JP2015173866A - prize reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a prize reader capable of sharply increasing prize processing capacity by providing a plurality of conveying parts for conveying prizes, providing a plurality of identification parts in accordance with the respective conveying parts, and hence by allowing the plurality of identification parts to read a plurality of prizes in parallel.SOLUTION: A prize reader includes a plurality of conveying parts 5 in that each of them conveys a prize 40, and a plurality of identification parts 6 in that each of them identifies a prize conveyed by the conveying parts. Thus, the plurality of identification parts read a plurality of prizes in parallel.

Description

  The present invention relates to a prize reader that reads a prize exchanged with a game medium acquired by a player such as a pachinko ball.

  In gaming facilities such as pachinko parlors, the number of prizes according to the number of pachinko balls and other gaming media acquired by customers is paid out to the players. The player can exchange the prize by bringing the paid prize to the prize exchange. The prize exchange is provided with a prize reader for reading prizes received from players. In addition, in the distribution management system for prizes, there is a compatible place where prizes are brought in from a plurality of prize exchanges a day, and the prizes read by the prize reader at the compatible places are shuffled. Later, it is sent to wholesale companies that deliver prizes to amusement facilities.

  The prize distribution management system will be described in detail. In the prize exchange, prizes read by a prize reader are stored in, for example, cartons divided into five storage areas. Here, for example, 20 prizes can be stored in each storage area of the carton, and 100 prizes can be stored in the entire carton. For example, 80 cartons are shipped from one free gift exchange per day and sent to the exchange. On the other hand, a carton is brought in from, for example, 40 prize exchanges per day at a compatible place. At this compatible place, hundreds of thousands of prizes are read by a prize reader per day. ing.

  Conventionally, prizes are read at a compatible place by a prize reader disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3. In the prize readers disclosed in these Patent Documents 1 to 3, etc., the prizes are fed out one by one from a receiving unit that receives a plurality of prizes, and the prizes to be conveyed are identified by an identification unit. The information relating to the type of the item is read, the prizes identified by the identification unit are sorted by type, and accumulated in a plurality of classification and accumulation units (stackers).

JP 2004-351987 A JP 2005-287595 A JP 2006-325951 A

  However, when the conventional prize readers disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are used in a compatible place, 20 prizes are extracted from each storage area of the carton brought in from the prize exchange place, and the prize is read. There is a problem that it takes a lot of work because it is necessary to store the prize in an empty carton after setting it in the receiving part of the machine and reading the prize. In addition, it is necessary to read hundreds of thousands of prizes per day at a compatible place. When reading prizes with a conventional prize reader, about 10 prize readers are required and each prize is read. There is a problem that it is necessary to place a staff member in the reader, and the installation area of the premium reader in the compatible place becomes large, and the equipment cost and the labor cost become large.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such points, and by providing a plurality of transport units for transporting prizes and providing a plurality of identification units corresponding to each transport unit, a plurality of prizes can be read. It is an object of the present invention to provide a prize reader that can perform a plurality of identification units in parallel and can greatly improve the processing capacity of the prize.

  The prize reader according to the present invention includes a plurality of conveyance units that each convey a prize, and a plurality of identification units that are provided corresponding to each of the conveyance units and that each identify a prize conveyed by the conveyance unit. And.

  According to such a prize reader, a plurality of conveying sections for conveying a prize are provided, and a plurality of identifying sections are provided corresponding to each conveying section, so that a plurality of prizes can be read in parallel by a plurality of identifying sections. The processing capacity of prizes can be greatly improved.

  The prize reader according to the present invention further includes a first placement section that is partitioned into a plurality of storage areas and in which a carton capable of storing a prize is placed in each of the storage areas. A prize may be paid out from each of the storage areas of the carton placed on one placement unit.

  In this case, each of the transport units is provided with a plurality of protrusions that push out the rear edge portion in the transport direction of the prize, and each of the transports when the carton is placed on the first placement unit. A plurality of slits through which the projections of the portions pass may be formed so as to correspond to the storage areas.

  In addition, a plurality of the cartons are accumulated in a stacked state on the first placement unit, and the prizes are all fed out by the transport units on the first placement unit. A carton pressing part that presses the carton and retracts from the first placement part may be provided.

  In the prize reader of the present invention, the plurality of transport units may be arranged in parallel so as to be adjacent to each other.

  In the prize reader of the present invention, the plurality of transport units may be driven independently of each other.

  The prize reader according to the present invention further includes a second placement section that is partitioned into a plurality of storage areas and in which a carton capable of storing a prize is placed in each of the storage areas. The prize that has been identified by the identification unit may be stored in each of the storage areas of the carton mounted on the second mounting unit.

  Alternatively, the prize reader of the present invention is movable in the vertical direction, and the first storage unit that stores normal prizes out of the prizes identified by the identification units, and the first A reject unit that is provided above or below the storage unit, moves integrally with the first storage unit, and stores a prize that cannot be identified by each of the identification units as a reject prize. It may be.

  In this case, the first storage unit may be partitioned into a plurality of storage areas corresponding to the plurality of transport units.

  Alternatively, the prize reader of the present invention may further include a second storage unit that stores the prizes identified by the respective identification units.

  In this case, the second storage unit may be partitioned into a plurality of storage areas corresponding to the plurality of transport units.

