JP2011045677A - Game device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game device capable of reducing work burdens on an assistant when processing fallen balls and remaining balls in each stand counter. <P>SOLUTION: The game device provided corresponding to a game machine includes each stand counting unit for receiving and counting game media and fetching the counted game media into a bank of game machines, and when a function stop signal (counting invalid signal) is received from a hall computer (YES in S101), performs invalid counting processing (S105) of counting the game media as the number of invalid game media as invalid processing of fetching the received game media into the bank of game machines without counting them as the number of acquired game media acquired by a player, and fetches the invalid game media into the bank of game machines at the position of each game machine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is provided corresponding to a gaming machine arranged on a game island, accepts and counts the game media, and takes the counted game media into the game island, and the game media counted by the count device And a storage means for storing the number as an acquired number of game media acquired by the player.

  Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, for the purpose of accurately verifying the number of game media (for example, pachinko balls) in a game hall, it is provided at a predetermined location (for example, an end of a game island) in the game hall. In the counting machine, accepting the selection of the ball acquired by the player or the ball spilled from the gaming machine or the ball box, the pachinko ball is counted and taken into the game island, and the number of balls acquired or spilled is counted. There is known a system that notifies the number of balls to a management device and manages the number of balls acquired and the number of spilled balls in the management device. In addition, so-called each counter is also known, in which a counter is provided for each gaming machine.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-075208

  However, as shown in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in a system in which a counter is provided at a predetermined location in a game hall (for example, an end of a game island), it remains on the spilled balls or the upper and lower dishes of the game machine. If the remaining balls are counted as invalid balls rather than as earned balls acquired by the player and are taken into the amusement island, the store clerk at the amusement hall will take these spilled balls and remaining balls to where the counting machine is located. There was a problem that the work load of the clerk was heavy because it had to be taken. On the other hand, each of the counters also has a demand for processing these spilled balls and remaining balls.

  The present invention has been made based on such a background, and the object thereof is to reduce the work load on the store clerk when processing the spilled balls and the remaining balls in each counter. It is in providing such a game device.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to solve the above problems. The reference numerals used in the description of the best mode for carrying out the invention and the drawings to be described later are appended in parentheses for reference, but the constituent elements of the present invention are not limited to the appended description.

First, the invention according to claim 1
Provided corresponding to the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10) placed on the amusement island,
Counting means (each unit counting unit 30) for receiving and counting game media (pachinko balls) and taking the counted game media into the game island;
Storage means (a card table in the RAM of the control unit 22) for storing the number of game media counted by the counting means as the number of acquired game media (number of possessed balls) acquired by the player;
Receiving means (in-field communication unit 21b, infrared communication unit 21c) for receiving the count invalid signal;
Based on the reception of the count invalid signal (the function stop signal from the hall computer 70 or the count invalid signal from the remote control) by the receiving means (YES in S101 or S17), the reception means accepts the counting means after the reception. And invalid processing means (control unit 32 and control unit 22 for performing invalid count processing in S105 or S27b) for performing invalid processing to be taken into the game island without counting the number of acquired game media as the number of acquired game media. This is a gaming apparatus (the card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30).

The invention according to claim 2
The gaming device (card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30) according to claim 1,
The invalid processing means (the control unit 32 and the control unit 22) receives the count invalid signal by the receiving means (YES in S101 or S17), and the game medium received by the counting means after the reception Is counted as the number of invalid game media and taken into the gaming island, and the process of storing the counted number of invalid game media in the storage means (the invalid count process in S105 or S27b) is performed as the invalid process.
Output means for outputting count information indicating the number of invalid game media stored in the storage means (the number of invalid balls sent in S23c and the number of invalid balls sent in S27c or S106) ) Is further provided.

The invention according to claim 3
The gaming device (card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30) according to claim 1 or 2,
A shutter member (inflow restriction shutter 42) that enables or disables the reception of game media (pachinko balls) to the counting means (each unit counting unit 30);
Shutter control means (control unit 43) for controlling the shutter member in an acceptable state (open) capable of receiving game media or in an unacceptable state (closed) incapable of accepting game media;
The shutter control means puts the shutter member into an unacceptable state based on the fact that a predetermined counting prohibition condition (no stock card, no card acceptance, no password input, maintenance, error, etc.) is satisfied. And controlling the shutter member to be in a receivable state regardless of whether or not the count prohibition condition is satisfied based on the reception of the count invalid signal by the receiving means (YES in S51 or S101). (S52 or S102).

The invention according to claim 4
A gaming device (card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A shutter member (inflow restriction shutter 42) that enables or disables the reception of game media (pachinko balls) to the counting means (each unit counting unit 30);
The shutter member enters an unacceptable state in which the game medium cannot be received based on the fact that the power of the gaming device is turned off (for example, the shutter member is urged in the closing direction and is excited by the solenoid). The opened inflow restricting shutter 42 is closed by the urging force because the solenoid is not excited when the power is turned off.

The invention according to claim 5
A gaming apparatus (card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The gaming device performs various processes in cooperation with a management device (hall computer 70) that transmits a function stop signal for stopping the function of the gaming device.
The receiving means (in-field communication unit 21b) receives the function stop signal as the count invalid signal (YES in S101), and is a gaming device.

The invention according to claim 6 provides
The gaming device (card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30) according to claim 5,
Based on the fact that the function stop signal has been received by the receiving means (in-field communication unit 21b) (YES in S101), the number of acquired game media stored in the storage means (RAM card table of the control unit 22) ( It further includes transmission erasure processing means (control unit 22 for performing the process of S103) that transmits information indicating the number of possessed balls) to the management device and performs a process of erasing the number of acquired game media. A gaming device.

In the present invention,
Provided corresponding to the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10) placed on the amusement island,
Counting means (each unit counting unit 30) for receiving and counting game media (pachinko balls) and taking the counted game media into the game island;
A game device comprising: storage means (a card table stored in the RAM of the control unit 22) for storing the number of game media counted by the counting means as the number of acquired game media (number of possessed balls) acquired by the player (Card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30);
It is possible to communicate with each of the plurality of gaming devices, perform various processing in cooperation with each of the plurality of gaming devices, and send a function stop signal to stop the function of the gaming device. A management device (hall computer 70) that transmits to each of the gaming devices;
A gaming system (1) including:
Each of the plurality of gaming devices is
Receiving means (in-field communication unit 21b) for receiving the function stop signal;
Based on the reception of the function stop signal by the receiving means (YES in S101), after the reception, the game medium received by the counting means is not counted as the number of acquired game media, and the game island is not counted. The gaming system further includes invalid processing means for performing the invalid processing to be taken in (the control unit 32 and the control unit 22 performing the invalid count processing in S105).
According to this, in any of the plurality of gaming devices provided corresponding to each gaming machine, the function stop signal is based on the fact that each of the plurality of gaming devices has received the function stop signal from the management device. Since the number of game media received after receiving the game media can be taken into the game island at the position of each game machine without counting, the work burden on the store clerk can be reduced.

  First, according to the gaming device according to claim 1, in the gaming device provided corresponding to the gaming machine, based on the reception of the count invalid signal, the game medium received after the count invalid signal is received. Since the number of acquired game media is not counted and can be taken into the game island at the position of each game machine, the work load on the store clerk can be reduced.

  According to the gaming device of claim 2, in the gaming device provided corresponding to the gaming machine, based on the reception of the count invalid signal, the game medium received after the count invalid signal is received. Since the number of invalid game media is counted and stored, and total information indicating the number of invalid game media is output, the number of invalid game media can be accurately grasped based on the total information, and profits can be totaled.

  Further, according to the gaming device of the third aspect, since the shutter member is controlled to be in an acceptable state regardless of whether or not the count prohibition condition is satisfied based on the reception of the count invalid signal, The game media received after receiving the count invalid signal can be taken into the game island at the position of each game machine without counting the number of game media acquired.

  According to the gaming device of the fourth aspect, since the shutter member is in an unacceptable state when the power is turned off, counting at the time of power interruption after closing the store or power failure during business can be prevented.

  Further, according to the gaming device of the fifth aspect, based on the reception of the function stop signal from the management device, the gaming device allows the game medium received after receiving the function stop signal to be taken into the game island. Therefore, the game medium can be collected easily.

