JP2007037702A - Recording medium processor and recording medium processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium processor and a recording medium processing method by which valuable value input into a card can be used even when an accommodating place is fully filled with cards by changing the processing method for the card. <P>SOLUTION: The recording medium processor is constituted of a discriminating section reading the information stored in the inserted card and an accommodating section accommodating general cards without the valuable value, the information discriminating the kinds of the cards from the inserted cards is read in the discriminating section when the accommodating section is fully filled with the general cards, the cards are returned when the inserted cards are general cards, the valuable value recorded in member's cards is read when the inserted cards are member's cards, thereby allowing users to use game machines. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium processing apparatus and a recording medium processing method for renting game media based on a valuable value assigned to a card, and more particularly to efficiently use a card with a valuable value. The present invention relates to a recording medium processing apparatus and a recording medium processing method.

  In general, game media such as pachinko balls and medals lent out when using gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines can be obtained by inserting a predetermined amount of cash into a card issuing machine provided in the gaming facility. When a card with a valuable value as a standard is borrowed, a card is lent based on a predetermined lending unit by inserting this card into a lending processor. it can.

  Also, the game media can be rented out by putting cash (in particular, banknotes) into the lending processor.

  The valuable value shown here indicates a value obtained by converting inserted cash into “frequency” which is a lending unit at a predetermined rate, and a gaming medium is lent based on the lending unit. For example, when “1 frequency” is assigned to 100 yen, “30 frequency” is valued as the valuable value of the card when an amount of 3,000 yen is inserted.

  Furthermore, the types of cards handled by gaming facilities include membership cards held by players registered as members of gaming facilities and non-member cards held by general players not registered as members (hereinafter referred to as “general cards”). Card)). In the case of a membership card, it is issued at the time of membership registration, and after inserting the membership card into the card issuing machine provided in the amusement facility, the cash value is added to update the valuable value of the membership card. It is possible to use.

  On the other hand, unlike the membership card, the general card can use only the valued valuable value. Of course, it may be possible to reuse a general card within the same day. In this case, in general, it cannot be used across dates from the viewpoint of totaling sales data and grasping the usage status.

  That is, in the case of a general card, if there is no valuable value added to the card due to the use of the gaming machine, it is not necessary to return the card and the card is collected by the lending processor. On the other hand, when a player who uses a gaming machine by inputting cash ends the game without renting all the gaming media corresponding to the valuable value of the input amount, the valuable value of the difference is set in advance. Return to the general card held by the lending machine with value.

  For this reason, the lending processing machine needs a storage place for storing the collected general cards, and also needs a storage place for the general cards that return the valuable value of the difference to the player.

  Since the lending machine is installed between pachinko machines and slot machines, the size of the lending machine is small, so that the collected general card storage area and the returned general card storage area are the same place. The card is reused as a general card that returns the valuable value of the difference.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-228867 discloses a conventional technique that increases the storage capacity of a thin plate-like recording medium (card) and enables smooth conveyance while reducing the overall size of the apparatus.

In the prior art disclosed in this Patent Document 1, auxiliary means such as contacting the transport mechanism is provided in order to reliably transport the thin plate-like recording medium, and data writing, erasing and reading are further performed on the thin plate-like recording medium. This is made possible by providing and controlling recording means.
JP 09-81801 A

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the number of cards collected in a short time is greater than the number of cards returned and the number exceeds the storage capacity of the card, the range of normal operation There is a problem that even if the card cannot be accommodated, an error occurs and the card cannot be used.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a recording medium processing apparatus and a recording medium processing which can use the valuable value valued to the card even when the card stored in the storage place is full by changing the card processing method. It aims to provide a method.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 has a stack part that accepts a member recording medium and a general recording medium to which value information is associated, and is capable of stacking a plurality of general recording media. When the settlement is instructed in a state where the general-purpose recording medium has a residual value, the general-purpose recording medium associated with the residual value is paid out, and if the inserted general-purpose recording medium has no residual value, In a stack type recording medium processing apparatus that stacks a recording medium on the stack unit, an information reading unit that is arranged in a preceding stage of the stack unit and reads information recorded on the recording medium, and information read by the information reading unit Recording medium type determining means for determining whether the recording medium is a member recording medium or a general recording medium, and the recording medium type determining means. When it is determined that the recording medium is a general-purpose recording medium, the general-purpose recording medium is moved to the stack unit, and a gaming medium is lent based on the residual value associated with the general-purpose recording medium. When the recording medium type determining means determines that the recording medium is a member recording medium, the remaining value associated with the member recording medium is stored in the state where the member recording medium is in the information reading unit. The game medium lending control means for lending the game medium based on the game machine is provided.

