FR2745103A1 - STORAGE DEVICE FOR GAME TOKENS - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for storing gambling chips with an electronic memory circuit, comprising a rack (10) provided with a plurality of columns (32, 34, 36) for holding stacked chips (12, 14, 16) and an electronic communication unit (20) with antennas (40, 42, 44) associated with respective columns (32, 34, 36) of the rack, an interface (24) for sequentially selecting the antennas (40, 42, 44, 46) and a chip memory read/write unit (26). The communication unit (20) can communicate with the chips in each column (32, 34, 36) and, via the antenna (46), with a rack identification memory device (38) built into the frame of the rack (10) for storing data on the rack and the contents thereof. Said device is useful for providing an instantaneous inventory of the rack and determining the total value of the chips therein.

Description

STORAGE DEVICE FOR GAME TOKENS
The present invention relates to the storage of game chips, also called casino chips. By game token means any element in the form of a disc or plate and representing a nominal value or not.

Generally the tokens are made of rigid and scratch-resistant plastic. The tokens have various patterns in designs and colors to form a more or less complex decor and reduce the risk of falsification and / or fraudulent reproduction. Some tokens incorporate an electronic memory circuit in which information concerning the token is stored, in particular its number or identification code and its numerical value. These tokens equipped with electronic memory circuits are also designated electronic memory tokens. Depending on the token models, the electronic circuits are of the PROM simple memory type, with EEPROM reprogrammable memory or even with microprocessors with memory.

More particularly, the invention relates to the storage of electronic memory tokens in a token box which can for example be placed on or in a game table. Such token boxes serve in particular as token reserves at exchange points and / or at the game tables. The locker contains the tokens exchanged for securities, for example tokens or plaques of different face values, currency, etc. It is also possible to take the tokens necessary for the payment of winning bets and to store the tokens from them losing bets.

The number of tokens contained in a locker is variable and therefore the overall value represented by these tokens changes over time.

The object of the invention is to propose a storage device for tokens facilitating the monitoring of the content in tokens of the locker and the movements in / out of the tokens in order to better control these movements and therefore to fight more effectively against fraud.

More particularly, the invention provides a storage device for tokens with electronic memory comprising a rack provided with at least one column storage section (or column) intended to receive tokens, characterized in that it comprises an electronic unit for dialogue likely to communicate with the tokens present in at least one column of the locker.

It is understood for the remainder of the description that the term locker within the framework of the invention covers any type of token holder (or plate holder) with column, in particular the trays with horizontal or slightly inclined columns and the distributor lockers vertical.

According to an efficient embodiment of the invention, the electronic dialogue unit communicates with the tokens by modulated waves by means of antenna forming and comprising at least one antenna, said antenna forming means being arranged relative to the locker. so as to ensure communication with the tokens present in at least one column of said locker.

It is therefore possible for the electronic unit to determine in real time the number of tokens with electronic memory contained in the locker, the value of each token, the instantaneous overall value contained in the locker, the identity of each token, the value by type of denomination or any other information associated for example with the identity of the token. This information can be stored, processed in real time or transmitted to a server via a network to allow carrying out all the analyzes and treatments desired.

Knowing the contents of the locker in real time reduces fraud attempts because it becomes much more difficult to steal a token.

The evolution of the number of tokens as a function of time in the storage device is perfectly known and can be used or compared with information stored in the memory of the electronic unit or of the central processing unit of the server and concerning information on wagers, "drops" (payment in cash or change at the cash desks of game tables), etc. Finally the precise knowledge in real time of the movements of the tokens can be used for the management of the casino. For example, it is possible from the entry / exit movements of the tokens to calculate or estimate indicators representative of the profitability of certain games (in particular for monitoring tables below their breakeven point). Today, all of these operations are carried out on an ad hoc basis with human intervention. In large casinos, a large number of people are assigned to these control and counting tasks. All these heavy, repetitive and costly operations pose reliability problems. They can be greatly facilitated by the use of storage devices according to the invention.

