JP2007319430A - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system allowing a player to play games without using hands as much as possible in a game parlor. <P>SOLUTION: A token dispenser 2 can load a predetermined number of tokens into a token slot 10 of the adjacent game machine 1 via a loading/transfer means 30, with the number displayed in a storage display part 26 for displaying the number of tokens loaded into a storage/loading opening 18 as the limit, based on the operation of a put-out switch 25, and can receive tokens stored in a token storage device 60. A collection path 50A can transfer tokens loaded from token slots 10 of a plurality of game machines 1 to the token storage device 60, and a feeding path 50B can transfer tokens stored in the token storage device 60 to a plurality of token dispensers 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming system used in a game machine including a gaming machine, a medal lending machine that rents medals to the gaming machine, and a medal circulation path for circulating medals in the game hall.

Conventionally, a medal circulation system that collects medals overflowing from a hopper of a slot machine and automatically replenishes them to a medal lending machine in a game hall exists as a well-known technique as shown in Patent Document 1, for example. .
On the other hand, a technique is also known in which a medal is directly supplied from a medal lending machine to an adjacent slot machine and a medal paid out from the slot machine is returned to the medal lending machine (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-325548 A (paragraphs 0016 and 0029) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-190617 (FIG. 5)

However, the medal circulation system described above is a system in which medals inserted into a slot machine, that is, a player collects used medals and returns them to a medal lending machine. It is unrelated to the system.
Therefore, based on the above-described conventional technology, an object of the present invention is to provide a game system that allows a player to play a game without using a hand as much as possible.

The invention described in each claim has been made to achieve each of the above-described objects, and features of each invention will be described below using the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.
In addition, the code | symbol in parenthesis shows the code | symbol used in embodiment of invention, and does not limit the technical scope of this invention.
(Claim 1)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 1 is characterized by the following points.
That is, the invention described in claim 1 includes a gaming machine (slot machine 1) having a medal slot (10) and a medal payout slot (17) provided below the medal slot (10), and a gaming machine. A payout device (sand hopper 23) for paying out medals to be lent to a player, and a medal payout port of the gaming machine (1) 10) a medal lending machine (2) having at least a loading transfer means (throwing nozzle 30, batch loading apparatus 3) and a lower position than the medal payout port (17) of the gaming machine (1). , A storage insertion opening (a lower plate opening 18, a sand receiving opening 80) through which a player can insert medals, a medal storage device (medal tank 60) provided at a predetermined place in the game hall, and the medal storage device (60 ) To collect medals (50A) and medal storage This game system has a medal circulation path (50) having a supply path (50B) for sending out medals from the stop device (60).

Here, the “gaming machine” is a gaming machine in which medals are thrown in as a game medium, and is installed in parallel in the game hall with the medal lending machine (2) in between. The medal insertion slot (10) is a portion for inserting a medal into the gaming machine, and includes a passage and a recess for guiding the medal to the opening in addition to an opening such as a slit for dropping the medal. In addition, the gaming machine (1) may have a medal selector that discriminates medals inserted from the medal insertion slot (10) and an internal storage unit (hopper unit 110) that stores the inserted medals. .
In the medal lending machine (2), a payout device (23) is built in a box-shaped outer box (20), and a medal is placed in an adjacent gaming machine (1) through the input and transfer means (30, 3). In addition to the above configuration, the medal lending machine (2) may be provided with a bill insertion slot (21) and a bill counter (22). Here, the “payout device” includes not only a hopper device capable of storing medals, but also a device for taking medals from the medal circulation system of the game hall and discharging them to the outside of the medal lending machine (2). . In addition, the “injection transfer means” has an internal space in which medals can be temporarily stored, in addition to, for example, a tubular bowl-shaped “passage” itself capable of transferring medals. It also includes an “apparatus” that can be transferred to the medal slot (10) of the gaming machine using a mechanism such as a medal feeder (35).

The “storage input opening” may be any opening that can be inserted with medals formed below the medal payout opening (17) of the gaming machine (1), and may be provided in the gaming machine (1). Alternatively, it may be provided in the medal renting machine (2), or may be provided in a place other than the gaming machine (1) and the medal renting machine (2), for example, on the floor of the game hall.
The medal storage device (60) may be a single medal storage device provided in the game hall, or may be a storage device provided for each island facility of the game hall. Alternatively, a plurality of gaming machines may be provided below the floor where gaming machines are installed.
The medal circulation path (50) is a path through which medals can be conveyed using a transfer device such as a belt conveyor. The collection path (50A) is disposed below the gaming machine (1) and the medal lending machine (2), and the supply path (50B) is at least above the payout device (23) of the medal lending machine (2). It is desirable to be arranged in

  In the present invention, a medal detection unit (40) capable of detecting medals inserted into the storage input opening (18, 80) one by one is provided, and the medal lending machine (2) includes the medal detection unit. (40) a counting means for counting the detection signal, a storage display section (26) for displaying numbers based on the count value of the counting means, and a display of the storage display section (26) by the player's operation A subtracting display and a payout switch (25) for paying out the number of medals reduced from the display from the payout device (23), and a replenishment acceptance for taking in medals from the medal circulation path (50) Section (replenishment receiving port 24). Then, the medal lending machine (2), based on the operation of the payout switch (25), inserts a predetermined number of medals up to the number displayed on the storage display section (26). The medal stored in the medal storage device (60) from the replenishment receiving part (24) can be inserted into the medal slot (10) of the adjacent gaming machine via the transfer means (30, 3). The medal circulation path (50) is a medal inserted into a plurality of storage input openings (18, 80) by the recovery path (50A) and a medal input port of a plurality of gaming machines (1) ( The medal inserted from 10) can be transferred to the medal storage device (60), and the medal stored in the medal storage device (60) by the supply path (50B) can be transferred to a plurality of medal lending machines (2). It is formed to be transportable.

Here, the medal detection unit (40) can be a sensor that can detect, for example, medals provided below the storage insertion opening (18, 80) one by one. Separation means for separating the sheets one by one may be provided. Further, the medal detection unit (40) is not necessarily an accessory device of the medal lending machine (2) as long as the detection signal is output to the counting means of the medal lending machine (2).
Specifically, the “counting means” is a control unit (control board) provided inside the medal lending machine (2). The storage display section (26) is a display section for displaying the count value of the counting means as the number of medals, and the number of medals related to the number displayed here is stored in the medal lending machine (2). It will be treated as being. The payout switch (25) is an operation means such as a button switch provided in front of the outer box (20) of the medal lending machine (2), and can be arbitrarily operated by the player.

