JP2002186707A5 - - Google Patents

Description

[Document name] statement
[Title of the Invention] Island facility unit for gaming machines
[Claim of claim]
    [Claim 1] awardAsCoin shapedA plurality of gaming machines can be equipped to provide gaming media to the player,At least equippedeachGaming machineAnd a control device for controlling the operation of the game medium replenishment mechanism.And a plurality ofMachine unit island equipment unit,
  The gaming medium replenishment mechanism selectively selects one of a gaming medium circulation mechanism unit for circulating the gaming medium in the circulation channel formed in the gaming machine island facility unit and a game medium passing through the circulation channel. ofGaming machineAnd a game medium supply mechanism unit for supplying
  The gaming medium circulation mechanism unit
  Gaming media storage means for storing gaming media;
  The above game media storage meansA pumping device for pumping gaming media stored by
A pumping channel member for feeding upward the game medium sent from the pumping device;
Formed at the upper end of the above-mentioned pumping channel memberA game medium having a game medium flow path, which is an inclined path which can receive game media pumped to the game medium outlet from the inlet and roll the game media by its own weight and naturally flow down to the outlet at the lower end of the slope A flow path member,
  Game medium collecting means for receiving the game medium discharged from the discharge port through the game medium flow path of the game medium flow path member from the collection port and guiding it to the game medium storage means;
  Equipped with
  The above game medium supply mechanism unit
  Open to the floor of the gaming media channel,Each game machineA plurality of game medium supply gates each communicating with a game medium supply path for guiding game media to the
  A flow path opening / closing member provided corresponding to the gaming medium supply gate and opening / closing the floor portion opening of the gaming medium flow path;
  A flow path opening / closing solenoid provided corresponding to the flow path opening / closing member and opening / closing the flow path opening / closing member based on a command from the control device;
  Equipped with
In order to count the number of game media sent out from the game medium outlet of the pumping channel member to the game media channel on the upstream side of the most upstream game media replenishment gate in the above game media channel member, Provide a counting sensor,
  the aboveReceive detection / non-detection of gaming media flow from the counting sensorThe controller is
  Gaming machineIn response to a supply request fromPerform the replenishment process of opening the flow path opening / closing solenoid corresponding to the gaming machine to operate the pumping device, and when the number of gaming media for the set number of transporting sheets is replenished, the replenishment process is ended.Game medium supply control means for causing
  the aboveUndetected flow of gaming media by counting sensorCirculation abnormality detecting means for detecting a circulation abnormality state in which an abnormality relating to the circulation operation of the game medium has occurred on the basis of,
After the power is turned on by the above game medium replenishment control meansAt firstGaming machineToSupply process is performedWhen the circulation abnormality detection means detects a circulation abnormality state,Operate the flow path opening / closing solenoids to one in a predetermined orderError cancellation assist operationRunError release assisting operation control means,
  An island facility unit for game machines, comprising:
    The aboveThe controller is
The system includes an error control unit that executes error control to notify the occurrence of an error in the gaming machine island facility unit as the circulation abnormality detection unit detects a circulation abnormality state.
When the circulation abnormality detection means detects a circulation abnormality state, the error cancellation assistance operation by the error cancellation assistance operation control device is preferentially executed without performing the error control by the error control device.The island equipment unit for game machines according to claim 1,
    3. The above-mentioned error cancellation assisting operation control meansbyError release assist operationThe flow path opening and closing solenoids are sequentially arranged from the upstream side of the game medium flow path.The invention is characterized in that it is operated.Or claim 2The island equipment unit for gaming machines described in.
Detailed Description of the Invention
      [0001]
    Field of the Invention
  The present invention,awardAsCoin shapedA plurality of gaming machines can be equipped to provide gaming media to the player,At least equippedGame media supply mechanism for supplying game media to each game machineAnd a control device for controlling the operation of the game medium supply mechanism,Related to the island equipment unit for gaming machines.
      [0002]
    [Prior Art]
  Conventionally, a pachislot machine, which is a gaming machine for playing a game using a coin-shaped game medium (hereinafter simply referred to as a coin), is used by being incorporated into a long island facility in a game arcade. In the island facility, a large-sized transfer device such as a belt conveyor is provided so that coins can be selectively supplied to the pachi-slot machine requested to supply coins. Also, the coins collected from each pachislot machine are collected to one end of the island equipment, cleaned and polished, and then transported to the upper part and supplied to the above-mentioned transport device. Since the island equipment for such pachislot machines has a long construction in which several pachislot machines are installed side by side, the replenishment mechanism and the recovery mechanism must also have a long replenishment path and a long recovery path corresponding thereto. In addition, the equipment cost was high and the maintenance was complicated.
      [0003]
  Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have proposed an island facility unit to which a relatively small number of pachislot machines can be attached as a constitutional unit (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-228668). According to such an island facility unit, since the island is constituted by a relatively small number of pachislot machines (for example, two, four, six, eight), coin supply facilities for each pachislot machine and each pachislot machine are provided. There is no need to increase the size of the coin collection facility from the machine, a relatively low-performance and inexpensive device can be used, and the coin supply path and the coin collection path can be shortened, which facilitates maintenance. There is. In addition, when supplying coins to each pachislot machine, an inclined coin flow path member is provided at the top of the island facility unit, and the coin flow path in which the coin in the upright state rolls and flows down is the coin flow path member While forming the inside, sending out the necessary number of coins to this coin flow path, and switching the coin supply path so as to lead the rolling coin to the pachislot machine which has a supply request, to a specific pachislot machine We adopted a system that can supply the required number of coins. The coin supply path is formed to communicate with the floor of the coin flow path, and the coin supply path is always closed by the flow path opening / closing member (coin flow path without the coin falling to the coin supply path And the flow path opening / closing member withdraws from the coin supply path only when the flow path opening / closing solenoid is energized at the time of coin supply, and the coin flow path and the coin supply path are communicated. The communication passage is opened, and a coin flowing down the coin flow passage is dropped from the communication passage and guided to a specific coin supply passage.
