JP2010284295A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine fully preventing a fraudulent act due to wrong operation of a token counting sensor which is caused by inserting a fraudulent device from a token slot. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine is mounted with a token selector including a blocker solenoid switching between a fraudulent token-removing state for removing only a fraudulent token during a time for allowing insertion of tokens, and a whole tokens-removing state for removing the whole tokens during a time for not allowing insertion of tokens, at a token selecting position on a guide path for making a token inserted into the token slot flow down toward a token storage portion, and is disposed with the token counting sensor on the downstream side from the token selecting position A. The game machine is configured such that in the whole tokens-removing state (time for not allowing insertion of tokens) (S21:Yes), a changed detecting state of the token counting sensor (S22:Yes) is determined as an abnormal state, a sensor error flag is turned on, and error processing is performed (S23). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine using a medal as a gaming medium, such as a slot machine.

  For gaming machines such as slot machines that use medals as game media, out of the medals inserted into the medal slot, the inappropriate medals are guided to the return passage side, and only the appropriate medals flow down to the internal medal storage unit side. A medal sorting device is installed.

  This medal sorting device is provided on the downstream side of the medal slot and guides the medal inserted into the medal slot toward the medal storage part, and a medal satisfying a predetermined condition is passed from the guide path at the medal sorting position. Medals according to a medal removal means to be removed, a medal count sensor that is provided downstream of the medal sorting position and detects a medal flowing down the guide passage, a medal insertion permission period, and other medal insertion disabling periods The removal means includes a medal removal condition switching means for switching between an improper medal removal state for removing only improper medals and an all medal removal state for removing all medals, and is removed by the medal removal means during the medal insertion permission period. An appropriate medal that has flowed down the guide passage without being detected is detected by a medal count sensor, and an example is based on the detected number. It is adapted to add the credit (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The medal count sensor is composed of one or a plurality of, for example, two photo sensors arranged adjacent to each other in the medal flow direction. For example, the detection timing of the two medal count sensors satisfies a predetermined condition. By determining that the detection is normal only when the condition is satisfied, erroneous detection due to fraud or the like is eliminated.

JP 2004-206485 A

  By the way, in the conventional gaming machine, all medals are removed from the guide passage by the medal removal means during the medal insertion disabled period and returned to the player. Changes in the state of these sensors are not monitored on the premise that there is no medal detection by a count sensor or the like.

  Accordingly, if the medal insertion period is not possible, an illegal instrument is inserted from the medal insertion slot along the guide passage, and even if the medal count sensor reacts unnaturally due to the movement of the tip side, it is determined as an error. Therefore, if the signal output unit mounted on the tip of the illegal instrument is set to match the medal count sensor by the end of the medal insertion disabled period, during the subsequent medal insertion permission period It is also possible to operate the signal output unit to cause the medal count sensor to malfunction, thereby increasing the credit illegally.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can completely prevent an illegal act caused by erroneous operation of a medal count sensor by inserting an illegal instrument from a medal slot. .

  The present invention includes a medal insertion port 17, a guide passage 33 provided downstream of the medal insertion port 17 and flowing down the medal inserted into the medal insertion port 17 toward the medal storage unit 10, and predetermined conditions. A medal removal means 46 for removing the filled medals from the guide passage 33 at the medal selection position A, and a medal count sensor 47a for detecting a medal provided downstream of the medal selection position A and flowing down the guide passage 33; 47b, in accordance with the medal insertion permission period and the other medal insertion disabling period, the medal removal means 46 performs an improper medal removal state in which only improper medals are removed and an all medal removal state in which all medals are removed. In the gaming machine provided with the medal removal condition switching means 44 for switching to, the medal removal means 46 is in the all medal removal state. The medal count sensor 47a, detection state 47b is determined to be abnormal if the change is one that is configured to perform error processing.