  Further, the invention of claim 2 is the state of the invention of claim 1, further comprising money processing means for accepting money and identifying the authenticity and money of the money, wherein the information reading unit has the member recording medium. When the money processing means accepts cash, the amount of money identified by the money processing means is added to the residual value associated with the member recording medium, and the member recording is recorded in the information reading unit. Value processing means for adding the amount of money identified by the money processing means to the remaining value associated with the general recording medium in the stack section when the money processing means accepts money in the absence of a medium It is characterized by comprising.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the full detection means for detecting that the general recording medium stacked in the stack portion is full, and the full detection means for the stack. When a full state of the part is detected, a full warning means for warning the fact to the outside is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the full detection means for detecting that the general recording medium stacked in the stack portion is full, and the occurrence of an error condition are externally detected. Error notification means for informing the game medium, and the game medium lending control means is configured to detect the recording medium when a new recording medium is inserted in a state where the full detection means detects that the game medium is full. If it is determined that the recording medium is a member recording medium, the processing is continued. If it is determined that the recording medium is a general recording medium, the error notification means is activated by determining that the recording medium is in an error state. At the same time, the recording medium is returned.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, when the full state detecting unit detects the full state of the stack portion, the full state warning unit is provided to warn the outside to that effect. And

  Further, the invention of claim 6 is a general-purpose recording that has a stack part that can accept a recording medium for members and a general-purpose recording medium to which value information is associated, and can stack a plurality of general-purpose recording media. When the settlement is instructed in a state where the medium has a residual value, the general recording medium associated with the residual value is paid out. When the inserted general recording medium has no residual value, the general recording medium is placed in the stack. In a recording medium processing method in a stack type recording medium processing apparatus stacked on a recording unit, information placed on the preceding stage of the stack unit and recorded on the recording medium is read by an information reading unit, and the information read by the information reading unit The recording medium type determining means determines whether the recording medium is a member recording medium or a general recording medium, and the recording medium type determining means If it is determined that the recording medium is a general-purpose recording medium, the general-purpose recording medium is moved to the stack unit, and a gaming medium is lent based on the residual value associated with the general-purpose recording medium. If the recording medium type determining means determines that the recording medium is a member recording medium, the remaining value associated with the member recording medium in a state where the member recording medium is in the information reading unit. Based on the above, the rental of game media is performed by the game media rental control means.

  According to the present invention, after reading the valuable value valued on the general card, the general card is moved to the storage position to lend the ball, and even if the storage position is full, the membership card is valued. As a result, it is possible to lend a ball using a membership card that is not moved to the storage position.

  In addition, since the game machine can be used continuously by the player, not only the convenience of the game player is improved, but also an increase in the operating rate of the game machine leads to an increase in sales amount.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a recording medium processing apparatus and a recording medium processing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, a pachinko machine as a gaming machine and a pachinko ball as a gaming medium will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to a pachinko machine and may be applied to a gaming machine such as a slot machine. In this case, the game medium is a medal.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a game medium lending system configured by applying a card processing machine and a card processing method according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, this gaming medium lending system is realized in a gaming facility 10 (hereinafter, referred to as “pachinko shop 10”), a card issuing machine (101-A,..., 101-N), a card checkout machine 102. , An island controller 103, a lending processor 104, a pachinko machine 105, a router 106, and a terminal controller 107.

  A plurality of card issuing machines (101-A,..., 101-N) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “card issuing machines 101”) are installed in the pachinko parlor 10, and the amount of cash entered by the player Issuing a card valued according to the value. A configuration may be used in which debit payment is performed by communicating with a debit payment system (not shown) using a debit card, and the value of the debit payment is added to the card and issued.

  There are two types of cards: membership cards held by players registered as members of the pachinko parlor 10 and non-member cards (hereinafter referred to as “general cards”) held by general players who are not registered as members. A new card issued by performing cash input or debit settlement is a general card. In the case of a membership card issued at the time of member registration, the value added to the amount of cash inserted by inserting the membership card into the card issuing machine 101 is added to the value originally added to the card. Deposit processing is performed.