The medals collected from the gaming machine (1) to the collection path (50A) may be medals inserted from the medal insertion slot (10) and passed through the medal selector, and the hopper unit (110) inside the gaming machine. It may be a medal overflowing from.
(Function)
When a game is played in the gaming system according to the present invention, a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the payout device (23) of the medal lending machine (2) by, for example, inserting a bill into a predetermined bill insertion slot (21). The paid-out medals are sent to the medal slot (10) of the adjacent gaming machine (1) through the slot transfer means (30, 3). Therefore, it is not necessary for the player to insert a medal into the medal slot (10) by hand.

In addition, after a game is started, when a medal is paid out from the medal payout port (17) of the gaming machine (1) by winning, the medal can be inserted into the storage opening (18, 80). Since the storage opening (18, 80) is provided below the medal payout port (17), the medal paid out from the medal payout port (17) can be dropped as it is. The medals inserted into the storage opening (18, 80) are detected by the medal detection unit (40) and displayed as the number of stored medals on the storage display unit (26) based on the count of the counting means. That is, each time the medal detection unit (40) detects a medal, the display of the storage display unit (26) is incremented.
When the player operates the payout switch (25), a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the payout device (23), and the number corresponding to the payout number is subtracted from the storage display section (26). In this case, for example, when 50 medals are paid out at a time by operating the payout switch (25), if the display of the storage display section (26) is less than "50", the storage display section (26) is displayed. Only the displayed medals are paid out.

On the other hand, the medal inserted into the storage input opening (18, 80) and the medal input port (10) of the gaming machine (1) passes through the recovery path (50A) of the medal circulation path (50) and the medal storage device (60). To be recovered. In addition, the medals stored in the medal storage device (60) are appropriately supplied to the medal lending machine (2) through the supply path (50B).
Thus, according to the present invention, instead of storing medals paid out from the gaming machine (1), for example, in the lower plate (15) of the gaming machine (1), the storing input opening (18, 80). If it is thrown in or discarded, it is automatically treated as being stored in the medal lending machine (2). The stored medal can be arbitrarily taken out by operating the payout switch (25), and this medal is also inserted into the gaming machine (1) through the insertion transfer means (30, 3). Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of grabbing and inserting the medal in the lower plate (15) with the hand or transferring it to the medal container, and the player does not have to worry about dirt on the hand due to contact with the medal.

Furthermore, since medals are automatically replenished to the medal lending machine (2), it is not necessary to perform the medal replenishment work. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the labor of the game shop clerk.
The medal lending machine (2) may be provided with a cancel switch (27) for returning all stored medals by returning the display of the storage display unit (26) to zero by the operation.
(Claim 2)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 2 is characterized by the following points in addition to the features of the invention described in claim 1 described above.

That is, in the invention according to claim 2, the gaming machine (1) has an internal storage part (hopper unit 110) for storing medals inserted from the medal insertion slot (10). The medals overflowing when (110) is full are transferred to the collection path (50A).
In the present invention, when the gaming machine (1) has a medal storage part inside, medals overflowing from the internal storage part (110) are automatically collected by the medal storage device (60). Is.
(Claim 3)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 3 is characterized by the following points in addition to the characteristics of the invention described in claim 1 or 2.

That is, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the medal lending machine (2) includes a payout storage part (sand tank 23A) for storing medals paid out from the payout device (23). The section (23A) includes a decrease detection section (empty sensor 91) that detects that the internal medal has decreased below a predetermined amount. When the decrease detection section (91) detects a decrease in medals, The medal is supplied from the storage device (60) to the payout storage unit (23A).
According to the present invention, the medal replenishment from the medal storage device (60) to the medal lending machine (2) is automatically performed based on the detection of the decrease detection unit (91) provided in the medal lending machine (2). It is a thing. Here, the payout storage unit (23A) may be a hopper tank provided integrally with the payout device (23), or may be a temporary medal storage unit provided separately from the payout device (23). May be.

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to notify the empty state of the payout storage unit (23A) in the medal lending machine (2).
(Claim 4)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 4 has the following features in addition to the features of the invention described in claim 3 described above.
That is, in the invention according to claim 4, the medal storage device (60) includes a full detection unit (overflow sensor 93) for detecting that the number of internal medals has increased beyond a specified amount, and this full detection unit (93 ) Detects that the medal is full, the medal is supplied from the medal storage device (60) to the payout storage unit (23A).

The present invention is based on the detection of the full detection unit (93) provided in the medal storage device (60), the replenishment of medals from the medal storage device (60) to the payout storage unit (23A) of the medal lending machine (2). This is done automatically.
Here, in the gaming system according to the present invention, medals paid out from the gaming machine (1) and stored in the lower plate (15) of the gaming machine (1) are stored in the medal lending machine (2). Therefore, from the payout storage section (23A), in addition to the usual payout of medals by inserting the banknotes, the player can take out the medal (acquired medal) from the handheld machine (1 ) Will also be paid out for medals that should be put in. On the other hand, in the medal storage device (60), in addition to overflowing medals from the gaming machine (1), the acquired medals that should have been stored in the lower plate (15) or medal container of the gaming machine (1) are collected. Come. Therefore, medals in the payout storage unit (23A) are likely to decrease, and medals in the medal storage device (60) are likely to increase.

Therefore, if formed as in the present invention, the medal automatically circulates from the medal storage device (60) in which the medal amount is likely to increase to the payout storage portion (23A) in which the medal amount is likely to decrease, Can maintain the balance of the amount of medals.
(Claim 5)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 5 is characterized by the following points in addition to the characteristics of the invention described in claim 3 or 4.
That is, in the invention described in claim 5, the payout storage unit (23A) includes a full detection unit that detects that the internal medal has increased to a predetermined amount or more, and the full detection unit detects the fullness of the medal. In addition, when the full detection unit (93) of the medal storage device detects full, a full notification is performed.

Here, “full notification” refers to, for example, turning on a predetermined full notification lamp provided in an island facility of a game arcade or making a predetermined report to a hall computer in a game arcade.
The present invention provides a medal from a gaming machine (1) other than the gaming system or a medal lending machine (1) when a so-called table movement in which a player walks across a plurality of gaming machines (1) is not prohibited. It is effective when is introduced.
(Claim 6)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 6 has the following features in addition to the features of the invention described in any one of claims 3 to 5.

That is, in the invention according to claim 6, the medal storage device (60) includes a decrease detection unit (empty sensor 92) for detecting that the internal medal has decreased below a predetermined amount, and the decrease detection unit (92 ) Detects a decrease in medals, and when the decrease detection unit (91) of the payout storage unit (23A) detects a decrease in medals, a medal-free notification is performed.
The “medal absence notification” means, for example, that a predetermined medal absence notification lamp provided in an island facility of a game hall is turned on or a predetermined notification is made to a hall computer of the game hall.
The present invention is effective when the gaming machine (1) in the gaming system pays out a large amount of medals by a bonus prize or the like.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to provide a gaming system that enables a player to play a game without using a hand as much as possible in a game hall. In addition, according to the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, the medal circulation in the system can be suitably performed.

