JP2005278827A - Game medium dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game medium dispenser facilitating function enhancement such as enhancing from a cash corresponding type to a card corresponding type and solving problems such as cost increase and an installation space caused by the function enhancement. <P>SOLUTION: This game medium dispenser is provided with a plurality of communication ports for communicatingly connecting enhancement units having various types of payment functions and a game medium putout means, when a money payment signal is received from either of the connected enhancement units, putting out the number of game media corresponding to amount information indicated by the payment signal. This constitution enables the payment according to the money payment mode of the enhancement unit by just connecting the enhancement unit to the game medium dispenser body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium lending device that lends game media such as game balls and medals used when playing a game machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine.

  In game stores (halls) where game machines such as pachinko machines or slot machines are installed, game medium lending devices that lend game media such as game balls and medals used for these game machines to players are installed. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a game island 3 where a plurality of pachinko machines 4 are arranged is adjacent to each pachinko machine 4 and is called a game between ball machines 900 (hereinafter referred to as “ball lenders”). Each medium lending device is installed.

  The cash-compatible ball lending machine 900 shown in FIG. 1 allows a player to insert banknotes or coins from the insertion ports 901 and 902 provided on the front panel of the ball lending machine, so that the number corresponding to the amount of money inserted The game balls are discharged from the swingable ball discharge nozzle 903 to the ball receiving tray 44 of the pachinko machine 4.

  Recently, ball lending machines called CR (Card Reader) machines compatible with prepaid cards and IC cards have also become widespread. By making the ball lending machine compatible with cards, players can save time and money to carry around and put them into the machine, and the hall side can handle accounting for sales accurately and quickly, etc. , The convenience of both can be improved.

  By the way, in order to improve the above-mentioned convenience, when the hall side requests a mechanism expansion so that the ball lending machine that can only handle cash can also be used for cards, the existing cash-compatible ball lending machine has been renewed. In addition, it was replaced with another card-compatible ball lending machine, or a card-compatible ball lending machine was additionally provided next to the cash-compatible ball lending machine. For this reason, there has been a problem that the cost associated with the change or expansion of the function of the game medium lending device is high, and there is a problem that a new space must be secured in order to increase the number of game medium lending devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of these conventional problems. For example, the present invention facilitates function expansion from a cash-compatible type to a card-compatible type, and solves the problem of high cost and installation space associated with the function expansion. It is an object to provide a game medium lending device such as.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a gaming medium lending device that lends a gaming medium to be used when playing a game on a gaming machine, and has a plurality of communication ports that are communicably connected to an expansion unit having a deposit function. When receiving a deposit signal from the communication control means and any of the expansion units connected via the communication control means, the number corresponding to the amount information indicated by the deposit signal as the amount deposited to the extension unit. And a game medium payout means for paying out the game medium.

  According to the gaming medium lending device according to claim 1, when depositing with cash or a card or the like is made to any of the expansion units connected through the communication control means, Issue a deposit signal containing information. When the game medium payout means receives the deposit signal from the expansion unit, the game medium payout means pays out the number of game media corresponding to the amount information indicated by the deposit signal. In this way, the game medium payout means of the game medium lending device pays out the number of game media according to the amount information by receiving the payment signal from any of the expansion units. By simply connecting to the game medium lending device main body, it is possible to perform a game medium lending operation according to each payment mode. Therefore, in the game medium lending device, function expansion to a model corresponding to various payment modes is facilitated.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the game medium lending device according to claim 1, wherein connection state recognition means for recognizing the connection or non-connection state of the extension unit connected via the communication control means. It is further provided with the feature.

  According to the game medium renting apparatus of the second aspect, the connection state recognition unit recognizes the connection or non-connection state of the expansion unit connected via the communication control unit. The game medium payout means pays out game media in response to the receipt of the deposit signal from the expansion unit recognized by the connection state recognition means. Thereby, it is possible to perform a game medium lending operation according to the deposit mode simply by connecting the expansion unit, and the function expansion in the game medium lending device is facilitated.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the gaming medium renting apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the connection state recognition unit requests a preparation signal from the expansion unit via the communication control unit and The connection state of the extension unit is detected by receiving the preparation signal from the extension unit in time.

  According to the gaming medium renting apparatus according to claim 3, the connection state recognition means recognizes the connection state of the expansion unit by requesting a preparation signal from the expansion unit and receiving the preparation signal within a predetermined time. .

  The invention according to claim 4 is the game medium lending device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection state recognition means receives the interrupt signal from the extension unit, thereby connecting the extension unit. It is characterized by detecting a state.

  According to the gaming medium renting apparatus of the fourth aspect, the connection state recognition means recognizes the connection state of the expansion unit by receiving the interrupt signal from the expansion unit.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the gaming medium lending device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the expansion unit is provided in a housing portion provided in a main body of the gaming medium lending device. It is accommodated.