  According to the prize reader of the present invention, by providing a plurality of conveyance sections for conveying prizes and providing a plurality of identification sections corresponding to each conveyance section, a plurality of prizes can be read in parallel by a plurality of identification sections. The processing capacity of prizes can be greatly improved.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the distribution management system of the prize provided with the prize reader by embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a structure when the prize reader installed in the compatible place of the prize distribution management system shown in FIG. 1 is seen from the front side. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the carton used for the prize reader shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of a structure of the conveyance part, identification part, etc. of the prize reader shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which extracts and shows the belt in the conveyance part shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the prize read by the prize reader shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation | movement which an identification part identifies a prize in the prize reader shown in FIG. 2 grade | etc.,. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the prize reader shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows a structure when the conveyance part of the prize reader shown in FIG. 2 is seen from upper direction. It is a side view which shows the outline of a structure of the prize reader which concerns on a modification. It is a side view which shows the outline of a structure of the prize reader which concerns on another modification.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 are diagrams showing a prize reader according to the present embodiment and a prize distribution management system provided with the prize reader. Among these, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a prize distribution management system including a prize reader according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is installed at a compatible place of the prize distribution management system shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a structure when the prize reader used is seen from the front side. 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the carton used in the prize reader shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows an outline of the configuration of the transport section, identification section, etc. of the prize reader shown in FIG. 5 is a perspective view, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a belt extracted from the conveyance unit shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a prize read by the prize reader shown in FIG. 2 and the like. FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the identification unit identifying the prize in the prize reader shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the prize reader shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a top view showing a configuration when the transport unit of the prize reader shown in FIG. 2 is viewed from above.

  First, a configuration of a prize distribution management system including a prize reader 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, in the prize distribution management system according to the present embodiment, the number of game media such as pachinko balls acquired by the player 102 in the hall 100 of a game facility such as a pachinko store is the same. The prize is paid out to the player 102. The prize is not a general prize such as confectionery or tobacco, but a special prize in which an object (valuable material) having a predetermined monetary value is built. This gift is generally a resin card having a substantially rectangular shape with a thickness of about 1 to 3 mm. This prize contains the above-mentioned valuables, and there are a plurality of types (four in this case) according to denominations such as 200 yen, 1000 yen, 2000 yen, and 5000 yen. Details of the prize will be described later.

  The player 102 can exchange the prize by bringing the paid prize to the prize exchange 104. The prize exchange 104 is provided with a prize reader 106 for reading a prize received from the player 102. Then, when a staff member of the prize exchange 104 sets the prize received from the player 102 in the prize reader 106, the prize reader 106 starts operating, and the set prizes one by one in the prize reader 106. It is taken into the aircraft and the authenticity and denomination are identified. The prizes that have been identified are collected into groups by a staff member of the prize exchange 104 and stored in a carton 80 described later. A prize identification result (specifically, a breakdown of prizes received from the player 102) in the prize reader 106 is a cash dispenser (not shown) connected to the prize reader 106 so as to be communicable. The cash corresponding to the prize of the player 102 is paid out from the cash dispenser and delivered to the player 102. Also, the management data of the prize read by the prize reader 106 is transmitted to the management center 112. As the prize reader 106 installed at the prize exchange 104, a conventional general-purpose article is used. The prizes read by the prize reader 106 at the prize exchange 104 are sent to a wholesale company 108 that delivers prizes to the hall 100 of the amusement facility in a state of being stored in a carton 80.

  Also, the prize sent from the prize exchange 104 to the wholesale company 108 is sent to the compatible place 110 in a state of being stored in the carton 80, and the prize reader 1 of the present embodiment installed in the compatible place 110 is used. The prize is read. The management data of the premium read by the premium reader 1 is transmitted to the management center 112. Although only one compatible station 110 is shown in FIG. 1, in reality, a plurality of compatible stations 110 are provided, and each compatible station 110 is provided with one or more premium readers 1 according to the present embodiment. It has come to be. The prizes read by the prize reader 1 at the compatible place 110 are returned to the wholesale company 108 after being shuffled, and the prize returned from the compatible place 110 to the wholesale company 108 is the hall of the amusement facility. 100 is delivered.

  In the prize distribution management system according to the present embodiment, the prizes read by the prize reader 106 at the prize exchange 104 in the prize exchange 104 are cartons 80 (for example, five) partitioned into a plurality of (for example, five) storage areas. (See FIG. 3). Here, each storage area of the carton 80 can store, for example, 20 prizes, and the entire carton 80 can store 100 prizes. Details of the configuration of such a carton 80 will be described later. Then, a prize is sent from the prize exchange 104 to the wholesale company 108 in a state where the prize is stored in the carton 80, and the carton 80 storing the prize is sent from the wholesale company 108 to the compatible place 110.

  Next, details of the configuration of the prize reader 1 installed in the compatible place 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration when the prize reader 1 according to the present embodiment is viewed from the front side. In the following description, the direction of the prize reader 1 and its constituent elements will be based on the left, right, up, down, front and rear directions of the prize reader 1 when viewed from the front side in FIG. 2 (front side of the paper surface in FIG. 2). Will be specified. Here, the horizontal direction and the width direction of the prize reader 1 are the same, and the vertical direction and the vertical direction are the same. The front-rear direction (depth direction of the prize reader 1) and the left-right direction (width direction of the prize reader 1) are included in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the prize reader 1 has a convex shape when viewed from the front side, and an operation display unit 7 is provided in the center of the front face of the casing of the prize reader 1. The operation display unit 7 is composed of a liquid crystal touch panel having a long rectangular shape in the width direction, and the operation display unit 7 displays information necessary for the prize reader 1. A staff member of the compatibility station 110 can input to the prize reader 1 through the operation display unit 7. Further, when the prize reader 1 is in a standby state, a reading start switch is displayed on the operation display unit 7, and a staff member of the compatible station 110 presses the reading start switch displayed on the operation display unit 7. By doing so, the operation of the prize reader 1 is started. Also, a printer unit 4 is installed on the upper surface of the housing of the prize reader 1, so that the printer unit 4 can journal the processing contents of the prize reader 1 as a paper slip. It has become.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the prize reader 1. The configuration of the control system of the prize reader 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The prize reader 1 has a control unit 15 that controls the operation of each component of the prize reader 1. Specifically, the control unit 15 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. In addition, a printer unit 4, a conveyance unit 5 (described later), an identification unit 6 (described later), and an operation display unit 7 are electrically connected to the control unit 15. In addition, the storage unit 16 and the communication interface 17 are electrically connected to the control unit 15. The storage unit 16 stores various information. The communication interface 17 transmits and receives signals to the management center 112 described above.