A preferred embodiment representing the present invention will be described based on the drawings, with a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine, divided into a first embodiment and a second embodiment.
(First embodiment)
(Explanation of drawings)
1 to 8 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a schematic view showing the circulation of medals in a game hall, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2, FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the inside of the housing 100 of the slot machine 1, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the medal slot 10, FIG. 5 is a front view of the sand hopper 23 and the slot nozzle 30, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the slot machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the medal lending machine 2.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 is installed adjacent to the medal lending machine 2, and the medal lending machine 2 is provided so as to correspond to one slot machine one by one. Yes.
(Slot machine 1)
As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine 1 has a front door 13 attached to the front side of the housing 100, and a symbol of a rotary reel (not shown) can be visually recognized on the front side of the front door 13. A symbol display window 14 is formed. Further, below the symbol display window 14 and in the approximate center of the slot machine 1 is an operation unit 16 provided with operation means such as a start switch and a stop switch. A medal slot 10 for inserting medals is provided at the front right end of the operation unit 16.

Although not particularly illustrated, a medal selector for determining the authenticity of the medal and counting the inserted medals is provided below the medal insertion slot 10. The slot machine 1 can start a game by inserting up to three medals, but can store a predetermined number (50) of medals as credits. The number of credits is displayed on a predetermined credit display unit (not shown), and by operating the bet switch, the display on the credit display unit is subtracted and the corresponding number of medals are inserted.
A hopper unit 110 for storing medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 10 and for paying out the stored medals is installed below the inside of the casing 100. Next to the hopper unit 110, an overflow container 120 for receiving medals overflowing from the medal tank of the hopper unit 110 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the overflow container 120 is a container that is installed on the back side of the bottom of the housing 100 via a mounting portion 130 provided on the side plate 101 of the housing 100, and opens upward. And a discharge opening 122 for discharging the medal received from the reception opening 121 downward. When installed at a fixed position, the discharge opening 122 matches the position of the long hole 103 provided in the bottom plate 102 of the housing 100, and is inserted from the long hole 103 toward the inside of the housing. It can be joined to the duct-shaped discharge conveyance path 53. Then, the medals overflowing from the overflow medal discharge section (not shown) of the hopper unit 110 are received by the receiving opening 121, discharged from the discharging opening 122, and guided to the discharge conveying path 53.

At the lower part of the front door 13, a medal payout port 17 for discharging medals to be paid out by the hopper unit 110 and a lower plate 15 capable of storing the payout medals are provided. Then, a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 10, the rotating reel is rotated by operating the start switch, and the rotating reel is stopped by operating the stop switch. At this time, the symbols displayed on the plurality of rotating reels are at predetermined positions. When the mode is stopped, a prize is awarded, and a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the medal payout port 17.
Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the medal insertion slot 10 includes an upper insertion opening 11 through which medals can be inserted one by one from above, and a side transfer passage 12 communicating with the side of the upper insertion opening 11. Have. This side transfer passage 12 is a bowl-shaped passage extending from the upper insertion opening 11 to the front right side (medal lending machine 2 side), and a medal sent from a nozzle 30 of the medal lending machine 2 described later. Is to be transferred to the upper input opening 11.

Further, a bottom plate opening 18 is formed at the bottom on the right side of the front surface of the bottom plate 15 as a storage charging opening through which medals stored in the bottom plate 15 can be dropped downward. A medal detection unit 40 is embedded below the lower plate opening 18 so that the medals inserted into the lower plate opening 18 can be separated and detected one by one.
Here, the medal detection unit 40 includes a separation unit that separates the medals that are randomly inserted one by one, and a sensor that detects the medals separated by the separation unit, although not particularly illustrated. Yes. The separation means may rotate a rotating disk having medal holes by a motor and discharge the medals inserted into the medal holes one by one. This separating means is preferably formed so as to continue to operate while a medal is present inside the medal detection unit 40. The sensor may be an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor that senses a medal sent from the separating unit. And the detection signal of a sensor is transmitted to the control part of medal lending machine 2, and is counted in this control part.

In the slot machine 1 formed as described above, when the amount of paid-out medals is small, medals are stored in the lower plate 15, but the lower plate 15 is filled with the paid-out medals at the time of bonus winning etc. In this case, the medal naturally falls from the lower plate opening 18 to the medal detection unit 40. Alternatively, the player can intentionally move the medal toward the lower plate opening 18 and discard the medal in the lower plate 15 from the lower plate opening 18.
On the other hand, medals dropped from the lower plate opening 18 are transported to a medal circulation path 50 (see FIG. 1) circulating through the island facility via a discharge transport path 51 provided below the medal detection unit 40. Then, as will be described later, the number of medals detected by the medal detection unit 40 is handled as being stored in the medal lending machine 2.

When the medal tank of the hopper unit 110 is full, it overflows the overflow container 120 and is sent to the discharge conveyance path 53. Similarly, medals that have dropped onto the discharge conveyance path 53 are also conveyed to the medal circulation path 50.
(Medal lending machine 2)
The medal lending machine 2 is a box-type device that is installed adjacent to the side of the slot machine 1 and lends medals in exchange for money, and rents medals and medals acquired by the player. This is for insertion into the medal slot 10. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the medal lending machine 2 controls the operation of the medal lending machine 2 (not particularly shown), the bill counter 22, the sand hopper 23 for paying out medals, and the like in the outer box 20. The control section is incorporated, and on the front side, a charging nozzle 30 is mounted as a charging transfer means capable of transferring a medal paid out by the sand hopper 23 to the adjacent slot machine 1.

(Outer box 20)
The outer box 20 is an exterior of the medal lending machine 2, and is provided with an insertion nozzle 30 in the center of the front. Above the insertion nozzle 30, two operation buttons, a payout switch 25 and a cancel switch 27, and a predetermined number of buttons are provided. A storage display unit 26 capable of digitally displaying these numerical values is provided.
Here, the storage display unit 26 displays a count value based on the detection signal of the medal detection unit 40, and displays the same number of medals as the medals discarded from the lower plate opening 18 of the slot machine 1. It is for handling as stored in 23. In addition, the payout switch 25 causes the sand hopper 23 to pay out a predetermined number (for example, 50, which is the maximum possible credit number) within a range of numerical values displayed on the storage display unit 26 by the operation. Is for. The cancel switch 27 clears the display of the storage display unit 26 to pay back the number of medals according to the value from the sand hopper 23.

