JP2012050803A - Prize payout machine and prize payout system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a prize payout machine which can restrain or prevent a handling error of a prize to be handled when abnormality occurs in dispensing a prize.SOLUTION: A control part 200 of the prize payout machine 2 discriminates whether an error is a "transaction unestablished error" or a "transaction established error" based on detection timing when the error is detected during prize payout processing. For the "transaction unestablished error", the control part 200 lights in red a payout display part 210 provided at a shutter 12 corresponding to a payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred. Meanwhile for "transaction established error", the control part 200 lights in blue the payout display part 210 provided at the shutter 12 corresponding to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred.

Description

  The present invention relates to a prize dispensing machine and a prize dispensing system for dispensing prizes exchanged for game media such as pachinko balls.

In game facilities such as pachinko parlors, prize dispensers are provided for paying out prizes to the player in accordance with the number of game media such as pachinko balls acquired by the player. In the following Patent Documents 1 and 2, a prize dispenser that is installed directly on the floor of a game facility is proposed. A card-like prize is paid out by the prize dispenser.
In the prize dispensers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a cassette in which a plurality of prizes are stored in a stacked state is built in, and a necessary number of prizes are drawn out from the cassette and paid out to the player. Further, the prize dispenser described in Patent Document 2 includes a counting device that counts prizes stored in a cassette. Therefore, in this prize dispenser, it is possible to grasp how many prizes are stored in the prize dispenser.

Japanese Patent No. 3722878 JP 2009-297402 A

  In general, a prize dispenser has a function of detecting an error when a prize is dispensed. If an error is detected during the prize payout, the prize payout operation is stopped. In such a case, the clerk performs error recovery work. After the completion of this error recovery work, the prize dispenser is reset, for example, and an error recovery process (reset operation) is performed. At the time of error recovery work, for example, a prize causing an error may be taken out by an attendant. In addition, there is a case where a prize (residual prize) ready to be paid out in the prize dispenser is paid out by the error recovery process. In this specification, the prizes that have already been paid out when an error is detected, the prizes that are taken out by the staff through the error recovery process, and the prizes that are paid out from the prize dispenser through the error recovery process are collectively referred to as “handling”. It will be called “target prize”.

  Depending on the timing of the occurrence of the error, there are cases where the transaction is successfully completed by passing the handling target prize to the player, and there is a possibility that the transaction may not be normally completed only by passing the handling target prize to the player. . The case where the transaction is normally completed means that the prize for the same payout number as the case where no error has occurred can be delivered to the player by giving the handling prize to the player. On the other hand, if there is a possibility that the transaction will not be successful, simply giving the handled prize to the player may not give the same amount of prizes to the player as when the error did not occur. When there is. When there is a possibility that the transaction is not normally completed, the clerk needs to return the prize to be handled to the cassette and cause the prize dispenser to perform the prize dispensing process again. However, if a staff member makes a mistake in the handling method of the prize to be handled, there is a possibility that an appropriate number of prizes cannot be delivered to the player.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a prize dispenser and a prize dispensing system capable of suppressing or preventing a handling error of a prize to be handled when an error occurs during prize dispensing.

The invention according to claim 1 is a prize dispenser that dispenses a prize, and includes an error detection means for detecting a prize payout error, and a method of handling a prize to be handled when an error is detected by the error detection means. A prize dispenser including a deciding means for deciding and an output means for outputting a handling method of the prize to be handled decided by the deciding means.
In this configuration, when a prize payout error is detected, the handling method of the prize to be handled is determined. Then, the determined handling method of the handling target prize is output. Thereby, when an error occurs at the time of giving out the prize, it is possible to suppress or prevent a handling mistake of the handling target prize.

The invention according to claim 2 further includes a plurality of payout units for paying out prizes and an information display unit, wherein the output means specifies unit specifying information for specifying the payout unit in which a prize payout error has occurred, and the determination. 2. The prize dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying on the information display section information that can identify a handling method of the prize to be handled determined by the means. 3.
In this configuration, when a prize payout error is detected, unit specifying information for specifying a payout unit in which a prize payout error has occurred, and information for specifying the handling method of the prize to be handled are displayed on the information display unit. . As a result, the clerk can identify the payout unit in which the giveaway payout error has occurred, and easily recognize the method of handling the prize to be handled. Thereby, it becomes difficult to produce the handling mistake of the prize for handling.

  The invention according to claim 3 further includes a plurality of payout units for paying out prizes, a prize payout outlet that is different for each payout unit, and a payout display section provided in the vicinity of each of the prize payout outlets, The means includes: means for displaying, on the payout display unit corresponding to the payout unit in which a prize payout error has occurred, information that can specify the handling method of the handling target prize determined by the determining means. This is a free gift dispenser.

In this configuration, information that can specify how to handle the prize to be handled is displayed on the payout display unit corresponding to the payout unit in which the prize payout error has occurred. This makes it easier for the clerk to recognize how to handle the prize to be handled which is paid out from the prize payout exit near the payout display section. Thereby, it becomes difficult to produce the handling mistake of the prize for handling.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the output means includes means for displaying information capable of specifying a handling method of a handling target prize determined by the determining means during an error recovery process for the prize payout error. The gift dispenser according to 2 or 3.

  At the time of error recovery processing for a prize payout error, there is a possibility that a prize (residual prize) ready to be paid out in the prize dispenser is paid out. Information that can specify how to handle the free gift is displayed at the timing when the free gift is dispensed from the prize dispenser. It becomes easy to recognize how to handle. Thereby, it becomes difficult to produce the handling mistake of the prize for handling.

The invention according to claim 5 is the prize dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising counting means for counting the number of prizes in the prize dispenser during error recovery processing for the prize dispense error. is there. In this configuration, the number of prizes in the prize dispenser is counted during the error recovery process.
In the invention according to claim 6, whether or not the number of prizes counted by the counting means coincides with an appropriate quantity of prizes determined in consideration of the handling method of the handling target prize determined by the determining means. And a means for notifying the difference when the number of prizes counted by the counting means is not equal to the appropriate number of prize stocks. A prize dispenser according to claim 5.

  In this configuration, when it is determined that the number of prizes counted by the counting means does not coincide with the appropriate quantity of prize stock, the difference between them is notified. Therefore, based on this difference, the clerk returns the number of prizes corresponding to this difference to the prize dispenser so that the quantity of prize inventory in the prize dispenser matches the appropriate prize inventory number, or from the prize dispenser. It can be taken out. Thereby, it becomes easy to make the number of prizes in the prize dispenser coincide with the appropriate quantity of prizes.

  The invention described in claim 7 includes the prize dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a prize management machine that is communicably connected to the prize dispenser. An acquisition means for acquiring the handling method of the handling target prize determined by the determination means from the prize dispenser, and a display means for displaying information capable of specifying the handling method of the handling target prize acquired by the acquisition means. This is a premium payout system. According to this premium payout system, the same effects as those of the first to sixth aspects of the invention can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, when an error occurs at the time of giving away a prize, it becomes possible to suppress or prevent a handling error of a handling target prize.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a prize management system 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prize dispenser 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing unit 8 and shows a state in which the drawer portion 21 is in the open position. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the inside of the casing 20 is exposed in FIG. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are perspective views of the cassette 7 viewed from different angles. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the prize 5. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are diagrams schematically showing a longitudinal section of the prize dispenser 2. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining an error detection method when paying out a prize. FIG. 9 is a side view of the dispensing unit 8 in the state of FIG. FIG. 10A is a front view of the counting unit 61, and FIG. 10B is a side view of the counting unit 61. FIG. 11 is a plan sectional view of the dispensing unit 8. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow AA in FIG. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the counting unit 61 and the drive mechanism 70. FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the prize dispenser 2. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of the cassette-by-cassette prize type table TA1, the cassette-by-cassette inventory management table TA2, and the prize-type-by-species inventory management table TA3. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of a cassette number (cassette No.) assigned to each cassette and types of prizes stored in each cassette. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of a screen displayed during standby on the attendant display unit 9B of the prize dispenser 2. FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the prize management machine 3. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the giveaway machine 2. FIG. 20A is a schematic diagram showing a screen (screen during payout) displayed on the clerk display unit 9B when the prize payout process is being performed, and FIG. 20B shows the prize payout process. It is a schematic diagram which shows the screen (payout end screen) displayed on the display section for clerk 9B when it ends normally. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure of error processing executed by the control unit 200 when an error is detected during the prize payout processing. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an error processing procedure based on the transaction failure error in step S22 of FIG. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a procedure of error processing based on the transaction failure error in step S22 of FIG. FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the error occurrence screen displayed in step S32 of FIG. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the error handling screen displayed in step S34 of FIG. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a prize handling screen displayed in step S37 of FIG. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen displayed in step S42 of FIG. FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen displayed in step S44 of FIG. FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the unpaid premium payout screen displayed in step S46 of FIG. FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an error processing procedure based on the transaction establishment error in step S23 of FIG. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a procedure of error processing based on the transaction establishment error in step S23 of FIG. FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the error occurrence screen displayed in step S52 of FIG. FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the error handling screen displayed in step S54 of FIG. FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a prize handling screen displayed in step S57 of FIG. FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen displayed in step S61 of FIG. FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen displayed in step S63 of FIG. FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a prize handling screen displayed on the attendant display unit 306 of the prize management machine 3. FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a modification of the error process executed by the control unit 200 when an error is detected during the prize payout process in step S7 of FIG. FIGS. 39A to 39C are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of screens displayed on the attendant display unit 9B by the control unit 200 in the guidance processing in step S81 of FIG. FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a staff member when performing a payout test and a processing procedure by the control unit 200. FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a staff member when performing a payout test and a processing procedure by the control unit 200. FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a staff member when performing a payout test and a processing procedure performed by the control unit 200. FIG. 43 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a standby screen. FIG. 44 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the menu screen displayed in step S102 of FIG. FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a payout test menu screen displayed in step S104 of FIG. FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a payout target lane / number display screen displayed in step S106 of FIG. FIG. 47 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a payout screen displayed in step S109 of FIG. FIG. 48 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a payout completion screen displayed in step S111 of FIG. FIG. 49 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the counting screen displayed in step S116 of FIG. FIG. 50 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the count completion screen displayed in step S118 of FIG. FIG. 51 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the counting screen displayed in step S120 of FIG. FIG. 52 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the inventory quantity mismatch screen displayed in step S123 of FIG. FIG. 53 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a payout test end screen displayed in step S125 of FIG. 54A to 54E are schematic diagrams illustrating screen examples displayed on the attendant display unit 9B by the control unit 200 when a payout error occurs during the payout test. FIGS. 55A to 55E are schematic diagrams showing examples of drawings displayed on the attendant display unit 9B when referring to history information and the like related to the payout test after the payout test.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a prize management system 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, a prize management system 1 of the present invention is provided in a game facility such as a pachinko parlor. The prize management system 1 includes a prize dispenser 2 for delivering prizes, a prize management machine 3 for managing the prize dispenser 2, and a terminal computer (“T / C” for short) that is a host device for the prize management machine 3. 4). The prize management system is composed of the prize management machine 3 and the prize dispenser 2 connected thereto.

The prize dispenser 2 stores a large number of prizes, and gives the player the type and the number of prizes according to the number of game media (pachinko balls and medals) that the player has acquired by playing on the game stand. Pay out.
The prize management machine 3 is also called “POS” and is arranged at a prize exchange counter or the like in a game facility. One or a plurality of prize dispensers 2 are connected to the prize management machine 3 so as to communicate with each other. When the game medium acquired by the player is counted by the counter, a recording medium (receipt, ball card, etc.) on which the acquired number (count value) is recorded is issued. The prize management machine 3 reads the number of acquired game media recorded on the recording medium, identifies the type / number of prizes according to the number of acquisitions, and pays out the type / number of prizes. 2 is instructed. The prize management machine 3 manages the number of prizes stored in the prize dispenser 2 for each type. In FIG. 1, a plurality of free gift management machines 3 are shown, but one of the free gift management machines 3 is a parent machine, and the remaining free gift management machines 3 are slave machines. You may be comprised so that a subunit | mobile_unit may be managed.