  Further, according to the gaming device of the sixth aspect, since the stored number of acquired game media is transmitted to the management device and erased based on the reception of the function stop signal, the acquired game media is closed when the store is closed. When erasing the number, it is not necessary to search for which gaming device the number of acquired gaming media is stored, and the number of acquired gaming media can be specified from the recording media, and the recording media is taken to the erasing device. There is no need to perform the operation of erasing the number of acquired game media specified from the recording medium in the erasing device.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a gaming system according to the present invention. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing an example of the gaming apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional right side view of the card unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a card table stored in the RAM of the card unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main screen displayed on the display of the card unit. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of each counter unit. FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional front view of the external unit, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional left side view of the internal unit. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the number of balls DB stored in the hard computer hard disk. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the inflow limiting shutter opening / closing process performed by the gaming apparatus. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the business process performed by the gaming apparatus. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the closing process performed by the gaming apparatus. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a first modification of the gaming apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 10A is a front view, and FIG. 11A and 11B are views showing a second modification of the gaming apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 11A is a front view and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional right side view of the card unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the database is abbreviated as “DB”, the reader / writer is abbreviated as “R / W”, and step S is abbreviated as “S”.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card unit 20 that is a gaming device according to the present invention and each unit counting unit 30 correspond to a pachinko machine 10 that is a gaming machine arranged on a gaming island (not shown). As shown in FIG. 5, counting means (each unit counting unit 30) for receiving and counting pachinko balls as game media and taking the counted game media into the game island, as shown in FIG. The storage means (RAM card table of the control unit 22 of the card unit 20) for storing the number of game media (the number of possessed balls) counted by the counting means is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming apparatus has receiving means (infrared communication unit 21c, in-field communication unit 21b) for receiving a count invalid signal, and count invalidation by the receiving means as shown in FIGS. Based on the reception of the signal (YES in S17 or S101), after the reception, the game medium received by the counting means (spilled balls dropped from the pachinko machine 10 or ball box and / or the pachinko machine 10 The remaining balls remaining on the plate and the lower plate, hereinafter, the spilled balls and the remaining balls are referred to as “invalid balls”). For example, the game medium is not counted as the number of acquired game media (number of acquired balls), but is counted and stored as the number of invalid game media (number of invalid balls), and taken into the game island. The invalid meter shown in S27b or S105 And disabling the processing means for processing), and is characterized in further comprising a.

  The gaming system 1 can communicate with a plurality of gaming devices and each of the plurality of gaming devices, and performs various processes in cooperation with each of the plurality of gaming devices. And a management device (a hall computer 70) that transmits a function stop signal for stopping the function of the device to each of the plurality of gaming devices as the count invalid signal.

  First, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 can communicate with an island computer 63 provided on each of the plurality of game islands and an island computer 63 provided on each of the game islands. It is a gaming device that can communicate with the plurality of pachinko machines 10 arranged and the island computers 63 provided on each game island, and is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of pachinko machines 10 arranged on the game island. The card unit 20 and each counter 30, and a balance management device 60, a member management device 61, a ball management device 62, and a hall computer 70 that can communicate with all the island computers 63.

  In the gaming apparatus and gaming system 1, a membership card 2 and a visitor card 3 are used as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, when the membership card 2 and the visitor card 3 are not distinguished, both are simply referred to as “card”. These cards include a non-contact type IC chip having a nonvolatile EEPROM as a recording area at a predetermined portion of a thin plastic plate having a rectangular shape. Incidentally, the card here includes a coin having a circular shape.

  The membership card 2 is a recording medium issued to a player who has registered as a member at the amusement hall (member player), and a card ID, which is information for individually identifying the recording medium, is pre-installed on the IC chip. It is recorded. This card ID is made up of an initial M indicating a member player, followed by a unique 5-digit number, and is also information that can individually identify the member player. The IC chip also stores the prepaid balance, but does not store the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls. When this member card 2 is received by the card R / W 23 of the card unit 20, authentication of a personal identification number (not shown) managed by the member management device 61 in association with the card ID recorded on the IC chip is obtained. As shown in FIG. 1, the ball lending process using the prepaid balance managed by the balance management device 60 in association with the card ID is possible, and the member management is associated with the card ID. The stored ball replay processing using the number of stored balls managed by the device 61 becomes possible, and the paid-out processing using the number of balls managed by the managed ball managing device 62 in association with the card ID is possible. Become.

  The visitor card 3 is a recording medium issued to a player (visitor player) in a game hall, and a card ID, which is information for individually identifying the recording medium, is recorded in advance on the IC chip. This card ID is composed of an initial V indicating a visitor player, followed by a unique 5-digit number, and is also information that can individually identify the visitor player. The IC chip also stores the prepaid balance, but does not store the number of balls. When this visitor card 3 is received by the card R / W 23 of the card unit 20, as shown in FIG. 1, the remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management device 60 is used in association with the card ID recorded on the IC chip. The ball lending process can be performed, and the ball payout process using the number of balls managed by the ball management device 62 in association with the card ID can be performed. Unlike a member player, a visitor player cannot save money or play again.

  Here, the balance management device 60, the member management device 61, the possession management device 62, and the island computer 63 will be described with reference to FIG. The balance management device 60 manages a prepaid balance that is a prepaid value that is a prepaid value that the player has prepaid in association with the card ID of the member card 2 or the visitor card 3. is there. When the balance management device 60 receives an addition request including the card ID and the deposit amount provided for the deposit process from the card unit 20 that performs the deposit process (S04, S22 in FIG. 8), the remaining amount management apparatus 60 associates the card ID with the card ID. The added amount is added to the prepaid balance that is managed in this manner, an addition completion notice is returned, and the card unit 20 that performs the ball lending process (S21a in FIG. 8) is used for the card ID and the ball lending process. When a subtraction request including the usage amount is received, the usage amount is subtracted from the prepaid balance managed in association with the card ID, and a subtraction completion notification is returned.

  The member management device 61 associates the card ID of the member card 2 with the number of stored balls that is a value for a game possessed by the player and that is obtained by saving the acquired value (prize ball) acquired by the player through the game. Is to manage. This number of stored balls can be used not only for the day of acquisition by the player but also for the game on the pachinko machine 10 after the next day. Although not shown, the member management device 61 also associates the card ID with the personal information (name, zip code, address, telephone number, etc.) and password of the member player registered at the time of member registration. I manage. When the member management device 61 receives a member card 2 and receives a stored ball number acquisition request including a card ID and a password from the card unit 20 that receives the member card 2 and performs the management stored ball number acquisition process (S06 in FIG. 8), The number of stored balls including the number of stored balls managed in association with the card ID on condition that the personal identification number matches with the stored personal identification number in correspondence with the received card ID (that is, authentication is obtained). When a request for updating the number of stored balls including the card ID and the number of stored balls is received from the card unit 20 that returns information to the card unit 20 and performs the management ball number updating process (S26b in FIG. 8), The number of stored balls managed in association is updated to the received number of stored balls. When the member management device 61 receives a free gift exchange request including a card ID and the number of balls used for free gift exchange from a POS terminal (not shown) that performs free gift exchange processing, the member management device 61 manages it in association with the card ID. When the number of balls used for prize exchange is subtracted from the number of stored balls and when a storage request including a card ID and the number of balls to be stored is received from the POS terminal, the number of stored balls managed in association with the card ID Add the number of balls to be stored.

  The possession management device 62 counts the game value possessed by the player in association with the card ID of the member card 2 or the visitor card 3 and the acquired value (prize ball) acquired by the player through the game. This is to manage the number of possessed balls. The number of possessed balls can be used for prize exchange or games on the pachinko machine 10 only on the day acquired by the player. When this ball management device 62 receives a membership card number acquisition request including a card ID from the card unit 20 that receives the membership card 2 or the visitor card 3 and performs the management ball number acquisition process (S07 in FIG. 8), From the card unit 20 which returns the number information of balls including the number of balls managed in association with the card ID to the card unit 20 and performs the management ball number update process (S26b in FIG. 8), the card When receiving the number-of-balls update request including the ID and the number of balls, the number of balls managed in association with the card ID is updated to the received number of balls. Further, when receiving the prize exchange request including the card ID and the number of balls used for the prize exchange from the POS terminal (not shown) that performs the prize exchange process, the possession management apparatus 62 manages the prize in association with the card ID. Subtract the number of balls used for prize exchange from the number of balls you have. The number of possessed balls associated with the card ID of the member card 2 (that is, the card ID with the initial letter M) is automatically deleted after the end of the business day, and the number of retained balls is It is automatically added to the number of stored balls managed by the member management device 61 in association with the card ID, and thereafter managed as the number of stored balls. On the other hand, the number of coins associated with the card ID of the visitor card 3 (that is, the card ID whose initial is V) is automatically deleted after the business day ends and becomes invalid.

  The island computer 63 is connected to each pachinko machine 10 and the card unit 20 (that is, arranged on the game island where the island computer 63 is provided), the remaining amount management device 60, the member management device 61, the possession management device 62, And a relay device that relays data communication with the hall computer 70.