Further, a bill insertion slot 21 for inserting bills is formed below the insertion nozzle 30.
(Bill counter 22)
The bill counter 22 is for reading a bill inserted from a bill insertion slot 21 provided on the lower front side of the outer box 20 and causing the sand hopper 23 to pay out a predetermined number of medals. The medal lending machine may have a coin insertion slot, a coin counter, a change dispensing slot, etc. in addition to the banknote insertion slot 21 and the banknote counter 22. Moreover, you may have a prepaid card slot and a card reader. Further, the bill insertion slot 21 may be located above the front of the outer box 20, and the bill counter 22 may be provided outside the medal lending machine 2 (for example, island facilities).

(Sand hopper 23)
The sand hopper 23 is a payout device for paying out medals. As shown in FIG. 2, the sand tank 23A for storing medals and the medals stored in the sand tank 23A one by one. A discharge disk 23B that can be discharged is provided. On the back side of the sand tank 23A, there is provided a replenishment receiving port 24 for receiving medals supplied from the supply conveyance path 52 of the medal circulation path 50. From this replenishment receiving port 24, replenishment medals can be received appropriately. It has become. The delivery disk 23B is rotatably supported by the drive motor 23C, and has a hole into which a medal can be inserted. The medals that have entered the hole are discharged one by one to the outside of the device as the disc rotates. The sand hopper 23 is provided with a sensor for counting discharged medals, and is configured to stop the drive motor 23C when a predetermined number of medals are paid out. In the illustrated example, the supply inlet 24 is provided on the back surface of the outer box 20, but the supply inlet 24 may be provided on the upper surface of the outer box 20.

Further, the sand hopper 23 is provided with an empty sensor 91 (see FIG. 1) that detects that the medal stored in the sand tank 23A has become equal to or less than a specified amount. The empty sensor 91 is, for example, an energization sensor that contacts and energizes a medal in the sand tank 23A. When the medal falls below a specified amount, the contact with the medal is lost and the power is cut off. It is something to detect. Then, the detection signal of the empty sensor 91 is transmitted to the control unit 90 of the medal circulation system of the island facility described later.
Although not particularly illustrated, the sand hopper 23 may be provided with an overflow sensor that detects that the number of medals stored in the sand tank 23A exceeds a specified amount.

(Input nozzle 30)
The insertion nozzle 30 is an input and transfer means for transferring medals paid out from the sand hopper 23 directly to the medal insertion port 10 of the slot machine 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the insertion nozzle 30 is an arm-shaped transfer pipe projecting from the front side of the outer box 20, and the medal discharged from the medal discharge portion of the feeding disk 23 </ b> B of the sand hopper 23 is one side. Is received from one end opening 301 (see FIG. 5), transferred one by one through a tube having a rectangular cross section, and a medal discharged from the other end opening 302 (see FIG. 4) is inserted into the slot machine 1 It is transferred to the side transfer passage 12 of the mouth 10.

Further, the injection nozzle 30 is formed so as to be rotatable integrally with the delivery disk 23B of the sand hopper 23 and the drive motor 23C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical movable part 23D is rotatably attached to a sand hopper 23 below a sand tank 23A, and a feed disc 23B and a drive motor 23C are attached to the movable part 23D. Is fixed. Further, the insertion nozzle 30 is fixed to the delivery disk 23B so that one end opening 301 communicates with the medal discharge part of the delivery disk 23B. Then, when the injection nozzle 30 is pushed in the horizontal direction, the movable portion 23D rotates, and the injection nozzle 30 can be rotated in the horizontal direction.
When it is desired to directly insert medals from the medal lending machine 2 into the slot machine 1, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the end 30A of the insertion nozzle 30 and the side transfer passage 12 are shown. If the side end portion is in contact, the medal discharged from the end opening 301 is transferred to the slit of the side transfer passage 12.

On the other hand, when the front door 13 of the slot machine 1 is opened, when the medal paid out from the sand hopper 23 is not inserted into the slot machine 1 or when the medal stored in the medal lending machine 2 is paid out. 2, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 and the solid line in FIG. 4, the insertion nozzle 30 is rotated in the direction in which the end 30 </ b> A is separated from the side transfer passage 12 (medal lending machine 2 side). Retreat from the inlet 10.
When canceling the stored medals, the cancel nozzle 27 is operated after turning the insertion nozzle 30 to the retracted position, and the medals discharged from the end 30A of the insertion nozzle 30 can be removed with a palm or a medal container. Just take it. Since the insertion nozzle 30 rotates integrally with the delivery disk 23B, the medal discharged from the delivery disk 23B by driving the drive motor 23C can be received from the end opening 301 even when moved to the retracted position. There is no misalignment between the discharge portion of the delivery disk 23B and the end opening 301.

(Another example of medal lending machine 2)
By the way, with respect to the medal lending machine 2, as shown in FIG. 6, a medal to be paid out from the sand hopper 23 is provided in the lower front portion of the outer box 20, with a replenishment port 29 for stored medals canceled based on the operation of the cancel switch 27 A discharge passage 28 may be provided for transferring the water to the refund port 29. In this case, by operating the cancel switch 27, the feeding disk 23B is formed so as to rotate reversely, and the medal discharging portion when the rotating reversely rotates and the discharging passage 28 are connected. When formed in this way, it is not necessary to move the insertion nozzle 30 at the time of cancellation, and if the medal container D is installed below the refund port 29, there is no problem even if a large number of medals are canceled at once.

Alternatively, when the cancel switch 27 is operated, a medal is not paid out from the sand hopper 23, and a receipt in which the numerical value displayed on the storage display unit 26 is displayed as a number or a barcode is issued from a predetermined receipt issuing port. You may make it do. And you may enable it to exchange prizes with this receipt.
(Operation of medal lending machine 2)
Next, the outline of the payout control based on the medal count among the operations of the medal lending machine 2 having the above configuration will be described based on the flow of FIG.
First, in step 100 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not there is medal detection, that is, whether or not the medal detection signal of the medal detection unit 40 has been received. If there is no medal detection, the process returns to step 100. If there is medal detection, the process proceeds to the next step 101.

In step 101, the medal detection signal is counted and the display of the storage display unit 26 is added. The detection signal is counted by counting means provided in the control unit of the medal lending machine 2. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 102.
In step 102, it is determined whether or not the payout switch 25 is turned on. If the payout switch 25 is turned on, the process proceeds to the next step 103.
In step 103, a predetermined number, for example, 50 medals are paid out from the sand hopper 23, and the number displayed on the storage display unit 26 is subtracted from the number of medals. Then, the process proceeds to next Step 104.