  An identification unit 6 (not shown in FIG. 2) for identifying the authenticity or denomination of a prize or the like is provided inside a central portion 20 raised upward from the left and right portions of the housing of the prize reader 1 shown in FIG. ) Is provided. Further, in the prize reader 1, a first placement unit 11 and a second placement unit 12 on which the carton 80 shown in FIG. Here, the same type of carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 and the carton 80 placed on the second placement unit 12 are used. Further, while the first placement unit 11 is fixed in position, the second placement unit 12 is movable in the vertical direction, and the second placement unit 12 moves in the vertical direction. Thus, the carton 80 placed on the second placement portion 12 is also moved in the vertical direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the prize reader 1 according to the present embodiment, a prize is displayed from each storage area of the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 (indicated by reference numeral 40 in FIG. 4). , And a transport unit 5 that transports the fed premium 40 is provided in parallel with the storage area of the carton 80 (specifically, five). 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the transport unit 5 and the identification unit 6 in the prize reader 1 shown in FIG. 2, and the carton 80 located on the heel side in FIG. The carton 80 placed on the front portion 11 and located on the near side is placed on the second placement portion 12. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a carton 80 containing a prize 40 is placed on the first placement unit 11, and an empty carton is placed on the second placement unit 12. 80 is placed. In addition, the carton 80 is formed on the first mounting unit 11 and the second mounting unit 12 so that the opening (the opening on the near side in the carton 80 shown in FIG. 3) faces the central portion 20 side of the prize reader 1. Each is to be placed. That is, the openings of the cartons 80 respectively placed on the first placement part 11 and the second placement part 12 face each other. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of identification units 6 are installed in parallel inside the central portion 20 so as to correspond to the plurality of conveyance units 5, and the prize 40 conveyed by each conveyance unit 5 is the conveyance unit. 5 is identified by the identifying unit 6 corresponding to 5 respectively. Each transport unit 5 stores the prize 40 identified by the identification unit 6 in each storage area of the carton 80 placed on the second placement unit 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each transport unit 5 includes a belt 22 as an endless transport body and a drive motor (not shown) that drives the belt 22. Specifically, the belt 22 is an endless belt (so-called endless belt), and the belt 22 is formed of an elastic body such as rubber. The cross section of the belt 22 when cut along a flat surface orthogonal to the circumferential direction R (see FIG. 5) has an elongated rectangular shape along the front-rear direction of the prize reader 1. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of (here, seven) protrusions 35 are provided along the circumferential direction R on the outer peripheral surface 22 </ b> A of the belt 22 at a constant interval. Each protrusion 35 has an elongated, substantially rectangular parallelepiped block shape along the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the belt 22 (the front-rear direction of the prize reader 1), and is integrally formed with the belt 22. The longitudinal dimension L of each protrusion 35 is substantially the same as the longitudinal dimension of the cross section of the belt 22. Further, the protrusion amount S of each protrusion 35 from the outer peripheral surface 22 </ b> A of the belt 22 is substantially the same as the thickness T of one prize 40. Further, the interval P between two protrusions 35 adjacent to each other in the belt 22 along the circumferential direction R is larger than a single dimension Q of the prize 40 by a predetermined size or more (for example, about several mm or more).

  Such a belt 22 is wound around four pulleys (not shown) under a predetermined tension. In such a belt 22, a portion of each belt that is engaged with each pulley has a turning angle C (see FIG. 5). Here, the upper portion of the belt 22 shown in FIG. 5 that extends in the horizontal direction is substantially the same height as the bottom 84 of the carton 80 placed on the first placement portion 11 or the second placement portion 12. It is a level. Further, the corner C located at the upper right in FIG. 5 is located on the right side of the first placement unit 11 when the prize reader 1 is viewed from the front side, and is located at the upper left in FIG. The turning corner C is located on the left side of the second placement unit 12 when the prize reader 1 is viewed from the front side. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a slit 86 is provided in the bottom 84 of each storage area of the carton 80, and a slit 88 is provided in the side portion 87 on the heel side of each storage area. When 80 is placed on the first placement portion 11, each protrusion 35 of the belt 22 passes through these slits 86 and 88. As a result, the prize 40 located in the lowermost layer among the plurality of prizes 40 stored in the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 is pushed by the protrusions 35 of the belt 22, so that the carton 80 It has come out. Further, the prize 40 identified by the identification unit 6 is stored in each storage area of the carton 80 mounted on the second mounting unit 12 by being pushed by the protrusion 35 of the belt 22. More specifically, each time the prize 40 is stored in the carton 80 placed on the second placement unit 12, the second placement unit 12 descends to lower the carton 80. The carton 80 on the second mounting portion 12 is aligned with the belt 22 so that the prize 40 can be stored in a vacant space in each storage area.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of drive motors (specifically, five) are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of belts 22 provided in parallel, and the plurality of belts 22 are provided by each drive motor. They are driven independently of each other. More specifically, a timing belt (not shown) is provided between the rotation shaft of one pulley among the four pulleys around which the belt 22 is wound and the output shaft of the drive motor in each of the transport units 5. It is being handed over. When the drive motor is driven by receiving electric power, the driving force of the drive motor is transmitted to the rotating shaft of the pulley via the timing belt, and the pulley rotates. As a result, the belt 22 rotates in a state of being wound around the four pulleys. 4 and FIG. 5, the counterclockwise direction in front view is the forward rotation direction of the belt 22 (a normal circumferential movement direction), and the clockwise direction is the reverse rotation direction of the belt 22. The driving of the driving motor (in other words, the circular movement of the belt 22) is controlled by the control unit 15. Specifically, the drive motor is a stepping motor, and when a staff member of the compatibility station 110 places the carton 80 on the first placement unit 11 and presses the reading start switch displayed on the operation display unit 7. The control unit 15 starts the circular movement of the belt 22 by controlling the step angle of the drive motor and the like.

