JP2013240685A - Game medium dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game medium dispenser capable of preventing game media from scattering on a floor when the game media are put out, while evading complication of a configuration.SOLUTION: A game medium dispenser is provided together with a game machine, lends out game media to play a game at the game machine, and includes: a putout port for putting out the game media to be lent out; a tray of the game media provided on the lower part of the putout port; a guide path for guiding the game media put out from the putout port to the front surface side of the game machine; and a guide path storage means for making the guide path movable between the using position and the storage position of the guide path, introducing the game media put out from the putout port to the guide path at the using position, and dropping the game media put out from the putout port to the tray at the lower part at the storage position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium lending device that lends game media such as medals used for playing a gaming machine such as a slot machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in game halls equipped with gaming machines such as slot machines, game media lending devices called sands that lend medals or the like as game media have been attached to the game machines. A player uses these game medium lending devices to borrow game media and play games.

  As such a conventional game medium lending device, an input unit for inputting game media from the outside is provided, the inserted game media are counted, the count result is stored as a credit number, and the stored credit number Therefore, a configuration is considered in which a game medium corresponding to the number of credits corresponding to a player's payout operation is paid out so as to be guided to a game medium slot provided in the front door of the gaming machine (see Patent Document 1). ).

  This gaming medium lending device has a guide nozzle for guiding the gaming medium to the gaming medium slot of the gaming machine. The game media paid out from the game media lending device is guided to the game media slot of the gaming machine through this guide nozzle.

JP 2006-198013 A

  By the way, in such a conventional game medium lending device, the guide nozzle can be moved between the usable position and the non-use position, and maintenance is performed such that the game medium is replenished to the gaming machine provided with the game medium lending device. When the guide nozzle is retracted to the non-use position, the front door of the gaming machine can be opened.

  In a state where the guide nozzle is moved to the non-use position, the game medium paid out from the game medium lending device is not guided to the game medium insertion port of the gaming machine. In this state, if the player accidentally performs the payout operation, there is a problem that the game media is not guided to the game media slot of the game machine and scattered on the floor.

  In order to solve such a problem, it is necessary to provide means for prohibiting the game medium from being paid out from the game medium lending device when the guide nozzle is moved to the non-use position.

  In the conventional game medium lending device, as this prohibition means, a sensor for detecting that the guide nozzle has moved to the non-use position is provided, and the game medium is dispensed based on the detection result of the sensor. A method of providing a means for stopping as an operation is considered.

  However, in the configuration in which the payout of the game medium is stopped by the sensor, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases due to the provision of the sensor, and even though the player has performed the payout operation of the game medium, Since the payout operation is not performed, the player may misunderstand that an error has occurred.

  As another prohibition means, it is considered to provide a stopper for blocking the passage of the game medium paid out from the game medium lending device to the guide nozzle when the guide nozzle is moved to the non-use position.

  However, this prohibiting means has a problem that the configuration is complicated and the manufacturing cost is increased by providing the stopper.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a game medium lending device that can prevent the game medium from being scattered on the floor when the game medium is paid out while avoiding the complication of the configuration. . Another object of the present invention is to provide a game medium lending device that can make the front panel difficult to see by covering the front panel provided above the payout opening of the game medium.

The present invention provides the following game medium lending device.
A gaming medium renting device according to the present invention is a gaming medium renting device that is provided in a gaming machine and rents gaming media for playing a game on the gaming machine, and is provided on a front surface of the casing, A front panel capable of opening and closing an outlet for a component in the housing; a payout opening for paying out the rented game medium; and a guide passage for guiding the game medium discharged from the payout opening to the front side of the gaming machine. And a guide passage storage means that allows the guide passage to move between a use position and a storage position of the guide passage, and the guide passage is provided above the payout opening in the storage position. The front panel of the housing is covered.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the present invention can be attached to and detached from the front panel key that locks the front panel with the front panel closed with the outlet, and a position that covers the front part of the internal space of the housing. A second front panel that can be provided, and a lock portion that locks the second front panel at a position that covers the front portion of the internal space of the housing by locking the front panel. The lock on the second front panel is released by opening the front panel.

  In addition to the above-described structure, the present invention provides a counting tray that is provided below the payout opening and guides the game medium that has been input from the outside to a counting unit that counts the number of game media, and the guide. The passage is movable between the use position and the storage position of the guide passage, and at the use position, the game medium paid out from the payout port is introduced into the guide passage, and at the storage position, A guide passage storage means is provided for dropping the game medium paid out from the payout outlet onto the tray below.

  The gaming medium renting apparatus of the present invention is a gaming medium renting apparatus that lends a gaming medium for playing a game on the gaming machine, the payout outlet for paying out the rented gaming medium, and the payment A receiving tray for game media provided below the exit, a guide passage for guiding the game media to be paid out from the payout exit to the front side of the gaming machine, and a position where the guide passage is used and a storage position. In the use position, the game medium paid out from the payout outlet is introduced into the guide passage, and in the storage position, the game medium paid out from the payout outlet is dropped to the receiving tray below. And a passage storing means.

  In this game medium lending device, even when the player accidentally performs a payout operation when the guide passage is in the stowed position, the game medium paid out from the payout outlet is placed in the lower tray. It will fall, and the inconvenience that the game medium is scattered on the floor surface can be prevented.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the present invention is characterized in that the tray is a counting tray for guiding game media input from the outside to a counting means for counting the number of game media.

  In this game medium lending device, if the player mistakenly performs a payout operation when the guide passage is in the stowed position, the game medium paid out from the payout outlet falls to the counting tray and is counted by the counting means. Counted. Thereby, game media that are not guided to the gaming machine side through the guide passage and are not used for gaming (game media dropped on the tray) are counted again and reflected in the number of credits. As a result, the game media collected from the tray without being used in the game due to the player performing a payout operation can be used again, and the player can be prevented from being disadvantaged.

  Further, according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the use position of the guide passage is a position where the guide passage is positioned at an angle at which the game medium paid out from the payout outlet slides down to the tip of the guide passage due to its own weight. And the storage position of the guide passage is a position where the guide passage is positioned at an angle that regulates a payout operation due to the weight of the game medium paid out from the payout outlet, and the guide passage storage means includes the guide passage Is formed between the payout opening and the guide passage so as to drop a game medium which is paid out from the payout outlet and whose payout operation is restricted.

  In this game medium lending device, even when the player accidentally performs a payout operation when the guide passage is in the storage position, the game medium paid out from the payout outlet is not restricted by the guide passage. Therefore, the game medium falls from the opening to the lower tray, so that it is possible to prevent the disadvantage that the game medium is scattered on the floor surface.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the present invention further includes a dish-like portion provided at a tip portion of the guide passage and having an open upper portion for storing game media from the payout outlet guided by the guide passage. It is a feature.

  In this game medium lending device, the game medium guided in the guide passage is stored in a dish-like portion provided at the tip of the guide passage. The upper part of the dish-shaped part is opened, and the player can take out the game medium stored in the dish-shaped part and put it into the game medium slot of the gaming machine.

  According to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, in the use position, the dish-shaped portion is provided between a lower tray from which the game medium of the gaming machine is paid out and an insertion port for inserting the game medium of the gaming machine. It is characterized by being arranged at a height position of.

  In this gaming medium lending device, the dish-shaped portion provided at the tip of the guide passage is disposed between the lower tray of the gaming machine and the insertion port at the use position of the guide passage, thereby forming the dish-shaped portion. The player's fatigue can be reduced by reducing the amount of movement of the player when the player picks up the stored game medium and puts it into the slot of the gaming machine.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the present invention further includes a protruding portion that protrudes forward on the left and right sides of the payout port and restricts the movement of the game medium paid out from the payout port in the left-right direction. It is said.

  In this game medium lending device, the left and right movements of the game medium that is paid out from the payout outlet and falls to the tray when the guide passage is in the storage position are restricted by the protruding portion. Thereby, it can suppress that the game media which falls to a saucer spreads in the left-right direction, and can fall, and it can collect | recover game media practically enough to a saucer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a game medium lending device that can prevent the game medium from being scattered on the floor when the game medium is paid out while avoiding the complication of the configuration. In addition, it is possible to provide a game medium lending device that can make the front panel difficult to see by covering the front panel provided above the payout outlet of the game medium.

It is a front view which shows the pachi-slot machine which provided the game media rental apparatus (sand) by this invention side by side. It is a perspective view which shows sand. It is a perspective view which shows sand. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a medal payout part. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a medal payout part. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a medal payout part. It is a side view which shows a sand and a pachislot machine. It is a top view which shows a sand and a pachislot machine. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a medal payout part. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a medal payout part. It is a side view which shows sand. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a sand. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of sand. It is an approximate line perspective view showing the 1st storage space. It is a rough-line perspective view which shows the comparative example which used all the dimensions of the left-right direction of the internal space of a housing | casing for a power supply unit. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the front panel of the front part of sand. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of a speaker. It is a perspective view which shows the discharge hopper. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the discharge hopper. It is a perspective view which shows the counting hopper. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the counting hopper. It is the schematic which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a conveyance conveyor, a pachislot machine, and a sand. It is the schematic which shows a resin tube. It is the schematic which shows the example in which the conveyance conveyor is provided in the vicinity of the sand and the pachislot machine. It is a block diagram which shows the component controlled by the control board of a sand, and the said control board. It is a flowchart which shows the rental processing procedure of the game media by main CPU. It is a top view which shows the display content for selection displayed on the touchscreen LCD of an operation unit in step S11. It is a flowchart which shows a leaving warning process procedure. It is a front view which shows the attachment state of a guide member. It is a block diagram which shows the sand by other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the slot for medal counting which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface side of the slot for medal counting which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the slot for medal counting which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the slot for medal counting which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the slot for medal counting which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the slot for medal counting which concerns on other embodiment. It is a rough-line side view which shows the insertion hole for medal counting integrated with the counting hopper which concerns on other embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the insertion port for medal counting which concerns on other embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the count processing procedure which concerns on other embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the rental processing procedure of the game medium which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view showing the attachment state of the sensor for medal detection concerning other embodiments. It is a rough-line perspective view which shows the medal lifting means which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the sand which has the divided | segmented front panel which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the removal state of the front panel which concerns on other embodiment. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the mounting / demounting method of the front panel which concerns on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of the LED board for illumination which concerns on other embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the component connected to the control board which concerns on other embodiment, and a control board. It is a rough-line side view which shows the attachment state of the control board and power supply unit which concern on other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the camera part which concerns on other embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the component connected to the control board which concerns on other embodiment, and a control board. It is a block diagram which shows the connection of the sand and financial server which concern on other embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the control board which concerns on other embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the exchange of information between Sand and a financial server.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the game medium lending device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachislot machine provided with a game medium lending device (sand) according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the sand.

  As shown in FIG. 1, sand 20 is closely attached to the right side of the pachislot machine 10. Each sand 20 is installed so as to correspond to the adjacent pachislot machine 10, and is connected so as to be communicable with the corresponding pachislot machine 10. Each sand 20 is communicably connected to a controller (not shown) that performs system management and sales management of the sand 20 of the entire hall. In the present embodiment, the sand 20 connected to a controller (hall computer) that manages the entire hall is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and communicates with the controller. There may be no sand.

