JP2002360911A - Record medium processor, game medium dispensing system, and value adding method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a game player to smoothly play a game by adding a value to a record medium in the case of using the record medium to which value can be added by input of new coins. SOLUTION: A record medium processor is provided with a holding part (bill holding part 313a and a coin holding part 315a) for temporarily holding the input bills or coins, whereby when the sum of the frequency of input money and the residual frequency of a prepaid card exceeds the frequency upper limit value, the money is held in the holding part, and when the residual frequency of the prepaid card is decreased and the sum does not exceed the frequency upper limit value, the held money is taken in.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention lends out a game medium based on value information stored in relation to a recording medium and, when money is inserted into a money slot, uses the value information to change the value of the money. The present invention relates to a recording medium processing device, a game medium lending system, a value adding method, and a program for adding a value for a minute, and particularly, when a card that can add a value by inserting new money is used, the value is smoothly added to the card. And a recording medium processing device, a game medium lending system, a value adding method, and a program that enable a player to play a game smoothly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, when playing a game at a game store equipped with a game machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine, a recording medium such as a prepaid card is purchased from a card issuing machine, for example. Game media such as pachinko balls and medals are borrowed according to the value information obtained.

[0003] By the way, not only such prepaid cards but also so-called prepaid cards, if the value information corresponding to the purchased amount is used up in advance, the user cannot use the prepaid cards. But,
It is not efficient to discard a used prepaid card and purchase a new prepaid card each time. In particular, in the case of a pachinko game, a jackpot often occurs immediately after the prepaid card is completely used, and in such a case, there is a strong user need to continuously borrow a game medium.

[0004] For this reason, recently, a game media lending system has been introduced, which is capable of adding value information to a prepaid card inserted into a card processing unit. That is, if additional payment is performed with the prepaid card inserted into the card processing unit, the value information of the prepaid card is added according to the amount of the additional payment.

However, it is necessary to set an upper limit in the value information of the prepaid card from the viewpoint of fraud prevention. As described above, when the upper limit value is set in the value information, it is necessary to return a portion exceeding the upper limit value from additional payment as change. For example, if the upper limit of the value information is set to 10,000 yen and the prepaid card has a residual value of 8000 yen and the additional payment is 5000 yen, the price exceeds 10,000 yen. You will have to return the yen as change.

However, it is actually difficult to provide a change return mechanism in the card processing unit from the viewpoint of arrangement space and the loading and collection of money. For this reason,
Instead of providing a change return mechanism in the card processing unit, it is conceivable to take measures to prevent money from being accepted if the change exceeds the upper limit.

[0007]

However, if money is not accepted simply because the value information exceeds the upper limit, it takes a long time to replenish the game media. You may miss the jackpot right.

[0008] For example, in the case where a big hit occurs after the player has used up the value information of the prepaid card and the game medium on the game console, the player must immediately insert a new bill into the card processing unit. Will not be
If it takes time to accept and transport bills, the result is that the supply of the game media cannot be completed before the jackpot times out.

In particular, when the bill has wrinkles or folds, or when some trouble occurs in the bill receiving mechanism of the card processing unit, the bill cannot be accepted unless the bill receiving operation is repeated. Because there are many
There is a problem that the jackpot right ends before a new bill is accepted.

[0010] Such a problem is not limited to prepaid cards, but is common to recording media such as various types of cards that can be added with new money, such as a member card that can be valued. Is a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and when a recording medium capable of adding value by inserting new money is used, the value of the recording medium can be smoothly increased. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium processing device and a game medium lending system which enable a player to play a game smoothly.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and a recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 is based on value information stored in relation to a recording medium. Lending game media,
A storage medium processing device that adds a value of the money to the value information when a money is inserted into a money slot, and a holding unit that temporarily holds the money inserted into the money slot, and the money When the sum of the value of the money and the value stored in relation to the recording medium exceeds a predetermined upper limit when the money is inserted into the insertion slot, the money is temporarily stored by the holding unit. And control means for controlling the suspension.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means determines that a sum of a value of the money and a value stored in relation to the recording medium is a predetermined value. When the value does not exceed the upper limit value, the money temporarily stored in the storing means is taken in, and control is performed so as to add the value of the money to the value information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game medium lending system, comprising: a management device for holding the unique identification information recorded on the recording medium in association with the value information of the recording medium; Receiving the value information of the recording medium from the management device, lending the game medium based on the value information, and adding the value of the money to the value information when money is inserted into the money slot. A recording medium processing device that requests the management device to perform the operation, wherein the recording medium processing device includes a holding unit that temporarily holds the money inserted into the money insertion slot, and the money insertion. When the money is inserted into the mouth, if the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium included in the value information received from the management device exceeds a predetermined upper limit, Characterized in that a control means for controlling so as to temporarily hold the coins by holding means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the game medium lending system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the control means may determine that the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium does not exceed a predetermined upper limit value. In this case, the money temporarily stored in the holding means is taken in, and control is performed so as to request the management device to add the value of the money to the value information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the game medium lending system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the recording medium processing device further includes a take-in operation means for taking in the money held in the holding means, and the control means. Takes in the money temporarily held in the holding means when the taking operation is performed by the taking operation means, and the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium does not exceed a predetermined upper limit. And controlling the management device to request the value information to add a value for the money.

In the game medium lending system according to claim 6, in the invention of claim 3, 4, or 5, the recording medium processing device further includes return operation means for returning the money held in the holding means. The control means controls to return the money temporarily stored in the storage means when the return operation is performed by the return operation means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the game medium lending system according to the third to sixth aspects, the recording medium processing device determines whether the recording medium is inserted into a predetermined recording medium insertion slot. The storage device further includes a determination unit that determines, and when the recording medium is not inserted into the recording medium insertion slot when the currency is inserted into the currency insertion slot, the storage unit deletes the currency. Once held, and during the hold, the recording medium is inserted into a predetermined recording medium insertion slot, and the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium included in the value information received from the management device is a predetermined value. If the upper limit value is not exceeded, the money temporarily stored in the storing means is taken in, and control is performed so as to add the value of the money to the value information.

Further, in the game medium lending system according to claim 8, in the invention according to claims 3 to 7, the management device,
Setting means for setting the upper limit value, and storage means for storing the upper limit value set by the setting means, wherein the upper limit value stored in the storage means in response to a request from the recording medium processing device, The information is transmitted to the recording medium processing device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a value adding method, wherein a game medium is lent based on value information stored in relation to a recording medium, and the value is added when money is inserted into a money slot. A value adding method of a recording medium processing device that adds a value of the money to information, wherein when money is inserted into the money insertion slot, the value is stored in relation to the value of the money and the recording medium. If the sum of the value and the total value exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the money is temporarily controlled by a holding unit capable of temporarily holding the money.

[0021] A program according to a tenth aspect of the present invention lends a game medium based on value information stored in relation to a recording medium, and stores the value information when money is inserted into a money slot. A program of a recording medium processing device for adding a value for the money, wherein when a money is inserted into the money slot, the value of the money and the value stored in relation to the recording medium are compared. When the sum exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the money is temporarily held by a holding unit that can temporarily hold the money.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a game medium lending system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where a pachinko game is played using a prepaid card will be described.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game medium lending system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Here, the prepaid card used in the present embodiment is a magnetic card made of paper or the like issued by a game store to a player each time, and various information is magnetically recorded and printed. Specifically, identification information of the issuing store, card-specific identification information, issue amount, card type, and the like are magnetically recorded, and the issue store name, card-specific identification information (for example, issuer number + serial number), issue amount It is printed so that the expiration date and the like can be visually checked.

Further, the prepaid card is provided with value information serving as a reference when borrowing a pachinko ball, specifically, value information called "frequency". The “frequency” here is a pachinko ball lending processing unit and is set at a predetermined rate. Normally, one credit corresponds to 100 yen, and a prepaid card of 3000 yen is provided with 30 credits. However, in the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that one frequency corresponds to one yen, and 25 pachinko balls are lent at 100 frequency. In the case of the first embodiment, the respective frequencies are not recorded on individual prepaid cards, but are stored in a terminal controller described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the game medium lending system according to the first embodiment, a plurality of pachinko machines 10 are arranged side by side for each group called "island", and a card issuing machine is provided in each island. 20, card processing unit 3
0, a recording medium processing device such as a card update machine 40, a card settlement machine 50, etc. are provided as appropriate.

The pachinko machine 10 is a portion where a player plays a game by firing a pachinko ball as a game medium into a game area. The main functions of the card issuing machine 20 are an addition process for a frequency associated with a prepaid card and an issuance process of a general card, and several card issuing machines are installed in each game store.

The main function of the card processing unit 30 is to lend pachinko balls up to the frequency associated with the prepaid card. The card processing unit 30 is prepared so as to be paired with each of a plurality of pachinko machines 10 installed in a game arcade, and is installed so as to be sandwiched between the pachinko machines 10.

As will be described in detail later, the card processing unit 30 is provided with a holding unit for temporarily holding the money, that is, bills and coins inserted by the player. Instead of immediately discharging the money, the money is held in the holding unit, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the held money is taken into the holding unit.

The main function of the card updating machine 40 is to issue a prepaid card whose expiration date has expired as a new prepaid card, and several card updating machines are installed in each game store. The main function of the card settlement machine 50 is to refund the frequency associated with the prepaid card as cash, and a plurality of card settlement machines are installed in each game store. That is, in the present embodiment, even if the card is a prepaid card, the valued unused frequency can be settled.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the card processing unit 30 and the pachinko machine 10 applied in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card processing unit 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the card processing unit 3
Numeral 0 denotes a vertically elongated configuration, and a card lamp 301, a cash lamp 302, a bill insertion slot 303, a coin insertion slot 304, a return lever 305, a type lamp 306, an amount display unit 307, an amount setting Button 30
8, a fraction setting button 309, a coin return slot 310, and a card insertion slot 311.

Card lamp 301 and cash lamp 30
Reference numeral 2 denotes a lamp which is turned on based on a control signal from the main control unit 312 to notify a user of a prepaid card and a cash-acceptable state. Bill slot 303
Is an opening for receiving a bill and taking it into a BV (Bill Barrier) unit 313.

The BV unit 313 identifies the denomination of the taken banknote, gives the identification result to the main control unit 312, and derives the taken banknote to the banknote transport path 314 so as to carry it out to the island end collection box. This is the part to do.

Here, the BV unit section 313 has a bill holding section 313a for temporarily holding bills.
That is, when a player inserts a bill into the bill insertion slot 303 in an attempt to add a frequency to the prepaid card, the sum of the frequency corresponding to the inserted bill and the remaining frequency of the prepaid card exceeds the frequency upper limit. In this case, the bill is reserved in the bill storage unit 313a of the BV unit 313. Then, when the remaining count of the prepaid card decreases and the sum does not exceed the upper limit of the count, the banknotes that have been held are taken in and delivered to the banknote transport path 314.

The reason for providing the banknote holding section 313a is that if a jackpot occurs when the possession ball is exhausted, the banknote is not properly received from the banknote insertion slot 303, and the player loses the right to the jackpot. This is to avoid such a situation.

When the addition button (not shown) is operated, the banknote holding unit 313a reserves the condition that the sum of the frequency corresponding to the inserted bill and the remaining frequency of the prepaid card does not exceed the frequency upper limit. Take in the bills
It may be configured to be led out to the bill transport path 314. This is because the player may want to hold the banknote as insurance for the last and last jackpot and return the banknote if there is no jackpot.

The coin slot 304 is an opening for receiving a coin and taking it into the coin selector 315. The coin selector 315 is a part that identifies the denomination of the captured coin, provides the identification result to the main control unit 312, and guides the captured coin to the coin transport path 316 so as to carry out the captured coin to the island end collection box. .

Here, the coin selector 315 is provided with a coin holding section 315a for holding coins. The coins held in the coin holding unit 315a are stored in a coin corresponding to the inserted coin and the remaining amount of the prepaid card when the player inserts a coin into the coin holding unit 315a in an attempt to add a number to the prepaid card. If the sum of the frequencies exceeds the frequency upper limit, the coin is stored in the coin holding unit 31.
Hold at 5a. Then, when the remaining number of the prepaid card decreases and the sum does not exceed the upper limit of the frequency, the reserved coins are taken in and delivered to the coin transport path 316.

The reason for providing the coin holding section 315a is that if a jackpot occurs when the number of possessed balls is exhausted, the bill is not properly accepted from the bill insertion slot 303, and the player loses the right to the jackpot. This is to avoid such a situation.

The return lever 305 is for returning the inserted money. The banknote held in the banknote holding unit 313a is returned to the user from the banknote insertion slot 303 as it is, while the coin held in the coin holding unit 315a is returned to the user from the coin return port 310.

The type lamp 306 is for illuminating and displaying the type of game medium to be lent, that is, which of a pachinko ball and a medal to rent. The amount setting button 308 is for the user to set the amount (lending unit) of the pachinko balls to be lent each time the lending button of the pachinko machine 10 described later is operated once. The card insertion slot 311 is an opening for receiving a prepaid card and taking it into the card reading unit 317. The card reading unit 317 is a unit that performs processing of reading the taken card and giving the read result to the main control unit 312.

On the other hand, the pachinko machine 10, which is a game machine, has
A frequency display unit 103, a lending button 104, and a return button 105 are provided on an upper plate 102 provided below the game area 101. The frequency display unit 103 is a unit for numerically displaying the remaining frequency of the frequency associated with the prepaid card taken into the card reading unit 317 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the remaining frequency).

The lending button 104 is a button switch that is turned on by the user when the pachinko ball is lent. The return button 105 is a button switch that is turned ON by the user when returning the prepaid card taken into the card reading unit 317. The ON operation detection signals of the lending button 104 and the return button 105 are transmitted to the main control unit 312 of the card processing unit 30 respectively.
Will be given to

The pachinko machine 10 is provided with ball throwing means 106 therein. Ball throwing means 106
When a hit ball throwing request is given from the main control unit 312 of the card processing unit 30 and when a prize ball throwing request is given from a control unit (not shown) of the pachinko machine 10,
Each is a portion for throwing out a predetermined number of pachinko balls on the upper plate 102 of the pachinko machine 10.

The above-described pachinko machine 10 and card issuing machine 2
0, a card processing unit 30, a card updating machine 40 and a card settlement machine 50 are provided with an island controller 60 provided on each island.
Is under the control of a management device referred to as a terminal controller 70. At least one terminal controller 70 is installed in each game store, and performs overall management of the installed game store, for example, card management, member management, sales management, and the like, and as described above, the frequency of the prepaid card. This is the part for storage management.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the terminal controller 70. The RAM 701 of the terminal controller 70 is a part that stores frequency management information 710 and frequency upper limit information 720. As shown in FIG. 5A, the frequency management information 710 is a table in which card identification information, the remaining frequency of the prepaid card, and the initial frequency at the time of issuance are stored in association with each other.

The card identification information of the frequency management information 710 is unique identification information of a prepaid card. The remaining frequency of the frequency management information 710 is stored in the communication interface unit 702.
When there is a subtraction update request or an addition update request, the calculation is updated as appropriate. Frequency upper limit information 720
FIG. 5B is a table in which the frequency upper limit is numerically set as shown in FIG. The frequency upper limit can be arbitrarily set by, for example, displaying a setting screen as shown in FIG. 6 on the display device 703 and inputting from the input / output device 704. The CPU 705 is a part for implementing the above-described various processes based on a program stored in the ROM 706.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the card processing unit 3.
12 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing performed by a main control unit 312 of 0. Hereinafter, the operation of the game medium lending system according to the first embodiment will be sequentially described with reference to this flowchart. The RAM 701 of the terminal controller 70 stores “10” as the frequency upper limit value A.
000 "has been set.

First, in the card processing unit 30, when the power is turned on, an initialization process is performed by the main control unit 312 (step S101), and thereafter, communication with the terminal controller 70 is started (step S10).
2). When communication starts, the terminal controller 70
The unit setting for instructing various settings of the card processing unit 30 and information indicating the frequency upper limit value A stored in the frequency upper limit information 720 of the RAM 701 are provided.

The main controller 31 having received the frequency upper limit A from the terminal controller 70 in step S103
2 stores this frequency upper limit value in the memory A (in the memory 318) (step S104), and turns on the card lamp 301 and the cash lamp 302 to notify that the prepaid card and the cash are waiting to be received (step S104). In step S105, the system enters a standby state for inserting a prepaid card (step S106).

In step S106, when a prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot 311, the main controller 3
12 reads the card identification information magnetically recorded on the prepaid card through the card reading unit 317 (step S107), and after inquiring the terminal controller 70 of the remaining number including the card identification information (step S108), The answer reception standby state is entered (step S109).

During this time, the terminal controller 70 that has received the inquiry from the card processing unit 30
Based on the card identification information, the corresponding remaining number of the prepaid card is read from the frequency management information 710 in the RAM 701 and transferred to the card processing unit 30.

In step S109, the main control unit 312 that has received the residual frequency from the terminal controller 70
Stores this in the memory B (in the memory 318) as a residual frequency (step S110), and
03 (step S11).
1), the player gives a deposit permit for depositing money (step S112), and enters an operation standby state.

In this operation standby state, the return button 10
When 5 is turned on (Yes at Step S113), it is checked whether there is any money held in the bill holding unit 313a or the coin holding unit 315a (Step S114). After returning the money (step S115), the memory C storing the amount of the reserved bill is cleared (step S116). Thereafter, the prepaid card is returned from the card insertion slot 311 (step S1).
17) After clearing the memory B (step S11)
8), the process proceeds to step S105.

If the return button 105 is not turned on in the operation standby state (No at Step S113), the bill holding unit 313a or the coin holding unit 315a is not operated.
It is confirmed whether or not there is a reserved currency (step S11).
9) If there is a reserved banknote, it is checked whether or not the sum of the values in the memory B and the memory C is equal to or less than the value in the memory A in order to check whether or not the value is equal to or less than the upper limit (step S1).
20).

As a result, when the value is equal to or less than the upper limit value (Yes at step S120), a process of taking in the money held in the bill holding unit 313a or the coin holding unit 315a is performed. Specifically, while taking the reserved money (step S121), the terminal controller 70 is requested to add the residual number (step S12).
2) The value of the memory B is added (step S123), the value of the memory C is cleared (step S124), and the process proceeds to step S113.

On the other hand, if the value exceeds the upper limit value when there is no reserved currency or when the reserved currency is taken in (No at Step S119, No at Step S120), the following processing is performed without taking the reserved currency. That is, it is confirmed whether or not there is money deposited separately from the reserved currency (step S126). If there is a deposit, this deposited amount is stored in the memory C (step S127), and the memories B and C are stored. It is determined whether or not the sum of the values is equal to or less than the value of the memory A (step S128).

As a result, if the value is equal to or less than the upper limit (Yes at Step S128), the process proceeds to Step S121 to perform the same processing. Unit 313a or the coin holding unit 315a (step S1).
29), payment is prohibited (step S130).

Thereafter, when the lending button is turned on (step S131), a request for subtracting the remaining number is made to the terminal controller 70 (step S13).
2) In order to throw pachinko balls for the amount set by the amount setting button 308, the ball throwing means 10 of the pachinko machine 10
6 is given a hit ball throwing request (step S13).
3). Then, the value of the memory B is subtracted (step S1).
34), and proceeds to a step S113.

Here, in the above-described series of processing for payment, whether or not the pending money is to be taken in according to the remaining amount is determined.
In addition, it is decided whether to hold without taking in.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, if the residual count is “0”, a 100-yen coin, a 500-yen coin, a 1000-yen bill, 20
It is possible to take in the pending money for all denominations of the 00 yen bill, the 5000 yen bill, and the 10000 yen bill.

On the other hand, when the remaining number is 1 to 5000, if the 10,000 yen bill is held in the holding unit 313a, the sum of the deposit amount and the remaining number exceeds the upper limit of the number. Since the determination in step S120 is false (NO), the holding currency is not taken in. Remaining frequency is 1-5
Even in the case of 000, if the deposited denomination is less than or equal to the 5,000-yen bill, the sum of the deposited amount and the remaining number does not exceed the upper limit of the number, so the determination in step S120 is true (YES).
, And the banknote can be taken in. Similarly, if the remaining number is 5001 to 8000, any denomination of 2000 yen bill or less can be imported.
In the case of 9000, a denomination of 1,000 yen bill or less can be imported, and in the case of 9001 to 9500, 50 can be imported.
Denominations of 0 yen coin or less can be taken in.
In the case of 9900, only 100 yen coins can be taken in, and in the case of 9901, not all denominations can be taken.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the holding units (the banknote holding unit 313a and the coin holding unit 315a) for temporarily holding the inserted bills or coins are provided, and the frequency of the inserted money is provided. If the sum of the remaining counts of the prepaid card and the prepaid card exceeds the upper limit of frequency, this money will be held in the holding unit, and will be held when the remaining frequency of the prepaid card decreases and the sum no longer exceeds the upper limit of the frequency. Because it is configured to take in the money that has been added, when using a recording medium that can add value by inserting new money,
A value can be smoothly added to the recording medium, so that the player can play a smooth game.

In the first embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the case where coins or bills are held on one of the coin holding section 315a and the bill holding section 313a is shown. However, coins and bills are simultaneously held on both holding sections. It can also be put on hold. In this case, control must be performed so that the sum of the frequency of the reserved banknotes or the frequency of the retained coins and the remaining frequency of the prepaid card does not exceed the frequency upper limit.

(Embodiment 2) By the way, in Embodiment 1 described above, the frequency upper limit set by the terminal controller 70 is transferred to the card processing unit 30. Can also be set.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the contents of processing executed by the main control unit 312 of the card processing unit 30 in the game medium lending system in which the card processing unit 30 sets the frequency upper limit value A. Hereinafter, the operation of the game medium lending system according to the second embodiment will be sequentially described with reference to this flowchart.

First, in the card processing unit 30, when the power is turned on, an initialization process is performed by the main control unit 312 (step S101), and thereafter, it is determined whether or not the setting button was turned on when the power was turned on. (Step S200). The setting button is used for the card processing unit 30
It may be provided at an appropriate position such as a front panel of the camera.

If the setting button is ON when the power is turned on, it is displayed that the setting of the frequency upper limit value A is in a waiting state (step S202), and the setting is waited for (step S203). The display of the setting standby state may be separately provided on the display unit, or may be switched and displayed on the amount display unit 307. In step S203, when the frequency upper limit value is set and input by appropriately operating the setting button, this is stored in memory A (memory 318) (step S104), and it is notified that the prepaid card and the cash are waiting to be received. Card lamp 301
And turns on the cash lamp 302 (step S10).
5).

On the other hand, if the setting button is not turned on when the power is turned on, it is determined whether or not the frequency upper limit has been set (step S201). If the frequency upper limit has been set, the procedure proceeds to step S105.

Thereafter, the same processing as in step S106 and thereafter in FIG. 7 is performed. If the upper frequency limit is not set in step S201, the card processing unit 30 is abnormally terminated.

According to the gaming medium lending system of the second embodiment as described above, the upper limit of the frequency can be set by the card processing unit 30 alone.

In Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, since the upper limit of the frequency can be set arbitrarily, it is possible to cope with various business modes, but the upper limit of the frequency is fixed to a constant value. It does not matter. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, after performing the initialization process (step S1).
01), a fixed value (for example, 1000)
0) (step S300), and this is stored in memory A
(The memory 318) (step S104). This eliminates the need to set the frequency upper limit, and facilitates maintenance and inspection.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the frequency upper limit A is set to 10000, but it is not always necessary to be 10000. In this case, FIG.
As shown in (a), the initial frequency at the time of issuance of the prepaid card included in the frequency management information 710, that is, the initial value information given at the time of issuing the prepaid card may be set as the frequency upper limit value as it is. . For example, 5000
The maximum frequency of prepaid cards purchased in yen is 5000
If the upper limit of the frequency of a prepaid card purchased at 1,000 yen is set to 1000, it is possible to make the upper limit of the frequency of each prepaid card different from each other without performing a complicated setting operation.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the game media lending system in which the value information (remaining number of times) of the prepaid card is stored in the terminal controller 70 is exemplified. The present invention can be similarly applied to a game medium lending system in which information is stored, and the same operation and effect can be expected.

Further, in Embodiments 1 and 2 described above,
Although the recording medium processing device determines whether or not the inserted money is acceptable, the terminal controller 70 capable of communicating with the recording medium processing device manages the frequency upper limit value and performs the operation of the inserted money. It may be determined whether or not is acceptable.

In the first and second embodiments, the case where a prepaid card is used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a synthetic resin card (J
The present invention can be applied to a case where a membership card of IS2) is used. This membership card is a card issued by a game arcade to members who have registered membership information such as address and name, and various information is magnetically recorded and printed. Specifically, the identification information of the issuing store, the member identification information, and the like are magnetically recorded, and the information of the issuing store code, the member code, and the like are printed, so that a part of the recorded contents can be visually checked. ing. Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the case where a card is used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when an IC coin having no card shape is used as a recording medium, The present invention can also be applied.

[0076]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the holding means for temporarily holding the money inserted into the money insertion slot is provided. When the sum of the value of money and the value stored in relation to the recording medium exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the money is temporarily held by the holding means. In the case of using a recording medium to which the player can add, the value can be smoothly added to the recording medium, so that the player can play the game smoothly.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the sum of the value of money and the value stored in relation to the recording medium does not exceed the predetermined upper limit, the value is temporarily stored in the storing means. Because it was configured to take in money and add the value of the money to the value information, even without the operation of the player,
Value can be added automatically and smoothly.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the recording medium processing device is provided with a holding means for temporarily holding the money inserted into the money slot, and when the money is inserted into the money slot,
When the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium included in the value information received from the management device exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the money is temporarily held by the holding means, so that the management is performed. Even when the value of the recording medium is managed by the device, the value can be smoothly added to the recording medium, so that the player can play the game smoothly.

According to the invention of claim 4, when the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium does not exceed the predetermined upper limit, the money temporarily stored in the storing means is taken in and the management is performed. Since the apparatus is configured to request the value information to add the value of the money to the value information, the value can be automatically and smoothly added without the operation of the player.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a taking-in operation means for taking in the money held in the holding means,
If this loading operation is performed, and the sum of the value of money and the value of the recording medium does not exceed a predetermined upper limit,
In addition to taking in the money temporarily held in the holding means and configuring the management device to request the value information to add a value for the money, it is also possible to add the value based on the operation of taking in the held money by the player. it can.

According to the invention of claim 6, return means for returning the money held in the holding means is further provided,
When this return operation is performed, the money temporarily held in the holding means is configured to be returned, so that the money temporarily held can be returned, suppressing unnecessary investment by the player who stops the game, and You don't have to.

According to the invention of claim 7, when money is inserted in a state where the recording medium is not inserted into the recording medium insertion slot, the money is temporarily held by the holding means, and the money is held. If the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium included in the value information received from the management device does not exceed a predetermined upper limit, the money temporarily stored in the storage unit is inserted. And the value of the money is added to the value information, so that when the player attempts to insert money for adding value in accordance with the insertion of the recording medium, the operation of inserting the recording medium is performed. Thus, it is not necessary to consider the order of the operation of inserting money.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the setting device for setting the upper limit value and the storage device for storing the upper limit value set by the setting device are provided in the management device, and Since the upper limit value stored in the storage means is transmitted to the recording medium processing device in response to the request, the upper limit value can be set efficiently for the recording medium processing device.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when money is inserted into the money insertion slot, the sum of the value of the money and the value stored in relation to the recording medium is set to the predetermined upper limit value. In the case of exceeding, since the money is temporarily held by the holding unit capable of temporarily holding the money, when using a recording medium that can add value by inserting new money, The value can be smoothly added, so that the player can play the game smoothly.

According to the tenth aspect, when money is inserted into the money insertion slot, the sum of the value of the money and the value stored in relation to the recording medium is set to the predetermined upper limit value. In the case of exceeding, since the money is temporarily held by the holding unit capable of temporarily holding the money, when using a recording medium that can add value by inserting new money, The value can be smoothly added, so that the player can play the game smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a game medium lending system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external front view of a card processing unit and a pachinko machine applied in the game medium lending system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the card processing unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a terminal controller.

FIG. 5A is a chart showing a specific example of frequency management information;
(B) is a chart showing a specific example of frequency upper limit information.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a setting screen of a frequency upper limit value.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (1) showing the contents of processing executed by the main control unit of the card processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (2) showing the contents of processing performed by the main control unit of the card processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a table showing the correspondence between the remaining number of value information and acceptable denominations.

FIG. 10 In the game media lending system of the present invention,
It is a flowchart which shows the principal part of the process content performed by the main control part of a card processing unit.

FIG. 11 In the game media lending system of the present invention,
It is a flowchart which shows the principal part of the process content performed by the main control part of a card processing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pachinko machine 20 Card issuer 30 Card processing unit 40 Card renewal machine 50 Card settlement machine 60 Island controller 70 Terminal controller 101 Game area 102 Upper plate 103 Frequency display part 104 Lending button 105 Return button 106 Ball throwing means 301 Card lamp 302 Cash lamp 303 Bill slot 304 Coin slot 305 Return lever 306 Type lamp 307 Amount display section 308 Amount setting button 309 Fraction setting button 310 Coin return port 311 Card insertion port 312 Main control section 313 BV unit section 313a Bill storage section 314 Bill Conveyance path 315 Coin selector section 315a Coin holding section 316 Coin conveyance path 317 Card reading section 318 Memory 701 RAM 702 Communication interface section 703 Display device 704 I / O device 710 Frequency management information 720 Frequency upper limit information

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. Lending game media based on value information stored in relation to a recording medium, and adding a value of the money to the value information when money is inserted into a money slot. In the recording medium processing device, a holding means for temporarily holding the money inserted into the money slot, when the money is inserted into the money slot, related to the value of the money and the recording medium And a control unit for controlling the holding unit to temporarily hold the money when the sum of the stored value and the stored value exceeds a predetermined upper limit value. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when the sum of the value of the money and the value stored in relation to the recording medium does not exceed a predetermined upper limit, the money temporarily stored in the storing unit is controlled. 2. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so that a value of the money is added to the value information. 3. A management device for holding the unique identification information recorded on a recording medium and the value information of the recording medium in association with each other,
When the recording medium is received, the value information of the recording medium is received from the management device, and the lending of the game medium is performed based on the value information. And a recording medium processing device that requests the management device to add the value of the money to the game medium lending system, wherein the recording medium processing device temporarily holds the money inserted into the money insertion slot. Holding means, when a money is inserted into the money insertion slot, the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium included in the value information received from the management device exceeds a predetermined upper limit value In this case, a control means for controlling the money to be temporarily held by the holding means is provided. 4. The control means, when the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium does not exceed a predetermined upper limit, takes in the money temporarily held in the holding means and manages the money. The game media lending system according to claim 3, wherein the system controls the device to request the value information to add a value for the money. 5. The recording medium processing apparatus further includes a capture operation unit that captures money stored in the storage unit,
The control means, when a take-in operation is performed by the take-in operation means, and when the sum of the value of the money and the value of the recording medium does not exceed a predetermined upper limit, temporarily held in the holding means 4. The game medium lending system according to claim 3, wherein while taking in money, the control device controls the management device to request the value information to add a value for the money. 5. 6. The recording medium processing device further includes return operation means for returning the money stored in the storage means,
6. The game medium lending according to claim 3, wherein when the return operation is performed by the return operation unit, the control unit controls to return the money temporarily stored in the storage unit. 7. system. 7. The recording medium processing device further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the recording medium is inserted into a predetermined recording medium insertion slot, and the control unit determines that the currency is inserted into the currency insertion slot. If the recording medium is not inserted into the recording medium insertion slot when inserted, the money is temporarily retained by the retaining means, and the recording medium is inserted into a predetermined recording medium insertion port during the reservation. When the total of the value of the money inserted and the value of the recording medium included in the value information received from the management device does not exceed a predetermined upper limit, the money temporarily stored in the storing unit is taken in. 7. The game medium lending system according to claim 3, wherein the value information is controlled so as to add the value of the money to the value information. 8. The management device, comprising: setting means for setting the upper limit value; and storage means for storing the upper limit value set by the setting means, and responding to a request from the recording medium processing device. The system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the upper limit value stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the recording medium processing device. 9. Lending a game medium based on value information stored in relation to a recording medium, and adding a value of the money to the value information when money is inserted into a money slot. A method for adding a value to a recording medium processing device, wherein, when money is inserted into the money insertion slot, a sum of a value of the money and a value stored in relation to the recording medium is a predetermined upper limit value. The value adding method characterized by controlling the money to be temporarily held by a holding unit capable of temporarily holding the money when the value exceeds the number. 10. Lending game media based on value information stored in relation to a recording medium,
It is a program of a recording medium processing device that adds a value of the money to the value information when a money is inserted into the money slot, and when a money is inserted into the money slot, When the sum of the value and the value stored in relation to the recording medium exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the money is controlled to be temporarily held by a holding unit capable of temporarily holding the money. program.