In step 104, it is determined whether or not the display of the storage display unit 26 has become “0”. When the storage display is “0”, the payout control based on the count of the medal detection unit 40 is terminated. On the other hand, when the storage display is not “0”, that is, when it is “1” or more, the process proceeds to the next step 105.
If the payout switch 25 is not turned on in step 102, the process skips steps 103 and 104 and proceeds to step 105.
In step 105, it is determined whether or not the cancel switch 27 is turned on. If the cancel switch 27 is not turned ON, the process proceeds to the next step 106.

In step 106, it is determined whether or not there is medal detection. If there is no medal detection, the process returns to step 102. On the other hand, if there is medal detection, the process proceeds to the next step 107.
In step 107, the medal detection signal is counted and the display of the storage display unit 26 is added. Then, the process returns to step 102.
If the cancel switch 27 is turned on in step 105, the process proceeds to step 108.
In step 108, the number of medals displayed on the storage display unit 26 are paid back from the sand hopper 23, and the display on the storage display unit 26 is set to “0”. Then, the payout control based on the medal count is finished.

(Game system)
Next, a gaming system using the slot machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 formed as described above will be described.
The gaming system according to the present embodiment includes a medal tank 60, a medal circulation path 50, and a medal circulation control unit 90 for controlling medal circulation within the island facility.
(Medal tank 60)
The medal tank 60 is a medal storage unit provided for each island facility of the amusement hall. Although not shown, the medal tank 60 includes a feeding device for sending out a medal received from the medal inflow unit 60A from the medal outflow unit 60B. .

  In addition, the medal tank 60 detects an empty sensor 92 that detects that the amount of medals stored in the medal is less than a specified amount, and conversely detects that the amount of medals stored in the inside exceeds a specified amount. An overflow sensor 93 (see FIG. 1) is provided. The empty sensor 92 can be the same as the empty sensor 91 of the sand hopper 23. Further, the overflow sensor 93 can be an energization sensor that detects the fullness of the medal tank 60 by energizing the medal in contact with the medal when the medal exceeds a specified amount. Then, the detection signals of the empty sensor 92 and the overflow sensor 93 are transmitted to the control unit 90 of the medal circulation system of the island facility described later.

(Medal circulation 50)
The medal circulation path 50 is a path through which medals can be conveyed by, for example, a lift conveyor or a belt conveyor, and takes in medals discharged from the lower plate opening 18 and the overflow container 120 of each slot machine 1 as shown in FIG. It has discharge conveyance paths 51 and 53 and a supply conveyance path 52 for supplying medals to the sand hopper 23 of each medal lending machine 2.
The discharge transport paths 51 and 53 are paths for transferring (dropping) medals to a recovery path 50A provided in the lower part of the island facility (below the slot machine 1). The recovery path 50A is a medal tank 60. Connected to the medal inflow portion 60A. The supply transport path 52 is a passage for receiving medals from a supply path 50B provided in the upper part of the island facility (above the slot machine 1 etc.). The supply path 50B is connected to the medal outflow portion 60B of the medal tank 60. It is connected.

Then, medals discharged from the discharge conveyance path 51 (that is, medals dropped from the lower plate opening 18) and medals discharged from the discharge conveyance path 53 (that is, medals overflowed from the hopper unit 110) pass through the collection path 50A. The medals collected in the medal tank 60 and stored in the medal tank 60 are supplied to the medal lending machine 2 from the supply conveyance path 52 through the supply path 50B based on the control of the medal circulation control unit 90 described later. The
(Medal circulation control unit 90)
The medal circulation control unit 90 controls the operation of the feeding device for the medal circulation path 50 and the medal tank 60 for each island based on the detection signals of the empty sensors 91, 92 and the overflow sensor 93 provided in the sand hopper 23 and the medal tank 60. And a control unit for causing a predetermined error notification to be performed. The medal circulation control unit 90 can be provided, for example, in a hall computer that manages a game hall.

Specifically, the medal circulation control unit 90 operates the collection path 50A and discharges it from the discharge transport paths 51 and 53 during the store business hours, that is, when the slot machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 are in operation. The medals are transported to the medal tank 60.
When a detection signal is received from the empty sensor 91 of the sand hopper 23, the supply transport path 52 provided according to the sand hopper 23 is set in a medal receiving state (for example, the shutter is opened), and the feeding device and The supply path 50B is operated to supply medals in the medal tank 60 to the sand hopper 23. In this case, no particular notification is given, and replenishment is automatically performed when the number of medals held by the medal lending machine 2 decreases. Further, if the number of medals to be replenished is set in advance according to the capacity of the sand tank 23A of the sand hopper 23, the sand hopper 23 will not become full.

On the other hand, if a detection signal is received from the empty sensor 91 of the sand hopper 23 and a detection signal is received from the empty sensor 92 of the medal tank 60, a predetermined empty error is issued and the game store clerk is sent to the medal tank 60. Call attention to replenishing medals. Further, when a detection signal is received from the overflow sensor 93 of the medal tank 60, a predetermined overflow error is issued to alert the game store clerk to remove the medal from the medal tank 60. For the empty error and the overflow error, for example, a predetermined notification lamp provided in the island facility is turned on to notify the hall.
By the way, in the medal circulation system according to the present embodiment, medals are supplied only to the medal tank 60 to the sand hopper 23, whereas the medal tank 60 is filled with medals overflowing from the slot machine 1 and the lower plate opening 18. Accepts both medals falling from. And since the sand hopper 23 has to pay out the medal counted in the storage display section 26 in addition to the payout by inserting the banknotes, the sand hopper 23 is immediately discharged due to excessive payout, and the medal tank 60 is accepted. It is assumed that it will become full immediately after being excessive.

Therefore, as another control method, when the detection signal of the overflow sensor 93 of the medal tank 60 is received, the feeding device and the supply path 50B are operated to supply the medal in the medal tank 60 to the sand hopper 23. May be. If formed in this way, the sand hopper 23 is not easily emptied, and the medal tank 60 is not easily filled, and the frequency of occurrence of errors can be reduced.
Further, in this case, an overflow sensor may be provided in the sand hopper 23, and an overflow error may be generated when the detection signals of both the overflow sensor 93 and the overflow sensor of the sand hopper 23 are received. This is effective when a medal is brought from a slot machine 1 or a medal lending machine 2 on another island in a game arcade where so-called table movement is not prohibited.