      [0004]
    [Problems to be solved by the invention]
  However, when adopting a coin replenishment method using a coin flow path member and a flow path opening / closing member using a solenoid as a drive source as in the island facility unit described above, the flow path opening / closing solenoid is abrupt at unintended timing such as a power failure. When it changes to the off state, the flow path opening / closing member also returns to the closed state, and at this time, if the coin happens to be flowing down the communication path (or just before dropping to the communication path), As a result, there is a possibility that the bite of the coin may occur due to the flow path opening / closing member moving in the closing direction after the force of If it is attempted to perform a new replenishment process while such a coin bite is occurring, a coin jam occurs because the coin flow downstream from the coin biting point is impeded, which is appropriate. Since the replenishment process is not completed, the control unit of the island facility unit reports the state as the occurrence of a replenishment error. Therefore, although it is relatively easy to eliminate the coin bite which is the cause of the main cause of the replenishment error, it takes time and effort such as confirmation work of the game store clerk or the like, or the game of the player is interrupted. You have to That is, the coin replenishing mechanism of the method of opening and closing the lower opening of the coin flow passage using the flow passage opening and closing member having the flow passage open / close solenoid as a drive source as described above can achieve cost reduction with a simple structure but unexpected power failure In the case of a power failure due to the like, there is a disadvantage that it is necessary to consider the possibility that a coin bite has occurred.
      [0005]
  In addition, when a coin jam occurs, the control device that has detected the condition can not know in which part of the circulation path the coin jam has occurred, so simply reporting that a replenishment error has occurred, The store clerk at the game arcade must find out the coin bite etc. by sequentially checking the circulation route etc., and the work burden on the game arcade clerk is not light. In addition, if the coin supply mechanism is forcibly stopped due to an error occurrence in the island facility unit, the state in which the pachislot machine requiring the coin supply can not be supplied will continue for a while, which may cause inconvenience to the player as well. It will cost you
      [0006]
  The above-mentioned drawbacks are the means for detecting whether or not a coin bite occurs in or near the communication path to the coin supply path when the power is turned on (for example, a fault such as a coin in the coin flow path) By providing a sensor that detects the presence of objects, a sensor that detects whether the flow path opening / closing member has returned to the normal flow path blocking state without being blocked by Since the presence or absence of a coin bit can be accurately determined, it can be suppressed and detected as a replenishment error as described above, but on the other hand, it is necessary to provide a sensor or the like for each replenishment portion, which increases the cost. It is not a realistic solution.
      [0007]
  Therefore, the coin bite cancellation process (operation which can automatically cancel the coin bite state) is performed as a normal process performed when there is a possibility that the coin bite state is established instead of determining the presence or absence of the coin bite. A method of performing a process to be performed by the road opening and closing member is also conceivable. In that case, a sudden power-off tends to cause coin biting. Therefore, adopting the power-on timing as the timing for performing the coin biting process has an advantage of being able to prevent a failure due to the coin biting. On the other hand, when all the island equipment units in the store are powered on simultaneously with the start of operation of the game arcade, the coin bite cancellation process is simultaneously executed in all the island equipment units, and the drive source of the flow path opening / closing member Due to the use of a solenoid, the power consumption of the game arcade is temporarily increased. In other words, starting the coin bite cancellation process at such a timing puts a large load on the power supply facilities of the game arcade, the operation of the electric device in the game arcade becomes unstable due to the voltage drop, and the power source capacity Because there is a risk that the circuit breaker will fall over, it is necessary for the game arcade to secure a much larger capacity than the necessary power supply capacity in the normal use condition. In consideration of the burden, simply executing the coin bite cancellation process unconditionally when the power is turned on can not be said to be the most desirable solution.
      [0008]
  In addition, in the case of adopting coin bite release processing in which the flow path opening / closing members are operated one by one in order to avoid an increase in power consumption at the time of coin bite release processing, the scale of the island facility unit is also adopted. However, it takes a considerable amount of processing time to complete the coin bite release operation in all the flow path opening / closing members. Therefore, when performing a coin bite cancellation process every time the power is turned on, the start time will always be long, and if the power is turned on before the game store is opened, the island facility unit must be restarted by a failure check etc. during business hours. If the player loses his or her mind, the player may be forced to wait for a long time until the activation of the island facility unit is completed, which may seriously disturb the player.
      [0009]
  On the other hand, if the coin bite canceling process is performed only when a replenishment error occurs due to a coin jam instead of performing the coin bite canceling process in advance, the temporary increase in power consumption is suppressed and the activation time is suppressed. Can be avoided. However, since the cause of the coin jam is not always the coin bite, if it is set to execute the coin bite canceling process at the time of all the replenishment errors, the coin bite canceling process for a long time is finished. After that, it may become clear that the coin clogs have not been eliminated yet, and it took a long time to perform unnecessary processing, and eventually it would bother the game clerk etc. The dissatisfaction of the player who interrupted the game in the gaming machine due to the interruption of the process is also a big thing.
      [0010]
    [Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, invention concerning claim 1 is,awardAsCoin shapedA plurality of gaming machines can be equipped to provide gaming media to the player,At least equippedeachGaming machineAnd a control device for controlling the operation of the game medium replenishment mechanism.And a plurality ofGame machine island facility unit, wherein the game medium replenishment mechanism is a game medium circulation mechanism unit for circulating game media in a circulation channel formed in the game machine island facility unit, and the circulation channel Select any game media that passes throughGaming machineAnd a gaming medium storage mechanism unit for refilling the gaming media, the gaming media circulation mechanism unit storing gaming media, gaming media storage means, and the gaming media storage meansA pumping device for pumping gaming media stored by the above, a pumping flow channel member for feeding the gaming media sent from the pumping device upward, and an upper end portion of the pumping flow channel member. Been formedA game medium having a game medium flow path, which is an inclined path which can receive game media pumped to the game medium outlet from the inlet and roll the game media by its own weight and naturally flow down to the outlet at the lower end of the slope A flow path member, and a game medium collecting means for receiving the game medium discharged from the discharge port through the game medium flow path of the game medium flow path member from the collection port and guiding it to the game medium storage means; The game medium supply mechanism opens in the floor of the game medium channel,Each game machineA plurality of game medium supply gates respectively communicating with the game medium supply path for guiding the game medium, and a flow path opening / closing member respectively provided corresponding to the game medium supply gate and opening / closing the floor portion opening of the game medium flow path A flow path opening / closing solenoid provided corresponding to the flow path opening / closing member and opening / closing the flow path opening / closing member based on a command from the control device;In order to count the number of game media sent out from the game medium outlet of the pumping channel member to the game media channel on the upstream side of the most upstream game media replenishment gate in the above game media channel member, Provide a counting sensor,the aboveReceive detection / non-detection of gaming media flow from the counting sensorThe controller isGaming machineIn response to a supply request fromPerform the replenishment process of opening the flow path opening / closing solenoid corresponding to the gaming machine to operate the pumping device, and when the number of gaming media for the set number of transporting sheets is replenished, the replenishment process is ended.Game medium supply control means for causingUndetected flow of gaming media by counting sensorCirculation abnormality detecting means for detecting a circulation abnormality state in which an abnormality relating to the circulation operation of the game medium has occurred on the basis ofAfter the power is turned on by the above game medium replenishment control meansAt firstGaming machineToSupply process is performedWhen the circulation abnormality detection means detects a circulation abnormality state,Operate the flow path opening / closing solenoids to one in a predetermined orderError cancellation assist operationRunAnd an error release assist operation control unit.