  According to the game medium renting apparatus of the fifth aspect, the expansion unit is accommodated in the accommodating portion provided in the main body. Thereby, it is not necessary to secure a new space accompanying the function expansion.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the game medium lending device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the expansion unit has a storage ball replay function and is lent by a loaded information storage medium. The game media is paid out within the range of the number of possible game media.

  According to the game medium renting device of the sixth aspect, the game medium is paid out within a range that can be lent by the information storage medium loaded in the expansion unit, which has a storage ball replay function.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the gaming medium lending device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the expansion unit has a member management function and is authenticated by a loaded information storage medium. The game media is paid out within a range of the number of game media that can be lent to a player.

  According to the gaming medium renting apparatus of the seventh aspect, the gaming medium is paid out within a range that has a member management function and can be lent to a player who has been authenticated by the information storage medium loaded in the expansion unit.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the game medium lending device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the expansion unit reads stored information from an arbitrarily loaded information storage medium. And a card unit that can be rewritten, and transmits the deposit signal including money amount information within a frequency range stored in the loaded information storage medium to the game medium payout means.

  According to the gaming medium lending device according to claim 8, the card unit connected to the gaming medium lending device includes a deposit signal including amount information within the frequency range stored in the loaded information storage medium. Is transmitted to the game medium payout means. When the game medium payout means receives the deposit signal from the card unit, the game medium payout means pays out the number of game media corresponding to the amount information indicated by the deposit signal. In this way, the game medium lending operation using the information storage medium can be performed simply by connecting the card unit to the game medium lending device.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is the gaming medium lending device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the expansion unit reads stored information from an arbitrarily loaded information storage medium. And a card unit that allows a character string to be input by a player, and the card unit is input to the input unit and identification information of the player read from the loaded information storage medium When the player is authenticated by comparing with character string information, the payment signal including the amount information within the number of the game media that can be lent to the player is sent to the game media payout means. It is characterized by transmitting.

  According to the game medium renting device of the ninth aspect, the card unit and the input unit are connected to the game medium renting device as an expansion unit. When the card unit authenticates the player by comparing the identification information of the player read from the loaded information storage medium with the character string information input to the input unit, the card unit lends to the player A deposit signal including amount information within the range of the number of possible game media is issued and transmitted to the game media payout means. When the game medium payout means receives the deposit signal from the card unit, the game medium payout means pays out the number of game media corresponding to the amount information indicated by the deposit signal. In this way, the game medium lending operation using the information storage medium can be performed simply by connecting the card unit and the input unit to the game medium lending device.

  As described above, according to the game medium lending device of the present invention, it is possible to perform a game medium lending operation according to the payment mode of each expansion unit by simply connecting various expansion units to the main body. Thereby, for example, the function expansion from the cash compatible type to the card compatible type can be facilitated, and the costs associated therewith can be suppressed. In addition, it is possible to solve the problem of securing the space accompanying the function expansion of the game medium lending device.

  Hereinafter, as a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a ball lending machine 100 that lends a game ball used when playing a pachinko machine 4 to a player will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an amusement island 3 in which a ball lending machine 100 is installed adjacent to a plurality of pachinko machines 4 in a game store (hereinafter referred to as “hall”). One pachinko machine 4 and the ball lending machine 100 adjacent on the left side when viewed from the front are paired, and the player inserts cash or a card from the slot on the front panel to perform the lending operation. Thus, a predetermined number of game balls pass through the ball discharge nozzle and are discharged to the ball tray of the pachinko machine 4.

  For example, an expansion unit such as a card unit 150 can be arranged on the upper panel of the game island 3. Although the detailed configuration and operation will be described later, the ball lending machine 100 according to the present invention can easily function by adding an expansion unit having various deposit functions to the ball lending machine main body or the panel of the game island 3. It can be extended.

  In the space on the back side of the upper panel of the amusement island 3, a ball replenishment basket 31 is disposed, and each ball lending from the distribution tank (not shown) provided at the end of the amusement island 3 through the ball replenishment bowl 31. The game balls are replenished to the machine 100 and each pachinko machine 4. The number of game balls replenished to each pachinko machine 4 for prize balls or for lending is counted by a replenishment ball counter 32 provided at the ball supply port of each pachinko machine 4.

  In addition, a ball collection basket 33 is arranged in the space on the back side of the lower panel of the game island 3, so that a game ball discharged from each pachinko machine 4 is provided at the end of the game island 3. It collects in the illustrated storage tank. In addition, the ball discharge port of each pachinko machine 4 is provided with a shot ball counter 34, whereby the number of shot balls is counted.

  Next, the configuration of the ball lending machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a side view showing the internal structure of the ball lending machine 100 with the main body cover removed, and shows a state where the ball lending machine 100 is attached to the mounting frame 311 of the game island 3. FIG. 3B is a front view of the ball lending machine 100 showing the external structure of the front panel 101.