If a medal cleaning device for cleaning medals sent out from the medal tank 60 is provided in the medal transfer path by the medal circulation path 50, the medals supplied to the medal lending machine 2 can be cleaned. Is preferred.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a bill is inserted into the medal lending machine 2 at the start of the game, the medal is directly inserted into the slot machine 1, so that the player does not have to manually insert the medal. Can be stored in the medal lending machine 2 simply by dropping from the lower plate opening 18 or discarding it to the lower plate opening 18 without having to transfer the medal stored in the lower plate 15 to the medal container. Be treated. In addition, when the paid-out medals are re-inserted into the slot machine 1, the automatic operation can be performed by simply pressing the pay-out switch 25 of the medal lending machine 2 without using the hand from the lower plate 15 to insert it into the medal slot 10. Accordingly, the medal is transferred to the medal insertion slot 10. Furthermore, even after the game is over, it is not necessary to transfer the medals stored in the lower plate 15 to the medal container. Therefore, the player can play the game almost without touching the medals, and the burden on the player can be reduced.

Further, by letting all the medals on the lower plate 15 flow down to the lower plate opening 18, the number of medals acquired by the player can be accurately known by looking at the numerical value displayed on the storage display unit 26. In this way, after the medal is returned by the cancel switch 27, when the medal is measured with the jet counter or the like of the store, it is possible to see the consistency with the numerical value related to the display. In this case, if the player desires, a numerical value related to the display of the storage display unit 26 may be printed out by operating a predetermined switch, for example.
In addition, since the medals stored in the medal tank 60 are circulated by the medal circulation path 50, there is no need to replenish medals to the medal lending machine 2, and the burden on the store clerk can be reduced.

The insertion nozzle 30 is not limited to the above-described tubular passage that is rotatable to the left and right. Any insertion nozzle 30 can be used as long as it can guide medals paid out from the medal lending machine 2 to the medal insertion slot 10 of the slot machine 1. You may have a structure. For example, it may be formed so that the tip of the nozzle is separated from the medal slot 10 by turning up and down, or it can be folded or deformed flexibly. Alternatively, a direction changing device for changing the direction of the medal may be provided in the middle of the medal transfer path of the insertion nozzle 30.
Further, the shape of the medal insertion slot 10 of the slot machine 1 is not limited to that shown in the figure, and any configuration can be used as long as the medal discharged from the tip of the insertion nozzle 30 can be received. Good.

(Other forms of storage input opening and medal detection unit 40)
By the way, the lower tray opening 18 as a storage charging opening may be formed as shown in FIG. That is, a step 15a formed at a position higher than the bottom surface is provided at the right end of the lower plate 15, a lower plate opening 18 is provided in the step 15a, and a medal payout port 17 is provided at the position of the step 15a. A shutter 150 that can freely open and close the dish opening 18 is provided. The shutter 150 is formed to be slidable left and right by a knob 151 provided on the front side of the lower plate 15. Further, the medal detection unit 40 is provided on the front side of the medal lending machine 2, and the lower plate opening 18 and the medal detection unit 40 are connected by a movable passage 70 that is rotatable in the horizontal direction.

In this way, when it is desired to store medals in the lower plate 15, if the lower plate opening 18 is closed by the shutter 150, the medals paid out from the medal payout port 17 are inclined down from the step portion 15a. Move to the left side of the plate 15 and when the lower plate 15 is full, open the shutter 150 and let the medal paid out from the medal payout port 17 flow down to the medal detection unit 40 through the lower plate opening 18 and the movable passage 70. Can do. Further, when the front door 13 of the slot machine 1 is opened, the movable passage 70 may be retracted as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
Furthermore, the storage opening may not necessarily be provided in the lower plate 15. That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, a notch 15b is provided on the right side wall of the lower plate 15, the front bottom of the medal lending machine 2 is extended to the side surface of the lower plate 15, and the tip of the extended portion In addition, a sand receiving port 80 as a storage charging opening is formed at a position lower than the bottom surface of the lower plate 15. The medal stored in the lower plate 15 may be formed so as to fall from the notch 15b to the sand receiving port 80. Note that a step portion 15a shown in FIG. 7A may be provided, and the sand receiving port 80 may be positioned below the step portion 15a. In this case, the notch 15b may be formed to be freely opened and closed by a shutter.

Incidentally, in the above case, the medal detection unit 40 may not be an accessory device of the medal lending machine 2. In short, the detection signal of the medal detection unit 40 may be output to the counting means of the control unit of the medal lending machine 2.
(Second embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the medal lending machine 2 is provided with a batch loading device 3 as a loading transfer means. That is, in the second embodiment, medals that are paid out to the batch insertion device 3 are not inserted into the slot machine 1 directly from the sand hopper 23 via the insertion nozzle 30 but are operated by the player. Is transferred to the slot machine 1. Since the basic configuration of the slot machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description of the overlapping parts is omitted, and the features of the present embodiment Only explained.

(Explanation of drawings)
9 to 11 are views showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the slot machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the batch loading device 3, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the batch loading device 3.
(Medal lending machine 2)
As in the first embodiment, the medal lending machine 2 in the present embodiment includes a bill counter 22, a sand hopper 23 for paying out medals, and a medal lending machine 2 (not shown). The control part for controlling the operation | movement of is built. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, on the front side of the outer box 20, a collective throwing device 3 that can transfer medals thrown by the player or medals paid out by the sand hopper 23 to the adjacent slot machine 1 is attached. It is what.

The sand hopper 23 has a tank for storing medals, and a delivery disk capable of discharging medals stored in the tank one by one, although not shown in particular. A replenishment receiving port 24 for receiving medals supplied from the supply conveyance path 52 of the medal circulation path 50 is provided. Then, medals are paid out to the inside of the batch insertion device 3 from a medal discharge section provided below.
(Batch input device 3)
The batch insertion device 3 is a device that has a batch insertion opening 31 and a built-in medal feeder 35 and that can insert medals from the medal feeder 35 into the medal slot 10 of the slot machine 1 through the nozzle portion 39. Thus, the medal to be paid out from the sand hopper 23 and the medal to be inserted by the player through the batch insertion opening 31 are inserted and transferred to the medal slot 10 of the slot machine 1.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the batch loading device 3 is a box-shaped device protruding from the front of the outer box 20 of the medal lending machine 2, and is a batch loading that opens upward. An opening 31, a medal feeding device 35 built under the batch insertion port 31, and a nozzle portion 39 for transferring medals sent from the medal feeding device 35 to the medal insertion port 10 of the slot machine 1 are provided. .
The collective throwing opening 31 is an opening through which medals can be thrown in a lump, and a partition bar is provided near the center of the opening so that the randomly placed medals are aligned in one direction. ing. A space in which medals can be temporarily stored is formed below the batch insertion opening 31 as shown in FIG. 10. The medals stored in this storage space are placed in the nozzle portion 39 by the medal feeding device 35. It is sent out one by one. The storage space has a volume capable of storing at least a fixed number (50) of medals paid out by the sand hopper 23.