  On the front portion 21 of each sand 20, an LED (light-emitting diode) portion 31, a card insertion slot 32, a bill insertion slot 33 into which a bill can be inserted, an operation unit 34 constituted by a touch panel LCD (liquid crystal display), A camera 35, a non-contact IC card reader / writer 36, a medal (game medium) payout unit 1001, a speaker cover 38, a medal (game medium) counting slot 39, and the like are provided. The card insertion slot 32 is an insertion slot that can accept an information card issued by a card issuing machine (not shown) in a hall, for example. The LED unit 31 includes a full color LED 31A and an infrared LED (infrared light emitting diode) 31B.

  A player can receive a medal as a game medium necessary for a game by inserting an information card or a predetermined amount of banknotes into the card insertion slot 32 or the banknote insertion slot 33. Further, the player can receive a medal required for the game by holding the non-contact IC card over the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36.

  When the sand 20 receives an input of a value medium such as an information card, a bill, and an IC card, the number of medals corresponding to the amount of the inserted value medium is paid in a payout hopper (first counting unit). Is counted and paid out to the medal payout unit 1001. The player can play a game in the pachislot machine 10 by inserting the medals paid out to the medal payout unit 1001 into the medal slot 11 of the pachislot machine 10.

  Further, in the pachislot machine 10, medals are paid out to the medal payout tray 12 in accordance with the game result. The player picks up this medal from the medal payout tray 12 and puts it in the medal counting slot 39 of the sand 20 so that the medal can be counted by the sand 20. The sand 20 counts medals inserted from the medal counting insertion port 39 by a counting hopper (second counting unit) provided therein.

  The counted results are recorded on the card inserted from the card insertion slot 32 or stored in a storage unit provided in the hall computer.

  The medals counted by the counting hopper are discharged from the discharge port provided on the bottom surface of the sand 20 to the conveyor and collected. In a place where no conveyor is provided, a storage box for storing medals may be installed below the sand 20 and the medals may be discharged into the storage box.

  The medal payout unit 1001 can be changed between a use state (use position) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a storage state (storage position) as shown in FIG. In the state of use, the medal paid out from the medal payout opening 1002 provided on the front surface of the sand 20 is set so as to slide down the inclined surface by its own weight, and the medal that slipped down the inclined surface is the pachislot machine 10 The front side is stored at a height position between the medal slot 11 and the medal payout tray 12.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the medal payout portion 1001 has a medal payout exit 1002 for paying out medals to the base portion 1020 fixed to the front portion of the sand 20. Guide members 1030, 1040, 1050, 1060 and 1070 are provided for guiding medals paid out from. Each of these guide members 1030 to 1070 is formed in a U-shaped groove shape, and the U-shaped shape is sequentially increased in the order of the guide members 1030 to 1070. Thus, the guide member 1030 is slid onto the inner bottom surface of the guide member 1040, the guide member 1040 is slid onto the inner bottom surface of the guide member 1050, and the guide member 1050 is inside the guide member 1060. The guide member 1060 is slid onto the inner bottom surface of the guide member 1070. Incidentally, in the case of the present embodiment, as the guide members 1030 to 1070, those formed of a resin material are used, but the material is not limited to this, and for example, various other materials such as a metal material or rubber are used. Can be used.

  Thereby, each guide member 1030-1070 can change between the state which the whole shrunk as shown in FIG. 4, and the state which the whole extended as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the guide members 1030 and 1040 are rotatably supported by a shaft member 1031. The guide members 1040 and 1050 are rotatably supported by a shaft member 1041. The guide members 1050 and 1060 are rotatably supported by a shaft member 1051, and the guide members 1060 and 1070 are rotatably supported by a shaft member 1061.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, bearings 1033 and 1044 for receiving the shaft member 1031 are provided on one side surface of the guide members 1030 and 1040, respectively. Bearing portions 1043 and 1054 for receiving the shaft member 1041 are respectively provided on one outer surface portion, and bearing portions 1053 for receiving the shaft member 1051 are respectively provided on one outer surface portion of the guide members 1050 and 1060. And 1064 are provided, and bearing portions 1063 and 1074 for receiving the shaft member 1061 are provided on one outer surface portion of the guide members 1060 and 1070, respectively.

  Thereby, all the guide members 1030 to 1070 are configured to rotate around the same side surface side.

  On the other hand, guide projections 1035 to 1065 are provided on the other side surface of the guide members 1030 to 1060, and guide holes 1046 to 1076 are formed on the other side surface of the guide members 1040 to 1070. Yes. The guide protrusion 1035 of the guide member 1030 is engaged with the guide hole 1046 of the guide member 1040 and can move along the guide hole 1046. The guide protrusion 1045 of the guide member 1040 is engaged with the guide hole 1056 of the guide member 1050 and can move along the guide hole 1056. The guide protrusion 1055 of the guide member 1050 is engaged with the guide hole 1066 of the guide member 1060 and can move along the guide hole 1066. The guide protrusion 1065 of the guide member 1060 is engaged with the guide hole 1076 of the guide member 1070 and can move along the guide hole 1076.

  Thereby, the guide members 1030 to 1070 can be expanded and contracted so as to draw an arc as a whole with the side where the shaft members 1031 to 1061 are provided as the center. 2, the guide member 1070 is disposed between the medal payout tray 12 provided at the lower part of the pachislot machine 10 and the medal insertion slot 11 provided at the upper part thereof as shown in FIG. It is made so that.

  When the medal payout portion 1001 is extended (the guide member 1070 is pulled out), the angle of the guide member 1030 is inclined downward from the horizontal toward the tip end portion of the guide member 1030 from the medal payout outlet 1002 side. Therefore, in response to this, the medal payout opening 1002 is inclined downward from the guide members 1030, 1040, 1050, 1060 and 1070 as a whole. Thereby, the medals paid out from the medal payout opening 1002 slide down to the guide member 1070 in the order of the guide members 1030, 1040, 1050, and 1060.

  The guide member 1070 has a configuration in which three sides are surrounded by the side surface portions 1077A and 1077B and the end surface portion 1077C, so that medals paid out from the medal payout opening 1002 stay on the guide member 1070. ing. That is, the medals paid out from the medal payout opening 1002 remain on the guide member 1070 located above the medal payout tray 12 of the pachislot machine 10 and below the medal slot 11. Thereby, the player can pick up medals from the guide member 1070 more easily than picking up medals from the medal payout tray 12 below. That is, the medal can be picked up from the guide member 1070 and inserted into the medal slot 11 more easily than the operation of picking up the medal from the medal payout tray 12 of the pachislot machine 10 and putting it into the medal slot 11.

  Further, in a state where the guide member 1070 is pulled out to the front of the pachislot machine 10, the guide member 1070 is positioned above the medal payout tray 12 of the pachislot machine 10, thereby paying the medal payout tray 12 from the pachislot machine 10. When taking out the medals, the medals can be easily taken out as compared with the configuration in which the guide member 1070 is arranged in the medal payout tray 12, for example. That is, the guide member 1070 is disposed at a position that does not hinder the removal of medals from the medal payout tray 12. Thereby, the medal paid out from the sand 20 can be easily inserted into the medal slot 11 of the pachislot machine 10 without preventing the player from taking out the medal from the medal payout tray 12.

  Incidentally, the end surface portion 1077C of the guide member 1070 is formed so as to rise in a curved shape from the bottom surface of the guide member 1070, so that when the player picks up the medal stored in the guide member 1070, the curved surface shape is increased. The medal can be easily picked up along the end face portion 1077C.

  As described above, the medal payout portion 1001 is configured to be stretched so as to draw an arc as a whole, so that the sand 20 is disposed backward from the pachislot machine 10 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The medal paid out from the medal payout opening 1002 can be slid down to the front side of the pachislot machine 10.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 8, in the pachislot machine 10, the front door 10B is pivotally supported by the pivot shaft 10A so as to be rotatable (openable / closable) with respect to the main body portion 10C. For this reason, when the medal payout unit 1001 is pulled out to the front side of the pachislot machine 100, the front door 10B cannot be opened in the direction of the arrow r1, but the medal payout unit 1001 of the present embodiment is in the stored state (see FIG. 3), it is possible to avoid obstructing the opening of the front door 10B.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the medal paying portion 1001 can further rotate the medal paying portion 1001 upward from a state in which the medal paying portion 1001 is contracted in a substantially horizontal direction. The storage state shown in FIG.

  The vertical turning mechanism of the medal payout unit 1001 will be described. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a rotation mechanism portion of the medal payout portion 1001. In FIG. 9, guide members 1040 to 1070 other than the guide member 1030 are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the base portion 1020 in which the medal payout opening 1002 is formed is provided with protruding portions 1021A and 1021B protruding forward at both left and right end portions thereof. A link member 1023A is pivotally supported on one protrusion 1021A via a rotation shaft 1024A. Further, a guide member 1030 is pivotally supported by the link member 1023A via a rotation shaft 1025A so as to be rotatable. Similarly, in the other protrusion 1021B, a link member (not shown) is pivotally supported via a rotation shaft (not shown), and the link member is guided via the rotation shaft (not shown). A member 1030 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable.

  A guide protrusion 1026A protrudes outward from one side surface of the guide member 1030, and the guide protrusion 1026A is engaged with a guide hole 1022A formed in the protrusion 1021A. Similarly, a guide protrusion (not shown) protrudes outward from the other side surface of the guide member 1030, and this guide protrusion is inserted into a guide hole (not shown) formed in the protrusion 1021B. Is engaged. Accordingly, the guide member 1030 can be rotated about the rotation shafts 1024A and 1025A, and is guided to the guide hole 1022A, whereby the use state shown in FIG. 9 (the guide member 1030 has fallen forward). State) and the storage state shown in FIG. 10 (the state in which the guide member 1030 is lifted upward).

  In the use state, the guide protrusion 1026A of the guide member 1030 contacts the upper end portion 1027A of the guide hole 1022A, so that the guide member 1030 is positioned. At this position, the guide member 1030 is inclined such that the tip portion 1030A is directed downward from the horizontal direction. Thereby, the medal paid out from the medal payout opening 1002 slides down on the inner bottom surface of the guide member 1030 toward the tip portion 1030A. The guide member 1040 (FIG. 5) engaged with the guide member 1030 is pivotally supported by the guide member 1030 so that the vertical angle thereof is substantially the same as that of the guide member 1030. Further, the guide member 1050 (FIG. 5) engaged with the guide member 1040 is pivotally supported by the guide member 1040 so that the vertical angle thereof is substantially the same as that of the guide member 1040. Further, the guide member 1060 (FIG. 5) engaged with the guide member 1050 is pivotally supported by the guide member 1050 so that the vertical angle thereof is substantially the same as that of the guide member 1050. Further, the guide member 1070 (FIG. 5) engaged with the guide member 1060 is pivotally supported by the guide member 1060 so that the vertical angle thereof is substantially the same as that of the guide member 1060. Thereby, all the guide members 1030 to 1070 are positioned so as to be inclined downward from the medal payout opening 1002 in the use state (FIG. 7).

