JP2010005294A - Replenishment controller of game medium dispenser, and game medium dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a replenishment controller of a game medium dispenser, which can suppress the spread of damages when an illegal action was executed to the game medium dispenser, and to provide a game medium dispenser having the controller. <P>SOLUTION: The replenishment controller 40 controls to replenish game media M to the game medium dispenser 2 which dispenses the game media M on the basis of a dispense request R of the game media M used in a game machine. The controller has a near-end sensor 36 which can detect that the number of game media M remaining in the game medium dispenser 2 is less than a predetermined number, an accumulation counting section 43 which counts the accumulation number of game media M dispensed on the basis of the dispense request R, and a replenishment indication section 47 which outputs a replenishment indication for replenishing the game media M to the game medium dispenser 2 when the near-end sensor 36 detects that the remaining number is less than the predetermined number and the accumulation number obtained with the accumulation counting section 43 is equal to or more than the predetermined number. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a replenishment control device that controls replenishment of game media to a game media lending machine that lends game media used in a game machine. The present invention also relates to a game medium lending machine provided with the supply control device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a device for supplying game media to a game media lending machine that lends game media used in a game machine. The replenishing device of Patent Document 1 automatically replenishes game media in the game medium lending machine when it detects that the remaining amount of game media stored in the game medium lending machine is less than a predetermined amount.
JP 2006-20752 A

  In the replenishing device of Patent Document 1, when the remaining amount of game media is less than a predetermined amount, the game media is automatically replenished, so that the game media is illegally extracted from the game media lending machine and the remaining game media remains. Even if the amount is less than the predetermined amount, the game medium lending machine is replenished. For this reason, when the illegal act is repeated by a so-called Goto teacher, not only the game media remaining in the game media lending machine but also newly supplied game media are illegally extracted, and the damage increases.

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention is provided with a replenishment control device for a game media lending machine capable of suppressing the expansion of damage when an illegal act is performed on the game media lending device, and the same. It aims at providing a game media rental machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, a replenishment control device according to the present invention controls replenishment of the game medium to a game medium lending machine that lends the game medium based on a request for lending a game medium used in a game machine. A replenishment control device, based on the occurrence of the lending request, and a residual amount detection unit capable of detecting that the residual amount of the gaming medium remaining in the gaming medium lending machine is less than a predetermined amount; The cumulative counting unit that counts the cumulative number of the game media that are lent out and the cumulative amount obtained by the cumulative counting unit that is detected by the residual amount detecting unit that the residual amount is less than the predetermined amount A replenishment instructing unit that issues a replenishment instruction to replenish the game medium lending machine when the number exceeds a predetermined number.

  According to the replenishment control device according to the present invention, in addition to the condition that the remaining amount of the game medium remaining in the game medium lending machine is less than the predetermined amount, the supply of the game medium to the game medium lending machine is in accordance with the lending request. This is performed when the condition that the accumulated number of rented game media is equal to or greater than a predetermined number is satisfied. Therefore, game media lent out in the absence of a rent request, i.e., game media extracted from the game media lending machine due to fraudulent acts on the game medium lending machine is not cumulatively counted by the cumulative counting unit. Even if the remaining amount of game media in the game media lending machine becomes zero, no replenishment instruction is issued so that a new game medium is replenished to the game media lending machine. As a result, if there is a fraudulent act on the game media lending machine, the damage caused by the fraudulent act can be limited to only the game media stored in the game medium lending machine before the fraudulent act is performed. It is.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, after the game medium lending machine is replenished based on the replenishment instruction, the cumulative counting unit clears the cumulative number obtained before the replenishment is performed.

  The gaming medium rental machine according to the present invention controls a rental machine main body that rents the gaming medium based on a rental request for the gaming medium used in the gaming machine, and supplies the gaming medium to the rental machine main body. A replenishment control device, wherein the replenishment control device is capable of detecting that the remaining amount of the game medium remaining in the lending machine body is less than a predetermined amount; and A cumulative counting unit that counts the cumulative number of game media to be lent based on the occurrence of a rent request, and the residual amount detecting unit detects that the residual amount is less than the predetermined amount, and the cumulative count A replenishment instructing unit that issues a replenishment instruction to replenish game media to the lending machine body when the cumulative number obtained by the unit exceeds a predetermined number.

