microcomputer 3 performs processing for controlling the status indicator lamp 71 and the speaker 72 in accordance with the status of the medal lending machine 50.

  In addition, a signal from the away sensor 83 is input to the control microcomputer 3. Based on a signal from the away sensor 83, the control microcomputer 3 performs a process for determining whether or not the player has changed from the seated state to the seated state.

  The control microcomputer 3 is connected to a counting button 85 and a reset button 86. The control microcomputer 3 performs processing corresponding to the operation. The reset button 86 is an operating means for canceling an error state to be described later, and is provided at a position where the game shop clerk in the main body 50e can operate.

  In addition, signals from the storage sensor 84, the supply sensor 64, the counting sensor 65, the open detection sensor 63, and the nozzle sensor 68 are input to the control microcomputer 3. The control microcomputer 3 determines whether or not medals remain at a predetermined position of the storage tray 55a based on the signal from the storage sensor 84. Further, the control microcomputer 3 specifies that a medal is supplied from the supply medal storage tank 57a based on the signal from the supply sensor 64, and the medal on the storage tray 55a is determined based on the signal from the counting sensor 65. It is determined that it has been taken in and discharged, it is determined that the input tray 55 is open based on the signal from the opening detection sensor 63, and the medal of the slot machine 1 is determined from the guide nozzle 90 based on the signal from the nozzle sensor 68. It is specified that the medal has been discharged to the insertion slot 34.

  The control microcomputer 3 controls the driving of the supply hopper motor 57 and the counting hopper motor 58.

  Next, the configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The slot machine 1 includes a housing 2a having an open front surface and a front door 2b pivotally supported on a side end of the housing 2a, and a locking device provided on the back surface of the front door 2b. By rotating a predetermined key inserted into the key hole 3a in the clockwise direction, the lock is released and the front door 2b can be opened.

  An upper decorative frame 4 is provided at the upper front part of the front door 2b, a game effect lamp part 41 and a liquid crystal display part 15 are provided at the upper part, and a game panel 6 and a credit display part 31 are provided at the lower part. Is provided. The lower part of the upper decorative frame 4 is formed so as to protrude forward from the game panel 6, and a medal insertion slot 34 and various operation buttons 36a, 36b, 37 through which a medal as a game medium can be inserted. , 40L, 40C, 40R, a start lever 38, and the like.

  A lower decorative frame 7 is provided below the upper decorative frame 4, and a title panel on which the model name of the slot machine 1 is drawn is provided in this frame. Further, below the lower decorative frame 7, a medal payout hole 9 through which a medal as an example of a game medium is paid out is provided, and a medal tray 11 having an ashtray 10 provided at an end thereof is provided. The medal tray 11 is formed to have a capacity enough to store about 1000 medals at maximum.

  On the upper left and right sides of the upper decorative frame 4, there are provided sound emitting units 12a and 12b that emit sound output from a high-frequency speaker provided inside, respectively, and from these sound emitting units 12a and 12b, Sound effects such as voice and melody for enhancing the production effect are emitted.

  The gaming panel 6 is provided with a see-through window 14 through which the reels 51L, 51C, 51R provided in the housing 2a of the slot machine 1 can be seen through, and a credit display unit 31 positioned below the see-through window 14. ing.

  The credit display unit 31 displays credits. The credit is the number of medals stored in the storage unit (not shown) in the slot machine 1 as the valuable value owned by the player, and the occurrence of a prize accompanying the insertion of medals into the medal slot and the payout of medals. The number of bets is updated by setting the number of bets or the medals are discharged to the outside based on the settlement operation. In this slot machine 1, the maximum value that can be stored as credits is set to 50 medals at the maximum. When a credit addition / renewal request exceeding the upper limit is generated, medals exceeding the upper limit are paid out from the medal payout hole 9. Furthermore, the credit display unit 31 also functions as an error indicator that displays various abnormalities that have occurred in the slot machine 1, in particular, abnormalities that have occurred due to the payout of medals.

  A medal slot 34 having a medal slot is formed on the right side of the lower upper surface of the upper decorative frame 4 formed so as to protrude from the game panel 6 to the front side. A single BET button 36a and a MAXBET button 36b are provided.

  The one-BET button 36a is a button to be pressed when betting one credit, and the MAXBET button 36b stores the maximum number of bets allowed in one game (three medals in this embodiment) in the credit. This button is pressed when betting on the game within the range.

  The settlement button 37 is a button that is pressed when the settlement operation of the credit stored in the storage unit is performed, and the credit number displayed on the credit display unit 31 is reduced to 0 in accordance with the pressing operation of the settlement button 37. The medals corresponding to the credits are paid out from the medal payout hole 9 while being subtracted and updated.