  On the other hand, in the housed state, as shown in FIG. 10, the guide member 1030 is in a state in which the distal end portion 1030A faces upward due to the guide projection 1025A coming into contact with the other end portion of the guide hole 1022A. Positioned with. In this state, the other guide members 1040 to 1070 in the contracted state are also directed upward.

  In this stored state, the rear end portion 1030B of the guide member 1030 is separated from the base portion 1020, so that a gap 1030C is formed between the rear end portion 1030B of the guide member 1030 and the base portion 1020. Then, the inner bottom surface portion 1030D and the side surface portions 1030E and 1030F of the guide member 1030 rotated upward form a guide wall surrounding the front direction and the left and right lateral directions in front of the medal payout opening 1002. Thereby, when the guide member 1030 is in the stored state, the medals paid out from the medal payout outlet 1002 are changed in the payout direction by the inner bottom surface portion 1030D and the side surface portions 1030E and 1030F of the guide member 1030. It is changed vertically downward and falls downward through the gap 1030C.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a counting slot 39 is provided below the medal payout section 1001, and medals dropped from the medal payout section 1001 are inserted into the counting slot 39. The medals inserted into the counting slot 39 are counted by a counting hopper (described later) of the sand 20 and recorded as a credit number on a card inserted from the card insertion slot 32 or provided in the hall computer. Stored in the storage unit. As described above, when the medal payout unit 1001 is in the retracted state, for example, when the player performs a medal payout operation on the operation unit 34 of the sand 20, the medal paid out from the medal payout outlet 1002 is As indicated by r2, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the medals are scattered on the floor by dropping into the counting slot 39 and being collected for counting. The player can recognize the payout operation of the sand 20 according to the medal payout operation by the action of the medal dropping from the medal payout portion 1001 to the counting slot 39. Nevertheless, there will be no distrust that the medal payout operation is not executed. That is, if a sensor is provided to detect that the medal payout unit 1001 is not in use, and the medal payout operation is stopped based on the detection result, the player can perform a medal payout operation. In spite of having performed, there is a possibility that it is misunderstood as a failure state in which the payout operation is not executed, but as in this embodiment, the payout operation of the sand 20 is normally executed by the operation of dropping the medal. Can be given to the player. Accordingly, the player can recognize that the payout operation has been performed even though the medal payout unit 1001 is not set to the use state.

  Incidentally, in the stored state, as shown in FIG. 10, in addition to the side surface portions 1030E and 1030F of the guide member 1030, the medals are moved in the left-right direction by the protruding portions 1021A and 1021B provided at the left and right ends of the base portion 1020. Can be prevented from being scattered.

  As described above, in the stored state, the medal paid out from the medal payout opening 1002 falls to the counting insertion port 39, so that it is not necessary to provide a sensor for detecting the stored state or the used state. Since it is not necessary to provide a conventional stopper mechanism, it is possible to suppress the complication of the configuration.

  As will be described later, a front panel 223 with a key is provided above the medal payout unit 1001 (FIGS. 2 and 3), and important components (controls) are provided in the front panel 223. Board). When the medal payout portion 1001 is stored, the front panel 223, which is an outlet for such an important component, is covered so that the front panel 223 can be made difficult to see. It is possible to prevent unauthorized replacement of component equipment.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the sand 20, and FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the sand 20 has an identification means (an information card reader, a banknote discriminating device 61, an IC) for identifying a value medium such as an information card, a banknote, and a non-contact IC card inside the housing 22. A first reader space AR11 for storing the card reader / writer and the power supply unit 65. Further, below the first storage space AR11, there is a second storage space AR13 in which the dispensing hopper 51 and the counting hopper 71 are stored side by side. In the first storage space AR11, identification means (information card reader, bill identification device 61, IC card reader / writer, etc.) is stored in the upper part, and the power supply unit 65 is stored in the lower part. That is, the lower part of the first storage space AR11 forms a power supply unit storage space AR12 for storing the power supply unit 65.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view showing the first storage space AR11. In FIG. 14, a bill identifying device (bill validator) 61 is a device for identifying bills inserted from the bill insertion slot 33 (FIG. 12), and an information card reader 62 is based on an information card inserted from the card insertion slot 32. It is a device that reads information. The total width dimension of the bill recognition device 61 and the information card reader 62 is smaller than the width dimension of the internal space of the housing 22. Thereby, when the information card reader 62 and the banknote discriminating device 61 are stored side by side, a space larger than the thickness dimension of the control board 63 is formed on the side of the discriminating means including the information card reader 62 and the banknote discriminating device 61. It has become so.

  Further, the width dimension of the power supply unit 65 is smaller than the width dimension of the internal space of the housing 22. Thereby, when the power supply unit 65 is stored below the identification means, a space larger than the thickness dimension of the control board 63 is formed on the side of the power supply unit 65.

  That is, by storing the identification unit and the power supply unit 65 side by side, a space having a dimension equal to or larger than the thickness dimension of the control board 63 is formed on the side thereof. The control board 63 can be stood and stored in this space. In this case, the size of the space for storing the control board 63 can be applied to all of the dimension in the front-rear direction of the internal space of the housing 22 and the dimension in the vertical direction of the first storage area AR11. Can be obtained.

  FIG. 15 shows a comparative example in which the power supply unit 65 is stored using all the dimensions in the left-right direction of the internal space of the housing 22. In this case, the lower portion of the space for storing the control board 63 formed on the side of the identification means (the banknote identification device 61 and the information card reader 62) is occupied by the power supply unit 65, and accordingly, A space for accommodating the control board 63 is reduced.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the space for storing the control board 63 can be made large, so that a larger control board 63 can be stored. Since the large control board 63 can be accommodated in this way, the number of control target devices of the control board 63 can be increased.

  In FIG. 12, the dispensing hopper 51 stored in the second storage space AR13 below the first storage area AR11 is provided via a supply opening 52 provided on the back surface of the housing 22 at the upper part. The medals are replenished through the replenishment route from the hall. A replenishment passage 53 is provided between the replenishment opening 52 and the payout hopper 51, and medals replenished from the replenishment opening 52 fall into the payout hopper 51 through the replenishment passage 53. To do.

  On the other hand, an introduction passage 72 is provided between the medal counting insertion port 39 and the counting hopper 71 provided on the front surface 21 of the housing 22, and the medal inserted from the medal counting insertion port 39. Falls to the counting hopper 71 through the introduction passage 72 (arrow a). The counting hopper 71 is provided with counting means for counting medals, and the medals counted by the counting means are discharged from the discharge port 73 provided on the bottom surface of the housing 20 to the conveyor (arrows). b) is recovered.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the medal counting slot 39 is provided at the same height as the medal payout tray 12 of the pachislot machine 10. Thus, the player can easily carry the medals paid out to the medal payout tray 12 of the pachislot machine 10 to the medal counting slot 39. The height of the medal counting insertion port 39 is not limited to the same height as the medal payout tray 12 of the pachislot machine 10, and may be provided at a position lower than the medal payout tray 12. In this way, the player can easily carry medals.

  Next, the mounting position of the speaker in the sand 20 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a front panel 21 is provided on the front portion 21 of the sand 20, and a speaker cover 38 is provided on the front panel 23. The speaker cover 38 has a plurality of transmission ports through which sound from a speaker provided on the back side of the front panel 23 (speaker cover 38) is transmitted forward.

  FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front panel 23 of the front portion 21 of the sand 20 is removed. As shown in FIG. 16, a payout hopper 51 is disposed on the back surface side of the front panel 23, and a speaker 81 is fixed to the front surface portion of the payout hopper 51. The speaker 81 is fixed between the payout port 54 of the payout hopper 51 and the insertion port (opening 75) of the counting hopper 71. The payout outlet 54 of the payout hopper 51 pays out medals from the payout hopper 51 to the medal payout portion 1001 provided on the front panel 23, and the insertion port (opening portion 75) of the counting hopper 71. ) Guides the medal inserted into the medal counting slot 39 to the counting hopper 71. That is, the mounting position of the speaker 81 is between the medal payout portion 1001 and the medal counting slot 39.

  The payout outlet 54 of the payout hopper 51 is generally provided in the upper part of the payout hopper 51, and the inlet (opening 75) of the counting hopper 71 is generally provided in the upper part of the counting hopper 71. Therefore, in the configuration in which the dispensing hopper 51 and the counting hopper 71 are arranged one above the other, a space is formed between the dispensing outlet 54 and the insertion opening (opening 75). Further, in the configuration in which the payout hopper 51 is provided at the upper portion and the counting hopper 71 is provided at the lower portion, a fixed space is formed above the medal counting insertion port 39 so that the player can count the medals. The medal can be easily inserted into the insertion slot 39. In particular, for the purpose of holding a box storing medals over the medal counting slot 39 and inserting the medals in the box into the medal counting slot 39 (the medal counting slot). It is necessary to form a space between the insertion slot 39 and the medal payout portion 1001. In the present embodiment, the speaker 81 is attached using these spaces.

  As shown in FIG. 17, on the back surface side of the front panel 23, an enclosing projection member 101 for preventing leakage of sound output from the speaker 81 is integrally formed so as to cover the periphery of the speaker 81. It is desirable to do.

  18 is a perspective view showing the dispensing hopper 51, and FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. As shown in FIG. 18, a speaker 81 is unitized in the payout hopper 51 through a coupling member 82, and as shown in FIG. 19, the connection wiring 84 of the speaker 81 is connected to the payout hopper 51. It is connected to the connector 55. The connecting connector 55 of the payout hopper 51 is a connector for connecting the control board 63 and the payout hopper 51 and supplying a control signal from the control board 63 to the payout hopper 51. In the case of this configuration, the connection connector 55 is shared by the payout hopper 51 and the speaker 81 by connecting a wiring for supplying an audio signal to the speaker 81 to the connection connector 55. As a result, the audio signal from the control board 63 is output to the speaker 81 via the connection connector 55, and the existing connection connector 55 for the payout hopper 51 is shared as the connection connector for the speaker 81. By doing so, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of connection connectors and to avoid complication of the configuration.

  FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the counting hopper 71, and FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. As shown in FIG. 20, an opening 75 for receiving medals is provided in the front part of the medal passage 76 of the counting hopper 71. In this opening 75, a medal for inserting medals from the outside is provided. A counting inlet 39 is attached. Thereby, the medal inserted into the medal counting insertion port 39 is guided to the counting hopper 71 through the opening 75 and the medal passage 76. As shown in FIG. 21, medals counted in the counting hopper 71 are discharged from a discharge port 74 provided on the bottom surface of the counting hopper 71 to a transport conveyor through a housing discharge port 73 (FIG. 12). The

  Incidentally, the size of the opening portion 75 of the counting hopper 71 and the medal counting insertion port 39 is set so that the player's hand is difficult to enter. In the medal counting insertion port 39, a plate-shaped medal guide member 29 (FIG. 12) is fixed alongside the front panel 23. This makes it difficult for the player's hand to enter from the medal counting slot 39.