T / C4 is installed in an office or the like in a game facility. The prize manager 3 is connected to the T / C 4 so as to be communicable. The T / C 4 not only manages prizes, but also manages the entry and exit of gaming media on the gaming table, the flow of money in the entire gaming facility, and the like.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prize dispenser 2. In the following, the up / down, front / back, left / right directions of the giveaway machine 2 are defined based on the attitude of the giveaway machine 2 in FIG. That is, in FIG. 2, the longitudinal direction of the prize dispenser 2 (the direction connecting the upper left and the lower right in FIG. 2) is the left-right direction (width direction), and the front side of FIG. 2 is the front side of the prize dispenser 2. The rear side of the paper surface in FIG. 2 is the rear side of the prize dispenser 2.

The prize dispenser 2 is used by being placed directly on the floor of the amusement facility. The customer who receives the payout of the free gift is located on the rear side of the free gift dispenser 2, and the clerk is located on the front side of the free gift dispenser 2 for customer service.
The prize 5 handled by the prize dispenser 2 is a valuable card body that is exchanged according to the number of game media such as pachinko balls acquired by the player at the game facility and is also called a special prize (see FIG. 6 described later).

The prize dispenser 2 has a wide, hollow, substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped cabinet 6 (apparatus body) and a plurality (for example, seven) of prizes 5 stacked in a cassette 7 (accommodating section). ) (See also FIGS. 5 and 7 to be described later).
The front side of the cabinet 6 is open, and the cabinet 6 is provided with a door 18 that opens and closes an open portion of the front side. The cabinet 6 is provided with a door opening / closing detection unit 203 (see FIG. 14) for detecting the opening / closing of the door 18.

The plurality of payout units 8 are built in the cabinet 6 in a state of being aligned in the width direction (in FIG. 2, for the sake of convenience, only the rightmost payout unit 8 is drawn forward).
A front portion of the upper surface of the cabinet 6 is open, and the open portion is covered with a display cover 90. A front edge portion of the display cover 90 is rotatably connected to the cabinet 6 via a hinge (not shown). Thereby, it is possible to open and close the display cover 90 around the hinge. The display cover 90 is provided with a display unit 9 and an operation unit 10. The display unit 9 includes a customer display unit 9A that can be viewed from the customer side, and an attendant display unit 9B that can be viewed only from the staff side, and each display unit displays necessary information. The operation unit 10 is disposed beside the clerk display unit 9B. The operation unit 10 is operated by a staff member in order to control the operation of the prize dispenser 2.

  An outlet 11 is formed on the upper surface of the cabinet 6 at an upper position of each payout unit 8. A plurality (seven in this case) of outlets 11 are formed according to the number of payout units 8. Each outlet 11 communicates with the inside of the cabinet 6. Each outlet 11 is provided with a shutter 12. The shutter 12 opens and closes the outlet 11 by sliding individually back and forth.

  Although not shown, the shutter 12 includes a base portion on the front end side and a shutter main body rotatably connected to the base portion by a hinge. The shutter 12 has a structure in which the base and the shutter body are always kept in a straight line when viewed from the side. The shutter body can be rotated about the hinge by lifting the rear side of the shutter body. Such an operation is referred to as a manual shutter opening operation. When the shutter 12 is closed, the base and a part of the shutter main body are covered with the display cover 90, so that the manual shutter opening operation cannot be performed. On the other hand, if the display cover 90 is opened when the shutter 12 is closed, a manual shutter opening operation can be performed.

A display unit (hereinafter referred to as “payout display unit 210”) is provided on the upper surface of each shutter 12. The payout display unit 210 may be constituted by an LED, for example.
As shown in FIG. 7, the prize dispenser 2 has a lift mechanism for lifting the prize 5 stored in the cassette 7 (see FIG. 5) as a mechanism for paying out the prize 5 stored therein. 13 (conveying means), a feeding mechanism 14 for feeding the prize 5 lifted by the lift mechanism 13 to the outlet 11 side, a temporary holding section 15 for holding the fed prize 5 below the outlet 11, An elevator mechanism 16 for lifting the held prize 5 toward the outlet 11 and a delivery mechanism 17 for pushing the prize 5 lifted up to the outlet 11 to the upper surface of the cabinet 6 are provided. The above-described shutter 12 and the configuration for sliding the shutter 12 are included in the above-described delivery mechanism 17. These mechanisms will be described individually when the payout unit 8 is described below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing unit 8 and shows a state in which the drawer portion 21 is in the open position.
As shown in FIG. 3, each payout unit 8 has a hollow box shape that is slightly thin in the left-right direction. The dispensing unit 8 includes a casing 20 (housing) that forms an outer shell, a drawer portion 21 that can be pulled out from the casing 20, a plurality of (here, four) cassettes 7, and a carrier 22 that holds these cassettes 7 ( Holding means). The drawer part 21, the cassette 7, and the carrier 22 are normally housed in the casing 20 (see FIG. 2). The carrier 22 integrally holds the four cassettes 7 in a state where they are arranged in the front-rear direction. The four cassettes 7 arranged in the front-rear direction may be distinguished from the cassette 7A, the cassette 7B, the cassette 7C, and the cassette 7D in order from the front (see FIG. 7). In FIG. 3, only the fourth cassette 7D from the front is shown.

A longitudinal opening 23 is formed in the front wall of the casing 20 in the vertical direction. The opening 23 communicates with the inside of the casing 20.
The drawer portion 21 is integrally provided with a front plate 24, a side plate 25, and a bottom plate 26. The front plate 24 is long in the vertical direction when viewed from the front side, and has a size that can just block the opening 23 of the casing 20. The side plate 25 is thin in the width direction and continuously extends from the left edge of the front plate 24 to the rear side. The bottom plate 26 connects the lower end of the front plate 24 and the lower end of the side plate 25.

  The side plate 25 is supported in a slidable manner in the front-rear direction by a rail 27 provided on an inner wall surface 20A that divides the inside of the casing 20 from the left side. Thereby, the drawer | drawing-out part 21 is slidable to the front-back direction. Specifically, the drawer 21 can slide between a closed position (see FIG. 2) and an open position (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 2, when the drawer portion 21 is in the closed position, the front plate 24 closes the opening 23 of the casing 20 from the front side (see the right end dispensing unit 8). When the drawer portion 21 in this state is pulled out by a predetermined amount to the front side, the drawer portion 21 is arranged at the open position shown in FIG. When the drawer portion 21 is in the open position, the front plate 24 is positioned in front of the opening 23 to open the opening 23, and almost all of the side plate 25 and the bottom plate 26 are drawn to the front side.

  The carrier 22 is integrally provided with a plurality of partitions 28 and a frame 29. These partitions 28 have a plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction and extends in the up-down direction, and is arranged along the front-rear direction at a predetermined interval. The frame 29 is a substantially rectangular plate having a size slightly smaller than the side plate 25, and the left end portion of each partition 28 is connected to the frame 29. Each cassette 7 is held by the carrier 22 by being sandwiched between two partitions 28 that are adjacent to each other with a gap in the front-rear direction.

  The carrier 22 is supported on the frame 29 by the side plate 25 of the drawer portion 21 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. Here, regarding the relative position of the carrier 22 with respect to the side plate 25, the position of the carrier 22 at the most front side is referred to as the front position (see FIG. 7B), and the position of the carrier 22 at the most rear side. Is referred to as a rear position (see FIG. 7A). That is, the carrier 22 is movable between the front position and the rear position. In FIG. 3, the carrier 22 in the front position is shown.

A slide mechanism 30 that slides the carrier 22 back and forth is provided below the carrier 22. The slide mechanism 30 is configured by, for example, a motor-driven rack and pinion mechanism or the like, and is fixed to the bottom plate 26 of the drawer portion 21.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which the inside of the casing 20 is exposed in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the casing 20, two lifts 31 are provided that are arranged at an interval in the arrangement direction (front-rear direction) of the cassettes 7. Each lift 31 has a flat plate shape in the front-rear and left-right directions, is supported by the casing 20, and can be raised and lowered along the up-down direction in the casing 20. The standby position of the lift 31 is the position of the lift 31 shown in FIG. 4 and is near the bottom wall of the casing 20. The lift 31 and the configuration for raising and lowering the lift 31 are included in the lift mechanism 13 described above.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are perspective views of the cassette 7 viewed from different angles.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cassette 7 is long in the vertical direction, and its flat cross section is substantially U-shaped. The upper surface and the bottom surface of the cassette 7 are open. One side surface of the cassette 7 (the right side surface in a state of being held by the carrier 22) is opened over the entire range in the vertical direction so as to form the above-described substantially U shape, and the portion thus opened. Is referred to as an open part 32. The open portion 32 is continuous with both the top surface and the bottom surface opened in the cassette 7. Further, referring to FIG. 5B, both ends (front and rear end portions) in the horizontal direction of the other side surface opposite to the one side surface in the cassette 7 are cut out over almost the entire range in the vertical direction. Such a notched portion is referred to as a notched portion 33. Each notch 33 is vertically partitioned into a strip shape, and the inside of the cassette 7 is exposed.

  The cassette 7 can store, for example, a maximum of 100 prizes 5 of a predetermined type in a stacked state in which they are stacked in the vertical direction. The lower end of the cassette 7 is provided with a claw 34 that engages the lowermost prize 5 in the cassette 7 from the lower side, and the prize 5 may fall off from the bottom surface opened in the cassette 7. It is prevented. Further, in a state in which the prizes 5 are filled in the cassette 7, the end faces of all the prizes 5 are exposed to the outside of the cassette 7 from the open portions 32 and the respective cutout portions 33 (FIGS. 5A and 5). b)).

Further, a substantially U-shaped handle 19 is attached to the upper end portion of the cassette 7 so that the cassette 7 is sandwiched between two free end portions that are substantially U-shaped. The handle 19 is rotatable around two free ends.
Here, the arrangement direction of the four cassettes 7 held by the carrier 22 is the front-rear direction as described above, and the crossing direction (strictly, orthogonal) to the stacking direction (vertical direction) of the prize 5 in the cassette 7. Direction) (see FIG. 7 described later). The arrangement direction of the cassettes 7 may not necessarily be orthogonal as long as it intersects the stacking direction of the prizes 5.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the prize 5.
As shown in FIG. 6, the giveaway 5 is generally a resin card having a thickness of about 1 mm to several mm. The prize 5 has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and its four corners are rounded. The prize 5 has a built-in object having a predetermined monetary value. For example, there are three types according to the monetary value, such as 200 yen (small prize), 1000 yen (medium prize), and 5000 yen (large prize). Exists. In addition, the giveaway 5 may have a built-in RFID tag or the like for identifying its type, or may have been subjected to processing for preventing fraud such as forgery.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a longitudinal section of the prize dispenser 2.
With reference to FIG. 7, the above-described feeding mechanism 14 is disposed above each lift 31 in the casing 20 of each dispensing unit 8. That is, two feeding mechanisms 14 are provided according to the number of lifts 31. The feeding mechanism 14 is disposed adjacent to the upper wall of the casing 20 and is supported by the casing 20.

  Each feeding mechanism 14 includes a moving body 41 that is slidably supported in the front-rear direction and a pair of feeding rollers 42 that are rotatably supported. The moving body 41 and the feeding roller 42 are driven by a feeding motor (not shown). An extrusion piece 41 </ b> A is provided on the bottom surface of the moving body 41. In the feeding mechanism 14 on the front side (left side in FIG. 7), the moving body 41 and the feeding roller 42 are arranged in this order from the front side. In the feeding mechanism 14 on the rear side (right side in FIG. 7), the moving body 41 and the feeding roller 42 are arranged in this order from the rear side.