  In FIG. 3B, on the upper part of the front panel 101 of the ball lending machine 100, a bill insertion slot 102 for inserting bills, a coin insertion slot 103 for inserting coins, an insertion amount and an error code, and the like. An LED display 104 is displayed. In addition, a ball dispensing nozzle 106 for discharging a game ball is swingably disposed in the center of the front panel 101 of the ball lending machine 100, and a coin return port 107 is disposed under the ball dispensing nozzle 106.

  In FIG. 3A, a bill discriminator 110 for identifying whether or not the bill inserted from the bill insertion slot 102 is a true thousand yen bill is disposed in the upper part of the ball lending machine 100. On the back side of the bill validator 110, a bill outlet (not shown) for discharging the bill identified as a genuine note to the bill transport device 320 is provided.

  A ball dispensing unit 113 is disposed below the bill validator 110. The ball payout unit 113 and the ball payout nozzle 106 are connected by a guide member 114 so that the game balls discharged by the ball payout unit 113 to the guide member 114 are discharged from the ball payout nozzle 106. Further, a ball dispensing sensor 118 is provided at the discharge portion of the ball dispensing unit 113. The ball payout sensor 118 is a sensor that detects a game ball discharged by the ball payout unit 113. When a game ball passing toward the guide member 114 is detected, a pulse signal is generated and transmitted to the control board 120 described later.

  Below the ball payout unit 113, a coin discriminator 111 for determining whether the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 103 is a regular one hundred yen coin or a five hundred yen coin is installed. Further, a guide member 112 is provided between the coin insertion slot 103 and the coin discriminator 111 located below the coin insertion slot 103, and the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 103 fall in the guide member 112 with their own weight. Guided to the identification device 111.

  Further, a coin outlet (not shown) is provided on the back of the ball lending machine 100, and the coins that have been identified and distributed by the coin discriminator 111 as coins are transferred from the coin outlet through the bellows tube 340. The paper is discharged to the transport device 330. Furthermore, a guide member 115 for connecting the coin discriminator 111 and the coin return slot 107 is provided inside the ball lending machine 100, and foreign matter or the like that is discriminated and distributed by the coin discriminator 111 as not being a regular coin. It is discharged from the coin return port 107 through the guide member 115.

  A control board 120 that centrally controls the overall operation of the ball lending machine 100 is disposed below the ball lending machine 100.

  Next, a control system provided in the ball lending machine 100 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

  The control board 120 includes a central processing unit 121 that is a CPU, and a ROM 122 and a RAM 123 that are semiconductor memories, a LAN control unit 131, a serial communication control unit 132, and the like are centrally processed via a bus printed on the board. Connected to the unit 121. The central processing unit 121 performs arithmetic processing according to a system program stored in advance in the ROM 122 to control the operation of the ball lending machine 100 as a whole.

  The central processing unit 121 is connected to a display driver 125 for displaying and driving the LED display 104 and other lamps provided on the front panel 101, whereby the amount of money thrown into the ball lending machine 100 or abnormal operation In this case, the error code or the like can be displayed or notified via the LED display 104 or the like.

  The external device IF circuit unit 129 is connected to the ball dispensing unit 113, the bill discriminator 110, the coin discriminator 111, and the pachinko machine 4 adjacent to the ball lender 100, which are built in the main body of the ball lender 100. Has been. The central processing unit 121 obtains status signals of these devices via the external device IF circuit unit 129, and sends control commands for controlling the number of game balls to be paid out to the ball paying unit 113, and banknotes. To the discriminator 110 and the coin discriminator 111, a signal or the like for permitting payment is sent. In addition, the central processing unit 121 exchanges ready signals and the like with the pachinko machine 4 via the external device IF circuit unit 129 to check each other's operation and receive data indicating the gaming state of the pachinko machine 4.

  The LAN control unit 131 is connected to, for example, the hall server 5 via the local communication network 7 in the hall 2. As will be described later, the hall server 5 can access, for example, the external management server 1 of the data center, which is a third-party organization, or the card settlement platform 9 via the external communication network 8 that can be used by the public such as the Internet. It is connected to the. Thereby, for example, data relating to sales of the ball lending machine 100 is transmitted to the external management server 1 or the like via the hall server 5, or the card settlement platform 9 is requested to authenticate the player himself / herself. The amount of money that can be used can be obtained from a dedicated game account in the name of the customer.

  The serial communication control unit 132 includes a serial communication interface having a plurality of communication ports conforming to a communication standard such as RS232C, for example. These communication ports are a plurality of communication connectors 133 provided on the back surface of the ball lending machine 100, or It is connected to a communication connector 134 provided in the accommodating portion 108 for accommodating the expansion unit. As will be described later, various expansion units additionally provided to expand the function of the ball lending machine 100 are connected to the control board 120 via the communication connectors 133 and 134 so as to be capable of serial communication.