  Further, a photosensor 77 (FIG. 16) is provided in the opening 75, and detects when a player's hand enters. Accordingly, when the player's hand is inserted by mistake or when the hand is inserted by fraud, the detection by the photosensor 77 can be performed and the operation of the counting hopper 71 can be stopped. The photo sensor 77 is attached at a position where a medal inserted through the medal counting insertion port 39 and the opening 75 is not erroneously detected. For example, by providing only the state of the upper part of the opening 75, it is possible to detect only the player's hand entering the upper part of the opening 75 without detecting a medal that slides below the opening 75. it can. Incidentally, the counting hopper 71 is also provided with a sensor (not shown) for detecting insertion of medals.

  FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement state of the transport conveyor 90, the pachislot machine 10, and the sand 20. As shown in FIG. 22, the sand 20 and the pachislot machine 10 according to the present embodiment are provided on both sides of the conveyance conveyor 90, and the position of the discharge port 73 and the position of the conveyance belt 90 shown in FIG. 12. And away. In this case, a medal discharged from the discharge port 73 can be guided to the transport conveyor 90 by attaching a resin tube 95 as shown in FIG. It is desirable that the resin tube 95 is formed in a bellows shape, so that the discharge path can be easily set according to the positional relationship between the discharge port 73 and the transport conveyor 90.

  As a method of attaching the resin tube 95, first, the counting hopper 71 is removed, and the resin tube 95 is inserted from above the discharge port 73 and fixed at the bottom surface portion (planar portion) of the housing 22. Thereafter, the counting hopper 71 is attached. As described above, after the resin tube 95 is attached to the discharge port 73, the discharge direction can be arbitrarily adjusted by the bellows portion, and the discharge path can be easily set.

  Incidentally, FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing an example in which a transport conveyor 90 is provided in the vicinity of the sand 20 and the pachislot machine 10. In this case, the conveyance conveyor 90 is provided in the vicinity of the lower side of the discharge port 73 of the sand 20, so that medals discharged from the discharge port 73 can be directly discharged to the transfer conveyor 90. That is, as shown in FIG. 21, the discharge port 74 of the counting hopper 71 is provided with guide portions 74A and 74B for guiding discharged medals, and the guide portions 74A and 74B are used to discharge medals. Can be inclined. As a result, the direction of discharge of medals discharged from the discharge port of the counting hopper 71 (that is, the medals discharged from the discharge port 73 (FIG. 12) of the housing 22) is arranged in the vicinity of the lower side of the sand 20 and the conveyor 90 Can be in the direction of

  FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing the control board 63 of the sand 20 and the components controlled by the control board 63. A main CPU (central processing unit) 121 reads out a control unit program stored in a ROM (read only memory) 122 and executes medal counting and other processing. Various data relating to the processing is stored in a RAM (random access memory) 123.

  The main CPU 121 stores the amount data read from the information card via the information card reader in the RAM 123 as balance data. When the amount designated by the player is smaller than the balance data based on the balance data and the operation result output from the operation unit 34, the main CPU 121 pays out a medal for the designated amount. The balance data is updated by counting and paying out and subtracting the amount of medals paid out from the balance data. The main CPU 121 can drive the payout hopper 51 by controlling the drive circuit 131. Further, the counting hopper 71 is connected to the main CPU 121 via the driving circuit 132, and the main CPU 121 can drive the counting hopper 71 by controlling the driving circuit 132.

  The operation unit 34 also displays a button for returning an information card. When the player operates this operation button, the main CPU 121 inserts the information card inserted into the information card reader 62 into the card insertion slot 32. Return from.

  Further, the main CPU 121 stores the banknote identification result output from the banknote identification device (Bill Bali) 61 in the RAM 123 as balance data. When the amount designated by the player is smaller than the balance data based on the balance data and the operation result output from the operation unit 34, the main CPU 121 pays out a medal for the designated amount. The balance data is updated by counting and paying out and subtracting the amount of medals paid out from the balance data. The main CPU 121 can drive the payout hopper 51 by controlling the drive circuit 131.

  Further, the main CPU 121 uses the infrared LED 31B of the LED unit 31 as a monitoring projector, reflects the infrared light from the infrared LED 31B by the player, and images it with the camera 35. The main CPU 121 stores an image captured by the camera 35 in the ROM 122, and detects the presence of the player based on this image. This detection process is always performed. When the player's state changes to a non-detection (seating) state and there is a balance in the amount data of the information card inserted from the card insertion slot 32, or the amount data of the banknote inserted from the bill insertion slot 33 When there is a balance, the main CPU 121 can alert the player who is about to leave the seat by issuing a warning sound or warning sound through the speaker 81. As the warning voice, a voice such as “Forgot card” is issued.

The main CPU 121 performs non-contact communication with the non-contact IC card via the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36. This communication method is, for example, an electromagnetic induction method with a carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz. The main CPU 121 counts the number of medals according to the amount data read from the non-contact IC card via the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36 by the payout hopper 51 and pays it out from the medal payout unit 1001. Rewrite card balance data.
Further, the main CPU 121 communicates with a pachislot machine or a hall computer via an interface 125.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a gaming medium lending process procedure performed by the main CPU 121. This process is always executed by the main CPU 121. As shown in FIG. 26, in step S11, the main CPU 121 determines whether or not there is a payout instruction based on the number of medals already counted. This process is a process of determining whether or not an instruction for paying out the number of medals counted in step S20, which will be described later, is input via the operation unit 34.

  Incidentally, FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the display content for selection displayed on the touch panel LCD of the operation unit 34 in step S11. As shown in FIG. 27, on the touch panel LCD of the operation unit 34, an icon A11 for selecting a payout instruction based on the counted number of medals and an icon A12 for selecting a payout instruction based on cash (value medium). Is displayed. The player can specify any one of these icons by pressing the icon.

  When there is a payout instruction based on the counted medal number, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing from step S11 to step S12, and operates the payout hopper 51 to thereby give the same number of medals as the counted medal number. Payout to the payout unit 1001. When the player designates the number of payouts by operating the operation unit 34, the number of medals designated within the range of medal numbers stored in the RAM 123 may be paid out.

  On the other hand, when there is no designation of payout based on the counted number of medals in step S11, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing from step S11 to step S13, and determines whether or not a value medium has been inserted. The value medium means an information card inserted into the card insertion slot 32, a bill inserted into the banknote insertion slot 33, or a non-contact IC card held over the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36. When the information card is inserted into the card insertion slot 32, the amount data is read from the information card by the information card reader 62. When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 33, the bill amount is identified by the bill recognition device (bill validator) 61. When a non-contact IC card is held over the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36 reads the amount data of the non-contact IC card. These read amount data are stored in the RAM 123.

  When the value medium is inserted, the main CPU 121 obtains a positive result in step S13, thereby moving the process from step S13 to step S14 to determine whether or not an amount related to payout has been designated. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the player has not specified the amount of the payout medal through the operation unit 34 (that is, the payout for the entire amount data has been specified). Yes. Here, when an information card or banknote is inserted, the amount of money can be designated by the player operating the operation unit 34 after inserting the information card or banknote. When the amount data is read by holding the card, the player can specify the amount data by operating the operation unit 34 before holding the non-contact IC card. When an information card or banknote is inserted, the main CPU 121 temporarily stores the read amount data in the RAM 123, and then the amount specified by the player is within the range of the amount stored in the RAM 123. For this, the amount data in the RAM 123 is rewritten to the specified amount data.

  On the other hand, when a contactless IC card is held, the main CPU 121 sets the specified amount data in the RAM 123 by specifying the amount first, and then the contactless IC card is held over the contactless IC card. When the communication is performed with the CPU, it is determined whether or not the amount set in the RAM 123 is stored in the non-contact IC card, and if it is stored, it is stored in the non-contact IC card. By subtracting the amount set in the RAM 123 from the amount, the amount of the contactless IC card is rewritten. On the other hand, when the amount stored in the non-contact IC card is less than the amount set in the RAM 123, the main CPU 121 does not rewrite the amount data of the non-contact IC card and displays an error display on the operation unit 34. By doing so, the payout process is canceled.

  By executing such processing in step S14, the RAM 123 stores data for the amount of money actually withdrawn from the value medium. Incidentally, when there is already balance data in the RAM 123 (the past counting result or the balance when the previous value medium was inserted), the main CPU 121 adds data for the amount drawn from the value medium to these balance data. Will do.

  When the amount is designated, the main CPU 121 displays the process from step S14 to step S15, and drives the payout hopper 51 to pay the medal payout unit 1001 for the specified amount. put out. The paid-out amount data is left as payout history data in a specific area of the RAM 123. Then, the main CPU 121 projects the process to step S17.

  On the other hand, when the amount is not designated, the main CPU 121 projects the processing from step S14 to step S16, and pays out medals for all the inserted amounts. The paid-out amount data is left as payout history data in a specific area of the RAM 123. Then, the main CPU 121 projects the process to step S17.

  When the player does not insert the value medium, the main CPU 121 obtains a negative result in the above-described step S13, thereby displaying the process from step S13 to step S17. Thus, the medal payout (lending) process ends. Next, in step S <b> 17, the main CPU 121 moves the player's hand to the counting hopper 71 based on the detection result of the sensor (photosensor) 77 provided in the insertion port (opening 75) of the counting hopper 71. It is determined whether or not it has been inserted. If an affirmative result is obtained here, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing to step S18 and stops the operation of the counting hopper 71, so that the counting process in steps S20 and S21 to be described later is not executed. The processing is moved to S22. Thereby, when the player's hand is inserted into the counting hopper 71, the counting process of the counting hopper 71 can be stopped.

  On the other hand, when the player's hand is not inserted into the counting hopper 71, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing from step S19 to step S20, and causes the counting hopper 71 to perform a counting operation. Then, the main CPU 121 stores the counting result (the counted medal number) in the RAM 123 in step S21.

  With the above processing procedure, the medal counting process ends. Next, the main CPU 121 executes an absence warning process in step S22. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the absence warning process. In step S41, the main CPU 121 analyzes the imaging result obtained by the camera 35, and in a subsequent step S42, determines whether or not the player has left. When the player leaves the seat, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing from step S42 to step S43, and determines whether an information card or cash (amount data) remains. The state in which the information card or cash (amount data) remains means a state in which the balance remains in the amount data stored in the RAM 123.

  When the amount data remains, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing from step S43 to step S44, causes the drive circuit 133 to generate a warning sound or warning sound from the speaker 81, and ends the absence warning processing. Thus, when the player leaves the seat even though the balance remains, the player can be alerted.

  If the main CPU 121 determines in step S42 that the player has not left the seat, or if it is determined in step S43 that there is no remaining balance, the main CPU 121 ends the leave warning processing, and the processing routine (FIG. The process moves to step S23).

  In step S23, the main CPU 121 determines whether or not there is an instruction to write the balance stored in the RAM 123 to the information card or non-contact IC card inserted at this time. This process is a process of displaying an icon for instructing the operation unit 34 to write, and determining whether or not this icon has been pressed.

  When there is a write instruction, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing from step S23 to step S24, and when an information card is inserted into the card insertion slot 32, the balance data in the RAM 123 is written into the information card and information is written. By adding to the balance data of the card, the balance data of the information card is updated. When the information card is not inserted, the main CPU 121 displays a message prompting the user to insert the information card or hold the non-contact IC card over the operation unit 34. When the player inserts an information card into the card insertion slot 32 or holds the non-contact IC card over the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36, the main CPU 121 writes balance data to these cards. The main CPU 121 returns to the above-described step S11 and repeats the same process after the process of step S24 or when it is determined that there is no write instruction in step S23.

