JP2007130383A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To alarm a game player when bank bills or a prepaid card inadvertently left at the bank bill holder of the game machine and prevent them from theft. <P>SOLUTION: The bank bill holder 3 is constructed with a back board 3b and a door 3a of a transparent member driven to open and close by a motor 7 against the back board 3b. The bank bill holder 3 is equipped with a bank bill detector 6 and an optical alarm unit 5a, and the slot machine 1 is equipped with a token counter 19 which counts the number of tokens credited, an account settlement button 17 and a voice alarm unit 5b. The door 3a is closed when the bills are stored in the bank bill holder 3, and the door 3a opens when the player continues to play or operates the account settlement button 17 and the number of the tokens credited decreases to only 2 tokens. When the account settlement button 17 is operated, the optical alarm unit 5a and the voice alarm unit 5b are activated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a device that prevents a banknote from being forgotten and stolen in a banknote holder provided in the gaming machine.

  There are a wide variety of gaming machines such as pachinko machines and ball machines such as smart balls, and slot machines. In order for players to play games on these gaming machines, games such as game balls and medals dedicated to gaming machines are used. A medium is required, and the player rents this game medium from the game hall and plays the game.

  In order for players to borrow game media from the amusement hall, cash (usually banknotes are often used) or prepaid cards that have been purchased in advance are inserted into the game media lending device dedicated to the amusement hall, and the amount you want to borrow Loan of a corresponding amount of game media. The prepaid card can be used only in the game medium lending device of the game hall, and can be purchased at a prepaid card vending machine managed at the game hall. The player puts the rented game media into the gaming machine and plays the game.While playing the game, if the number of rented game media decreases and you want to continue playing again, A cash or prepaid card is inserted into the game media lending device to receive additional game media.

  In recent years, a game medium lending device is provided adjacent to a gaming machine so that a player can receive a game medium lending while playing a game. The player, for example, prepares a plurality of banknotes at hand so that he / she can quickly borrow game media during the game, but he / she should be careful while playing the game so that the banknotes are not dropped or lost. It is necessary to pay. As one of the workarounds, for example, a banknote holder shown in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. The player holds a banknote in advance, for example, between the banknote holders, removes the banknote from the banknote holder as necessary, and inserts it into the game medium lending device to receive additional game media. While repeating this action, the player enjoys the game for the purpose of obtaining a prize commensurate with the amount invested.

When a game is interrupted or terminated and the player leaves the gaming machine, the banknotes sandwiched between the banknote holders are extracted, but sometimes they are forgotten to be extracted. As a method for preventing this forgetting, a sensor is provided on the gaming machine assuming that the player is in contact with the gaming machine while the player is playing, and the player can When a hand is spoken, the player leaves the seat (Patent Document 2), or a banknote payment machine that is not a gaming machine but is handled by a financial institution or the like. A method of informing a customer that a banknote has been forgotten by using signals from both a light detector that detects that a bill remains and a light detector that detects the presence of a customer in front of a bill payment machine ( Patent Document 3) has been proposed.
JP 2004-187960 A JP 11-319295 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-324977

  However, when a player interrupts a game and leaves the gaming machine, he / she deliberately inserts a bill or the like in order to inform other players or the game hall manager that the gaming machine is being used. It may be placed where it can be seen, in which case the banknote may be stolen. The contents proposed in the above-mentioned patent documents are not proposed until theft is prevented even though it is proposed to notify that the banknote is forgotten.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. When a player interrupts or ends a game and leaves the front of the gaming machine, the banknote is left or left in the banknote holder. An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that is provided with means for ensuring that it will not be stolen and that it will not be forgotten.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a game medium inserted from the slot is credited, and a bill can be taken out in a gaming machine having a counter for counting the number of credited game media. A bill storage part provided with a door that pivots between an open position and a closed position in which bills cannot be taken out, and a door driving means that pivots the door between the open position and the closed position. And a door drive control means for controlling the door drive means to rotate the door from the closed position to the open position when the value of the counter becomes less than a predetermined value. Features.

  Moreover, the said door is comprised by the transparent member so that the banknote accommodated in the said banknote accommodating part can be visually recognized from the outside of the said banknote accommodating part.

  Further, the game machine is provided with a settlement button operated when the credited game medium is ejected, the game medium is ejected according to the operation of the settlement button, and the value of the counter is less than a predetermined value. In this case, the door is controlled from the closed position to the open position by the door drive control means.

