JPH01218484A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate trouble to hurriedly require the replenishing work of coins when the pay-out of the coins runs short at the time of the generation of a big hit by issuing a card to record the total number of allocated pieces or a card to record the number of coins to be left after the number of coins to be partially paid out is subtracted from the number of allocated pieces. CONSTITUTION:When the big hit is confirmed by a microcomputer 15, an IC card 18 is sent to a data writing position, a writing and reading circuit 41 is operated, and the data supplied from the microcomputer 15 are written into a data memory 29 of the IC card 18. When a write processing is completed, the writing and reading circuit 41 reads the data to be actually written into the data memory 29 of the IC card 18, and the data are checked with the data sent from the microcomputer 15. When both coincide, a write completing signal is fed back to the microcomputer 15, and for the IC card 18 after the write, a head is projected from an ejecting port 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which, when a prize is won, a payout of the number of coins corresponding to the winning is received.

[Conventional technology]

In game machines that use coins, medals, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as coins), you insert a coin to start the game,
When a prize is obtained, the player can receive a dividend of the number of coins according to the type of prize. Slot machines, for example, are widely known as such gaming machines.

In a slot machine, a game is played using, for example, three reels on which various symbols are arranged. That is,
When you operate the start lever after inserting a coin, the reels will rotate all at once, and when all of these reels are stopped by operating the stop button or random timer,
The combination of symbols on each reel is displayed in the observation window. If these items qualify as a prize, a predetermined number of coins will be paid out according to the type of prize.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in conventional slot machines, even though the winnings obtained are small or medium hits, where the number of coins paid out is at most 20, a big hit called a jackpot can be obtained. Sometimes, a large amount of coins, for example 200 to 300 coins or more, may be paid out. In such a case, the number of coins stored in the slot machine is often insufficient for payouts, and there is a drawback that a clerk must be called in a hurry to replenish the coins.

The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology. To provide a game machine that eliminates the need to replenish coins each time.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine of the present invention has the following features:
When a big hit occurs as a result of a game, instead of paying out coins, a card is issued that records the total number of coins allocated to this large amount of coins, or a card that records a portion of this number of coins is issued. Those that pay out coins are configured to issue a card recording the number of remaining coins.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, when a big hit occurs, instead of paying out coins, the gaming machine issues a card recording the number of coins to be paid out. Therefore, even if a big hit occurs, the game machine can be continued to be used without having to replenish coins.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 2 showing the appearance of a slot machine using the present invention, a front door 3 that can be opened and closed is attached to the front of a main body 2 of the slot machine. This front door 3 is provided with observation windows 4 to 6 so that three symbols on each of the three reels 7 to 9 installed in the main body 2 can be observed.

When a coin is inserted through a coin slot 10 and a start lever 11 is operated, the reels 7 to 9 rotate. When the stop buttons 12 to 14 provided for each reel are pressed at an arbitrary timing, the reels 7 to 9 are respectively stopped. When the symbols that match the preset winning combination line up on the winning line, the number of coins corresponding to the winning combination will be dispensed from the payout port 16 at the bottom of the front door 3 to the tray 1.
It will be paid out on 7th.

The main body 2 has a built-in data writing device f21 that writes data to the IC card 18 as described later.

As a result of playing the game, this data writing device 21
It is activated when a jackpot hit occurs, and writes the number of coins allocated to the jackpot hit, for example, 300 coins, into the data memory in the IC card 18. The IC card 18 written in this manner is ejected from an ejection port 19 provided in the front door 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the IC card 18 has a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer) 24 and an external connection terminal 2 inside an insulating plastic base 22.
As is well known, the microcontroller 24 has a built-in C.
PU26. Interface 27. Program memory 2
8. It is composed of a data memory 29.

When this IC card 1st is sent to the data writing device 21, the external connection terminal 25. Signals are exchanged with the data writing device 21 via the jackpot, and data on the number of coins to be paid out is written into the data memory 29 when a jackpot occurs.