  With reference to FIG. 7, a feeding space 51 is formed in a portion located between the two feeding mechanisms 14 on the upper wall of the casing 20. In a state where the dispensing unit 8 is housed in the cabinet 6, the feeding space 51 of the casing 20 communicates with the corresponding outlet 11 in the cabinet 6 from below. In each feeding mechanism 14, the feeding roller 42 is disposed at a position closest to the feeding space 51 in the front-rear direction.

The moving body 41 reciprocates between the standby position shown in FIG. 7 and the advanced position approaching the feeding roller 42. In the process in which the moving body 41 moves from the standby position to the advanced position, the extruding piece 41A sends the premium at the uppermost position between the pair of feeding rollers 42. This prize is discharged toward the feeding space 51 by the feeding roller 42.
In the casing 20, a temporary storage unit 15 that communicates with the supply space 51 from below is defined below the supply space 51, and the elevator mechanism 16 described above is provided in the temporary storage unit 15. The elevator mechanism 16 includes an elevator 53. The elevator 53 has a flat plate shape in the front-rear and left-right directions, is supported by the casing 20, and can move up and down along the up-down direction in the casing 20. When the elevator 53 is in the standby position, the upper surface of the elevator 53 is lower than the feed roller 42 of each feeding mechanism 14. A mechanism for raising and lowering the elevator 53 is included in the elevator mechanism 16.

Next, the payout operation of the prize 5 by the prize dispenser 2 will be described focusing on one payout unit 8.
First, the door 18 of the cabinet 6 is opened (see FIG. 2), and the drawer unit 21 is pulled out to the open position in the dispensing unit 8 as shown in FIG. In this state, the cassette 7 (see FIG. 5) containing the same type of prize 5 is inserted into the carrier 22 from above and is held by the carrier 22. Although the types of the prizes 5 in the cassette 7 are the same, the types of the prizes 5 accommodated in the cassettes 7 may be different.

  After the cassette 7 is held by the carrier 22, the drawer 21 is pushed into the closed position (see FIG. 2), and is housed (built in) in the casing 20 together with the cassette 7 and the carrier 22. At this time, the carrier 22 is moved to the rear position (see FIG. 7A). When the door 18 (see FIG. 2) is closed, the prize 5 can be paid out by the prize dispenser 2.

  Thus, when the drawer part 21 is in the closed position and the carrier 22 is in the rear position, as shown in FIG. 7A, the two lifts 31 described above are in the standby position (in FIG. 7A). (See the lift 31 indicated by the dotted line). Specifically, among these lifts 31, the bottom surface of the first cassette 7A from the front is located above the front lift 31, and the third cassette 7 C from the front is above the rear lift 31. The bottom is located.

  When the carrier 22 moves from this state to the front position, the four cassettes 7 move relative to the front side relative to the lift 31 as shown in FIG. In this case, the bottom surface of the second cassette 7B from the front is positioned above the front lift 31, and the bottom surface of the fourth cassette 7D from the front is positioned above the rear lift 31. (Refer to the lift 31 indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 7B).

  When the carrier 22 is in the rear position, the prize 5 can be paid out from either or both of the cassette 7A and the cassette 7C (see FIG. 7A). When the carrier 22 is in the front position, the prize 5 can be paid out from either or both of the cassette 7B and the cassette 7D (see FIG. 7B). From which cassette 7 the prize 5 is paid out can be arbitrarily set. Here, the carrier 22 can move within the casing 20 to a payout position (front position) at which the premium 5 in the cassette 7B and the cassette 7D can be paid out, and the premium 5 in the cassette 7A and the cassette 7C can be paid out. It can be said that it can move within the casing 20 to a payout position (rear position) where it can be performed.

Next, taking the cassette 7A as an example, a procedure for paying out the prize 5 from the cassette 7 will be specifically described.
First, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the standby position lift 31 (see lift 31 indicated by the dotted line) located below the cassette 7A is opened as shown by the solid line. It rises from the bottom through the cassette 7A. As a result, all the prizes 5 in the cassette 7A are pushed up by the lift 31.

  When the premium 5 at the top is pushed up to the feeding mechanism 14, the lifting of the lift 31 stops, and the feeding mechanism 14 feeds out the top prize 5. Specifically, the moving body 41 at the standby position moves to the advance position. In the case of the cassette 7A, the moving body 41 moves rearward toward the advanced position. At this time, the extruded piece 41A of the moving body 41 conveys the premium at the uppermost position between the pair of feeding rollers 42. Thereafter, the moving body 41 returns to the standby position. The prize 5 is discharged toward the feeding space 51 by the feeding roller 42, and is placed on the upper surface of the elevator 53 at the standby position in the temporary storage unit 15.

  Then, the lifting of the lift 31 and the feeding of the prize 5 by the feeding mechanism 14 are repeated for each prize 5, and the prizes 5 in the cassette 7 </ b> A are stacked on the elevator 53 in order from the top and temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 15. Deferred. Here, it can be seen that the lift mechanism 13 having the lift 31 conveys the prize 5 in the cassette 7A upward in the vertical direction to the feeding position where the prize 5 is fed one by one by the feeding mechanism 14. .

  In addition, when the prize 5 is fed out by the feeding mechanism 14, the elevator 53 is appropriately lowered from the standby position so that the prize 5 is stacked on the elevator 53 satisfactorily. Specifically, every time one prize 5 is placed on the elevator 53, the elevator 53 may be lowered, or even if the elevator 53 is lowered after a predetermined number of prizes 5 are stacked on the elevator 53. Good.

  Further, not only the prize 5 of the cassette 7A but also the prize 5 of the cassette 7C may be stacked on the elevator 53 in the same procedure as in the case of the cassette 7A. When there is no prize 5 in the cassette 7A and the cassette 7C, the carrier 22 moves from the rear position to the front position (see FIG. 7B), and the prize 5 in the cassette 7B and the cassette 7D is the same as in the case of the cassette 7A. Are stacked on the elevator 53 by the following procedure.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the number of prizes 5 required for payout are stacked on the elevator 53, the corresponding shutter 12 moves forward on the upper surface of the cabinet 6 (the shutter 12 indicated by the dotted line is moved). Open the outlet 11 above this elevator 53. Along with this, the elevator 53 rises to the exit 11 through the feeding space 51 of the dispensing unit 8. When the elevator 53 is raised until the upper surface of the elevator 53 is flush with the upper surface of the cabinet 6, the shutter 12 moves rearward to close the outlet 11, and at that time, is stacked on the upper surface of the elevator 53. The prize 5 is pushed out to the upper surface of the cabinet 6. Thereby, the prize 5 is paid out to the customer side (rear side).

With reference to FIG. 8, the procedure of the giveaway operation will be briefly described as follows.
(A1) The requested number of premiums 5 is paid out by the payout mechanism 14 and accumulated in the temporary storage unit 15.
(A2) The shutter 12 of the delivery mechanism 17 is opened.
(A3) The elevator 53 of the elevator mechanism 16 is raised. As a result, the prize 5 on the elevator 53 comes out of the cabinet 6.
(A4) The shutter 12 is closed. As a result, the prize 5 is pushed and paid out to the customer side, and the exit is closed.
(A5) The elevator 53 is lowered.

By the way, an error (abnormality) may occur when the prize is paid out. The prize dispenser 2 has a function of detecting an error when a prize is dispensed. Then, when an error occurs at the time of paying out the prize, it is determined whether the error is a “transaction establishment error” or a “transaction establishment failure error” based on the error occurrence timing.
The “transaction establishment error” refers to an error in which a transaction is successfully established by passing the above-mentioned “handled prize” to the player. “Handling prize” includes a prize that has already been paid out from the payout unit 8 when an error is detected, a prize that is taken out from the payout unit 8 by a staff member through error recovery processing, and the payout unit 8 through error recovery processing. The prize paid out from is included. The “dealing failure error” refers to an error in which the transaction may not be normally completed even if the “handled prize” is given to the player.

  Specifically, if an error is detected between the start of the operation (A1) and the start of the opening operation of the shutter 12 (A2), the error is “ It is determined that the transaction is not successful. On the other hand, if an error is detected after the opening operation of the shutter 12 in (A2) is started and before the elevator 53 is lowered in (A5), the error is “transaction establishment error”. It is determined that

As will be described later, the handling method of the “handling to be handled” is different between the case where the detected error is determined to be a “dealing error” and the case where it is determined to be a “dealing error”.
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 8, an error detection method at the time of paying out a premium will be described.
(1) Error detection in the feeding mechanism 14 The feeding mechanism 14 is provided with a position sensor 401 including a photoelectric detector that detects that the moving body 41 is in the standby position. The feeding mechanism 14 is provided with a light shielding member (not shown) that moves as the moving body 41 moves. When the moving body 41 is in the standby position, the position sensor 401 is shielded from light by the light shielding member. When the moving body 41 moves toward the advanced position, the light shielding member moves accordingly, and the position sensor 401 enters a light transmitting state.

The position sensor 401 is in the order of the light-blocking state, the light-transmitting state, and the light-blocking state until a predetermined specified time elapses after the moving body 41 at the standby position starts moving toward the advance position by the feeding motor It is monitored whether or not it changes. When the state of the position sensor 401 does not change in the order, it is determined that an error has occurred. That is, an error is detected.
(2) Error Detection by Delivery Mechanism 17 The delivery mechanism 17 includes a closed position sensor 402 for detecting that the shutter 12 is in the closed position (standby position) indicated by the solid line in FIG. An open position sensor 403 for detecting the open position indicated by the broken line 8 is provided. The sending mechanism 17 is provided with a light shielding member that moves as the shutter 12 moves. When the shutter 12 is in the closed position, the closed position sensor 402 is shielded from light by the light shielding member, and the open position sensor 403 is in a light-transmitting state. When the shutter 12 moves toward the open position, the light shielding member moves accordingly, and the closed position sensor 402 enters a light transmitting state. When the shutter 12 moves to the open position, the open position sensor 403 is shielded from light by the light shielding member.

When the shutter 12 is opened, it is determined that an error has occurred if the open position sensor 403 is not in a light-shielded state within a predetermined specified time after the opening operation of the shutter 12 in the closed position is started. That is, an error is detected. Further, when the shutter 12 is closed, it is determined that an error has occurred when the closed position sensor 402 is not in a light-shielded state within a predetermined specified time since the closing operation of the shutter 12 in the open position is started. . That is, an error is detected.
(3) Error Detection in Elevator Mechanism 16 The elevator mechanism 16 includes a lower position sensor 404 for detecting that the elevator 53 is in the standby position, and the elevator 53 is provided with a prize payout position (the upper surface of the elevator 53 is An upper position sensor 405 is provided for detecting that the position is substantially flush with the upper surface. The elevator mechanism 16 is provided with a light shielding member that moves as the elevator 53 moves. When the elevator 53 is in the standby position, the lower position sensor 404 is shielded from light by the light shielding member, and the upper position sensor 405 is in a light-transmitting state. When the elevator 53 reaches the prize payout position, the upper position sensor 405 is shielded from light by the light shielding member, and the lower position sensor 404 is in a translucent state.

  When paying out premiums on the elevator 53 in the temporary storage unit 15, an error occurred if the upper position sensor 405 was not in a light-shielded state within a predetermined specified time after the elevator 53 started to move up. It is determined. That is, an error is detected. Further, when the elevator 53 at the prize payout position is lowered to the standby position, an error occurs if the lower position sensor 404 is not in a light-shielded state within a predetermined specified time after the elevator 53 starts to descend. It is determined that That is, an error is detected.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the dispensing unit 8 in the state of FIG.
The payout unit 8 is provided with a counting sensor 60 (counting means) for counting the number of prizes 5 stored in a stacked state in the cassette 7 for each cassette 7.
As shown in FIG. 9, in each payout unit 8, two counting sensors 60 are adjacent to each other to form one set, and two sets are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction. That is, each dispensing unit 8 is provided with four counting sensors 60 arranged side by side. In FIG. 9, the counting sensor 60 on the rearmost side (right side in FIG. 9) is hidden behind the cassette 7D and cannot be seen.