  Furthermore, the banknote storage unit is provided with a banknote detector for detecting that banknotes are stored, and the gaming machine is provided with a notification device for notifying a warning and a notification device control means for controlling the notification device, When the door is closed and the banknote detector detects a banknote, the alarm device notifies the warning by the alarm control means in response to operation of the settlement button. .

  The gaming machine of the present invention is provided with a door that is opened and closed in the banknote storage unit, and the door of the banknote storage unit is opened only when the inserted and credited game medium is less than a predetermined number of values. Therefore, even if the player interrupts the game and leaves the seat, the banknotes stored in the banknote storage unit are not stolen.

  In addition, since this door is made of a transparent member, it can be seen from the outside whether or not banknotes are stored in the banknote storage part, so that even if the player is away from the game machine, the game machine is being suspended. It can be seen that it is.

  In addition, when the game is ended or interrupted and the checkout button is operated to discharge the game media, the alarm is notified and the number of credited game media falls below a predetermined value. Since only the door of the banknote storage part is opened, it is possible to prevent forgetting to take banknotes and to prevent theft.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of the configuration of the present invention when a slot machine using medals as game media is used as a game machine. 1A is a view of the slot machine 1 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the slot machine 1 of FIG. In FIG. 1, a gaming medium lending device 2 is provided on the right side of the slot machine 1, and a bill insertion slot 2a, a prepaid card insertion slot 2b, and a tray 2c for discharging medals according to the amount of money are provided. Yes. In order for the player to receive the medal lending, the player inserts a bill for the amount of money to be lent into the bill insertion slot 2a of the game medium lending device 2, or inserts a prepaid card into the prepaid card insertion slot 2b, Operate an amount selection button (not shown) for the necessary amount. A quantity of medals corresponding to the amount selection button is discharged to the tray 2c. When fishing is necessary after inserting the banknote, the banknote as change is returned to the banknote insertion slot 2a, and in the case of a prepaid card, the remaining amount is recorded by subtracting the rented amount from the amount at the time of purchasing the prepaid card. Is returned to the prepaid card insertion slot 2b.

  The slot machine 1 includes a front door 20 and a display window 11 with a plurality of symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface thereof and three rotary reels 11a, 11b and 11c which are driven to rotate, a liquid crystal display device 12, and a player. Operating buttons such as a single bet button 13a, a MAX bet button 13b, a start lever 14, a settlement button 17, and stop buttons 21a, 21b, 21c for stopping the reels 11a to 11c that are driven to rotate. There are provided a medal slot 16 for inserting medals for playing games, a tray 15 for storing medals lent out from the game medium lending device 2 and medals to be paid out when winning. Yes. In addition, speakers 5b serving as voice alarms which are one of the alarms of the present invention are provided on the left and right of the upper part of the front surface of the slot machine 1. The speaker 5b is also used as a speaker provided to emit various sounds to increase interest when a game is played in the slot machine 1.

  From the display window 11, a total of nine symbols (three not shown) such as “7” and “BAR” drawn on the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 11a to 11c can be visually recognized. A total of five winning lines are provided at the position of the display window 11 in advance, three horizontally and two diagonally. When a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 16, the single bet button 13a or the MAX bet button 13b is operated, and the start lever 14 is operated, the reels 11a to 11c start to rotate and the lottery of the winning combination is made, and the stop button 21a When the reels 11a to 11c are stopped by the operation of .about.21c and predetermined symbols are arranged on any winning line, a winning combination is won and a medal as a bonus is paid out. In the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, a medal inserted through the medal slot 16 and a part of medals to be paid out when winning a prize are stored electronically (to be described later, the counter of the present invention). The medal number counter 19 corresponding to the above is also credited with this function), and the payment button 17 is operated to pay out the credited medal to the tray 15. In the case of a slot machine provided with buttons operated to credit inserted medals or medals paid out when winning, for example, a payout button (the checkout button 17 may also have this function). It is necessary to operate the payout button to be credited in advance.

  An insertion medal sensor 18 (FIG. 3) is provided at the back of the medal insertion slot 16, and when an appropriate medal passes, a signal from the insertion medal sensor 18 is sent to the CPU 31 of the control unit 30, and a medal number counter. (Counter of the present invention) The number of medals inserted is counted. The medal number counter 19 also has a credit function for electronically storing a part of medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 16 and medals to be paid out when winning. The checkout button 17 is pressed when paying out the acquired medals to the tray 15 when securing the number of medals that can be used to end the game or exchange for prizes. The medals are paid out while the checkout button 17 is kept pressed, but the payout of the medals is stopped when the checkout button 17 is released when the hand is released from the checkout button 17. Also at this time, the remaining medal number credited by the medal number counter 19 is counted.