The storage device according to the invention also allows the operator to dispense with visual considerations for storing the tokens in the locker. Today to facilitate handling and simplify controls, the user assigns one or more columns in the locker to each face value. Tokens with the same face value are grouped and arranged in the appropriate columns. This storage is done according to visual criteria (facial values and / or decorations). The storage device according to the invention allows great flexibility of storage (for example storage according to time criteria or by customers) while making it possible to process information in real time. The device according to the invention can be easily integrated in a more complex casino control system, particularly in the case of the use of tokens with reprogrammable memory and of an electronic unit of the read and write type.

According to a first variant of the invention, the electronic dialogue unit and the electronic chip memory circuits are adapted to allow the dialogue unit to discriminate between the tokens present in the same column.

According to another variant of the invention, the rack comprises several columns each associated with at least one antenna, the antennas being able to be of the read-only, write-only or read / write type. In particular, the use of two antennas, one for read only, the other for write only, accelerates antenna / token transactions. In addition, several reading antennas can be distributed on the same column to increase the reading capacity in tokens.

In a first embodiment, the antenna is of the type wound with wide turns to form a planar frame surrounding at least one column (or the projection of at least one column on the plane of the frame) and arranged in a non-parallel manner the column axis. This arrangement is advantageous for in the case of a large capacity column (more than 20 tokens) to allow inductive coupling between the antenna of the token (generally a circular antenna with flat turns integrated in the center of the token) and the antenna of the storage device without requiring too much power.

In another embodiment, the antenna is of the circular winding type, with an optional ferrite core, preferably arranged on the axis of the column at the lower end thereof. This arrangement is advantageous for obtaining an antenna of reduced size which is well directional and easier to integrate into the storage device. According to the invention, the antenna can be integrated either in the chassis of the locker (made of non-magnetic material) or in a support for example the tray of a game table on which the locker is disposed in a removable manner.

According to a variant of the invention, the electronic dialogue unit comprises means for sequential activation of the antennas of the storage device.

Advantageously, the sequential selection means comprise means forming a shift register, the outputs of which control switching means controlling the activation of each antenna.

According to another variant of the invention, the electronic dialogue unit comprises means for reading an identifier of the locker. In a more efficient way, the electronic unit includes means for reading / writing an electronic memory (circuit
DIC) associated with the locker. Advantageously, the electronic memory associated with the locker comprises, in addition to the identification of the locker, data evolving over time concerning the locker and its content chosen, for example, from a place such as a game table, the operator, the date and the time, the quantitative inventory of the contents of the locker and the instantaneous overall value of the contents of the locker. By this arrangement, the locker can be moved into the casino while carrying in the memory of the DIC circuit instant information on its content, further improving the security character of the system.

Other objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description of several embodiments of a storage device for game chips of the electronic memory type according to the invention given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a
token storage device according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view along
the line AA in FIG. 3 of a first mode of
creation of a locker for game tokens
usable in the storage device illustrated
in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view along
the line BB of figure 2 (cut according to the plan
vertical passing through the axis of the column); - Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view
similar to that of FIG. 3 of a variant of
realization of the locker illustrated in Figures 2
and 3; - Figure 5 is a schematic top view of a
another embodiment of a locker for tokens
game usable in a storage device according to
the invention; and - Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view along
the line DD of figure 5 (cut according to the plan
vertical passing through the axis of the column).

The device for storing game tokens according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 essentially comprises a rack 10 for game tokens (represented in part in FIG. 1) capable of accommodating columns of tokens stored in stack 12 , 14 and 16 and an electronic dialogue unit 20 comprising antenna means 22 associated with an antenna selection interface 24 and with an electronic read / write unit 26.

The rack 10 consists of a frame 28 in the form of a tray intended to be placed on a game table or the like horizontally flat or slightly inclined towards the front, that is to say towards the operator. The frame 28, made of non-metallic material, for example rigid plastic, has partition walls 30 to define there column storage sections for tokens (or plates) in the form of gutters with U-shaped bottom. from the description, these storage sections 32, 34, 36 are called columns, whether they are of horizontal or almost horizontal extension, or of vertical extension in the case of vertical dispensing racks (not shown). By way of nonlimiting example, the locker 10 of FIG. 1 has been represented with three columns, however in practice, the lockers of gaming tokens comprise between 8 and 20 columns depending on the casinos. Similarly, each column is liable to '' accommodate between 10 and 20 tokens, the boxes being well calibrated in relation to the size and thickness of the tokens to be able to quickly count the tokens (for example boxes of 200 tokens with 10 columns of 20 tokens). In addition, by assigning certain columns to tokens with a given face value and identifiable by their colors, it is possible to determine on sight the overall value of the contents of a locker. Today with classic game tokens with visual identification, the accuracy of these operations remains dependent on the proper placement of the tokens in the columns concerned and the fight against manipulation errors and / or game fraud remains very dependent on the remote surveillance.