  As described above, the main CPU 121 can perform the lending (payout) of medals and the medal counting in the sand 20 by executing the lending process (FIG. 26) and the absence warning process (FIG. 28).

  In the medal lending process, by lending medals using the results counted in the sand 20, the player counts the medals paid out from the pachislot machine 10 and counts the holes away from the pachislot machine 10. The counting result can be written in the information card or the non-contact IC card without taking the trouble of carrying and counting the medals. In addition, by receiving a medal payout based on the counted result, the medal number paid out can be reduced without taking the trouble of carrying the medal to the hole counting device away from the pachislot machine 10 and counting it. Replays can be performed accordingly.

Further, when the player tries to leave the seat despite the balance, the player can be alerted by a warning sound output from the speaker 81 provided on the sand 20.
In addition, the player can write the balance data to an information card or a non-contact IC card, or use it for paying out medals for replaying, so that the player or the hole transports the medal storage box to the hole counting device. Staff time can be reduced.

  In addition, the player can select the medal payout based on the inserted value medium or the medal payout based on the counting result, so that, for example, the counted medal data is left as it is and from the value medium. It is possible to select a flexible usage method of adding and using the extracted amount data.

  In the sand 20 described above, the speaker 81 is provided between the medal payout portion 1001 of the payout hopper 51 and the medal counting insertion port 39 of the counting hopper 71 provided therebelow. For example, the speaker 81 is used by utilizing the space on the medal counting slot 39 to secure a space when the medal box is moved above the medal counting slot 39 and the medal is inserted into the medal counting slot 39. Can be attached. That is, it is not necessary to secure a dedicated space for attaching the speaker 81, and it is not necessary to increase the area of the front portion of the sand 20.

  Further, since the speaker 81 is attached not to the removable front panel 23 but to the dispensing hopper 51, the speaker 81 is not removed together with the front panel 23 when the front panel 23 is removed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the speaker connection wiring 84 from obstructing the removal of the front panel 23, and the maintenance work can be easily performed.

  In addition, identification means (information card reader 62, bill identification device 61, IC card reader / writer, etc.) for identifying a value medium such as an information card, a bill, and a non-contact IC card is arranged close to the left and right inside the housing, and a power source The unit 65 is also smaller than the dimension in the left-right direction inside the housing, and is arranged close to the identification unit arranged on the upper side, so that the identification unit and the power supply unit arranged above and below are arranged. The horizontal space 65 can be made large vertically, and the large control board 63 can be arranged in this space. In the case of the present embodiment, the length of the signal line that connects the control board 63 and the pachislot machine 10 by arranging the control board 63 on the pachislot machine 10 side inside the housing 22 of the sand 20. Can be shortened.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the player picks up the medal paid out to the medal payout tray 12 of the pachislot machine 10 and puts it in the medal counting slot 39 of the sand 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 29, a guide member 39A for guiding medals from the medal payout tray 12 to the medal counting insertion port 39 is provided, and the medals are moved through the guide member 39A. Also good. In this way, the player can easily count the medals with the counting hopper 71 as compared to the case where the medals are moved by hand. In this case, by making the height of the medal counting insertion port 39 lower than the height of the medal payout tray 12, the medal can be smoothly moved by its own weight.

  As shown in FIG. 29, a shutter 39B is provided on the introduction side of the guide member 39A, and medals can be inserted into the counting hopper 71 only when necessary. Further, the guide member 39A may be provided directly at the medal payout opening 12A of the pachislot machine 10 instead of being provided at the medal payout tray 12.

(Other embodiments)
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the control board 63, the bill burr 61, the information card reader 62, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36, the dispensing hopper 51, the counting hopper 71, etc. are respectively attached to the casing 22 of the sand 20. Although the case where it fixes is described, it is not restricted to this, For example, as shown in FIG. 30, it is good also as a unit structure which can be attached or detached with respect to the housing 22. As shown in FIG.

  FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing the sand 20 when the control board 63, the bill burr 61, the information card reader 62, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36, the dispensing hopper 51, the counting hopper 71, and the like are detachable unit configurations. It is. As shown in FIG. 30, the sand 20 is formed in a vertically long box shape, and is detachable from a U-shaped casing 22 that is installed and fixed between gaming machines. A payout hopper 51, a counting hopper 71 having a unit configuration, and a power supply unit 65.

In the sand 20, the unit portion 630 is attached to the housing 22 via the attaching / detaching device 634 of the unit portion 630 and the attaching / detaching device 625 (configured by a locking pin, a release pin, a protrusion, etc.) of the housing 22. It is removable.
Further, the payout hopper 51 can be attached to and detached from the housing 22 via an attaching / detaching device 651 for the payout hopper 51 and an attaching / detaching device 653 (consisting of a locking pin, a release pin, a protrusion, etc.) for the housing 22. It has become. Further, the dispensing hopper 51 can be attached to and detached from the housing 22 via an attachment / detachment device 671 for the counting hopper 71 and an attachment / detachment device 673 (consisting of a locking pin, a release pin, a protrusion, etc.). It has become.

  The unit portion 630 accommodates a control board 63, a bill burr 61, an information card reader 62, and a non-contact IC card reader / writer 36 in a vertically long main body (casing) 633 configured in a substantially rectangular shape. These components having a high maintenance frequency are installed in one unit portion 630 so that they can be detached from the housing 22.

  The operation of each unit described above is controlled by a control board 63 installed inside the unit section 630. The control board 63 is supplied with power from the power supply section D by connecting a connector 631 mounted on the rear surface of the unit section 630 to a connection connector 622 mounted on the inner surface of the housing 22. Various data can be sent and received between them. In this case, the connector 631 provided in the unit portion 630 and the connection connector 622 provided in the housing 22 are installed so that the connection between the two is released as it is when the unit portion 630 is moved away from the housing 22. It is configured.

  The payout hopper 51 is connected to a connector 654 mounted on the inner surface of the housing 22 by connecting a connector 652 mounted on the rear surface thereof, so that power is supplied from the power supply unit D and between the outside. Various data can be sent and received. In this case, the connector 652 provided on the payout hopper 51 and the connector 654 provided on the housing 22 are installed so that the connection between the two is released as it is when the payout hopper 51 is moved away from the housing 22. ,It is configured.

  In addition, the counting hopper 71 is connected to a connector 674 mounted on the inner surface of the housing 22 by connecting a connector 672 mounted on the rear surface thereof, so that power is supplied from the power supply unit D and between the outside. Various data can be sent and received. In this case, the connector 672 provided on the counting hopper 71 and the connector 674 provided on the housing 22 are installed so that the connection between the two is released as it is when the counting hopper 71 is moved away from the housing 22. ,It is configured.

  In the power supply unit D, the bill burrs 61 housed in the unit unit 630, the information card reader 62, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36, the operation unit 34, the drive motor of the attachment / detachment device 634, etc. A power supply unit 65 for controlling the voltage supplied from the external power supply 645 and a communication control unit 623 are installed in order to supply power to the drive motor and the like, and the drive motor of the counting hopper 71 and the like. This communication control unit 623 has a function of performing communication system conversion control (serial / parallel conversion control) and transmission / reception destination distribution control, and is adjacent to the hall computer 500 via communication connectors 627 and 628, respectively. Various data is transmitted to and received from the pachislot machine 10.

  As described above, the unit portion 630, the dispensing hopper 51, and the counting hopper 71 are slidable from the front side with respect to the housing 22, and can be attached and detached, so that maintenance work can be easily performed.

(2) Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the case where this invention was applied to the sand 20 attached to the pachislot machine 10 was described, it is not restricted to this, The sand attached to a pachinko machine is used. Can also be applied.

(3) Further, in the above-described embodiment, as the medal counting insertion port 39, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 20, a tray-shaped insertion unit having a simple opening for inserting medals is provided in the case. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a partition member that prevents the player's hand from entering may be provided.

  FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a medal counting slot 739 according to another embodiment, and FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing the back side thereof. In FIG. 32, the medal payout unit 1001 is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the medal counting insertion port 739 is formed following the opening upper surface 739A and the opening upper surface 739A, and the medal inserted through the opening upper surface 739A is slid downward by its own weight. It has an inclined surface 739B for dropping and a rear end opening 739C formed at the rear end of the inclined surface 739B.

  The medal counting slot 739 is attached to the front panel 23 of the casing 22 of the sand 20 (FIG. 2), the opening upper surface 739A is disposed outside the casing 22, and the rear end opening 739C is the casing 22. It is attached to the front panel 23 so that it may be arrange | positioned inside. A counting hopper 71 (FIG. 12) is provided below the rear end opening 739C, and a medal is introduced into the counting hopper 71 between the rear end opening 739C and the counting hopper 71. The introduction passage 72 is provided.

  Thereby, the medal inserted through the upper surface of the medal counting slot 739 slides down the inclined surface 739B of the medal counting slot 739 by its own weight, and further, the rear end of the rear end portion of the tilted surface 739B. It is introduced into the counting hopper 71 through the introduction passage 72 from the opening 739C.

  The counting hopper 71 has, for example, a medal receiving portion that is rotated by a predetermined rotating mechanism portion, immerses the medal in the medal immersing portion provided in the medal receiving portion, and the medal receiving portion rotates the immersing portion. By moving to a predetermined counting unit, medals are counted and the counted medals are discharged. Thus, the counting hopper 71 has a mechanism portion that operates to count medals, and safety is provided by providing an insertion preventing means for preventing a player's hand from entering the mechanism portion. Is to secure. This insertion preventing means is provided in the medal counting slot 739.

  As shown in FIG. 31, the medal counting insertion port 739 includes a front inner wall 739D of the opening of the opening upper surface 739A and a front wall rear surface 739E formed of an inclined surface 739B, and a rear inner wall of the opening of the opening upper surface 739A. A partition member 740 is bridged between the rear wall front surface 739G formed by the medal guide member 29 (or the front panel 23) constituting the insertion preventing means.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the partition member 740 is a metal round bar, and divides the insertion path through which the medal of the medal counting insertion port 739 passes. When the input path is divided by the partition member 740, the opening area of each of the divided input paths is reduced, and it is difficult for a player's hand to be inserted. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the player's hand from being inserted into the counting hopper 71 through the medal counting insertion port 739.

  Since the partition member 740 is made of a metal material, a practically sufficient strength can be obtained even if the diameter thereof is reduced as compared with a case where the partition member 740 is made of a material having a relatively low rigidity such as a resin. . Thereby, it can prevent effectively that a player's hand is inserted, suppressing that the whole area of the insertion path by providing the partition member 740 becomes small.

  As shown in FIGS. 33, 34 and 35, the front surface of the medal guide member 29 constituting the rear wall front surface 739G of the medal counting insertion port 739 receives and supports one end portion of the partition member 740. A support portion 741 is provided. In addition, a support portion 742 for receiving and supporting the other end portion of the partition member 740 is provided on the inclined surface 739B constituting the front wall rear surface 739E of the medal counting insertion port 739.