  An insertion medal selector (not shown) for guiding medals inserted from the medal insertion port 34 to the hopper tank is fixedly provided at a substantially central portion on the rear surface of the front door 2b. An illegal medal discharge section (not shown) is provided upstream of the inserted medal selector, and an illegal medal having a size or thickness different from that of the appropriate medal is inserted into the upper part of the return medal channel provided below the inserted medal selector. It is discharged to the mouth and returned to the medal tray 11 through the medal payout hole 9.

  A start lever 38 and stop buttons 40L, 40C, and 40R are provided on the front side surface of the lower part of the upper decorative frame 4, respectively.

  The start lever 38 is a lever that is operated when starting the game, and the rotation of each of the reels 51L, 51C, 51R is started by operating the start lever 38 after the setting of the betting amount is completed.

  Each stop button 40L, 40C, 40R is a button operated when stopping the rotation of the reels 51L, 51C, 51R after the game is started.

  A plurality of types of symbols (for example, “Black 7”, “White 7”, “BAR”, “Watermelon”, “Bell”, “Cherry”, “Plum”, etc.) are printed in the approximate center of the housing 2a. A variable display device (not shown) comprising a reel unit having reels 51L, 51C, and 51R (game reels used for executing a game progress) wound with a translucent belt-like reel sheet wound around the outer periphery. ) Is provided. Each of the reels 51L, 51C, 51R is configured to rotate (drive) and stop in the vertical direction independently by a reel motor composed of a stepping motor provided corresponding to each of the reels 51L, 51C, 51R. By rotating 51C and 51R, the various symbols are displayed on the display window 14 while changing continuously.

  Next, an operation for a player to play a game (game) and operating states of various devices accompanying the operation will be described. When starting a game, a bet number of a desired size is set by betting a valuable value of a desired size using medals and credits. The number of bets can be set by inserting medals from the medal insertion slot 34, or by pressing the MAX BET button 36b or the single BET button 36a and using credits. When a player inserts one medal from the medal slot 34 or presses the one BET button 36a, the bet number is set to “1”, and the second medal is inserted from the medal slot 34. When a single BET button 36a is pressed twice, the number of bets is set to “2”, and a third medal is inserted from the medal slot 34, or the single BET button 36a is When the pressing operation is performed three times or the MAXBET button 36b is pressed, the bet number is set to “3”, and a predetermined pay line corresponding to the bet number becomes valid.

  As described above, when the minimum number of bets “1” is set, the operation of the start lever 38 is effectively accepted, that is, the game can be started.

  If the start lever 38 is pressed in a state where the game can be started, the variable display device operates to rotate the reels 51L, 51C, 51R so that a plurality of kinds of symbols continuously change in the see-through window 14. Is displayed. When a predetermined time elapses after the rotation of the reels 51L, 51C, 51R starts, the operation of the stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R becomes effective. If the player presses one of the stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R while the operation valid lamp is lit, the rotation of the corresponding reels 51L, 51C, 51R is stopped, and the corresponding through the perspective window 14 The symbols are displayed on the upper, middle and lower parts of the variable display section.

  When all the reels 51L, 51C, 51R are stopped, if a predetermined symbol combination is displayed on any of the winning lines activated according to the number of bets, ) Occurs, a reel lamp (not shown) corresponding to the winning line is turned on, and an effect such as output of sound effects is executed. Then, a predetermined number of medals corresponding to the winning contents are paid out as credits to the player, and the credit number displayed on the credit display unit 31 is added and updated. When the number of credits reaches the upper limit of 50, the medal payout hopper motor is driven and the medal stored in the medal storage tank is paid out from the medal payout hole 9. Further, even when the settlement operation is performed, the medal payout hopper motor is driven and the medal stored in the medal storage tank is paid out from the medal payout hole 9.

  The player inserts the medal paid out from the medal payout hole 9 into the medal receiving port 54 of the medal lending machine 50, and operates the counting button or counting button 85 displayed on the display unit 70. The inserted medals can be counted and added to the possessed medals.

  A plurality of gaming machines including the slot machine 1 installed in the game hall are each connected to the hall management computer 100. Information corresponding to the progress of the game in each gaming machine is output from each gaming machine to the hall management computer 100.

  The slot machine 1 is paid out by driving inserted medal detection means (medal detection sensor) that detects medals that are inserted from the medal insertion slot 34 and are effectively received, and a medal payout hopper motor. A payout medal detection means (medal detection sensor) for detecting a medal is provided.

  The slot machine 1 outputs insertion information to the hole management computer 100 when a medal is detected by the inserted medal detection means, and when the medal is detected by the payout medal detection means, the payout information is output to the hole management computer. Output to 100.

