JP2001170351A - Game medium counting device for game parlor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the convenience for players without complicating a hardware structure and increase a cost/performance ratio. SOLUTION: This pachinko ball counting device 6 can count pachinko balls with an appropriate member card 12 inserted into a card insertion port 23. The number of the pachinko balls put in a ball tray 15 is counted by a counter 19, and the count result is displayed on a display section 20. When a return switch 24 or a no-return switch 25 is operated in this display state, a first record slip 29 printed with the count result by the counter 19 is issued through a printer 31. When a data issuing switch 26 is operated, the personal game history data of the player having the member card 12 are downloaded from the history database of a data control device side, and a second record slip 30 printed with the personal game history data is issued through the printer 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game medium counting device for a game arcade provided for counting game media (for example, pachinko balls) obtained by a player in a game arcade such as a pachinko hall.

[0002]

For example, in a pachinko hall, a counting device for counting pachinko balls, which is a game medium, is provided at the end or the center of a so-called island where pachinko tables are lined up. It has been practiced to provide a printer that issues a receipt-shaped pachinko ball number record ticket with the pachinko ball counting result printed, thereby eliminating the need to carry a large number of pachinko balls to a prize exchange counter at a distance. It is designed to improve convenience for players. However, in this counting device, there is a problem that the printer is only used for issuing a pachinko ball number recording ticket, and the price-performance ratio is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a convenience for a player without complicating a hardware configuration and to improve a price / performance ratio. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game medium counting device for a game arcade.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a record carrier which is issued to a player and records a unique ID code, and a game history data of a plurality of gaming machines. In a game medium counting device provided in a game arcade provided with a data management device for counting and managing in a state associated with the ID code, a counter for counting the number of game media inserted, and printing a counting result by the counter Printing means for issuing a game media number record ticket, and when the counting operation of the counter is performed in a state where the record carrier is set,
Output control means for reading game history data corresponding to the ID code of the record carrier from the data management device and performing an operation of issuing a game history record ticket on which the game history data is printed through the printing means. (Claim 1).

According to the game medium counting device of this configuration, when the game medium is inserted, the game medium is counted by the counter, and the game medium number record ticket on which the counting result by the counter is printed is printed. Tickets will be issued through means. Accordingly, the player only has to carry the game medium number record ticket issued as described above when exchanging the acquired game media obtained by the game as a prize, and the convenience thereof is improved. Also, at the time of insertion of the game medium, if the record carrier possessed by the player is set,
The output control means reads the game history data corresponding to the ID code of the record carrier, that is, the game history data of the player from the data management device, and prints the game history record ticket on which the game history data is printed by the printing means. The operation for issuing a ticket is performed. Therefore, the player's own game history data is fed back to the player, and the convenience is improved. In addition, since such a game history recording ticket issuing operation can be performed by using the printing means provided for issuing the game medium number recording ticket, the hardware configuration is not complicated. The price / performance ratio can be increased,
Overall, the overall added value will be improved.

In this case, when issuing the game history record ticket, the output control means subtracts a count value of the counter by a predetermined value before issuing the game medium number record ticket through the printing means. It is possible to adopt a configuration for performing control (claim 2). According to this configuration, when the game history record ticket is issued, the game hall can receive the consideration, so that it is possible to recover the cost required for issuing the ticket, which is also beneficial for the game hall.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko ball counting apparatus for a pachinko hall will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 schematically shows a part of the pachinko hall equipment related to the gist of the present invention. In FIG. 4, a plurality of so-called islands 2 in which a plurality of pachinko machines 1 (corresponding to gaming machines) are arranged in a pachinko hall are provided. The ball lending machine 3 is installed so as to correspond one by one. Above the pachinko machine 1
The call lamp unit 4 is arranged so as to correspond to this one-to-one. The calling lamp unit 4 functions as an information processing terminal, and is provided between the pachinko machine 1 and the ball lending machine 3 and between the pachinko machine 1 and the ball lending machine 3 and a centralized management device constituted by a computer. 5 (corresponding to a data management device), a function of relaying data transmission and reception, a data display function, and the like.