  A bill holder (a bill storage unit of the present invention) 3 is set on the right front side of the slot machine 1. The player stores a plurality of banknotes in the banknote holder 3 so that additional game media can be lent out as necessary. The bill holder 3 includes a back plate 3b attached to the front door 20 of the slot machine 1 and a door 3a that can be rotated and opened with respect to the back plate 3b. The door 3a is formed of a transparent member. (FIG. 2). In FIG. 1, the door 3 a is closed and the bill 4 is stored in the bill holder 3.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the banknote holder 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the banknote holder 3 has a rectangular box shape that is horizontally long, and is a back plate 3 b that is attached to the front door 20 of the slot machine 1 and a door that is rotated and opened with respect to the back plate 3 b. 3a. The door 3a is engaged with a back plate 3b and a rotary shaft 7a at a top 3e provided on the left and right sides of the lower portion, and the rotary shaft 7a is rotated by a motor (door drive means of the present invention) 7. 2A shows a state in which the door 3a is closed, FIG. 2B shows a state in which the door 3a is open, and in any case, the state in which the bill 4 is not stored in order to make the structure of the bill holder 3 easy to understand. Show. The upper part of the back plate 3b has a hook 3d protruding forward, and the door 3a has an upper side 3c opened in a U-shape. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the door 3a is closed, the side 3c of the upper portion of the door 3a is blocked by the hook 3d of the back plate 3b, so that bills and the like cannot be taken in or out, but the door 3a is opened. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), the upper side 3c of the door 3a is opened so that bills can be easily taken in and out. The door 3a of the banknote holder 3 is made of a transparent member, and even when the door 3a is closed, it can be easily seen from the outside that the banknote 4 is stored.

  A linear light alarm (another example of the alarm of the present invention) 5a is embedded in the side 3d of the upper portion of the back plate 3b of the banknote holder 3 and is composed of LED light emitting elements that emit red light. A bill detector 6 in which an LED 6a and a light receiver 6b are embedded is provided at the center of the back plate 3b. The LED 6a of the bill detector 6 emits red light. When the bill is stored in the bill holder 3, the red light emitted from the LED 6a is irregularly reflected by the bill and received by the light receiver 6b to store the bill. Is detected. In addition, a micro switch 8 that operates when the door 3a is closed is provided at the right end of the back plate 3b. The bill detector 6 does not operate when the door 3a of the bill holder 3 is open, and the LED 6a emits light by the control unit 30 (FIG. 3) in response to the micro switch 8 being activated when the door 3a is closed. Control is performed so that the light receiver 6b can receive light. The door 3a can be closed by hand but cannot be opened by hand, and the number of credited medals is less than the number necessary for one game (less than the predetermined value of the present invention), for example, two Then, the motor 7 is driven and opened by the control unit 30.

  The bill holder 3 can be fixed by fastening the four corners of the back plate 3b to the front door 20 of the slot machine 1 with fastening members (not shown) such as screws. A connector (not shown) that can be electrically connected is provided on the back surface of the back plate 3b, and a connector (not shown) is also provided on the front door 20 of the slot machine 1 to connect these connectors. Thus, the light alarm 5a, the bill detector 6 and the micro switch 8 in the bill holder 3 are electrically connected to the control unit 30 of the slot machine 1. That is, the banknote holder 3 can be attached to and detached from the slot machine 1 by a connector and a screw, and can be replaced when the banknote holder 3 breaks down or is damaged. For example, if the screw is fastened from the back surface of the front door 20 of the slot machine 1, the bill holder 3 cannot be removed unless the front door 20 is opened, so that the bill holder 3 can be prevented from being stolen.

  FIG. 3 shows schematic functions of the control unit 30 of the slot machine 1. The operation of the slot machine 1 is basically controlled by a CPU 31 and a ROM 32 provided in the control unit 30. In addition to the single bet button 13a, the MAX bet button 13b, the start lever 14, the checkout button 17 and the like, the CPU 31 of the control unit 30 includes the inserted medal sensor 18, the banknote detector 6 of the banknote holder 3, the light alarm 5a, Signals such as an alarm control unit (notifier control unit of the present invention) 5 for controlling the speaker 5b and a motor control unit (door drive control unit of the present invention) 7b for driving and controlling the motor 7 are input and output.