      [0011]
  The invention according to claim 2 is the island facility unit for game machines according to claim 1 above.The control device includes error control means for executing error control to notify occurrence of an error in the gaming machine island facility unit in response to the circulation abnormality detection means detecting the circulation abnormality state, and the circulation abnormality detection When the means detects a cyclic abnormal state, the error release assist operation by the error release assist operation control unit is preferentially executed without the error control by the error control unit.It is characterized by
      [0012]
  The invention according to claim 3 is the same as the claim 1 above.Or claim 2In the island facility unit for game machines according to above, the error cancellation assisting operation control meansbyError release assist operationThe flow path opening and closing solenoids are sequentially arranged from the upstream side of the game medium flow path.It shall be operated.
[0013]
    BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
  Next, an embodiment of the gaming machine island facility unit according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the attached drawings.
      [0014]
  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a state in which horizontally long islands are configured by arranging island equipment units 1 for gaming machines side by side, and each island equipment unit 1 can be equipped with a gaming machine capable of playing games using gaming media In the present embodiment, a coin-shaped game medium (hereinafter referred to as a coin) is provided for playing a game, and a pachislot machine 2 which is a gaming machine for awarding coins as a prize of the game result to each island facility unit 1 It is equipped with In addition, it is FIG. 2 which showed the island installation unit 1 which concerns on this embodiment alone as a single thing, and this can be equipped with a total of four pachislot machines 2 and 2 arranged side by side in the direction of a direction. . Of course, the number of equipment and the state of equipment of the pachislot machine 2 are not particularly limited, as long as they can be equipped with a number that does not make maintenance management complicated. Further, instead of the pachislot machine 2, a pachinko machine that uses pachinko balls for playing a game may be used as an island facility unit that can be equipped as a game machine.
      [0015]
  In this island facility unit 1, a coin lending machine 3 is provided between two pachislot machines 2, 2 and a control device 4 for collecting and controlling various information in each island facility unit 1 is provided inside, and An island group information annunciator 5 is provided, for example, at the end of the island, for reporting information on unit islands where the facility units 1 are connected in series to form a group structure of units (see FIG. 1).
      [0016]
  On the other hand, in the single island equipment unit 1, the upper part of each pachislot machine 2, 2 is covered with the upper decorative plate 6a, the lower part is covered with the lower decorative plate 6b, and the upper opening is detached by the top plate 7 which is a lid member. It is shielded in the possible state and the decorativeness of the appearance is enhanced. In addition, although the island installation unit 1 shown in this embodiment shall arrange several island installation unit 1 in parallel in order to set it as group structure, you may use one island installation unit 1 alone, In this case, the appearance may be adjusted by covering both side portions with a side decoration plate or the like.
      [0017]
  In addition, the upper decoration plate 6a of the island equipment unit 1 is provided with the upper display 8 so as to correspond to each pachislot machine 2... To display information related to the gaming situation of the corresponding pachislot machine 2 It is designed to be able to display decorative displays that enhance interest. Furthermore, the upper decorative plate 6a is provided with an island facility unit information annunciator 9 separately from the upper displays 8..., Thereby various information (for example, the remaining amount of coin, error information, etc.) in the island facility unit 1 concerned. Can be notified visually or aurally.
      [0018]
  On the other hand, the coin insertion slot 10 is provided at the installation site of the lower decorative plate 6 b of the island facility unit 1, and a coin replenishment mechanism (each pachislot machine 2) as a game medium replenishment mechanism provided inside the island facility unit 1. The game clerks are allowed to replenish coins to a mechanism for replenishing coins as gaming media. The coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 10 may be addressed to one by a coin sensor (not shown) so that the correct number of inserted coins can be grasped. The information on the number of inserted coins, the number of coins supplied to each pachislot machine 2, etc. is sent to the control device 4 and collected and managed.
      [0019]
  The island equipment unit 1 described above has an appearance in which the above-mentioned various decorative plates and the like are attached to a frame configured by appropriately combining metal mold materials in a cage frame shape, and a coin replenishment mechanism is provided therein is there. The coin supply mechanism includes a game medium circulation mechanism unit for circulating game media (coins and pachinko balls) in a circulation flow passage formed in the island facility unit 1, and a game medium (coin or pachinko) passing through the circulation flow passage. A game medium replenishment mechanism section for selectively replenishing any of the pachislot machines 2 (or pachinko machines).
      [0020]
  The details of the coin circulation mechanism unit and the coin supply mechanism unit using these gaming media as coins are as shown in FIG. 3, and these mechanism units will be described below. FIG. 3 shows the internal perspective of the island equipment unit 1 shown in FIG. 2 with the gaming machine mounting surface on which two pachislot machines 2 and 2 can be arranged side by side with the coin lending machine 3 interposed therebetween. It is provided in two sides in a direction.
      [0021]
  First, the transport tank 11 carrying one function of the coin circulation mechanism functions as gaming medium storage means for storing gaming media, and coins inserted from the coin insertion 10 and coins collected and inserted into the pachislot machine 2 Are temporarily stored. The coins stored in the lift tank 11 are supplied to the lift hopper 12. When the remaining amount of coins stored in the transport tank 11 is low, this status is detected by the transport tank sensor 11 a, and this information is sent to the control device 4.
      [0022]
  The feeding hopper 12 receiving the supply of coins from the feeding tank 11 is a feeding device capable of feeding one by one to the coin delivery portion 12a which adjusts the direction of the coin internally and opens upward, The coins delivered from the 12 coin delivery units 12 a are lifted and fed to the upper part of the island facility unit 1 through the coin delivery passage member 13 and delivered to the coin outlet 13 a formed at the upper end of the delivery passage member 13. It is That is, with the cooperation of the transport hopper 12 and the coin transport flow path member 13, the game medium supplied from the game medium storage means is pumped and sent out to the game medium outlet formed in the upper part It functions as a medium transportation means.
      [0023]
  Incidentally, the polishing unit 14 is disposed at an appropriate upper position of the coin transport flow path member 13 so that the transported coins are polished and then sent out to the coin outlet 13a.