The card ID for identifying the card is stored in both the general card and the membership card, and the valuable value amount and the card ID newly added when the card is issued by the card issuing machine 101 are stored in the terminal controller 107. Send. (Hereinafter, sending the card ID and the valuable value for the card ID to the terminal controller 107 and updating the valuable value for the card ID managed by the terminal controller 107 is expressed as “value”. (It is expressed as “valued” that the valuable value is managed by the terminal controller 107.)
The already issued general card can also be reused. In this case, the terminal controller is notified of the amount of cash inserted or the debit settlement amount and the card ID in the same manner as the membership card.

  The card settlement machine 102 converts the valuable value valued to the card into cash. When the money is exchanged, the terminal controller 107 is notified of the amount of money exchanged together with the card ID. After checkout, in the case of a membership card, it is returned to the player.

  The island controller 103 is a relay device installed in a group called “island” composed of a plurality of lending processors 104 and a plurality of pachinko machines 105.

  Data is relayed to the terminal controller 107 connected by the communication line. Further, when the pachinko ball is lent out by the lending processor 104, the cash thrown by the player is transported by a transport mechanism (not shown) and stored in a collection box on the island edge which is a dedicated storage.

  The lending processor 104 is installed for each pachinko machine 105 and can be used in cash in addition to a card valued for valuable value, and identifies the truth and amount of cash inserted by the player. A bill recognition device and a card processing device for processing the inserted card are provided. Ball lending is performed based on the value identified by the bill identification device or the valuable value valued for the card ID included in the card information read by the card processing device.

  In addition, the card processing device stores a general card (a general card with a valuable value of “0 (zero)”) that has not been valued in advance, and has been lent to the inserted cash. When there are few balls, the valuable value for the difference is added to the stored general card and issued. The card processing device includes a storage unit (also referred to as a stack unit) that stores cards and a card reader unit that reads card information, and is a general card or a membership card based on the card type of the read card information. Is determined.

  When the inserted card is a general card, it is moved to the storage unit. The card reader unit that has become empty can continue to accept cards. If the inserted card is a membership card, the ball lending process is performed while the card is located in the card reader unit without moving to the storage unit.

  If a new general card is inserted while the storage unit is full of general cards, it cannot be moved to the storage unit, so an error is notified and the general card is automatically returned.

  Even when the storage unit is full of general cards, only the membership card that does not move to the storage unit can be used.

  The apparatus configuration of the lending processor 104 at this time is shown in FIG. 2, and a block diagram is shown in FIG.

  The pachinko machine 105 is a gaming machine in the pachinko shop 10. The gaming machine is not limited to a pachinko machine, and includes gaming machines such as slot machines that use medals as gaming media.

  The router 106 is an interface used when the pachinko parlor 10 communicates with an external system, and is connected to, for example, a debit payment system via a public line.

  The terminal controller 107 manages and controls the processing of the entire pachinko parlor 10, acquires information from the card issuing machine 101, the card settlement machine 102, the island controller 103 of each “island”, and the lending processor 104, To distribute information. In addition, the card ID stored in the card issued by the card issuing machine 101 or the lending processing machine 104 is associated with the valuable value for the card ID and managed.

  With the configuration as described above, even when the general card stored in the storage unit of the lending processor 104 is full, the gaming machine (pachinko machine 105) using the membership card can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a device configuration of the lending processor.

  In FIG. 2, FIG. 2 (a) is a diagram of the structure of the lending processor viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 (b) is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the lending processor.

  In FIG. 2A, a status display lamp 201, a card stack unit status display LED (Light Emitting Diode) 202, a remote control light emitting / receiving unit 203, a bill insertion slot 204, a card insertion slot 205, an information display LED 206, a mode display A lamp 207, an operation button 208, and a power supply unit 209 are shown.

  The status display lamp 201 is a lamp that indicates to the staff the status of the lending processor 104 or the pachinko machine 105 provided therewith. In particular, it is used when notifying an attendant of the occurrence of an error when inserting a bill or inserting a card. Further, when a hit such as a probability change occurs in the pachinko machine 105, a visual instruction is given to the staff such as instructing the staff to bring a ball box.

  The card stack unit state display LED 202 is an LED that indicates a storage state of a general card stored in advance. For example, it is possible to prompt the replenishment of the clerk when there is no stacked general card, or to collect the card when it is almost full.

  Further, when a general card is inserted while the storage unit is full of general cards, an error message is displayed.

  The remote controller light emitting / receiving unit 203 is a communication interface that receives data from a remote controller when an attendant operates the lending processor 104 using the remote controller.