  The hole management computer 100 calculates and aggregates the subtraction between medals inserted and paid out medals in the slot machine 1 based on the insertion information and the payout information from the slot machine 1 and inputs the input information. Or information corresponding to the payout information is output as gaming machine side information to the medal lending machine 50 corresponding to the slot machine 1.

  Next, the concept of supply control and counting control by the medal lending machine 50 in this embodiment will be described. Supply control is performed when a bill or IC card is inserted, or when a lending operation or a payout operation is accepted in a state where it has already been inserted and no medal is detected by the storage sensor 84. Thus, medals stored in the supply medal storage tank 57a are supplied to the guide nozzle 90.

  On the other hand, even when a banknote or an IC card is inserted, or when a lending operation or a payout operation is accepted in a state where it has already been inserted, counting control is performed when a medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84. Is performed and the medals on the storage tray 55a are counted and then discharged to the outside of the medal lending machine 50.

  In addition, when the counting button or counting button 85 displayed on the display 70 is operated, counting control is performed, and after counting the medals on the storage tray 55a, the medal lending machine 50 is placed outside. Discharged.

  Next, details of control executed by the control microcomputer 3 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control contents executed by the control microcomputer 3.

  First, in S101, initial setting is performed with the start-up of the power supply. Specifically, the connection status and operation status of various electrical components connected to the control microcomputer 3 are checked and the presence or absence of backup data is checked. Execute processing to return to the state. If there is no backup data, settings of various registers in the RAM 5 are executed.

  When the setting process is completed, in S102, a process for determining whether or not the medal lending machine 50 is connected to the hall management computer 100 installed in the game hall is performed. Only when connected to the hall management computer 100, the processing after S103 is executed, and when not connected, the processing after S103 is not executed.

  In S103, it is determined whether a predetermined operation or the like has been detected. Here, “predetermined operation or the like has been detected” includes not only that an operation on the touch panel of the display device 70 (for example, including a return operation) or an operation on the counting button 85 has been detected, but also banknote identification. The medal lending machine such as that the insertion of the bill into the machine 60 is detected, the insertion of the IC card into the card R / W 61 is detected, and the absence from the seat sensor 83 is detected. 50, a player's action against 50 is indirectly detected.

  When it is determined in S103 that an operation or the like has been detected, a detection time process is performed in which the operation or the like detected in S104 is validated. The detection process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S105, it is determined whether or not the operation detected in S104 has been accepted effectively, that is, whether or not it has been validated. When it is determined in S105 that the detected operation or the like has been received effectively, in S106, when it is determined that the operation or the like is an operation for lending or paying out, the supply hopper motor 57 is turned on according to the operation. Supply control processing for rotating and driving to supply medals from the supply medal storage tank 57a is executed.

  In the supply control process in S106, control for supplying medals is performed within the ranges of the inserted amount, the number of medals, and the number of stored medals. The amount of money inserted, the number of medals, and the number of stored medals are specified based on a signal from the bill validator 60, the card R / W 61 or a signal from the hall management computer 100, stored in the RAM 5, and executed supply control. Will be updated accordingly. In the supply control process, a process of counting the number of supplied medals is also performed based on a signal from the supply sensor 64 in order to calculate the difference number.

  In S107, when it is determined that the operation accepted effectively is a counting operation, the counting hopper motor 58 is driven to rotate, and the medals on the storage tray 55a are counted and discharged to the outside. Execute count control processing. The counting control process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S103 that no operation or the like has been detected, or when it is determined in S105 that the operation or the like has not been received effectively, the process proceeds to S108.

  In S108, whether or not the gaming machine side information, which is information from the gaming machine side which is the slot machine 1 provided corresponding to the medal lending machine 50, is newly received via the hall management computer 100. Is determined. When it is determined in S108 that the gaming machine side information is newly received, the process proceeds to S110, and when it is determined that the gaming machine side information is not newly received, the process proceeds to S109.

  In S109, it is determined whether or not the unit side information regarding the supply or counting of the medal lending machine 50 has been updated. When it is determined in S109 that the unit side information has been updated, the process proceeds to S110, and when it is determined that the unit side information has not been updated, the process proceeds to S111.

  In S110, based on the gaming machine side information and the unit side information, a difference number calculation process for calculating a difference number that is the number of medals held by the player is executed. The difference number calculation process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S111, other various corresponding processes are executed, and the process proceeds to S102. The various corresponding processes include, for example, a process for transmitting / receiving information to / from the hall management computer 100, a process for controlling the display 70, the status indicator lamp 71, and the speaker 72, a bill validator 60, and A player sits on the seat based on processing for controlling the card R / W 61 (for example, control for taking in and returning banknotes and IC cards, writing control, etc.) and a signal from the away sensor 83. A process for determining whether or not the state has changed from being present to being away is included.