  The operation of the gaming machine having the above configuration will be described based on the flow of the operation shown in FIG. In order to play a game, the player inserts the banknote 4 into the banknote insertion slot 2a of the game medium lending device 2, and operates the amount selection button to receive a required quantity of medals. The player temporarily stores the rented medals in the tray 15 and stores a plurality of banknotes in the banknote holder 3 so that additional medals can be easily lent during the game. At this time, since the medal is not credited to the slot machine 1, the door 3a of the banknote holder 3 is open, and is opened again even if the door 3a is pushed by hand.

  When starting the game, the required number of medals is inserted from the medal slot 16. At the same time, the number of medals credited by the medal number counter 19 is counted based on the signal from the inserted medal sensor 18. When the number of credited medals exceeds the number necessary for one game, for example, three or more, the door 3a of the banknote holder 3 can be closed, so that the player pushes the door 3a by hand and opens the door 3a. Close.

  When the door 3a is closed, the microswitch 8 is activated, the LED 6a of the bill detector 6 emits light, and the irregularly reflected light from the bill 4 is received by the light receiver 6b. In this embodiment, when the number of credited medals is 3 or more and the bill 4 is stored in the bill holder 3, the door 3a of the bill holder 3 is set to remain closed. Yes. Since the door 3a of the banknote holder 3 is made of a transparent member, it can be easily seen from the outside that the banknote 4 is stored in the banknote holder 3 even when the door 3a is closed. Therefore, even if there is no player in front of the gaming machine, it can be easily understood that the game is interrupted and the user leaves the banknote, and at the same time, the banknote 4 cannot be removed from the banknote holder 3 by another person.

  When the banknote 4 is not inserted into the banknote holder 3, the door 3a does not need to be closed, but even if the door 3a is closed, the door 3a is formed of a transparent member, and therefore most of the light emitted from the LED 6a is Only a very small amount of reflected light passes through the door 3a and is received by the light receiver 6b. A threshold setting circuit 6c is provided at the subsequent stage of the light receiver 6b so that the signal is zero even if light having a intensity equal to or lower than the intensity of the reflected light from the door 3a is received by the light receiver 6b. When the signal passing through the threshold setting circuit 6c is zero, the door 3a is set to be opened. When the bill 4 is not stored in the bill holder 3, the door 3a of the bill holder 3 is opened even if the number of credited medals is three or more. In addition, a game can be performed even if the door 3a is opened regardless of whether the bill 4 is stored.

  When a predetermined symbol out of a plurality of symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 11a to 11c is stopped and displayed along the winning line by continuing the game, medals are paid out as a bonus for winning the winning combination. Credit, but on the other hand, the medal number counter indicates that the number of medals credited without winning is reduced and less than three medals required for one game, for example, only two medals are credited. When the CPU 31 recognizes it via 19, a command is issued from the CPU 31, the motor 7 is driven by the motor controller 7 b, and the door 3 a is opened. As a result, the player knows that the number of credited medals is insufficient to continue the game. The player pulls out the necessary number of banknotes 4 stored in the banknote holder 3, inserts the banknotes into the game medium lending device 2, and receives the medal lending. When the medal is inserted again from the medal slot 16 and the number of credited medals becomes three or more, the door 3a of the bill holder 3 can be closed. When the bill has been used up, it is not necessary to close the door 3a. Even if it is closed, it is opened as described above.

  In a state where three or more medals have been credited, the player ends the game or presses the checkout button 17 to secure the number of medals that can be exchanged for prizes. When the door 3a of the banknote holder 3 is closed and the banknote 4 is still stored, a command is issued from the CPU 31, and the alarm control unit 5 causes the light alarm 5a and the speaker 5b as a sound alarm. Drive. The content notified by the light alarm 5a and the speaker 5b, for example, causes the light alarm 5a to flash vigorously and generates a beep and intermittent beep from the speaker 5b. The content of the notification is not limited as long as the player can understand that the bill 4 is stored in the bill holder 3.

  At the same time, medals are paid out to the tray 15 from a medal storage tank (not shown) provided inside the slot machine 1. The medals are paid out while the payment button 17 is kept pressed, but the payment is stopped when the payment button 17 is released by releasing the payment button 17. Notification from the optical alarm 5a and the speaker 5b is also stopped. When continuing the game, the hand is released from the settlement button 17 in a state where the number of credits of medals is at least three. When ending the game, the settlement button 17 is kept pressed. When the number of credited medals reaches two, the door 3a of the bill holder 3 is opened. The game is ended by continuing to press the settlement button 17 to make the number of credits zero, withdrawing banknotes from the banknote holder 3, collecting medals from the tray 15, and leaving the slot machine 1.