  The above is the basic configuration of the so-called cash-compatible ball lending machine 100 main body that lends game balls according to the amount of money inserted. Here, the operation of paying out game balls by the ball lending machine 100 will be described.

  When the bill discriminator 110 identifies that the bill inserted from the bill insertion slot 102 provided on the front panel 101 of the ball lending machine 100 is a genuine note of a thousand yen or 10,000 yen bill, the bill discriminator 110 Transmits a deposit signal including the information of the inserted amount to the control board 120 and discharges the bill to the bill transport device 320 installed in the game island 3.

  Similarly, when the coin discriminator 111 recognizes that the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 103 is a regular 500 yen or 100 yen coin, the coin discriminator 111 also receives a deposit signal including information on the amount to be inserted. Is transmitted to the control board 120, and the identified coins are discharged to the coin transport device 330 through the bellows tube 340 provided on the back side of the ball lending machine 100. In addition, the foreign matter etc. which were discriminate | determined by the coin discriminator 111 not being a regular coin are discharged | emitted from the coin return port 107.

  When receiving a deposit signal from any cash discriminator (or expansion unit), the control board 120 transmits to the ball dispensing unit 113 a signal for permitting the number of gaming balls corresponding to the amount information included therein. As a result, a number of game balls corresponding to the amount of money inserted are discharged through the ball payout nozzle 106. The control board 120 transmits a ball lending request signal to the award ball dispensing device 45 built in the adjacent pachinko machine 4 so that a predetermined number of game balls can be dispensed to the ball tray 44 of the pachinko machine 4. Good.

  The ball lending machine 100 can be easily expanded to a model corresponding to the payment mode simply by connecting an expansion unit having a function of various payment modes, such as cash or a card, to the ball lending machine 100 main body. ing. Then, as a first embodiment of the book lending machine 100 to which various expansion units are attached, a so-called CR machine that allows a prepaid card or the like to be added by adding a card unit 150 to the book lending machine 100. The function expansion of will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a front view of the ball lending machine 100 provided on the game island 3 and the pachinko machine 4 adjacent thereto. As described above, the card unit 150 is disposed on the upper panel of the game island 3 as an example of the expansion unit.

  Here, the card unit 150 according to the present invention is an information recording / reproducing unit capable of reading and writing information on an information storage medium such as an IC card in which a semiconductor memory such as an IC chip is incorporated. The information storage medium readable / writable by the card unit 150 may be a magnetic card such as a prepaid card, and is not limited to a card-like one, but a coin-like game medium incorporating an IC tag, for example. It may be.

  Further, for example, frequency information that can be freely used in a game such as the pachinko machine 4 is stored in the card as the information storage medium. This frequency is a game value that can be purchased with cash at a predetermined price, and the player uses the frequency (points) to play game media (game balls, medals, etc.) according to points in the same way as cash. , Giveaways, goods, services, etc.

  In the ball lending machine 100 including the card unit 150, when cash is inserted into the cash input ports 102 and 103 of the ball lending machine 100, the frequency converted at a predetermined price (for example, 100 yen per point) is stored in the card. To do. Further, the frequency can be additionally stored in the card by a card vending machine (not shown) provided at an appropriate place in the hall 2. Needless to say, a player can purchase a card such as a prepaid card, in which the frequency is stored in advance, at the card vending machine or at the service front of the hall.

  The card as the information storage medium may be a so-called member card in which customer ID information such as a player's membership number is stored, as will be described later as another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, if the player is authenticated by the membership number read by the card unit 150 and a password (or biometric information such as a fingerprint) presented by the player, the ball lending machine 100 can communicate. A game ball is lent out within a range of money stored in the player's account registered in advance in a platform such as a data center (or equivalent electronic value information).

  In FIG. 5, on the front surface of the card unit 150, a card insertion slot 151 for inserting a card as an information storage medium, and a lending switch 152 which is a push button switch for lending a game ball within the range of the card frequency. And a return switch 153 that is a push button switch for ejecting the card from the unit, and a display unit 154 that is formed of a 7-segment LED or the like and displays a usable remaining frequency stored in the card.

  That is, when a player inserts a card into the card insertion slot 151 and presses the lending switch 152, a predetermined number of lending game balls are within a range of frequencies stored in the card. It is paid out to the ball receiving tray 44 of the pachinko machine 4 through 106. Further, when the lending switch 152 is pressed, the ball lending machine 100 operates the prize ball paying device 45 built in the pachinko machine 4 by sending a ball lending request signal to the pachinko machine 4, so that a predetermined number The game balls may be paid out to the ball tray 44.

  The frequency consumed by operating the lending switch 152 once or the number of game balls to be lent can be determined by, for example, repeatedly pressing the setting button 105 provided on the front panel 101 of the ball lending machine 100. The player can set the desired frequency (the number of loans) sequentially in a stepwise manner.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the connection between the ball lending machine 100 and the card unit 150 and the configuration of a system in which the ball lending machines 100 are connected to each other via a communication network.