FIG. 10A is a front view of the counting unit 61, and FIG. 10B is a side view of the counting unit 61.
Referring to FIG. 10, the above-described two counting sensors 60 forming one set constitute one counting unit 61. As shown in FIG. 10A, the counting unit 61 includes two counting sensors 60 and a holder 62 (supporting member) having a substantially rectangular thin plate shape (see FIG. 10B). Counting sensors 60 are attached to both ends in the horizontal direction of the upper end of the front surface of the holder 62 (the side surface viewed from the right side when incorporated in the dispensing unit 8). That is, one counting unit 61 has two counting sensors 60. In the state where the counting unit 61 is incorporated in the dispensing unit 8, the two counting sensors 60 are arranged in the front-rear direction and are supported by the holder 62 in this state (see FIG. 13). A guide member 63 is provided on the surface of the holder 62 between the two counting sensors 60. The guide member 63 has a substantially U-shaped cross section and can be connected to a guide rail 64 described later (see FIG. 11 described later).

FIG. 11 is a plan sectional view of the dispensing unit 8. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow AA in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 11, in each dispensing unit 8, two counting units 61 are attached to the frame 29 (see FIG. 3) of the carrier 22 with an interval in the front-rear direction. That is, the counting sensor 60 of each counting unit 61 is provided on the carrier 22.

  Specifically, referring to FIG. 12, in the frame 29, when the cassettes 7A to 7D are held by the carrier 22 (see FIG. 7), the position between the cassette 7A and the cassette 7B, and the cassette 7C and the cassette A guide rail 64 extending vertically is provided at a position between 7D. That is, the two guide rails 64 are provided on the frame 29 in a state where a predetermined interval is provided in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 12).

  A guide member 63 (see FIG. 10A) of the holder 62 in the front counting unit 61 is connected to the front guide rail 64, and the rear counting unit is connected to the rear guide rail 64. The guide member 63 of the holder 62 in 61 is connected. In this state, the entire counting unit 61 is supported by the corresponding guide rail 64 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. In each counting unit 61, the two counting sensors 60 face the right side (the front side in FIG. 12 and the side facing the cassette 7). Here, the position of the counting unit 61 (counting sensor 60) when it is located at the lower end of the guide rail 64 is defined as a standby position.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the counting unit 61 and the drive mechanism 70. In FIG. 13, the left side is the front side of the gift dispenser 2.
As a configuration for moving the counting unit 61 up and down, for example, the carrier 22 of each payout unit 8 is provided with a drive mechanism 70 (drive means). The drive mechanism 70 includes a drive motor 71, a transmission gear 72, connection gears 73 and 74, a drive gear 75, and a belt 76.

The drive motor 71 is, for example, a stepping motor, and is disposed at the lower end of one of the two guide rails 64 (here, the front guide rail 64). The drive motor 71 has an output shaft (not shown), and a drive gear 75 having gear teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface is attached to the output shaft.
The transmission gear 72 is disposed at the lower end of the other guide rail 64 (in this case, the rear guide rail 64) instead of the one of the two guide rails 64. Gear teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the transmission gear 72.

The connecting gear 73 is disposed at the lower end of the one (front) guide rail 64 and is connected to the counting unit 61 supported by the guide rail 64 by a drive transmission member (not shown). Gear teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connection gear 73, and the connection gear 73 meshes with the drive gear 75.
The connecting gear 74 is disposed at the lower end of the other (rear) guide rail 64 and is connected to the counting unit 61 supported by the guide rail 64 by a drive transmission member (not shown). Gear teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connection gear 74, and the connection gear 74 meshes with the transmission gear 72.

The belt 76 is an endless belt having gear teeth formed on the inner peripheral surface, and is wound around the drive gear 75 and the transmission gear 72.
In such a drive mechanism 70, when the drive motor 71 is driven, the drive gear 75 rotates in a predetermined direction. As a result, the connecting gear 73 meshing with the drive gear 75 rotates, and the driving force of the drive motor 71 is transmitted to the front counting unit 61 by the drive transmission member described above, and the front counting unit 61 is moved in the vertical direction. Slide to either. This driving force is also transmitted to the connecting gear 74 via the belt 76 and the transmission gear 72. Accordingly, the connecting gear 74 rotates, and the driving force of the drive motor 71 is transmitted to the rear counting unit 61 by the drive transmission member described above, and the rear counting unit 61 is in the same direction as the front counting unit 61. Slide to.

Conversely, when the drive motor 71 is driven so that the drive gear 75 rotates in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, both the front and rear counting units 61 slide in the opposite direction.
That is, the drive mechanism 70 moves each of the two counting units 61 in the vertical direction.
Since the counting unit 61 and the lift 31 are offset from each other in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 11), the counting unit 61 and the lift 31 do not interfere with each other during operation.

  The counting sensor 60 is disposed adjacent to the cassette 7 accommodated in the casing 20 from the left side. Specifically, the counting sensor 60 can face the notch 33 (see FIG. 5) of the corresponding cassette 7 from the left side. As described above, each dispensing unit 8 has two counting units 61, and each counting unit 61 has two counting sensors 60. Therefore, in the counting unit 61 on the front side (left side in FIG. 13), the front side counting sensor 60 can face the rear notch 33 in the frontmost cassette 7A from the left side (the back side in FIG. 13). The rear counting sensor 60 can be opposed from the left side to the front notch 33 in the second cassette 7B from the front. In the rear counting unit 61, the front counting sensor 60 can be opposed to the rear notch 33 in the third cassette 7C from the front, and the rear counting sensor 60 is The front-side notch 33 in the fourth cassette 7D from the front can be opposed from the left side.

  When the drive motor 71 is driven, each counting sensor 60 slides up and down while facing the notch 33 (see FIG. 5) of the corresponding cassette 7 from the left side. At this time, the counting sensor 60 counts the number of prizes 5 exposed from the notch 33 in the cassette 7. That is, the counting sensor 60 counts the prizes 5 in the cassette 7 by moving in the vertical direction (the stacking direction of the prizes 5 in the cassette 7).

The counting by the counting sensor 60 will be specifically described. The counting sensor 60 is a so-called optical reflective sensor, and includes a light emitting element (not shown) and light emitted from the light emitting element (not shown). And a light receiving element (not shown) for receiving the light reflected upon the object to be detected.
When such a counting sensor 60 counts the number of prizes 5 in the cassette 7, the counting sensor 60 is moved upward from the standby position. Referring to FIG. 10 (b), while counting sensor 60 is moving up, in counting sensor 60, the light emitting elements (not shown) are arranged in order from the lower prize 5 to the left side surface 5 </ b> A of prize 5. The reflected light reflected by the left side surface 5A of the prize 5 is received by a light receiving element (not shown). Here, when light from a light emitting element (not shown) is applied to the boundary Y of the left side surface 5A of the prize 5 adjacent to the top and bottom, light is received compared to the case where light is applied to the left side surface 5A of the prize 5. The amount of reflected light (light reception amount) received by the element (not shown) changes. Therefore, every time the amount of light received by the light receiving element (not shown) in the counting sensor 60 changes, the counting sensor 60 counts that there is one prize 5. Then, according to the same procedure, the counting sensor 60 counts the prizes 5 one by one in order from the upper prize 5, counts the number of prizes 5, and reaches the upper end (upper limit position) of the guide rail 64 (see FIG. 12). By the time, the counting of all the prizes 5 is completed. Thereafter, the counting sensor 60 returns to the standby position.

As described above, the counting sensor 60 counts the number of prizes 5 in a non-contact manner in accordance with a change in a light reception signal (light reception amount) of a light receiving element (not shown).
Here, referring to FIG. 7, since the counting sensor 60 is provided on the carrier 22 (see FIG. 3), the carrier 22 is in the front position (see FIG. 7B) and the rear position (see FIG. 7A). )), The prize 5 in the cassette 7 and the counting sensor 60 can be moved together. Therefore, the relative position between the prize 5 and the counting sensor 60 in the cassette 7 (in other words, the interval between the counting sensor 60 and the left side 5A of the prize 5 in FIG. 10B) is stabilized with high accuracy. In particular, since the counting sensor 60 is an optical type, the relative position between the prize 5 and the counting sensor 60 greatly affects the accuracy of the counting sensor 60. Since the relative position can be stabilized with high accuracy, the counting accuracy of the prize 5 stored in the cassette 7 by the counting sensor 60 can be improved.

  Further, when each counting unit 61 is moved in the stacking direction (vertical direction) of the prize 5, a plurality (cassettes) arranged in the front-rear direction by a plurality (two) counting sensors 60 supported by the holder 62 of the counting unit 61. The prizes 5 in the cassette 7 (two of the cassette 7A and the cassette 7B, or two of the cassette 7C and the cassette 7D) can be counted at a time. Thereby, the counting time of the prize 5 stored in the cassette 7 can be shortened.

  Further, by moving a plurality of holders 62 (that is, a plurality of counting units 61) by the drive mechanism 70 (see FIG. 13), more (in this case, four) prizes 5 in the cassette 7 are counted at a time. it can. As a result, the counting time of the prize 5 stored in the cassette 7 can be further shortened. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the drive mechanism 70 (drive motor 71) for each counting unit 61, the number of parts can be reduced.

  The data (counting data) of the number of prizes 5 in each cassette 7 counted by the counting sensor 60 is the above-described clerk display unit 9B (see FIG. 2) or the prize management machine 3 connected to the prize dispenser 2. The number of prizes 5 stored in each cassette 7 of the prize dispenser 2 is collectively managed. Of course, this data may be output to a printing device (not shown) and printed on paper, or may be stored in the T / C 4 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the prize dispenser 2.
Referring to FIG. 14, the prize dispenser 2 includes a control unit 200. The control unit 200 includes a CPU and a memory (ROM, RAM, etc.) that stores the program and the like, and executes predetermined processing according to the program. The control unit 200 performs prize payout control, error detection processing, prize counting control, prize inventory quantity management, communication with the prize management machine 3, and the like.

  The control unit 200 is driven to move the lift mechanism 13, the feeding mechanism 14, the elevator mechanism 16, the sending mechanism 17, the slide mechanism 30, the counting sensor 60, and the counting sensor 60 (counting unit 61) for each paying unit 8. The mechanism 70 and the position sensors 401 to 405 are connected. The counting sensor 60 and the driving mechanism 70 constitute a prize counting unit 201 for counting the number of prizes. The delivery mechanism 17 includes a payout display unit 210 provided in each shutter 12.

The control unit 200 is connected to the operation unit 10, the customer display unit 9A, the attendant display unit 9B, the communication unit 202, the door open / close detection unit 203, the storage unit 204, and the like. The control unit 200 communicates with the prize management machine 3 (see FIG. 1) via the communication unit 202.
The storage unit 204 is provided with an inventory management table for managing inventory of prizes in the prize dispenser 2. As shown in FIG. 15, the inventory management table includes a “cassette-by-cassette premium type table TA 1”, a “cassette-by-cassette inventory management table TA 2”, and a “by-prize type inventory management table TA 3”.

  The “cassette-by-cassette prize type table TA1” (see FIG. 15A) is a table in which the types of prizes stored in each cassette are stored. The “cassette-by-cassette inventory management table TA2” (see FIG. 15B) is a table for storing “the number of premiums in stock” for each cassette. “Premium type-specific inventory management table TA3” (see FIG. 15C) is a table for storing “Premium inventory quantity” for each premium type. The contents of the storage unit 204 are retained without being erased even when the power is turned off.

  FIG. 16 shows a cassette number (cassette No.) assigned to each cassette and specific examples of types of prizes stored in each cassette. Each of the seven rows of cassettes is referred to as a first row, a second row, a third row,..., A seventh row in order from the leftmost row when viewed from the front side (front side in FIG. 2) of the prize dispenser 2. I will decide. As viewed from the front side (the front side in FIG. 2) of the gift dispenser 2, the cassette number is such that the number on the left side becomes smaller, and the number on the front side between cassettes in the same row becomes smaller. Assigned to each cassette. In this embodiment, cassette numbers 1 to 28 are assigned to each cassette.