Although not specifically shown, the pachinko machine 1 has, for example, the following configuration (however, it is needless to say that the configuration is not limited to this configuration). That is, the pachinko machine 1 is always kept in the game prohibition state by locking the handle 1a of the electric firing mechanism for pachinko ball firing, and the pachinko machine 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 3a provided in the corresponding ball lending machine 3 later. When a membership card (shown by reference numeral 12 in FIGS. 1 and 5; corresponding to a record carrier) is inserted, the locked state of the handle 1a is released and the state is switched to a playable state. ing. In addition, the pachinko machine 1 includes a symbol display device that is operated when a pachinko ball wins a so-called start hole during a game using a pachinko ball (equivalent to a game medium). When the operation is stopped in a state in which the winning symbol is displayed, the big win state (special prize state) in which the electric winning object is operated to greatly increase the winning probability is continued for a predetermined period. Therefore, when such a big hit state occurs in the pachinko machine 1, the player can acquire a large amount of pachinko balls.

In the pachinko machine 1, every time a jackpot occurs, the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player accompanying the jackpot (= number of released pachinko balls−number of driven pachinko balls)
The jackpot data such as the so-called number of starts (the number of times the symbol display device has started to operate) required until the jackpot state occurs, as well as its own machine number data, are transferred to the card insertion slot 3a.
Is transmitted to the central management device 5 together with the member number stored in the member card 12 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 5) inserted in the. In addition, in the ball lending machine 3, every time a jackpot occurs, the investment amount data indicating the total amount of the pachinko balls lent to the corresponding player until the jackpot occurs, and the corresponding pachinko machine 1 The machine number is transmitted to the centralized management device 5 together with the member number stored in the member card 12 inserted in the card insertion slot 3a.

The centralized control device 5 has a history database for organizing and accumulating transmission data from each pachinko machine 1 and each ball lending machine 3, and as described above, the pachinko machine 1 and ball lending machine 3 are provided. When the data transmitted from the machine 3 is received, the jackpot data (the number of starts, the number of pachinko balls acquired on the player side), the investment amount data, the machine number, and the model data are associated with the member numbers attached to the data. It is configured to collectively manage the individual game history data in the state of being closed. At this time, the ball database data indicating the total number of pachinko balls acquired by the player is stored in the history database,
Each member number and the pachinko ball 1 for which the pachinko balls are to be obtained are accumulated in a state associated with the machine number. Further, the centralized management device 5 is configured to include a member database in which various data necessary to authenticate the suitability of the member card 12 is stored.

The pachinko ball counting device 6 (hereinafter, abbreviated as counting device 6) corresponding to the game medium counting device according to the present invention,
It is installed at the end or the center of the island 2 for counting the pachinko balls acquired by the player, and exchanges data with the centralized management computer 5.

FIG. 5 shows the front appearance of the call lamp unit 4. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, a call lamp unit 4 is provided with a display 8 and a call switch 9 made of, for example, an LCD panel in the center of a substantially rectangular main body case 7.
Are provided vertically, and a pair of display lamps 10 are provided on both left and right sides of the display 8. For example, a card insertion slot 11 is formed at the right end of the main body case 7, and a card reader 13 for reading data from the member card 12 inserted through the card insertion slot 11 is provided inside the main body case 7. Is provided.