      [0024]
  A coin flow path member that receives coins in a state where a coin stands from the coin outlet 13a of the coin pumping flow path member 13 (a circumferential surface of the coin is in contact with the bottom and two circular surfaces are in the vertical direction) The reference numeral 15 is a coin channel 16 communicating with the coin outlet 16a from the inlet 16a communicating with the coin outlet 13a, and fixed to the island unit 1 with the coin channel member 15. By appropriately adjusting the angle, the internal coin flow passage 16 has an appropriate inclination angle (for example, 2 °), and the inclination is such that the coin rolled by its own weight can flow freely from the inlet 14a to the outlet 14b at the lower end of the inclination. It becomes a road. That is, the coin flow passage member 15 receives the game medium pumped to the game medium outlet by the game medium pumping means from the receiving port, and the game medium rolls by its own weight and naturally reaches the outlet at the lower end of the slope It functions as "a game medium channel member in which a game medium channel, which is a ramp which can flow down", is formed.
      [0025]
  A first counting sensor 17 is provided at an appropriate position on the upstream side of the coin flow passage 16 formed in the coin flow passage member 15, and the coin flow passage 16 is provided from the coin outlet 13 a of the coin pumping passage member 13. It is designed to be able to detect one coin sent out. That is, when the number of coins detected by the first counting sensor 17 is counted by the control device 4 or the like, the number of coins which are transported by the transport hopper 12 and sent out to the coin channel 16 can be accurately grasped. It can.
      [0026]
  In addition, an appropriate number (for example, eight places) of coin replenishing gates 16c as gaming medium replenishing gates are formed on the passage bottom on the downstream side of the arrangement position of the first counting sensor 17 in the coin passage 16 Coins can be supplied to the pachi-slot machines 2 and the coin lending machines 3 by means of the coin supply members 18 connected so as to communicate with the supply gates 16c. The communication section (gate entrance) from the coin flow path 16 to each coin replenishing gate 16c is always closed, and when coin replenishing is performed, the coin replenishing device and the coin replenishing member 18 are connected. By opening the communication part to the coin supply gate 16c, the flow path of the coin is selectively switched to supply the necessary number of coins only to a specific device.
      [0027]
  The coin flow passage member 15 described above is fixed at a predetermined position, for example, by the flow passage holding means 20 fixed to the long horizontal members 19, 19 which is one of the molds constituting the frame of the island facility unit 1. It is as a thing.
      [0028]
  The coin reaching the outlet 16b at the lower end of the slope without entering any coin supply gate 16c while passing through the coin channel 16 is received from the collection port 21a of the overflow channel member 21 and overflows. It will fall in the downward overflow flow path formed in the flow path member 21, and will be stored by the replenishment tank 22 from the fall opening 21b. The coins stored in the replenishment tank 22 are fed one by one to the coin delivery section 23a by the replenishment hopper 23, pass through the coin transport flow path of the coin transport flow path member 24, and are transported to the above-described transport tank 11. Ru.
      [0029]
  In addition, the replenishment tank sensor 22a is provided also in the replenishment tank 22, and the state in which the storage residual amount of coin reduced can be detected. Further, the coin transfer flow path member 24 also has a coin transfer flow path having an appropriate inclination angle (for example, 2 °) so that it can flow down to the lower end of the coin by its own weight, like the coin flow path member 15 described above. It has been adjusted to be a ramp. Furthermore, a second counting sensor 25 is also provided to the coin transfer flow path member 24 so that the number of coins transferred to the transfer tank 11 through the coin transfer flow path can be counted.
      [0030]
  As described above, in the present embodiment, the coin collecting means (the game medium flow path is formed by the cooperation of the overflow flow path member 21, the second coin storage tank 22, the replenishment hopper 23, the coin transfer flow path member 24, etc. It functions as a game medium collecting means) which receives the game medium discharged from the discharge port through the game medium channel of the member from the recovery port and leads it to the above-mentioned game medium storage means. In order to realize the function as coin collecting means, it is only necessary to supply the coins overflowed from the coin flow path 17 and the coins collected from the pachislot machine 2 to the coin transport means again. For example, from the overflow flow path member 21 If one coin storage tank and one coin delivery device are provided so as to lead overflow coins to the delivery tank 11, the cost of the island facility unit 1 can be reduced. Moreover, if it is set as the structure provided with two coin storage tanks and two coin delivery devices like this embodiment, the storage amount of the coin stored in an island installation unit can be increased, and the frequency of coin replenishment can be reduced. It has the advantage of
      [0031]
  As described above, the coin circulating mechanism portion of the coin replenishing mechanism in the present embodiment includes coin storing means (lifting tank 11), coin lifting means (lift hopper 12, coin lifting flow path member 13), coin It comprises the flow path member 15 and coin collecting means (the overflow flow path member 21, the supply tank 22, the supply hopper 23, the coin transfer flow path member 24).
      [0032]
  On the other hand, the game medium replenishment mechanism section is provided corresponding to each of the coin replenishment gates 16c of the coin flow path member 15. The outline will be described based on FIG. The coin outlet 13a for sending out the coins transported by the coin transport channel member 13 and the receiving port 16a of the coin channel member 15 are connected by the connecting plate 26, and the coins are transported by the transport hopper 12. When the coin is discharged, the coin in the coin lift channel 13 on the downstream side is also pushed up. Therefore, the coin is positioned at the uppermost part of the coin lift channel 13 (the portion closest to the coin outlet 13a). The coin is pushed out of the lift flow passage member 13 and reaches the coin flow passage 16 and rolls as it is by its own weight and flows down the inclined path. Therefore, in the present embodiment, there is no need for a separate mechanism for sending out the transported coins to the single coin channel 16.
      [0033]
  The coin received from the inlet 16 a of the coin flow passage 16 is detected by the first counting sensor 17 and reaches the coin replenishment gate 16 c. The coin replenishing gate 16c is opened at the floor portion 16d of the coin flow passage 16 and continues to the coin replenishing member 18, and the coin passage of the coin replenishing gate 16c is shielded by the passage opening / closing member 27 In the state, the coin never falls to the coin replenishment gate 16c, and continues to flow down the coin channel 16 as it is. At this time, if all the coin replenishing gates 16c... Are not replenished, they flow down to the inclined lower end of the coin channel 16 and overflow from the discharge port 16b. Window portions 16e... Are appropriately opened at appropriate positions on the side walls of the coin flow passage member 15, so that it is possible to confirm the presence or absence of coin clogging or the like in the coin flow passage 16.