The invention uses improved tokens and / or playing plates comprising an electronic identification device of the "contactless" type. More specifically, the token (for example the token 12a) comprises an electronic circuit 29, the memory of which contains coded information specific to the token so as to allow their identification and authentication using an appropriate reading unit. In the simplest version, the electronic circuits (not shown) of the tokens are of the microcircuit type and equipped with a non-reprogrammable memory (for example of the PROM type) with a unique identification code of 32 or 64 bits, the fields can include the serial number of the token or token batch, the nominal value and other information such as the name of the casino, etc. The electronic identification circuit 29 of the token also includes a transmitter / receiver with peripheral antenna with a circular coil also installed in the heart of the token and adapted to be supplied by inductive coupling from the external antenna of a read / write unit (in the case of the present invention the antenna 40 of the electronic unit of dialogue 20).

In a more elaborate version, the tokens are of evolving code and equipped with reprogrammable memory (for example of the EEPROM type) allowing reading and writing. This possibility to modify the information contained in the memory increases the degree of security of the electronic token in particular by making it possible to change the authentication parameters over time. Similarly, it is possible to personalize certain areas of the memory and then to configure them reversibly or not in a defined mode of memory area with read-only access or in areas with read / write access. Optionally, the dialogue between the electronic unit and the token is only authorized after mutual authentication, by introducing codes such as passwords and / or cryptography keys in the token and the electronic unit (in particular to encrypt the data during its transfer between the electronic unit and the token and vice versa).

In the context of the invention, the token is equipped with a microprocessor capable of carrying out complex processing and transactions. In particular, the microcircuit is adapted to allow either the simultaneous reading and / or writing of several tokens or the discrimination between the tokens, so as to work on stacked tokens or playing plates. In the embodiment of the invention given without limitation, the dialogue unit integrating the discrimination function is adapted to capture the identity of a first token in a batch of tokens located in the radiated field of the antenna, in this case a stack of tokens placed in a column of the locker 10. It is then possible to dialogue with the token and to perform the desired read / write operations then to deactivate the token entered by sending it a placing command The dialogue unit continues its interrogations in search of other tokens in the work area of the antenna to successively enter all the tokens present. After entering the last token, the dialog unit sends a command to reactivate all the tokens in the column.

This token discrimination function is also called the anti-collision function.

The structure and the manufacturing method of the electronic memory circuit tokens will not be described here in detail. By way of nonlimiting example, application EP-A-0694872 in the name of the applicant presents several types of token and plate structures which can be used in the context of the present invention.

If we again consider FIG. 1, the antenna means 22 consist of four antennas 40, 42, 44, 46 placed respectively at the end of the corresponding column 32, 34, 36 of the rack 10 and on the side right of the rack for the antenna 46. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the antennas 40, 42, 44 and 46 are mounted in parallel between two power supply lines 47, 48 connected to the analog section 50 of the read / write 26. The sequential activation of the antennas 40, 42, 44 and 46 is carried out using an antenna selection interface 24 comprising on the one hand sequential activation means 52, in the occurrence a shift register with 1 serial input (E) and 4 parallel outputs (S0 to S3) (or an equivalent electronic circuit) and switching means, in this case four bidirectional analog switches 54, 56, 58, 60, respectively arranged on the return lines 55, 57, 59, 61 pa from their respective antennas to the supply line 48, the antennas 40, 42, 44 and 46 being moreover directly connected to the supply line 47.

