JP2007075644A - Prize exchange controlling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the immediate judgment of the accordance or the discordance between a special prize which should be exchanged originally and a special prize which is to be exchanged actually. <P>SOLUTION: The color displays i1-i4 for individual types of the special prizes and characters n1-n4 to show the number or the like are displayed on a screen P1 at the time of the special prize exchange in a display section for a clerk in the prize exchange controlling apparatus. The individual color displays i1-i4 are set to have the same colors or the colors of the same systems of the corresponding special prizes. Thereby, the clerk can visually compare the special prize which should be exchanged originally with the special prize which is to be exchanged actually by the color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a prize exchange management device used when a game medium (for example, a pachinko ball) acquired by a player is exchanged for a plurality of types of special prizes (convertible prizes) having different colors according to the number of the game media. In particular, the present invention relates to improvement of display contents for confirming the type and number of special prizes.

  As the prize exchange management apparatus as described above, for example, the one disclosed in Utility Model Registration No. 2591554 (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-70784) is known. The “special prize” targeted by the management device is a prize that can be exchanged for cash, has a card shape with a thickness of 2 to 3 mm, and has a different color depending on its type (exchange value = amount).

  In the above prize exchange management device, when the number of game media is input and the “special prize” key is pressed, the result of converting the number of game media into the number of special prizes is displayed on the screen for each type of special prize. The Further, when the “Confirm” key is pressed, a corresponding type and number of special prizes are dispensed from the prize dispenser connected to the management apparatus.

  By the way, in the conventional prize exchange management device described above, the type and number of converted special prizes are displayed on the screen as characters. For this reason, it is difficult to immediately determine the coincidence / non-coincidence between the special prize to be originally exchanged and the special prize to be actually exchanged (thrown out from the prize dispenser).

That is, there may be a case where the special prize thrown out from the prize dispenser does not match the special prize to be exchanged due to a mistake in loading the special prize into the prize dispenser.
In addition, a special gift may be handed over by a store clerk due to a malfunction of the prize dispenser. In that case, a skilled store clerk may memorize the color of the special prize, but this is not the case for an unskilled person, and even a skilled person may make a mistake.

  And if the special prize given to the player does not match the one that should be exchanged, it can be a big trouble only for cash.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is a prize that can immediately determine the match / mismatch between a special prize to be exchanged and a special prize to be actually exchanged. An object is to provide an exchange management device.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a prize exchange management device for use in exchanging game media acquired by a player for a plurality of types of special prizes having different colors according to the number of the game media. Storage means for storing a color display set to the same or similar color as the corresponding special prize, data input means for inputting data including the number of the game media, and the game input by the data input means Calculation means for converting all or a part of the number of media into the number of special prizes, and storing in the storage means for each type of special prize according to the number of special prizes converted by the calculation means. The prize exchange management device is characterized by comprising display means for displaying the displayed color and characters indicating the number.

  According to the first aspect, when the number of game media is input by the data input means, all or a part of the number of game media is converted into the number of special prizes by the calculation means. Then, according to the converted number of each special prize, the display means displays the color display stored in the storage means and characters indicating the number for each type of the special prize.

  In this case, for each type of special prize, a color display set to the same or similar color as the corresponding special prize is performed. Thus, by visually comparing the special prize to be exchanged with the special prize to be actually exchanged by color, it is possible to immediately determine the coincidence / non-coincidence.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the setting of the color display to be stored in the storage means can be performed while confirming by the display of the display means.

  According to the second invention, in the first invention, the color display setting corresponding to each special prize is performed while grasping visually by the display of the display means, so that the setting operation can be performed quickly and accurately. Can do.

  According to a third invention, in the second invention, when the color display is set, a plurality of color samples to be selected can be displayed by the display means.

  According to the third aspect, in the second aspect, the color display setting operation can be performed more quickly and accurately by selecting the color display color to be set from the color samples.