  When the belt 22 rotates in the forward rotation direction, each protrusion 35 on the outer peripheral surface 22A of the belt 22 moves in the forward rotation direction. At this time, each projection 35 penetrates through each slit 86, 88 of the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11, so that the projection 35 extends in a horizontal direction at a position slightly above the bottom 84 in the carton 80. Pass along the left side. As a result, the prize 40 in the lowermost layer among the prizes 40 stored in the respective storage areas of the carton 80 is moved to the left side by the right end edge being hooked on the protrusion 35 coming from the right side. Thereby, the prize 40 is sandwiched between the protrusion 35 hooked on the right edge and another protrusion 35 adjacent to the protrusion 35 on the downstream side (in the positive rotation direction of the belt 22). Thus, the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 is fed out. That is, the belt 22 having such protrusions 35 feeds out the prizes 40 stored in the carton 80 placed on the first placement portion 11 one by one with the protrusions 35.

  The prize 40 fed out from the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 by the belt 22 moving around is identified by the identification unit 6 while being transported by the belt 22. In describing the identification operation of the prize 40 by the identification unit 6, first, the prize 40 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The prize 40 mainly includes a main body 41, a valuable material 42, an IC tag 43, and a hologram 44.

  The main body 41 is a resin card having a substantially rectangular shape, and forms an outline of the prize 40. The outer surface on one side in the thickness direction of the main body 41 is the front surface 40A of the prize 40, and the outer surface on the other side is the back surface 40B of the prize 40 (see FIG. 5). In the present embodiment, the color of the outer surface of the main body 41 (that is, the outer surface of the prize 40) is different for each denomination and rate of the prize 40. The rate of the prize 40 means a value (that is, a monetary value) per game medium (for example, a pachinko ball) in the game facility. In the gaming machines having different values of the game medium, the prizes 40 of different colors are used. It is to be paid out.

  The valuable material 42 is, for example, a noble metal (gold or silver) chip, and is embedded in the main body 41 so as to be visible from the outer surface of the prize 40. Incidentally, the prize 40 has a structure that can prevent an injustice to take out the valuables 42 from the main body 41. The IC tag 43 stores information on the denominations and rates of the prizes 40, identification information assigned to individual prizes 40 (game facility store codes and serial numbers), and the like. Such an IC tag 43 is embedded in the main body 41.

  The hologram 44 is a color variable hologram whose color changes depending on the viewing angle. The hologram 44 has, for example, a square seal shape and is attached to the surface 40A of the prize 40. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, on the surface 40 </ b> A of the substantially rectangular main body 41, the hologram 44 is arranged at the center in the short direction but at one end or the other end in the longitudinal direction. Yes. Since the hologram 44 is arranged at the center in the short direction of the surface 40A, the hologram 44 is displaced from the belt 22 in the front-rear direction regardless of the orientation in which the prize 40 is stored in the carton 80. For this reason, when the prize 40 is identified by the identification unit 6, the hologram 44 of the prize 40 is not hidden behind the belt 22.

  In the prize reader 1 according to the present embodiment, the hologram 44 is attached to the prize 40 at a position visible from the outside (that is, the real hologram 44 can be read from the prize 40), and from the IC tag 43. If the denomination and rate information can be read, it is determined that the prize 40 is genuine (normal). On the other hand, in the prize reader 1, the prize 40 that cannot read the hologram 44 and the prize 40 that cannot read the denomination and rate information from the IC tag 43 are determined to be fake.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram schematically showing an operation in which the identification unit 6 identifies the prize 40 in the prize reader 1. The configuration of the identification unit 6 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the prize 40 fed out from the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 by the belt 22 that moves around (that is, the prize 40 to be identified by the identification unit 6 from now on) is illustrated. Yes. In FIG. 7, a thick black arrow extending horizontally toward the left side indicates the conveyance direction X of the prize 40 by the belt 22. The conveyance direction X and the longitudinal direction of the prize 40 are the same.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the identification unit 6 is provided inside the central portion 20 of the prize reader 1. Here, a gap 25 is formed in the lower portion of the right side wall 24 of the central portion 20 facing the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11, and the second placement unit 12 is provided with a gap 25. A gap 27 is also formed in the lower part of the left side wall 26 of the central portion 20 facing the placed carton 80, and the prize 40 conveyed by the belt 22 passes through these gaps 25, 27 and is a prize reader. 1 in and out of the central portion 20. That is, the prize 40 fed out from the carton 80 placed on the first placement part 11 by the belt 22 passes through the gap 25 formed in the lower part of the right side wall 24 of the center part 20 and passes through the gap 25 formed in the center part 20. After entering the inside and being identified by the identification unit 6 installed inside the central portion 20, it goes out of the central portion 20 through a gap 27 formed in the lower portion of the left side wall 26 of the central portion 20. Then, it is stored in each storage area of the carton 80 mounted on the second mounting unit 12.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the identification unit 6 includes an upper identification block 50 disposed above the belt 22 and a lower identification block 51 disposed below the belt 22. Each of the upper identification block 50 and the lower identification block 51 includes one reading unit 52 that reads the hologram 44 from the prize 40 fed from the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11. For this reason, when viewed as a whole of the upper identification block 50 and the lower identification block 51, the reading unit 52 is located on both sides in the vertical direction intersecting (strictly speaking, orthogonally) the above-described conveyance direction X with respect to the belt 22. A pair is provided so as to be arranged. Further, in the present embodiment, the pair of reading units 52 are arranged at the same position (position of the same phase) in the transport direction X and are opposed to each other with the belt 22 interposed therebetween. If the pair of reading units 52 are arranged to face each other in this way, the prize 40 having the hologram 44 provided only on either the front or back (here, the front surface 40A) is conveyed in a state in which the front and back directions are unknown. Even if it comes, either of the pair of reading units 52 located on both sides of the prize 40 can always read the hologram 44 of the prize 40.