  The support portion 741 is formed by forming a concave portion 741A having a diameter into which the partition member 740 can be inserted into a convex portion provided on the front side of the medal guide member 29. The end portion of the partition member 740 is received by the concave portion 741A. To support this.

  Further, the support portion 742 is provided with a concave portion 742A on an inclined surface 739B constituting the front wall back surface 739E, and receives the other end portion of the partition member 740 and supports the concave portion 742A. Incidentally, the thickness of the inclined surface 739B does not have a thickness that can form the concave portion 742A, and as shown in FIG. 34, the inclined surface 739B is inclined by providing the thick portion 742B on the back surface side of the inclined surface 739B. The concave portion 742A can be formed from the surface side of the surface 739B (the surface on the side where the medal slides down).

  As shown in FIG. 36, the medal guide member 29 is detachable from the medal counting insertion port 739, and the through hole 29A of the medal guide member 29 is changed to the through hole 739I of the medal counting insertion port 739. At the same time, the through hole 29B of the medal guide member 29 is aligned with the through hole 739J of the medal counting insertion port 739, and the medal counting insertion port 739 and the medal guide member 29 are connected to the front panel 23 (through the through holes 29A and 739I. 31), and the medal counting insertion port 739 and the medal guide member 29 are screwed to the front panel 23 (FIG. 31) through the through holes 29B and 739J. At this time, one end and the other end of the partition member 740 are inserted into the recess 741A of the support portion 741 and the recess 742A of the support portion 742, thereby attaching the partition member 740 to the medal counting insertion port 739. be able to.

  In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 36, the support portion 742 has a protrusion 742B that protrudes toward the inclined surface 739B, and the protrusion 742B causes the partition member 740 to move from the recess 742A. It does not fall out easily.

  Next, a structure for fixing the medal counting slot 739 to the housing 22 (front panel 23) will be described. The medal counting insertion port 739 is provided with a through hole 739H at a portion that contacts the front panel 23 (housing 22), and the housing 22 (front panel 23) side also has a position corresponding to the through hole 739H. Is provided with a through hole. Through these through holes, the medal counting insertion port 739 is screwed to the front panel 23 (housing 22). The medal counting slot 739 is fixed to the front panel 23 (housing 22) through the through holes 739I and 739J of the medal counting slot 739 and the through holes 29A and 29B of the medal guide member 29 described above. . Further, the medal guide member 29 fastened to the medal counting insertion port 739 is fixed to the front panel (housing 22) through a through hole 29C provided in the upper portion of the medal guide member 29.

  The fixing method of the medal counting insertion port 739 is not limited to this. For example, the medal counting insertion port 739 is integrated with the counting hopper 71, and the counting hopper 71 is fixed to the housing 22, so that the medal counting hopper 71 and the medal are combined. The counting slot 739 may be fixed to the housing 22. That is, FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram showing a medal counting insertion port 739 integrated with the hopper 71. As shown in FIG. 37, the rear end opening 739C of the medal counting insertion port 739 is integrated with the introduction passage 72 of the counting hopper 71, and the medal inserted into the medal counting insertion port 739 is It is introduced into the counting hopper 71 through the introduction passage 72 from the end opening 739C.

  The counting hopper 71 formed by integrating the medal counting insertion port 739 is fixed to the housing 22 by a fixing means such as a screw, for example, and the medal counting insertion port 739 is also connected to the housing 22. It will be fixed to.

  As a specific method for attaching the counting hopper 71, for example, the counting hopper 71 in which the medal counting insertion port 739 is integrated is placed inside the housing 22 with the front panel 23 removed from the housing 22. Screw on. Thereafter, the front panel 23 is attached to the housing 22 so that the medal counting insertion port 739 integrated with the counting hopper 71 is inserted into the opening 23 </ b> A of the front panel 23. Accordingly, the front panel 23 can be attached in a state where the medal counting insertion port 739 protrudes forward from the opening 23A of the front panel 23.

  In the sand 20 using the medal counting slot 739 having such a configuration, when a player inserts a medal from the opening upper surface 739A of the medal counting slot 739, the medal is placed on the inclined surface 739B via the opening upper surface 739A. It falls and slides down the inclined surface 739B by its own weight. And it falls to the counting hopper 71 through the introduction passage 72 of the counting hopper 71 from the rear end opening 739C.

  A partition member 740 is provided in a part of the insertion path through which medals pass through the medal counting insertion port 739. The partition member 740 is formed in a round bar shape, and the partition member 740 is in the vertical direction. Is attached to the partition member 740, even if a falling medal hits the partition member 740, it flows down while avoiding the partition member 740, and the medal counts without clogging at the attachment position of the partition member 740. It falls to the hopper 71 for use.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the partition member 740 is attached at an inclination has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. 38, above the rear end opening 739C, You may make it attach horizontally. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the medal from hitting the partition member 740 and being jammed by attaching the partition member 740 while the inserted medal is dropped vertically downward by its own weight. That is, if the partition member 740 is attached in the vicinity of the rear end opening 739C, a medal whose falling speed is slowed by sliding down on the inclined surface 739B may hit the partition member 740 and be clogged. By providing the partition member 740 in the middle of falling vertically downward, it is possible to prevent clogging of medals.

  Next, the counting process by the second counting unit will be described. FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a counting process procedure according to another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 39, the main CPU 121 of the sand 20 waits for a count start operation to be performed in step S201. The counting start operation is an operation for instructing to start the counting operation of the counting hopper 71 by operating the operation unit 34 provided on the front surface of the sand 20, and when the player performs this operation, the main CPU 121. Obtains a positive result in step S202, shifts the processing from step S202 to step S203, and operates the counting hopper 71. On the other hand, when the operation for starting the counting operation is not performed, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing to the above-described step S201 and waits for the counting operation. Thereby, the counting hopper 71 starts the counting operation based on the counting operation. In this state, when medals are inserted through the medal counting insertion port 739, the counting hopper 71 sequentially counts the inserted medals.

  In step S204, the main CPU 121 waits for a detection result from the discharge sensor. The discharge sensor is an optical sensor or the like provided on a discharge path through which medals counted in the counting hopper 71 are discharged, and outputs a detection result when the medal passes through the discharge path. That is, in the state where the medal that is the object of the counting process is inserted in the counting hopper 71, the detection result from the discharge sensor is obtained by discharging the counted medal to the discharge unit. On the other hand, when the medal to be counted is not inserted in the counting hopper 71, there is no counted medal, and the detection result from the discharge sensor cannot be obtained.

  When the detection result from the discharge sensor is obtained, the main CPU 121 determines that the medal is inserted in the counting hopper 71, and in contrast, the detection result from the discharge sensor is obtained for a certain time. If not, it is determined that no medal is inserted in the counting hopper 71.

  If a negative result is obtained in step S205, this means that a detection result has not been obtained from the discharge sensor, and the main CPU 121 moves the process from step S205 to step S206, and a predetermined time has elapsed. Determine whether or not. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the main CPU 121 obtains a negative result in step S206, moves the process to step S204 described above, and waits for a detection result from the discharge sensor.

  On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step S206, this means that a predetermined time set in advance has elapsed, and the main CPU 121 shifts the processing from step S206 to step S207. The counting process by the counting hopper 71 is stopped by stopping the operation of the counting hopper 71.

  If a positive result is obtained in step S205 described above, this means that a detection result has been obtained from the discharge sensor, and the main CPU 121 shifts the processing to step S203 described above for counting. The operation of the hopper 71 is continued. As a result, in the state where medals are inserted in the counting hopper 71, the operation of the counting hopper 71 is continued.

  As described above, the main CPU 121 continues the operation of the counting hopper 71 as long as the medal is inserted into the counting hopper 71, and when the medal is not inserted for a predetermined time (from the discharge sensor for a predetermined time). When the detection result is not output), the operation of the counting hopper 71 is stopped by the operation of the player by stopping the operation of the counting hopper 71. The operation can be automatically stopped.

  FIG. 39 shows the case where the counting operation of the counting hopper 71 is started by the operation of the operation unit 34 by the player. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the medal of the counting hopper 71 is introduced. A sensor for detecting a medal such as an optical sensor may be provided in the portion, and the counting operation may be started when the sensor detects a medal.

  The counting process procedure of the main CPU 121 in this case is executed in the gaming medium lending process shown in FIG. This processing procedure is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 40, in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 26 are given the same reference numerals, is a flowchart showing a gaming medium lending process procedure by the main CPU 121 of the sand 20 according to another embodiment. In FIG. 40, parts corresponding to those in FIG.

  In the lending process shown in FIG. 40, when a medal is inserted into the medal counting slot 739 and the insertion of a medal is detected by a sensor (for example, a photosensor 751) described later of the counting hopper 71, the counting hopper 71 The counting operation is started.

  If the main CPU 121 determines in step S17 that the player's hand has not been inserted into the counting hopper 71, the main CPU 121 obtains a negative result in step S17, and then proceeds from step S17 to step S19. To determine whether or not a medal has been inserted into the counting hopper 71. In this process, the main CPU 121 determines whether or not a medal has been inserted based on a detection result from a sensor provided in a portion where the medal of the counting hopper 71 is introduced.

  This sensor is, for example, a photosensor 751 provided in an opening 75 which is a slot for inserting medals in the counting hopper 71, as shown in FIG. The photo sensor 751 detects that a medal has been inserted. The photo sensor 77 for detecting the player's hand is provided above the opening 75 so that the player's hand occupying a relatively large area with respect to the size of the opening 75 can be detected. On the other hand, a photo sensor 751 for detecting a medal is provided below the opening 75 and detects a medal that has been inserted into the medal counting insertion port 739 and slipped into the opening 75. It is like that. Note that these photosensors 77 and 751 may use other sensors. For example, the photosensor 751 for detecting a medal uses a sensor capable of detecting metal, such as a magnetic sensor, to play a game. It is also possible to prevent erroneous detection of a person's hand.

  In step S19 of FIG. 40, when it is detected that a medal has been inserted based on the detection result of the photosensor 751, the main CPU 121 obtains a positive result in step S19, and then proceeds from step S19 to step S251. Then, the counting operation by the internal timer is started, and in the subsequent step S20, the counting operation of the counting hopper 71 is started and the medal counting process is started.

  After storing the count result in step S21, the main CPU 121 shifts the processing to the subsequent step S252, and determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed based on the result of the time measuring operation started in step S251 described above.

  If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the main CPU 121 obtains a negative result in step S252, moves the process from step S252 to step S19 described above, and determines again whether or not a medal has been inserted. In contrast, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the main CPU 121 obtains an affirmative result in step S252, and moves the process from step S252 to the absence warning process (FIG. 28) in step S22.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step S19 described above, this means that a medal detection result by the photosensor 751 has not been obtained, and the main CPU 121 proceeds from step S19 to step S22. Move.

  In this manner, in the lending process shown in FIG. 40, the medal insertion state is detected by the photosensor 751 provided in the opening 75 (FIG. 41) of the counting hopper 71, and the counting hopper 71 is based on the detection result. By starting the counting operation, the player can easily insert the medal from the medal counting insertion port 739 without operating the operation unit such as the operation unit 34 (FIG. 2). The counting operation can be started.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, the medals counted by the counting hopper 71 are discharged from the discharge port 73 provided on the bottom surface of the housing 20 to the transport conveyor. Although the case has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of the discharge port 73, the medals counted in the counting hopper 71 are transported to the dispensing hopper 51 by using a predetermined transporting means. It may be.