  The bill insertion slot 204 is a bill insertion slot that is inserted when using the attached pachinko machine 105 in cash. A bill inserted from the bill insertion slot 204 is identified, and is transported and stored in a collection box on the island edge using a transport mechanism provided on the back surface of the lending processor 104.

  The card insertion slot 205 is an insertion slot for inserting a general card or a membership card issued by the card issuing machine 101 or the like. Furthermore, the card processing unit (the card processing unit 211 shown in FIG. 2B) that processes the card inserted from the card insertion slot 205 contains a general card, and a bill inserted from the bill insertion slot 204. When the amount for the number of pachinko balls lent out to the pachinko machine 105 is small with respect to the amount of money, when a return button is pressed by the player, a general card valued for the value of the difference is discharged.

  When the membership card is inserted from the card insertion slot 205 and the number of balls lent out at the valuable value valued on the membership card is less than the number of balls lent out during the game, the remaining valuable value is used. The valuable value added to the membership card is updated and returned from the card insertion slot 205. In addition, only the membership card is returned when the valuable value is used up.

  The information display LED 206 is a display device consisting of 7 segment display × 3 digits, and displays information (mainly numerical information) selectively displayed by the mode display lamp 207 to the player. In addition, an error code that can identify an error that has occurred in the lending processor 104 or the pachinko machine 105 can be displayed to an attendant.

  Furthermore, when a new general card is inserted while the storage unit is full of general cards, an error message can be displayed to warn that the storage unit is full of general cards.

  The mode display lamp 207 displays lamps of “remaining number of times”, “total number of balls”, “number of replayable times”, and “number of points”.

  The operation button 208 indicates a button group that can be operated by a player or a staff member, and includes a number button, a replay button (re-P), a cancel button, and an information display button.

  The power supply unit 209 supplies power when the lending processor 104 performs a pachinko ball lending process or the like.

  With such a configuration, pachinko balls can be rented and general cards can be issued and membership cards can be renewed.

  FIG. 2B shows a bill identifying unit 210, a card processing unit 211, a control unit 212, and a power supply unit 209.

  The banknote identification unit 210 identifies the authenticity and the amount of banknotes inserted from the banknote slot 204 shown in FIG. 2A, and is a collection box on the island edge via a transport mechanism installed on the back of the lending processor. Transport to. The control unit 212 is notified of the amount of the identified banknote. Further, it is also identified whether it is a regular banknote, and if it cannot be confirmed that it is a regular banknote, it is returned to the player without accepting the banknote.

  Of course, the banknote identified without using a conveyance mechanism may be stored and stored in the banknote storage place of a lending processor, and an attendant may collect | recover individually.

  The card processing unit 211 includes a card reader unit that reads data stored in a card inserted from the card insertion slot 205 shown in FIG. 2A and a storage unit that stores a general card. This storage unit is an area based on a stack system, and cards are inserted and removed by FILO (First In Last Out). Configurations of the card reader unit and the storage unit at this time are shown in FIGS.

  The card processing unit 211 reads the card information stored in the card inserted from the card insertion slot 205 with the card reader unit, and determines the card type from the card type included in the card information. At the same time, the card ID included in the read card information is transmitted to the terminal controller 107 and the value stored in the card ID is acquired, thereby confirming the presence or absence of the value valuable for the card. . When the read card is a general card and valuable value is valued, the valuable value for the card ID included in the read card information is transmitted to the control unit 212, and the general card is transferred from the card reader unit to the storage unit. Moving.

That is, the card reader unit that has read the card information is in an empty state. Ball lending processing based on the read card ID and the obtained valuable value even when the storage unit is full (hereinafter referred to as “card full state”) by moving the general card to the storage unit I do.

  If it is determined that the card type is a member card by reading the card information from the card inserted by the card reader unit, the ball lending process is performed without moving the member card to the storage unit. . Even when the card is full, the card reader unit can accept the membership card and read the information.

  On the other hand, when the valuable value is not valued for the card ID for the inserted general card or member card, the member card is held by the card reader unit because there is a possibility of additional payment. On the other hand, in the case of a general card, the processing is changed depending on whether the card is full.

  If the card is full, it is returned regardless of the value, and if the card is not full, it is collected in the storage unit for additional payment.

  That is, even if the card is full, it is possible to lend the ball based on the valuable value for the card ID stored in the membership card.