  According to the game media lending machine of the present invention, as described above, when there is a fraudulent act on the lending machine main body, the damage caused by the fraudulent action is at most before the fraudulent act is performed. It is possible to suppress only the game media stored in the lending machine main body.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lending machine main body receives the game medium hopper that allows an administrator to manually supply game media and the replenishment instruction from the replenishment instruction unit. And a replenishment notification unit for notifying the manager that the game medium needs to be replenished.

  According to this configuration, the replenishment control device can be applied when the rental machine main body is a so-called stand-alone type. In this case, the replenishment notifying unit is, for example, a lamp, and when the replenishment instruction is received, the replenishment notifying unit informs the administrator that replenishment is necessary by turning on or blinking.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lending request is generated based on the deposit to the lending machine body, and the number of game media to be lent for each deposit may be set. According to this configuration, since the number of game media lent out for each deposit is fixed, it is possible to easily obtain the cumulative number of game media lent out based on the occurrence of the rent request. The lending request may be generated based on a request from a gaming machine.

  In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, after the replenishment machine body is replenished based on the replenishment instruction, the cumulative counting unit clears the cumulative number obtained before the replenishment is performed. To do.

  Further, according to the present invention, the game medium lending machine having the above-described configuration and the game medium lending machine main body are automatically replenished with the game medium based on the replenishment instruction from the replenishment control device of the game medium lending machine. An automatic replenishment system may be configured by combining with an automatic replenishment device configured to be capable of the above. This automatic replenishment system can automatically replenish game media to the lending machine body by the automatic replenishment device while suppressing the spread of damage due to fraud.

  According to the replenishment control device and the game medium lending machine according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the expansion of damage when an illegal act is performed on the game medium lending machine.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an automatic replenishment system to which the replenishment control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. The automatic replenishment system 1 is arranged between game machines such as slot machines in a game hall and automatically distributes game media (in this embodiment, medals) to game media rental machines that form so-called islands together with the game machines. It is a replenishment system. The automatic replenishment system 1 includes a game medium lending machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a lending machine) 2 that lends a medal M (FIG. 4) to a player, and an automatic replenishment device 3 that automatically replenishes the lending machine 2 with a medal M. Consists of.

  The lending machine 2 stores a medal M, and lends the medal M based on the medal M lending request R, and a replenishment control device 40 that controls the replenishment of the medal M to the lending machine main body 20. Including. The replenishment control device 40 is connected to the management computer 5, and the manager of the game arcade sets conditions regarding medal replenishment and the like for the replenishment control device 40 by the management computer 5. It should be noted that a plurality of lending machines 2 may be connected to the management computer 5 so that conditions relating to medal replenishment and the like may be set for the replenishment control device 40 of each lending machine 2.

  The automatic replenishing device 3 is arranged one by one for each island, and as a basic component, a medal storage unit (not shown) for storing a medal M for replenishing the lending machine body 20, and a lending machine from the medal storage unit An unillustrated medal transport unit including a conveyor or the like that transports the medal M to the main body 20 is provided. The automatic replenishing device 3 replenishes the lending machine body 20 with the medal M based on the replenishment instruction signal S2 output from the replenishment control device 40. Note that the automatic replenishing device 3 is configured to be able to replenish medals M to gaming machines arranged on the same island.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lending machine main body 20 has a vertically long, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and three upper front panels 21, middle front panels 22, and lower front panels 23 that can be opened and closed are provided on the front surface thereof. Have. The upper front panel 21 is provided with a bill insertion slot 25 into which bills are inserted by the player. In the lending machine body 20 corresponding to the positions of the middle front panel 22 and the lower front panel 23, the payout for paying out a predetermined number of medals M to the player based on the medal lending request R generated by inserting the banknotes. A device 30 (FIG. 3) is arranged. In addition, a nozzle chute 24 is provided below the lower front panel 23, and the medal M paid out from the payout device 30 is guided to a tray provided in an adjacent gaming machine by the nozzle chute 24. The