  As the lifting means, for example, various structures such as one that lifts medals using air, one that lifts medals by a lifting means such as a belt, or one that launches medals by a spring are applied. Can do.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 42, the medals counted in the counting hopper 71 and discharged from the discharge port 74 are lifted by the lifting unit 760 along the lifting path 761 and provided on the counting hopper 71. It is configured to drop into the supply passage 53 of the dispensing hopper 51.

  By providing the lifting means, the medals counted in the counting hopper 71 are sent to the paying hopper 51 without being collected by the hole collecting means, and can be used for paying out to the player. Thereby, it is possible to save the trouble of collecting by the hole.

(5) Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the front side of the housing internal space in which the banknote recognition device 61, the power supply unit 65, the control board 63, etc. of the sand 20 are housed together is combined with one front panel (front portion 21). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the front part 21 is divided into a plurality of (for example, two) parts, and only the front part of the part where important components such as the control board 63 are attached is attached. It is good also as an individual panel structure.

  FIG. 43 shows the sand 20 having such a configuration. As shown in FIG. 43, the sand 20 has a front panel 221 that covers the front part of the cabinet internal space to which the banknote identification device 61 is attached, and a cabinet internal space to which the control board 63 and the power supply unit 65 are attached. It comprises a front panel 222 that covers the front part, and a front panel 223 that covers the front part of the internal space of the housing in which the supply passage 53 of the payout hopper 51 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 44, the front panels 221, 222, and 223 are configured to be detachable individually and cover the front part of the internal space of the housing in which the control board 63, which is the most important component, is provided. 222 is configured to be locked by attaching front panels 221 and 223 arranged above and below to the housing 22.

  This locking mechanism will be described. FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram showing how the front panels 221, 222, and 223 are attached. As shown in FIG. 45, a key 224 is provided on the upper portion of the front panel 221, and the front panel 221 is locked to the housing 20 by this key 224. By releasing the key 224, the front panel 221 can be removed from the housing 22 substantially in parallel as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. As a result, the front panel 221 can open and close the front of the upper space (the space adjacent to the upper side of the first internal space AR101 to be described later) AR102 in the internal space of the housing 22. A key 225 is provided at the lower part of the front panel 223, and the front panel 223 is locked to the housing 20 by the key 225. The lower part of the front panel 223 is pivotally supported with respect to the housing 22, and the upper part opens and closes with the lower part as a rotational axis, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 45. Thus, the front panel 223 can open and close the front of the lower space (the space adjacent to the lower side of the first internal space AR101 described later) AR103 in the internal space of the housing 22.

  A substantially L-shaped bent portion 221 </ b> A is formed in the lower portion of the front panel 221, and a substantially U-shaped bent portion 222 </ b> A is formed in the upper portion of the front panel 222. By inserting the bent portion 221A into the concave portion formed by the bent portion 222A, the upper portion of the front panel 222 is pushed from the front by the bent portion 221A of the front panel 221 and locked to the housing 22. The bent portions 221A and 222A constitute a first lock portion.

  A substantially L-shaped bent portion 223 </ b> A is formed in the upper portion of the front panel 223, and a substantially U-shaped bent portion 222 </ b> B is formed in the lower portion of the front panel 222. By inserting the bent portion 223A into the concave portion formed by the bent portion 222B, the lower portion of the front panel 222 is pushed from the front by the bent portion 223A of the front panel 223 and locked to the housing 22. The bent portions 223A and 222B constitute a second lock portion.

  In the state where the front panel 221 is locked to the housing 22 by the key 224, the upper part of the front panel 222 is also locked by the front panel 221, and in the state where the front panel 223 is locked to the housing 22 by the key 225. The lower part of the front panel 222 is also locked by the front panel 223. Thus, in the state where the front panels 221 and 223 are locked to the housing 22 by the keys 224 and 225, the upper and lower portions of the front panel 22 are locked to the housing 22. That is, the front panel 222 can be removed from the housing 22 by unlocking the front panels 221 and 223 and removing them from the housing 22.

  Further, when the front panel 222 is attached, the front panels 221 and 223 are attached to the housing 22 after the front panel 222 is aligned with the housing 22.

  Thus, it is possible to prevent the front panel 22 from being easily removed by adopting a configuration in which the front panel 222 itself is locked by the front panels 221 and 223 without providing a key or the like. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an important component (such as a control board) from being illegally replaced.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which medals are counted by inserting medals from the counting slot 39. By illuminating the counting slot 39 with illumination, medals can be easily inserted.

  FIG. 46 is a perspective view showing the sand 20 provided with illumination for illuminating the counting inlet 39. As shown in FIG. 46, the sand 20 has an opening 29 </ b> E that allows light to pass through the medal guide member 29 of the front panel 23. An illumination LED substrate 311 is provided below the speaker 81 inside the housing 22. The illumination LED substrate 311 irradiates light from the LEDs provided on the substrate surface in front of the sand 20 via the illumination lens 313 and the opening 29E. Since the opening 29E is provided above the counting insertion port 39, the counting insertion port 39 is illuminated by light from the illumination LED substrate 311. Thereby, even in a dark store, it is possible to make it easy to visually check the medal insertion position by illuminating the counting insertion port 39.

  The wiring of the LED board 311 for illumination is put together with the wiring of the speaker 81 and connected to the control board 63 via the same connector 55 (FIG. 19). Thus, the wiring of the LED board 311 for illumination can be easily installed by routing the wiring of the LED board 311 together with the wiring of the speaker 81. FIG. 47 in which the same reference numerals are assigned to the parts corresponding to those in FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration in which the illumination LED board 311 is connected to the control board 63.

  As shown in FIG. 47, the main CPU 121 can cause the LEDs (not shown) provided on the illumination LED substrate 311 to emit light by driving and controlling the illumination LED substrate 311. In the case of the present embodiment, the control board 63 controls the LEDs of the illumination LED board 311 to always light up. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, based on the operation result of the operation unit 34. The illumination LED substrate 311 may emit light. In this way, the counting slot 39 can be illuminated by operating the operation unit 34 only when a player is required. Further, for example, a sensor may be provided in the counting slot 39, and when the medal approaches the counting slot 39, the illumination LED substrate 311 is controlled to emit light so that the counting slot 39 is illuminated. .

(7) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the control board 63 (FIG. 14) configured by a flat board is used is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. The control substrate 63 may be configured by a substrate bent in an L shape.

  As shown in FIG. 48, the control substrate 63 has a first substrate region 63A and a second substrate region 63B joined at an angle of about 90 °. The first substrate region 63A has a main surface in a vertical plane, and the second substrate region 63B has a main surface in a horizontal plane. The first substrate region 63A is stored so as to be in contact with the back surface side of the front surface portion 21 (front panel) of the sand 20. That is, the first substrate region 63A is stored substantially vertically. The second substrate region 63B joined in the direction orthogonal to the first substrate region 63A is provided with a connector 63C at the end thereof, and this connector 63C is connected to the I / O substrate 67.

  The I / O board 67 is arranged so that its main surface is along the back surface portion 22B of the housing 22, and the connector 63C of the control board 63 is connected to the connector provided on the board surface of the I / O board 67. Is done.

  Further, a power supply unit 65 is disposed between the first substrate region 63 A of the control substrate 63 and the I / O substrate 67. The connector 65C of the power supply unit 65 is connected to a connector provided on the I / O board 67. In this way, the power supply unit 65 is arranged in a state of being sandwiched between the first board region 63 </ b> A of the control board 63 and the I / O board 67. The width dimension of the power supply unit 65 and the control board 63 in the left-right direction is such that it is sandwiched between the left and right side walls 22D (FIG. 2) provided on the housing 22 of the sand 20, as shown in FIG. In a state where the power supply unit 65 and the control board 63 are arranged, the power supply unit 65 and the control board 63 are sandwiched by the side wall 22D (FIG. 2) of the housing 22 from the left-right direction. The power supply unit 65 is also placed on a frame 22 </ b> E provided in a part of the housing 22.

  As a result, the power supply unit 65 is sandwiched by the I / O board 67, the side wall 22D, the first board area 63A, the second board area 63B, and the frame 22E of the control board 63 from all directions up, down, left, and right. Become. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the power supply unit 65 from inadvertently moving. Incidentally, the front surface portion 21 can be fixed to the housing 22 with a predetermined locking mechanism or the like, thereby preventing the control board 63, the power supply unit 65, and the like from jumping forward.

(8) Another embodiment of the antenna arrangement of the information card reader 62 and the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36 (FIG. 12) will be described. In the sand 20, the information card reader 62 and the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36 are provided above and below the control board 63, so that each antenna of the information card reader 62 and the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36 is provided. Are separately controlled by one control board 63 (FIG. 25).

(9) Another embodiment of the camera 35 will be described. In the camera 35 of another embodiment, instead of the infrared LED 31B shown in FIG. 1, an infrared LED that irradiates infrared light and a camera unit (CMOS camera) are provided close to each other. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 49, the camera 35 receives an infrared LED substrate 35A that irradiates infrared light, and reflected light obtained by reflecting the infrared light on the subject (player). Thus, a CMOS camera 35B that captures a subject image is provided. The infrared LED substrate 35 </ b> A emits infrared light based on a command from the control substrate 63 by the infrared LED. The CMOS camera 35 </ b> B sends an imaging signal to the control board 63. The control board 63 performs image recognition based on the imaging signal.

  In the camera 35, a filter 35C is provided in front of the infrared LED substrate 35A and the CMOS camera 35B. This filter 35C is a filter that transmits infrared light and does not transmit light of other wavelengths, and transmits only the reflected light of infrared light irradiated to the subject from the infrared LED substrate 35A, thereby allowing the CMOS camera 35B. To receive light. Thereby, the influence of the effect light of the pachislot machine 10 or the hall in which the pachislot machine 10 is installed can be suppressed, and the image of the subject (player) can be clearly captured.

(10) As another embodiment of the sand 20, a sand 20 having a configuration for communicating with a financial server will be described. FIG. 50 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the control board 63 of the sand 20 according to another embodiment. 50 corresponding to those in FIG. 25 are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 50, the main CPU 121 communicates with a pachislot machine and a hall computer via an I / O board 67, and communicates with a financial server (described later) via an interface 68. To do.

  FIG. 51 is a schematic block diagram showing a game store in which the sand 20 is installed and the financial server 300. As shown in FIG. 51, the sand 20 is connected to the pachislot machine 10 and the hall computer 500 installed in the amusement store, and is also connected to the external financial server 500 via the communication network 200.

  The sand 20 is connected to the hall computer 500, information about the game, information about the number of medals (game media) lent to the player (the owner of the information card or contactless IC card), Information relating to the result of counting the pachislo spheres via the sand 20 is transmitted and received.

  The sand 20 transmits / receives player credit information and the like to / from the external financial server 300 via a communication path (communication network 200) different from the communication path to the hall computer 500. FIG. 52 is a block diagram showing the control board 63 and the I / O board 67 of the sand 20. As shown in FIG. 52, the I / O board 67 and the control board 63 are directly connected via a connector, the I / O board 67 is connected to the hall computer 500, and the control board 63 includes an interface 68 and The financial server 300 is connected via the external communication network 200.