  The medal feeding device 35 includes a pair of rollers 35A and 35A, a conveyor belt 35B stretched over the rollers 35A and 35A, and two medals larger than the thickness of one medal above the front side of the conveyor belt 35B. The reverse rotation roller 35C installed with a gap smaller than the thickness, the drive motor 35D for rotating the rollers 35A and 35A, and the rotation of the motor shaft of the drive motor 35D are transmitted to the rollers 35A and 35A. It has a transmission means (not shown, for example, a gear or a belt). Then, the medals on the upper surface of the conveyor belt 35B are sent one by one forward (left side in FIG. 11), and the medals located above the conveyor belt 35B and behind the reverse rotation roller 35C are moved backward (FIG. 11). To the right). The front side of the conveyor belt 35B is close to a medal receiving port of a medal passage 39B of the nozzle unit 39, which will be described later. It is.

Here, the medal feeding device 35 operates based on operations of a drive switch 32 and a cancel switch 33 (see FIG. 9) provided on the front side of the batch insertion device 3. That is, when the drive switch 32 is pressed, the drive motor 35D is driven in a direction in which the upper surface of the conveyor belt 35B moves forward, and when the drive switch 32 is stopped being pressed, the drive of the drive motor 35D is stopped. Further, when the cancel switch 33 is pressed, the drive motor 35D is reversely driven for a certain time, so that the upper surface of the transport belt 35B moves in the back direction.
A payout passage 34 capable of receiving medals paid out from the sand hopper 23 is formed inside the batch insertion opening 31, and a discharge device 37 is provided below the payout passage 34. Here, the payout passage 34 is a passage that communicates with the medal discharge portion of the sand hopper 23 and guides the payout medal to the storage space. The discharging device 37 is for moving the opening / closing plate 37B in the vertical direction by the solenoid 37A and discharging the medal in the storage space downward. Further, a cancel opening 36 for dropping foreign matter discharged from the medal feeder 40 or the cancel medal is formed below the discharge device 37, and the cancel medal and other fallen objects are formed below the cancel opening 36. A saucer 38 is provided to receive the catch.

  The bottom surface of the payout passage 34 is inclined downward from the rear side toward the front side, and the front end portion of the inclination is formed to be opened and closed by an opening / closing plate 37B of the discharge device 37. When the opening / closing plate 37B is closed, the cancel opening 36 is closed, and medals are stored below the batch insertion opening 31. The opening / closing plate 37B is rotated downward when the cancel switch 33 is operated. When the opening / closing plate 37B is opened, the cancellation opening 36 is opened, and the internal space or the medal feeding is performed. Foreign matter such as dust and medals on the conveyor belt 35B of the apparatus 35 fall from the cancel opening 36. At this time, the transport belt 35B moves in the direction opposite to the medal transfer direction, so that medals and the like can be discharged efficiently.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the nozzle portion 39 is a medal transfer passage having a reverse L-shape when viewed from the front, and has a medal passage 39B formed therein so as to transfer a medal received from above to the side. It has become. The position of the end portion 39A of the nozzle portion 39 and the position of the side end face of the side transfer passage 12 of the medal insertion port 10 of the slot machine 1 are matched so that the medal is inserted into the upper insertion opening 11. This is the same as the embodiment. In the present embodiment, the side end portion of the side transfer passage 12 extends to the side surface of the front door 13, and between the end portion 39A and the side end surface of the side transfer passage 12, There is enough space for medals to jump over. For this reason, there is no problem in opening and closing the front door 13 of the slot machine 1 without moving the nozzle portion 39.

As shown in FIG. 10, a payout switch 25 is provided above the batch loading device 3, and a storage display section 26 is provided above the batch loading opening 31. In the present embodiment, the cancel switch 27 is not provided in the medal lending machine 2. When canceling medals stored in the medal lending machine 2, the payout switch 25 is operated, and then the cancel switch 33 of the batch insertion mechanism 3 is operated.
(Operation of medal lending machine 2)
Next, in the medal lending machine 2 having the above configuration, a medal transfer process by the batch insertion device 3 will be described.

In the initial state, as shown in FIG. 11, in the batch loading device 3, the opening / closing plate 37 </ b> B closes the cancel opening 36. Then, when a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 21 of the medal lending machine 2, the sand hopper 23 starts to operate and pays out the number of medals corresponding to the inserted amount. The payout medal is dropped and stored so as to be stacked on the upper surface of the opening / closing plate 37B via the payout passage 34. Further, when medals are inserted from the collective insertion opening 31, the medals are dropped and stored so as to be stacked on the upper surface of the rear portion of the transport belt 35B and the upper surface of the opening / closing plate 37B.
When the medal discarded from the lower plate opening 18 of the slot machine 1 is stored in the medal lending machine 2, that is, when a numerical value of “1” or more is displayed on the storage display unit 26, When the payout switch 25 is operated, the sand hopper 23 is actuated to pay out a predetermined number of medals, and these medals are similarly stored in the batch insertion device 3.

  Next, when the drive switch 32 is operated, the medal feeder 35 starts operating. That is, the drive motor 35D is driven to rotate forward, the roller 35A rotates, and the transport belt 35B starts moving forward. Of the medals transferred forward by the conveyor belt 35B, the medals on the upper surface of the conveyor belt 35B pass through the gap between the conveyor belt 35B and the lower surface of the reverse rotation roller 35C, one by one, and the injection nozzle It is transferred to 30 medal passages 30B. On the other hand, the medals overlapping above the conveyor belt 35B are kicked back to the upper rear by contacting the reverse rotation roller 35C. The medals sent out from the medal feeder 35 are discharged from the opening of the end portion 30A through the medal passage 30B, and inserted into the upper insertion opening 11 through the side transfer passage 12.

  By the way, when the operation of the medal feeding device 35 is stopped (when the hand is released from the drive switch 32) before the transfer of all medals inserted from the batch insertion opening 31 or the payout passage 34 is completed, the conveyor belt 35B The medal remains on the top surface of the. In this case, if the remaining medals are not to be inserted into the slot machine 1 due to the end of the game or the like, the cancel switch 33 is operated. Then, the solenoid 37A of the discharge device 37 is activated to open the opening / closing plate 37B, and the drive motor 35D of the medal feeder 35 is driven in reverse. As a result, the medal on the upper surface of the conveyor belt 35B moves rearward and drops downward from the cancel opening 36 by opening the opening / closing plate 37B. Similarly, medals stored inside fall from the cancel opening 36 in the same manner.