      [0034]
  When a coin is to be supplied to a specific coin supply target device (in the present embodiment, either one of the pachislot machine 2 and the coin lending machine 3), connection is made to the coin supply target device via the supply member 18 The first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N (electrical drive sources for performing the opening / closing operation of the respective flow path opening / closing members 27... In the above, it is only necessary to switch the total of six coin replenishment paths of four pachislot machines 2 ... and two coin lending devices 3 and 3, so N = 6, and the first flow path opening solenoid 28a to the sixth flow An open command is sent from the control device 4 to the road opening / closing solenoid 28 f. That is, when any one of the first to sixth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28f for performing the opening / closing operation of the flow path opening / closing member 27 shielding the communication hole to the corresponding coin supply gate 16c is excited, the plunger Since the flow path opening / closing member 27 retracts from the coin flow path 16 in accordance with the operation and the coin can pass through the gate (refill state), the coin rolling on the coin flow path 16 is any one coin It is led to the replenishment member 18 through the replenishment gate 16c (the coin replenishment gate 16c corresponding to the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N in the open state) to be replenished to a specific coin replenishment target device It becomes.
      [0035]
  The details of the coin replenishment gate 16c are as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, and by sliding the plate-like passage opening / closing member 27 along the guide member 29, the passage opening / closing member 27 A state where the coin flow path member 15 is penetrated (non-refilling state) and a state where the flow path opening / closing member 27 is compared from the coin flow path member 15 (refilling state) are generated. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, since the first to N flow passage opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N are always in the non-excitation state, the flow passage opening / closing member 27 of each coin replenishment gate 16c is The openings between the floor portions 16e of the coin flow path 16 will be closed, and the coins led to the coin flow path 16 will flow downstream through the floor portions 16e and the upper surfaces of the flow path opening / closing members 27. However, as shown in FIG. 7B, when any one of the first to N flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N is excited, the flow path opening / closing of the coin replenishment gate 16c corresponding thereto is performed. Since only the member 27 retracts from the coin flow passage member, the coins flowing down the coin flow passage 16 are guided to the coin replenishment member 18 through the coin replenishment gate 16c in the replenishment state and supplied to the coin replenishment target device Because it is done That.
      [0036]
  As described above, the coin replenishing mechanism portion of the coin replenishing mechanism according to the present embodiment supplies a plurality of coin replenishing passages communicating with the coin replenishing member 18 which opens to the floor portion 16d of the coin passage 16 and guides coins to the respective coin replenishing target devices. Gates 16c: channel opening / closing members 27 provided corresponding to the respective coin replenishment gates 16c for opening and closing the floor portion 16d of the coin channel 16; first to Nth driving the respective channel opening / closing members 27 The flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N are provided, and the coin introduction control to the coin flow path 16 and the excitation control of the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N are performed by the control device 4 to request coin replenishment. It is possible to selectively replenish coins to a coin replenishment target device.
      [0037]
  Next, the function of the control device 4 will be described in detail. The control device 4 realizes a substantial function by a control circuit 4a housed in a case, and various signals are supplied as input information to the control circuit 4a. From the control circuit 4a, various information is provided And a command signal is output. The control circuit 4a is obtained by organically connecting a one-chip microcomputer containing a ROM and a RAM, an input / output interface and the like on a circuit board.
      [0038]
  In the control circuit 4a, the shortage information of the lift coins for the lift hopper 12 from the sensor 12b for the lift hopper, the shortage information of stored coins in the lift tank 11 from the sensor 11a for the lift tank, the replenishment hopper Insufficient information of the replenishing coin of the replenishing hopper 23 from the sensor 23b is transferred to the coin flow downstream path 16 by the first counting sensor 17 of the insufficiency of the stored coin in the replenishing tank 23 from the replenishing tank sensor 23a. Information on the number of coins is input from the second counting sensor 25 to information on the number of coins supplied from the supply hopper 23 to the transport tank 11, and information on opening and closing the coin insertion slot 10 is input from the coin insertion opening and closing detection sensor 10a. .
      [0039]
  In addition, from the pachislot machine 2 ... attached to the island facility unit 1, the pachislot machine external information signal and pachislot machine information which are transmission information determined as information to be transmitted to the outside from various game information in each pachislot machine 2 ... A pachi-slot machine storage unit replenishment request signal to be sent out when the storage residual amount of the coin storage unit in the machine 2 runs short is input to the control circuit 4a. The coin lending machine 3 also receives a coin lending machine replenishment request signal to be sent out when the remaining amount of the coin reservoir is insufficient. Furthermore, the case of the control device 4 is provided with a manual operation panel 4b and an internal reset switch 4c which is an internal reset operation means, to receive setting information from the manual operation panel 4b or to operate the internal reset switch 4c. Based on the notification of a specific abnormal condition, the notification of a security anomaly (described in detail later) is canceled.
      [0040]
  Based on the input information, the control circuit 4a sends a drive command to the lift hopper 12, the supply hopper 23, and the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N in order to operate the game medium supply mechanism smoothly. Or when an abnormal condition (for example, a circulating abnormal condition in which an abnormality related to a game medium circulation operation has occurred) is detected to monitor and notify various abnormal conditions, island facility unit information notification The abnormality notification is performed by the unit 9 and the island group information alarm unit 5. In addition, the control circuit 4a transmits / receives various information to / from the control circuit 4a of another island facility unit 1 belonging to the same island group, or receives a control command from the management device 30 installed in the game arcade. , Transmits various information in the unit to the management device 30.
      [0041]
  As described above, the control device 4 including the control circuit 4a “in response to the supply request from the game medium supply target device, the game medium supply mechanism causes the game medium supply mechanism to execute the game medium supply operation to the game medium supply target device. A function as a replenishment control means, and a function as a circulation abnormality detection means for detecting a circulation abnormality state in which an abnormality related to the circulation operation of the game medium has occurred based on detection information from the game medium replenishment mechanism, A function as "error control means" for executing predetermined error control in the gaming machine island facility unit can be realized as the circulation abnormality detection means detects the circulation abnormality state.
      [0042]
  Therefore, in the control device 4, "the above circulation abnormality occurs when the gaming medium replenishment control means first performs gaming medium replenishment control to the gaming medium replenishment target device after restarting the gaming machine island facility unit. Based on the detection means detecting a circulation abnormal state, a predetermined error cancellation assisting operation which may be able to return the circulation operation of the game medium normally to priority without giving error control to the error control means It also includes a function as “error release assisting operation control means to be executed by the game medium supply mechanism”, and this function will be described below.
      [0043]
  The above-mentioned error cancellation assisting operation is prior to execution of error control by the error control means (control to notify the occurrence of an error and to forcibly stop various functions of the island facility unit 1 accordingly). Only in cases where there is a possibility that error removal can be performed relatively easily, operations for error removal are performed supplementary.