  Next, the pachinko machine 10 will be described. The pachinko machine 10 is an example of a gaming machine, and is provided corresponding to the card unit 20 (here, adjacent to the right side of the card unit 20) as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. This is a so-called CR-type pachinko machine that pays out and lends pachinko balls from the pachinko machine 10 in accordance with the ball lending process performed by the unit 20. This pachinko machine 10 is arranged according to the model of the pachinko machine 10 on the game island provided in the game hall, and is individually identified by a unique machine number.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the pachinko machine 10 is provided with a game area, an upper plate, a lower plate, a launching handle, and the like on the front surface, and a remaining frequency indicator 14, a ball lending button 15, And a card return button 16, and as shown in FIG. 1, a game control board 11, a payout control board 12, a ball payout device 13, etc. are provided therein, and each of these components is as shown in FIG. It is connected to the.

  The game control board 11 controls the gaming state in the pachinko machine 10. The payout control board 12 is communicably connected to the ball lending communication unit 21 a of the card unit 20, and manages communication between the pachinko machine 10 and the card unit 20. As a result, signals are exchanged with the card unit 20 in the ball lending process (S21a in FIG. 8), the ball payout process (S24), and the storage ball replay process (S25). The payout control board 12 is connected to the ball payout device 13 and controls the ball payout device 13. The ball payout device 13 pays out a pachinko ball in a ball lending process, a holding ball payout process, and a storage ball replay process, and also pays out a pachinko ball (so-called prize ball) given to a player as a result of the game. is there.

  The remaining number indicator 14 stores the prepaid balance (that is, the card table shown in FIG. 3) recorded on the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) received by the card R / W 23 of the corresponding card unit 20. This is a display for displaying the remaining frequency specified from the prepaid balance), and here it is constituted by a 2-digit 7-segment display. In this remaining frequency indicator 14, the remaining frequency is displayed by inputting a frequency display signal indicating the remaining frequency from the ball lending communication unit 21a. The remaining frequency included in the frequency display signal is a quotient calculated by the formula “prepaid balance / minimum unit value (100 yen in this case)”. The remaining frequency displayed on the remaining frequency display 14 is updated and displayed every time the prepaid balance stored in the card table is updated.

  The ball lending button 15 is a ball lending operation for performing a ball lending process using the prepaid balance recorded on the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) received by the card R / W 23 of the corresponding card unit 20. It is a button that accepts. When this ball lending button 15 is operated, a lending input signal is sent to the ball lending communication unit 21a via a lending input signal line provided via a detection circuit (not shown) between the ball lending communication unit 21a. Is detected and the detection circuit detects the input of the lending input signal, the control unit 22 recognizes that the ball lending button 15 has been operated, and performs a ball lending process (S21a in FIG. 8).

  The card return button 16 is a button for receiving a return operation for returning the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) received by the card R / W 23 of the corresponding card unit 20. When this card return button 16 is operated, a return input signal is sent to the ball lending communication unit 21a via a return input signal line provided between the ball lending communication unit 21a and a detection circuit (not shown). Is detected and the detection circuit detects the input of the return input signal, the control unit 22 recognizes that the card return button 16 has been operated, and returns the card (S26a in FIG. 8).

  The remaining frequency indicator 14, the ball lending button 15, and the card return button 16 are provided on the front surface (here, the upper plate) of the pachinko machine 10, as shown in FIG. Since it is connected to the card unit 20 as shown in FIG. 2, it belongs to the card unit 20 constituting the gaming apparatus.

  In this pachinko machine 10, when the launch handle is operated, the pachinko balls on the upper plate are driven into the game area and a game is played. Then, when the hit ball that has been driven into the game area wins the start winning opening, the variable display device starts to fluctuate. When the display result of the symbol displayed on the variable display device is in a specific mode, a big hit occurs. . Further, when the hitting ball wins a winning opening (a start winning opening, a general winning opening, or a large winning opening that is opened when a big hit is made), a prize ball is paid out from the ball dispensing device 13 under the control of the dispensing control board 12. The paid-out prize ball is first guided to the upper plate, and when the upper plate is full, it is guided to the lower plate. The prize ball guided to the lower plate is dropped from the lower plate when the drop lever (not shown) is operated, and is guided to the ball mounting portion 31 of each counter unit 30. Although not shown, the hit balls are collected by an out tank provided behind the pachinko machine 10, counted by a hit ball counter, and taken into the game island after counting.

  Next, the card unit 20 will be described. The card unit 20 constitutes a gaming device, and corresponds to a pachinko machine 10 that is a gaming machine (here, adjacent to the left side of the pachinko machine 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2B). 2), and has a vertically long box shape. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), a bill insertion slot 25a, a protruding portion 20a, a card insertion slot 23a, etc. are provided on the front surface thereof. As shown in (b), the bill discriminator 25, ball lending communication unit 21a, in-field communication unit 21b, control unit 22, infrared communication unit 21c, card R / W 23, card stocker 23b, etc. A touch panel type display 24 is provided on the right side of the unit 20a (ie, the side facing the player), and these components are connected as shown in FIG. In the lower part of the card unit 20, an external unit 30a of each counter unit 30 is arranged on the front surface, and an internal unit 30b of each counter unit 30 is arranged inside, which will be described later. The card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30 (that is, the game device) are individually identified by the unit number of the corresponding pachinko machine 10.

  As described above, the ball lending communication unit 21a is communicably connected to the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the on-site communication unit 21b is communicably connected to the balance management device 60, the member management device 61, the possession management device 62, and the hall computer 70 via the island computer 63. It functions as a receiving means for receiving the function stop signal transmitted from 70 as the count invalid signal. The infrared communication unit 21c functions as a receiving unit that receives the count invalid signal from a remote controller (not shown) operated by a game shop clerk.

  The control unit 22 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, and the like. When the processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, each component included in the card unit 20 is controlled. Various operations are performed by controlling the operation.

  The RAM of the control unit 22 stores a card table shown in FIG. In this card table, the card ID read from the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) received by the card R / W 23, the prepaid balance corresponding to the card ID, the number of balls, and the number of stored balls (however, the number of stored balls is , Only when the member card 2 is accepted) is stored and updated. This storage and update will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The card R / W 23, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), accepts insertion of a card (member card 2 or visitor card) from the card insertion slot 23a, and reads the card ID and the prepaid balance from the IC chip of the card. It is. The card stocker 23b is provided behind the card R / W 23 and stores a predetermined number (for example, 10) of visitor cards 3. In this card stocker 23b, the ball lending process is performed, the prepaid balance becomes zero, and the visitor card 3 having the number of possessed balls is taken in and stored (S21c in FIG. 8). When a bill is accepted by the bill validator 25 in a state where no card is accepted by the card R / W 23 (YES in S01 of FIG. 8), the visitor card 3 stored in the card stocker 23b (hereinafter, “ One of the stock cards is also conveyed from the card stocker 23b to the card R / W 23 and set in the card R / W 23. The card R / W 23 is the visitor card set. The card ID and the prepaid balance (in this case, zero) are read from the IC chip 3 (S03 in FIG. 8).

  The touch panel display 24 is a display device that displays various types of information and an input device that accepts input of various types of information. On the display 24, a main screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. On this main screen, the number of balls currently stored in the card table of FIG. 3 is displayed, and a “payout” button for receiving a payout operation for performing a ball payout process using the number of balls is displayed. The In addition, when the number of stored balls is stored in the card table (that is, when a membership card is accepted at the card R / W 23), the stored ball number is displayed and the stored ball replay process using the stored number of balls is performed. A “replay” button for accepting a replay operation for performing is displayed. Further, the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls displayed on the main screen are updated and displayed every time the number of retained balls and the number of stored balls stored in the card table are updated.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the bill validator 25 accepts insertion of bills (1000 yen bills, 2000 yen bills, 5000 yen bills, or 10000 yen bills) from the bill insertion slot 25a and identifies the bills. To do. The identified banknotes are transported through the banknote passage 25b provided behind the banknote discriminator 25, taken into the game island, and collected in a safe provided at the end of the game island through the transport path provided in the game island. Is done.