  In the ball lending machine 100 extended to the CR machine, the card unit 150 is connected to the serial communication control unit 132 provided on the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 as described above.

  In the hall 2 where the pachinko machine 4 and the ball lending machine 100 are installed, a local communication network 7 is laid, and the LAN controller 131, the hall server 5 and the hall computer 6 of each ball lending machine 100. Are connected to each other via a communication network 7.

  Further, the hall server 5 is connected to the external network 8 via a line. Here, the external network 8 is, for example, the Internet, a private line network, a public line network, or a telephone network, or may be used in combination.

  The hall server 5 is communicably connected to the external management server 1 of the data center, which is a third party that manages hall sales and customer information, for example, via the external network 8. The hall server 5 is provided with a protective device (firewall) so that the local communication network 7 cannot be accessed from an information terminal other than a specific server such as the external management server 1. This prevents unauthorized access to the ball lending machine 100 or the like in the hall 2 or data operation, and ensures safety. In addition, data exchanged with a specific server such as the external management server 1 via the external network 8 is encrypted, and cannot be decrypted by other third parties.

  Next, the operation of the main lending machine 100 that facilitates function expansion to such a CR machine will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8, and the operation of the card unit 150 as an example of the expansion unit will be described with reference to FIG. It demonstrates based on the flowchart of these. The ball lending machine 100 and, in some cases, a plurality of expansion units connected to each other operate independently of each other, but the control unit provided for each lends game balls while performing the cooperative operation exemplified below. It is carried out.

  First, the operation executed by the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 main body will be described. In FIG. 7, when the ball lending machine 100 is turned on, normal initialization processing is performed, and a response of a ready signal is requested from each communication port of the serial communication control unit 132 in step S1. At this time, when the card unit 150 is connected to either the communication connector 133 or 134 of the ball lending machine 100 and is in a state in which normal operation is possible, a ready signal is returned in response to the request from the control board 120 described above. To do. The control board 120 recognizes the connection of the card unit 150 by receiving a ready signal from the card unit 150 within a predetermined time of, for example, several seconds after transmitting the above-described request signal. Also, a similar ready signal is requested through another communication port, and the connection / non-connection state of the other extension unit is recognized by the presence / absence of the response.

  The expansion unit connection state recognition process is not only performed when the power is turned on as in step S1, but also when the card unit 150 and other expansion units are connected to the communication connectors 133 and 134, The control board 120 may recognize the connection of the expansion unit by transmitting an interrupt signal to the control board 120 of the lending machine 100 main body.

  In steps S <b> 2 to S <b> 4, the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 receives a deposit signal including money amount information deposited from the banknote discriminator 110, the coin discriminator 111, and the expansion unit (the card unit 150 in this embodiment). Wait until When the control board 120 receives a deposit signal from any one of the bill discriminator 110, the coin discriminator 111, and the extension unit, in FIG. A ball payout permission signal including the number information of game balls, which is the number converted by the number of game balls (for example, 25 per 100 yen), is transmitted to the ball payout unit 113 (step S5).

  For example, when a thousand yen bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 102 of the ball lending machine 200, the bill validator 110 transmits a deposit signal including amount information of 1000 yen to the control board 120, and the control board 120 A ball payout permission signal including 250 piece number information converted by the payout number is transmitted to the ball payout unit 113.

  When a card is inserted into the card unit 150 and the lending switch 152 is pressed, the card unit 150 transmits a deposit signal to the control board 120 (step S107 described later). In this case, if the card unit 150 is set such that the frequency consumed by the operation of the lending switch 152 is 5 points, and the price (unit price) of the card frequency is, for example, 100 yen per point, the amount information of 500 yen Is transmitted to the control board 120. That is, the control board 120 transmits a ball payout permission signal to the ball payout unit 113 to pay out 125 game balls converted by the above-mentioned payout number.

  The ball payout unit 113 pays out game balls as many as indicated by the ball payout permission signal, and the ball payout sensor 118 transmits a ball payout pulse of the number of game balls paid out to the control board 120. The control board 120 can know the number of game balls actually paid out from the ball payout unit 113 by counting the ball payout pulses (step S6).

  Then, the control board 120 verifies the consistency between the amount information and the number of game balls actually paid out (step S7). For example, when the number of payouts is set to 25/100 yen as described above and the money amount information indicated by the deposit signal is 1000 yen, it is determined that there is consistency if the number actually paid out is 250.

  If it is determined in step S7 that there is consistency (step S7: YES), the process returns to the state of waiting for deposit, consisting of a loop of steps S2 to S4. If consistency is not confirmed (step S7: NO), the process proceeds to an error process in step S8. For example, the ball dispensing unit 113 is in an abnormal state, or an illegal operation is performed on the ball dispensing unit 113. An error code to the effect is displayed on the LED display 104, and the operation of the ball lending machine 100 is terminated or interrupted.