  According to the present invention, for each type of special prize, a color display set to the same or similar color as the corresponding special prize is made, so that the special prize to be originally exchanged and the special prize to be actually exchanged are displayed. By visually comparing the prize with the color, it is possible to immediately determine the match / mismatch. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent a special prize replacement error without impairing the speed of the prize replacement.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams showing an embodiment in which a prize exchange management device according to the present invention is configured as a part of a prize exchange system. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of the management apparatus, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams showing the display contents of the display for the clerk in the management apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the overall configuration of the prize exchange system, the configuration of the prize exchange management device, the operation and the effect, and the modification examples will be sequentially described with respect to the present embodiment.

[Overall configuration of the gift exchange system]
First, the overall configuration of the prize exchange system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, “special prizes” to be exchanged in this system will be described. The special prize is a prize that can be exchanged for cash at a prize exchange place or the like outside the amusement place and exchanged for a game medium (pachinko ball) acquired by the player at the amusement place (pachinko shop). This special prize is in the form of a card with a thickness of 2 to 3 mm of different colors for each type (exchange value = amount), for example, 5000 yen (brown), 1000 yen (red), 500 yen (yellow), 100 yen ( Four types are set.

  The prize exchange system shown in FIG. 1 includes a prize exchange management apparatus M, a management computer 100, a barcode reader 102, a ball card reader 104, game media counters 106a to 106c, a prize dispenser 108, A fraction dispensing machine 110, a receipt issuing machine 120, and a number card issuing machine 122 are provided.

  Among them, the prize exchange management device M, the barcode reader 102, the ball card reader 104, the game medium counter 106a, the prize dispenser 108 and the fraction ball dispenser 110 are installed in the prize exchange counter G of the game hall. Is done. Further, the receipt issuing machine 120 and the ball number card issuing machine 122 are combined with the game medium counting machines 106b and 106c, respectively, and installed at the island end (of the gaming machine) or the like in the game hall.

  The management computer 100 is connected to the free gift exchange management device M, totals free gift exchange information by the management device M, and mainly checks the stock status of normal free gifts (free gifts other than special free gifts).

  The receipt issuing machine 120 is connected to the game medium counter 106b, and serves as a recording medium on which information such as the counting result by the counter 106b (for example, counting result (number of balls, etc.), counting date and time, and counting machine number) is recorded. Issue receipt E. On the receipt E, the above information is recorded in the form of a barcode and printed on the surface so as to be visually confirmed.

  The number-of-balls card issuing machine 122 is connected to the game medium counter 106c and issues a number-of-balls card F as a recording medium on which information such as a counting result by the counter 106c is recorded. On the ball card F, the above information is recorded as card data (by a magnetic stripe, IC, etc.) and printed on the surface so as to be visually confirmed.

  Whether information such as the counting result of game media is issued with the receipt E or the number of balls card F is determined by the operation policy of each game hall. It is possible to set to issue only the receipt E or only the number card F, issue the number card F to the player with a large counting result, and issue the receipt E to the player with a small number. It is also possible to set as follows. In addition, the receipt issuing machine 120 and the number of card issuing machine 122 are integrated, and the receipt E and the card F are switched and issued according to predetermined conditions (some counting results, whether or not a registered member, etc.). Is also possible.

  The barcode reader 102 and the ball card reader 104 are respectively connected to the prize exchange management device M, read the barcode of the receipt E and the card data of the ball card F, and transfer it to the management device M. As will be described later, it is also possible to directly transfer data from the game medium counter 106a directly connected to the management apparatus M, or to manually input data directly to the management apparatus M.

  The prize dispenser 108 is connected to the prize exchange management device M, stores special prizes by type, and automatically dispenses the designated types and number of special prizes based on instructions from the management apparatus M. To do.

  The fraction thrower 110 is connected to the prize exchange management device M, and when exchanging game media for special prizes, the fraction of game media (pachinko balls) that cannot be converted into special prizes according to instructions from the management apparatus M Throw out. The fraction of game media thrown out is returned to the player. However, if the processing for the fraction is troublesome, or if there is no game time even if it is returned just before closing, it can be set not to return the fraction ball. In that case, for example, a normal prize (low-rate prize such as gum) instead of the fraction ball is handed to the player.