Further, in this embodiment, large prizes (equivalent to 5000 yen) are stored in the first to third row cassettes, and middle prizes (equivalent to 1000 yen) are stored in the fourth and fifth row cassettes. Small prizes (equivalent to 200 yen) are stored in the 6th and 7th row cassettes.
In the waiting state display unit 9B (display unit with a touch panel in this example) of each prize dispenser 2, during standby, for example, a first standby screen 501a as shown in FIG. 17A or FIG. A second standby screen 501b as shown in FIG.

  A first standby screen 501a shown in FIG. 17A is a screen that displays the number of premium inventory for each cassette. The first standby screen 501a displays a title “stock quantity by cassette”, a message “can be paid out”, a diagram schematically showing the quantity of premium stock for each cassette, and various buttons. ing. A diagram schematically showing the number of premiums in stock for each cassette is a box representing each cassette, characters representing premium types (large, medium, small) displayed in the box, and corresponding cassettes displayed in the box. A number representing the number of prizes in stock and a color representing the kind of prize displayed in the box. Note that the color representing the prize type is set in advance to be the same as or similar to the color of the outer surface of each prize.

  The various buttons include a display switching button, a menu button, a previous transaction button, and an inventory counting button. The display switching button is a button for switching the current first standby screen 501a to the second standby screen 501b. The menu button is a button for displaying a menu screen. The previous transaction button is a button for displaying the type and the number of prizes paid out in the prize payout process carried out last time (just before). The inventory count button is a button for inputting an inventory confirmation command (see step S5 in FIG. 19).

  A second standby screen 501b shown in FIG. 17B is a screen that displays the number of premium stocks for each premium type. This second standby screen 501b schematically shows the title "Premium inventory quantity", the message "Can be paid out", the premium inventory quantity for each prize type, and the type of prize stored in each cassette. And the various buttons are displayed. The diagram schematically showing the types of prizes stored in each cassette is displayed in a box representing each cassette, characters representing the prize type (large, medium, small) displayed in the box, and in the box. And a color representing the type of prize. The various buttons include a display switching button, a menu button, a previous transaction button, and an inventory counting button. The display switching button is a button for switching the current second standby screen 501b to the first standby screen 501a.

FIG. 18 shows the electrical configuration of the prize management machine 3.
The giveaway management machine 3 includes a control unit 300. The control unit 300 includes a CPU and a memory (ROM, RAM, etc.) that stores the program and the like, and executes predetermined processing according to the program. The control unit 300 performs a prize dispensing control for the prize dispenser 2, counting control for the prize dispenser 2, communication with the prize dispenser 2 and the T / C 4 and the like. The prize management machine 3 manages the quantity of prize stock for each prize type as inventory management data for each subordinate prize dispenser 2. A communication unit 301, a barcode reader 302, a printing unit 303, an operation unit 304, a customer display unit 305, a staff display unit 306, a storage unit 307, and the like are connected to the control unit 300.

The operation unit 304 of the prize management machine 3 is provided with an inventory confirmation button, a numeric keypad, and the like. When the inventory confirmation button of the operation unit 304 of the prize management machine 100 is operated, the prize management machine 100 transmits an inventory confirmation command to the prize dispenser 2.
FIG. 19 shows a procedure of processing executed by the gift dispenser 2.
When the power is turned on (step S1: YES), the control unit 200 of the prize dispenser 2 performs an inventory confirmation process (step S2). In this inventory confirmation process, the control unit 200 first performs a prize counting process. Specifically, the number of prize stocks for each cassette is counted using the prize counting unit 201. When the counting process ends, the control unit 200 updates the inventory management data. Specifically, the control unit 200 uses the data for each cassette in the “cassette inventory management table TA2” (see FIG. 15B) as the count value (the number of free gift stock) obtained by the counting process for that cassette. Update to Further, the control unit 200 determines the number of prize stocks for each prize type based on the number of prize stocks for each cassette in the updated “cassette inventory management table TA2” and the contents of the “cassette prize type table TA1”. Based on the calculation result, the number of premium stocks in the “price type-specific inventory management table TA3” is updated. Then, the number of prize stocks for each prize type after update is transmitted to the prize manager 3. The prize management machine 3 updates the inventory management data based on the received quantity of prize stock for each prize type.

  When the stock confirmation process in step S2 is completed, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the prize dispensing command from the prize management machine 3 has been received (step S3), and the door 18 of the prize dispensing machine 2 has been closed from the open state. Is detected (step S4), whether an inventory confirmation command is input (step S5), and whether an inventory confirmation command is received from the prize management machine 3 (step S6). Such monitoring is repeated until the power is turned off (until YES in step S9).

  The prize payout command in step S3 is a command transmitted from the prize management machine 100 because the prize management machine 3 has read the number of game media (ball data) recorded on the recording medium. is there. This prize payout command includes information on the type and number of prizes to be paid out (the number of requested payouts for each prize type). Whether or not it is detected that the door 18 has been closed from the open state in step S4 is determined based on the output of the door opening / closing detection unit 203.

  The stock check command in step S5 is input by operating a stock count button in a screen (for example, the screen shown in FIG. 17) displayed on the clerk display unit 9B while the premium dispenser 2 is on standby. . The inventory confirmation command in step S6 is a command transmitted from the prize management machine 3 due to the operation of the inventory confirmation button on the operation unit 304 of the prize management machine 3.

  When a prize payout command is received from the prize management machine 2 (step S3: YES), the control unit 200 performs a prize payout process (step S7). Specifically, the control unit 200 determines one or a plurality of cassettes to which a prize is to be paid out and the number of payouts from each cassette based on the number of payouts for each prize type sent from the prize management machine 3. Make a decision and pay out the prize according to the decision. At this time, as described above, the control unit 200 performs a process for determining whether or not an error has occurred. When an error is detected, the control unit 200 performs error processing. Details of the error processing will be described later.

  When the payout of the prize is completed without detecting an error, the control unit 200 updates the inventory management data. Specifically, the contents of the “cassette-by-cassette inventory management table TA2” (see FIG. 15B) and the “species-by-species inventory management table TA3” in the storage unit 204 are updated. More specifically, out of the data for each cassette in the “inventory management table TA2 by cassette (TA2)”, the data of the cassette for which the premium has been paid out is subtracted from the number of the payout from that cassette. Update with Further, the control unit 200 determines the number of prize stocks for each prize type based on the number of prize stocks for each cassette in the updated “cassette inventory management table TA2” and the contents of the “cassette prize type table TA1”. Based on the calculation result, the number of premium stocks in the “price type-specific inventory management table TA3” is updated. When the inventory management data is updated, the process proceeds to step S4 in FIG.

  When it is detected that the door 18 of the prize dispenser 2 is closed from the open state (step S4: YES), when an inventory confirmation command is input (step S5: YES), or an inventory confirmation command from the prize management machine 3 Is received (step S6: YES), the control unit 200 performs inventory check processing (step S8). This inventory confirmation process is the same process as the inventory confirmation process in step S2. When the inventory check process in step S8 ends, the control unit 200 proceeds to step S9. In step S9, if the gift dispenser 2 is not powered off, the process returns to step S3.

FIG. 20 (a) shows a screen (screen during payout) 502 displayed on the clerk display section 9B when the prize payout process in step S7 of FIG. 19 is being performed, and FIG. A screen (payout end screen) 503 displayed on the clerk display unit 9B when the prize payout process is normally completed is shown.
On the payout screen 502, a title “Paying out”, a message “Presents will be issued”, the actual payout number for each giveaway type, the payout request number for each giveaway type, and the prizes stored in each cassette The figure which shows the kind of is displayed. The actual payout number for each prize type is the number of prizes for each prize type actually paid out from the prize dispenser 2, and is displayed in an area from the left of the screen 502 (area surrounded by a broken line 411). . The requested payout number for each prize type is the requested payout number for each prize type specified by the prize management machine 3, and is the area on the right side of the display area 411 for the actual paidout number for each prize type (area surrounded by a broken line 412). ) Is displayed. In this example, the payout request number of large prizes is 5, the payout request number of medium prizes is 1, and the payout request number of small prizes is 2.

  The payout end screen 503 is almost the same as the payout screen 502. However, on the payout end screen 503, a message “Premium has been paid out” is displayed in place of the message “Premium is out”. In the actual payout number display area 411 for each prize type, the characters “OK” indicating that the payout process has been normally completed are displayed together with the actual payout number for each prize type.

FIG. 21 shows a procedure of error processing executed by the control unit 200 when an error is detected during the prize payout processing in step S7 of FIG.
If an error is detected during the prize payout process, the control unit 200 determines whether the error is a “dealing failure error” or a “dealing error” based on the detection timing (step S200). S21). When it is a “transaction failure error” (step S21: YES), the control unit 200 performs an error process based on the transaction failure error (step S22). On the other hand, when it is a “transaction establishment error” (step S21: NO), the control unit 200 performs an error process based on the transaction establishment error (step S23).

22 and 23 show an error processing procedure based on the transaction failure error in step S22 of FIG. 24 to 29 show examples of screens displayed on the clerk display unit 9B in the error process based on the transaction failure error. These screen examples are specific examples when paying out eight large prizes.
In the error process based on the transaction failure error, the control unit 200 turns on the payout display unit 210 provided on the shutter 12 corresponding to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred (step S31). As will be described later, in the error process based on the transaction establishment error, the payout display unit 210 provided on the shutter 12 corresponding to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred is lit in blue. Therefore, when the payout display unit 210 is turned on, the clerk can recognize that a payout error has occurred, and at the same time can specify whether the error is a “transaction not established error” or a “transaction established error”. Therefore, it becomes easy for the staff to recognize the handling method of the handling target prize paid out or paid out from the exit 11 corresponding to the payout display unit 210.

  In addition, the control unit 200 displays an error occurrence screen on the attendant display unit 9B (step S32). FIG. 24 shows an example of the error occurrence screen 601 displayed in step S32. The error occurrence screen 601 displays the title “error”, an operation guidance message, the actual number of payouts for each prize type, the number of payout requests for each prize type, and an error release button. The operation guidance message includes, for example, a content such as “An error has occurred [Please press error cancel]”. The clerk presses the error release button according to the operation guidance message.

  When the error release button is pressed (step S33: YES), the control unit 200 displays an error handling screen on the staff display unit 9B (step S34). FIG. 25 shows an example of the error handling screen 602 displayed in step S34. The error handling screen 602 displays a title, an operation guidance message, a diagram schematically showing an error occurrence unit, guidance showing details of a handling method, a reset button, and the like.

  The title includes an error code indicating the type of error (E-130 in this example), the unit number or column number of the payout unit (error generating unit) 8 in which the error has occurred, and the error content (in this example, the prize feed Abnormal). The error message consists of, for example, “Please check the contents and clear the error”. The figure which shows an error generation unit contains the schematic diagram which shows the 1st-7th unit, for example. Of the units shown in the schematic diagram, the error generating unit is displayed in red. The guidance includes “transaction failure” characters indicating that the detected error is a “transaction failure error” and a description of the coping method. As a result, the clerk can reliably recognize how to handle the prize to be handled.

  The staff will handle the error according to the guidance. The clerk, for example, pulls out the drawer unit 21 of the payout unit 8 in which an error has occurred, and takes out the prize in the feeding mechanism 14 and the temporary storage unit 15. Then press the reset button. When the reset button is pressed (step S35: YES), the control unit 200 returns each unit in the dispensing unit 8 to the standby position (fixed position) (step S36). Specifically, the control unit 200 controls the lift mechanism 13, the feeding mechanism 14, the elevator mechanism 16, the delivery mechanism 17, and the drive mechanism 70, whereby the lift 31, the moving body 41, the elevator 53, the shutter 12, and the counting unit. 61 is returned to the standby position.

