JP2001134814A - Game machine controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the operating burden on a player for extracting and inserting a prepaid card. SOLUTION: A coin slot 14 and a card display part 17 or the like are provided on the front of a game machine controller 1. The coin slot 14 accepts the insertion of coins. Inside the coin slot 14, a paper money discriminator is provided for discriminating the denomination of coin. When the paper money discriminator discriminates a prescribed denomination, the card display part 17 presents a prepaid card corresponding to the denomination and automatically displays the state of taking the prepaid card into a machine later. In response to the display operation, it is reported to the adjacent game machine that the coin of the said denomination is accepted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine control device provided adjacent to a game machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine in a playground such as a pachinko hall.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a conventional slot machine starts a plurality of reels by inserting a medal by a player and operating a start lever, and then sequentially stopping each reel by pressing a stop button switch by the player. The game is played. Prior to the start of the game, the player will borrow medals from the medal lending machine,
A desired machine is selected, and a game is executed while a predetermined number of medals are inserted into the machine for each game.

[0003] Since the medal insertion operation for each game is complicated for a player, in recent years, a large number of medals are continuously inserted into a machine and deposited in advance, and a game is executed using the deposited medals. A type of slot machine was proposed. However, even in this type of slot machine, since the operation of continuously inserting the first medals is indispensable, the work burden on the player for inserting medals cannot be completely eliminated.

[0004] In recent years, introduction of a game system using a prepaid card has been studied. The prepaid card is written with the amount paid by the player in advance or the number of medals corresponding to the amount, and when the prepaid card is inserted into a desired machine, the medal number is stored in the machine, and the game is stored. Each time, the number of medals is subtracted. The prepaid card is issued by a card issuing machine arranged at an appropriate place in the playground. Therefore, it is necessary for a player to visit a card issuing machine and purchase a prepaid card. In recent years, to eliminate this complexity,
A thin card issuing machine provided adjacent to a slot machine has been proposed.

[0005]

However, in this type of game system using a card issuing machine, the player inserts money into the card issuing machine, then removes the prepaid card issued by the card issuing machine from the card issuing slot and places the card at the adjacent position. Is necessary for the player to enter the slot machine, which is complicated for the player.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem. When a predetermined denomination of money is inserted, a prepaid card is presented and a state in which the prepaid card is taken in is displayed. An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine control device in which an adjacent game machine is notified that a kind of money has been received, thereby greatly reducing the operation burden on a player.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a game machine control device provided adjacent to a game machine, comprising: a money accepting port for accepting insertion of money; and a money receiving machine for accepting money from the money accepting port. Discriminating means for discriminating a denomination, and a card display for displaying a state in which, when the discriminating means discriminates a predetermined denomination, a prepaid card corresponding to the denomination is presented and the prepaid card is automatically taken into the machine. Means for transmitting to the amusement machine that the money of the denomination has been accepted in response to the card display means displaying the state of loading the prepaid card into the machine.

[0008]

In the game machine control device according to the present invention, when money is inserted into the money receiving port, the denomination of the money is determined. If the denomination is a predetermined denomination, the prepaid corresponding to the denomination is presented to the player, and then the player is shown that the prepaid card is automatically taken into the machine. Thereby, the player is aware that he has purchased and inserted the prepaid card without touching the prepaid card. When the gaming machine is notified that the money of the denomination has been accepted, the gaming machine is ready to execute the game for the amount of money.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows an installed state of a game machine control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game machine controller 1 is provided adjacent to each slot machine 2, and each slot machine 2 and the game machine controller 1 are electrically connected by a code line 9. Each amusement machine control device 1 is electrically connected to a tallying computer 4 via a transmission line 3 such as an optical fiber, and the tallying computer 4 is further connected to a center device of a card company via a communication line 8.

Each slot machine 2 is provided with three reels (not shown) each of which has a plurality of symbols displayed on a peripheral surface thereof. Each component such as five or three stop switches 6 is provided, and a control circuit unit 7 for electrically controlling each component by using a CPU as a control body is incorporated in the machine.