  Next, operations performed by the card unit 150 will be described with reference to FIG. The process described in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is a process executed by the control board of the card unit 150 on which a CPU (or a microcomputer) is mounted.

  First, the card unit 150 stands by until an eligible card is inserted into the card insertion slot 151 of the main body (step S101).

  When a qualified card is inserted into the main body, the number of games that can be used for the game stored in the card (also referred to as “remaining frequency”) is read from the card (step S102). Although not described in this flowchart, if a card with different storage specifications or a counterfeit card is inserted into the card unit 150 and the card unit 150 cannot recognize whether the card is eligible, the card unit 150 immediately inserts the card. Discharge.

  The card unit 150 displays the read remaining frequency on the display unit 154 (step S103). In the present embodiment, when the remaining frequency is zero, the processing is continued only by displaying zero on the display unit 154. However, the present invention may eject the card from the card unit 150 when the frequency of the inserted card is zero.

  Next, it waits by a loop process until the return switch 153 or the lending switch 152 is pressed (steps S104 and S105). When the return switch 153 is pressed and turned on (step S104: YES), the card is ejected (step S106), and the process returns to the processing from step S101 (card insertion waiting state).

  When the lending switch 152 is pressed and turned on (step S105: YES), a deposit signal is transmitted to the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 main body (step S107). At this time, the payment signal includes money amount information corresponding to the consumption frequency set in advance as described above.

  Then, the remaining frequency obtained by subtracting the consumed frequency is stored in the card (step S108), and the reduced remaining frequency is displayed on the display unit 154 (step S103). Then, the subsequent processing is repeated.

  In addition, the card which memorize | stores the above-mentioned frequency (or the number of game balls stored or the number of credits) may be a membership card distributed to each player. Such a card is also referred to as a replay card, and the player can obtain a game ball within a range of frequencies stored in his / her card.

  Further, the ball lending machine 100 and the expansion unit (card unit 150) according to the present invention may be accommodated in the main body of the ball lending machine 100 as shown in FIG.

  That is, according to this embodiment, the lower part of the front panel 101 is the lower panel portion 101b that can be attached to and detached from the ball lending machine 100 main body, and further corresponds to the accommodating portion 108 of the ball lending machine 100 main body. A lid 101a that can be removed from the lower panel 101b is fitted at the position.

  When the ball lending machine 100 is operated as a CR machine, the card unit 150 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 108, and the lower panel portion 101b from which the lid portion 101a is removed is attached to the ball lending device 100 main body. Thereby, the card unit 150 is connected to the ball lending machine 100 main body via the communication connector 134 so as to be capable of serial communication, and from the card insertion port 151 provided on the front surface of the card unit 150 through the opening portion from which the lid 101a is removed. The card can be taken in and out.

  Next, as a second embodiment in which various expansion units are attached to the ball lending machine 100, a card unit 150 and an input unit 160 are added to the ball lending machine 100, so that it is possible to deposit money with a membership card and pay out game media. A function extension to a ball lending machine having a so-called member management function will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a front view of the ball lending machine 100 provided on the game island 3 and the pachinko machine 4 adjacent thereto. In this embodiment, a card unit 150 and an input unit 160 such as a numeric keyboard are arranged on the upper panel of the game island 3.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the card unit 150 is an information reproducing unit capable of reading information from an information storage medium such as an IC card or a magnetic card. The card according to the present embodiment stores at least customer ID information such as a membership number assigned to each player, and the card can be used as a so-called membership card.

  The input unit 160 adjacent to the card unit 150 is formed from, for example, a numeric keyboard, and can input numbers from 0 to 9, characters or symbols, or a character string combining these by operating keys. . As described above, the input unit 160, which is one of the expansion units, is connected to the ball lending machine 100 via a communication cable via one of the communication connectors 133 provided on the back of the ball lending machine 100. It is connected to the control board 120 so that serial communication is possible. Thereby, the character string information input to the input unit 160 is also transmitted to the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 main body and the card unit 150 via this.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system in which ball lending machines 100 according to the second embodiment are connected to each other via a communication network. As described above, the card unit 150 and the input unit 160 are connected to the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 via the communication connector 133 or 134 so that serial communication is possible. As in the first embodiment, a hall server 5, a hall computer 6 and the like are connected to the communication network 7 in the hall 2 by lines. Furthermore, the hall server 5 can be connected to a card payment platform 9 in a data center via the external network 8, for example. In the card settlement platform 9, for example, a game-dedicated account having a customer ID as an account number is managed.