[Configuration of the gift exchange management device]
Next, the configuration of the gift exchange management apparatus M will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

<Main composition>
In FIG. 2, the prize exchange management device M includes a control unit (calculation unit) 1, a storage unit (storage unit) 2, an operation unit (data input unit) 3, and a communication unit (data input unit) 4 connected thereto. , A store clerk display unit (display means) 5 and a customer display unit 6.

  Among these, the storage unit 2 stores a color display set to the same color or a similar color as the special prize corresponding to each type of the special prize, in addition to setting the prize exchange rate and the like. The operation unit 3 and the communication unit 4 have a function as data input means for inputting data including the number of game media.

  Specifically, the operation unit 3 has a plurality of prize designation buttons 3a and a numeric keypad 3b (FIG. 3A), and is configured so that the above data can be directly manually input by operating the numeric keypad 3b or the like. ing. The communication unit 4 constitutes a communication interface for inputting the data from the barcode reader 102, the ball card reader 104, and the game medium counter 106a to the control unit 1.

The control unit 1 has a function as arithmetic means for converting all or a part of the number of game media inputted by the data input means 3 and 4 into the number of special prizes. In this case, for example, the following conversion method can be adopted.
(1) All the input numbers are converted into special prizes.
(2) The fractional number is removed from the inputted number and converted into a special prize (for example, when 14238 pieces are inputted, 14230 pieces excluding the eight fractional pieces are converted).
(3) A predetermined number corresponding to a part of the input number is designated and converted into a special prize (for example, only 10,000 designated out of 14238 are converted).

  Next, according to the number of each special prize converted in the control unit 1, the display unit 5 for the store clerk displays the color display stored in the storage unit 2 and the character indicating the number for each type of the special prize. It has a function as a display means for displaying. As shown in FIG. 3A, the store clerk display unit 5 is configured as a color display touch panel type liquid crystal display provided on the same side (store clerk side) as the operation unit 3 or the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the customer display unit 6 is provided on the side opposite to the store clerk display unit 5 (customer side), and displays the type and number of special prizes by characters only. It is configured as.

<Display-related configuration>
Here, with reference to the display content examples shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a configuration related to the display of the display unit 5 for the clerk in the gift exchange management apparatus M will be described.

  First, FIG. 4 shows a screen P1 at the time of exchanging special prizes in the “prize exchange mode”. In this screen P1, according to the number of special prizes converted by the control unit 1, for each type of the special prize, color displays i1 to i4 stored in the storage unit 2 and characters n1 to n indicating the number are displayed. n4 is displayed. In the above setting, for each type of special prize, 5000 yen is a brown color display i1, 1000 yen is a red color display i2, 500 yen is a yellow color display i3, and 100 yen is a white color display i4. .

  In the illustrated example, each of the color displays i1 to i4 has a rectangular shape corresponding to the shape of the special prize, but may have other shapes. In addition, the screen P1 also displays the types of special prizes and the character representations p10, p12, etc. of the number of special prizes.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a special prize setting screen P2 in the “setting / registration mode”. On this screen P <b> 2, the color display setting to be stored in the storage unit 2 can be performed while confirming with the display of the store clerk display unit 5.
Specifically, in the upper part of the screen P2, a premium code p20 such as “90001” and an amount p22 such as “05000” are displayed from the numeric keypad 3b (FIG. 3A) for each type of special premiums A to D. Displayed in response to input. In the lower part of the screen P2, for each type of special prizes A to D, a prize name p24, a color sample p26 and a color name p28 for color display to be set are displayed.

  FIG. 6 shows a color display selection screen P3 in the “setting / registration mode”. This screen P3 can be called as a sub screen on the setting screen P2. In this screen P3, when setting the color display, a plurality of color displays to be selected are displayed as color samples p30 with color names.

<Other configuration>
2 includes a speaker 7, a journal issuing unit 8, a mode switching key 9 (refer to FIG. 3A), a timer 10, and a storage medium processing unit connected to the control unit 1. 11 and a power supply unit 12. Among these, the speaker 7 emits a sound at the time of data reading and the journal issuing unit 8 is configured to print and issue the handling data on the journal. The mode switching key 9 is used for switching between the “premium exchange mode” and the “setting / registration mode”.