Note that the program memory 28 stores processing procedures for performing the above-described write processing. Further, as data written in the data memory 29, it is preferable to add not only the number of payouts but also the machine number of the slot machine, the date and time of occurrence of a jackbot hit, etc.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the circuit configuration of the data writing device 21 described above and the feeding means for the IC card 18. As shown in FIG. The IC cards 18 before data writing are stacked and stored in a storage case 30 provided in the main body 2 of the slot machine.
It is urged upward by a spring 39 via the partition plate 38.

A feeding path 31 is provided between the storage case 30 and the discharge port 19.
A stepping motor 3 is provided in this feeding path 31.
7a driven by a feed roller 32. A feeding roller 33.35 driven by a stepping motor 37b and a pressure roller 34.36 are arranged. Feeding roller 3
2 sends out the top layer IC card 18 of the storage case 30 toward the writing position. The feeding roller 33 sandwiches the IC card 18 sent from the storage case 30 with the pressure roller 34, and feeds it to the data writing position. Further, the feeding roller 35 cooperates with the pressure roller 36 to feed the IC card 18 after data has been written toward the discharge port 19 of the front door 3.

At the data writing position between the feeding roller 33 and the feeding roller 35, the IC card 18 fed to this position is placed.
A terminal unit 52 that comes into contact with the external connection terminal 25 is provided. This terminal unit 52 is connected to the write/read circuit 41. Then, via the terminal unit 52 and the external connection terminal 25 of the IC card 18, data is written into the data memory 29, or data written therein is read.

The operation of the data writing device 221 is controlled by the microcomputer 15 as well as the stepping motors 53 to 55 for driving the reels of the slot machine. For this reason, the microcomputer 15 is configured to receive signals from the signal generator 51 via the input/output circuit 40, that is, a start signal from the start lever 11 and a stop signal from the stop buttons 12 to 14. Further, driving pulses are supplied from the microcomputer 15 to the driving circuits 43 to 45 of the stepping motors 53 to 55 via the input/output circuit 40.

Every time the rotating reels 7 to 9 pass the reference position, a reset pulse is output from the position sensors 47 to 49, and this is fed back to the microcomputer 15 via the input/output circuit 40. The microcomputer 15 has drive circuits 43 to 45.
The rotational positions of the reels 7 to 9 can be determined based on the number of drive pulses supplied to the reels.

That is, the reference position from which the reset pulse is obtained is determined in advance, and since it is also known how the symbols are arranged from that reference position, it is difficult to determine how many driving pulses are supplied after passing through the reference position. It is possible to know which symbol will be displayed in the observation windows 4 to 6 depending on whether the stepping motor has stopped at that point.

Based on the number of drive pulses supplied to the drive circuits 43 to 45, the microcomputer 15 checks the combination of symbols when the reels are stopped, and if this corresponds to a winning prize, it sends the hopper control circuit via the input/output circuit 40. A coin payout signal is output to 46.

This activates the hopper 50 and pays out the number of coins corresponding to the winning prize.

Note that the reference numeral 42 indicates a motor drive circuit that controls the driving of the stepping motors 37a and 37b.

The slot machine configured as described above will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG. When you insert a coin from the coin slot 10, the start lever 11
will be unlocked. When the start lever 11 is operated, a start signal is sent from the signal generator 51 to the microcomputer 1.
5, and the microcomputer 15 supplies drive pulses to the drive circuits 43 to 45. This causes the stepping motor 5
3 to 55 are driven, and reels 7 to 9 start rotating all at once.

After the stepping motors 53 to 55 reach steady rotation,
When the stop buttons 12 to 14 are pressed at an arbitrary timing, drive pulses are no longer supplied to each of the drive circuits 43 to 45, the stepping motors 53 to 55 are stopped, and the reels 7 to 9 are thereby stopped. When the reels 7 to troughs stop in this manner, the microcomputer 15 mixes whether or not a prize has been won based on the number of drive pulses supplied to the drive circuits 43 to 45. As a result of this confirmation, if no prize is won, one game ends and the player waits for coin insertion. Additionally, if a medium or small hit has been obtained as a result of winning confirmation, a coin payout signal is output from the microcomputer 15 to the hopper control circuit 46, and the hopper 50 pays out a specified number of coins according to the type of hit. One game ends when it is released.