  As described above, the control microcomputer 3 repeatedly executes the processes of S102 to S111 after executing the process of S101 after the power is turned on.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the detection process executed by the control microcomputer 3 in S104.

  In the process at the time of detection, first, in S201, it is determined whether or not a medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84. When it is determined that no medal is detected, the process proceeds to S204. On the other hand, when it is determined that a medal is detected, it is determined in S202 whether or not the difference number calculated in S110 is 0 or less. That is, it is determined whether or not the player's hand medal is 0 or less.

  When it is determined in S202 that the difference number is not 0 or less, the process proceeds to S204. On the other hand, when it is determined that the difference number is 0 or less, the medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84 even though the handheld medal of the player is 0 or less. This means that fraud such as bringing in medals or fraud such as crossing medals has occurred. For this reason, in S203, the operation detected in S103 in FIG. 5 is invalidated (if the detected operation or the like is detection of insertion of a bill or IC card, the bill or IC card is returned), and unauthorized notification is made. In addition, a fraud signal indicating fraud is output to the hall management computer 100, and the infinite loop is entered until the reset button 86 is operated by the game hall clerk. In the hall management computer 100, when a fraud signal is input, for example, the machine number of the gaming machine on which fraud is being performed is notified, and information for specifying the type of fraud is also notified. .

  In S204, it is determined whether or not the detected operation is a counting operation. That is, it is determined whether or not the detected operation is an operation on the counting button or the counting button 85 displayed on the display unit 70. If it is determined in S204 that the counting operation has been performed, it is determined in S205 whether or not the difference number is 0 or less. When it is determined that the difference number is 0 or less, the player's hand medal is 0 or less and it is not necessary to perform counting, so the counting operation detected in S206 is invalidated and the detection process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined in S205 that the difference number is not equal to or less than 0, the player's hand medal is present, and therefore the counting operation detected in S207 is effectively accepted and the detection process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation detected in S204 is not a counting operation, it is determined in S208 whether or not a medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84. When it is determined in S208 that no medal is detected by the in-storage medal sensor 84, the operation detected in S207 is effectively accepted and the detection process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S208 that the medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84, there is an uncounted medal that is an operation other than the counting operation, and it is possible to forget to count. Therefore, counting is promoted in the processing after S209.

  First, in S209, counting promotion notification for prompting a counting operation is started by the display 70 and the speaker 72. The counting promotion notification will be described later with reference to FIG. Note that when the detected operation is due to the detection of the absence from the seat, the volume of the sound emitted from the speaker 72 is set to be higher than in other cases. In S210, the operation detected in S103 of FIG. 5 is invalidated. As a result, when the detected operation or the like is a lending operation, a payout operation, or a return operation, it is possible to disable these operations and prevent the corresponding processing from being performed.

  In S211, it is determined whether or not a counting operation has been newly detected. Here, the process of S211 is repeatedly executed until a counting operation is detected. When it is determined in S211 that the counting operation has been detected, the counting operation detected in S207 is effectively accepted, and the detection process is terminated.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the counting control process executed by the control microcomputer 3 in S107. In the counting control process, first, it is determined whether or not the operation accepted effectively in S301 is a counting operation. When it is determined that the counting operation is not performed, the counting control process is terminated as it is.

  When it is determined that the operation is a counting operation, the driving of the counting hopper motor 58 is started in S302. Thereby, the medal counting on the storage tray 55a is started. In S303, in-counting notification for notifying that counting is in progress is started. The notification during counting will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S <b> 304, it is determined whether or not a medal that has been taken in and discharged by driving the counting hopper motor 58 has been detected by the counting sensor 65. When it is determined that the medal is detected by the counting sensor 65, 1 is added to the value of the current fetching number counter for specifying the medal number counted after the driving of the counting hopper motor 58 is started in S305. The value of the current acquisition number counter is added and updated in a predetermined area of the RAM 5.

  In S306, it is determined whether or not the value of the current acquisition number counter is equal to or less than the difference number. If it is determined that the value of the acquisition counter is not less than or equal to the difference number this time, medals that are equal to or greater than the player's hand medal have been counted. Such fraud has occurred. For this reason, in S307, fraud is notified, a fraud signal is output to the hall management computer 100, the driving of the counting hopper motor 58 is stopped, and an infinite loop is made until the reset button 86 is operated by the game shop clerk. Transition.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the current acquisition number counter is equal to or less than the difference number, it is determined in S308 whether or not the medal is not detected by the in-storage sensor 84. If it is determined in S308 that the medal is not detected, the value of the non-detecting counter for specifying the number of medals detected in the medal non-detected state is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to S311. On the other hand, when it is determined that the medal is not detected, the value of the non-detecting counter is reset (cleared to 0) in S310, and the process proceeds to S311. The value of the non-detecting counter is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 5.