  Next, each unit counting unit 30 will be described. Each unit counting unit 30 constitutes a part of the gaming device, and functions as a counting means for receiving and counting pachinko balls as game media and taking the counted pachinko balls into the game island. . As shown in FIG. 2 (a), each of the counter counting units 30 includes an external unit 30a disposed on the front surface in the lower part of the card unit 20, and a lower part of the card unit 20 as shown in FIG. 2 (b). The game unit is composed of an internal unit 30b arranged inside, and each of the counter units 30 and the card unit 20 constitutes a gaming device. Hereinafter, the structure of each counter unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Inside the external unit 30a, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), a ball placing portion 31 for receiving and placing a pachinko ball dropped from the lower plate of the pachinko machine 10, and the ball placing portion 31 A counting shutter 33 provided on the downstream side to stop the pachinko balls on the ball mounting portion 31 from flowing down, and a pachinko ball provided on the downstream side of the counting shutter 33 and passed through the counting shutter 33 An inflow restricting shutter 42 that is a shutter member that enables or disables acceptance to the counter 35, an outflow passage 40 provided below the ball mounting portion 31, and an end portion on the downstream side of the outflow passage 40. A discharge shutter 41 is provided for blocking the pachinko ball from flowing down in the outflow path 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, a counting lever 32 that accepts an opening operation of the counting shutter 33 and a payout lever 40 that accepts an opening operation of the payout shutter 41 are provided on the front surface of the external unit 30a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the internal unit 30 b is provided with an inflow path 34 communicating with the downstream end of the ball mounting portion 31 and an downstream end of the inflow path 34. A ball counter 35 that counts pachinko balls flowing down in the inflow path 34, and a part of the pachinko balls that are provided below the inflow path 34 and counted by the ball counter 35 are stored on the downstream side. The ball storage portion 36 whose end portion communicates with the upstream end portion of the outflow passage 40 and the downstream end portion of the inflow passage 34, and the ball storage portion of the pachinko balls counted by the ball counter 35. A discharge path 37 for flowing pachinko balls other than those stored in the amusement island, and a payout counter for counting pachinko balls discharged from the ball storage portion 36, provided at the downstream end of the ball storage portion 36. 38. Here, the ball storage unit 36 has a maximum number (that is, 24) less than the payout unit so that a number of pachinko balls less than a predetermined payout unit (for example, 25 balls) can be paid out from each unit counting unit 30. Ball) pachinko balls are stored.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the counting lever 32, a solenoid (not shown) for driving the counting shutter 33, a ball counter 35, a payout counter 38, a payout lever 40, a solenoid (not shown) for driving the payout shutter 41, and A solenoid (not shown) that drives the inflow restricting shutter 42 is connected to the control unit 43 of each counter unit 30.

  Here, the counting shutter 33, the payout shutter 41, and the inflow restricting shutter 42 are all biased by a spring force in the direction of closing (closing) each shutter, and correspond to each shutter under the control of the control unit 43. The solenoid (not shown) is opened by being excited. Accordingly, when the power of the gaming apparatus (the card unit 20 and each of the counter counting units 30) is turned off, the solenoid is not excited and each shutter is closed by the urging force. According to this, since the inflow restricting shutter 42 is in an unacceptable state when the power is turned off, it is possible to prevent counting at the time of power interruption after closing the store or a power failure during business.

  Further, the operation of the counting lever 32 is detected by the control unit 43. Accordingly, while the counting lever 32 is operated, the solenoid corresponding to the counting shutter 33 is excited by the control of the control unit 43, and the counting shutter 32 is operated. When the operation of the counting lever 32 is completed, the solenoid is not excited and the counting shutter 33 is closed by the urging force. Further, the operation of the payout lever 40 is detected by the control unit 43, so that while the payout lever 40 is being operated, the control unit 43 excites the solenoid corresponding to the payout shutter 41 so that the payout shutter 41 is moved. When the operation of the dispensing lever 40 is completed, the solenoid is not excited and the dispensing shutter 41 is closed by the urging force. The opening and closing of the inflow restricting shutter 42 will be described later with reference to FIGS. Further, the count values by the ball counter 35 and the payout counter 38 are detected by the control unit 43 and transmitted to the control unit 22 of the card unit 20.

  Each of the unit counting units 30 communicates with the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 through the control unit 43, and later described valid count processing (23b in FIG. 8) and invalid count processing (S27b in FIG. 8 and S27b in FIG. 9). S105) is performed. Hereinafter, the valid count process and the invalid count process are collectively referred to as “count process”. Specifically, when the power of the card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30 is turned on before the game hall starts business, the connected device confirmation is made from the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 to the control unit 43 of each unit counting unit 30. The control unit 43 that has received the connection device confirmation instruction transmits a connection device confirmation response to the control unit 22, and the control unit 22 that has received the connection device confirmation response transmits a start instruction to the control unit 43. The activation instruction response is transmitted from the control unit 43 that has received the activation instruction to the control unit 22.

  Then, the control unit 43 performs the inflow restriction shutter opening / closing process shown in FIG. Here, the control unit 43 functions as a shutter control unit that controls the inflow restricting shutter 42 in a state where the pachinko ball can be received (open) or in a state where the pachinko ball cannot be received (closed). Is.

  In this inflow restricting shutter opening / closing process, first, in S51, it is determined whether or not a count invalid signal is received by the infrared communication unit 21c. If it is determined in S51 that the count invalid signal is received (YES), the solenoid corresponding to the inflow restricting shutter 42 is excited by the control unit 43 in S52, and the inflow restricting shutter 42 is opened. The Specifically, when the inflow restriction shutter 42 is opened (that is, when it is determined that the counting prohibition condition is not satisfied in S54 described later and the inflow restriction shutter 42 is opened in S55), The open state is maintained, and the process proceeds to S53. On the other hand, when the inflow restriction shutter 42 is closed (that is, when the inflow restriction shutter 42 is closed in S56 when it is determined in S54 that the counting prohibition condition is satisfied), the inflow restriction shutter 42 is released from the closed state. Then, go to S54. That is, the control unit 43 functioning as a shutter control unit receives the inflow limiting shutter 42 regardless of whether a count prohibition condition described later is satisfied based on the reception of the count invalid signal by the infrared communication unit 21c. It controls to a possible state (open). According to this, pachinko balls (invalid balls) received after receiving the count invalid signal can be taken into the game island at the position of each pachinko machine 10 without counting as the number of acquired balls. In S53, the process waits for completion of the invalid ball number transmission process shown in S27c of FIG. 8 to be described later. When the invalid ball number transmission process is completed (YES), the process returns to S51.

  If it is determined in S51 that no count invalid signal has been received (NO), it is determined in S54 whether a predetermined count prohibition condition is satisfied. Here, the counting prohibition condition includes, for example, no stock card, no card acceptance in S02 and S03 in FIG. 8 described later, no PIN number input in S05, maintenance, or error. If it is determined in S54 that the counting prohibition condition is not satisfied (NO), the control unit 43 excites the solenoid corresponding to the inflow restricting shutter 42 to open the inflow restricting shutter 42, and S51. Return to. On the other hand, when it is determined in S54 that the counting prohibition condition is satisfied (YES), in S56, when the solenoid corresponding to the inflow restriction shutter 42 is excited, the control of the control unit 43 When the excitation is stopped and the solenoid is not excited, the inflow restriction shutter 42 is closed by maintaining this state, and the process returns to S51. That is, the control unit 43 functioning as a shutter control unit controls the inflow restricting shutter 42 to an unacceptable state (closed) based on the fact that the counting prohibition condition is satisfied.

  As shown in S101 of FIG. 9, the card unit 20 also receives the function stop signal from the hall computer 70 during the store closing process even if the function stop signal is received by the on-site communication unit 21b. Assuming that the signal is received as an invalid signal, in S102, the inflow restricting shutter 42 is opened in the same manner as in S52 (that is, if the shutter is already opened, the open state is maintained, and if closed, the open state is opened). Process).

  Here, the effective counting process performed by each unit counting unit 30 will be described. If there is an operation of the counting lever 32 with the pachinko ball placed on the ball placement unit 31 (YES in S13 of FIG. 8), the counting shutter 33 is opened by the control of the control unit 43 that has detected the operation. If the inflow restricting shutter 42 is open (YES in S23a), the pachinko balls on the ball mounting portion 31 flow down in the inflow passage 34 and are counted by the ball counter 35. Counting processing (23b) is performed. The effective number of balls, which is a count value by the ball counter 35, is detected by the control unit 43, transmitted to the control unit 22, and added to the number of balls stored in the card table of FIG. At the same time, effective ball number transmission processing (23c) is transmitted to the hall computer 70 as the total information together with the vehicle number. The pachinko balls counted by the ball counter 35 are stored in the ball storage unit 36 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5C until the ball storage unit 36 is filled with the pachinko balls. After being filled with pachinko balls, it proceeds in the direction of arrow B, flows down in the discharge path 37, and is taken into the game island.