The read / write unit 26 consists of the analog section 50 and a digital processing section 62. The digital section 62 comprises a microcontroller which generates, interprets and processes the signals exchanged with the electronic memory tokens. The digital section 62 controls the antenna selection interface 24 (by sending signals to the clock input H of the register 52) when the unit 26 is used with several antennas. It also includes an oscillator which generates the carrier frequency (200 kHertz) of the radiofrequency signal emitted to the antennas, a time stamp circuit capable of giving the date and time of each event, PROM memories to memorize the processing sequences of the microcontroller, EEPROM memories to store the processed data and exchange data with electronic tokens and a serial interface of the RS232 / 485 type for connection with a server computer (not shown) either in point-to-point mode or in network mode. Finally the digital section 62 is connected to input devices (for example a keyboard 64) and / or output devices (for example a visual display 66 and / or an audible warning). The keyboard 64 allows for example to enter the information system such as commands to open and / or close the game table with which the locker is associated, and optionally to predefine the numerical values of the tokens associated with a column of the locker (to save time processing), or enter the operator name, etc. Similarly, the display can display all or part of the following information: total number of tokens present in the locker, number of tokens by name and / or by column, overall value contained in a column and / or in the locker.

Analog section 50 contains a converter
Analog / Digital (A / D), a modulator and an amplifier. From the signals, commands and information from the digital part 62, it generates an amplitude modulated radio frequency analog signal which, via the selected antenna, conveys energy, data and a synchronization signal to the electronic memory tokens. . The electronic tokens 12, 14 and 16 are of the passive type (without internal energy storage) for reading or reading / writing. The antenna must thus provide the energy necessary for the functioning of the electronic circuit of the token and must ensure the transmission of data. The antenna / token working distances are defined according to the magnetic flux (Bmin) necessary for the proper functioning of the electronic circuit of the token and therefore depend on the inductance, the geometry of the antenna and the antenna current. In general, for tokens with electronic circuit, internal antennas of the type with circular coils are used (optimal shape), also the ratio between the diameter of the coil of the antenna internal to the token and that of the antenna of the unit. Electronic dialogue is between 1 and 4, and the inductance between 250 and 500 mH, the quality factor Q being of the order of 40 to obtain large working distances without affecting data transmission.

Optionally but very advantageously, the storage device according to the invention comprises a locker identification device or DIC permanently associated with the chassis of the locker and capable of storing instant information concerning the locker and its content. Preferably, the DIC device 38 includes an electronic circuit with memory of the read / write type with a transmitter / receiver circuit for communicating without contact with a read / write station (analogous to the circuit used for tokens).

This circuit contains at least the serial number of the rack-tray so as to identify the latter.

The game chip trays are mobile storage units that can be moved and stored in different places in the casino. It is therefore interesting to know its identity for each tray and to associate information on its content (number of tokens, overall value, distribution by values, etc.), all this information available from the reading unit / write 62 at the end of entering the tokens present in the tray then being loaded into the memory of the DIC device 38 by the unit 26. In addition, information on the place of use (table number, etc.), on the date and time of the putting into service of the tray and its closing and on the identity of the operator (croupier, changer, cashier) are also loaded in memory of the DIC device 38 by the dialogue unit 26 after entry via the keyboard 64. Depending on the procedures chosen, the information stored in the DIC device will be automatically updated at regular time intervals or manually using the keyboard.

Depending on the location of the DIC device on the tray (or on the rack), the dialogue will take place from a column antenna or from a specific antenna (in this case antenna 46 illustrated in FIG. 1 ). In other variants, the DIC devices are of the microcircuit type with external electrical contacts.

Among the advantages conferred by the use of a DIC device integrated into the platform, we can cite: - the possibility of verifying the content of the platform
regardless of its location, the information
corresponding stored in the device memory
DIC being read by a portable player; - the possibility in the case of storage of trays
stacked to do a read of the DIC devices and
to know the instantaneous state of the token stock;
and - the possibility of entering and tracking movements
trays by having crossing points
monitored detection and reading systems at
distance (system similar to control systems
access). It improves the detection performance of
these systems by working with carriers of
frequencies chosen in the hyper domain
frequencies, of the order of a few GigaHertz.

The operating mode of the dialogue unit 20 is briefly presented below. For the remainder of the description, the term entered must be understood in its broadest sense to cover, according to the specificity of the token, the various transaction modes read and / or write.

The sequential activation of the antennas 40, 42, 44 and 46 is carried out by sending control signals to the clock input H of the register 52. In the present case, the successive states of the outputs of the register 52 can be represented by binary words 1000, 0100, 0010, 0001, 1000, etc. (state 1 being representative of the activation of an output Si).