  According to the present invention, even during the medal insertion disabled period, for example, an illegal instrument is inserted along the guide passage 33 from the medal insertion slot 17, and the first and second medal count sensors 47a, When 47b reacts unnaturally, it is determined as an error, so that illegal actions caused by erroneous operation of the medal count sensors 47a and 47b by inserting an illegal instrument from the medal slot 17 are completely prevented. be able to.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine showing the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of a main body case similarly. It is a rear view of a medal sorting device. It is a side sectional view of a medal sorting device. It is sectional drawing of the direction along the inclined channel | path part of a medal sorting device similarly. It is sectional drawing of a direction perpendicular | vertical to the inclination channel | path part of a medal sorting device similarly. It is explanatory drawing of the medal | token removal operation | movement by a medal sorting device similarly. It is a schematic block diagram of a control system. It is a flowchart of the game control process similarly by a game control means. It is a figure which similarly shows an example of the error detection conditions based on the detection state of a 1st, 2nd medal count sensor. It is a flowchart of the abnormality monitoring process (periodic interruption) by a game control means similarly. It is a rear view of the medal selection device of the slot machine showing the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the 2nd abnormality monitoring process (periodic interruption) by a game control means similarly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 11 illustrate a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied as a slot machine. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a gaming machine main body, which includes a rectangular box-shaped main body case 2 whose front side is open and a rectangular front panel 3 disposed on the front side of the main body case 2.

  In the main body case 2, an intermediate support plate 4 is arranged substantially horizontally so as to divide the internal space vertically at a substantially central portion in the vertical direction, and the symbol display reels 5a to 5c are arranged in the horizontal direction on the intermediate support plate 4. The display reel unit 6 is provided, and on the lower side of the intermediate support plate 4, a medal payout device 7, a medal auxiliary case 8, a power supply unit 9, and the like are arranged.

  The medal payout device 7 is a medal hopper (medal storage unit) 10 for storing medals for payout, medal payout means 11 for paying out medals in the medal hopper 10, and surplus medals such as medals overflowing from the medal hopper 10 as medals. A surplus medal outlet 12 and the like are provided on the auxiliary case 8 side.

  The front panel 3 is attached to the main body case 2 so as to be openable and closable via a hinge disposed on one end of the left and right sides, and an upper portion 3 corresponding to the symbol display reels 5a to 5c in the main body case 2 is attached. Two display windows 13a to 13c are arranged in the left-right direction.

  In addition, for example, a credit display means 14 for displaying the number of credits and an acquired medal display means 15 for displaying the number of acquired medals are arranged on the left and right sides of the display windows 13a to 13c. The provided operation panel 16 has a medal insertion slot 17 into which a medal as a game medium can be inserted, a return button 18 for returning a medal packed in the medal insertion slot 17, and a medal insertion slot 17. 1BET button 19 and Max BET button 20 for betting medals from credits, credit settlement button 21 for switching whether to credit or pay out the acquired medals, and symbol display reels 5a to 5c. The start lever 22 for starting the rotation and the rotating symbol display reels 5a to 5c are individually provided. Stop button 23a~23c like are provided for sealed.

  The medal slot 17 is provided with, for example, an elongated opening 17a that is long in the left-right direction, and a medal can be inserted into the opening 17a one by one. The return button 18 is disposed adjacent to the medal slot 17, for example.

  On the front side of the lower end portion of the front panel 3, a discharge port 24 for discharging medals and the like paid out from the medal paying means 11 to the front side is provided, and on the front side, a medal that receives medals discharged from the discharge port 24 is provided. A saucer 25 is arranged in a horizontally long shape.

  On the back side of the front panel 3, a medal sorting device 26 for selecting medals inserted into the medal insertion port 17, a return passage 27 for guiding the medals repelled by the medal sorting device 26 to the discharge port 24 side, and the like are provided. It has been.