  In addition, the invalid counting process by each counter unit 30 will be described. First, in the card unit 20, when receiving the count invalid signal (S17) from the remote controller by the infrared communication unit 21c as the receiving means, or receiving the function stop signal (S101) from the in-field communication unit 21b as the receiving means, As described with reference to FIG. 7, a process of opening the inflow restricting shutter 42 (that is, maintaining the open state if it has already been opened, and opening it if it has been closed) is performed (S52 or FIG. 7). S102 of FIG. 9). In a state where the inflow restricting shutter 42 is opened, a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) after receiving the count invalid signal, or before a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour) has elapsed after receiving the function stop signal. When the pachinko ball is placed on the ball placement portion 31 and there is an operation of the counting lever 32 (YES in S27a in FIG. 8 or S104 in FIG. 9), the control of the control portion 43 that detected the operation Thus, the counting shutter 33 is opened, and the pachinko balls on the ball mounting portion 31 flow down in the inflow path 34 and are counted by the ball counter 35, thereby invalid counting processing (S27b in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9). S105) is performed. The number of invalid balls, which is a count value by the ball counter 35, is detected by the control unit 43, transmitted to the control unit 22, and added to the number of held balls (here, zero) stored in the card table of FIG. While being updated and stored, an invalid ball number transmission process (23c in FIG. 8 or S106 in FIG. 9) that is transmitted to the hall computer 70 as total information together with the vehicle number is performed. The pachinko balls counted by the ball counter 35 are stored in the ball storage unit 36 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5C until the ball storage unit 36 is filled with the pachinko balls. After being filled with pachinko balls, it proceeds in the direction of arrow B, flows down in the discharge path 37, and is taken into the game island.

  Next, the hall computer 70 will be described. The hall computer 70 is a computer having a communication unit 71, a control unit 72, a hard disk 73, a display 74, an input device 75, and the like connected as shown in FIG. 1, and for stopping the function of the gaming device. A function stop signal is transmitted.

  The communication unit 71 is communicably connected to each of the plurality of pachinko machines 10 and the card units 20 that are under the control of each island computer 63 via each of the plurality of island computers 63. The control unit 72 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. Each processing element stored in the ROM and the hard disk 73 is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, whereby each component included in the hall computer 70 is provided. The various operations are performed by controlling the operation. The display 74 is a display device that displays various types of information, for example, a liquid crystal display. The input device 75 is an input device that receives input of various types of information, and is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse.

  The hard disk 73 stores the number of balls DB shown in FIG. In this ball number DB, a data table for each date is provided, and in each data table, the number of effective balls (that is, the number of acquired balls) counted by each unit counting unit 30 corresponding to the unit number in association with the unit number. ) And the cumulative value of the number of invalid balls (that is, spilled balls and remaining balls) counted by each vehicle counting unit 30 of the corresponding vehicle number on the current day. Here, the effective number of balls is the number of effective balls included in the total information based on the total information transmitted from the gaming device by the effective number of balls transmission process (S23b in FIG. 8). It is updated by being added to the number of effective balls stored in association with the number. Further, the invalid ball count is calculated based on the invalid ball count included in the total information based on the total information transmitted from the gaming device by the invalid ball count transmission process (S27b in FIG. 8 and S105 in FIG. 9). It is updated by being added to the number of invalid balls stored in association with the unit number included in. In this way, based on the total number of valid balls and invalid balls managed for each pachinko machine 10, the game hall is subtracted from the total amount of valid balls and invalid balls from the amount of ball lending used. The profit of the day is grasped. In other words, even if it is a spilled ball or a remaining ball, it is nothing but the ball that the player has acquired, so by accurately grasping the number of invalid balls and subtracting the equivalent amount from the ball lending usage amount together with the number of valid balls It is possible to tabulate accurate profits.

  Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30 which are gaming devices, the inflow restricting shutter opening / closing process shown in FIG. 7 and the in-business process shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the closing process shown in FIG. 9 is performed.

  First, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the business process performed by the gaming apparatus (the card unit 20 and each vehicle counting unit 30). The control unit 22 of the card unit 20 accepts bills by the bill discriminator 25 in S01, accepts a card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) by the card R / W 23 in S02, or disables counting by the infrared communication unit 21c in S17. Waiting for signal reception. Here, S01 and S02 are performed by a player who plays a game with the pachinko machine 10 corresponding to the gaming apparatus. In addition, the count invalid signal in S17 is transmitted from the remote controller by a remote control operation of a store clerk when there is no player playing a game with the corresponding pachinko machine 10. Therefore, even if a count invalid signal is transmitted when there is a player who plays a game with the corresponding pachinko machine 10 (that is, while accepting a card), the process does not proceed to S27a or less. Not done.

  If a bill is accepted in S01 (YES), the bill validator 25 identifies the accepted bill, and the card stocker 23b removes one of the stored visitor cards 3 as a card R in S03. The card R / W23 sets the transferred visitor card 3 and reads the card ID and the prepaid balance (in this case, zero) from the IC chip, and the control unit 22 deposits in S04. Process.

  In this depositing process, the control unit 22 transmits an addition request including the card ID read in S03 and the bill amount identified in S01 (that is, the deposited amount provided for the depositing process) to the balance management device 60. The remaining amount management device 60 that has received the addition request adds the deposit amount included in the addition request to the prepaid balance (in this case, zero) that is managed in association with the card ID included in the addition request. The addition completion notification is returned to the card unit 20. The control unit 22 of the card unit 20 that has received the notification of completion of addition adds and updates the amount of banknotes identified in S01 in the card table in association with the card ID read in S03, and displays the remaining frequency The remaining number of times is displayed on the container 14 and the prepaid balance after the addition update is recorded on the visitor card 3 being accepted by the card R / W 23, the deposit process is terminated, and the process proceeds to S11.

  If the card is accepted in S02 (YES), the card R / W 23 reads the card ID and the prepaid balance from the IC chip of the accepted card, and the controller 22 reads the head of the read card ID in S05. Based on the character (M or V), it is determined whether or not the accepted card is the membership card 2. If it is determined in S05 that the card is a membership card 2 (YES), the control unit 22 performs the number-of-balls acquisition process in S06.

  In this stored ball number acquisition process, the control unit 22 performs a process of displaying a password input screen (not shown) on the display 24. If a password is input, the card ID read in S02 and the input password are input. A stored ball number acquisition request including the number is transmitted to the member management device 61. The member management device 61 that has received the storage ball number acquisition request determines whether or not the personal identification number included in the storage ball number acquisition request matches the personal identification number stored in association with the card ID included in the storage ball number acquisition request. And the number of stored balls information including the number of stored balls managed in association with the card ID is returned to the card unit 20 on condition that they match. The control unit 22 of the card unit 20 that has received the stored ball number information stores the number of stored balls included in the stored ball number information in association with the card ID read in S02 on the card table, and stores the stored ball number on the main screen. The number is displayed, the stored ball number acquisition process is terminated, and the number of owned balls is acquired in S07.

  In this number-of-balls acquisition process, the control unit 22 transmits a number-of-balls acquisition request including the card ID read in S02 to the ball management device 62. The ball management device 62 that has received the ball number acquisition request provides the card unit 20 with ball number information including the number of balls managed in association with the card ID included in the ball number acquisition request. Reply. The control unit 22 of the card unit 20 that has received the number of possessed balls stores the number of possessed balls included in the number of possessed balls in association with the card ID read in S02 in the card table, The number of balls is displayed on the screen, the number of balls is acquired, and the remaining amount confirmation processing is performed in S08.

  In the remaining amount confirmation processing, the control unit 22 transmits a remaining amount confirmation request including the card ID read in S02 and the prepaid remaining amount to the remaining amount management device 60. The remaining amount management device 60 that has received the remaining amount confirmation request determines whether or not the prepaid remaining amount included in the remaining amount confirmation request matches the prepaid remaining amount managed in association with the card ID included in the remaining amount confirmation request. The remaining amount confirmation notification including the prepaid remaining amount is returned to the card unit 20 on the condition that it is determined and matched. The control unit 22 of the card unit 20 that has received the remaining amount confirmation notification stores the prepaid remaining amount included in the remaining amount confirmation notification in the card table in association with the card ID read in S02, and a remaining frequency indicator The remaining number is displayed in 14, the remaining amount confirmation process is terminated, and the process proceeds to S11.

  If it is determined in S05 that the card is not a membership card 2 (NO), that is, it is a visitor card 3, the control unit 22 performs the number-of-balls acquisition process in S07 and the remaining amount confirmation process in S08. , Go to S11.