  Thereafter, the control unit 200 displays a premium handling screen indicating how to handle the prize to be handled on the attendant display unit 9B (step S37). FIG. 26 shows an example of a prize handling screen displayed in step S37. The prize handling screen 603 includes a title “Unlocking error”, an operation guidance message, the actual number of payouts for each kind of prize, the number of requested payouts for each kind of prize, and the prize to be paid out (the prize to be handled). A guidance showing how to handle and a confirmation button are displayed. The operation guidance message includes, for example, a content such as “Please check the prize and press [Confirm]”. The guidance includes, for example, the content “If the prize is paid out from the red shutter, return it to the cassette”. As a result, the clerk can recognize how to handle the premium to be paid out (handling to be handled) at the exit 11 instructed by the payout display unit 210.

  Further, the control unit 200 performs a reset process (error recovery process) (step S38). Specifically, the control unit 200 resets each unit in the payout unit 8. When the prize remains in the temporary storage unit 15, the residual prize is paid out by this reset operation. In accordance with the guidance on the prize handling screen 603 displayed in step S37, the clerk returns the prize paid out from the outlet 11 corresponding to the shutter 12 in which the payout display unit 210 is lit in red to the corresponding cassette 7. . Then press the confirmation button.

  When the confirmation button is pressed (step S39: YES), the control unit 200 performs a prize counting process (step S40). That is, for each payout unit 8, the number of prizes for each cassette is counted and stored temporarily. Thereafter, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the premium inventory quantity is correct based on the inventory quantity before the payout transaction and the counting result (actual inventory quantity) in step S40 (step S41). Specifically, the control unit 200 determines, for each cassette in the unit, whether or not the current count value A is equal to the inventory quantity B before the payout transaction. That is, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the difference (A−B) between the current count value A and the inventory quantity B before the payout transaction is 0 for each cassette. Then, the control unit 200 determines that the premium inventory quantity is correct if A = B for all cassettes, and otherwise determines that the premium inventory quantity is not correct.

  When it is determined that the premium inventory quantity is not correct (step S41: NO), a premium inventory quantity adjustment screen is displayed on the clerk display section 9B (step S42). FIG. 27 shows an example of the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen 604 displayed in step S42. On the prize inventory quantity adjustment screen 604, a title “Premium inventory quantity adjustment”, an operation guidance message, a diagram schematically showing the difference value (AB) for each cassette, and an inventory correction button are displayed. . The operation guidance message has the following contents: “Open the cabinet and adjust the stock quantity or press [Inventory Correction]”. The figure which shows the said difference value (AB) for every cassette typically shows the box which represents each cassette, the character which represents the prize type (large, medium, small) displayed in a box, and is displayed in a box The number difference value (A−B) of the corresponding cassette and the color representing the prize type displayed in the box are included.

  In the example of FIG. 27, the premium number difference value (A−B) corresponding to the first cassette from the front of the first payout unit 8 is −8. That is, the number of prizes in the cassette is 8 less than the number of stocks before the payout transaction. When the prize is low in this way, the clerk opens the cabinet (opens the door 18 of the cabinet 6) and returns the insufficient prize to the cassette. In this way, the clerk can return an appropriate number of prizes to the cassette based on the displayed difference value (A−B). The clerk can update the inventory management data to the current count value by pressing the inventory correction button without returning the prize, and can continue the process as it is.

  After the clerk returns the shortage of prizes to the cassette, when the cabinet is tightened (when the door 18 of the cabinet 6 is closed), this is detected by the door open / close detection unit 203. When it is detected by the door opening / closing detection unit 203 that the door is closed (step S43: YES), the control unit 200 updates the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen (step S44). FIG. 28 shows an example of the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen 605 after update. That is, the control unit 200 deletes the stock correction button from the premium stock quantity adjustment screen and displays the total counting button on the premium stock quantity adjustment screen. Further, the control unit 200 changes the content of the operation guidance message to “Please close the cabinet and press [Total Count]”. The attendant presses the total counting button.

  When the total counting button is pressed (step S45: YES), the control unit 200 returns to step S40 and performs a prize counting process. That is, for each payout unit 8, the number of prizes for each cassette is counted and stored temporarily. Then, the process proceeds to step S41. In step S41, it is determined whether or not the premium inventory quantity is correct based on the inventory quantity before the payout transaction and the counting result in step S40.

  If it is determined in step S41 that the premium inventory quantity is correct (step S41: YES), that is, if it is determined that the current premium inventory quantity is equal to the inventory quantity before the payout transaction, the control unit 200 displays an unpaid premium payout screen on the clerk display section 9B (step S46). FIG. 29 shows an example of the unpaid premium payout screen 606 displayed in step S46. On the unpaid premium payout screen 606, the title “unpaid premium payout”, an operation guidance message, the number of unpaid premiums for each premium type, the number of payout requests for each premium type, and the premiums stored in each cassette are displayed. A diagram schematically showing the types of items, a payout button, and the like are displayed. The operation guidance message is composed of the content “There is an unpaid premium. “Unpaid” characters indicating the number of unpaid premiums are added to the number of unpaid premiums for each prize type. The attendant presses the payout button.

When the payout button is pressed (step S47: YES), the control unit 200 pays out an unpaid premium (step S48). Then, the current error processing is terminated.
30 and 31 show an error processing procedure based on the transaction establishment error in step S23 of FIG. 32 to 35 show examples of screens displayed on the clerk display unit 9B in the error process based on the transaction establishment error. These screen examples are specific examples when paying out eight large prizes.

  In the error process based on the transaction establishment error, the control unit 200 turns on the payout display unit 210 provided on the shutter 12 corresponding to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred (step S51). Therefore, when the payout display unit 210 is turned on, the clerk can recognize that a payout error has occurred, and at the same time can specify whether the error is a “transaction not established error” or a “transaction established error”. Therefore, it becomes easy for the staff to recognize the handling method of the handling target prize paid out or paid out from the exit 11 corresponding to the payout display unit 210.

  Further, the control unit 200 displays an error occurrence screen on the attendant display unit 9B (step S52). FIG. 32 shows an example of the error occurrence screen 701 displayed in step S52. The error occurrence screen 701 displays a title “error”, an operation guidance message, an actual payout number for each prize type, a payout request number for each prize type, and an error release button. The operation guidance message includes, for example, a content such as “An error has occurred [Please press error cancel]”. If a “transaction establishment error” occurs during the payout of a free gift, the actually paid out free gift is displayed as the actual payout number. The letter “OK” is added to the actual payout number. The clerk presses the error release button according to the operation guidance message.

  When the error release button is pressed (step S53: YES), the control unit 200 displays an error handling screen on the attendant display unit 9B (step S54). FIG. 33 shows an example of the error handling screen 702 displayed in step S54. On the error handling screen 702, a title, an operation guidance message, a diagram schematically showing an error occurrence unit, guidance showing details of a handling method, a reset button, and the like are displayed.

  The title includes an error code indicating the type of error (E-071 in this example), the unit number or column number of the payout unit (error generating unit) 8 in which the error occurred, and the error content (shutter opening in this example). Abnormal). The error message consists of, for example, “Please check the contents and clear the error”. The figure which shows an error generation unit contains the schematic diagram which shows the 1st-7th unit, for example. Of the units shown in the schematic diagram, the error generating unit is displayed in blue. The guidance includes characters of “transaction establishment” indicating that the detected error is “transaction establishment error”, and a description of a coping method. As a result, the clerk can reliably recognize how to handle the prize to be handled.

  The staff will handle the error according to the guidance. For example, the clerk pulls out the drawer unit 21 of the unit in which the error has occurred, and takes out the prize in the temporary storage unit 16. Then press the reset button. When the reset button is pressed (step S55: YES), the control unit 200 returns each unit in the dispensing unit 8 to the standby position (fixed position) (step S56). Specifically, the control unit 200 controls the lift mechanism 13, the feeding mechanism 14, the elevator mechanism 16, the delivery mechanism 17, and the drive mechanism 70, whereby the lift 31, the moving body 41, the elevator 53, the shutter 12, and the counting unit. 61 is returned to the standby position.

  Thereafter, the control unit 200 displays a premium handling screen indicating how to handle the prize to be handled on the attendant display unit 9B (step S57). FIG. 34 shows an example of a prize handling screen displayed in step S57. The prize handling screen 703 includes a title “Unlocking error”, an operation guidance message, the actual number of payouts for each prize type, the number of requested payouts for each prize type, and a guidance indicating how to handle the extracted prizes. A confirmation button is displayed. The operation guidance message includes, for example, a content such as “Please check the prize and press [Confirm]”. The guidance includes, for example, the content “Please give to the customer if the prize is paid out from the blue shutter”. As a result, the clerk can recognize how to handle the premium to be paid out (handling to be handled) at the exit 11 instructed by the payout display unit 210.

  Further, the control unit 200 performs a reset process (error recovery process) and a count process (step S58). Specifically, the control unit 200 resets each unit in the payout unit 8. When the prize remains in the temporary storage unit 15, the residual prize is paid out by this reset operation. Thereafter, the control unit 200 performs a counting process. That is, for each payout unit 8, the number of prizes for each cassette is counted and stored temporarily.

In accordance with the guidance on the prize handling screen 703 displayed in step S57, the clerk hands the prize paid out from the exit 11 corresponding to the shutter 12 whose payout display unit 210 is lit in blue to the player. Then press the confirmation button.
When the confirmation button is pressed (step S59: YES), the control unit 200 determines whether or not the premium stock quantity is correct based on the stock quantity before the payout transaction and the count processing result in step S58 (step S58). S60). Specifically, for each cassette in the unit, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the current count value A is equal to a value C obtained by subtracting the current payout request number from the stock quantity B before the payout transaction. . C is the number of stocks after the payout process when it is assumed that the payout process is completed normally. That is, for each cassette, the control unit 200 has a difference (A−C) between the current count value A and the stock quantity C after the payout process assuming that the current payout process is normally completed is zero. It is determined whether or not there is. Then, for all cassettes, the control unit 200 determines that the premium inventory quantity is correct if A = C, and otherwise determines that the premium inventory quantity is not correct.

  If it is determined that the premium inventory quantity is not correct (step S60: NO), a premium inventory quantity adjustment screen is displayed on the attendant display unit 9B (step S61). FIG. 35 shows an example of the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen 704 displayed in step S61. On the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen 704, a title “Adjustment of premium inventory quantity”, an operation guidance message, a diagram schematically showing the premium quantity difference value (AC) for each cassette, and an inventory correction button are displayed. Is done. The operation guidance message has the following contents: “Open the cabinet and adjust the stock quantity or press [Inventory Correction]”. The figure schematically showing the number-of-principle difference value (A-C) for each cassette includes a box representing each cassette, characters representing prize types (large, medium, and small) displayed in the box, and a box. It includes the difference number (A-C) of the number of premiums displayed for the corresponding cassette and the color representing the type of the premium displayed in the box.

  In the example of FIG. 35, the difference value (A−C) corresponding to the first cassette from the front of the first payout unit 8 is 8. That is, the number of prizes in the cassette is eight more than the stock quantity C after the payout process when it is assumed that the payout process has been completed normally. When the prizes are increasing in this way, the clerk opens the cabinet (opens the door 18 of the cabinet 6) and takes out the extra prizes from the cassette. Give the picked up prize to the player. In this way, the clerk can take out an appropriate number of prizes from the cassette based on the displayed difference value (A-C). The clerk can also update the inventory management data to the current count value by pressing the inventory correction button without taking out the prize, and can continue the processing as it is.

  When the cabinet is tightened after the clerk takes out the extra prize from the cassette (when the door 18 of the cabinet 6 is closed), this is detected by the door opening / closing detection unit 203. When the door opening / closing detection unit 203 detects that the door is closed (step S62: YES), the control unit 200 updates the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen (step S63). FIG. 36 shows an example of the premium inventory quantity adjustment screen 705 after the update. That is, the control unit 200 deletes the stock correction button from the premium stock quantity adjustment screen and displays the total counting button on the premium stock quantity adjustment screen. Further, the control unit 200 changes the content of the operation guidance message to “Please close the cabinet and press [Total Count]”. The attendant presses the total counting button.