  Each reading unit 52 includes a casing 53, an LED light emitting unit 54 as a light projecting unit, and a plurality (here, two) of color sensors 55. The casing 53 is box-shaped, and houses the LED light emitting unit 54 and the color sensor 55. An opening that exposes the LED light emitting unit 54 and the color sensor 55 to the belt 22 side is formed on the surface of the casing 53 facing the belt 22.

  The LED light emitting unit 54 is inclined from the opening of the casing 53 toward the upstream side in the transport direction X (right side in FIG. 7) with respect to the belt 22 extending in the horizontal direction (see the thin solid arrow in FIG. 7). A light-emitting component that projects light (for example, white light). Here, unlike paper such as banknotes, the prize 40 has a certain thickness, so that the light from the LED light emitting unit 54 in each of the pair of reading units 52 does not pass through the prize 40. Therefore, as described above, the pair of reading units 52 interferes with each other in reading the hologram 44 from the prize 40 even if they are arranged so as to sandwich the belt 22 at the same position in the conveyance direction X of the prize 40. There is no.

  The color sensor 55 is a sensor that reads the color of the outer surface by receiving reflected light on the outer surface of the projected object. As an example of the layout, in each reading unit 52, the two color sensors 55 are arranged on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 7) of the LED light emitting unit 54 in the transport direction X. Hereinafter, the two color sensors 55 in each reading unit 52 are classified into a color sensor 55A and a color sensor 55B. The color sensor 55A faces the belt 22 along a substantially vertical direction (specifically, the upper identification block 50 faces from directly above, and the lower identification block 51 faces from directly below. ). On the other hand, the color sensor 55B faces from the upstream side in the transport direction X along the direction inclined with respect to the belt 22 (specifically, in the case of the upper identification block 50, it faces from the upper right side and lower side) In the case of the identification block 51, it faces from the lower right side). Specifically, in each reading unit 52, a surface (light receiving surface 58) that receives reflected light from an object (detection target) in the color sensor 55A and a light receiving surface 58 of the color sensor 55B are orthogonal to each other in a front view. Has been placed. The layout of each color sensor 55 and the LED light emitting unit 54 in each reading unit 52 described above is merely an example, and another configuration (for example, two color sensors 55 in the reading unit 52 of the lower identification block 51). May be arranged on the downstream side of the LED light emitting portion 54).

  In each reading unit 52, the LED light emitting unit 54 and the two color sensors 55 are connected to a substrate (not shown) accommodated in the casing 53. In the lower identification block 51, an IC reader / writer 57 is provided on the left side of the reading unit 52 (downstream in the transport direction X). The IC reader / writer 57 reads information stored in the IC tag 43 by wirelessly communicating with the IC tag 43 of the prize 40.

  Next, an operation of identifying the prize 40 by the identification unit 6 having such a configuration will be described. The left end portion of the prize 40 (one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the prize 40 in the longitudinal direction of the prize 40, which is drawn out from the carton 80 placed on the first placement section 11 by the belt 22 and enters the center portion 20, and in the transport direction X) When the control unit 15 reaches the same position as the reading unit 52 in the transport direction X (strictly, the position where the light from the LED light emitting unit 54 strikes), the control unit 15 rotates the belt 22. Pause the movement. Thereby, the prize 40 stops. The position of the prize 40 in the transport direction X at this time is referred to as a first stop position. Since the protrusions 35 of the belt 22 are positioned so as to sandwich the prize 40 on both sides in the conveyance direction X of the prize 40, the prize 40 does not go too far according to the temporary stop of the circular movement of the belt 22. Stop immediately at the first stop position.

  When the delivered prize 40 stops at the first stop position, light is emitted from the LED light emitting portion 54 of the upper identification block 50 to the upper surface (one of the front surface 40A and the rear surface 40B) of the premium 40, and the LED of the lower identification block 51 Light is emitted from the light emitting unit 54 to the lower surface (the other of the front surface 40A and the back surface 40B) of the prize 40. The light projected on the upper surface of the prize 40 becomes reflected light that is reflected upward on the upper surface, and is received by the respective light receiving surfaces 58 of the two color sensors 55 of the upper identification block 50. Here, the direction of the reflected light is different between the reflected light received by the color sensor 55A (the one-dot chain arrow in FIG. 7) and the reflected light received by the color sensor 55B (the two-dot chain arrow in FIG. 7). That is, the two color sensors 55 of the upper identification block 50 read the color of the upper surface of the prize 40 projected by the LED light emitting unit 54 from different angles.

  The light projected on the lower surface of the prize 40 becomes reflected light that is reflected downward on the lower surface, and is received by the light receiving surfaces 58 of the two color sensors 55 of the lower identification block 51. Here, the direction of the reflected light is different between the reflected light received by the color sensor 55A (the one-dot chain arrow in FIG. 7) and the reflected light received by the color sensor 55B (the two-dot chain arrow in FIG. 7). That is, the two color sensors 55 of the lower identification block 51 read the color of the lower surface of the prize 40 projected by the LED light emitting unit 54 from different angles.

  Here, if the hologram 44 is located at the left end portion of the prize 40, the light projected by the LED light emitting unit 54 in either the upper identification block 50 or the lower identification block 51 is reflected by the hologram 44. Then, the two color sensors 55 in either the upper identification block 50 or the lower identification block 51 read the color of the hologram 44 in the prize 40 projected by the LED light emitting unit 54 from different angles. However, in the case of FIG. 7, the hologram 44 is located not at the left end portion of the prize 40 but at the right end portion (the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the prize 40 and also the upstream end portion in the transport direction X). Yes. Therefore, neither reading unit 52 of the upper identification block 50 and the lower identification block 51 can read the hologram 44 from the prize 40 at the first stop position.