  The medal sorting device 26 detects only the appropriate medal inserted into the medal slot 17 during the medal insertion permission period and guides it to the medal hopper 10 side. The appropriate medals are returned to the medal tray 25 without being detected. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and the like, the sorting device main body 28 and after the detection by the sorting device main body 28 are detected. A chute 29 or the like for guiding an appropriate medal to the medal hopper 10 is provided. The sorting device main body 28 and the chute 29 are individually attached to the front panel 3, for example.

  The sorting apparatus main body 28 includes a base plate 31 and a cover plate 32 attached to the back side of the base plate 31. The base plate 31 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape. For example, reinforcing ribs 31a extend rearward from the left and right edges of the base plate 31, and the front panel 3 is substantially parallel to the front panel 3 as shown in FIG. And detachably attached to the lower side of the medal slot 17.

  On the back side of the base plate 31, there is formed a shallow groove-shaped guide passage 33 formed with a width and depth substantially equal to the diameter and thickness of the appropriate medal. This guide passage 33 allows the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 17 to flow down to the chute 29 side, communicates with the lower side of the medal insertion slot 17 and is substantially from the upper edge side of the base plate 31 along, for example, the right edge portion. The vertical passage portion 33a is formed in a downward direction, and the inclined passage portion 33b is formed so as to be inclined from the downstream end side of the vertical passage portion 33a toward the left edge portion of the base plate 31, for example. The downstream end side of the passage portion 33b communicates with the chute 29 via the outlet 34 formed in the reinforcing rib 31a.

  The cover plate 32 is disposed along the back side of the base plate 31 so as to substantially cover the guide passage 33 from the rear side. For example, the upper side of the cover plate 32 is around the rotation axis 35 substantially parallel to the base plate 31 above the inclined passage portion 33b. It is rotatably supported and elastically biased toward the base plate 31 by a spring member 36.

  In the cover plate 32, a removal window 37 is formed in an opening shape corresponding to substantially the entire inclined passage portion 33b, and the upstream side of the removal window 37 is closed by, for example, the rear side of the vertical passage portion 33a. Is an upstream side cover portion 38 that guides along the vertical passage portion 33a.

  The lower edge 37a of the removal window 37 protrudes slightly above it along the lower edge 39 of the inclined passage portion 33b, and the lower edge of the medal flowing down on the inclined passage portion 33b is the lower edge of the removal window 37. The portion 37a is held from the rear side and guided to the downstream side. Further, the upper edge portion 37b of the removal window 37 is disposed above the upper edge portion 40 of the inclined passage portion 33b so as not to contact a medal flowing down the inclined passage portion 33b.

  On the front side of the base plate 31, a cam member 41 for converting the vertical movement of the return button 18 into the swinging movement of the cover plate 32 is swingably disposed. When the return button 18 is pressed, Then, the cam member 41 swings through a predetermined interlocking mechanism to press the cover plate 32 backward against the urging force of the spring member 36 as shown by a solid line in FIG. It is designed to be spaced backward from the back side of the.

  A movable guide plate 42 is mounted on the back side of the base plate 31 above the inclined passage portion 33 b and in the removal window 37 of the cover plate 32. The movable guide plate 42 is supported, for example, so as to be swingable about an axis 43 parallel to the inclined passage portion 33b, and a blocker solenoid (medal removal condition switching means) 44 mounted on the front side of the base plate 31 As shown by a solid line in FIG. 6, a guide state (unsuitable medal removal state) in which the lower edge side guide portion 42 a approaches or comes into contact with the front side of the upper edge portion 40 of the inclined passage portion 33 b and a two-dot chain line in FIG. Further, the guide portion 42a can be switched to a non-guide state (all medal removal state) in which the guide portion 42a is retracted from the upper edge portion 40 of the inclined passage portion 33b.

  The movable guide plate 42 is urged to a non-guide state by a spring member (not shown), and is configured to be driven to the guide state side when the blocker solenoid 44 is turned on. In the guide state, The lower edge side guide part 42a protrudes slightly below the upper edge part 40 of the inclined passage part 33b, and supports the upper end part of the appropriate medal from the rear side to guide it downstream.