  When the total counting button is pressed (step S64: YES), control unit 200 performs a counting process (step S65). That is, for each payout unit 8, the number of prizes for each cassette is counted and stored temporarily. Then, the process returns to step S60. In step S60, based on the stock quantity before the payout transaction and the counting result in step S65, it is determined whether or not the premium stock quantity is correct.

When it is determined in the step S60 that the free gift inventory number is correct (step S60: YES), that is, when the current free gift inventory number is equal to the stock number before the payout transaction, the control unit 200 A standby screen (for example, see FIG. 17B) is displayed on the display unit 9B (step S66). Then, the current error processing is terminated.
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form. For example, in the above-described embodiment, when an error is detected during the prize payout process, a prize handling screen showing how to deal with the prize is displayed on the attendant display unit 9B of the prize dispenser 2, but instead it is displayed. In addition to that, a prize handling screen may be displayed on the staff display section 306 of the prize management machine 3.

  FIG. 37 shows an example of a prize handling screen displayed on the attendant display unit 306 of the prize management machine 3. On the prize handling screen 801, the number of requested withdrawals for each prize type, the occurrence of an error in the prize dispenser 2, characters indicating whether the error is a transaction unsuccessful error or a transaction successful error, and guidance indicating how to handle the prize Etc. are displayed. In this example, the guidance is made up of the content “Please return the premium where the payout display portion is red” to the cassette. In addition, when a plurality of free gift dispensers 2 are connected to one free gift management machine 3, information (unit number etc.) that can identify the free gift dispenser 2 in which an error has occurred is also displayed. There is a need to.

  Further, an audio output means may be provided in one or both of the prize dispenser 2 and the prize management machine 3 so that the handling method of the prize may be outputted as an audio. In this case, the voice message is, for example, “Please give the paid-out premium to the customer” (in the case of a transaction completion error) or “Return the paid-out premium to the cassette” (in the case of an unsuccessful transaction error) May be the message.

  In the above embodiment, when a transaction failure error occurs, the payout display unit 210 corresponding to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred is lit in red, and when a transaction close error occurs, it corresponds to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred. The payout display unit 210 is lit in blue, but the lighting color is not limited to red and blue as long as the color can distinguish between a transaction failure error and a transaction failure error. Further, the payout display unit 210 may display a specific method for handling the prize to be handled.

  Instead of the payout display part 210, a strip-like payout display part extending in the left-right direction is provided on the top plate of the cabinet 6, and information that can specify how to handle the prize to be handled is located in an area close to the payout position in the display part. You may make it display. Specifically, color display that can identify a transaction failure error and a transaction failure error may be performed on the strip-shaped payout display unit. Or you may make it display the specific handling method (For example, "Please return the prize paid out here to a cassette." Etc.) on this strip | belt-shaped payout display part.

As a gift exchange recording medium, a magnetic card or an IC card may be used in addition to the receipt on which the count value is recorded as a barcode. When a magnetic card or an IC card is used, a reading means (card reader or the like) corresponding to the card is adopted.
Further, the count value may not be directly recorded on the recording medium, but only the identification information may be recorded on the recording medium, and the identification information and the count value may be managed by different management means. In this method, when the prize management machine 3 reads the identification information from the recording medium, it inquires of the management means and acquires a count value corresponding to the identification information from the management means. This method can avoid illegal acts such as rewriting the count value of the recording medium.

If an error is detected before the opening and closing operations of the shutter 12 are completed after the payout mechanism 14 pays out the prize 5 by the required number of sheets, the error is referred to as a “transaction not established error”. If an error is detected after that, it may be determined that a “dealing error”.
FIG. 38 shows a modified example of the error process executed by the control unit 200 when an error is detected during the prize payout process in step S7 of FIG.

  If an error is detected during the prize payout process, the control unit 200 determines whether the error is a “dealing failure error” or a “dealing error” based on the detection timing (step S200). S71). If it is a “transaction failure error” (step S71: YES), the control unit 200 sets the flag F (F = 1) (step S72), and then the shutter 12 corresponding to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred. The payout display unit 210 provided in the red is lit in red (step S73). Then, control goes to a step S76.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S71 that the transaction is “transaction establishment error” (step S71: NO), the control unit 200 resets the flag F (F = 0) (step S74), and then returns an error. The payout display unit 210 provided on the shutter 12 corresponding to the payout unit 8 where the occurrence of the light is lit in blue (step S75). Then, control goes to a step S76.

  In step S76, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the elevator 53 is in the standby position. When the elevator 53 is in the standby position (step 76: YES), the process proceeds to step S79. On the other hand, when the elevator 53 is not in the standby position (step 76: NO), the control unit 200 determines whether or not the elevator 53 is movable (step S77). When the elevator 53 is movable (step 77: YES), the control unit 200 moves the elevator 53 to the standby position (step 78). Then, the process proceeds to step S79. Therefore, since the elevator 53 is in the standby position at the time of proceeding to step S79, the payout unit 8 can be pulled out from the cabinet 6.

  In step S79, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the shutter 12 is in a closed state (whether or not it is in a closed position). If the shutter 12 is in the closed state (step S79: YES), the process proceeds to step S82. On the other hand, when the shutter 12 is not in the closed state (step S79: NO), the control unit 200 closes the shutter 12 (step S80), and then proceeds to step S82. The reason for closing the shutter 12 is to prevent the internal mechanism from being damaged or foreign matters from being mixed when the attendant unnecessarily operates the inside of the cabinet 6 from the outlet 11.

  If it is determined in step S77 that the elevator 53 is not movable (step S77: NO), the control unit 200 sets the elevator in a state in which the payout unit 8 can be pulled out from the cabinet 6. Guidance processing for manually moving 53 to the standby position is performed (step S81). Then, the process proceeds to step S82. Details of the guidance process in step S81 will be described later.

  In step S82, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the flag F is set. When the flag F is set (F = 1) (step S82: YES), the control unit 200 performs an error process based on a transaction failure error (step S83). The error processing based on the transaction failure error is substantially the same as the error processing based on the transaction failure error shown in FIGS. However, since the payout display unit 210 provided on the shutter 12 corresponding to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred is already lit in red (see step S73), step S31 in FIG. 22 may be omitted.

  If it is determined in step S82 that the flag F has been reset (F = 0) (step S82: NO), the control unit 200 performs error processing based on a transaction establishment error (step S84). The error process based on the transaction establishment error is substantially the same as the error process based on the transaction establishment error shown in FIGS. However, since the payout display unit 210 provided on the shutter 12 corresponding to the payout unit 8 in which the error has occurred is already lit in blue (see step S75), step S51 in FIG. 30 may be omitted.

39A to 39C show examples of screens displayed on the attendant display unit 9B by the control unit 200 in the guidance process of step S81 of FIG.
In the guidance process in step S81 of FIG. 38, the control unit 200 first displays a guidance screen 901 shown in FIG. 39A on the attendant display unit 9B, for example. On this guidance screen 901, a title, an operation guidance message, a diagram showing a coping method and guidance, and various buttons are displayed.

  The title includes an error code indicating the type of error (E-732 in this example), the unit number or column number of the payout unit (error generating unit) 8 in which the error occurred, and the error content (in this example, on the elevator) In-position error). The error message consists of, for example, “Please check the contents and clear the error”. The figure which shows a coping method includes the schematic diagram which shows the display cover 90 and the shutter 12, and the schematic diagram which suggests opening the display cover 90. FIG. Guidance indicating how to deal with the problem consists of "Please open the display cover".

  When the clerk opens the display cover 90 according to this guidance, this is detected by a detector (not shown). When it is detected that the display cover 90 is opened, the control unit 200 displays, for example, a guidance screen 902 shown in FIG. 39B on the attendant display unit 9B. On this guidance screen 902, a title, an operation guidance message, a diagram showing a coping method and guidance, and various buttons are displayed.

  The title and the operation guidance message are the same as the title and the operation guidance message on the guidance screen 901. The figure which shows the coping method contains the schematic diagram which shows the display cover 90 and the shutter 12, and the schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation method for opening the shutter 12 manually. Of the shutters 12 shown in the schematic diagram, the shutter 12 corresponding to the error generating unit is displayed in a color different from the other shutters 12, for example, red. The guidance indicating the coping method includes an explanation that manually opens the shutter 12 corresponding to the error occurrence unit, removes the prize / foreign matter, and lowers the elevator to the standby position. The staff closes the shutter 12 after performing an operation according to this guidance. Then, the button labeled “Next” is pressed.

When the button labeled “next” is pressed, the control unit 200 displays a guidance screen 903 shown in FIG. 39C on the attendant display unit 9B, for example. On this guidance screen 903, a title, an operation guidance message, a diagram showing a coping method and guidance, and various buttons are displayed.
The title and the operation guidance message are the same as the title and the operation guidance message on the guidance screen 901. The diagram showing the coping method includes a schematic diagram showing the display cover 90 and the shutter 12 and a schematic diagram suggesting that the display cover 90 is closed. The guidance indicating how to deal with the problem consists of “Please close the display cover”.

When the clerk closes the display cover 90 according to this guidance, this is detected by a detector (not shown). When it is detected that the display cover 90 is closed, the control unit 200 proceeds to step S82 in FIG.
In addition, when it determines with the elevator 53 not being movable in step S77 of FIG. 38 and transfers to step S81, the shutter 12 may be in an open state. In such a case, in step S81, the control unit 200 displays, for example, guidance indicating that “Please lower the elevator unit and press“ Next ”” and a button marked “Next”. You may make it display the guidance screen including. In this case, the clerk uses the exit 11 opened by the shutter 12 according to the guidance screen to manually push down the elevator 53 and then presses the button marked “Next”. When the button labeled “Next” is pressed, the control unit 200 proceeds to Step S82.

The prize dispenser 2 may have a function of performing a payout test after the store is closed, for example. As a result, for example, it is possible to confirm whether or not the payout unit 8 in which a payout error has occurred during operation normally operates, and if a payout error occurs again, the cause can be investigated. Become.
40 to 42 show the operation procedure of the staff at the time of conducting the payout test and the processing procedure by the control unit 200. 43 to 53 show examples of screens displayed on the attendant display unit 9B during the payout test.

  When an attendant wants to perform a payout test, for example, he / she presses a menu button in a standby screen 911 shown in FIG. 43 (step S101). When the menu button is pressed, the control unit 200 displays, for example, a menu screen 912 shown in FIG. 44 on the attendant display unit 9B (step S102). The attendant presses the payout test button in the menu screen 912 (step S103). When the payout test button is pressed, the control unit 200 displays, for example, a payout test menu screen 913 shown in FIG. 45 on the attendant display unit 9B (step S104).

In the following description, the seven payout units 8 are arranged in front of the prize dispenser 2 (lane 1 (or unit 1) and lane 2 (or unit 2 in order from the leftmost as viewed from the front side in FIG. 2). ), ..., lane 7 (or unit 7).
The payout test menu screen 913 displays an all lane / all number button, an all lane / specified number button, an error lane / total number button, and an error lane / specified number button. These buttons are mode selection buttons for selecting a payout test mode. There are the following four types of payout test modes.

First mode: A mode in which a prize is paid out from all lanes (payout units) until the prize is empty.
Second mode: A mode in which prizes are paid out from all lanes by the number specified by the staff.
Third mode: A mode in which a prize is paid out until the prize becomes empty from the lane in which an error has occurred on that day.
Fourth mode: A mode in which prizes are paid out in the number specified by the staff from the lane where an error has occurred on the day.

The all lane / total number button is a button for selecting the first mode. The all lane / specified number button is a mode for selecting the second mode. The error lane / total number button is a mode for selecting the third mode. The error lane / designated number button is a mode for selecting the fourth mode.
Here, the operation of the control unit 200 when the fourth mode is selected from the first mode to the fourth mode will be described as an example. When selecting the fourth mode, the attendant presses the error lane / designated number button in the payout test menu screen 913 (step S105). When the error lane / specified number button is pressed, the control unit 200 displays a payout target lane / number display screen 914 as shown in FIG. 46, for example, on the attendant display unit 9B (step S106). The payout target lane / number display screen 914 displays the payout target lane and the number of payouts. In this example, since the fourth mode is selected, a lane (error lane; lane 5 in this example) in which a payout error has occurred on the current day is displayed as the payout target lane. In addition, the initial value (10 in this example) of the designated payout number is displayed as the payout amount. In this case, the number of payouts can be changed by a changing operation by an attendant.