The membership card 12 is issued to a player who has made a specific contract, and has a configuration in which a tape-shaped magnetic recording portion 12a is attached to a rectangular plastic plate. In this case, although not specifically shown, the member card 12 has embossed character and numeral information such as a pachinko hall name and a member name on the surface thereof. Stores a store name code for specifying a hall, a member number which is an ID code assigned to a member (player), expiration date data indicating a card expiration date, and the like.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the counting device 6. In FIG. 1, a main body case 1 of a counting device 6 is shown.
4 is a hopper-shaped ball receiver 1 into which pachinko balls are inserted.
The lower end of the ball receiver 15 is provided with a downflow port 16 for pachinko balls. The above-mentioned outlet 1
6 is provided with, for example, a slide type shutter 17, and the shutter 17 is always in a position where the downflow port 16 is closed. Shutter 1
Reference numeral 7 denotes a shutter driving device using, for example, a motor (FIG. 2)
In the state where this is moved to a position where the flow-down port 16 is opened, the pachinko ball inserted into the ball receiver 15 is
After passing through the flow-down port 16 and the internal counter 19, it is discharged to the outside of the main body case 14 through a discharge path (not shown). The counter 19 is configured to generate, in real time, the number of counting pulses corresponding to the number of passed pachinko balls.

A display unit 20 is provided at a position behind the ball receiver 15 in the main body case 14, and the display unit 20 displays a count value of the counter 19, that is, the ball receiver 15.
A well-known display function is provided for displaying the number of pachinko balls inserted into the game machine, the number of specific prizes exchangeable by the pachinko balls, and the number of surplus pachinko balls generated when the pachinko balls are exchanged for specific prizes. Also, body case 1
In the front position of the ball receiver 15 in FIG.
A surplus ball returning unit 21 for performing an operation of releasing the number of pachinko balls according to the number of surplus pachinko balls displayed as 0 is provided.

A ticket issuing unit 22 is provided integrally on the side of the main body case 14. This ticketing unit 22
Is provided with a card insertion slot 23 for inserting the membership card 12 on the front surface thereof, and a return switch 24, a non-return switch 25, a data ticket switch 26, and a ticket slot 27 on the top surface. . In the ticket issuing unit 22, a card reader 28 for reading data from the membership card 12 inserted through the card insertion slot 23, and a first recording ticket 29 (to be described as a game medium number recording ticket) from the ticket issuing port 27. Equivalent) and the second recording ticket 30
Printer 3 for issuing (equivalent to game history record ticket)
1 (corresponding to printing means), a control unit for controlling the counting device 6 (corresponding to the output control means indicated by reference numeral 32 in FIG. 2), and the like.

In this case, the return switch 24 and the non-return switch 25 are operated when the first recording ticket 29 is issued when the counting of the pachinko balls is completed in the counter 6. In particular, when the switch with return 24 is operated, the surplus ball return unit 21 is operated, whereby the surplus ball return unit 21 reduces the number of surplus pachinko balls displayed on the display unit 20. A corresponding number of pachinko balls are released. still,
When the non-return switch 25 is operated, only the operation of issuing the first recording ticket 29 is performed, and the operation of releasing the remaining pachinko balls is not performed. In addition, the data ticketing switch 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a switch that is operated when the second recording ticket 30 is issued when the counting of the pachinko balls is completed in the counter 6.

FIG. 2 shows an electrical configuration of the counting device 6 by a combination of functional blocks. In FIG. 2, the control unit 32 mainly includes a microcomputer, and includes a control program stored in advance,
And the counting pulse from the counter 19, each switch 24-
Based on an operation signal from the controller 26, data read by the card reader 28, and the like, the shutter controller 18, the display unit 20, the surplus ball returning unit 21, and the printer 31 are controlled, and the communication with the central management device 5 is performed. The transmission and reception of data is performed through the transmission / reception unit 33.

FIG. 3 shows the contents of control by the control unit 32, which will be described below together with the operation of related parts. In FIG. 1, power is turned on (start).
In this state, the system waits until the member card 12 is inserted (set) into the card insertion slot 23, that is, until the card reader 28 takes in the member card 12 (step S1). The data communication processing routine S2 is executed.

In this routine S2, data (store name code, member number, expiration date data, etc.) read from the member card 12 through the card reader 28 is stored in, for example, a buffer memory, and the stored data is transmitted to the central management device 5. Is what you do.

In this case, the centralized management device 5 that has received the data authenticates the membership card 12 by checking the received data against the membership database. Is returned to the counting device 6 that has transmitted the read data.
To answer back.