  That is, according to the above-described ball lending machine 100 system that allows a player to use a membership card, a player inserts his / her membership card into the card unit 150 to read customer ID information, and a password is input from the input unit 160. When entered, the card settlement platform 9 collates the combination of the registered customer ID and the password associated therewith with the read combination of the customer ID and password. If the card payment platform 9 verifies the customer ID and password and authenticates the player as the principal, the amount stored in the dedicated account in the name of the player or within the amount that the player can borrow Game balls are rented out.

  In this way, a player uses his / her member card to play a game within the range of the number of game balls managed by the card payment platform (member management computer) 9 (which may be a stored number or a credit number). The function of lending a ball is called the replay function of a stored ball.

  Next, in the ball lending machine 100 to which the card unit 150 and the input unit 160 are added, the operation of lending a game ball using a membership card will be described in more detail. FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts showing processing executed by a CPU (or microcomputer) provided on the control board of the card unit 150.

  Note that the processing executed by the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 main body is the same as the processing in the first embodiment described above (FIGS. 7 and 8), so the description thereof is omitted here. The ball lending machine 100 according to the present invention is configured to lend a game ball upon receipt of a deposit signal from various expansion units. That is, by adding various expansion units according to the form of payment (for example, payment by a prepaid card, IC card, membership card, game coin, etc.), it is possible to easily add a function corresponding to each payment mode. it can.

  In FIG. 13, the card unit 150 first waits until an eligible card for storing a customer ID such as a membership number is inserted into the card insertion slot 151 of the main body (step S201).

  When a qualified card is inserted into the card unit body, customer ID information such as a membership number is read from the card (step S202). Then, an input request for an authentication code such as a password is made (step S203). For this input request, a speaker may be provided on the card unit 150 and a guidance voice may sound through the speaker, thereby prompting the player (customer) to input a password. In addition, a message prompting the input of a password may be displayed on the display unit 154 of the card unit 150. When the player operates the input unit 160 to input a character string, the card unit 150 receives the input character string information.

  Then, the card unit 150 transmits the customer ID information and the character string information input as the password to the card settlement platform 9 of the data center via the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 main body and the communication networks 7 and 8. To do. Thereby, authentication of whether or not the player who owns the card is the principal is requested (step S204).

  When the card settlement platform 9 receives the customer ID (membership number) and the password, the card settlement platform 9 verifies whether or not these combinations match the pre-registered correspondence. When the combination of the customer ID and password required for authentication matches the registered association, the card payment platform 9 has the information that the personal authentication is confirmed and the game-dedicated account corresponding to the customer ID. A signal including usable reserve information is returned to the card unit 150 of the ball lending machine 100. If the customer ID and password combination are not registered and the personal authentication fails, a signal to that effect is returned.

  When the card unit 150 receives a signal indicating that the personal authentication could not be confirmed (step S205: NO), the card unit 150 ejects the card (step S206) and returns to the card insertion waiting state (step S201).

  When the authentication of the player himself / herself is confirmed (step S205: YES), the reserve information that is stored in the player's game-dedicated account or can be borrowed is acquired from the card payment platform 9 (step S207). ).

  In FIG. 14, the acquired reserve information is displayed on the display unit 154 (step S208). At this time, usable card points (remaining frequency) corresponding to this may be numerically displayed as the reserve information.

  Next, it waits by a loop process until the return switch 153 or the lending switch 152 is pressed (steps S209 and S210). When the return switch 153 is pressed and turned on (step S209: YES), the card is ejected (step S211), and the process returns from step S201 (card insertion waiting state).

  When the lending switch 152 is pressed and turned on (step S210: YES), a deposit signal is transmitted to the control board 120 of the ball lending machine 100 main body (step S212). At this time, the deposit signal includes money amount information (for example, 500 yen) corresponding to the consumption frequency (for example, 5 points) consumed each time the lending switch 152 is operated. Thereby, the main body of the ball lending machine 100 lends the number of game balls according to the amount information of the deposit signal (step S5 in FIG. 8).

  Then, the card unit 150 transmits a request signal (reserved money reduction request) for deducting the amount of money consumed to the card settlement platform 9 (step S213). Then, the new reduced deposit information is received from the card payment platform 9 (step S207), and the subsequent processing is executed again.

  In the second embodiment described above, an example is shown in which the input unit 160 for inputting a password is communicably connected to the ball lending machine 100 main body, but an integrated card having a password input function. The unit 150 may be connected to the ball lending machine 100. Further, the means for inputting the password is not limited to the numeric keyboard. For example, a receiving unit capable of infrared communication with a mobile phone is provided adjacent to the card unit 150, and the character string information input by the mobile phone is used as the password. You may transmit to. Further, as a means for authenticating the player himself / herself, not only a method of collating a customer ID and a password, but also biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint authentication and palm vein pattern authentication may be applied. The ball lending machine 100 may be provided with an authentication means for detecting.