      [0044]
  In this case where there is a possibility that this error can be cleared relatively easily, a state (recirculation abnormal state) in which proper coin replenishment is not performed in the first replenishment process after restart of the island facility unit 1 is detected. In this case, the control device 4 does not store the previous control state, such as start-up by turning on the power in the next business day of the game shop or start-up after reset by forced intervention from the outside After that, when performing the coin supply control for the first time, the fact that the circulation abnormality state is detected means that the circulation abnormality state caused by the coin biting that has already occurred before the restart is the first in the supply processing after the restart. There is a high possibility that such a coin bite is interrupted when the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N are de-energized due to a power failure or a forced external reset during coin replenishment. When the member 27 returns to the non-supply state, unfortunately likely to occur if the coin is not passing through the coin replenishing gate 16c.
      [0045]
  Therefore, before the restart of the island facility unit 1, if the above-described improper coin replenishment is interrupted and coin bites occur, the flow path opening / closing member 27 biting the coin is temporarily put in the replenished state. By retracting from the coin flow path 16, the bitten coin is released and flows down from the coin replenishing gate 16c to the coin replenishing member 18, so that a coin jam on the upstream side is also eliminated. That is, the error cancellation is realized by a relatively simple control operation of opening the flow path opening / closing member 27. The supply process including the series of operations will be described in detail below based on the flowcharts of FIGS.
      [0046]
  First, when the continuity sensor provided in the storage section of the pachislot machine 2 does not come in contact with the coin and the request signal (pachislot machine storage section replenishment request signal) is input to the control circuit 4a, for example, 5 seconds elapse, the replenishment request is If it is determined that the supply signal has not been input, or if the supply signal is not input 5 seconds before, the supply processing is ended (step S1). Even when the coin lending machine 3 runs out of coins and the request signal (coin lending machine replenishment request signal) is input to the control circuit 4a, the input of the request signal is determined based on the input duration time.
      [0047]
  When the supply request is determined in step S1, the security monitoring process is performed (step S2). The security monitoring process is a process to be performed when the replenishment process is performed, and the "number of inserted coins" and the "number of coins paid out" to each pachislot machine 2 and the "number of coins replenished" to the pachislot machine 2 concerned. Is counted and stored each time the pachislot machine 2 performs one game, and replenishment based on the calculation result of calculating the stored value is added (due to the fact that the coin has been extracted by the pachislot machine 2 in some way, This is a process of checking whether or not the replenishment request made by the pachislot machine 2 is insufficient because the number of stored coins is insufficient. This arithmetic expression is "the number of inserted coins + the number of supplied coins-the number of paid out coins", and when this result is "less than 0", it is determined that the supply request is normal. The supply is continued, and in the case of "0 or more", the "incorrect supply error processing" is performed to be an abnormal state, and the control is interrupted. Incidentally, the supply improper error processing is to stop the control related to the supply and circulation all functions and perform an error notification, and the game shop clerk does not return unless the internal reset switch 4c is operated after confirming the state.
      [0048]
  If it is determined in the security monitoring process of step S2 that the replenishment request is appropriate, it is determined whether the coin bite cancellation process start condition is satisfied (step S3). The coin bite cancellation process start condition is "if it is the first replenishment process after the power is turned on", "if it is the first replenishment process after the manual operation", or "if it is the first replenishment process after the improper supply occurrence" If the coin bite cancellation process start condition is met by falling into any of the conditions, the coin bite cancellation process executable flag is set (step S4). If the condition is not met, the coin bite cancellation process is executed. The enable flag is cleared (step S5).
      [0049]
  After performing the above processing, for example, after 10 seconds have elapsed, the first to sixth provided corresponding to the coin replenishing gate 16c to which the coin replenishing member 18 communicating with the coin replenishing target device requested to be replenished is connected. The Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N are turned on (step S6), and after 2 seconds, the lift hopper 12 is operated (step S7). Then, an initial number of transported sheets for supplying coins is set in this supply process (step S8). The initial number of coins to be fed by the operation of the hopper 12 is set to, for example, 300 for the pachislot machine 2 and 500 for the coin lending machine 3, for example. The capacity of the storage portion may be determined after the conduction sensor detects the absence of coin as a target capacity.
      [0050]
  Then, it is determined whether or not the coin replenishment for the set number of transported sheets is completed (step S9), and if the coin replenishment for the set number of transported sheets has been completed, it is determined whether or not there is no problem The determination is made based on the presence or absence of the replenishment request from the coin replenishment target device (step S10). If the continuity sensor of the device that has replenished the coin has detected the coin, the replenishment request signal is already in the non-input state, so it is determined whether or not the replenishment request signal is properly ended. It can be used as a condition.
      [0051]
  In the above step S10, when the replenishment request from the corresponding coin replenishing target device has been completed, the transportation hopper 12 is stopped (step S11), and after 10 seconds, SOL (first to sixth) of the supply port is finished. The Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N are turned off (step S12). As described above, the reason why the first to Nth channel opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N are not closed immediately after stopping the lift hopper 12 is that the last coin fed to the coin channel 6 is the most downstream coin replenishment gate This is to secure a sufficient time for reaching 16c.
      [0052]
  In addition, when the lift hopper 12 is stopped, it may stop at the coin outlet 13a of the coin lift channel 13 or reach the inlet 16a of the coin channel 16, or there may be a coin at a subtle position. In such a case, even in the waiting time in step S12, there may be cases in which the coin is not sufficient to flow down. In consideration of this, a coin biting prevention process is performed (step S13). The coin biting prevention process is a process of operating the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N once turned off again (for example, repeating 1 second on 1 second off twice). When the coin is bitten by the flow path opening / closing member 27 when returned to the non-refilling state, the bitten coin can be released and allowed to flow down to the coin replenishing member 18.
      [0053]
  Subsequently, it is judged whether or not the replenishment request signal is inputted from other pachislot machines 2 ... and coin lending machines 3 ... (step S14), and if there is a replenishment request, the replenishment request is decided (step S1) Repeat the supply process again. On the other hand, when there is no replenishment request from another device, the polishing process is executed (step S15), and thereafter the replenishment process is ended. The polishing process is a process of polishing the surface of the coin to clean it by passing the coin to the polishing unit 14 provided in the circulation flow path in the island facility unit 1. In the polishing process, the operation of setting the lifting hopper 12 for one minute on and one minute off is performed three times. However, if a new supply request occurs during polishing, the process is ended and a process based on the supply request is executed. By thus performing the polishing process at the end of the replenishment process, the coins stored in the island facility unit 1 can be kept clean. If the coin is not polished, the dirt will stick and if it gets stuck it will be difficult to remove the dirt.