  The control unit 212 indicates main control in the lending processor 104, and performs a ball lending process corresponding to the amount of the banknote identified by the banknote identifying unit 210. Further, the valuable value for the card ID read by the card processing unit 211 is obtained by inquiring the terminal controller, and ball lending is performed with the value as the upper limit.

  Furthermore, when the identification result in the banknote identification unit 210 cannot be confirmed as a regular banknote, or when a general card is inserted in the card processing unit 211 in a card full state, an error display indicating that is displayed on the information display LED 206. .

  With such a configuration, conventionally, even if the card is in a full state where an error has occurred, the membership card can be continuously operated, and the convenience of the player is improved. In addition, efficient management is also possible in the management of amusement facilities.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the lending processor.

  3 includes a remote control light emitting / receiving unit 203, an information display unit 206, an operation unit 208, a power supply unit 209, a bill recognition unit 210, a card processing unit 211, a control unit 212, a locking processing unit 213, and a storage unit 214. The banknote collection unit 216 is connected to the banknote identification unit 210, and the island controller 103 and the terminal controller 107 are connected to the communication I / F unit 215. ing.

  The control unit 212 is a main control that performs processing such as lending of pachinko balls, issuance and acceptance of cards in the lending processor 104. This corresponds to the control unit 212 in FIG.

  The banknote identification unit 210 identifies a banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 204. The amount indicated by the inserted banknote and whether or not the banknote is a regular banknote are identified. If it cannot be confirmed that it is a legitimate banknote, it is returned to the player. For example, it is identified whether the inserted bill is a thousand yen bill, a 2000 yen bill, a 5000 yen bill, or a 10,000 yen bill, and the amount of the identified inserted bill is notified to the control unit 212.

  Then, when the amount of the inserted banknote is sent to the control unit 212, the banknote is transported to the connected banknote collection device 216 using the transport mechanism. This banknote collection device 216 indicates one of the above-described collection box on the island edge and the banknote storage place installed in the lending processor.

  The card processing unit 211 reads card information stored in the inserted card and determines the type of card from the card type included in the card information. If it is determined that the card is not full and is a general card, the card ID included in the read card information is transmitted to the control unit 212. If the card is full and is determined to be a general card, the general card is returned from the card insertion slot.

  In the case of a membership card, the read card ID is transmitted to the control unit 212 regardless of whether the card is full.

  The card processing unit 211 can value the card ID of the card that has been read, and the card processing unit 211 transfers the card ID and the value to be valued to the control unit 212. Update value. Further, the general card is stored by moving the card to the storage unit by the transport roller.

  The locking processing unit 716 detects opening / closing of the door and opens / closes it by a locking motor. When unlocking is detected, the operation of a specific function is stopped in order to prevent malfunction. On the other hand, when locked, processing as shown in FIG. 4 is started.

  The communication I / F unit 215 indicates an interface related to data communication, and has a function of transmitting data to the connected island controller 103, hall computer 107, and the like and receiving various data.

  2 and 3, the player can use the pachinko machine with cash or a card (membership card, general card), and the card processing unit is in a card full state. However, it is possible to perform ball lending processing based on the valuable value valued on the membership card.

  The flow of processing in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is shown in FIG. 4 below.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the card processing unit of the lending processor of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, first, when the lending processing machine is turned on by opening a game facility or the like, or when the lending processing machine main body is set in the frame, the processing is started, and the general processing is stored in the storage unit of the card processing unit. It is determined whether the card is full (S401). If the card is full (YES in S401), use of the general card is prohibited when a general card is inserted from the card insertion slot. The general card reception prohibition setting is set (S402).

  Further, if there is an area where the general card can be stored in the storage unit and the card is not full (NO in S401), then whether there is at least one general card in the storage unit. Judgment is made (S403). If there is a card (YES in S403), the lending processor can lend the ball, but if there is no card (NO in S403), the value of the inserted bill is valuable. When the valuable value of the pachinko balls lent out is small, the value of the difference cannot be valued, and the bill acceptance prohibition setting for prohibiting the insertion of the bill is set (S404).

  Next, when a bill is not inserted (NO in S405) but a card is inserted from the card insertion slot (YES in S406), the card information stored in the inserted card is read (S407).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the card information stored in the card can be read normally (S408). If the card information cannot be read normally (NO in S408), an error is displayed on the information display LED 206 (S419) and inserted. The card is returned (S412). On the other hand, when the reading is normally performed (YES in S408), the type of the card is determined from the read information to determine whether it is a membership card (S409). If it is determined that the card is a membership card (YES in S409), a pachinko ball corresponding to the valuable value for the card ID included in the card information read from the membership card is lent (S410).