FIG. 2 shows the external appearance of the amusement machine control device 1, and FIG. 3 shows the internal structure thereof. A first display lamp 13 and a money receiving port 14
However, the second display lamp 15 and the card display unit 1
7, an error indicator 18 is provided on the lower door 12, respectively. The upper door 10, the middle door 11, and the lower door 12 are openable and closable. The upper door 10 is locked with a lock 19 for locking the upper door 10, and the lower door 12 is locked with the middle door 11 and the lower door 12. Locks 20 are provided.

The first and second display lamps 13 and 15 are:
As will be described later in detail, this is for notifying the player or the attendant of the operation state of the machine by lighting, turning off, and blinking. The money receiving port 14 is a part for receiving a bill of a predetermined denomination (1000 yen bill in this embodiment),
Inside the money receiving port 14, there is a bill taking-in mechanism for taking in the accepted bills, a denomination of the bill and a denomination (here, 10 bills).
A bill processing unit 21 including a bill discriminator for discriminating whether or not the bill is a (00-yen bill) and a safe for stocking the taken bills is provided.

When the bill discriminator determines that the bill is a 1,000-yen bill, the card display section 17 presents a prepaid card corresponding to the denomination and then displays a state in which the prepaid card is taken into the machine. It is for. In this embodiment, after a display window 22 whose outside is covered with a transparent cover and a prepaid card is protruded halfway into the inside of the display window 22 so as to be visible from the outside,
And a card operating mechanism 23 for taking in the prepaid card. Note that this card display unit 17
Uses a real prepaid card, but the present invention is not limited to this. The card display unit 17 is configured with an image display means such as a CRT, and the image of the prepaid card is displayed on its display screen, and this is displayed in the cabin. The state of taking in may be displayed.

The error display 18 is for displaying the contents of the error that has occurred, etc., by numerical values to notify a staff member or the like. In this embodiment, for example, when there is a jam of the accepted bill or an abnormality of the bill validator, the numerical value “0” is set.
"1", the numerical value "02" when the safe is full, and the numerical value "03" when the card operating mechanism 23 is not activated and the prepaid card is not taken in. When there is a communication error with the slot machine 2, a numerical value “04” is displayed.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the card operating mechanism 23 of the card display unit 17. As shown in FIG. This card operating mechanism 23
Guides 25, 25 are provided on a support surface 24 supporting the prepaid card 30, and feed rollers 26, 26 for reciprocating the prepaid card 30 on the support surface 24 and a photoelectric sensor for detecting the position of the prepaid card 30 are provided. 27 are provided. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the prepaid card 30 is projected inside the display window 22 and is visible from the outside. In FIG. 3, the state in which the prepaid card 30 is taken inside is indicated by a chain line. In this embodiment, when the photoelectric sensor 27 temporarily transitions from the off state to the on state and then returns to the off state, the prepaid card 30 transitions from the protruding state to the capturing state or from the capturing state to the protruding state. It is determined that the transition has been made.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a circuit configuration of the amusement machine control device 1 described above.
5, a ROM 36 for storing programs, a RAM 37 for storing various data, and input / output ports 39, 40.
And These memories and input / output ports 39 and 40 are electrically connected to the CPU 35 via a bus 34. The input / output ports 39 and 40 are connected to the first display lamp 13, the second display lamp 15, Classifier 2
8, a photoelectric sensor 27, an error display 18, a bill taking-in mechanism 29, and a card operating mechanism 23 are connected. In the figure, a transmission unit 38 is for exchanging necessary information with the slot machine 2 and with the counting computer 4.

FIG. 6 shows a control procedure of the amusement machine control device 1 described above. Step 1 of FIG.
It is determined whether the power is turned on. When the determination is "YES", the CPU 35 turns on the first and second display lamps 13 and 15, and displays zero as a numerical value on the error indicator 18 (steps 2 and 3). In the next step 4, the CPU 35 checks from the output of the photoelectric sensor 27 whether the prepaid card 30 is at an appropriate position on the support surface 24 of the card operating mechanism 23, and if the determination in step 5 is "YES", The first display lamp 13 is turned off (step 6).