After execution of the data communication processing routine S2, whether or not the count permission has been lowered, that is, whether or not the count permission signal has been input or not, is determined based on the type of the signal to be answered back from the central control device 5. It is determined whether a signal has been input (step S3). If the counting permission has not been granted, a clear processing routine S19 for initializing the operation contents (in this case, initializing the data stored in the data communication processing routine S2), the member card 12 in the fetched state is cleared. Step S20 of discharging through the card reader 28 is sequentially performed, and thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if the counting permission has been granted ("YES" in step S3), the received ball data is stored (step S4) and the shutter driving device 1 is stored.
8, the shutter 17 is moved to the open position (the position where the flow-down port 16 is opened) (step S5). As a result, the counter 19 starts counting operation of the pachinko balls inserted into the ball receiver 15.

In the counting processing routine S6 to be performed thereafter, the operation of dividing the count value (increased with the progress of counting) by the counter 19 by the exchange unit price of the specific prize is repeatedly executed, and the count value and the division are performed. Display contents 2
The operation of displaying the value at 0 is performed. This display content fluctuates rapidly according to the increase in the count value and the content of the division during the counting operation. When the counting operation is finally completed, the pachinko machine inserted into the ball receiver 15 is displayed. The number of balls, the number of specific prizes that can be exchanged by the pachinko balls, and the number of surplus pachinko balls generated when the pachinko balls are exchanged for specific prizes are displayed.

The counting processing routine S6 ends when the counting of the inserted pachinko balls is completed, and thereafter, a counting value collating processing routine S7 is performed. In this routine S7, the stored ball storage step S4
The total of the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player indicated by the ball data stored in the step 1 is compared with the final count value of the counter 19, and the error between them is within an allowable range. In such a case, it is determined that the count value is appropriate, and if the error is out of the allowable range, some irregularity (such as an operation of illegally increasing the count value by a radio wave transmitter or similar device). Alternatively, it is determined that there is an error (for example, when the counter 19 performs an irregular counting operation), and the count value is determined to be inappropriate.

After the execution of the counting value comparison routine S7, it is determined whether or not ticketing permission has been granted, that is, whether or not the counting value is appropriate, based on the comparison result in the routine S7 (step S8). ). If the ticketing permission has not been granted (if the count value is incorrect), an error processing routine S9 for performing an operation of notifying the pachinko hall employee that an abnormality has occurred in the counting device 6 is executed. After that, the above-described clear processing routine S
19. The card discharging step S20 is sequentially executed, and the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if the ticket issuance is permitted ("YES" in step S: the count value by the counter 19 is appropriate), the return switch 24, the non-return switch 25, The operation signal from the data ticketing switch 26 is validated (step S10), and thereafter, a loop is formed to wait until any of the switches 24, 25, 26 is turned on (steps S11, S).
12, S13).

When the data issuing switch 26 is turned on ("YES" in step S11), the second recording ticket 3
It is determined whether or not 0 has been issued (step S14). Here, if it is determined to be “YES”, the standby loop S
Returning to 11 to S13, if it is determined “NO”,
The personal data ticketing routine S15 is executed. In this routine S15, personal game history data (big hit data, investment amount data, unit number and model data) corresponding to the member card 12 in a state where the card reader 28 has taken in is downloaded from the history database of the central management device 5. A second recording ticket 30 on which the personal game history data is printed is issued through the printer 31.