  In S311, it is determined whether or not the value of the non-detecting counter is 20 or more. As described above, the in-storage sensor 84 is provided at the lowermost end portion of the storage tray 55a. Therefore, if it is normal, 20 or more medals cannot be counted while the in-storage sensor 84 is in the medal non-detection state.

  If it is determined in S311 that the value of the non-detecting counter is not 20 or more, the process proceeds to S304 as it is normal. On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the non-detecting counter is 20 or more, there is a possibility that the in-storage sensor 84 is not normal, and the in-storage sensor 84 may be out of order. The process proceeds to S304. Since S311 described above is for determining whether or not the in-storage sensor 84 is out of order, the determination value is not limited to “20”. Any value corresponding to the number of medals that cannot be counted since then.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S304 that the medal is not detected by the counting sensor 65, it is determined in S313 whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) has elapsed since the medal was detected by the previous counting sensor 65. Determined. That is, in S313, it is determined whether or not a medal is not detected for a predetermined time by the counting sensor 65. If it is determined in S313 that the predetermined time or more has not elapsed, the process directly proceeds to S304. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined time or more has elapsed, it is highly likely that all the medals on the storage tray 55a have been counted, so the process proceeds to S314 and the driving of the counting hopper motor 58 is stopped. Thereby, the counting ends.

  In S315, the notification during counting ends. In S316, the value of the current acquisition number counter is added and updated to the number of medals stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 5 of the medal lending machine 50. In S317, the value of the current acquisition number counter and the value of the non-detecting counter are reset (0 cleared).

  In S318, it is determined based on a signal from the in-storage sensor 84 whether or not a medal is not detected. When it is determined that the medal is not detected in S318, it is normal. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the count promotion notification is executed in S321. If it is determined that the count promotion notification is executed, the count promotion notification is issued in S322. End the count control process.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S318 that the medal is not detected, that is, when it is determined that the medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84, the stored medal is determined although it is determined in S313 that a predetermined time has elapsed. It exists and there is a possibility that a capture error has occurred. For this reason, in S319, an abnormal intake notification for notifying that there is a possibility that an abnormal intake has occurred is performed. In S320, it is determined whether or not the reset button 86 has been operated. In S320, the process is repeatedly executed until the reset button 86 is operated. When the reset button 86 is operated, the acquisition abnormality notification notified in S319 is canceled and the process proceeds to S302.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control content of the difference number calculation process executed by the control microcomputer 3 in S110. In the difference number calculation process, in S401, a process of calculating the difference number, which is the number of medals held by the player, is performed based on the input information and payout information on the gaming machine side and the supply number information and count information on the unit side. .

  Here, the insertion information on the gaming machine side refers to information for specifying the number of medals that have been inserted into the slot machine 1 and received effectively (hereinafter also referred to as the number of insertions). Means information for specifying the number of medals (hereinafter also referred to as the number of payouts) paid out by driving the hopper motor for paying out medals in the slot machine 1.

  The unit-side supply number information refers to information for specifying the number of medals discharged from the guide nozzle 90 (hereinafter also referred to as the supply number). The unit-side count information refers to the counting hopper motor 58. Information for specifying the number of medals taken and counted (hereinafter also referred to as the number of medals).

  Therefore, the difference number that is the number of medals held by the player is calculated, for example, by adding or subtracting the number specified from the information that has changed with respect to the previously calculated difference number (initially 0). That is, with respect to the previously calculated difference number, when the medal is discharged from the guide nozzle 90, the supply number is added, and when the medal is taken in by the counting hopper motor 58 and counted, the take-in number is subtracted. When a medal is inserted into the slot machine 1, the number of insertions is subtracted, and when a medal is paid out in the slot machine 1, the number of payouts is added to calculate the difference number. Note that the method for calculating the difference number is not limited to this, and if the number of medals held by the player can be specified, for example, the number of credits of the slot machine 1 or the number of medals of the medal lending machine 50 is taken into account. And any calculation method may be used.

  In S402, it is determined whether or not the calculated difference number is 0 or less. When it is determined that the difference number is 0 or less, it is determined in S403 whether or not a medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84. If it is determined in S403 that a medal is detected, it is an abnormal state in which a stored medal is present even though the player's hand medal is not present. Is output to the hall management computer 100, and the infinite loop is entered until the reset button 86 is operated by the game hall clerk.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S402 that the difference number is not 0 or less, or when it is determined in S403 that no medal is detected, the difference number calculation process is terminated.