  When the hologram 44 cannot be read from the prize 40 at the first stop position, the control unit 15 resumes the circular movement of the belt 22. When the right end portion of the prize 40 reaches the same position as the reading unit 52 in the transport direction X (a position where light from the LED light emitting unit 54 hits), the control unit 15 temporarily stops the circular movement of the belt 22 again. . Thereby, the prize 40 stops at a position slightly shifted to the downstream side in the transport direction X from the first stop position. The position of the prize 40 in the transport direction X at this time is referred to as a second stop position. Also at this time, thanks to the protrusions 35 of the belt 22 located on both sides in the transport direction X of the prize 40, the prize 40 stops quickly at the second stop position without going too far. Note that even when the hologram 44 can be read from the prize 40 at the first stop position, the prize 40 may be stopped at the second stop position and the hologram 44 may be read again.

  When the prize 40 stops at the second stop position, light is projected again from the LED light emitting portion 54 of the upper identification block 50 to the upper surface of the prize 40, and again from the LED light emitting portion 54 of the lower identification block 51 to the lower surface of the prize 40. Lighted. The light projected on the upper surface of the prize 40 becomes reflected light that is reflected upward on the upper surface, and is received by each of the two color sensors 55 of the upper identification block 50, and the two color sensors 55 are LED light emitting units. The color of the upper surface of the prize 40 projected by 54 is read from different angles. Further, the light projected on the lower surface of the prize 40 becomes reflected light that is reflected downward on the lower surface, and is received by each of the two color sensors 55 of the lower identification block 51. The two color sensors 55 are The color of the lower surface of the prize 40 projected by the LED light emitting unit 54 is read from different angles. In the case of FIG. 7, the upper surface of the gift 40 is the surface 40A, and the hologram 44 is located at the right end of the surface 40A. Therefore, the reading unit 52 of the upper identification block 50 located on the upper surface side of the gift 40 The hologram 44 can be read from the prize 40 at the stop position. At this time, the two color sensors 55 of the upper identification block 50 read the color of the hologram 44 from different angles.

  The color of the hologram 44 changes depending on the viewing direction as described above. Therefore, when the two color sensors 55 of the upper identification block 50 read the color of the hologram 44 from different angles as in this case, for example, the color sensor 55A reads red from the hologram 44, whereas the color sensor 55B reads the hologram. Read green from 44. Information on the color read by each color sensor 55 from the hologram 44 is transmitted to the control unit 15. The control unit 15 determines the color difference of the hologram 44 read by each of the two color sensors 55 of the identification unit 6 (the upper identification block 50 or the lower identification block 51) (strictly speaking, the color in the reflected light from the hologram 44). The authenticity of the hologram 44 in the prize 40 (in other words, the authenticity of the prize 40 itself) is determined (that is, identified) from the RGB data). Specifically, in the upper identification block 50 or the lower identification block 51, if the color sensor 55A reads red from the hologram 44, but the color sensor 55B reads green from the hologram 44, the reading unit 52 Means that the real hologram 44 can be read from the prize 40, and the control unit 15 determines that the hologram 44 is real. Conversely, when the color sensor 55A and the color sensor 55B read the same color from the hologram 44, or the color sensor 55B reads a color other than green from the hologram 44, the reading unit 52 can read the real hologram 44 from the prize 40. The control unit 15 determines that the hologram 44 is a fake.

  In the case of FIG. 7, only the reading unit 52 of the upper identification block 50 can read the hologram 44 from the prize 40, so that the control unit 15 not only determines the authenticity of the hologram 44 (prize 40) but also the prize. The direction of 40 front and back sides can also be grasped. That is, depending on which of the pair of upper and lower reading units 52 (the reading unit 52 of the upper identification block 50 and the reading unit 52 of the lower identification block 51) has read the hologram 44 from the prize 40, the control unit 15 Can be discriminated. For this reason, if the mechanism for inverting the front and back of the prize 40 is provided in the prize reader 1, the prize 40 that has been identified is placed in the carton placed on the second placement unit 12 with its front and back aligned. 80.

  As described above, when any of the reading units 52 can read the hologram 44 from the prize 40 at the second stop position, the control unit 15 resumes the circular movement of the belt 22. Then, when the IC tag 43 of the prize 40 reaches almost the same position as the IC reader / writer 57 of the lower identification block 51 in the transport direction X, the control unit 15 temporarily stops the circumferential movement of the belt 22 again. As a result, the prize 40 stops at a position slightly shifted downstream in the transport direction X from the second stop position. The position of the prize 40 in the transport direction X at this time is referred to as a third stop position. Also at this time, thanks to the protrusions 35 of the belt 22 located on both sides in the transport direction X of the prize 40, the prize 40 does not go too far and stops immediately at the third stop position.

  When either reading unit 52 can read the hologram 44 from the prize 40 at the first stop position, the control unit 15 resumes the circular movement of the belt 22 and then stops the prize 40 for the second stop. The belt 22 continues to move around without stopping at the position, and when the prize 40 reaches the third stop position, the belt 22 turns around temporarily.

  The IC reader / writer 57 can read information stored on the IC tag 43 of the prize 40 stopped at the third stop position (particularly, information on the denomination and rate of the prize 40). Since this information is sent to the control unit 15, the control unit 15 determines the denomination and rate of the prize 40 based on this information.

  Then, the control unit 15 determines that the hologram 44 of the prize 40 is genuine at the first stop position or the second stop position as described above, and the IC reader / writer 57 uses the IC tag of the prize 40 at the third stop position. Only when the denomination or rate of the prize 40 is determined based on the information read from 43, the prize 40 is determined to be genuine (normal prize). On the other hand, for a prize 40 for which the hologram 44 cannot be determined to be genuine or whose denomination or rate cannot be determined, the control unit 15 determines that the prize 40 is a fake (reject prize). Incidentally, if the hologram 44 of the prize 40 cannot be determined to be genuine at the first stop position or the second stop position, the control unit 15 determines that the prize 40 is fake regardless of the determination result of the denomination or the like. Also good. In any case, the control unit 15 automatically determines (automatic identification) the authenticity of the prize 40 depending on whether any of the upper and lower reading units 52 has read the real hologram 44 from the prize 40. Therefore, the prize reader 1 can improve the security of the prize 40 by using the hologram 44. In particular, since the hologram 44 is a color variable hologram, the colors of the holograms 44 read by the color sensors 55 are different from each other, and the control unit 15 determines the color of the hologram 44 read by each of the plurality of color sensors 55. It is possible to accurately determine the authenticity of the prize 40 from the difference.