      [0054]
  In the above step S10, even if the unloading operation of the initially set number of sheets is completed, if the replenishment request from the device to be replenished is not completed, the coin is not enough to detect the coin. Since it is assumed that the situation is insufficient, the MAX transportation number is set again (for example, 1200 for the pachislot machine 2), and auxiliary coin replenishment is performed to continue the transportation of coins based on this (step) S16). During the supplementary coin replenishment, the continuity sensor of the coin replenishment target device detects a coin and determines whether or not the input of the replenishment request signal is lost (step S17), and the replenishment request from the corresponding coin replenishment target device is If it is completed, the process proceeds to step S11 and the lifting hopper 12 is stopped.
      [0055]
  On the other hand, when the replenishment request from the corresponding coin replenishing target device is not completed, it is determined whether the non-detection state of the coin by the first counting sensor 17 continues for 10 seconds or more (step S18). If no detection of the coin flow down by the sensor 17 continues for 10 seconds, it is conceivable that a coin clogging or the like occurs during lifting, so that the lifting hopper 12 is turned off, and after 10 seconds, the first to Nth channel opening / closing solenoids 28A to 28N are turned off, and a replenishment check A error process is set, and the replenishment process is ended (step S19). It should be noted that as the replenishment inspection A error processing, notification of the occurrence of an error, and processing to put the external reset switch 9c and the internal reset switch 40 into an effective state, the game store clerk confirms the abnormal state of the island facility unit 1, It returns by operating the reset switch 9 c or the internal reset switch 40.
      [0056]
  If the non-detection of the first counting sensor 12 does not continue for 10 seconds in the step S18, it is determined whether or not the MAX number of sheets have been lifted (step S20). The coin supply gate located on the upstream side of the coin supply gate 16c to the target device has been opened and spilled from there, or the coin is because the solenoid of the corresponding coin supply gate 16c is not operating. Since it is possible that there is a replenishment abnormality such that the coin to be supplied flows down without being supplied to the equipment to be supplied and being collected from the overflow flow path member 21 etc., the lift hopper 12 is turned off, and after 10 seconds The corresponding SOL is turned off in any of the Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N, and further, the replenishment abnormality error processing is set to perform the replenishment processing. To completion (step S21).
      [0057]
  On the other hand, when the pumping operation for the initial number of sheets in step S9 is not completed, it is determined whether the non-detection of the first counting sensor 12 continues for 10 seconds (step S22), and the first counting is performed. If the detection of the sensor 12 does not continue for 10 seconds, the process returns to the determination of whether the initial expected number of coins has been transported again, but if the detection of the first counting sensor 12 continues for 10 seconds, It is determined whether the coin bite cancellation process execution flag is set (step S23). Then, if the coin bite release processing flag is not set, the lift hopper 12 is turned off, and after 10 seconds, any one of the first to Nth channel opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N is turned off, Further, the replenishment check A error processing is set, and the replenishment processing is ended (step S24).
      [0058]
  Therefore, if it is determined in step S23 that the coin bite cancellation process execution flag is set, a coin bite cancellation process is executed (step S25). This coin bite release process is a process performed when there is a possibility that a coin bite has occurred at any of the coin supply gates 16c, but it is not possible to detect at which coin supply gate there is a coin bite. Therefore, the first to Nth channel opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N of all the coin replenishment gates 16c... Provided in the coin channel member 15 are operated, for example, the most upstream first channel opening / closing solenoid 28a Is turned on for 10 seconds, the second flow path opening / closing solenoid 28N is turned on for 10 seconds and then turned off, and then the most downstream Nth flow path opening / closing solenoid 28N is turned on for 10 seconds and then turned off . In this way, even if a coin bite has occurred in any of the coin replenishment gates 16c, this can be eliminated automatically.
      [0059]
  Then, after the coin bite canceling process is completed, the process returns to step S1 again to make a replenishment request determination. At this time, the replenishment request should be made from the replenishment target device which has not received the appropriate replenishment with respect to the replenishment request, and the coin replenishment process to the coin replenishment target device is continued. Then, if the circulation abnormality caused by the bite of the coin is eliminated by the above-mentioned coin bite releasing process, the proper coin replenishing process is finished, so that the automatic return can be performed without bothering the game clerk or the like.
      [0060]
  However, if coin detection by the first counting sensor 17 is not performed even by the above-described coin bite cancellation processing, another cause may be considered as coin clogging. In that case, since the process proceeds to step S24 based on the fact that the coin bite cancellation processing execution flag has already been released in step S23, an error release operation is entrusted to a game clerk or the like by the replenishment check A error processing. It will be. That is, the coin bite cancellation process is an error cancellation assisting operation performed before requesting a normal error cancellation (informing an error detection).
      [0061]
  In the coin bite releasing process, the uppermost stream portion of the coin flow path 16 is a continuation time during which any one of the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N corresponding to each coin replenishment gate 16c is turned on. Assuming that the distance from the receiving port 16a) to the most downstream portion (discharge port 16b) is set to a time sufficient for the coin to flow down, at which position the coin replenishing gate 16c in which the coin bites occur is located Even if the coin is open, the gate can be closed while the coin is flowing to prevent the occurrence of a secondary coin bite. That is, the on-times of the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N may be set as appropriate depending on the length of the coin flow path 16. Further, as the operation sequence of the first to Nth flow channel opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N, for example, when the priority of coin replenishment is set according to the characteristics of the coin replenishment target device, the priority order of replenishment is set. The flow path opening / closing solenoid may be sequentially operated, or may be sequentially operated from the upstream side of the coin flow path 16.
      [0062]
  In the coin bite canceling process performed as the error cancellation assisting operation based on the conditions as described above, when the circulation abnormal state is detected due to the coin bite or the like already generated before the restart of the island facility unit 1. Since the coin bite canceling process is first performed as a control operation (error cancellation assisting action) which may cancel the coin bite occurring before the restart and return to the normal state, the coin replenishment gate is operated by the coin bite canceling process operation. Since there is also a case where it is possible to automatically remove a coin jam (circulation abnormality) caused by the biting of the coin generated in 16c, there is an advantage that it is possible to reduce the work load of a game clerk or the like.
      [0063]
  Moreover, since the replenishment processing to be executed is generated at random by the replenishment request from the coin replenishment target device, the power supply of all the island facility units 1 in the game shop is cut off by the power failure, and unfortunately many island facility units 1 Even when coin bites by the flow path opening / closing member 27 occur, the timing at which the coin bite canceling process based on the detection of the circulation abnormality is executed at each island facility unit 1 also becomes random, so the coin bite canceling process It is possible to effectively avoid such a situation that many flow path opening / closing solenoids 28 are simultaneously controlled by many island equipment units 1 in a game arcade at the same time, and a flow path by simultaneous execution of coin bite cancellation processing There is almost no possibility that a secondary failure may occur due to an increase in the amount of power supplied to the open / close solenoids 28.