  In the difference number calculation process, for example, when a bill is newly inserted or when an IC card is returned, the calculated difference number is reset (cleared to 0). When a bill is newly inserted or an IC card is returned, it can be said that a series of games by one player is completed. For this reason, the difference number can be calculated in a series of game units by one player.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of the display state of the display 70. FIG. 9A is a diagram for explaining an example of a display state when the medal lending machine 50 is in a normal state. In FIG. 9A, “2000 yen” is displayed as the amount of money to be inserted, and it is displayed that both the medal and the stored medal are “0”.

  In FIG. 9 (a), only the input amount is displayed, and substantially only lending, counting, or returning can be performed. For this reason, the “lending button”, “counting button”, and “return button” that are substantially operable are the “medal medal payout button”, “stored medal payout button”, “save value” that are substantially inoperable. It is displayed differently from the “medal button”.

  FIG. 9B is a diagram for explaining an example of the count promotion notification in S209 of FIG. 6 and the counting notification in S303 of FIG.

  First, when the count promotion notification is performed, instead of displaying the operation buttons shown in FIG. 9A, only the count buttons are displayed in an enlarged manner, and the display screen diagram on the left side of FIG. As shown, a large button with a message “Please touch here to count!” Is displayed as the counting button. Thereby, a player's counting operation can be promoted. It should be noted that a sound such as “Please count!” Is repeatedly output from the speaker 72 between the start of counting promotion notification and the counting operation.

  In addition, when the counting operation is performed in a state where the counting promotion notification is being performed, the counting button is displayed lightly as shown in the display screen diagram on the right side of FIG. Done. As a notification during counting, a message such as “Counting. Please wait for a while” and “Counting ... 33 sheets” is displayed according to the value of the current acquisition number counter. Thereby, the player can specify that counting is in progress.

  FIG. 9C is a diagram for explaining an example of a display state when an irregularity or abnormality occurs. Instead of displaying the operation buttons shown in FIG. 9A, as shown in FIG. 9C, a message such as “Please wait for a while! E02” is displayed. Thereby, it can be notified that fraud or abnormality has occurred. It should be noted that a specific sound effect is repeatedly output from the speaker 72 while it is notified that fraud or abnormality has occurred.

Next, main effects obtained by the embodiment described above will be described.
(1) Since the medal lending machine 50 as in the above-described embodiment is installed in a very narrow limited space between the gaming machine and the gaming machine, the width of the medal receiving port 54 is reduced. As a result, it is difficult to visually confirm whether or not there is a medal in the storage tray 55a. As shown in S208 and S209 in FIG. 6, the medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84. At that time, the count promotion notification shown in FIG. 9B is started. Thus, when the medal is inserted through the medal receiving port 54, forgetting to perform the counting operation, or when the medal does not flow down to the countable position and does not notice that it is in a stored state, etc. When the forgetting to count has occurred, a count promotion notification for prompting a counting operation is performed. For this reason, by allowing medal counting while being on the spot by the player himself, the number of store clerk required for game hall management can be reduced and the operating rate of the gaming machine can be improved while forgetting to count. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience that the player is left unattended without noticing the occurrence of the occurrence of the player and the player suffers a disadvantage.

  (2) The count promotion notification in the above-described embodiment is continued until the medal non-detection state is obtained by the in-storage sensor 84 as shown in S318, S321, S322 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 9B. Done. Therefore, it is possible to make it easier for the player to notice that the count promotion notification is being performed, and it is possible to more reliably suppress forgetting to count.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in S103 of FIG. 5, when an insertion of a banknote or an IC card or an operation on the touch panel of the display device 70 is detected, that is, the medal lending machine 50 When the player is paying attention, the count promotion notification is started in S209 of FIG. For this reason, it is possible to make the player easily notice that the count promotion notification is being executed.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, even when a bill or IC card return operation is performed, when the count promotion notification is performed, the return operation is invalidated as shown in S210 of FIG. Thus, the process for returning the banknote or the IC card is not executed. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent the player from leaving the seat without noticing that there are medals forgotten to be counted, as compared with those in which banknotes or IC cards are returned.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, processing for determining whether or not the player has changed from the seated state to the seated state based on the signal from the seating sensor 83 is performed. The counting promotion notification is also started when it is determined that the user has left the seat. For this reason, it is possible to notify a player who has left his / her counting forgotten, and to prevent the player from being disadvantaged without noticing that there is a medal forgetting to count. be able to. In addition, if you forget to count even when you leave your seat temporarily, for example, by hand-washing, you will receive a count promotion notification. There is a merit in that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience that is taken away by fraudsters.

  In addition, the counting promotion notification executed by leaving the seat is set in advance so that the volume of the sound emitted from the speaker 72 is larger than the counting promotion notification executed by other events. Can make it easier for people to notice.