  Furthermore, a money handling unit 28 and a payout control unit 26 (FIG. 4) are provided inside the lending machine body 20. The money handling unit 28 determines whether or not there is a medal lending request R due to the insertion of banknotes, and outputs a payout instruction signal to the payout control unit 26 when it is determined that there is a lending request R. When the payout control unit 26 receives the payout instruction signal from the money handling unit 28, the payout control unit 26 operates the payout device 30 to pay out a predetermined number of medals M. Further, the payout control unit 26 outputs a count instruction signal to a count sensor 34 (FIG. 3) described later provided in the payout device 30 to count the number of medals M paid out from the payout device 30. The upper front panel 21 may be provided with a coin insertion slot into which coins such as 500 yen coins and IC coins can be inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the payout device 30 pays a predetermined number of hoppers 31 that store medals M and medals M that are provided below the hopper 31 and stored in the hoppers 31 in accordance with instructions from the payout control unit 26. The dispenser 32 has a dispensing machine 32 and a counting sensor 34 disposed in the dispensing machine 32.

  When the money handling unit 28 determines that there is a medal lending request R due to the insertion of banknotes, the counting sensor 34 determines the number of medals M to be paid out from the payer 32 based on the lending request R from the payout control unit 26. When the predetermined number of medals M are paid out from the payer 32 based on the lending request R, a signal S12 is output to the cumulative counting unit 43 (FIG. 4) described later.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the lending machine 2 and shows a signal transmission path related to medal replenishment in the automatic replenishment system 1. The supply control device 40 includes, as its functions, a near-end sensor (residual amount detection unit) 36, a cumulative counting unit 43, a supply determination unit 45, and a supply instruction unit 47.

  The near-end sensor 36 is composed of a pair of electrode portions 33a and 33b arranged in the hopper 31 of the payout device 30, and indicates that the remaining amount of medals M remaining in the hopper 31 is smaller than a predetermined amount. It is possible to detect. Specifically, when a predetermined amount or more of medals M are stored in the hopper 31, the electrode portions 33a and 33b are in a conductive state (closed state) via the medals M. Based on this conduction state, it is detected that the remaining amount of medals M is a predetermined amount or more. On the other hand, when the medal M in the hopper 31 is paid out to some extent by the dispenser 32 based on the lending request R, and the medal M in the hopper 31 becomes smaller than a predetermined amount, the electrode portions 33a and 33b are in a non-conductive state (opened). State). The replenishment determination unit 45 is configured to be able to recognize a change in the conductive state between the electrode parts 33a and 33b, and that the medal in the hopper 31 is in a state where the electrode parts 33a and 33b are in a non-conductive state. By recognizing that the residual amount of M is less than the predetermined amount (near end), it is considered that the signal S11 is output from the near end sensor 36.

  Even when the near-end sensor 36 is in an open state, a certain number of medals M actually remain in the hopper 31. In other words, the near-end sensor 36 receives the signal S11 in a state where a predetermined number of medals M (for example, the number of medals M that can respond to a plurality of lending requests R as described later) remain in the hopper 31. Is set to output. As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of electrode portions 33 a and 33 b are supported by a bracket 35 attached to the side wall of the hopper 31, and extend from the side wall of the hopper 31 toward the vicinity of the bottom inside the hopper 31. Yes.

  The cumulative counting unit 43 receives the signal S12 output from the counting sensor 34 of the payout device 30 and counts the cumulative number of medals M paid out according to the lending request R. Specifically, when the number of medals to be paid out from the payout device 30 by one lending request R is set to 50, the cumulative counting unit 43 sends the signal S12 from the counting sensor 34 once, twice, 3 times. 50 times, 50 + 50 = 100, 100 + 50 = 150, 150 + 50 = 200, every time it is received four times, four times, and N times ( N-1) Cumulative count of 50 sheets + 50 sheets = 50 * N sheets. Then, the cumulative counting unit 43 outputs a cumulative number signal S22 to the replenishment determining unit 45 when the cumulative number of medals M actually paid out exceeds a predetermined cumulative number. Note that the cumulative counting unit 43 continues the cumulative counting of medals M even if the player changes midway.