  According to the ball lending machine 100 having such a configuration, the amount indicated by the deposit signal when receiving a deposit signal from any expansion unit such as the card unit 150 or the like that is communicably connected via the serial communication control unit 132. Pay out the number of game balls according to the information. That is, the game media lending operation according to the deposit mode of the unit can be performed only by connecting various expansion units. Thereby, the function expansion of the ball lending machine 100 can be facilitated. Further, since it is not necessary to add a new model along with the function expansion, it is possible to keep the cost of the gaming equipment low and to secure a separate space for it.

  The game medium lending device of the present invention is not limited to a stand-by ball lending machine that lends game balls used when playing pachinko machines, but lends game media such as medals used in pachislot machines, slot machines, and other game machines. The present invention can also be applied to a lending device that lends an apparatus or a game medium as electronic value information that can be used for a game, for example, called a credit instead of a product.

It is a front view which illustrates the structure of the conventional game island. It is a front view showing the structure of the game island according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 (a) is a side view showing the structure of a ball lending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 (b) is a front view thereof. It is a control block diagram of a ball lending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view showing in detail the structure of a game island according to one embodiment (first example) of the present invention. It is a figure showing the structure of the communication network system of the ball lending machine by one embodiment (1st Example) of this invention. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement of the ball lending machine by one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which further represents operation | movement of the ball lending machine by one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement of the card unit by one embodiment (1st Example) of this invention. It is a perspective view showing the external appearance structure of the ball lending machine by one embodiment of this invention. It is a front view showing in detail the structure of a game island according to one embodiment (second example) of the present invention. It is a figure showing the structure of the communication network system of the ball lending machine by one embodiment (2nd Example) of this invention. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement of the card unit by one embodiment (2nd Example) of this invention. It is a flowchart which further represents operation | movement of the card unit by one embodiment (2nd Example) of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... External management server, 2 ... Hall, 3 ... Amusement island,
4 ... Pachinko machine, 44 ... Ball tray, 45 ... Prize ball dispenser,
5 ... Hall server, 6 ... Hall computer,
7 ... communication network, 8 ... external network,
9 ... Card payment platform,
100 ... ball lending machine, 101 ... front panel,
101a ... lid part, 101b ... lower panel part,
102 ... bill input slot, 103 ... coin input slot,
104 ... LED indicator 105 ... Setting button
106 ... ball dispensing nozzle, 107 ... coin return port,
108 ... the accommodating part,
110 ... bill discriminator, 111 ... coin discriminator,
113 ... Ball dispensing unit, 120 ... Control board,
121 ... Central processing unit 122 ... ROM 123 ... RAM
125: Display driver, 129: External device IF circuit section,
131 ... LAN control unit, 132 ... serial communication control unit,
133, 134 ... communication connector,
150 ... Card unit, 151 ... Card insertion slot,
152 ... Lending switch, 153 ... Return switch, 154 ... Display section,
160 ... Input unit

Claims (9)

A game medium lending device that lends a game medium to be used when playing a game on a gaming machine,
A communication control means having a plurality of communication ports communicably connected to an expansion unit having a deposit function;
When a deposit signal is received from any one of the expansion units connected via the communication control means, the number of the game media corresponding to the amount information indicated by the deposit signal is paid as the amount deposited to the extension unit. A game medium lending apparatus comprising: a game medium payout means.   2. The game medium lending device according to claim 1, further comprising connection state recognition means for recognizing a connection or non-connection state of the expansion unit connected via the communication control means.   The connection state recognition unit detects a connection state of the expansion unit by requesting a preparation signal from the expansion unit via the communication control unit and receiving the preparation signal from the expansion unit within a predetermined time. The game medium lending device according to claim 1 or 2.   The game medium lending device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection state recognition means detects the connection state of the expansion unit by receiving an interrupt signal from the expansion unit.   The game medium lending device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the expansion unit is housed in a housing portion provided in a main body of the game medium lending device.   6. The expansion unit according to claim 1, wherein the expansion unit has a storage ball replay function and pays out the game media within a range of the number of the game media that can be lent out by a loaded information storage medium. The game medium lending device according to item 1.   The expansion unit has a member management function and pays out the game media within a range of the number of the game media that can be lent to a player who is authenticated by a loaded information storage medium. 7. The game medium lending device according to any one of 6 above.   The expansion unit is a card unit that enables reading and rewriting of stored information with respect to an arbitrarily loaded information storage medium, and monetary information within a frequency range stored in the loaded information storage medium The game medium lending device according to claim 1, wherein the deposit signal including a message is transmitted to the game medium payout means.   The expansion unit is a card unit that enables reading of stored information with respect to an arbitrarily loaded information storage medium, and an input unit that can input a character string by a player, and the card unit is loaded. When the player is authenticated as the principal by checking the identification information of the player read from the information storage medium and the character string information input to the input unit, the game medium that can be lent to the player 6. The game medium lending device according to claim 1, wherein the deposit signal including amount information within a range of numbers is transmitted to the game medium payout means.

Images