The identical bidirectional switches 54, 56, 58, 60 have three main terminals, an input terminal Ec connected to an output of the register 52 (for example the output S0) and two terminals V1 and V2 mounted on the return line of the antenna corresponding to the specified output (line 55 for antenna 40). The switches operate as simple switches, the line V1-V2 being closed (passing) for Ec = 1 and open (interrupted) for Ec = 0. Thus each dialogue cycle begins with the activation of the antenna 40 with the successive entry tokens 12a to 12d of column 32 as described above (thanks to the presence in the tokens and in the dialogue unit 20 of the token discrimination function). After authentication of the token and verification of its identity, it It is possible to continue entering by reading and / or writing information specific to the token, in particular its face value. When all the tokens present in column 32 have been entered, the antenna 40 no longer perceives signals returning to its interrogation signals. The read / write unit 26 emits the signal to reactivate the tokens of column 32 then a control signal on the clock H of the register 52 to pass to the activation of the antenna 42 and the entry of the tokens 14 of the column 34, the operation continuing to enter all the tokens present in all the columns of the locker 10 until the activation of the last antenna 46 intended to communicate with the identification device of the locker
DIC 38 integrated into the latter to load the memory of the electronic circuit of the DIC device with information concerning the tray and its content.

With regard to the duration of transactions, the performance of the storage device according to the invention achievable with the components available today is of the order of 1 second for entering a column of 20 stacked tokens. It is possible to reduce the total input time by associating with each antenna a preprogrammed facial value and by respecting the arrangement of the tokens in columns by facial value. This limits entry to authentication of the token and verification of its identity.

The electronic memory chip storage device is easily adaptable to the requirements of user casinos with regard to the location of the antennas of the dialogue unit 20. In particular, it is possible either to arrange the antennas 40, 42, 44 , 46 and (possibly the antenna selection interface 24) in the rack (or tray) itself or to integrate the antennas into a fixed support (for example the tray of a game table) at a location well determined to receive the locker. The latter solution is illustrated schematically in Figure 1 by the reception frame 18 (shown in dashes) secured to the game table and adapted to receive the tray-tray 10. In both cases, the antennas associated with each column can be multiple and distributed to increase the reading capacity in tokens or separated into separate reading and writing antennas to reduce the transaction time.

FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate various alternative embodiments of lockers with integrated antennas that can be used in the context of the present invention and given by way of nonlimiting examples.

The tray-tray illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a plastic frame 69 with four separate columns carrying tokens 71,72,73,74, each equipped with an antenna 75,76,77,78 integrated in the frame. the lower end of the corresponding column. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tray rack 70 is placed in a housing 80 provided in the tray 81 of the game table inclined towards the front of the table (i.e. on the side where the operator). Each antenna is of the circular winding type 82 with a ferrite core 83 centered on the axis AA of the column. Under these conditions, the turns of the coil 82 of the external antenna 75 and those of the circular coil of the antenna 84 internal to the token 71a (shown schematically in Figure 3) are parallel to benefit from the maximum flux radiated by l antenna 82. The optional presence of the ferrite concentrates the radiated flux around the axis AA, focuses the radiated field (directive antenna) and eliminates the risks of interference between the antennas associated with different columns. In the lower end wall of column 71 is integrated the device
DIC 85 whose coiled antenna centered on the axis AA has a reception surface greater than that of the tokens so as to dialogue in good conditions with the antenna 75. The chassis 69 of the plate 70 carries the interface circuit of selection of antenna 24 and an electrical connection connector to the read / write unit 26 (not shown).

As a variant of the board described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 4 illustrates in section a rack-tray 90 laid flat on the horizontal board 91 of a game table. In this variant, the columns for tokens have a bottom 92 tilted forward and a wedge wedge 94 is disposed between the stack of tokens 96 and the wound antenna 97 placed at the lower end of the corresponding column of axis A'A '. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the axis of the ferrite 98 is centered on the axis A'A 'and therefore inclined relative to the axis of the coil 97. Finally, the DIC device 99 is integrated in the chassis of the crate -plate 90 facing the ferrite 97.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the storage device comprises one or more antennas with large turns to form a planar frame. This arrangement is advantageous for large trays or lockers and / or for covering several columns of tokens with a single antenna.