  The control unit 15 can count each of the normal prize 40 and the reject prize 40 by determining the authenticity of the prize 40 one by one. Further, the control unit 15 can count the normal prize 40 for each denomination.

  When the authenticity determination (determination of denomination and rate) of the prize 40 at the third stop position is completed, the control unit 15 resumes the circular movement of the belt 22. As a result, as described above, the prize 40 that has received the true / false identification is left further by the protrusion 35 of the belt 22 (the protrusion 35 hooked on the prize 40 from the upstream side) after coming out of the central portion 20. By being pushed out, it is stored in each storage area of the carton 80 mounted on the second mounting portion 12.

  In the present embodiment, the prize 40 fed out from the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 and conveyed by the belt 22 stops at the first to third stop positions as described above. The control unit 15 stops the circular movement of the belt 22 when the prize 40 is in the middle of feeding and / or in the middle of conveyance. In this way, if the revolving movement of the belt 22 is temporarily stopped and the prize 40 in a stationary state (not moving) is identified by the identification unit 6, the identification accuracy of the prize 40 can be improved.

  Here, the control unit 15 may not only stop the circulation movement of the belt 22 but also reverse the rotation direction of the belt 22 as necessary. In addition, the control unit 15 rotates the belt 22 when a defective feeding out of the prize 40 from the carton 80 placed on the first placing unit 11 and / or a defective identification of the prize 40 by the identification unit 6 occurs. The movement may be stopped or the rotating direction of the belt 22 may be reversed. Thereby, for example, when a payout failure of the prize 40 occurs, the circumferential movement of the belt 22 is stopped, the prize 40 in the middle of conveyance is taken out, and each storage area of the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 is stored. Can be stored again. On the other hand, when an identification failure occurs (the identification unit 6 cannot read necessary information from the prize 40), by reversing the rotation direction of the belt 22, the protrusion 35 that transports the previous prize 40, The prize 40 having the identification failure can be returned to the identification area (any one of the first to third stop positions) of the control unit 15 and re-identified. Therefore, usability can be improved when a problem occurs.

  In addition, as described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of drive motors (specifically, five) are installed corresponding to each of the plurality of belts 22 provided in parallel. The plurality of belts 22 are driven independently of each other. For this reason, defective delivery of the prize 40 from the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 and / or poor identification of the prize 40 by the identification unit 6 in one of the plurality of conveyance units 5. When this occurs, only the conveyor unit 5 stops the circumferential movement of the belt 22 or reverses the circumferential direction of the belt 22, while the other conveyance units 5 continue to perform the normal circumferential movement of the belt 22. You may do it. This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, a prize from the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 in one of the five transport units 5 (indicated by the transport units 5A to 5E in FIG. 9). In the case where 40 feeding defects and / or defective identification of the prize 40 by the identification unit 6 occur, the circular movement of the belt 22 is stopped only in the conveyance unit 5B, but in the other conveyance units 5A, 5C, 5D, and 5E The normal circular movement of the belt 22 continues. In this way, even if a problem occurs in one transport unit 5B, normal transport of the prize 40 is continued in the other transport units 5A, 5C, 5D, and 5E. It is possible to prevent the processing speed from greatly decreasing.

  In the above description, there is only one type of hologram 44, and regardless of the denomination 40, the color sensor 55A reads red from the hologram 44, and the color sensor 55B reads green from the hologram 44. In this case, the hologram 44 is determined to be genuine. On the other hand, a plurality of types of holograms 44 may exist depending on the denomination and rate of the prize 40. In this case, the control unit 15 can determine the denomination and rate of the prize 40 based on the reading result of the hologram 44 by the color sensor 55 of the reading unit 52, and the prize 40 can be identified without the IC tag 43. The denomination and the like can be determined. That is, it is possible to determine not only the authenticity of the prize 40 but also the denomination and rate of the prize 40 by the holograms 44 provided in a plurality of types according to the denomination and rate of the prize 40.

  Further, when the color of the outer surface of the main body 41 (that is, the outer surface of the prize 40) is different for each denomination and rate of the prize 40, the control unit 15 determines that the color sensor 55A and the color sensor 55B are the prize 40. The denomination and rate of the prize 40 may be discriminated from the color read from the outer surface.

  Further, instead of the configuration for identifying the hologram 44 attached to the surface 40A of the prize 40, a configuration in which a barcode (not shown) provided on the prize 40 is read by the identification unit 6 having a barcode reader is used. be able to. In this case, the IC tag 43 and the barcode may be used together.

  The operation of the prize reader 1 having such a configuration (specifically, a method for reading the prize 40) will be described below. A staff member of the compatibility office 110 places the carton 80 brought in from the wholesale company 108 in which the prize 40 is stored on the first placement unit 11 of the prize reader 1 and also puts the empty carton 80 on the second place. Place on the placement unit 12. At this time, the opening of each carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 and the second placement unit 12 is set to face the central portion 20 side of the prize reader 1. After that, when a person in charge at the compatible station 110 presses the reading start switch displayed on the operation display unit 7, it is placed on the first placement unit 11 by the protrusions 35 of the plurality of transport units 5 installed in parallel. Five prizes 40 are fed out simultaneously from each storage area of the carton 80, and each prize 40 passes through a gap 25 formed in the lower part of the right side wall 24 of the central part 20 by the belt 22 and the inside of the central part 20 And is identified by the identification unit 6 installed inside the central portion 20. At this time, five prizes 40 are simultaneously identified by the five identification units 6 provided so as to correspond to the respective conveyance units 5. Then, each prize 40 identified by the identification unit 6 comes out of the central portion 20 through the gap 27 formed in the lower portion of the left side wall 26 of the central portion 20 by the belt 22, and thereafter It is stored in each storage area of the carton 80 mounted on the second mounting unit 12. At this time, the five prizes 40 are simultaneously stored in the storage areas of the carton 80 mounted on the second mounting unit 12.