  When a player receives a loan of a pachinko ball corresponding to the valuable value and finishes the game, when a card return is instructed by pressing a card return button (YES in S411), the card at the time of insertion is valued. The remaining valuable value obtained by subtracting the valuable value of the ball lending from the existing valuable value is added to the card ID of the member card, and the card is returned (S412). At this time, even if there is no remaining valuable value, the card is returned after the value of the card is set to “0 (zero)”.

  If it is determined that the inserted card is a membership card (S409), if it is determined that the inserted card is not a membership card (NO in S409), then whether the inserted card is a general card or not. A determination is made (S413). If it is determined that the card is not a general card in this determination (S413) (NO in S413), for example, if it is determined that a card that has nothing to do with the use of a gaming system such as a credit card or a bank card is inserted, The fact that it is not recognized is displayed on the information display LED 206 (S419), and the inserted card is returned (S412).

  If it is determined that the card is a general card (YES in S413), it is determined whether the general card reception prohibition setting prohibiting the reception of the general card is set (S414). This is determined from the process of setting the general card acceptance prohibition when the general card stored in the storage unit shown in step 402 is in a card full state. If the general card acceptance prohibition setting is set (YES in S414), the fact is displayed on the information display LED 206 (S419), and the inserted general card is returned (S412).

  If the general card acceptance prohibition setting is not set (NO in S414), the inserted general card is moved to the storage unit (S415). Subsequently, ball lending is performed based on the read card ID and valuable value (S416). When a return instruction is issued by pressing a card return button after the use of the pachinko machine that has been rented is terminated (YES in S417), it is determined whether there is any remaining valuable value. (S418) If there is a remaining item (YES in S418), the general card moved to the storage unit is moved to the card reader unit, and the remaining valuable value is added to the card ID of the general card and returned. (S412).

  When it is determined that a bill has been inserted from the bill insertion slot, not when a card is inserted (YES in S405), it is determined whether a bill acceptance prohibition setting prohibiting acceptance of bills is set (S420). This is determined from the banknote acceptance prohibition setting process for prohibiting acceptance of banknotes when there is no general card stored in the storage section shown in step 404 above.

  If the banknote acceptance prohibition setting is not set (NO in S420), it is subsequently determined whether the inserted banknote is a regular banknote (S421). If the banknote acceptance prohibition setting is set (YES in S420), or if it is not determined that the banknote is a regular banknote (NO in S421), a process of returning the inserted banknote is performed. This is performed (S422).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the inserted banknote is a regular banknote (YES in S421), the ball lending is performed based on the lending unit “frequency” of the valuable value for the amount of the inserted banknote. (S423). For example, when the inserted bill is 3,000 yen, the value of the bill is “30 degrees”, and the number of pachinko balls corresponding to a preset lending frequency (“5 degrees” as an example) Can be rented at once.

  When the player gives an instruction to end the ball lending process, it is determined whether there is a residual value in the valuable value at that time (S424), and all the valuable value for the inserted banknote has been used up. Therefore, if it is determined that the residual value of the valuable value is “0 (zero)” (NO in S424), the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if an instruction to end the game is made in a state where there is a residual value, it is determined whether or not the residual value is instructed to return (S425), and if there is no return instruction (NO in S425). The ball lending process corresponding to the residual value is continuously performed (S423). When the return of the remaining value is instructed (YES in S425), after moving the general card stored in the storage unit to the card reader unit shown in FIG. 6, the valuable value of the residual value is added to the general card. It is attached and returned (S426).

  With such a processing flow, even if the general card stored in the storage unit is in a card full state, it is possible to lend a ball with a valuable value valued to the membership card or lend with a banknote.

  Even when the storage section becomes card full information, the card full state is canceled when the ball lending with the banknote is performed and the remaining value is valued and returned to the general card.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of the entire card processing device included in the lending processor.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a card processing device 500 that is configured by the card processing unit 211 illustrated in FIG. 2, and includes a storage unit 501 and a card reader unit 502. Further, the card processing device 500 is provided with a card insertion slot 205, and a card inserted from the card insertion slot 205 is processed.