  (6) In the above-described embodiment, the difference number that is the number of medals held by the player is calculated in S401 of FIG. 8, and using this calculated difference number, S201 to S203 of FIG. 6 and S402 of FIG. As shown in S404, the medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84 even though the player's hand medal should not exist, so the medal brought from outside the game hall and other gaming machines It is determined whether or not fraud such as playing a game using a medal crossed by another player who performs the game, and if it is determined that such fraud is being performed, the fraud is notified. Is done. For this reason, cheating can be suppressed and the security of the game hall can be improved.

  Further, not only when the gaming machine side information or the unit side information is updated in S108 or S109 in FIG. 5 and the difference number is calculated in S110, an operation or the like is detected in S103, and the detection processing is performed in S104. Sometimes fraud can be determined. For this reason, for example, the next game after the game machine side information or the unit side information is determined not to be illegal because the difference is 0 or less but no medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84. Even when the above-mentioned fraud is performed before the machine-side information or the unit-side information is updated, it is possible to identify and report that the fraud is being performed at the timing when the operation is detected. . As a result, it is possible to enhance the deterrence effect and further enhance the security of the game hall.

  (7) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in S308 to 312 of FIG. 7, if the in-storage sensor 84 is normal, the number of medals that cannot be counted in the medal non-detection state is detected. Since the storage sensor failure notification is made at the time, the maintainability of the medal lending machine 50 can be improved.

Next, a modification of the above-described embodiment will be described.
(1) In S203 of FIG. 6, S307 of FIG. 7, and S404 of FIG. 8 in the above-described embodiment, since fraud has occurred, fraud notification is given and a fraud signal is used for hole management. An example of outputting to the computer 100 has been described. However, when it is determined that fraud has occurred, a fraud signal is output to the hall management computer 100, while the same processing is performed without performing fraud notification and with no fraud. May be executed continuously. An example will be specifically described in relation to S203 of FIG. 6. If YES is determined in S202, a fraud signal is output to the hall management computer 100 without performing detection invalidation or fraud notification, and S204. You may make it transfer to. As a result, the player who performs the illegal act is input to the hall management computer 100 while the cheating person continues to play the game, thinking that the cheating is not determined. The game hall clerk who recognizes the fraud based on the signal at the time of fraud can make preparations and control the fraudster in a complete system. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult for a fraudster to escape as compared to a case where fraudulent notification is performed immediately.

  Further, when configured as described above, for example, an illegal flag that can specify that fraud has occurred is stored in the RAM 5, and when a player who is performing an illegal act is seized, By operating the reset button 86, it may be notified as evidence that fraud has been performed based on the fraud flag. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the player who has been cheating from being escaped.

  (2) In the embodiment described above, an example in which the medals taken in and counted by the counting hopper motor 58 is discharged to the outside of the medal lending machine 50 by the discharge member 94 has been described. The medals may be made available as medals supplied from the medal lending machine 50 without being discharged to the outside. For example, the medal lending machine 50 is provided with a lifting device that lifts the medals upward, and the medals taken in and counted by the counting hopper motor 58 are lifted upward by the lifting device to supply the medal storage tank. You may make it store to 57a. Thereby, the frequency | count which replenishes the supply medal storage tank 57a with a medal can be reduced.

  When configured in this manner, the following effects are further achieved. It is conceivable that a counting device for counting medals corresponding to each slot machine is installed as an island facility, for example, below the medal tray 11 of the slot machine. In this case, the island where the slot machine is installed is considered. It will be necessary to construct a large amount of equipment, which will increase capital investment. Compared to this, in the above-mentioned medal lending machine, it is possible to count medals while being on the spot by the player himself by simply replacing the conventional medal lending machine installed between the stands. The equipment environment can be easily prepared.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the count promotion notification is executed using the display 70 and the speaker 72 of the medal lending machine 50 has been described. However, the count promotion notification may be executed using another configuration of the medal lending machine 50, for example, the status indicator lamp 71, instead of or in addition to the display unit 70 and the speaker 72. In addition, the count promotion notification is not limited to being executed only by the medal lending machine 50, and a notification signal may be output to the other device so as to be executed using the other device. The other equipment may be, for example, effect means (effect lamp, liquid crystal display, etc.) provided in the gaming machine itself such as the slot machine 1 and information on the gaming machine provided above the gaming machine. An information notification device (such as a data display) for notification may be used. In addition, the count promotion notification may be performed using another device only when the user leaves the seat with forgetting to count.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, when a medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84, even if the return button is operated, the operation is invalidated, so that the bill or the IC card is not returned. . However, even when a medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84, when the return button is operated, the bill and the IC card may be returned while performing count promotion notification. Further, the absence sensor 83 may not be provided so that it cannot be directly determined that the person has left the seat.