  The movable guide plate 42 is placed in a guide state (inappropriate medal removal state) during the medal insertion permission period during which medal insertion is permitted by a blocker solenoid (medal removal condition switching means) 44. During the impossibility period, it is possible to switch to the non-guide state (all medal removal state).

  The base plate 31 is provided with a removal guide piece 45 at a medal sorting position A corresponding to the inside of the removal window 37 of the cover plate 32 on the inclined passage portion 33b. The removal guide piece 45 has a protruding state (shown by a solid line in FIG. 5) that protrudes backward from the base plate 31 into the guide passage 33, and a retracted state (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5) that does not protrude into the guide passage 33. And is elastically biased in a protruding state by the biasing means 45a. The removal guide piece 45 is disposed along the inclined passage portion 33b so that the protruding amount into the guide passage 33 in the protruding state gradually increases from the upstream side toward the downstream side.

  When a proper medal is inserted during the medal insertion permission period in which the movable guide plate 42 is held in the guide state (inappropriate medal removal state), as shown in FIG. When flowing down 33b, the upper and lower ends are respectively guided from the rear side by the guide portion 42a of the movable guide plate 42 and the lower edge portion 37a of the removal window 37, and flow down to the downstream side without falling from the inclined passage portion 33b. . At this time, the removal guide piece 45 is pushed by the medal and shifts from the protruding state to the retracted state, thereby allowing the medal to pass.

  On the other hand, when an inappropriate medal having a diameter smaller than the appropriate medal is inserted during the medal insertion permission period, the inappropriate medal flows down the inclined passage portion 33b as shown in FIG. 7B. The lower end side is guided from the rear side by the lower edge portion 37a of the removal window 37. However, since the upper end side is not guided out of the movable guide plate 42, the improper medal is removed in the protruding state at the medal sorting position A. It is pushed out to the rear side by the guide piece 45, falls to the return passage 27 side through the removal window 37, and is returned to the medal tray 25.

  When a medal is inserted during a period when the movable guide plate 42 is in a non-guided state (all medal removal state) and the medal cannot be inserted, as shown in FIG. Since the upper end side is not guided on the passage portion 33 b, all medals flowing down the inclined passage portion 33 b are pushed out to the rear side by the removal guide piece 45 at the medal sorting position A and are returned to the return passage 27 side through the removal window 37. It falls and is returned to the medal tray 25.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the lower edge portion 37a of the removal window 37 that guides the lower end side of the medal that flows down the medal sorting position A of the guide passage 33, and the medal that flows down the medal sorting position A of the guide passage 33 as well. A movable guide plate 42 that releasably guides the upper end side of an appropriate medal with a predetermined diameter, a removal guide piece 45 that pushes the medal backward at the medal sorting position A, and the like, a medal satisfying a predetermined condition at the medal sorting position A at the guide passage 33 The medal removal means 46 for removing from is configured.

  For example, when an improper medal thicker than the appropriate medal is inserted into the medal slot 17, for example, it is sandwiched between the base plate 31 and the upstream cover portion 38 on the cover plate 32 side in the vertical passage portion 33a. This prevents the flow down. In this state, when the player depresses the return button 18, the cover plate 32 is separated backward from the back side of the base plate 31, as shown in FIG. As a result, improper medals sandwiched between the base plate 31 and the cover plate 32 in the vertical passage portion 33a flow down along the guide passage 33, but in the inclined passage portion 33b, the lower edge portion 37a of the removal window 37 is rearward. Since the lower end of the medal is not guided, the improper medal that has flowed down is pushed rearward by the removal guide piece 45 at the medal sorting position A, and the base plate 31 and the cover plate 32 It falls to the return passage 27 side through and is returned to the medal tray 25.