  When the player inserts a valuable value-added card from the card insertion slot 205, the card is transferred to the card reader unit 502 by the transfer roller. The card reader unit 502 reads card information stored in the card. When it is determined that the card inserted from the card type identifying the card type included in the card information is a membership card, the card reader unit 502 is stopped without being transported to the storage unit 501. The processing related to the ball lending is instructed to the control unit 212 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the card is a general card, the storage state of the general card stored in the storage unit 501 is checked, and the general card is stored by the transport roller only when the card is not full. 2 is instructed to the control unit 212 shown in FIG. If the card is full, the inserted general card is returned from the card insertion slot 205.

  The storage unit 501 stores a general card in an initial state in which the valuable value is not valued. The number of sheets that can be stored is limited, and approximately 10 sheets can be stored because of the overall structure of the apparatus.

  When the control unit 212 shown in FIG. 2 instructs to update the valuable value to the general card, the general card stored last among the general cards stored in the storage unit 501 is moved to the card reader unit 502. The card reader unit 502 reads the card information of the card and values the card ID included in the card information. Thereafter, the card is returned from the card insertion slot 205.

  In the above configuration, when the ball lending for the valuable value assigned to the general card is performed, the general card is stored in the storage unit 501 and the card reader unit 502 is in an empty state.

  Further, even when the general card stored in the storage unit 501 is in a card full state, the member card can be accepted, and ball lending can be performed based on the valuable value assigned to the member card.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the card when the card is inserted with reference to the side of the card processing device.

  In FIG. 6, when a card is inserted from the card insertion slot 205, the card is conveyed to the card reader unit 502 shown in FIG. 5, and the card type is identified by the card identification module 601 provided in the card reader unit 502.

  Next, the card state in each condition is shown.

  The state of the card before being inserted into the card processor 500 is “card state A”, the state where the card information can be read by the card reader unit 502 is “card state B”, and the card is stored in the storage unit 501. This state is referred to as “card state C”.

(Condition 1) When the inserted card is a member card and the storage unit is not in a card full state When a member card in card state A transitions to card state B, the card information stored in the member card is read and the card In the state B, the ball lending process is performed based on the read information. If the remaining valuable value exists at the end of the game, the valuable value is added to the membership card in the card state B, and the state changes to the card state A. If there is no remaining value, the value “0 (zero)” is valued and returned.

(Condition 2) When the card to be inserted is a member card and the storage unit is in a card full state. Same as the processing shown in (Condition 1) (Condition 3) The inserted card is a general card and the storage unit is a card. When not in full state When a general card in card state A transitions to card state B, the card information stored in the general card is read and transitions to card state C. Value information is called from the terminal controller based on the read card information, and ball lending processing is performed using the value, and the value information is subtracted as needed. If the value is used up, the card state C is ended. When the remaining valuable value exists at the end of the game, the card is transferred from the card state C to the card state B, and the value is changed to the general card whose value is changed in the card state B, and the card state A is changed.

(Condition 4) When the inserted card is a general card and the storage unit is in a card full state When the general card in the card state A transitions to the card state B, the information stored in the general card is read, It is identified by a general card from the information for identifying the card type. Transition from the card state B to the card state A is performed without processing.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the state of the card when the card is inserted with reference to the card processing apparatus from directly above.

  FIG. 7 shows a card 701 last stored in the storage unit 501, a card 702 in the card reader unit 502, a transport roller 703 for transporting the card, and a general card 704 stored in advance in the storage unit 501.

  When the card 702 is in the card-full state when the general card 704 stored in advance and the card 701 finally stored in the storage unit 501 are in the card 702 state of the card reader unit 502, Only when the card 702 of 502 is a membership card.

  With the apparatus configuration as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 described above, it is possible to lend a ball using a membership card even when the storage unit 501 is in a card full state.

  With the above processing, the lending processor of the present invention can read the card information from the inserted general card by the card reader unit, move it to the storage unit, and perform the ball lending process based on the card information. Further, when a membership card is inserted, the ball lending process can be performed without moving the information to the storage unit after reading the information with the card reader unit.

  As a result, when the ball is lent by a general card, the space of the card reader part becomes empty, and it becomes possible to continue inserting other cards. At this time, it is possible to use a membership card that can be processed only by the card reader unit even if the storage unit is in a card full state.

  Therefore, by applying the present invention, it is possible to continuously lend a ball even when the card in the storage unit is full, and management that provides a gaming machine with the effect of improving the convenience of the player It can also be expected that an increase in sales due to an improvement in the utilization rate of gaming machines can be expected for the players.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof. For example, in the above embodiment, a card-shaped recording medium is used, but another shape recording medium such as an IC coin may be used.