As before, the frame antenna can either be integrated into the horizontal table of the game table (the tray-tray comprising only a DIC device) or integrated into the chassis of the case. This latter solution is shown on the plate 100 illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 given by way of non-limiting example.

As for the tray illustrated in FIG. 4, the tray 100 is placed flat on the horizontal tray 101 of the game table. Each column 102, 103 of the chip-carrying tray has a tilted bottom 104 towards the front and a wedge at a bevel 105 houses the DIC device 106 at the front end of the column 102 of axis CC. The tray 100 comprises under the chips a horizontal base 107 in which are integrated the frames 108 and 109 of the antennas (in the present case an antenna frame is associated with a single column), the arrangement being such that the planes of the circular antennas 110 of the tokens 111 are not perpendicular to the plane of the frames 108, 109 of the antennas of the dialogue unit 20 to ensure a minimum of flux through the antennas 110 of the tokens.

Of course, the shape, the number, the arrangement and the location of the antennas of the dialogue unit and of the antenna selection interface can be adapted according to manufacturing constraints and / or the various specifications given. by casino operators while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

The invention also relates to racks, trays and vertical distributors and other column storage equipment for game tokens, play plates or the like adapted for use in a storage device according to the invention, in particular racks and trays equipped antennas for entering columns of tokens and / or DIC locker identification device, in particular and without limitation lockers and trays of the types described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS: 1. Storage device for game chips with electronic memory circuit comprising a rack (10) provided with at least one column storage section (32, 34, 36) intended to receive chips (12, 14, 18), characterized in that it comprises an electronic dialogue unit (20) capable of communicating with the tokens (12, 14, 16) present in at least one column (32, 34, 36) of said rack. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic dialogue unit (20) and the electronic chip memory circuits are adapted to allow the dialogue unit (20) to discriminate between the tokens (12a, 12b , 12c, 12d) present in the same column (32). 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic dialogue unit (20) communicates with the tokens by modulated waves and by means of antenna means (22) comprising at least one antenna, said antenna means being arranged relative to the rack (10) so as to ensure communication with the tokens present in at least one column (32, 34, 36) of said rack. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said rack (10) comprises several columns (32, 34, 36) each associated with at least one antenna (40, 42, 44). 5. Device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the antenna means (22) comprise at least one antenna of the wound type with large turns to form a planar frame (108, 109) substantially surrounding at least one column (102, 103) or the projection of at least one column in the plane of said frame (108, 109). 6. Device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the antenna means (22) comprise at least one antenna of the circular winding type (82, 97), with optional ferrite core (83, 98) and preferably arranged on the axis of the column (AA, A'A ') at the lower end of said column (71, 96). 7. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the antenna means (22) are integrated into the chassis of said rack (10). 8. Locker (10, 70, 90, 100) for storage device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a non-metallic chassis incorporating one or more antennas (75, 76, 77, 78; 107, 108) . 9. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the antenna means (22) are mounted on a support (18) on which is placed said rack (10), preferably removably. 10. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, comprising several antennas, characterized in that the electronic dialogue unit (20) comprises means for sequential selection (24) of the antennas (40, 42, 44, 46) . 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the antenna selection means (24) comprise shift register means (52) whose outputs control switching means (54, 56, 58, 60) controlling the activation of each antenna (40, 42, 44, 46). 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7 and 9 to 11, characterized in that the dialogue unit (20) comprises means (26) for reading and optionally means for writing in the memory of the tokens. 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the dialogue unit (20) comprises means for reading / writing in the electronic memory of a device for identifying the DIC locker (38, 85, 99, 106) associated with said locker. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the DIC device (38, 85, 99, 106) comprises, in addition to the identification of the token, data concerning the rack and its content, preferably chosen from the location of the rack (for example the game table), the operator, the date and time of certain operations concerning the locker or its contents, the instantaneous global or detailed inventory of the locker and the global value of the tokens present in the locker. 15. Locker for storage device according to one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the identification device of the locker DIC (38, 85, 99, 106) is permanently attached to said locker (10, 70, 90, 100) so as to be able to communicate with an antenna (46, 82, 97, 108) of the electronic dialogue unit (20) or with an external reading station.