  In S17, when the count invalid signal is received from the remote controller by the infrared communication unit 21c as the receiving means (YES), the control unit 43 opens the inflow limiting shutter 42 as described in FIG. If it is already open, the open state is maintained, and if it is closed, the open state is performed (S52), and the completion of the invalid ball number transmission process is waited (S53). In S17a, the number of balls stored in the card table is transmitted to the hall computer 70 and erased. Specifically, first, an invalid storage request indicating the number of possessed balls stored in the card table is transmitted to the hall computer 70. The hall computer 70 that has received the invalid storage request here updates the number of balls indicated by the invalid storage request to the invalid number of balls stored in association with the invalid number of the invalid request source, An invalid storage completion notification is returned to the card unit 20. Then, the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 that has received the invalid storage completion notification erases the number of balls stored in the card table. In other words, the number of balls left by the player during business is managed as an invalid number of balls that cannot be used for prize exchange or gaming.

  Next, the control unit 22 waits for acceptance of the operation of the counting lever 32 in S27a, and elapse of a predetermined time in S27d. Here, the predetermined time is set to a time (for example, 1 minute) from when the store clerk transmits a count invalid signal by remote control operation until the pachinko balls are put into each unit counting unit 30 and the pachinko balls are counted. Is preferred. If it is determined in S27d that a predetermined time has elapsed since the count invalid signal was received (YES), the process returns to S01.

  On the other hand, if the counting lever 32 is operated before the predetermined time has elapsed in S27a (YES), the control unit 22 and the control unit 43 perform the invalid counting process in S27b (that is, counting the received pachinko balls, the counted invalidity). The control unit 22 erases the number of invalid balls stored in S27c, and stores the number of invalid balls in the game table. An invalid ball number transmission process for transmitting the total information indicating the machine number of the gaming apparatus to the hall computer 70 is performed, and the process returns to S01. The hall computer 70 that has received this total information adds and updates the invalid ball count in the ball count DB as described above. According to this, in the gaming device provided in correspondence with the pachinko machine 10, counting is performed with the pachinko balls received after receiving the count invalid signal as the number of valid balls based on the reception of the count invalid signal. Since it can be taken into the amusement island at the position of each pachinko machine 10 without the need, the work load on the store clerk can be reduced. If the control unit 43 determines in S53 of FIG. 7 that the invalid ball number transmission process has been completed (YES), the control unit 43 returns to S51.

  When the processing of S04 or S08 is completed, the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 accepts the operation of the ball lending button 15 in S11, accepts the bill by the bill validator 25 in S12, accepts the operation of the counting lever 32 in S13, The system waits for the operation of the payout button displayed on the main screen in S14, the operation of the replay button displayed on the main screen in S15, or the operation of the card return button 16 in S16.

  If there is an operation of the ball lending button 15 in S11 (YES), the control unit 22 performs a ball lending process in S21a. In this ball lending process, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the prepaid balance stored in the card table is equal to or larger than a preset ball lending set amount (for example, 5 times = 500 yen), and the prepaid balance is If it is equal to or more than the ball lending set amount, the ball lending set amount is specified as the amount used, and if the prepaid remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount, the prepaid remaining amount is specified as the amount used and the specified amount used Is issued to the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10, and a subtraction request including the card ID and the used amount is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 60. The remaining amount management device 60 that has received the subtraction request subtracts the used amount included in the subtraction request from the prepaid remaining amount managed in association with the card ID included in the subtraction request, and sends a subtraction completion notification to the card unit. Reply to 20 The control unit 22 of the card unit 20 that has received the notification of completion of subtraction updates the used amount by subtracting from the prepaid balance in the card table, displays the remaining number on the remaining number display 14, and uses the card R / W 23. A process of recording the prepaid balance after the subtraction update is performed on the accepted card, the ball lending process is terminated, and the process proceeds to S21b.

  In S21b, the control unit 22 determines whether the visitor card 3 is being received and the prepaid balance and the number of balls stored in the card table are zero. If NO, the process returns to S11. If YES, The visitor card 3 is taken into the card stocker 23b in S21c, and the management ball number updating process is performed in S26b. In this management ball number update process, the control unit 22 performs a process of transmitting a ball number update request including the card ID and the number of balls (in this case, zero) to the ball management device 62 to manage the balls. The number update process ends. The ball management device 62 that has received the number-of-balls update request includes the number of balls managed in association with the card ID included in the number-of-balls update request. Update to number. When the process of S26b ends, in S26c, the control unit 22 deletes the stored contents of the card table and ends the business process.

  If the banknote is accepted in S12 (YES), the controller 22 performs the same depositing process as S04 in S22 and returns to S11.

  When the counting lever 32 is operated in S13 (YES), the control unit 22 determines whether or not the inflow restricting shutter 42 is being opened in S23a. If it is determined in S23a that the inflow limiting shutter 42 is not open (NO), that is, it is determined that the inflow limiting shutter 42 is closed because the counting prohibition condition is satisfied (YES in S54 in FIG. 7). , Return to S11. On the other hand, if it is determined in S23a that the inflow restricting shutter 42 is open (YES), that is, it is determined that the counting prohibition condition is not satisfied (NO in S54 of FIG. 7), the control unit 22 and the control unit 43 are In S23b, the effective counting process (i.e., counting the received pachinko balls, taking the counted acquired balls into the game island, and adding and updating the counted effective balls count to the number of balls held in the card table) is performed. In step S23c, the control unit 22 performs an effective ball number transmission process of transmitting the total information indicating the counted effective ball number and the machine number of the gaming apparatus to the hall computer 70, and returns to S11. . The hall computer 70 that has received this total information adds and updates the effective number of balls in the number of balls DB as described above.

  When there is an operation of the payout button in S14 (YES), the control unit 22 and each of the counter counting units 30 perform a ball payout process in S24. In this retained ball payout process, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the number of retained balls stored in the card table is equal to or greater than a preset payout setting number (for example, 125 balls for a 5-degree number). If the number of holding balls is equal to or greater than the set number of payouts, the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10 is instructed to pay out the pachinko balls corresponding to the set number of payouts, and the set number of payouts is stored in the card table. While subtracting and updating the number of balls, the number of balls is updated and displayed on the main screen, the ball payout process is terminated, and the process returns to S11.

  On the other hand, if the number of held balls is less than the set number of payouts, the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10 is commanded to pay out pachinko balls that are an integral multiple of the payout unit (25 balls) out of the number of held balls. Pachinko balls that are less than the payout unit are paid out from each unit counting unit 30 and the number of held balls stored in the card table is updated to zero, and the number of held balls is updated to zero on the main screen. Then, the ball payout process is terminated, and the process returns to S11. Specifically, when the number of balls is 124 balls, 25 balls × 4 = 100 balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 10, and the remaining 24 balls are paid out from each unit counting unit 30. When the fraction payout process is performed, the payout counter 38 is opened under the control of the control unit 22, the pachinko balls stored in the ball storage unit 36 are counted by the payout counter 38, and the count value by the payout counter 38 is paid out. When the number is reached, the payout counter 38 is closed. The pachinko balls counted by the payout counter 38 flow down in the outflow passage 39 and are blocked by the payout shutter 41. When the operation of the payout lever 40 is accepted, the payout shutter 41 is opened by the control of the control unit 22 that detects the operation, and the pachinko balls in the outflow passage 39 are dropped from the lower surface of the internal unit 30b. Can be used for games by receiving the fallen pachinko balls and supplying them to the upper plate.

  If there is a replay button operation in S15 (YES), the control unit 22 performs a stored ball replay process in S25. In this stored ball replay process, the control unit 22 has a number of stored balls stored in the card table equal to or greater than the preset number of replays set (for example, 125 balls for 5 degrees) + the number of commission balls (for example, 25 balls). It is determined whether or not there is. If the number of stored balls is equal to or greater than the number of replay settings + the number of fees, the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10 is instructed to pay out the pachinko balls corresponding to the number of replay settings, and the number of replay settings + the fee While subtracting and updating the number of balls from the number of balls stored in the card table, the number of balls is updated and displayed on the main screen, the stored ball replay process is terminated, and the process returns to S11. If the number of stored balls is less than the replay setting number + the number of commission balls, the stored ball replay process is terminated without paying out the pachinko balls, and the process returns to S11.

  If there is an operation of the card return button 16 in S16 (YES), the control unit 22 performs a process of returning the accepted card in the card R / W 23 in S26a, and performs a management ball number updating process in S26b. Do. In this management ball number update process, the control unit 22 transmits a ball number update request including the card ID and the number of balls to the ball management device 62 and the accepted card is the member card 2. In this case, a process for transmitting a stored ball number update request including the card ID and the number of stored balls is performed to the member management apparatus 61, and the management ball number updating process is terminated. The ball management device 62 that has received the number-of-balls update request includes the number of balls managed in association with the card ID included in the number-of-balls update request. Update to number. Also, the member management device 61 that has received the storage ball number update request updates the number of storage balls managed in association with the card ID included in the storage ball number update request to the number of storage balls included in the storage ball number update request. The process of returning the card in S26a and the management ball number updating process in S26b can be used to change the number of balls that have not been used for the ball payout process or the number of stored balls that have not been used for the replay process of the prize or other This corresponds to a confirmation process (ie, a process of returning the card by associating the number of possessed balls and the number of accumulated balls with the card ID of the accepted card) for use in the game of the pachinko machine 10 . When the process of S26b ends, the control unit 22 deletes the stored contents of the card table and ends the business process in S26c.

  Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the closing process performed by the gaming apparatus (the card unit 20 and each vehicle counting unit 30). First, in S101, the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 waits for reception of the function stop signal transmitted from the hall computer 70 by the on-site communication unit 21b, and if the function stop signal is received (YES), in S102. Then, the control unit 43 of each counter unit 30 performs a process of opening the inflow restricting shutter 42 (that is, maintaining the open state if it is already open, and opening it if it is closed) (S52). ), Go to S103.

  In S103, the control unit 22 transmits and deletes the number of balls stored in the card table to the hall computer 70. Specifically, first, an invalid storage request indicating the number of possessed balls stored in the card table is transmitted to the hall computer 70. The hall computer 70 that has received the invalid storage request here updates the number of balls indicated by the invalid storage request to the invalid number of balls stored in association with the invalid number of the invalid request source, An invalid storage completion notification is returned to the card unit 20. Then, the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 that has received the invalid storage completion notification erases the number of balls stored in the card table. That is, the number of balls left by the player after the store is closed is managed as an invalid number of balls that cannot be used for prize exchange or gaming. According to this, since the number of stored balls is deleted based on the reception of the function stop signal, the number of held balls is stored in which gaming device when the number of held balls is deleted when the store is closed. It is not necessary to search for the number of balls held, and the number of held balls can be specified from the recording medium (for example, recorded on a card), and the recording medium is taken to an erasing device (for example, a POS terminal) and specified from the recording medium. It is not necessary to delete the number of holding balls in the erasing device. That is, when the function stop signal is received, the number of possessed balls stored in the gaming device can be deleted, so that the work load of the store closing process can be reduced.

  When the process of S103 is completed, the control unit 22 waits for the operation of the counting lever 32 to be accepted in S104, and for the elapse of a predetermined time in S107. Here, the predetermined time is a period of time from when the function stop signal is received until the store clerk makes a round of the game hall and throws spilled balls and remaining balls into each unit counting unit 30 to finish counting the pachinko balls (for example, 1 hour) is preferably set. If it is determined in S107 that a predetermined time has elapsed since the function stop signal was received (YES), the function of the gaming device is stopped and the closing process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if there is an operation of the counting lever 32 before elapse of a predetermined time in S104 (YES), the control unit 22 and the control unit 43 perform the invalid counting process (i.e., counting the received pachinko balls, the counted invalid) in S105 The control unit 22 deletes the stored invalid ball number in S106, and stores the invalid ball number in S106. An invalid ball number transmission process for transmitting the total information indicating the machine number of the gaming apparatus to the hall computer 70 is performed, and the process returns to S104. The hall computer 70 that has received this total information adds and updates the invalid ball count in the ball count DB as described above. According to this, since the pachinko ball received after receiving the function stop signal can be taken into the game island in the gaming device based on the reception of the function stop signal from the hall computer 70, the pachinko ball Can be easily recovered. Also, in any of the plurality of gaming devices provided corresponding to each pachinko machine 10, the function stopping signal is received based on the fact that each of the plurality of gaming devices has received the function stopping signal from the hall computer 70. Since the pachinko balls received later can be taken into the game island at the position of each pachinko machine 10 without counting the number of acquired balls, the work load on the store clerk can be reduced.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 10, the modification 1 of this invention is demonstrated. In the first modification, a gaming device provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10 is composed of a card unit 20 ′, each of the counter counting units 30, and a ball card unit 50, and the gaming device Compared with the (card unit 20 and each unit counting unit 30), the mode of the determination process is different. Here, the card unit 20 ′ is different from the card unit 20 only in that the internal unit 30 b is not arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the holding card unit 50 is provided adjacent to the left side of the card unit 20 ′ and has a vertically long box shape. As shown in FIG. 10 (b), a storage ball button 52, a possession card insertion slot 53a, etc. are provided, and a possession card R / W 53 and a possession card stocker 53b are provided therein, and an issue button 51, a storage button 52, The holding ball card R / W 53 is communicably connected to the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 ′. In the lower part of the holding card unit 50, an external unit 30a of each counter unit 30 is arranged on the front surface, and an internal unit 30b of each counter counter 30 is arranged inside.

  In the gaming apparatus of the first modification, when the player wishes to move the table or exchange prizes, if the issue button 51 is operated in a state where the number of balls is stored in the card table, The possession card stocker 53b storing the card 5 conveys one of the retained possession cards 5 to the possession card R / W 53, and the possession card R / W 53 conveys The number of balls is recorded on the held ball card 5, and the ball card 5 is discharged from the ball card insertion slot 53a and issued. In the first modification, the issue of the possession card 5 corresponds to the confirmation process.

  The possession card 5 issued in this way is inserted into the possession card R / W 53 of the possession card unit 50 corresponding to another pachinko machine 10, whereby the possession card recorded on the possession card 5 is recorded. Using the number of balls, it is possible to perform the above-mentioned ball payout process. In addition, it is possible to exchange prizes at the POS terminal using the number of possessed balls. Note that the card being accepted by the card R / W 23 of the card unit 20 ′ is returned when the card return button 16 is operated. That is, in the first modification, the number of balls is not managed by the ball management device 62 in association with the card ID of the card, but is recorded and issued on the ball card 5.

  Further, in the gaming apparatus of the first modification, when the member player wishes to store balls, the number of balls held is stored in the card table, and the member card 2 is inserted in the card R / W 23 of the card unit 20 ′. When the storage ball button 52 is operated in the accepting state, a storage ball request including the card ID of the member card 2 and the number of balls to be stored is transmitted to the member management device 61. As described above, the member management device 61 that has received the storage ball request adds the number of balls to be stored included in the land lot to the number of storage balls managed in association with the card ID included in the storage ball request. Then, the member card 2 being accepted at the card R / W 23 of the card unit 20 ′ is returned when the card return button 16 is operated. In the first modification, the return of the member card 2 corresponds to the confirmation process.

  By inserting the returned membership card 2 into the card R / W 23 of the card unit 20 ′ corresponding to the other pachinko machine 10, the membership management device 61 is associated with the card ID of the membership card 2. The savings festival play process can be performed using the number of savings managed in the above. Further, it is possible to exchange prizes at the POS terminal using the number of stored balls. Unlike the case where the issue button 51 is operated, the possession card 5 is not issued.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the modification 2 of this invention is demonstrated. In the second modification, a gaming device provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10 is composed of a card unit 20 ″ and the respective unit counting unit 30, and the gaming device (the card unit 20 and each unit). The card unit 20 ′ is different from the counting unit 30) in that the card unit 20 ′ is compared with the card unit 20 as shown in FIG. 11a, the IC chip R / W 26 is further provided therein, and the IC chip R / W 26 is communicably connected to the control unit 22, as shown in FIG. 2 and the visitor card 3 are not used, and the card R / W 23 accepts the prepaid card 6 that can specify the prepaid balance, and does not include the card stocker 23b. Different.

  In the gaming apparatus of the second modification, when the player wishes to move the table or exchange prizes, the mobile phone 7 having the IC chip is in the proximity of the mobile phone while the number of balls is stored in the card table. In the vicinity of the unit 26a, the IC chip R / W 26 reads the identification information of the mobile phone 7 (chip ID, phone number, etc., hereinafter referred to as “mobile ID”) from the IC chip of the mobile phone 7. When a not-shown issue button displayed on the display 24 is operated, the number of balls and the mobile ID are stored in association with each other (stored in the IC chip of the mobile phone 7 or stored in the management device). Perform storage processing. In the second modification, the storage process corresponds to the determination process.

  Finally, other modifications of the present invention will be described.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an example in which the gaming machine is a pachinko machine 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the gaming machine may be a slot machine or a game machine. .