  With this configuration, for example, when the return button is operated, there is a problem that the player is overlooked by the player even though the count promotion notification is executed and is left with the returned IC card. . In order to eliminate such inconvenience later, the following processing may be performed. For example, when a medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84 when the return button is operated, counting forgetting information for specifying that forgetting counting occurs while executing count promotion notification. Store in the returned IC card and return. When the IC card is reinserted into the medal lending machine, the player forgets to count and erases the forgotten information, while the IC card is inserted into another medal lending machine. The other medal lending machine may be informed that forgetting to count has occurred based on the forgetting counting information, assuming that the player has not yet noticed that he has forgotten counting.

  As another method, when a medal is detected by the in-storage sensor 84 when the return button is operated, the IC card is returned while executing the count promotion notification, and the card of the IC card to be returned The number and the forgetting count information for specifying that the forgetting counting is associated with each other are output to the hole management computer 100 and stored, or each medal is further stored via the hole management computer 100. The data is output to the lending machine and stored in the RAM of each medal lending machine. When the IC card is reinserted into the medal lending machine, the player forgets to count information stored in the hall management computer 100 or the RAM of the other medal lending machine as having noticed the count promotion notification. On the other hand, when the IC card is inserted into another medal lending machine, the forgotten counting information associated with the card number of the IC card is stored in the hall management computer 100 or the RAM of the other medal lending machine. When it is stored, it may be notified that the player has not yet forgotten to count and has forgotten to count. As a result, it is possible to specify whether or not the user has left the seat without forgetting counting without providing the away sensor 83. It can be notified that it was.

  (5) The in-storage sensor 84 in the above-described embodiment is an example in which it is provided at a position where the medal at the boundary with the device for counting medals can be detected at the lowermost end of the storage tray 55a. did. However, the in-storage sensor 84 is not limited to be provided so that the position of such a boundary can be detected, but is provided at a position where a medal can be detected at a place where it is difficult for the medal to flow down compared to other places. If it is. In the embodiment described above, an example of detecting a medal at a predetermined position in the storage unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be configured to detect medals at a plurality of positions. However, the presence or absence of medals in the storage unit may be detected by providing a continuity sensor on the entire storage tray 55a.

  (6) The medal lending machine 50 in the above-described embodiment has been described with respect to the example in which the gaming machine side information is received via the hall management computer 100. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the gaming apparatus is the medal lending machine 50. May be directly electrically connected to the gaming machine which is the slot machine 1, and the gaming machine side information may be directly received from the gaming machine.

  (7) In the embodiment described above, the counting is performed by driving the counting hopper motor 58 until the counting sensor 65 determines that the medal is not detected for a predetermined time in S313 after the counting operation is accepted in S301 in FIG. An example of performing control has been described. However, the counting control (in particular, the control for rotationally driving the counting hopper motor 58) may be performed after the counting operation is accepted until the next counting operation is accepted again, or while the counting operation is being accepted. Alternatively, it may be performed until a predetermined time elapses after receiving the counting operation.

  (8) The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  1 slot machine, 2 control board, 3 control microcomputer, 50 medal lending machine, 54 medal receiving port, 57 supply hopper motor, 58 counting hopper motor, 60 banknote identification machine, 61 IC card insertion slot, 63 open detection sensor, 64 Supply sensor, 65 Count sensor, 68 Nozzle sensor, 70 Display, 71 Status indicator, 72 Speaker, 83 Away sensor, 84 Storage sensor.

Claims (3)

A gaming device that is provided corresponding to a gaming machine that pays out medals according to a result of a predetermined game, and that can count medals inserted from a predetermined insertion slot,
A storage unit for storing medals input from the input port;
Taking-in means for taking in the stored medal from the storage unit;
An operation means for accepting the operation;
Until a predetermined end condition is satisfied after a predetermined operation is accepted by the operation unit, the acquisition unit performs acquisition count control for acquiring medals and counting the number of medals to be acquired. Control means;
Stored medal detection means for detecting medals stored in the storage unit;
Notification means for performing predetermined notification on condition that a medal is detected by the stored medal detection means;
A recording medium receiving means capable of receiving the recording medium;
Specification processing means for executing processing for enabling identification of the number of medals counted by the take-in counting control means from the recording medium received by the recording medium receiving means;
An acceptance cancellation processing means for executing an acceptance cancellation process for canceling the acceptance by the recording medium acceptance means when a specific operation is accepted,
The accepting releasing processing means, said capturing means is in a state that does not incorporate a medal, the when the medal by medal detecting means is detected, said even specific operation is accepted accepted release processing A gaming device, characterized by not executing.   The game device according to claim 1, further comprising sound output means capable of outputting a sound.   The gaming device according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging unit capable of imaging the player.

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