  The main CPU 121 of the control board 63 performs communication with the hall computer 500 via the I / O board 67, and communication with the financial server 300 without passing through the I / O board 67 ( That is, it is performed directly (without going through the hall computer 500). Thereby, for example, payment information such as a player's personal identification number is directly transmitted from the sand 20 to the financial server 300, thereby improving the security of the information.

  Next, transmission / reception of information with the financial server 300 will be described. FIG. 53 is a timing chart showing the exchange of information between the sand 20 (main CPU 121) and the financial server 300.

  As shown in FIG. 53, in the sand 20, the player inserts a credit card as an information card from the card insertion slot 32 and operates the operation unit 34 to request the medal lending using the credit card. Then, the main CPU 121 of the control board 63 reads the card information from the credit card via the information card reader 62 and prompts the player to input a password by displaying the operation unit 34.

  When the player operates the operation unit 34 to input a password, the main CPU 121 transmits card information and a password to the financial server 300 (step S1101). The financial server 300 performs an authentication process based on the transmitted card information and password (step S1102). As a result of the authentication process, if it is authenticated that the user is a legitimate user, the financial server 300 transmits authentication completion (authentication OK) information to the sand 20 (step S1103).

  The main CPU 121 of the sand 20 that has received the information on the completion of authentication informs the player that the authentication has been completed by displaying the operation unit 34 and prompts the player to input a necessary amount (the number of medals). In this case, input in a predetermined number unit is prompted.

  When the player operates the operation unit 34 and designates an amount (the number of medals), the main CPU 121 determines the designated amount (if the number of medals is designated, an amount corresponding to the number of medals). A transfer request for requesting a transfer is transmitted to the financial server 300 (step S1104).

  In response to the transfer request received from the sand 20, the financial server 300 transfers the specified amount from the account specified by the player to the account of the game store (step S 1105). When this transfer process is completed, the financial server 300 transmits the transfer completion information to the sand 20 (step S1106) and also transmits to the hall computer 500 (step S1107).

  The main CPU 121 of the sand 20 pays out a designated number of medals from the medal payout unit 1001 based on the transfer completion information from the financial server 300. Thereby, the player can receive a medal loan using a credit card. The hall computer 500 updates the history information regarding the corresponding sand 20 and the pachislot machine 10 based on the transfer completion information from the financial server 300.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, by separately communicating from the sand 20 to the hall computer 500 and the financial server 300, information regarding the player's credit card is directly transmitted to the financial server 300 without using the hall computer 500. It can be transmitted, and security can be further enhanced.

(11) In the above-described embodiment, as described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 11, the medal payout portion 1001 can be expanded and contracted by using a plurality of U-shaped guide members 1030 to 1070. For example, for the guide members 1030 to 1060, a tube-shaped member that is entirely covered is used, and for the guide member 1070 at the tip portion, the player can take out a medal. As shown in FIG. In this way, when a medal slides down the guide members 1030 to 1060, the medal can be prevented from deviating from the guide members 1030 to 1060 and falling to the floor.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the guide members 1030 to 1070 are configured as separate members has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an accordion-shaped integrated member may be used. it can. When the bellows-shaped guide member is used, as described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 11, as a transition process from the housed state to the used state, it is tilted forward and then extended while being bent forward (lateral direction) of the pachislot machine 10. It is possible to move directly from the storage state (FIG. 3) to the use state (FIG. 2) without performing a two-stage operation. In other words, by applying a configuration in which the bending direction is arbitrary, such as a bellows, the guide member can be shifted obliquely downward from the housed state (FIG. 3) to the use state (FIG. 2).

(Outline of game media lending device)
The game medium lending device (sand 20) in the present embodiment is attached to the gaming machine (pachislot machine 10), and the game medium lending device (sand 20) for lending game media (medals) for playing games on the gaming machine. A payout outlet (medal payout outlet 1002) for paying out the rented game media, a game medium tray (medal counting input ports 39, 739) provided below the payout outlet, and the payout port Guide passages (guide members 1030 to 1070) for guiding game media to be paid out from the front side of the gaming machine (pachislot machine 10) and the guide passages (guide members 1030 to 1070) and the usage positions of the guide passages The game medium to be paid out from the payout port (medal payout port 1002) is transferred to the guide passage guide member 1030 at the use position. 070) and, at the storage position, guide passage storage means (medal for dropping the game medium paid out from the payout opening (medal payout opening 1002) to the receiving trays (medal counting input ports 39, 739) below. And a payout unit 1001).

  In this game medium lending device (sand 20), even if the player accidentally performs a payout operation when the guide passage (guide members 1030 to 1070) is in the storage position, the payout outlet (medal The game medium paid out from the payout opening 1002) falls to the lower receiving tray (the medal counting insertion ports 39 and 739), so that the inconvenience that the game medium is scattered on the floor surface can be prevented.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in addition to the above configuration, the tray (the medal counting slot 39, 739) is a counter for guiding the game medium input from the outside to a counting means for counting the number of game media. It is characterized by being a saucer for use.

  In this game medium lending device (sand 20), if the player mistakenly performs a payout operation when the guide passage (guide members 1030 to 1070) is in the storage position, the payout (medal payout outlet 1002) pays out. The played game medium falls onto a counting tray (medal counting slot 39, 739) and is counted by the counting means. As a result, game media that are not guided to the gaming machine side through the guide passages (guide members 1030 to 1070) and are not used for the game (game media dropped on the tray) are counted again and reflected in the number of credits. As a result, the game media recovered from the tray (medal counting slot 39, 739) without being used in the game due to the player performing a payout operation can be used again, and the player is disadvantaged. Covering can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the above configuration, the use position of the guide passage (guide member 1030) is such that the game medium paid out from the payout exit (medal payout exit 1002) is the tip of the guide passage due to its own weight. The guide passage is positioned at an angle at which it slides down, and the storage position of the guide passage (guide member 1030) is set at an angle that regulates the payout operation due to the weight of the game medium paid out from the payout outlet. The guide passage storage means (medal payout portion 1001) is paid out from the payout port (medal payout port 1002) when the guide passage (guide member 1030) is in the storage position. The opening (gap 1030C) for dropping the game medium whose payout operation is restricted is connected to the payout exit (medal payout exit 1002) and the plan. It is characterized in that formed between the passage (guide member 1030).

  In this game medium lending device (sand 20), even when the player accidentally performs a payout operation when the guide passage is in the storage position, the game medium paid out from the payout outlet is Due to the restriction of the guide passage, it falls from the opening to the lower tray (medal counting slot 39, 739), so that it is possible to prevent inconvenience that the game medium is scattered on the floor surface.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, this embodiment is provided at the tip of the guide passage (guide members 1030 to 1070) and is a game medium from the payout opening (medal payout opening 1002) guided by the guide passage. It is characterized by including a dish-like portion (guide member 1070) having an upper portion opened.

  In this game medium lending device (sand 20), the game medium guided by the guide passages (guide members 1030 to 1070) is stored in a dish-like portion (guide member 1070) provided at the tip of the guide passage. It will be. The upper part of the dish-shaped part (guide member 1070) is opened, and the player takes out the game medium stored in the dish-shaped part (guide member 1070) and uses the game medium of the gaming machine (pachislot machine 10). It can be inserted into the slot (medal slot 11).

  Further, in the present embodiment, in addition to the above-described configuration, in the use position, the dish-shaped portion (guide member 1070) is a lower tray (medal payout tray 12) from which game media of the gaming machine (pachislot machine 10) is paid out. ) And an insertion slot (medal insertion slot 11) for inserting a game medium of the gaming machine.

  In this game medium lending device (sand 20), a dish-like portion (guide member 1070) provided at the tip of the guide passage is inserted into the lower tray (medal payout tray 12) of the gaming machine at the use position of the guide passage. The game medium stored in the dish (guide member 1070) is picked up by the player by being arranged between the mouth (medal slot 11) and the slot (medal) of the gaming machine (pachislot machine 10). The player's fatigue can be reduced by reducing the amount of movement of the player when throwing it into the slot 11).

  Further, in addition to the above-described configuration, the present embodiment is provided to protrude forward on the left and right sides of the payout opening (medal payout opening 1002), and to the left and right of the game medium paid out from the payout opening (medal payout opening 1002). Protruding portions 1021A and 1021B that restrict movement in the direction are provided.

  In this game medium lending device (sand 20), when the guide passages (guide members 1030 to 1070) are in the storage position, they are paid out from the payout opening (medal payout opening 1002) and the tray (medal counting input port 39, 739), the left and right movements of the game medium are restricted by the protrusions 1021A and 1021B. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the game medium falling on the tray (the medal counting insertion ports 39 and 739) from spreading in the left-right direction and falling, and the game medium can be collected in the tray sufficiently practically.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pachislot machine 20 Sand 21 Front part 22 Housing 29E Opening part 31 LED part 32 Card insertion slot 33 Bill insertion slot 34 Operation unit 35 Camera 35A Infrared LED board 35B CMOS camera 36 Non-contact IC card reader 38 Speaker cover 39 Medal (game) Medium) Counting slot 51 Dispensing hopper 61 Bill validator (Bill Bali)
62 Information Card Reader 63 Control Board 65 Power Supply Unit 67 I / O Board 71 Counting Hopper 81 Speaker 101 Projection Member 121 Main CPU
300 Financial Server 311 Illuminated LED Board 356 Delivery Guide 500 Hall Computer 700 Settlement System 739 Medal Counting Slot 739A Opening Top 739B Inclined Surface 739E Front Wall Back 739G Rear Wall Front 740 Partition Member 800 Financial Institution System 900 Credit Card System 1001 Medal payout part 1002 Medal payout outlets 1030 to 1070 Guide member 1031 to 1061 Shaft member 1030C Gap 1021A, 1021B Projection part

Claims (3)

A game medium lending device that lends a game medium that is attached to a gaming machine and plays a game on the gaming machine,
A housing,
A front panel provided on the front surface of the housing and capable of opening and closing an outlet of a component in the housing;
A payout outlet for paying out the rented game media;
A guide passage for guiding the game medium paid out from the payout exit to the front side of the gaming machine;
A guide passage storage means for allowing the guide passage to move between a use position and a storage position of the guide passage;
The game medium lending device according to claim 1, wherein the guide passage covers the front panel of the housing provided above the payout opening in the storage position. The front panel key that locks the front panel with the front panel closed with the outlet;
A second front panel detachably provided at a position covering the front part of the internal space of the housing;
A lock part that locks the second front panel at a position that covers the front part of the internal space of the housing by locking the front panel;
The game medium lending device according to claim 1, wherein the second front panel is unlocked by opening the front panel. A counting tray that is provided below the payout port and guides the game medium that is input from the outside to a counting unit that counts the number of game media;
The guide passage is movable between the use position and the storage position of the guide passage, and at the use position, a game medium paid out from the payout outlet is introduced into the guide passage, and the storage position Then, the game medium lending device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a guide passage storage means for dropping the game medium paid out from the payout outlet onto the tray below.