  The storage medium processing unit 11 is for writing / reading on a removable storage medium such as SmartMedia (trademark). As a result, information such as handling data is transferred via the storage medium, or the setting of the gift exchange management device M is changed by reading the setting contents from the storage medium in which various settings are recorded by another device. Is possible. A storage medium insertion slot 13 (FIG. 3A) is provided corresponding to the storage medium processing unit 11.

  The communication unit 4 is a communication interface with the management computer 100, the prize dispenser 108, and the fraction ball dispenser 110 in addition to the barcode reader 102, the ball card reader 104, and the game medium counter 106a. Also serves.

[Operation]
Next, the overall operation of the prize exchange pipe system of the present embodiment will be broadly described as (1) issuance of a recording medium, (2) prize exchange processing, and (3) special prize setting.

(1) Issuance of recording media (Fig. 1)
First, the game media (pachinko balls) acquired by the player through the game are counted by the game media counter 106b or 106c. Then, data including the counting result by the game medium counter 106b or 106c is recorded on the receipt E or the number card F as a recording medium, and is issued from the receipt issuing machine 120 or the number card issuing machine 122.

(2) Gift exchange process (FIGS. 1 to 4)
When this prize exchange process is performed, the prize exchange management apparatus M is set to the “exchange mode” by the mode switching key 9.

  First, the player brings the receipt E or the number card F to the prize exchange counter G and causes the bar code reader 102 or the number card reader 104 to read the data. The read count result is recorded as the number of game media used for the prize exchange in the prize exchange management device M, and is displayed on the store clerk display unit 5 and the customer display unit 6. When a plurality of receipts E or balls F are continuously read, the total value of the counting results is recorded and displayed as the total number of game media.

  When the data on the receipt E or the number card F cannot be read, the store clerk manually inputs the data by operating the operation unit 3 of the management device M based on the print information that can be visually confirmed. Further, by counting with the game medium counter 106a directly connected to the management apparatus M, it is possible to directly input the data of the counting result.

(2-1) Special prize exchange processing When a player wishes to exchange for a special prize, the following processing is performed after data input / display.

  When the special prize button of the prize buttons 3a of the operation unit 3 is pressed in the prize exchange management device M, the number of game media is converted into special prizes, and the types and number of special prizes that can be exchanged are obtained. Then, on the screen P1 (FIG. 4) of the clerk display section 5, color displays i1 to i4 for each type of special prize, characters n1 to n4 indicating the number, and the like are displayed. On the customer display section 6, the type and number of special prizes are displayed only in characters.

  Next, when a “determine” button (not shown) of the operation unit 3 is pressed, a corresponding type and number of special prizes are thrown out from the prize dispenser 108 according to a command from the management apparatus M. The store clerk compares the color of the special prize that has been thrown out with the colors of the color displays i1 to i4 of the display 6 for the shop clerk, and confirms whether or not the corresponding special prize has been thrown out correctly.

  When the special prize is successfully thrown out, the display on the display unit 5 for the clerk and the display unit 6 for the customer returns to a predetermined standby state. If there is an error in the special prize that has been thrown out, the store clerk collects it and passes the normal special prize back to the player (by hand or by individual operation of the prize dispenser 108).

(2-2) Normal prize exchange processing When a player wishes to exchange for a normal prize, the following processing is performed after data input / display.

  The store clerk takes out the normal prize according to the prize order of the player, and presses the corresponding normal prize button among the prize buttons 3a of the operation unit 3. Then, each time the prize button is pressed, the number of game media corresponding to the normal prize is subtracted from the inputted number of media, and is displayed on the store clerk display unit 5 and the customer display unit 6.

  When the remaining number of game media falls below a predetermined minimum number of exchanges or when the end of the exchange process is instructed, a fractional ball is thrown out from the fractional ball dispenser 110 or from the store clerk. Then, a normal prize in place of the fraction ball is handed over, and the prize exchange process is completed.

(3) Special prize setting (Figs. 5 and 6)
When setting the color of the special prize in the prize exchange management device M, first the mode change key 9 is used to switch to the “setting / registration mode” and the special prize button on the operation unit 3 is pressed. As a result, the special premium setting screen P2 is called up on the display 6 for the clerk (FIG. 5).