  Further, for example, one or a plurality of, for example, two, detecting the appropriate medals that have flowed down the inclined passage portion 33b without being removed by the medal removal means 46 downstream of the medal sorting position A on the inclined passage portion 33b. Medal count sensors 47a and 47b are arranged. The medal count sensors 47a and 47b are constituted by, for example, a reflection type photosensor, and are arranged at a predetermined interval along, for example, the upper edge side of the inclined passage portion 33b.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the control system of the slot machine. This control system is mainly composed of a game control means 51 that performs control related to the gaming state and an effect control means 52 that performs control related to the effects. The game control means 51 and the effect control means 52 are provided on separate boards. For example, the game control means 51 includes the symbol display reels 5a to 5c, the BET buttons 19 and 20, the credit check button 21, and the start lever 22. , Stop buttons 23a-23c, credit display means 14, acquired medal display means 15, medal payout means 11, blocker solenoid 44, first and second medal count sensors 47a, 47b, etc. are connected, A lamp 53, a speaker 54, and the like are connected. The production control unit 52 performs control based on a control command transmitted from the game control unit 51.

  The game control means 51 is constituted by a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and a game control processing program is stored in advance in the ROM, and the game shown in FIG. 9 is executed by executing this game control processing program for each game. Control processing is performed.

  In the game control process, as shown in FIG. 9, it is first determined whether or not the error flag is set to ON (S1). If the error flag is set to ON (S1: Yes), Predetermined error processing is executed (S2). That is, for example, when the sensor error flag is turned ON in a periodic interrupt process (FIG. 11) described later, the error process is executed here. In this error processing, for example, a game is stopped and the occurrence of an error is notified by voice, a lamp, or the like.

  When the error flag is OFF (S1: No), or when the error process (S2) is completed, the blocker solenoid 44 is subsequently switched from OFF to ON and the medal insertion permission period starts (S3). The inserted medal detection process (S4) and the credit insertion process (S5), which are the conditions for starting the game, are performed.

  When the blocker solenoid 44 is turned on, the movable guide plate 42 is in the guide state (inappropriate medal removal state), so that the inadequate medal is removed from the guide passage 33 at the medal sorting position A and returned to the medal tray 25 (see FIG. 7 (b)), only proper medals pass through the medal sorting position A and flow down on the guide passage 33 as they are (FIG. 7 (a)).

  In the inserted medal detection process (S4), the number of inserted medals is less than a predetermined upper limit number, for example, three, or the number of credits is less than a predetermined upper limit number, for example, less than 50 even if the number of inserted medals has reached the upper limit number. If so, it is determined whether or not a normal medal is inserted based on the detection signals of the medal count sensors 47a and 47b.

  The determination process for determining whether or not this is a normal medal insertion is performed by determining whether or not these detection signals satisfy a predetermined error detection condition based on the detection signals from the medal count sensors 47a and 47b. Done. This error detection condition is set as shown in FIG. 10, for example.

  That is, when both the upstream first medal count sensor 47a and the downstream second medal count sensor 47b are OFF (section a), the first medal count sensor 47a and the second medal count sensor 47b are simultaneously set. An error is determined when it is turned on or only the second medal count sensor 47b is turned on. When only the first medal count sensor 47a is ON (section b), the first medal count sensor 47a is OFF or only the first medal count sensor 47a is ON for a predetermined time (for example, 100 ms) or longer. If it continues, it is determined as an error.

  When both the first medal count sensor 47a and the second medal count sensor 47b are ON (section c), the second medal count sensor 47b is turned OFF, or the first medal count sensor 47a and the second medal count An error is determined when both the sensor 47b and the sensor 47b are ON for a predetermined time (for example, 100 ms) or longer. When only the second medal count sensor 47b is ON (section d), the first medal count sensor 47a is ON or only the second medal count sensor 47b is ON for a predetermined time (for example, 100 ms) or longer. If it continues, it is determined as an error.

  When the detection signal from the first and second medal count sensors 47a and 47b becomes the section a again from the section a through the sections b, c, and d without satisfying the error detection condition, It is determined that the proper medal has been inserted normally.