      [0064]
  As the coin bite release process, control may be adopted to simultaneously turn on all of the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N in each island facility unit 1, but the coin bite release process There is a concern that a secondary failure may occur due to an increase in power consumption if, for example, coin bite cancellation processing is simultaneously performed in a plurality of island facility units 1. Therefore, if the operations of the first to Nth flow channel opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N are turned on in a predetermined order for one piece, a large number of flow channel opening / closing solenoids 28 are simultaneously operated during the coin bite release processing. The power consumption can be prevented from temporarily increasing in the game arcade, and the power supply system of the entire game arcade can be stabilized.
      [0065]
  In addition, it is not necessary to operate all of the first to Nth flow path opening / closing solenoids 28a to 28N at the time of coin bite release processing, and it is positioned upstream of the coin flow path 16 with respect to the coin replenishment gate 16c used for coin replenishment. Only the flow path opening / closing solenoid 28 of the coin replenishment gate 16c may be operated. In this case, it is highly probable that the coin bite is occurring, the coin supply gate 16c ... (because the coin is clogged before the coin is properly supplied to the coin supply target device which has received the supply request, Since it is sufficient to turn on the flow path opening / closing members 27 of all the coin replenishment gates 16c ...) located on the upstream side of the coin flow path 16 with respect to the used coin replenishment gate 16c, the time required for the coin bite releasing process is greatly increased. In some cases, the automatic return of the island facility unit 1 can be accelerated.
      [0066]
  In the present embodiment, the coin bite canceling process is executed along with the execution of the first replenishment process after the restart, but it is based on the replenishment request from the coin replenishment target device after the island facility unit 1 is restarted. If the circulation abnormality detection means detects a circulation abnormality state before performing the coin replenishment control, the error cancellation assistance operation control means executes an error cancellation assistance operation (coin bite cancellation processing) at that time, and then circulation is performed. When an abnormality is detected, the error cancellation assisting operation control means may cause the error control means to perform error control without performing the error cancellation assistance action by itself. In this case, in the case where the coin is clogged upstream due to the bite of the coin generated in any of the coin supply gates 16c before the restart, it is possible to precede the coin supply process based on the coin request. Even if the abnormal circulation state is detected at the stage where the coin is to be moved circularly, since the coin bite canceling process can be executed at that point, the automatic cancellation of the error by the coin bite canceling process more in line with the actual situation is It becomes possible. In addition, when the coin bite canceling process is performed prior to the first coin supplying operation and the automatic cancellation is performed, even if the coin supplying operation is subsequently performed and the circulation abnormality state is detected, Since the circulation abnormality state is likely to be a factor different from the coin biting that occurred at the coin supply gate before restarting, it is not necessary to perform the coin biting cancellation process anew, so as to carry out the supply abnormality error processing. This is also useful in that it is possible to prevent the coin bite cancellation process from being executed needlessly and to delay the response of the game store clerk or the like.
      [0067]
  Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, it is considered that all the embodiments disclosed in the present specification are illustrative and not limited to the disclosed technology. It should. That is, the technical scope of the present invention is not to be interpreted restrictively based on the description in the above embodiment, and should be interpreted according to the description of the claims only, and the description of the claims It is intended that all equivalents within the scope of the technical and technical equivalents and claims be included.
      [0068]
    【Effect of the invention】
  As described above, according to the gaming machine island facility unit pertaining to claim 1,After power onAt first game media replenishment control meansGaming machineToSupply processThe error cancellation assisting operation control means is based on the circulation abnormality detection means detecting the circulation abnormality state when, Operate the flow path open / close solenoid in a predetermined orderExecute error cancellation assist operationTheBecause it wasA large number of flow path opening / closing solenoids can be simultaneously activated during the error cancellation assisting operation to prevent a temporary increase in power consumption in the gaming machine island facility unit. Moreover, in addition to the occurrence of circulatory abnormalities in many game machine island facility units at the time of recovery from a power failure, etc., a large number of game machines make restocking requests in a relatively short time, resulting in many cases. Even when the error cancellation assistance operation is executed in the island facility unit for gaming machines, the number of simultaneous operation of the flow path opening / closing solenoid can be reduced to a small number, so the power supply system as the whole game arcade is stabilized. I can
      [0069]
  Also, according to the gaming machine island facility unit pertaining to claim 2,When the circulation abnormality detection means detects a circulation abnormality state, the error cancellation assistance operation by the error cancellation assistance operation control device is preferentially executed without performing the error control by the error control device. Therefore, when it is possible to automatically remove the cause of the circulatory abnormality by the error cancellation assisting operation, the detection of the circulatory abnormality by the circulatory abnormality detection unit is canceled without notification by the error control unit. There is an advantage that the work load of the store clerk etc. can be reduced.
Brief Description of the Drawings
    [Fig. 1]
  It is a front view of the game island made into a group structure by arranging in parallel island equipment units equipped with pachislot machines.
    [Fig. 2]
  It is a front view of an island installation unit single-piece | unit.
    [Fig. 3]
  It is a schematic front view which shows the game-medium supply mechanism in an island installation unit.
    [Fig. 4]
  It is a front view which shows the waist part of the coin reception side of a coin flow path member.
    [Fig. 5]
  It is an external appearance perspective view of coin supply gate vicinity in a coin flow path member.
    [Fig. 6]
  It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view along the coin flow path of coin supply gate vicinity in a coin flow path member.
    [Fig. 7]
  (A) It is a schematic diagram of the coin flow path which made the coin replenishment gate the non-replenishment state.
  (B) It is a schematic diagram of the coin flow path which made one of the coin replenishment gates the replenishment state.
    [Fig. 8]
  It is a functional block diagram relevant to the input / output in the control circuit which bears the main function of a control apparatus.
    [Fig. 9]
  It is a flowchart which shows the front | former stage of a replenishment process.
    [Fig. 10]
  It is a flowchart which shows the middle stage of a replenishment process.
    [Fig. 11]
  It is a flowchart which shows the latter part of a replenishment process.
    [Description of the code]
    1 island facility unit
    2 Pachislot machine
    4 Controller
  11 1st coin storage tank
  12 1st coin feeder
  13 coin transport flow path member
  13a Coin outlet
  15 coin channel members
  16 coin flow path
  16a entrance
  16b outlet
  16c coin supply gate
  18 coin supplies
  19 Long horizontal material
  20a First channel holding means
  20b Second channel holding means
  21 Overflow channel member
  22 Second coin storage tank
  23 Second coin feeder
  24 coin transfer channel member
  27 Flow path opening / closing member
  28a 1st flow path opening / closing solenoid
  28N Nth channel open / close solenoid