  The replenishment determination unit 45 determines whether or not the lending machine body 20 needs to be replenished with the medal M based on the replenishment request signal S11 from the near-end sensor 36 and the cumulative number signal S22 from the cumulative counting unit 43. is there. Specifically, the supply determination unit 45 does not make a determination only by receiving the supply request signal S11 from the near-end sensor 36, but receives the supply request signal S11 and then receives the cumulative number signal S22 from the cumulative counting unit 43. At the time, it is determined that the medal M needs to be replenished to the lending machine body 20. In other words, the replenishment determination unit 45 determines that the accumulated number of medals M lent out from the lending machine main body 20 based on the lending request R when the medals M in the hopper 31 of the lending machine main body 20 are in the near-end state is a predetermined cumulative amount. When the number exceeds the number, it is determined that the medal M needs to be replenished to the lending machine body 20. When the supply determination unit 45 determines that supply is required, the supply determination unit 45 outputs a signal S23 to the supply instruction unit 47.

  When the supply instruction unit 47 receives the signal S23 from the supply determination unit 45, the supply instruction unit 47 outputs a supply instruction signal S2 to the automatic supply device 3. When the automatic replenishing device 3 receives the replenishment instruction signal S2, the automatic replenishing device 3 starts replenishing the medals M to the hopper 31 of the lending machine body 20. The replenishment of medals M is continued until a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) elapses after the near-end sensor 36 is in a closed state, that is, after the near-end state is canceled. After the elapse of the predetermined time, the replenishment instruction unit 47 turns off the output of the replenishment instruction signal S2 and stops the medal replenishment by the automatic replenishment device 3. The stoppage of the medal replenishment may be performed based on detection from a medal full sensor arranged at an appropriate position of the hopper 31.

  Next, the timing for starting the medal replenishment by the automatic replenishment system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the number of medals M to be paid out for one lending request R is set to 50, and the predetermined cumulative number of medals from which the cumulative number signal S22 is output is set to 200. Before the first lending request R is generated, at least 200 medals M are stored in the hopper 31 of the lending machine body 20. At this time T1, the near-end sensor 36 is in the closed state, and the medal M in the hopper 31 is not in the near-end state. When the first lending request R is generated and 50 medals M are paid out (time T2), the cumulative number of medals M actually paid out becomes 50, and the remaining number of medals in the hopper 31 is at least 150. It becomes a sheet. At this time T2, the near end sensor 36 is in an open state, and the medal M in the hopper 31 is in the near end state. However, since the actual accumulated number of medals has not reached the set accumulated number (200), the replenishment instruction signal S2 is Not output.

  When the second lending request R is generated and 50 medals M are paid out (time T3), the cumulative number of medals is 100, and the remaining number of medals in the hopper 31 is at least 100. Further, when the third lending request R is generated and 50 medals M are paid out (time T4), the cumulative number of medals is 150, and the remaining number of medals in the hopper 31 is at least 50. At time T3 and time T4, although the medals M in the hopper 31 are in the near-end state, the cumulative number of medals M actually paid out is 100 and 150, respectively, which is smaller than the set cumulative number of 200. Therefore, the supply instruction signal S2 is not output.

  Then, when the fourth lending request R is generated and 50 medals M are paid out (time T5), the cumulative number of medals M is 200, and the cumulative number of medals M actually paid out is equal to or greater than the set cumulative number. It becomes. At this time, a replenishment instruction signal S <b> 2 is output from the replenishment instruction unit 47 to the automatic replenishment device 3, and the automatic replenishment device 3 starts replenishment of medals M to the hopper 31. Thus, the medal payout is performed a plurality of times until the cumulative number signal S22 is output.

  Hereinafter, the operation of supplying medals by the automatic supply system 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. First, the lending machine administrator sets the cumulative payout number of medals M, which is the output condition of the replenishment instruction signal S2, via the management computer 5 (step S1). Next, the money handling unit 28 of the lending machine body 20 determines whether or not a medal lending request R by deposit has occurred (step S2).

  When the medal lending request R is generated (YES in step S2), the payout control unit 26 of the lending machine body 20 operates the payout device 30 to pay a predetermined number (for example, 50) of medals M to the player. (Step S3). At this time, the payout control unit 26 outputs a count instruction signal to the count sensor 34 so as to count the number of paid-out medals M. Next, the cumulative counting unit 43 of the replenishment control device 40 receives the signal S12 output from the counting sensor 34 according to the operation of the payout device 30, and updates the cumulative number of paid-out medals M (step S4). That is, when the number of payouts per lending request R is set to 50, if the current payout operation (that is, the output of the signal S12) is the second time, the cumulative medal number is the first payout. The total number of sheets and the second payout number are 100 sheets.