  When it is determined that the error detection condition is satisfied, the game is stopped, the occurrence of an error is notified by voice, a lamp, or the like, and the blocker solenoid 44 is turned OFF so that the movable guide plate 42 is not guided ( All medals inserted into the medal slot 17 after that are returned to the medal tray 25 (FIG. 7C).

  When it is determined that a proper medal has been inserted normally, the number of inserted medals is incremented by 1, and when the number of inserted medals reaches an upper limit value, for example, three, the number of credits is incremented by one. Further, when the number of credits reaches an upper limit value, for example, 50, the blocker solenoid 44 is switched OFF at that time, and a medal insertion impossible period is entered.

  In the subsequent credit insertion process (S5), the number of credits is subtracted and the number of tokens inserted is added on condition that the BET buttons 19 and 20 are operated.

  Then, the medal insertion number becomes a predetermined number (S6: Yes), and when the start lever 22 is operated (S7: Yes), the blocker solenoid 44 is switched off and the medal insertion impossibility period starts (S8). ) And a random number lottery process (S9) for determining whether or not to permit to stop the combination in a jackpot mode in which a symbol is preset based on the extracted random number value and extracting a predetermined lottery random number (S9) And the three symbol display reels 5a to 5c start to rotate simultaneously by the reel rotation start process (S10).

  When the player operates the stop buttons 23a to 23c in an arbitrary order after the rotation of the symbol display reels 5a to 5c is stabilized, the rotation of the symbol display reels 5a to 5c is stopped by the reel rotation stop processing (S11). . Then, a winning determination process (S12) is performed according to the combination of symbols stopped and displayed on a predetermined winning line, and according to the determination result, a predetermined number of medals are determined by the payout process (S13). It is added to the number of credits or paid out to the medal tray 25 by driving the medal paying means 11.

  Then, a game state management process (S14) such as a process for starting various profit states according to the determination result of the winning determination process (S12), a profit state process corresponding to the profit state is performed, and the game control process Ends.

  In addition, the game control means 51 executes the game control process (FIG. 9) as described above for each game, and during the execution of the game control process, every predetermined time (for example, every 1.490 ms), FIG. Periodic interrupt processing such as the abnormality monitoring processing shown in FIG.

  In this abnormality monitoring process (FIG. 11), the blocker solenoid 44 and the medal count sensors 47a, 47b are monitored, and the medal count sensors 47a, 47b are in spite of the blocker solenoid 44 being OFF (during medal insertion disabled period). When the detection signal is output (when the detection state is changed) (S21: Yes → S22: Yes), it is considered that an abnormality has occurred and the sensor error flag is set to ON (S23).

  When the sensor error flag is set to ON, for example, in error processing (S2 in FIG. 9) executed at the start of the next game, for example, a sensor error command is transmitted to the effect control unit 52, and the control of the effect control unit 52 is performed. An error is notified by voice, lamp, or the like. That is, in this embodiment, when it is determined that an abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring process during the game, an error process is performed after the game ends.

  As described above, in the slot machine of the present embodiment, when the detection state of the first and second medal count sensors 47a and 47b changes during the medal insertion disable period in which the medal removal unit 46 is in the all-medal removal state. Since it is determined to be abnormal and error processing is performed, even during the medal insertion disabled period, for example, an illegal instrument is inserted from the medal insertion port 17 along the guide passage 33, If the first and second medal count sensors 47a and 47b react unnaturally due to movement, an error occurs, and an illegal act is caused by inserting a fraudulent instrument from the medal slot 17 and causing the medal count sensor to malfunction. Can be completely prevented.