In the next step 7, it is determined whether or not the bill is inserted into the bill receiving port 14. When the bill is inserted, the determination in step 7 is "YES", and the CPU 35 corrects the bill taking-in mechanism 29. Drive and take in the bill into the machine,
The bill discriminator 28 determines whether the bill is authentic or not, and determines whether the bill is a 1,000-yen bill (steps 8 and 9). The insertion of a bill into the bill receiving port 14 can be easily detected by providing a photoelectric sensor inside the bill receiving port 14.

If the inserted bill is a true bill and 10
If it is a 00-yen bill, the determination in step 10 is “YES”, and the CPU 35 determines in step 11 that the first display lamp 13
Is turned on, the feed roller 26 of the card operating mechanism 23 is turned on.
To drive the prepaid card 30 toward the display window 22 and blink the second display lamp 15 (steps 13 and 14). If the inserted bill is a fake bill or a true bill other than a 1,000-yen bill, the determination in step 10 is “NO” and the CPU 35
Displays a predetermined numerical value on the error display 18 to indicate that it is an error (step 12).

When it is detected from the output of the photoelectric sensor 27 that the prepaid card 30 is in the half-projected state, the determination in step 15 is "YES", and the CPU 35 drives the feed roller 26 of the card operating mechanism 23. To stop,
The first display lamp 13 is turned off, and the second display lamp 15 is switched from the blinking state to the lighting state (steps 16 to 1).
8). At the time of this stop, the prepaid card 30 has an appropriate length protruding from the front end to a position inside the display window 22, and the rear end is positioned on the support surface 24 of the card operating mechanism 23 so that the card can be taken in. This allows the player to set the transparent cover 2
2, the prepaid card 30 can be confirmed.

In this state, the CPU 35 performs a timing operation, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, the determination in step 19 becomes "YES" and the routine proceeds to the next step 20.
That is, in this embodiment, after the prepaid card 30 is sent out to the position inside the display window 22 and becomes visible from the outside, the prepaid card 30 is automatically taken into the inside after a lapse of a predetermined time. Step 2
At 0, the CPU 35 reversely drives the feed roller 26 of the card operating mechanism 23 to convey the prepaid card 30 into the machine, and switches the second display lamp 15 from the lighting state to the blinking state in the next step 21. Prepaid card 30
Is detected from the output of the photoelectric sensor 27 and the CPU 35 stops the feed roller 26 of the card operating mechanism 23, and determines that the second position has reached the standby position. The display lamp 15 is switched from the blinking state to the lighting state, and "10" is displayed on the error display 18 as a numerical value indicating the completion of the operation (steps 23 to 25).

In the next step 26, the CPU 35
Slot machine 2 that 1000 yen bill has been accepted
To the control circuit unit 8 and communicates with the tallying computer 4 to send out necessary information (step 2).
6). In response to this, the slot machine 2 adds the number of medals corresponding to 1000 yen to the number of medals held by the player. In the next step 27, it is determined that the slot machine 2 has performed the adding operation, and the determination is “YES”.
If so, the CPU 35 blinks the numerical value displayed on the error display 18 and then displays zero as the numerical value (step 28).

[0023]

As described above, the present invention automatically presents a prepaid card corresponding to a denomination to a player when a predetermined denomination of money is inserted into a coin slot, and then automatically displays the prepaid card. Is displayed in the aircraft, and that the money of the denomination has been accepted is notified to the amusement machine, and only the amount of money can be executed. The player can immediately start the game without actually having to remove the prepaid card or insert it into the amusement machine, greatly reducing the operation burden on the player. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an installed state of a game machine control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the game machine control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view showing the internal structure of the game machine control device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a card operating mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the game machine control device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the game machine control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Amusement machine control apparatus 14 Money receiving port 17 Card display part 28 Banknote discriminator 30 Prepaid card 38 Transmission part

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G07F 7/08 M

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A game machine control device provided adjacent to a game machine, comprising: a money receiving port for receiving insertion of money; a discriminating means for determining a denomination of money received from the money receiving port; When the discriminating means discriminates a predetermined denomination, after presenting a prepaid card corresponding to the denomination, card display means for automatically displaying a state in which the prepaid card is loaded into the aircraft, the card display means A game machine control device comprising: transmission means for notifying the game machine that the money of the denomination has been accepted in response to displaying a state in which a prepaid card is taken into the machine.