  On the other hand, when the medal lending request R has not occurred (NO in step S2), the medal supply operation proceeds to step S5 described later.

  Next, whether or not the medal M is in the near end state is confirmed by the near end sensor 36 of the replenishment control device 40 (step S5). When the near-end state is confirmed (YES in step S5), the replenishment determination unit 45 of the replenishment control device 40 determines the cumulative number of medals M actually paid out based on the cumulative number signal S22 from the cumulative counting unit 43. Then, it is determined whether or not the cumulative number of medals M set by the administrator is exceeded. When the actual cumulative number is equal to or greater than the set cumulative number (that is, when cumulative number signal S22 is output) (YES in step S6), replenishment determining unit 45 outputs signal S23 to replenishment instructing unit 47. When receiving the signal S23, the supply instruction unit 47 outputs a supply instruction signal S2 to the automatic supply device 3 (step S7).

  If the near-end state is not confirmed in step S5 (NO in step S5), and if the actual cumulative number is not equal to or greater than the set cumulative number in step S6 (NO in step S6), the medal replenishment operation proceeds to step S2. Return.

  When the automatic replenishing device 3 receives the replenishment instruction signal S2 from the replenishment instructing unit 47, it starts replenishment of medals M to the hopper 31 of the lending machine body 20 (step S8). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the near-end state has been eliminated by supplying medals (step S9). When the near-end state is canceled and the signal S11 is no longer output from the near-end sensor 36 (YES in step S9), the medal replenishment is continued for a predetermined time after the near-end is canceled (step S10). On the other hand, if the near end state has not been eliminated (NO in step S9), the medal replenishment is continued until the near end state is eliminated, and when the near end state is eliminated and the signal S11 is not output from the near end sensor 36, the process proceeds to step S10. move on.

  After the medal M is replenished for the predetermined time by the automatic replenishing device 3, the replenishment instructing unit 47 turns off the output of the replenishment instruction signal S2 (step S11) and stops the medal replenishment by the automatic replenishing device 3 (step S12). ). At this time, there are at least 200 new medals M in the hopper 31 which are the set cumulative number. Finally, the cumulative counting unit 43 clears, that is, zeros, the cumulative number obtained before the medal supply is started (step S13). Then, the medal supply operation returns to Step S2.

  As described above, according to the automatic replenishment system 1 according to the present embodiment, the replenishment of medals M to the hopper 31 of the lending machine body 20 is such that the remaining amount of medals M remaining in the hopper 31 is greater than a predetermined amount. This is performed when the condition that the cumulative number of medals M lent out in accordance with the loan request R by depositing is equal to or greater than the set cumulative number set by the administrator is satisfied in addition to the condition that the number is reduced (near-end state). Accordingly, the medal M lent out in a state where the loan request R due to the deposit has not occurred, that is, the medal M extracted from the hopper 31 by the fraudulent act on the lending machine body 20 is not cumulatively counted by the cumulative counting unit 43. The cumulative number signal S22 is not output from the counting unit 43 to the supply determining unit 45. As a result, the replenishment determination unit 45 does not determine that the medal replenishment is necessary. Therefore, even if the remaining amount of the medal M in the hopper 31 becomes zero due to fraud, a new medal M is replenished to the hopper 31. The replenishment instruction signal S2 is not issued from the replenishment instruction unit 47. Thereby, when there is a fraudulent act on the lending machine main body 20, the damage caused by the fraudulent act can be limited to only the medal M stored in the hopper 31 before the fraudulent act is performed. is there.

  The above operation will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Even if Goto obtains 50 medals M by normal deposit at time T2, for example, and then removes the remaining 150 medals in the hopper 31 by cheating. The 150 medals M are not medals that are cumulatively counted by the cumulative counting unit 43 based on the occurrence of the loan request R by deposit at each time point T3, T4, and T5. Since the cumulative number of medals M actually paid out based on this (50 in this case) does not reach the set cumulative number (200), even if the remaining number of medals in the hopper 31 becomes zero. A new medal M is not supplied to the hopper 31. On the other hand, conventionally, as long as the medal M is in the near-end state, new medals M are continuously replenished. As described above, according to the automatic replenishment system 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress damage caused by Goto's fraud to only the medal M remaining in the hopper 31.