  12 and 13 exemplify a second embodiment of the present invention, and includes an upstream medal sensor 55 that detects medals upstream from the medal sorting position A, and the medal removal means 46 is in the all medal removal state. Further, an example is shown in which when the duration of the medal detection state by the upstream medal sensor 55 reaches a predetermined value, it is determined as abnormal and error processing is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the medal sorting device 26 of the present embodiment is provided with an upstream medal sensor 55 that is turned on when a medal is detected on the upstream side of the medal sorting position A on the guide passage 33. Yes. The upstream medal sensor 55 is preferably configured to detect a medal based on, for example, a mechanical operation received from a medal flowing down in the guide passage 33, but may be configured by, for example, a photo sensor.

  Further, the game control means 51 of the present embodiment is configured to execute the second abnormality monitoring process shown in FIG. 12 separately from the abnormality monitoring process (FIG. 11) shown in the first embodiment as the periodic interrupt process. Has been.

  In the second abnormality monitoring process (FIG. 12), for example, the detection state of the upstream medal sensor 55 is monitored regardless of whether the medal insertion is disabled or the medal insertion permission period (S31, S33, S36). When the state of the upstream medal sensor 55 changes from OFF to ON (S31: Yes), the medal detection timer starts measuring the duration of the medal detection state (S32). Then, when the state of the upstream medal sensor 55 is switched from ON to OFF (S36: Yes), the clocking by the medal detection timer ends at that time (S37), but until then, the clocking of the medal detection timer When the time reaches a predetermined value (S33: Yes → S34: Yes), it is considered that an abnormality has occurred and the sensor error flag is set to ON (S35).

  When the sensor error flag is set to ON, for example, in error processing (S2 in FIG. 9) executed at the start of the next game, for example, a sensor error command is transmitted to the effect control unit 52, and the control of the effect control unit 52 is performed. An error is notified by voice, lamp, or the like.

  In this embodiment as well, the abnormality monitoring process (FIG. 11) is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Therefore, fraudulent activity is detected without monitoring the detection state by the upstream medal sensor 55 during the medal insertion disabled period. Although it is possible, an illegal act can be discovered more promptly and reliably by executing the second abnormality monitoring process as described above even during the medal insertion disabled period.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, it is not limited to this embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, the medal count sensors 47a and 47b may use various non-contact detection means other than photo sensors, or may use contact detection means for detecting medals based on mechanical operations received from medals. Good. The medal count sensor may be configured by one or three or more switches.

  The medal removal means 46 only needs to be able to be switched between an improper medal removal state in which only improper medals are removed and an all medal removal state in which all medals are removed, and the specific configuration is arbitrary.

  In the embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine is shown, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to any kind of gaming machine as long as a medal is used as a gaming medium.

10 Medal hopper (medal storage part)
17 medal slot 33 guide passage 44 blocker solenoid (medal removal condition switching means)
46 medal removal means 47a first medal count sensor 47b second medal count sensor 55 upstream medal sensor A medal sorting position

Claims (3)

A medal insertion slot (17) and a guide passage (33) provided downstream of the medal insertion slot (17) and allowing the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot (17) to flow down toward the medal storage section (10). ), A medal removing means (46) for removing medals satisfying a predetermined condition from the guide passage (33) at the medal sorting position (A), and the guide provided at the downstream side of the medal sorting position (A). Depending on the medal count sensors (47a, 47b) for detecting medals flowing down the passage (33), and the medal insertion permission period and other medal insertion disabling periods, the medal removal means (46) is used only for improper medals. In the gaming machine provided with a medal removal condition switching means (44) for switching between an inappropriate medal removal state for removing all medals and an all medal removal state for removing all medals. When the leaving means (46) is in the all-medal removal state, if the detection state of the medal count sensor (47a, 47b) changes, it is determined that there is an abnormality and error processing is executed. A featured gaming machine. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the abnormality occurs during a game, the error processing is performed after the game ends. An upstream medal sensor (55) for detecting medals upstream of the medal sorting position (A) is provided, and the upstream medal sensor (55) when the medal removal means (46) is in the all medal removal state. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is configured to execute an error process by determining that an abnormality occurs when a duration of the medal detection state by a predetermined value is reached.

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