  Next, on the special prize setting screen P2, a prize code p20 such as “90001” and an amount p22 such as “05000” are input from the numeric keypad 3b of the operation unit 3 for each type of special prizes A to D. Further, for setting the color displays i1 to i4, a color display selection screen P3 is further called as a sub screen on the setting screen P2, and the same color or similar color as the special prize is selected from among a plurality of color samples p30 in the display P3. Select the color.

  When an “OK” button (not shown) on the operation unit 3 is pressed, the type and color display of each special prize are stored in the storage unit 2 and the setting / registration ends. When the setting / registration is completed, the mode switching key 9 is used to switch to the “exchange mode”.

[Function and effect]
Next, the operation and effect of the gift exchange management device of this embodiment will be described.

  According to the present embodiment, when the special prize replacement process is performed, the display unit 5 for the store clerk displays the color displays i1 to i4 set to the same or similar colors as the corresponding special prize for each type of special prize. The As a result, the store clerk can visually determine the match / mismatch by visually comparing the special prize to be exchanged with the special prize to be actually exchanged by color. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent a special prize replacement error without impairing the speed of the prize replacement.

  In addition, when setting special prizes, the color display i1 to i4 corresponding to each special prize is set while visually grasping on the setting screen P2 of the display section 5 for the store clerk, so that setting work can be performed quickly and accurately. It can be performed. In this case, the color display setting operation can be performed more quickly and accurately by selecting the color of the color displays i1 to i4 to be set from the color sample p30 on the selection screen P3.

[Modification]
The special prize is not limited to the above-mentioned card shape, and may have other dimensions and shapes. Moreover, the color does not necessarily need to be colored as a whole, and it is sufficient if it is colored in an easily recognizable portion.

  Moreover, although the case where the color displays i1-i4 which display only a color was used was demonstrated, the form of a color display is not limited to it. For example, the color display may be such that all or part of characters indicating the type and number of special prizes are displayed as colored characters.

  Moreover, although the pachinko ball has been described as an example of the game medium, it is needless to say that other game media such as medals may be used.

The system block diagram which shows embodiment which comprised the prize exchange management apparatus by this invention as a part of prize exchange system. The block diagram which showed the structure of the prize exchange management apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the relationship with the apparatuses connected to it. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the prize exchange management apparatus shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is a front view which shows a shop assistant side, (b) is a rear view which shows a customer side. The figure which shows the example of "the screen at the time of special prize exchange" among the display contents in the display part for shop assistants of the prize exchange management apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which shows the example of the "special prize setting screen" among the display contents in the display part for shop assistants of the prize exchange management apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which shows the example of the "color display selection screen" among the display contents in the display part for shop assistants of the prize exchange management apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

E Receipt F Number of cards G Premium exchange counter M Premium exchange management device 1 Control unit (calculation means)
2 Storage unit (storage means)
3 Operation part (data input means)
4 Communication part (data input means)
5. Display for store clerk (display means)
P1 Screen when exchanging special prizes
i1-i4 color display
n1 to n4 Number of character display P2 Special prize setting screen P3 Color display selection screen 6 Customer display unit 100 Management computer 102 Bar code reader 104 Number of card readers 106a to 106c Game media counter 108 Machine 110 fraction dispenser 120 receipt issuing machine 122 number card issuing machine

Claims (3)

A prize exchange management device used when exchanging game media acquired by a player for a plurality of special prizes of different colors according to the number of the game media,
Storage means for storing a color display set to the same or similar color as the corresponding special prize for each type of the special prize;
Data input means for inputting data including the number of game media;
Arithmetic means for converting all or part of the number of the game media input by the data input means into the number of each special prize;
According to the number of each special prize converted by the calculation means, for each type of the special prize, a display means for displaying the color display stored in the storage means and the character indicating the number is provided. A gift exchange management device characterized by   2. The prize exchange management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color display setting to be stored in the storage unit can be performed while checking the display of the display unit.   3. The prize exchange management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the color display is set, a plurality of color samples to be selected can be displayed by the display means.

Images