If a big hit is confirmed by the microcomputer 15,
A coin payout signal is not supplied to the hopper control circuit 46, and the microcomputer 15 outputs an activation signal to each of the motor drive circuit 42 and the write/read circuit 41 via the input/output circuit 40. As a result, the stepping motor 37
a rotates by a certain amount, and the uppermost IC card 18 in the storage case 30 is fed out by the feeding roller 32, and moves to a position where its tip is inserted between the feeding roller 33 and the pressure roller 34. When the IC card 18 moves by a certain amount in this way, the stepping motor 37a stops, and then the stepping motor 37b rotates by a certain amount. As a result, the IC card 18 is sent to the data writing position and stops with the external connection terminal 25 in contact with the terminal unit 52.

Note that, in this position, the leading end of the IC card 18 is inserted between the feeding roller 35 and the pressure roller 36.

After the IC card 18 is sent to the data writing position in this way, the write/read circuit 41 is activated, and the data supplied from the icon 15, that is, the number of coins paid out at the time of a big hit, the machine number of this slot machine, and the date and time,
Write to the data memory 29 of the IC card 18. When this write process is completed, the write/read circuit 41
reads the data actually written in the data memory 29 of the IC card 18 and compares it with the data sent from the microcomputer 15. If the two match as a result of this comparison, a write completion signal is fed back from the write/read circuit 41 to the microcomputer 15.

The microcomputer 15 receives this write completion signal and operates the motor drive circuit 42 again. As a result, the stepping motor 37b is driven for a certain period of time, and the I
The C card 18 is moved toward the discharge port 19 by the feeding roller 35 and the pressure roller 36, and the driving of the stepping motor 37b is stopped with the leading end protruding from the discharge port 19.

Therefore, by pulling out the IC card 18 by the tip thereof, the player can obtain the IC card 18 with data written thereon.

After the IC card 18 is issued in this manner, the player can continue to insert coins from the coin slot 10 and restart the game. According to the above, when a big hit such as a jackpot occurs, instead of paying out a large amount of coins from the main body 2 of the slot machine, an IC card 18 with the number of coins to be paid out written is simply issued. ,
There is no need to interrupt the game while coins are being paid out or while coins are being replenished.

IC card 18 with data written as above
The IC card 18 can be exchanged for coins, prizes, etc. by showing it at the front desk of a game center, for example, but this IC card 18 can also be used as a credit card. That is, the write/read circuit 41
Since it is also possible to read data from the C card 18, it is also possible to play a game by inserting this IC card into a slot machine instead of actually inserting coins into the coin slot 10. be.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when a big hit occurs, no coins are paid out at all, and instead an IC card is issued on which the entire number of coins paid out is written as data. When this occurs, a part of the number of coins to be paid out may be actually paid out, and the remaining number of coins may be written in the IC card 18. In addition, a coin storage amount detector is installed in the packet containing coins to be used for payout, and if the amount of stored coins is insufficient for paying out dividend coins,
It is also possible to take measures such as issuing a C card 18. Note that instead of the IC card 18, a magnetic card, a perforated sheet, or the like may be used as a data writing medium.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, when a big hit occurs, the gaming machine of the present invention does not pay out a large amount of coins, but instead pays out the number of coins or a part of the number of coins paid out. Since a card is issued with the remaining number of coins written on it, there is no need to worry about the need to quickly replenish coins due to insufficient coins being paid out when a big hit occurs. In addition, even if a big hit occurs, the inconvenience of having to stop the game until the payout of a large amount of coins is completed is eliminated. Another advantage is that you no longer have to actually handle the coins.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of main parts showing an embodiment of a slot machine using the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of a slot machine using the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an I used in a slot machine using the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the electrical configuration of a C card. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the slot machine having the configuration shown in FIG. 2...Main body? , 8.9... Reel 15...Microcomputer 18...IC card 19...Ejection ports 37a, 37b...Stepping motor 41...Writing/reading circuit 42...Motor drive circuit. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a gaming machine that pays out a number of coins depending on the type of winning when a prize is won as a result of playing a game, the entered prize becomes a big hit with a large number of coins paid out. If applicable, a card will be issued that records the entire number of paid out coins without paying out coins, or a card that records the remaining number of coins after subtracting the number of coins that have been partially paid out from the number of paid out coins. A gaming machine characterized by: