JP2003047689A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine which can prevent the improper lending of medals by a failure, gives no doubt about lending to a player, or has no fear obstructing the revelation of an illicit act. SOLUTION: This slot machine 3 executes the lending processing of medals on receipt of a lending request of medals from a medal dispenser 2. The slot machine 3 comprises a control part for controlling the lending of medals. The control part forms a lending prohibiting state for prohibiting the execution of lending processing of medals to the lending request from the medal dispenser 2 when an abnormality of a medal selector or a medal delivery machine is detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine in which a game is played by using a game medium such as a medal. In particular, the present invention receives a game medium lending request from a game medium lending machine. The present invention relates to a slot machine configured to execute a lending process of media.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, pachinko halls have been introduced with a lending system for lending pachinko balls by using a card-shaped storage medium (hereinafter simply referred to as "card") to which a valuable value is added. In this pachinko ball lending system, the pachinko ball lending machine is electrically connected adjacent to each pachinko machine for each pachinko machine, and when the lending switch is pressed while the card is accepted by the lending machine. ,
The lending machine issues a pachinko ball lending request to the pachinko machine, and in response to this lending request, the pachinko machine releases a predetermined number of pachinko balls to the tray.

The introduction of a similar lending system is also being considered for slot machines. A conventional typical slot machine is configured to be able to store medals as a game medium in the form of electronic data, and the player consumes the stored medals to execute the game. Therefore, in the medal lending system, the slot machine is configured to store a predetermined number of medals in the form of electronic data in response to a lending request from the medal lending machine. You may comprise.

In this type of slot machine, a limit value is set for the number of stored medals, and when a large number of medals are paid out due to winning, the medals exceeding the limit value are discharged to a tray. To be done. After that, if the number of stored medals is less than the limit value, it is possible to insert and store the medals accumulated in the tray into the medal insertion slot. When the game is finished and the payment is made, the stored medals are paid out to the medal tray. In order to pay out medals, a medal payout machine is incorporated inside the slot machine.

[0005]

In the conventional pachinko ball lending system, a pachinko ball lending request by operating a lending switch is always accepted and the lending process is executed. In the medal lending system, it is desirable to restrict the medal lending process from being executed even when the lending switch is operated depending on the time and the case.

For example, when the medal lending process is executed in response to a medal lending request, and if a mechanism related to the medal receiving and paying-out is defective, the medal lending process is properly executed. May not be performed. Even if the medal lending process is properly performed, the player may have a doubt as to whether or not the proper lending process is performed, and may cause a trouble with the pachinko hall.

[0007] In addition, among the players, there are also players who carry out fraudulent acts called “goto” and fraudulently take out medals. If the medal lending process is executed during the fraudulent act, the medal due to the fraudulent action and the medal due to the lending process will be mixed up. As a result, the state of the slot machine at the time of the fraudulent action cannot be maintained and May interfere with detection.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. It prevents improper medal lending processing due to a failure, prevents the player from suspicion of the lending processing, and prevents illegal acts. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine that does not hinder the detection.

[0009]

A slot machine according to the present invention is configured to execute a game medium lending process in response to a game medium lending request from a game medium lending machine. And a control unit for controlling the lending process. The control unit forms a lending-prohibited state in which execution of the lending process of the game medium is prohibited when an abnormality in a mechanism relating to acceptance or payout of the game medium is detected.

The abnormality of the mechanism includes an abnormality caused by a failure and an abnormality caused by a fraudulent act, but is not necessarily limited to an abnormality caused by a malfunction or a fraudulent act. Not a thing.

The above-mentioned mechanism includes all mechanisms regardless of mechanical system and electric system, one of the specific examples is a selector communicating with the slot for the game medium, and the other one is the payout of the game medium. It is a machine. When an abnormality in the state where the game medium passes through the selector is detected, when an abnormality in the sensor that detects the passage of the game medium in the selector is detected, an abnormality in the state where the game medium is dispensed from the dispenser is detected. When the payout of the game medium by the payout machine is detected when the payout machine is not requested to pay out the game medium, the storage unit of the game medium in the payout machine is empty or full. When it is detected,
The control unit forms a lending-prohibited state that prohibits execution of the game-medium lending process. The control unit may be realized by a hardware circuit or a programmed computer.

When the slot machine according to the present invention receives a game medium lending request from the lending machine, the game medium lending process is executed under the control of the control unit. If an abnormality in the mechanism relating to the acceptance or the payout of the game medium is detected, the control unit establishes the lending prohibition state that prohibits the execution of the lending process of the game medium, so that the lending process of the game medium is not executed.

According to the present invention, when there is an abnormality in the mechanism relating to the acceptance or payout of the game medium, the game medium lending process is not executed, so that the improper medal lending process due to a failure can be prevented, and the game can be prevented. It does not cause any doubt to the game media lending process. Furthermore, the medal due to fraudulent activity and the medal due to lending processing are not mixed up, and the state of the slot machine at the time of fraudulent activity is maintained, so it is possible to check the state of the slot machine at that time, It does not hinder the detection of misconduct.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a game machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The gaming machine 1 includes a slot machine 3 and a medal lending machine 2 provided adjacent to the slot machine 3. The slot machine 3 and the medal lending machine 2 are electrically connected. Medal lending machine 2
Accepts a card having a valuable value, converts the valuable value of the card into the number of medals, and lends it to the slot machine 3. The slot machine 3 stores the lent medals in the form of electronic data. The player uses the accumulated medals to execute the game.

In this embodiment, the card is 100
I use a card with a value of 0 yen. The valuable value of a card is managed by the frequency instead of the amount of money. In this embodiment, 1000 yen is set as 10 times, and 10 times is converted into 50 medals. The card has an information storage unit capable of reading and writing information. The information storage unit stores the issue date, the issue amount, the store number, the code number unique to each card, the remaining number, and the like.

The body of the slot machine 3 comprises a box-shaped main body 4 and a door 5 which is attached to a front opening of the main body 4 so as to be openable and closable. Inside the main body portion 4, as shown in FIG. 2, the reel block 10 and the circuit board 51 are arranged at the upper position.
However, the medal payout machines 6 are incorporated in the lower positions. On the circuit board 51, circuit components such as an IC constituting the control unit 50 described later are mounted.

The medal pay-out machine 6 is a medal accommodating section (hereinafter referred to as "hopper") 6a for accommodating a large number of medals and a medal accommodating section (hereinafter referred to as "auxiliary hopper") for accommodating overflowing medals. ) 6b.
When the hopper 6a is full of medals, the auxiliary hopper 6
The medal is stored in b. The hopper 6a and the auxiliary hopper 6b are provided with full detection sensors 52 and 53 for detecting that the medal is full. When the number of medals accumulated exceeds the limit value, the medal payout machine 6 discharges the medals when the number of medals accumulated exceeds a limit value. In addition, at the time of payment, the medals are emitted as many as the number of stored images displayed on the stored number display 24 described later. A medal payout detection sensor 54 for detecting that a medal has been paid out to the medal discharge port of the medal payout machine 6.
Are arranged.

The reel block 10 comprises a metal frame 7 and three reels 8a, 8b, 8c integrally assembled. Each of the reels 8a, 8b and 8c is a reel frame having a strip tape attached to the outer peripheral surface thereof. A plurality of symbols are printed on the strip tape. To the reel block 10, stepping motors 9a, 9b, 9c for individually rotating and driving the reels 8a, 8b, 8c are assembled.

The front surface of the door portion 5 is composed of a front panel 11, an upper panel 12, and a lower panel 13. Each panel 11, 12, 13 is formed by performing silk screen printing on the surface of a transparent synthetic resin plate or tempered glass. Model names, game information, etc. are displayed on the upper panel 12 and the lower panel 13.

An uncolored and transparent symbol display window 20 surrounded by a color printing layer is formed in the center of the plate surface of the front panel 11. Behind the symbol display window 20, the reels 8a, 8b, 8 of the reel block 10 are arranged.
c is arranged with its outer peripheral surface facing the symbol display window 20. The symbol display window 20 has a horizontal length so that the three reels 8a, 8b, 8c can be seen from the outside, and
The length in the vertical direction is formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape so that symbols for three frames can be seen from the outside when the reels are stopped.

On the surface of the front panel 11, as shown in FIG. 3, the reels 8a, 8 visible from the symbol display window 20 are shown.
Three horizontal pay lines L1 to L3 connecting the symbols S corresponding to three frames b and 8c in the horizontal direction and the reels 8a, 8b and 8
Two diagonal winning lines L4 and L5 that are diagonally rightward and downwardly diagonally connecting the symbols S corresponding to the three frames c are shown. When the reels stop, these five pay lines L1
The symbols S of the reels 8a, 8b, and 8c are aligned on L5.

The front panel 11 has a symbol display window 20.
A frequency display 26, a stored number display 24, a payout medal number display 25, and a lendable display lamp 22 are arranged in a lower position of the display. The remaining frequency of the card is displayed on the frequency display 26.
The stored number display 24 displays the number of stored medals.
A limit value (for example, 250) is set as an upper limit value for the number of stored medals. The payout medal number display 25 displays the number of medals paid out at the time of winning. The lendable display lamp 22 is for notifying the player of the medal lending by a lighting operation. In this embodiment, the payout medal number display 25
Is also used as an error indicator for displaying an abnormality of a mechanism such as a medal selector 70 and a medal payout device 6 which will be described later with a code for each type, but an error indicator dedicated thereto can be provided.

Below the front panel 11, the starting lever 1
4, 3 stop switches 15a, 15b, 15c, medal slot 16, 3 bet switches 17, 18, 1
9, a settlement switch 21, a lending switch 27, a card return switch 28 and the like are provided. Below the lower panel 13, the medal discharge port 30 and the medal tray 31 are provided.
Is provided. Starting lever 14 is three reels 8
It is operated to start a, 8b and 8c at the same time. Three
The individual stop switches 15a, 15b, 15c are operated to individually stop the corresponding reels 8a, 8b, 8c.

The medal insertion slot 16 is a portion for receiving the insertion of stored medals. As shown in FIG. 4, a medal passage 71 of the medal selector 70 is connected to the downstream side of the medal insertion slot 16. The medal selector 70 is for detecting passage of a medal when a medal is inserted through the medal insertion slot 16 and counting the number of inserted medals. The inserted medals are taken into the hopper 6a and the auxiliary hopper 6b of the medal payout machine 6 or returned to the medal tray 31. Although not shown,
By the operation of the passage switching mechanism, the medals are guided to any of the paths to the hopper 6a, the auxiliary hopper 6b, and the medal tray 31.

In the medal passage 71, three medal passage detection sensors 72, 73, 74 are arranged at appropriate distances. Each medal passing detection sensor 72-74
Is composed of, for example, a photoelectric sensor. When a medal passes through the installation position of each medal passage detection sensor 72-74,
Since the light from the light projecting portion is blocked and then opened, the outputs of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 first switch from on to off, and then from off to on. Three
When the outputs of the individual medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 are sequentially changed as described above, it is determined that one medal has been properly inserted and passed through the medal passage 71.

If an illegal act such as inserting a string-hanging medal into the medal insertion slot 16 and reciprocating the medal is performed, the output of the medal passage detection sensor on the downstream side changes when the medal is pulled back. After that, the output of the medal passage detection sensor on the upstream side changes, so that the outputs of the three medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 change in the reverse order of the medal insertion operation. Is determined to have been performed.

Returning to FIG. 1, each bet switch 17, 1
8 and 19 are pressed at the start of the game. First
When the bet switch 17 is pressed, one stored medal is consumed and the central horizontal pay line L1 is activated. When the second bet switch 18 is pressed, two stored medals are consumed and three horizontal pay lines L1 to L3 are activated. When the third bet switch 19 is pressed, three stored medals are consumed and all five pay lines L1 to L5 are activated. The settlement switch 21 is for instructing the end of the game,
The stored number of medals displayed on the stored number display 24 is discharged from the medal discharge port 30 to the medal tray 31.

The lending switch 27 is operated to request the lending of medals. In this embodiment, the lending switch 2
When 7 is pressed once, 5 of the remaining card counts are converted into 25 medals for lending, and the number of stored medals is increased by 25. Card return switch 28
Is operated to ask for the return of the card with the remaining count.

Next, the medal lending machine 2 is a coin (thousand yen bill).
And a slot machine adjacent to the card issuing function for accepting a card and issuing a card of 10 times, a card issued by its own device, a card issued by another medal lending machine 2, and a card issued by a dedicated card vending machine It has a card acceptance function for lending medals to 3rd party. In order to realize each of the above-mentioned functions, a coin receiving slot 31 for receiving a 1,000-yen bill, a card slot 32 for loading and unloading a card, and an own device issued to the card slot 32 are provided on the front surface of the medal lending machine 2. Card insertion switch 3 for inserting a new card
3 and the like are provided, a money handling unit (not shown) is provided inside the machine at a position corresponding to the money accepting port 31, and a card handling unit (not shown) is provided at a position corresponding to the card slot 32. But each is incorporated. In the figure, reference numeral 34 denotes a transparent cover provided at the card entrance / exit 32 and capable of opening and closing.

A plurality of display lamps for notifying the player of the state of the machine are provided on the front surface of the machine body to notify that the card is in the state of being inserted in the machine or in the game hall. It is notified that communication is disabled due to the disconnection of the communication line, that the card cannot be issued because the card is out, and that the card has been carried out to the card entrance / exit 32.

The card processing unit has a card storage portion (not shown) capable of storing only one initialized card. Predetermined information is written on the card drawn out from the card accommodation section, and the card entrance / exit 32
Be delivered to. When a carried-out card or a card issued by another is accepted at the card entrance / exit 32, the information of the card is read, and the remaining number of the card is converted into the number of medals by the medal lending process. Execution becomes possible.

The card with the remaining number of zero is initialized and then taken into the card accommodation section and stocked.
In this case, if the card housing is not empty, the initialized card is discharged to the card slot 32. Therefore, the same one card is repeatedly used unless the issued card is removed.

FIG. 5 shows an electrical configuration of the above-mentioned gaming machine 1. The medal lending machine 2 and the slot machine 3 which form the gaming machine 1 respectively include control units 40 and 50 which are microcomputers. Each control unit 40, 5
0 is composed of a CPU as a control body, a ROM storing programs and the like, a RAM used for reading and writing data, and the like. RA of the control unit 50 of the slot machine 3
Data such as the number of stored medals and the limit value of the stored number are stored in M, and the RAM of the control unit 40 of the medal lending machine 2 stores
Data such as the remaining number of cards are stored respectively.

The control section 50 of the slot machine 3 has various switches 51 for games, a reel block 10, a stored number display 24, a payout medal number display 25, a medal payout device 6, full detection sensors 52 and 53, and medals. The payout detection sensor 54, the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74, etc. are connected. The various game switches 51 include a start lever 14, stop button switches 15a, 15b, 15c,
Bet switches 17, 18, 19 and the like are included.
Further, the reel block 10 includes three stepping motors 9a, 9b and 9c, and the medal payout machine 6 includes a driving motor (not shown).

The slot machine 3 has a first interface board 56 for relaying control signals exchanged with the medal lending machine 2, and the lending switch 2
7, a card return switch 28, a frequency indicator 26, and a second interface board 57 for connecting the lendable indicator lamp 22 to the controller 40 of the medal lending machine 2 are incorporated. Hereinafter, in order to distinguish between the first and second interface boards 56 and 57, the first interface board 56 is referred to as a “control signal relay board”, and the second interface board 57 is referred to as an “input / output section relay board”. ". The medal lending machine 2 also includes an interface board 59 for communicating with both the control signal relay board 56 and the input / output section relay board 57.

The slot machine 3 includes a power supply device 5
5 is incorporated. The power supply device 55 receives an external AC power supply and generates a DC power supply of 5V and 24V. The 5V DC power supply is used as a drive power supply for the control unit 50. The 24V DC power source is supplied to the various input / output units described above and also to the interface board 59 of the medal lending machine 2.

The control unit 40 of the medal lending machine 2 includes a card insertion switch 38, a bill detecting sensor 44, a bill validator 45, and a bill transport mechanism 46, which constitute the bill processing unit, and the card processing unit. The card detection sensor 47, the card reader / writer 48, and the card transport mechanism 49 that are configured are connected to a communication interface circuit 58 for communicating with other devices in the hall.

Banknote detection sensor 44 of the banknote processing unit
Detects the insertion of banknotes into the money accepting port 31. The bill validator 45 determines the denomination and authenticity of the inserted bill. The bill transport mechanism 46 takes in the inserted bill into the machine body and carries it out to an external safe. The card detection sensor 47 of the card processing unit detects the insertion and removal of the card from the card slot 32. The card reader / writer 48 reads and writes information recorded on the card. The card transport mechanism 49 transports the card to the card entrance / exit 32 or a card storage section in the machine.

Although not shown, the communication interface circuit 58 is provided with another medal lending machine 2 and a card vending machine which is a card issuing exclusive machine, via a bidirectional communication line installed in the game hall. It is connected to a card settlement machine for settlement of the remaining amount of the card, an information processing device for totaling data related to the issuance and use of the card in the game arcade, and the like. The communication interface circuit 58 is used to issue a card collation request and a registration information rewriting request to the issuing device when a card issued by another device is accepted, and also to another device. It is used for receiving and responding to a verification request for a card issued by the device itself and a request for rewriting registration information, and for transmitting data for aggregation to the information processing device.

Although not shown, the medal lending machine 2 also has a power supply device similar to that of the slot machine 3 incorporated therein to supply drive power to the control unit 40 and various input / output units. Further, a conversion circuit for converting the DC power supply of 24V from the slot machine 3 into the DC power supply of 18V is incorporated in the interface board 59. This one
The 8V DC power supply is applied to the control signal relay board 56 of the slot machine 3 to be used for generating each control signal, and also applied to the input / output relay board 57 to display the frequency indicator 26. It is also used as a drive source of the lendable display lamp 22.

When the control section 40 of the medal lending machine 2 determines that a proper bill has been inserted by the detection signals from the bill detecting sensor 44 and the bill validator 45, it drives the card reader / writer 48 and the card transport mechanism 49. To issue a card. Further, the control unit 40 registers the information recorded on the issued card in the internal memory, and thereafter, when accepting the card issued by the own device, the recorded information of the card is correct using the internal registration information. Determine if there is.

When a card issued by another medal lending machine 2 or a card vending machine is accepted, the control unit 40
Makes a verification request for the card to the device that issued the card, and uses the response from the device that issued the ticket to the request to determine whether the recorded information on the card is appropriate. In this embodiment, the card registration information is managed by the issuing device, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The information of all the cards issued in the hall may be centrally managed by a specific device, and the card collation processing may be performed by communication with the device of the management source. Alternatively, only the card vending machine may issue the card, and the card matching process may be performed by communication between the medal payout machine 2 and the card vending machine or the card information management device.

When the control unit 40 of the medal lending machine 2 finishes the collation processing of the accepted card, the lending switch 2
According to the operation of 7, a predetermined frequency is withdrawn from the card, and the slot machine 3 is requested to lend out medals corresponding to the withdrawn frequency. In response to the lending request, the control unit 50 of the slot machine 3 executes the lending process by storing medals in the electronic data format. Hereinafter, this process is referred to as “credit up”.

As a lending process, instead of the credit increase, the medal payout machine 6 may be driven to pay out actual medals. In addition, a switch for switching the mode of the lending process is provided on the front face of the slot machine 3 or the medal lending machine 2, and the lending process is performed by either a credit increase or a method of paying out an actual medal according to the switch operation. You may do it.

A plurality of types of control signals are exchanged between the medal lending machine 2 and the slot machine 3 having the above-described structure for the lending processing. FIG. 6 shows four types of control signals PR
DY, BRDY, BRQ, EXS, and lending switch 27
And card return switch 28 Yes / No TDS, RES
And the display control signal TD for the lendable display lamp 22
A specific example with L is shown. The role of each signal and state and the operation during lending processing will be described below. The control signals PRDY, BRDY, BRQ, and EXS are in the off state when they are at a high level, and are on when they are at a low level. When the display control signal TDL is at a low level, the lendable display lamp 22 lights up. Yes Disable state TD
S and RES are set as flags by the control unit 40 of the medal lending machine 2, and are set to "1" when valid and "0" when invalid.

(1) Lending Available Signal (PRDY) The lending available signal PRDY is a control signal indicating whether or not the slot machine 3 is ready to accept the lending request from the medal lending machine 2, and is a slot machine. Three
Is output to the medal lending machine 2. This lending available signal P
The RDY is turned on after a predetermined time has passed since the power was turned on, but the player switches to the bet switches 17, 18, 19
When any of the above is pressed to perform the game start operation, the on state is changed to the off state, and thereafter, the off state is maintained until all reels are stopped.

The lending enable signal PRDY is also output from the ON state when the following abnormalities (a) to (f) due to a malfunction of the medal selector 70 or the medal payout machine 6 or an illegal act are detected. Move to the off state. (A) When an abnormality that a medal passes through the medal selector 70 is detected, the lending enable signal PRDY is turned off. For example, when a medal clogging occurs in the medal passage 71 and any of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 is turned off for a set time or longer, or an illegal act by a thread hanging medal or a bounce of the medal in the medal passage 71. When the passage of medals is detected by the medal passage sensors 72 to 74 in an order other than the determined order. (B) When an abnormality of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 in the medal selector 70 is detected, the lending enable signal P
RDY is turned off. For example, when any one of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 is out of order due to a failure, or when the medal cannot be inserted (at this time, the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 are installed at the installation positions of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74). It is returned to the medal tray 31 in front), or when any of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 is turned off in a sequence other than the determined order due to a failure. (C) When an abnormality in the state where medals are paid out from the medal payout machine 6 is detected, the lending possible signal PRDY is turned off. For example, when a medal clogging occurs at the medal payout opening of the medal payout machine 6 and the medal payout detection sensor 54 is turned off for a set time or longer, or when the medal payout detection sensor 54 is set for a set time by an illegal act using radio waves. For example, when the payout of medals in the following cycles is detected more than a set number of times. (D) When the payout of medals by the medal payout machine 6 is detected by the medal payout detection sensor 54 when the medal payout machine 6 is not requested to pay out medals,
The lendable signal PRDY is turned off. For example, when the driving motor of the medal payout machine 6 is activated at a time other than the medal payout time due to an illegal act or a failure of the medal payout machine 6. (E) When the hopper 6a of the medal payout machine 6 is empty, the lending enable signal PRDY is turned off. For example, when the medal payout detection sensor 54 does not detect the payout of medals within the set time, the hopper 6a is considered to be empty. In this case, there is a possibility that medals are clogged in the medal payout machine 6, so when the medal payout detection sensor 54 does not detect the medal payout within the set time, the drive motor of the medal payout machine 6 is changed. After the reverse rotation operation, the normal rotation operation is performed again, and then the output of the medal payout detection sensor 54 is checked again. (F) When the hopper 6a and the auxiliary hopper 6b in the medal payout machine 6 are full, the lending possible signal PRDY
Is turned off.

(2) Lending Status Signal (BRDY) The lending status signal BRDY is a control signal indicating whether or not the medal lending machine 2 is in a state capable of making a lending request to the slot machine 3, and a medal. It is output from the lending machine 2 to the slot machine 3. This rental status signal BRD
Y is normally in the OFF state, and when the lending switch 27 is operated, the Y is maintained in the ON state until the state shifts to the ON state and the lending request ends. However, the rental status signal BR
DY rises only when the lending enable signal PRDY is in the ON state and the operation of the lending switch 27 is enabled by the presence / absence state TDS described later.

(3) Lending Request Signal (BRQ) The lending request signal BRQ is a signal for instructing the slot machine 3 to credit up from the medal lending machine 2. The lending request signal BRQ is turned on in response to the lending state signal BRDY being turned on, then returned to the off state after a predetermined time, and so on.
The on state and the off state are switched in order. In this embodiment, when the lending request signal BRQ is turned on, the slot machine 3 is instructed to lend a medal for one time, and the lending request is issued only the number of times corresponding to the number of times the card is withdrawn. The process of turning on and off the signal BRQ is repeated.

(4) Acknowledgment signal (EXS) The acknowledgment signal EXS is a signal transmitted from the slot machine 3 to the medal lending machine 2 and is a signal for notifying that the lending instruction by the lending request signal BRQ has been accepted. is there. The acknowledgment signal EXS is also normally in the off state, and shifts to the on state after a predetermined time has passed since the lending request signal BRQ was turned on, and further turned off in response to the shift of the lending request signal BRQ to the off state. Return.

The slot machine 3 credits a medal (for example, five coins) for one time in response to the lending request signal BRQ changing from the ON state to the OFF state after turning on the acceptance signal EXS. Then, the acknowledge signal EXS is turned off. The control unit 40 of the medal lending machine 2 determines whether or not the lending process is completed based on the response state of the approval signal EXS to turning on and off of the lending request signal BRQ.

(5) Valid / Invalid State (TDS, RES) The first valid / invalid state TDS indicates whether or not the operation of the lending switch 27 is valid, and the second valid / invalid state RES indicates the card return switch 28. Whether to enable the operation,
Shown respectively. The valid / invalid states TDS and RES are that the card processing unit of the medal lending machine 2 holds a verified card, that the lending possible signal PRDY is in the ON state, and that the lending state signal BRDY is in the normal state. When the three conditions of being (off state) are met,
It becomes "effective". The control unit 40 of the medal lending machine 2 receives the operation signal of the lending switch 27 from the slot machine 3 and accepts the operation and performs the lending request process only when the enabled / disabled state TDS is in the ON state. Similarly, when the card return switch 28 is operated, the operation is accepted and the card return process is performed only when the valid / invalid state RES is on.

(6) Display Control Signal TDL The display control signal TDL is a signal for controlling the lighting state of the lendable display lamp 22. This display control signal TDL is
When the availability switch TDS of the lending switch 27 indicates that the lending switch 27 is valid, it becomes a low level and the lending availability display lamp 22 is turned on. This allows the player to be notified whether or not the lending switch 27 can be operated.

FIG. 7 shows a control procedure by the control unit 40 of the medal lending machine 2. In the figure, "ST" means "STE".
Abbreviation for "P" (step). First, when a player inserts a 1,000-yen bill into the coin accepting slot 31 of the medal lending machine 2 to purchase a card, the determination in ST1 is "YES", and it is determined whether or not the card is accommodated in the card accommodation section. Check (ST2). If no card is stored, S
From T2 to ST4, the accepted bill is returned.

If the card is accommodated in the card accommodating portion, the process proceeds from ST2 to ST3 to write information such as a code number and frequency data in the card, and then the card is sent out from the card entrance / exit 32. The information written on the card is registered in the memory of the control unit 40.

Next, the player inserts a card insertion switch 38
When the issued card is inserted by operating, the determination in ST5 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to ST6, where the information recorded in the card is read and the process of collating with the registered information in the memory is executed. To do. If the information recorded here is proper, the determination in next ST7 is "YES" and the process proceeds to ST9, and the frequency indicator 26 displays the remaining frequency of the card. If the recorded information on the card is incorrect, the determination in ST7 is "NO", the process proceeds to ST8, and the card is returned to the card entrance / exit 32.

When the remaining frequency is displayed, the control unit 40
Checks the lending possible signal PRDY from the slot machine 3 (ST10). If loanable signal PRDY
Is ON, the determination in ST10 is "YES", and the operation of the lending switch 27 is enabled in the presence / absence status TDS, and the operation waits. When the lending switch 27 is operated, the determination in ST11 is “YES” and ST1
Then, the processing proceeds to 2 to execute processing for requesting a loan to the slot machine 3.

In ST12, the control unit 40 turns on the lending status signal BRDY, then sets the lending request signal BRQ to the on state for the number of times the card is withdrawn, and at the same time outputs the answer signal EXS from the slot machine 3 for each frequency. Check whether or not each lending process is completed. Also,
Each time the end of the lending process for one frequency is confirmed, a control signal is transmitted to the frequency display device 26 to update the display frequency. Although not shown here, the lending request signal B
When the acknowledgment signal EXS does not respond to the turning on / off of the RQ, the lending request process is stopped and a predetermined error process is executed.

When the end of the lending process is confirmed by the response of the acknowledge signal EXS to the last ON operation of the lending request signal BRQ, the determination in ST13 becomes "YES", and the control unit 4
0 returns the lending status signal BRDY to the OFF state and ends the lending request, and then updates the remaining number of registration information in the memory and the remaining number recorded in the card (ST14, 1).
5).

If the remaining frequency after updating is not zero, the determination at next ST16 is "YES" and the process returns to ST10.
It waits for the operation of the lending switch 27. If the remaining number after the update is zero, the process proceeds from ST16 to ST17 to initialize the card and store it in the card storage section.

On the other hand, when the lending switch 27 is operated while the lending enable signal PRDY from the slot machine 3 is off, this operation is invalidated by the presence / absence state TDS, so ST10 is "NO". The lending request is prohibited. In this case, when the lending switch 27 is operated again when the lending enable signal PRDY is turned back on, both ST10 and ST11 are set to "YE".
S ”, and the lending request process of ST12 is executed.

Although not shown here, when the card return switch 28 is operated while holding a card with a residual number, the card is returned from the card entrance / exit 32 according to the operation. It

When a card issued by another card lending machine 2 or a card vending machine is accepted, the card frequency data is withdrawn and a lending request is made in the same manner as for a card issued by the own device (( ST5-15). However,
When collating the card record information in ST6 and updating the frequency of the registration information in ST15, communication with the issuing device is required. Further, when all the frequency data of the card is consumed by the lending request and the process proceeds from ST16 to ST17, if the card is accommodated in the card accommodation unit,
A process of returning the card from the card entrance / exit 32 is performed.

8 to 12 show the procedure of control by the controller 50 of the slot machine 3. The start point of FIG. 8 is after the power is turned on, and the lending enable signal PRD is set.
Y is off. In ST1 of the figure, it is checked whether or not the current number of stored medals has reached the limit value, and the number of stored medals immediately after power-on is zero, so the determination in ST1 is “YES”, The control unit 50 turns on the lendable signal PRDY (ST
2).

In this state, when the card is inserted into the medal lending machine 2 and the lending switch 27 is operated, the medal lending machine 2 executes a lending request process (ST5 to ST1 in FIG. 7).
2). When the control unit 50 determines that the lending status signal BRDY is turned on and a lending request is made, the control unit 50 proceeds from ST4 to ST5 and credits a predetermined number of medals according to whether the lending request signal BRQ is on or off. At the same time, the end of lending is notified to the medal lending machine 2 by the acceptance signal EXS.

When the medal lending process is completed, the process returns to ST1 to check the number of stored medals, and if the number of stored medals is within the limit value, the lending possible signal PRDY is maintained in the ON state (ST2). When a predetermined number of medals are stored and the lending enable signal PRDY is set to ON, if any of the bet switches 17, 18 and 19 is operated, the stored medals are used for the game. Since the medal is dropped, the determination in ST6 is “YES”, and the determination in ST7 is also “YES”, the control unit 50 sets the lending possible signal PRDY to the off state (S
T8), the lending request process in the medal lending machine 2 is prohibited.

When the above game start operation is performed, the control unit 5
0 starts the game process (not shown), and the start lever 1
By operating 4, the reels 8a, 8b, 8c are simultaneously started. After that, the stop button switches 15a, 15b, 1
Each time 5c is operated, the corresponding reel 8a, 8b, 8
When c is stopped and the winning is achieved at the time when all reels are stopped, the medal is paid out.

In ST9, the control unit 50 determines whether or not all the reels 8a, 8b, 8c have stopped. If the determination is "YES", the lending enable signal PRDY is set to the ON state (ST10). Then, it is determined whether or not the winning is achieved (ST11). If the prize has been established,
The process proceeds from ST11 to ST12, waits until the medal payout process is completed, and then returns to ST1. If the accumulated number of medals added by winning is not over the limit value, the process proceeds from ST1 to ST2, and the lending availability signal PR is set.
DY is maintained in the ON state. In this embodiment, the lending enable signal PRDY is set to the ON state after stopping all reels (ST10), but this ST10 may be omitted.

When the "big hit" is achieved in the above game, the subsequent game control is switched to the control for the bonus game, and the winning is frequently established.
When the number of stored medals exceeds the limit value due to the payout associated with such a prize, the determination in ST1 becomes “NO”, the process proceeds to ST3, and the lending enable signal PRDY is turned off.

In this embodiment, the lendable signal PRD is provided when the number of stored medals reaches the limit value or when the game is executed.
When Y is set to the off state to prohibit the medal lending process, and also when an abnormality caused by a malfunction of the medal selector 70 or the medal payout machine 6 or an illegal act is detected,
The lending possible signal PRDY is set to the off state to prohibit the medal lending process.

FIG. 9 shows a case where a player inserts medals into the medal insertion slot 16 such as during a medal storage operation.
The procedure in which the control unit 50 checks the medal selector 70 for abnormality is shown. In ST1 of the figure, it is determined whether any of the medal insertion detection switches 72 to 74 has detected a medal. If the determination is "YES",
Until it is confirmed in ST4 that a medal passes through the medal passage 71, it is checked in ST2 whether or not there is a medal passage abnormality, and in ST3 whether or not there is an abnormality in the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74.

In ST2, for example, the medal passage 71
When the medal jam occurs in the medal passage detection sensor 72
1 to 74 has been turned off for a set time or longer, and the medal passage sensor 7 is determined by cheating by a thread hanging medal or by bouncing the medal in the medal passage 71.
It is checked whether the medals have passed in an order other than the order in which 2 to 74 are determined. Further, in ST3, for example, it is checked whether or not any one of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 has failed and is turned off in a sequence other than the determined order.

If an abnormality is detected in either ST2 or ST3, the control unit 50 determines in ST5 that the lending enable signal PRD is available.
After setting Y to the off state, the process proceeds to the error processing of ST6. In this error processing, since the type of abnormality is displayed as a code on the payout medal number display 25, the clerk performs a predetermined reset operation after eliminating the cause of the abnormality by looking at this display. When this reset operation is performed, the number of accumulated medals is within the limit value, that the game is not running,
And, on condition that the connection with the medal lending machine 2 is confirmed, the control unit 50 returns the lending possible signal PRDY to the ON state.

When the passage of the medal in the medal passage 71 is confirmed without detecting the medal passage abnormality in ST2 and the abnormality of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 in ST3, the process proceeds from ST4 to ST7, and the control unit 50 is operated. Judges that one medal has been inserted, and stands by for the next medal insertion (ST1).

FIG. 10 shows a procedure in which the control unit 50 checks for an abnormality in the medal payout machine 6 at the time of payout of medals due to the establishment of a prize or at the time of payment at the end of the game. S in the figure
At T1, when the medal payout signal for paying out one medal is turned on, it is determined in ST2 whether or not there is a medal payout failure until the medal payout detection sensor 54 of the medal payout machine 6 confirms that the medal payout is completed in ST4. But ST3
The presence or absence of a medal payout abnormality is checked in.

In ST2, for example, the medal payout machine 6
Whether the medal payout detection sensor 54 has been turned on for a set time or longer due to a clogging of medals at the medal payout exit, It is checked whether it didn't. Further, in ST3, for example, it is checked whether or not the medal payout detection sensor 54 has detected the payout of the medals in the cycle of the set time or less by the set number of times or more due to an illegal act using a radio wave.