  By configuring the gaming machine of the present invention as described above, it is easily understood that the game is interrupted even if the player leaves the slot machine with the banknote or the prepaid card stored in the banknote holder. It is possible to prevent bills or prepaid cards from being stolen. In addition, when the number of credited medals is less than the number required for one game, the door of the banknote holder is opened, so that the player can easily take out banknotes and continue the game. It is easy to lend medal, or the game can be ended.

  In addition, when the bill is stored in the bill holder and the number of credited medals is equal to or greater than the number of one game to be played, when the settlement button is operated, the alarm is notified. You can prevent forgetting and theft.

  In the above embodiment, the bill holder is box-shaped so that bills can be stored. However, the door side plate is closed by simply sandwiching the bills between two plates so that the bills can be taken in and out from the side. The door side plate may be pressed against the back plate with a level of force that cannot be easily pulled out. Although the bill holder is provided on the front surface of the slot machine, it may be provided on the side surface of the slot machine as long as the player can easily operate and view the bill holder. In order to prevent theft, the alarm may be notified when the banknote holder door is forcibly opened.

  In addition, when a banknote is stored in the banknote holder and the number of medals credited is three or more, the alarm is informed when the settlement button is operated, and the credited medal When the number of cards reaches 2, the door is opened and the notification is stopped. However, if the winning role has been won and the winning role has been carried over, the door should not be opened and credited. It is also possible to open the door when the number of medals is zero. By doing so, the player is informed that the winning combination has been carried over, so that the interest of the game can be enhanced.

  In addition, the speaker emits an intermittent beeping sound with a speaker as an audio alarm, but this may be expressed in words such as “Don't forget to pick up banknotes”. A red LED was used as a device, but this also served as a liquid crystal display device provided by the slot machine to enhance the fun of the game. "" May be displayed. The method is not limited to these as long as the method is easily noticed by the player. And as an alarm, it is not necessary to use both an optical alarm and a speaker.

  Furthermore, the bill detector is composed of a red LED and a light receiver that receives the reflected light of the LED from the bill. For example, an LED is provided on the door of the bill holder and a light receiver is provided on the back plate to store the bill. In this case, the light from the LED may be shielded and not received by the light receiver, and this is not limited as long as the bill can be easily detected. And it is applicable also when not only a banknote but a prepaid card is accommodated in the banknote holder.

  The above embodiment is adapted to a slot machine using medals, but it can also be applied to a slot machine using pachinko balls.

It is the front view and side view which show the external appearance of the slot machine concerning this invention. It is a perspective view of the bill holder concerning the present invention. It is an electrical block diagram of the slot machine according to the present invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine 2 Game media rental apparatus 3 Banknote holder 4 Banknote 5 Alarm control part (notifier control means)
5a Light alarm (notifier)
5b Speaker (notifier)
6 bill detector 7 motor 7b motor control unit 8 micro switch 15 tray 16 medal slot (insert slot)
17 Settlement button 18 Inserted medal sensor 19 Medal number counter 20 Front door 30 Control unit 31 CPU

Claims (4)

In a gaming machine equipped with a counter for counting the number of credited game media while the game media thrown from the slot is credited,
A banknote storage unit provided with a door that rotates between an open position that allows banknotes to be removed and a closed position that prevents banknotes from being removed;
Door driving means for rotating the door between an open position and a closed position;
Door drive control means for controlling the door drive means to rotate the door from a closed position to an open position when the value of the counter is less than a predetermined value;
A gaming machine characterized by comprising:   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the door is made of a transparent member so that the banknotes stored in the banknote storage part can be visually recognized from the outside of the banknote storage part.   The gaming machine is provided with a settlement button that is operated when the credited game medium is ejected, and the game medium is ejected according to the operation of the settlement button, and the value of the counter becomes less than a predetermined value. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the door is rotated from a closed position to an open position by the door drive control means.   The banknote storage unit is provided with a banknote detector that detects that banknotes are stored, and the gaming machine is provided with a notification device that notifies a warning and a notification device control means that controls the notification device, and the door When the bill is closed and the bill detector is detecting a bill, the notification device notifies the warning by the notification device control means in response to operation of the settlement button. The gaming machine according to any one of 1 to 3.

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