  Further, in the automatic replenishment system 1, the cumulative number of medals M to be paid out can be set in accordance with the situation of the hall (game room) where the lending machine 2 is installed, and the near-end sensor 36 can be set accordingly. By adjusting the vertical position, the number of medals M stored in the hopper 31 can be set approximately.

  Furthermore, since the number of medals M to be paid out based on one lending request R is set in the automatic replenishment system 1, the cumulative number of medals M actually paid out can be easily obtained.

  In the automatic replenishment system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the case where a game medium lending machine is configured by one lending machine main body 20 and one replenishment control device 40 has been described. A game medium lending machine may be configured with one supply control device 40, and in this case, one supply control device 40 controls the supply of medals to a plurality of lending machine main bodies 20.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing a game medium rental machine to which the supply control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied. The game medium lending machine 10 is a so-called stand-alone lending machine that manually replenishes game media (hereinafter, medal M). The lending machine 10 stores the medal M and is provided in the lending machine main body 20 ′ that lends the medal M based on the medal M lending request R, and the lending machine main body 20 ′. And a replenishment control device 40 that controls replenishment of medals M. In the second embodiment, the replenishment control device 40 is not connected to the management computer 5 unlike the first embodiment, and the administrator of the game arcade is set via a setting board provided in the replenishment control device 40. Set conditions related to medal replenishment, etc.

  The lending machine body 20 ′ has a replenishment notification unit 27 provided above the upper front panel 21. When the middle front panel 22 is opened, a medal is placed on the hopper 31 of the dispensing device 30 provided inside. It is comprised so that M can be replenished directly. The replenishment notification unit 27 is a lamp that can be turned on and blinked, for example. The other configuration of the lending machine body 20 ′ has the same configuration as the lending machine body 20 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the replenishment control device 40 has the same configuration as the replenishment control device shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. The supply instruction signal S2 is output to the unit 27. Upon receipt of the replenishment instruction signal S2, the replenishment informing unit 27 notifies the lending machine administrator that the hopper 31 needs to be replenished with the medal M by turning on, flashing, or the like.

  Next, operations related to medal replenishment by the lending machine 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Since steps S1 to S7 shown in FIG. 9 are the same as steps S1 to S7 shown in FIG. 6, the description of those steps S1 to S7 is omitted. In step S7, when the replenishment instruction signal S2 is output from the replenishment instructing unit 47 of the replenishment control device 40 to the replenishment informing unit 27 of the lending machine body 20 ', the replenishment informing unit 27 is turned on, blinked, or the like. The administrator is informed that the medal M needs to be replenished to the hopper 31 (step S14). Next, the administrator manually replenishes the medal M into the hopper 31 (step S15), and it is confirmed by the near end sensor 36 of the replenishment control device 40 whether or not the near end state of the medal M has been eliminated by this manual replenishment. (Step S16). When it is confirmed that the near-end state has been resolved (YES in step S16), the replenishment notification unit 27 is turned off (step S17). On the other hand, if it is not confirmed that the near-end state has been eliminated (NO in step S16), manual medal supply is continued until the near-end state is eliminated.

  Finally, in step S18, the cumulative counting unit 43 of the replenishment control device 40 clears, that is, zeros, the cumulative number obtained before the medal replenishment is started (step S13). Then, the medal supply operation returns to Step S2.

  The stand-alone game medium lending machine 10 described above has the same operation as the automatic supply system 1 shown in FIGS. That is, in the lending machine 10, in the same manner as the automatic replenishment system 1, in the replenishment of medals M to the hopper 31 of the lending machine body 20 ', the remaining amount of medals M remaining in the hopper 31 is smaller than a predetermined amount ( In addition to the condition of “near-end state”, this is performed when the condition that the cumulative number of medals M lent out in accordance with the loan request R by deposit is equal to or greater than the set cumulative number set by the administrator. Therefore, the medal M extracted from the hopper 31 by the fraudulent act on the lending machine body 20 ′ is not cumulatively counted by the cumulative counting unit 43, so that the cumulative number signal S 22 is output from the cumulative counting unit 43 to the supply determining unit 45. Never happen. Thereby, since the signal S23 is not output from the replenishment determination unit 45 to the replenishment instruction unit 47, even if the remaining amount of medals M in the hopper 31 becomes zero due to fraud, a new medal M The supply instruction signal S 2 is not output from the supply instruction unit 47 to the supply notification unit 27 so that the hopper 31 is supplied. As a result, when there is a fraudulent act on the lending machine body 20 ', the damage caused by the fraudulent act can be limited to the medal M stored in the hopper 31 before the fraudulent act is performed. It is.