When canceling the stored medals of the medal lending machine 2 (medals related to the display of the storage display unit 26), the payout switch 25 is operated to pay out 50 medals, and then the cancel switch 33 is operated. Thus, the medals inside the batch loading device 3 are discharged.
Note that when the occurrence of a clogged medal is detected while the medal feeding device 35 is in operation (during insertion of a medal into the slot machine 1), a predetermined alarm is issued and the drive of the drive motor 35D is stopped. At the same time, the discharge device 37 is operated and the drive motor 35D is driven in the reverse direction so that the medal sandwiched between the transport belt 35B and the reverse rotation roller 35C is returned to the direction opposite to the medal transfer direction and discharged from the cancel opening 36. Good. A clogged medal can be recognized by a rotation detection sensor provided on the drive motor 35D and the roller 35A.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the player can insert medals into the collective insertion opening 31, it is possible to insert the medals into the slot machine 1 in an amount desired by the player. In addition, the medals paid out from the medal lending machine 2 are temporarily held in the batch insertion device 3 and then inserted into the slot machine 1 by the operation of the drive switch 32. Even in this case, the number of medals inserted into the slot machine 1 can be adjusted by the player.
In the present invention, it is not necessary to provide the sand hopper 23 for storing medals in the medal lending machine 2. In this case, as a payout device for paying out rental medals, a predetermined number of medals are taken into the outer box 20 from the medal circulation path 50 based on the operation of the bill insertion or payout switch 25, and the insertion nozzle 30 or A device for sending out to the batch loading device 3 may be provided. Even in such a case, the medals discarded from the lower plate 15 of the slot machine 1 are handled as those stored in the medal lending machine 2 and paid out from the medal lending machine 2 by operating the payout switch 25. Is no different.

Further, in the present invention, the hopper unit 110 for storing medals in the slot machine 1 may not be provided. In this case as well, as described above, when a medal is paid out by winning or the like, a device for taking a predetermined number of medals from the medal circulation path 50 into the housing 100 and discharging it from the medal payout port 17 is provided. Just do it. Then, medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 10 may be collected in the medal circulation path 50 through the discharge conveyance path 53 after passing through the medal selector.
Further, the medal circulation system does not necessarily have to be provided for each island facility, and a plurality of (for example, three or five) medal tanks 60 for storing medals thrown from the lower plate opening 18 of the slot machine 1 are provided. The medals may circulate in the range of the slot machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a medal circulation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine and a medal lending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the inside of the housing of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is an expansion perspective view of a medal insertion slot and an insertion nozzle. It is 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a front view of a sand hopper and a charging nozzle. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the slot machine and the medal lending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a flowchart which shows the outline of an action | operation of a medal lending machine. It is 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a perspective view which shows the other example of a storage insertion opening and a medal | token detection part. It is 2nd embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a perspective view of a slot machine and a medal lending machine. It is 2nd embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is an expansion perspective view of a batch insertion apparatus and a medal insertion slot. It is 2nd embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is sectional drawing of a batch loading apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 slot machine (game machine)
10 Medal slot 11 Upper slot
12 Side transfer passage 13 Front door
14 Symbol display window 15 Lower plate
16 Operation section 17 Medals outlet
18 Lower plate opening (storage opening)
2 medal lending machine
20 Outer box 21 Bill slot
22 Bill counter 23 Sand hopper (dispensing device)
24 Supply inlet (Supply receiving part) 25 Dispensing switch
26 Storage indicator 27 Cancel switch
28 Discharge passage 29 Refund port
30 Input nozzle (input transfer means)
3 Batch input device (input transfer means)
31 Collective opening 32 Drive switch
33 Cancel switch 35 Medal feeder
36 Cancel opening 37 Ejector
38 Pan 39 Nozzle
40 Medals detection unit
50 medal circulation path 50A recovery path
50B Supply path 51 Discharge transfer path
52 Supply conveyance path 53 Discharge conveyance path
60 Medal tank (medal storage device) 70 Movable passage
80 Sand receiving port (storage input opening)
90 Medal circulation controller 91 Empty sensor
92 Empty sensor 93 Overflow sensor
100 housing 110 hopper unit
120 Overflow container 130 Mounting point

Claims (6)

A gaming machine having a medal slot and a medal payout slot provided below the medal slot;
A medal lending machine that is disposed adjacent to the gaming machine and includes at least a payout device for paying out a medal to be lent to a player, and an insertion transfer means for guiding a medal paid out from the payout device to a medal slot of the gaming machine. When,
A storage input opening formed at a position lower than the medal payout opening of the gaming machine and allowing a player to insert a medal;
A medal storage device provided at a predetermined place in the game hall;
A game system comprising a medal circulation path having a collection path for allowing medals to flow into the medal storage apparatus and a supply path for sending medals from the medal storage apparatus,
A medal detection unit capable of detecting medals inserted into the storage input opening one by one,
The medal lending machine includes a counting unit that counts a detection signal of the medal detection unit, a storage display unit that displays a number based on a count value of the counting unit, and a player operation of the storage display unit. A subtracting display is provided, and a payout switch for paying out the number of medals subtracted from the display from the payout device and a replenishment receiving unit for taking in medals from the medal circulation path are provided,
The medal lending machine, based on the operation of the payout switch, allows a predetermined number of medals to be limited to the number displayed on the storage display unit, and the medal of the adjacent gaming machine via the insertion transfer means. The medal stored in the medal storage device can be received from the replenishment receiving unit and can be inserted into the insertion port,
The medal circulation path is capable of transferring medals thrown into a plurality of storage input openings by the recovery path and medals thrown from medal insertion openings of a plurality of gaming machines to a medal storage device, and by the supply path A gaming system, wherein medals stored in a medal storage device are formed so as to be transferred to a plurality of medal lending machines.   The gaming machine has an internal storage part for storing medals inserted from a medal slot, and the overflowed medals are transferred to the collection path when the internal storage part is full. The gaming system according to claim 1.   The medal lending machine includes a payout storage unit for storing medals to be paid out from the payout device, and the payout storage unit includes a decrease detection unit that detects that the internal medal has decreased to a predetermined amount or less. 3. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein when the decrease detection unit detects a decrease in medals, the medal is supplied from the medal storage device to the payout storage unit.   The medal storage device includes a full detection unit that detects that the number of internal medals has increased beyond a predetermined amount. When the full detection unit detects a full medal, the medal storage device receives a medal from the medal storage device. The game system according to claim 3, wherein the game system is supplied.   The payout storage unit includes a full detection unit that detects that the number of internal medals has increased beyond a predetermined amount, the full detection unit detects a full medal, and the full detection unit of the medal storage device is full. 5. A gaming system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a full notification is performed when detected.   The medal storage device includes a decrease detection unit that detects that the internal medal has decreased below a predetermined amount, the decrease detection unit detects a decrease in medals, and the decrease detection unit in the payout storage unit The gaming system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein when a decrease is detected, a medal-free notification is performed.

Images