In this case, the second recording ticket 30 has a format as shown in FIG. 7, for example. That is, FIG.
In the second record ticket 30, the pachinko hall name a
1. "Personal game data" name a2, member number a3, member name a4, ticketing date a5, model name a6, and unit number a
7. The amount paid by the player through the ball rental machine 3 (investment amount)
Numerical data a8 indicating the number of start, numerical data a indicating the number of start
9, a display a10 for indicating the occurrence history of the "big hit",
Numerical data a11 indicating the number of acquired pachinko balls at each "big hit", numerical data a12 indicating the final count value (total number of acquired pachinko balls) by the counter 19, and the number of specific prizes exchangeable by the acquired pachinko balls Is printed. It should be noted that the printing of “Yame” in the second recording ticket 30 indicates a state in which the game on the pachinko machine 1 has been completed. Of the above-mentioned print contents, those which are printed based on the personal game data include the model name a6 and the machine number a7 corresponding to the machine number and the machine data, the numerical data a8 corresponding to the investment amount data, and the jackpot data. Numerical data a9, display a10, and numerical data a11. Further, when the corresponding player plays a game across a plurality of pachinko machines 1, the personal game history data of each pachinko machine 1 is printed in a state of being listed on one second recording ticket 30.

After the above-described personal data ticketing process S15 is executed, a calculation is performed to subtract the count value of the counter 19, that is, the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player by a predetermined value, for example, "1" (step S16). The standby loop S1
It returns to 1-S13. Therefore, when the second recording ticket 30 is issued, the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player is reduced by one.

On the other hand, if the return switch 24 is turned on ("YES" in step S12), a surplus ball return processing routine S17 is executed. In this routine S17, when the number of surplus pachinko balls displayed on the display unit 20 is “1” or more in accordance with the processing in the counting process routine S6, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the number of surplus pachinko balls is determined. The operation of releasing the extra ball through the surplus ball returning unit 21 and the operation of initializing the number of surplus pachinko balls displayed on the display unit 20 are performed, and after the operation is completed, the process proceeds to the diving ball data ticketing processing routine S18. In addition, when return-less switch 25 is turned on ("YES" in step S13).
Then, the surplus ball return processing routine S17 is jumped, and the routine goes to the possessed ball data ticketing processing routine S18.

In the possession ball data ticketing processing routine S18,
A first recording ticket 29 on which the final count value in the counting process routine S6 is printed as ball data is issued through the printer 31. In this case, the first recording ticket 29 is
For example, the format is as shown in FIG. That is,
6, the pachinko hall name b1, the date of issuance b2 and its date and time b3, the numerical data b4 indicating the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the ball data, the numerical data thereof, etc. are recorded on the first recording ticket 29. A bar code b5, a character string b6 indicating an effective date, and a character string b7 of "Thank you every time" are printed. The printing example shown in FIG. 6 is a case where the pachinko balls are not returned (there is a fraction). Above-mentioned ball data ticketing processing routine S
After the execution of step 18, the clear processing routine S19 and the card ejection step S20 are sequentially executed, and the process returns to step S1.

In short, the counting device 6 according to the present embodiment
In this case, the pachinko ball counting operation is permitted only when the membership card 12 possessed by the player is inserted (set) into the card insertion slot 23. When pachinko balls are inserted,
The number of the pachinko balls is counted by the counter 19, and the counting result is displayed on the display unit 20.
From this display state, when the return switch 24 or the returnless switch 25 is turned on, the first counting result (the number of pachinko balls obtained by the player) by the counter 19 is printed as ball data. The recording ticket 29 is issued through the printer 31. Therefore,
The player only needs to carry the first recording ticket 29 issued as described above when exchanging the pachinko balls acquired by the game, and the convenience is improved. When the return-existing switch 24 is turned on, the surplus pachinko balls at the time of prize exchange are used.
1 is returned to the player side.

After the counting of the pachinko balls as described above, when the data ticketing switch 26 is turned on before the return switch 24 or the no return switch 25 is turned on, the inserted member card is inserted. 1
2 personal game history data (big hit data (the number of pachinko balls acquired on the player side when a big hit occurs, the number of so-called starts required until the big hit occurs), investment amount data, The number and model data are downloaded from the history database on the data management device 5 side, and the second recording ticket 30 on which the personal game history data is printed is issued via the printer 31. Therefore, the player's own game history data is fed back to the player, and the convenience is improved. Moreover, such a ticket issuance operation of the second recording ticket 30 can be performed using the printer 31 originally provided for issuing the first recording ticket 29, so that the hardware configuration becomes complicated. The price-to-performance ratio can be increased without the accompanying cost, and overall added value is improved.