  The present invention is applicable to a recording medium processing apparatus and a recording medium processing method for lending gaming media based on a valuable value assigned to a card, and in particular, even when a stored card is full. Game media can be lent according to the type of card.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a game medium lending system configured by applying a recording medium processing apparatus and a recording medium processing method according to the present invention. The figure which shows the apparatus structure of a rental processing machine. The block diagram which shows the detailed structure of a rental processing machine. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the card | curd process part of the rental processing machine of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the whole card processing apparatus contained in a lending processing machine. The figure which showed the state of the card | curd at the time of card insertion with reference to the side surface of a card processing apparatus. The figure which shows the state of the card | curd at the time of card insertion with reference to a card processing apparatus from right above.

Explanation of symbols

101 Card issuing machine 102 Card settlement machine 103 Island controller 104 Lending processor 105 Pachinko machine 106 Router 107 Terminal controller (card management device)
201 Status indicator lamp 202 Card stack status indicator LED
203 Remote control light emitting / receiving unit 204 Bill insertion slot 205 Card insertion slot 206 Information display LED
207 Mode display lamp 208 Operation button 209 Power supply unit 210 Banknote recognition unit 211 Card processing unit 212 Control unit 213 Locking processing unit 214 Storage unit 215 Communication I / F unit 216 Banknote collection device

Claims (6)

Accepts member recording media and general recording media to which value information is associated, and has a stack unit that can stack a plurality of general recording media, and settles with the inserted general recording media having residual value Is issued, the general-purpose recording medium associated with the residual value is paid out, and when the inserted general-purpose recording medium has no residual value, the general-purpose recording medium is stacked on the stack unit. In the processing device,
An information reading unit that is arranged in a preceding stage of the stack unit and reads information recorded on a recording medium;
Recording medium type determining means for determining whether the recording medium is a member recording medium or a general recording medium based on the content of the information read by the information reading unit;
When the recording medium type determining means determines that the recording medium is a general recording medium, the general recording medium is moved to the stack portion and the residual value associated with the general recording medium is set. If the recording medium type determining means determines that the recording medium is a member recording medium, the member recording medium remains in the information reading unit when the recording medium type determination means determines that the recording medium is a member recording medium. And a game medium lending control means for lending the game medium based on the residual value associated with the recording medium processing apparatus. Money handling means for accepting money and identifying the authenticity and amount of money;
In the state where the member recording medium is in the information reading unit, when the money processing unit accepts cash, the amount of money identified by the money processing unit is determined as a residual value associated with the member recording medium. And when the money processing means accepts money without the member recording medium in the information reading part, the amount of money identified by the money processing means is recorded in the general record in the stack part. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising value processing means for adding to the remaining value associated with the medium. Full detection means for detecting that the general recording medium stacked in the stack unit is full;
3. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a full warning unit that warns the outside when the full state is detected by the full detection unit. A full detection means for detecting that the general recording medium stacked in the stack unit is full;
Error notification means for notifying the occurrence of an error condition to the outside, and
The game medium lending control means is
When a new recording medium is inserted in a state where it is detected that the full state is detected by the full detection unit,
If it is determined that the recording medium is a member recording medium, the process continues.
3. When it is determined that the recording medium is a general-purpose recording medium, it is determined that the recording medium is in an error state, the error notification unit is activated, and the recording medium is returned. The recording medium processing apparatus according to any one of the above. 5. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a full warning unit that warns the outside when the full state is detected by the full detection unit. Accepts member recording media and general recording media to which value information is associated, and has a stack unit that can stack a plurality of general recording media, and settles with the inserted general recording media having residual value Is issued, the general-purpose recording medium associated with the residual value is paid out, and when the inserted general-purpose recording medium has no residual value, the general-purpose recording medium is stacked on the stack unit. In a recording medium processing method in a processing device,
The information reading unit is arranged to read information recorded on the recording medium, arranged in the previous stage of the stack unit,
Based on the content of the information read by the information reading unit, the recording medium type determining means determines whether the recording medium is a member recording medium or a general recording medium,
When the recording medium type determining means determines that the recording medium is a general recording medium, the general recording medium is moved to the stack portion and the residual value associated with the general recording medium is set. If the recording medium type determining means determines that the recording medium is a member recording medium, the member recording medium remains in the information reading unit when the recording medium type determination means determines that the recording medium is a member recording medium. A recording medium processing method comprising: renting a game medium by a game medium lending control means based on a residual value associated with the game medium.

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