  When the execution button in the payout target lane / number display screen 914 is pressed by the clerk (step S107), the control unit 200 starts paying out a free gift for paying out the prize for the specified number of payouts from the payout target lane. (Step S108). When the prize is paid out, the control unit 200 displays a paying-out screen 915 as shown in FIG. 47 on the staff display unit 9B (step S109). The payout screen 915 displays the payout target lane and the total number of prizes paid out in the current payout test.

  When the payout of the prize is completed, that is, when the designated number of prizes is paid out from the payout target lane (step S110: YES), the control unit 200 displays a payout completion screen 916 as shown in FIG. 48, for example. The information is displayed on the attendant display unit 9B (step S111). The payout completion screen 916 displays payout target lanes, the total number of prizes paid out in the current payout test, an execution button, an end button, and the like.

  Referring to FIG. 41, thereafter, control unit 200 determines whether or not an execution button in payout completion screen 916 or a count completion screen 918 (see FIG. 50) described later has been pressed (step S112). It is monitored whether or not an end button of the count completion screen 918 described later in 916 is pressed (step S113), or whether or not the door 18 is detected to be closed from the open state (step S114).

The staff member presses an execution button in the payout completion screen 916 or a count completion screen 918 to be described later when the payout test is desired again for the payout target lane. If it does so, since it will become YES at Step S112, control part 200 will return to Step S108 of Drawing 40, and will pay out prizes to a payout object lane again.
Further, the clerk wants to perform a payout test again on the payout target lane, but when the number of prizes in the payout target lane is reduced, the payout lane is replenished with a free gift. If such a premium is replenished, the door 18 is closed from the open state, so that the answer is YES in step S114 of FIG. If “YES” is determined in the step S114, the control unit 200 starts a counting process for the lane supplemented with the prize (step S115). During the counting process, the control unit 200 displays a counting screen 917 as shown in FIG. 49 on the attendant display unit 9B (step S116). When the counting process is completed (step S117: YES), the control unit 200 displays a counting completion screen 918 as shown in FIG. 50 on the attendant display unit 9B (step S118). Then, the process returns to step S112. The counting completion screen 918 displays lanes that have been supplemented with prizes, the number of prizes that have been supplemented this time (the number of prizes after supplementation—the number of prizes before supplementation), an execution button, an end button, and the like.

  If the end button is pressed while the payout completion screen 916 or the count completion screen 918 is displayed (step S113: YES), the process proceeds to step S119 in FIG. In step S119, the control unit 200 starts counting processing for all lanes. During the counting process, the control unit 200 displays a counting screen 919 as shown in FIG. 51 on the attendant display unit 9B (step S120).

  When the counting process is completed (step S121: YES), the control unit 200 matches the counting result (counting result for each lane) with the number of prize stocks before this payout test (the number of prize stocks for each lane). Whether or not (step S122). If the counting result does not match the free gift inventory before the current payout test (step S122: NO), the control unit 200 displays an inventory number mismatch screen 920 as shown in FIG. (Step S123). On the stock quantity mismatch screen 920, the number of mismatches is displayed for each lane, and a message prompting replenishment or removal of prizes is displayed to return the prize stock quantity to the prize stock quantity before the payout test. In the case where the counting result is small with respect to the number of premium stocks before the payout test, a minus sign is added to the number of mismatches. On the other hand, when there are many counting results with respect to the number of premium stocks before the payout test, the number of mismatches is not signed.

  The message displayed on the stock quantity mismatch screen 920 will be specifically described. If the counting result is small relative to the number of premiums before the payout test, for example, the message “please replenish premiums to return to the number of stocks before the test” is displayed on the inventory number mismatch screen 920. The On the other hand, when there are many counting results with respect to the number of premiums in stock before the payout test, for example, a message “Please take out premiums to return to the number of stocks before testing” is displayed on the stock number mismatch screen 920. Is done. In addition, if there are a mix of lanes with a small counting result and a large number of lanes compared to the number of premiums before the payout test, for example, “please replenish or take out premiums to return to the pre-test inventory.” Is displayed on the inventory quantity mismatch screen 920.

The clerk refers to the inventory quantity mismatch screen 920 and replenishes or takes out the prize in order to return the prize inventory quantity to the prize inventory quantity before the payout test. When such a prize is replenished or removed, the door 18 is closed from the open state. When it is detected that the door 18 is closed from the open state (step S124: YES), the process returns to step S119.
In step S122, when it is determined that the counting result matches the number of premium inventory before the current payout test (step S122: YES), the control unit 200 displays a payout test end screen as shown in FIG. 53, for example. After 921 is displayed on the attendant display unit 9B for 2 seconds (step S125), the process returns to the standby state (step S126). Thereby, for example, a standby screen 911 as shown in FIG. 43 is displayed on the attendant display unit 9B.

54A to 54E show examples of screens displayed on the attendant display unit 9B by the control unit 200 when a payout error occurs during the payout test.
In step S108 of FIG. 40, when the payout of the prize is started, as described above, a payout screen 931 as shown in FIG. 54A, for example, is displayed on the attendant display unit 9B.

  If an error occurs during the prize payout, the control unit 200 displays an error occurrence screen 932 shown in FIG. 54B on the clerk display unit 9B in order to notify the clerk of the occurrence of the error. indicate. When the clerk presses a confirmation button in the error occurrence screen 932, the control unit 200 displays an error handling screen 933 shown in FIG. 54C on the clerk display unit 9B, for example. The error handling screen 933 displays an error code indicating the type of error (E-523 in this example), error contents (feeding abnormality in this example), an error canceling method, and the like. The clerk performs an error canceling operation according to the error canceling method, and then presses the reset button in the error handling screen 933.

  When the reset button is pressed, the control unit 200 performs a reset process. Specifically, the control unit 200 resets each unit in the payout unit 8. Further, the control unit 200 displays, for example, a resetting screen 934 shown in FIG. 54D on the attendant display unit 9B. When the reset process ends, the control unit 200 resumes the payout of the prize, and displays a payout screen 935 as shown in FIG. 54 (e), for example, on the attendant display unit 9B.

  The prize dispenser 2 has a function of referring to history information related to a prize payout executed during a payout test and history information related to a gift replenishment (receipt) performed by a staff member during the payout test after the payout test. You may have. Thereby, the clerk can grasp the number of prizes paid out during the payout test and the number of prizes supplemented during the payout test after the payout test.

FIGS. 55A to 55E show examples of screens displayed on the attendant display unit 9B when referring to history information and the like regarding the payout test after the payout test.
With reference to FIG. 55, the operation procedure of the staff and the processing procedure by the control unit 200 when referring to the history information and the like related to the payout test after the payout test will be described.
The clerk presses the menu button from the standby screen to display, for example, the menu screen 941 shown in FIG. 55A on the clerk display unit 9B. Then, the staff presses the history display button in the menu screen 941.

When the history display button in the menu screen 941 is pressed, the control unit 200 displays the history menu screen 942 shown in FIG. 55B on the attendant display unit 9B, for example. On the history menu screen 942, a transaction history button, a warehousing history button, and an operation history button are displayed.
The attendant presses the operation history button in the history menu screen 942. When the operation history button in the history menu screen 942 is pressed, the control unit 200 displays an operation history screen 943 shown in FIG. 55C on the attendant display unit 9B, for example. On the operation history screen 943, history items including date and time, person-in-charge code, and operation contents are displayed in order of date and time. The latest history item is displayed on the upper side of the screen. The operation history screen 943 displays a detail button.

  On this operation history screen 943, the history item including “total reference” displays the cumulative number of warehousing and the total number of outgoings on the current day by the person in charge corresponding to the person-in-charge code in the item. It is shown that the operation for making it happen. For a history item that includes “total clear”, the person in charge corresponding to the person in charge code in that item performed an operation to clear the cumulative number of warehousing and the total number of outgoings on that day. It is shown that.

  The history item including “Payout Test (Payout)” indicates that the giveaway operation was performed during the payout test by the person in charge corresponding to the person-in-charge code in the item at the date and time in the item. Yes. The history item including “Payout Test (Receipt)” has been replenished (received) during the withdrawal test by the person in charge corresponding to the person-in-charge code in that item at the date and time in that item. Is shown.

  When the detail button is pressed while one of the history items in the operation history screen 943 is selected by the clerk, detailed contents regarding the history item are displayed. For example, when the detail button is pressed in a state where the history item including “payout test (payout)” displayed in the fourth from the top in the operation history screen 943 is selected, the control unit 200 For example, a detail screen 944 as shown in FIG. 55 (d) is displayed on the staff display unit 9B.

  In this detail screen 944, in addition to the date and time and the clerk code, the lane from which the prize was paid out in the payout test, the number of prizes paid out, a return button, and an end button are displayed. Thereby, the clerk can confirm the lane in which the prize has been paid out and the number of prizes to be paid out in the payout test. When the return button in the detail screen 944 is pressed, the display screen is switched to the operation history screen 943 in FIG. When the end button in the detail screen 944 is pressed, the display screen is switched to the history menu screen 942 in FIG.

  Further, for example, when the detail button is pressed in a state where the history item including “payout test (receipt)” displayed third from the top in the operation history screen 943 is selected, the control unit 200 is pressed. For example, the details screen 945 as shown in FIG. 55 (e) is displayed on the staff display unit 9B. In addition to the date and time and the staff code, the detail screen 945 displays the lane in which the prize has been supplemented (entered) in the payout test, the number of prizes supplemented, a return button, and an end button. As a result, the clerk can confirm the lane in which the prize is replenished and the number of prizes to be replenished in the payout test. When the return button in the detail screen 945 is pressed, the display screen is switched to the operation history screen 943 in FIG. When the end button in the detail screen 945 is pressed, the display screen is switched to the history menu screen 942 in FIG.

The present invention can also be applied to a desktop type gift dispenser as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-73169.
The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Premium offer system 2 Premium dispenser 3 Premium management machine 9A, 306 Personnel display unit 200,300 Control unit 210 Delivery display unit

Claims (7)

A prize dispenser that dispenses prizes,
An error detection means for detecting a prize payout error;
A determination means for determining a handling method of a prize to be handled when an error is detected by the error detection means;
A prize dispenser comprising: output means for outputting a handling method of the handling target prize determined by the determination means. A plurality of payout units for paying prizes;
An information display unit,
The output means displays unit specifying information for specifying the payout unit in which a prize payout error has occurred and information capable of specifying the handling method of the handling target prize determined by the determining means on the information display unit. The prize dispenser according to claim 1, comprising means. A plurality of payout units for paying prizes;
A prize payout exit that is different for each payout unit;
A payout display portion provided in the vicinity of the prize payout exit,
The output means includes means for displaying information capable of specifying a handling method of a handling target prize determined by the determining means on a payout display section corresponding to the payout unit in which a prize payout error has occurred. The prize dispenser described in 1.   4. The prize payout according to claim 2, wherein the output means includes means for displaying information capable of specifying a handling method of a handling target prize determined by the determining means during an error recovery process for the prize payout error. 5. Machine.   The prize dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a counting unit that counts the number of prizes in the prize dispenser during an error recovery process for the prize dispense error. Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the number of prizes counted by the counting means coincides with an appropriate number of prize prizes determined in consideration of the handling method of the handling target prize determined by the determining means;
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for notifying a difference between the number of prizes counted by the counting means when the judging means does not match the appropriate number of prizes in stock. Free gift dispenser. The prize dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A prize management machine communicably connected to the prize dispenser;
The premium management machine
An acquisition means for acquiring a handling method of the handling target prize determined by the determination means from the prize dispenser;
A prize payout system comprising: display means for displaying information capable of specifying a handling method of a handling target prize acquired by the acquisition means.

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