  As described above, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention, the medal M lending request R has been described as being generated by deposit, but the medal M lending request R is generated by a request from the gaming machine. It is good also as what to do.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the automatic supply system to which the supply control apparatus which concerns on this invention is applied. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the rental machine main body of the game media rental machine in an automatic replenishment system. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the discharge apparatus of a lending machine main body. It is a block diagram of the replenishment control apparatus of an automatic replenishment system, and has shown signal transmission regarding the medal replenishment in an automatic replenishment system. It is explanatory drawing explaining the timing which starts the medal supply by an automatic replenishment system. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the medal supply by an automatic replenishment system. It is an external appearance perspective view of the game media rental machine to which the supply control apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention is applied. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the replenishment control device of FIG. 7, showing signal transmission regarding medal replenishment between the lending machine body and the replenishment control device. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the medal supply by a game media rental machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic replenishment system 2 Game medium lending machine 3 Automatic replenishment apparatus 5 Management computer 10 Game medium lending machine 20, 20 'Lending machine main body 26 Discharge control part 27 Replenishment notification part 30 Dispensing apparatus 31 Hopper 32 Dispenser 34 Count sensor 36 Near end sensor (Residual amount detection unit)
43 Cumulative Counting Unit 45 Replenishment Determination Unit 47 Replenishment Instruction Unit 40 Replenishment Control Device M Medal R Lending Request S11 Replenishment Request Signal S22 Cumulative Number Signal S2 Replenishment Instruction Signal

Claims (8)

A replenishment control device for controlling replenishment of the game medium to a game medium lending machine that lends the game medium based on a lending request for a game medium used in the gaming machine,
A residual amount detection unit capable of detecting that the residual amount of the game medium remaining in the game medium lending machine is less than a predetermined amount;
A cumulative counting unit that counts a cumulative number of the game media to be lent based on the occurrence of the rent request;
When it is detected by the residual amount detection unit that the residual amount is less than the predetermined amount, and the cumulative number obtained by the cumulative counting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, a game medium to the game medium lending machine A replenishment instruction unit for issuing replenishment instructions to replenish
A replenishment control device.   2. The supply control device according to claim 1, wherein after the game medium lending machine is supplied based on the supply instruction, the cumulative counting unit calculates the cumulative number obtained before the supply is performed. Supply control device to clear. A lending machine body that lends the gaming media based on a lending request for gaming media used in the gaming machine;
A replenishment control device for controlling replenishment of the game medium to the lending machine body;
With
The replenishment control device includes:
A residual amount detection unit capable of detecting that the residual amount of the game medium remaining in the lending machine body is less than a predetermined amount;
A cumulative counting unit that counts a cumulative number of the game media to be lent based on the occurrence of the rent request;
When it is detected by the residual amount detection unit that the residual amount is less than the predetermined amount, and the cumulative number obtained by the cumulative counting unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the game medium to the lending machine main body A replenishment instruction unit that issues a replenishment instruction to perform replenishment;
Game media lending machine including.   The game medium lending machine according to claim 3, wherein the lending machine main body receives a game medium hopper that allows an administrator to manually refill game media and the replenishment instruction from the replenishment instruction unit. A game medium lending machine comprising a replenishment notification unit for notifying the administrator that the game medium needs to be replenished to the lending machine body. The game medium lending machine according to claim 3, wherein the lending request is generated based on payment to the lending machine main body,
A game media lending machine in which the number of game media to be rented for each deposit is set.   4. The gaming medium lending machine according to claim 3, wherein the lending request is generated based on a request from the gaming machine.   4. The game medium lending machine according to claim 3, wherein after the replenishment is performed on the lending machine main body based on the replenishment instruction, the cumulative counting unit calculates the accumulated number obtained before the replenishment is performed. Game media rental machine to clear. A game media rental machine according to claim 3,
An automatic replenishment device configured to automatically replenish game media to a lending machine body of the game media lending machine based on a replenishment instruction from the replenishment control device of the game media lending machine;
Automatic replenishment system with

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