If an abnormality is detected in any of ST2 and ST3, the control section 50 determines in ST5 that the lending enable signal PRD is available.
After setting Y to the off state, the process proceeds to the error processing of ST6. The error processing is the same as the above, and the description thereof is omitted.

When the medal payout is confirmed by the medal payout detection sensor without the medal payout failure being detected in ST2 and the medal payout abnormality being detected in ST3,
From 4 to ST7, the control unit 50 determines that one medal has been paid out, and waits for the next medal to be paid out.

FIG. 11 shows a procedure in which the control unit 50 checks the medal accommodating state in the medal payout machine 6 each time one game ends. In ST1 of the figure, whether or not the auxiliary hopper 6b of the medal payout machine 6 is full is checked by the output of the full detection sensor 53. If the auxiliary hopper 6b is full, the determination in ST1 is "YES", and then it is checked whether or not the hopper 6a is also full by the output of the full detection sensor 52 (ST2). If the hopper 6a is also full, the determination at ST2 is "YES" and the control unit 50
Sets the lending enable signal PRDY to the OFF state in ST3, and then shifts to the error processing in ST4. The error processing is the same as the above, and the description thereof is omitted.

In ST1, the auxiliary hopper 6 of the medal payout machine 6
b is determined not to be full, or the auxiliary hopper 6b is full, but at ST2, the hopper 6a
Finishes checking the medal accommodating state when it is determined that the state is not full.

FIG. 12 shows a predetermined time (for example, 1.5 ms).
The procedure in which the control unit 50 checks the medal selector 70 and the medal payout machine 6 for abnormality by each interruption is shown. In ST1 of the figure, it is checked whether or not any of the medal passage detection sensors 72 to 74 are turned off in a sequence other than the determined order due to a failure when a medal cannot be inserted. When the payout of medals is not required, it is checked whether the payout of medals is detected by the medal payout detection sensor 54 due to an illegal act or a failure of the medal payout machine 6.
If any abnormality is detected in ST2 or ST3, the control unit 50 sets the lending enable signal PRDY to the OFF state in ST3, and then shifts to the error processing in ST4. In addition,
The error processing is the same as the above, and the description thereof is omitted.

In ST1, the abnormality when the medal can not be inserted is ST
When no abnormalities when the medal payout is turned off are detected in 3, the checks of the medal selector 70 and the medal payout machine 6 by interruption are completed.

In this embodiment, the lending enable signal PRDY is turned off when an abnormality is detected due to a malfunction of the medal selector 70, the medal payout machine 6 or the like related to the medal receiving and paying-out mechanism or fraudulent activity. Is set so that the medal lending process is prohibited, but the lending enable signal P is set even when an abnormality of other mechanism is detected.
RDY may be set to the off state to prohibit the medal lending process. For example, each reel 8a, 8b, 8
If one of the reels does not rotate even though the start signal is output to c, R in the control unit 50
When the stored data of AM (for example, the payout rank, the number of inserted medals, etc.) becomes an abnormal value, the winning by the symbol not won in the random number lottery process is established, the error occurs on the control board, etc. The lending process of medals can be prohibited for various abnormalities.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an improper medal lending process due to a failure, and to prevent the player from doubting about the game medium lending process.
Moreover, it does not hinder the detection of wrongdoing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of the main body of the slot machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a front panel.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a medal selector.

FIG. 5 is a block showing an electrical configuration of the gaming device.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing roles and operations of control signals.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control flow by a control unit of the medal lending machine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control flow by a controller of the slot machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an abnormality check by the control unit of the slot machine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an abnormality check by the control unit of the slot machine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an abnormality check by the control unit of the slot machine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an abnormality check by the control unit of the slot machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 medal lending machine 3 slot machines 6 medal payout machine 40,50 control unit 70 medal selector

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A slot machine configured to execute a game medium lending process in response to a game medium lending request from a game medium lending machine, comprising a control unit for controlling the game medium lending process, The slot machine, wherein the control unit is configured to form a lending-prohibited state that prohibits execution of the lending process of the game medium when an abnormality in a mechanism relating to acceptance or payout of the game medium is detected. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality of the mechanism is an abnormality caused by a failure. 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality of the mechanism is an abnormality caused by an illegal act. 4. The mechanism is a selector that communicates with a slot for a game medium, and when the abnormality of the state in which the game medium passes through the selector is detected, the lending prohibited state is formed. The slot machine described in 1 or 3. 5. The mechanism is a selector that communicates with a game medium input port, and when the abnormality of a sensor that detects passage of the game medium in the selector is detected, the lending prohibited state is formed. The slot machine according to claim 1 or 2. 6. The mechanism is a gaming medium dispenser,
The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lending-prohibited state is formed when an abnormality in a state where a game medium is dispensed from the dispenser is detected. 7. The mechanism is a game medium dispenser,
4. The lending prohibited state is formed when the payout of the game medium by the payout machine is detected while the payout of the game medium is not requested to the payout machine. Slot machine described in. 8. The mechanism is a game medium dispenser,
The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the lending-prohibited state is formed when it is detected that the game medium storage unit of the payout machine is empty. 9. The mechanism is a game medium dispenser,
The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the lending-prohibited state is formed when it is detected that the storage portion of the game medium in the payout machine is full.