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the number of possessions is not recorded on the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) has been described, but not limited to this, the number of possessions may be recorded on the card, The membership card 2 does not record the number of balls, but the visitor card 3 records the number of balls, or the visitor card 3 does not record the number of balls, but the membership card 2 records the number of balls. It may be.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the example in which the remaining amount confirmation process of S08 is performed after the number acquisition process of S07 has been described, but not limited to this, the remaining amount confirmation process is performed after the remaining amount confirmation process is performed. The number of balls acquisition process may be performed, and the number of balls acquired process and the remaining amount confirmation process may be performed in parallel.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S21a of FIG. 8, the example in which the use process for using the game value is the ball lending process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the use process is not limited to the game value. May be a medal lending process for use in a slot machine, a process for converting a game value into a score and using it in a game machine, or the like.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in S26b of FIG. 8, the example of performing the management ball number update process when the card return button 16 is operated has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the update of the management ball number is a counting process. , It may be performed for each holding ball payout process and stored ball replay process, and if the card return button 16 is operated, the card may be returned without performing the management ball number updating process.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the example in which the reception unit is the infrared communication unit 21c that receives the count invalid signal from the remote controller has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the reception unit may be the card unit 20. It may be a control unit 22 that receives a count invalid signal that is issued by operating a count invalid button provided in the.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the example in which each counter unit 30 is provided with the counting lever 32 and the counting shutter 33 opened by the operation of the counting lever 32 has been described. 32 and the counting shutter 33 may be omitted. In this case, the determination of S13 and S27a in FIG. 8 and the determination of S104 in FIG. 9 are not performed, and if the inflow restricting shutter 42 is in the open state, the pachinko ball is inserted into the mounting portion 31. While the pachinko ball thus introduced is guided to the ball counter 35 and counting is performed, if the inflow restricting shutter 42 is in a closed state, even if the pachinko ball is inserted into the mounting portion 31, the inserted pachinko ball is mounted. It is reserved in the section 31 and is not counted.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the example in which the payout lever 40 and the payout shutter 41 opened by the operation of the payout lever 40 are provided in each of the counter units 30 has been described. 40 and the payout shutter 41 are not provided, but a return plate is provided at the tip of the outflow path so that the pachinko balls returned from the ball storage unit 36 are retained on the return plate.

  In the above embodiment, the inflow limiting shutter 42 shown in FIG. 5B is urged in the closing direction and is closed by the urging force when the power is turned off. The inflow restricting shutter 42 may be configured to be opened / closed by excitation of a solenoid without an urging force, and may be closed by exciting the solenoid with a backup power source when the power is off. The inflow restricting shutter 42 may be switched between closing and opening by appearing and retracting. Further, the inflow restricting shutter 42 may not be provided.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in S23b and S23c of FIG. 8, an example in which the effective ball number transmission process is performed immediately after the effective count process has been described. May be stored, and an effective ball number transmission process for transmitting the stored total ball number indicating the effective ball number to the hall computer 70 may be performed at an appropriate timing. That is, the timing at which the output means outputs the total information is not particularly limited.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in S27b and S27c of FIG. 8 or S105 and S106 of FIG. 9, an example of performing the invalid ball number transmission process immediately after the invalid count process has been described. The invalid ball count is stored after the invalid count processing and the invalid ball count transmission processing is performed to transmit the total information indicating the stored invalid ball count to the hall computer 70 at an appropriate timing. May be. That is, the timing at which the output means outputs the total information is not particularly limited.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S17 of FIG. 8, during counting, the invalid count process (S27b) is performed based on the reception of the count invalid signal from the remote controller (not shown) operated by the store clerk. Although the example has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and during operation, the hall computer 70 transmits a count invalid signal to each individual gaming device (card unit 20 and each unit count unit 30), and the count invalid signal is The received gaming device may perform invalid count processing. Similarly, in the above embodiment, as shown in S101 of FIG. 9, after the store is closed, an example in which the invalid count process (S105) is performed based on the reception of the function stop signal from the hall computer 70 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and after the store is closed, the game device may receive the function stop signal from the remote controller operated by the store clerk and perform the invalid count process. Further, the game system 1 may perform invalid count processing based on the fact that the game device receives a count invalid signal or a function stop signal from the hall computer 70 without using a remote control, and for gaming. The hall computer 70 may not be provided in the system 1, and the gaming device may perform invalid count processing based on receiving a count invalid signal or a function stop signal from a remote controller.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S27b of FIG. 8, the example of performing the invalid count process even during business has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the invalid count process may not be performed during business. . In this case, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in S107 of FIG. 9, an example has been described in which invalid count processing is not performed after a predetermined time elapses after receiving a function stop signal after closing a store. Not only, but with the invalid count mode that allows invalid count processing maintained, when the gaming device is turned off and the gaming device is turned on the next business day, the invalid counting mode is canceled and the business is started. The middle mode may be set. This is because invalid count processing is not performed during business.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S27d of FIG. 8 or S107 of FIG. 9, an example has been described in which the invalid counting process is not performed when a predetermined time elapses after receiving the counting invalid signal or the function stop signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and invalid count processing may be performed until a cancel signal is received from the remote controller or hall computer 70, and invalid count processing may not be performed when the cancel signal is received. According to this, a pachinko ball can be made to flow to each unit counting unit 30 as many times as necessary until a release signal is received. In the case of the business shown in FIG. 8, if there is a bill acceptance (YES in S01) or a card acceptance (YES in S02), the invalid counting process is not performed even if the release signal is not received. It is preferable to do this. This is because when a bill is received or a card is received and a game is performed, it is necessary to perform an effective counting process for counting the acquired balls as the number of effective balls.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S27b of FIG. 8 or S105 of FIG. 9, the pachinko balls are invalidated as invalid processing that does not count as the number of acquired pachinko balls received by each unit counting unit 30. Although the example which performs the invalid count process which counts and memorize | stores as the number of balls was demonstrated, not only this but count is not performed even if a pachinko ball passes the ball sensor 35 as an invalid process (Thus, it counts as the number of acquired balls) And may not be stored). In addition to the inflow path 34 that passes through the ball sensor 35, a bypass path that does not pass through the ball sensor 35 is provided, and the path is switched so that the accepted pachinko balls pass through the bypass path instead of the inflow path 34 as invalid processing. Processing may be performed. In these cases, since the number of invalid balls is not counted, it is not necessary to manage the number of invalid balls in the ball number DB (FIG. 6) of the hall computer 70.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gaming device communicates with the gaming machine to perform the ball lending process (S21a in FIG. 8), and specifies the number of balls held. A card unit 20 having at least a card returning function (s26a) for returning (issuing) a possible card and a ticket issuing function for performing a management ball number updating process (26b); However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the gaming apparatus includes a card unit that does not have the CR ball lending function but has at least a ticketing function, and each counter unit 30 (that is, a card). It may be a unit 20 + each unit counting unit 30 excluding the CR ball lending function of the card unit 20).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game system 10 ... Pachinko machine 20 ... Card unit 21b ... In-field communication part 21c ... Infrared communication part 22 ... Control part 30 ... Each unit counting unit 32 ... Control part 42 ... Inflow restriction shutter 43 ... Control part 70 ... Hall computer

Claims (6)

It is provided corresponding to the gaming machine placed on the amusement island,
Counting means for receiving and counting game media, and taking the counted game media into the game island;
Storage means for storing the number of game media counted by the counting means as the number of acquired game media acquired by the player;
Receiving means for receiving a count invalid signal;
Based on the reception of the count invalid signal by the receiving means, after the reception, the invalidation process for taking in the game island without counting the number of game media received by the count means as the number of acquired game media is performed. And an invalidation processing means. A gaming device according to claim 1,
Based on the reception of the counting invalid signal by the receiving means, the invalidation processing means counts the gaming media received by the counting means as the number of invalid gaming media after the reception and takes it into the gaming island. A process of storing the counted number of invalid game media in the storage means is performed as the invalidation process,
A game apparatus, further comprising an output unit that outputs total information indicating the number of invalid game media in order to count the number of invalid game media stored in the storage unit. A gaming device according to claim 1 or 2,
A shutter member that enables or disables the reception of game media into the counting means;
Shutter control means for controlling the shutter member in an acceptable state in which a game medium can be received or an inaccessible state in which a game medium cannot be received; and
The shutter control means controls the shutter member to be in an unacceptable state based on the fact that a predetermined counting prohibition condition is satisfied, and based on the fact that the counting invalid signal is received by the receiving means, Regardless of whether or not the counting prohibition condition is satisfied, the shutter member is controlled to be in an acceptable state. A gaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A shutter member that enables or disables the reception of game media to the counting means;
The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutter member is in an unacceptable state incapable of accepting game media based on the fact that the power of the game apparatus is turned off. A gaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The gaming device performs various processes in cooperation with a management device that transmits a function stop signal for stopping the function of the gaming device.
The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means receives the function stop signal as the count invalid signal. A gaming device according to claim 5,
Processing for transmitting information indicating the number of acquired game media stored in the storage unit to the management device and erasing the acquired game media number based on the reception of the function stop signal by the receiving unit A gaming apparatus, further comprising transmission erasure processing means for performing

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