In addition, when the second recording ticket 30 is issued, the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player is reduced by one, that is, when the second recording ticket 30 is issued, the price is automatically paid by the pachinko hall. Because it is configured to be able to receive, it is possible to collect the cost required for issuing the ticket,
It is also beneficial for pachinko halls.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications or extensions are possible. The pachinko machine 1 is configured such that the operation handle 1a of the electric ball firing mechanism can be operated only when the membership card is set. However, such a game prohibition function is not necessarily required, and personal history data is required. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the player himself / herself inserts the membership card 12 and accumulates the personal history data in association with the member number.

The counting device 6 has a configuration in which the counting operation is permitted on the assumption that the member card 12 is inserted, but such a configuration is not always necessary. That is,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the counting operation can be performed at all times, and only the player who wants to issue the second recording ticket 30 sets the membership card 12 and receives the recording ticket 30 at any time. As examples of the personal game history data to be printed on the second recording ticket 30, the jackpot data, the investment amount data, the machine number, and the model data have been described. However, other data (for example, game transition time, payout rate time transition data) Of course) may be printed as personal history data. If the pachinko machine 1 has a configuration in which so-called “small hits” and “medium hits” occur in addition to “big hits”, the occurrence history of those “small hits” and “medium hits” and each hit It is also possible to print the number of acquired pachinko balls on the second recording ticket 30. Although the configuration is such that pachinko balls are counted as game media, it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to a counting device for counting coins, which are game media for slot machines. As the record carrier, the member card 12 of the magnetic recording system is used.
It is also possible to use a membership card composed of cards, and in this case, it is possible to record various data such as the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player on the membership card itself.

In the above embodiment, the second recording ticket 30
In order to receive a ticket, it is essential to turn on the data ticketing switch 26 prior to turning on the return switch 24 or the no return switch 25. Is possible. That is, for example, when the switch with return 24 or the switch without return 25 is turned on, the first
With the issue of the recording ticket 29 of the second recording ticket 3 suspended,
0 is confirmed to the player through display means or the like through the display means or the like.
Is turned on, the first recording ticket 29 and the second recording ticket 30 in a state in which the ball data is deducted by "1" are issued, and the data issuing switch 26 is turned on from the above-mentioned holding state. When the predetermined time elapses without any processing, only the first recorded ticket 29 in which the final count value in the counting process routine S6 is recorded as ball data as it is may be issued.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko ball counting apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko ball counting device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a control unit in the pachinko ball counting device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part in a pachinko hall;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a calling lamp unit and a membership card.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a first recording ticket.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a second recording ticket.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a pachinko machine (game machine), 3 is a ball rental machine, 4 is a call lamp unit, 5 is a centralized management device (data management device), 6
Is a pachinko ball counting device (gaming media counting device), 12 is a membership card (recording carrier), 19 is a counter, 22 is a ticket issuing unit, 26 is a data issuing switch, and 29 is a first recording ticket (game media number recording ticket). ), 30 denotes a second recording ticket (game history recording ticket), 31 denotes a printer (printing means), and 32 denotes a control unit (output control means).

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A record carrier which is issued to a player and records a unique ID code, and a data management device which counts and manages game history data of a large number of gaming machines in a state of being associated with the ID code. A game medium counting device provided in a game arcade provided with: a counter for counting the number of game media inserted; a printing means for issuing a game medium number record ticket on which the counting result of the counter is printed; When the counting operation of the counter is performed in a state where is set, the game history data corresponding to the ID code of the record carrier is read from the data management device, and the game history data is printed with the game history data. An output control means for performing an operation of issuing a ticket through the printing means, a game medium counting apparatus for a game arcade. 2. The system according to claim 2, wherein, when issuing the game history record ticket, the output control means subtracts a count value of the counter by a predetermined value before an operation of issuing the game medium number record ticket through the printing means. 2. The game medium counting device for a game arcade according to claim 1, wherein