  According to the prize reader 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, a plurality of conveyance units 5 that convey the prize 40 are provided, and each conveyance unit 5 corresponds to each conveyance unit 5. A plurality of identification units 6 for identifying the prize 40 to be conveyed are provided. As described above, a plurality of transport units 5 that transport the prize 40 are provided, and a plurality of identification units 6 are provided corresponding to the respective transport units 5, so that a plurality of prizes 40 can be read in parallel by the plurality of identification units 6. The processing capability of the prize 40 by the prize reader 1 can be greatly improved.

  Further, in the prize reader 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the first placement unit on which the carton 80 that is partitioned into a plurality of storage areas and can store the prize 40 is placed in each storage area. 11 is provided, and each conveyance unit 5 feeds out a prize 40 from each storage area of the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11. In this case, the gift 40 stored in the carton 80 can be read simply by placing the carton 80 brought from the wholesale company 108 on the first placement unit 11. Thus, it is not necessary to take 20 prizes 40 from each storage area of the carton 80 brought in from the wholesale company 108 and set them in the receiving part of the prize reader, so that it is possible to save labor greatly. It becomes like this.

  Each transport unit 5 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 35 that push out the rear edge in the transport direction of the prize 40, and each carton 80 is transported when placed on the first mounting unit 11. A plurality of slits 86 and 88 through which the projections 35 of the portion 5 pass are formed so as to correspond to the respective storage areas. As a result, the prize 40 can be fed out from the respective storage areas of the carton 80 placed on the first placement unit 11 by the protrusions 35 of the transport unit 5.

  In addition, in the prize reader 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the second placement unit on which the carton 80 that is partitioned into a plurality of storage areas and can store the prize 40 is placed in each storage area. 12, each transport unit 5 stores the prize 40 identified by each identification unit 6 in each storage area of the carton 80 placed on the second placement unit 12. ing. In this case, the prize 40 after identification can be stored in the carton 80 only by placing the empty carton 80 on the second placement part 12, and after identification as in the prior art. Since it is not necessary to manually store 20 prizes 40 in each storage area of the carton 80, the labor of the staff can be greatly reduced.

  In the prize reader 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the plurality of transport units 5 are arranged in parallel so as to be adjacent to each other. Moreover, the some conveyance part 5 (specifically, belt 22) is driven mutually independently. In this case, even if a problem occurs in a certain transport unit 5, the normal transport of the prize 40 is continued in the other transport unit 5, so that the processing speed of the prize 40 by the prize reader 1 is greatly increased. It can prevent that it falls.

  The prize reader according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described mode, and various changes can be made.

  For example, in the above description, a plurality of drive motors (specifically, five) are installed corresponding to each of the plurality of belts 22 provided in parallel, and the plurality of belts 22 are independent of each other by each drive motor. Although the prize reader 1 to be driven has been described, the prize reader according to the present embodiment is not limited to such an aspect. As a prize reader according to another aspect, one in which a plurality of belts 22 are integrally driven by a single drive motor may be used. In this case, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of drive motors are installed corresponding to the plurality of belts 22, and the entire apparatus can be downsized.

  In a prize reader according to another modification, a plurality of cartons 80 may be stacked on the first placement unit 11 in a stacked state. Further, in the prize reader according to such a modified example, in the first placement unit 11, the carton 80 in which all the prizes 40 are fed out by the respective conveyance units 5 is pressed from the side (specifically, The carton pressing portion for retracting the carton 80 from the first mounting portion 11 by pressing the carton 80 placed on the first placement portion 11 so as to move from the front side of the prize reader to the back. May be provided. As such a carton pressing part, for example, a piston mechanism can be used. After all the prizes 40 are fed out from the carton 80 placed on the first placement part 11, the carton 80 is moved by the piston mechanism. By pressing away from the front side of the prize reader and retreating from the first placement unit 11, all the prizes 40 are drawn out and placed on the empty carton 80. The carton 80 (that is, the carton 80 in which the prize 40 is stored) falls and is placed on the first placement unit 11, and the prize 40 stored in the carton 80 is read. The reader can continue to do this.

  Further, in the prize reader 1a according to still another modified example as shown in FIG. 10, the second placement unit 12 on which the empty carton 80 is placed is provided on the left side of the central portion 20 and is normal. A storage unit 90 for storing the prize 40 and a reject unit 92 for storing the reject prize 40 are respectively provided on the left side of the central portion 20. The storage unit 90 and the rejection unit 92 are installed so as to be lined up and down, and the storage unit 90 and the rejection unit 92 are integrally movable in the vertical direction. Here, the storage unit 90 stores a plurality of normal prizes 40 in a stacked state, and the reject unit 92 stores a plurality of reject prizes 40 in a stacked state. . The storage unit 90 and the reject unit 92 are each divided into a plurality of storage areas corresponding to the plurality of transport units 5.

  According to the prize reader 1 a as shown in FIG. 10, the storage unit 90 and the reject unit 92 are located in a place as shown in FIG. 10 during normal operation, and each identification provided corresponding to the plurality of transport units 5 is performed. The prize 40 identified by the unit 6 is stored in the storage unit 90. On the other hand, when the prize 40 identified by the identification unit 6 is the reject prize 40, the conveyance of the prize 40 by the conveyance unit 5 corresponding to the identification unit 6 is stopped and the other conveyance unit 5 causes the prize 40 to be stopped. After the (normal prize 40) is sent to the storage unit 90, the storage unit 90 and the reject unit 92 are integrally lowered so that the reject unit 92 faces the belt 22 of the transport unit 5. Thereafter, the driving of the transport unit 5 corresponding to the identification unit 6 in which the reject prize 40 has been identified is resumed, and the reject prize 40 is stored in the reject unit 92 by the transport unit 5. Then, after the reject prize 40 is stored in the reject unit 92, the storage unit 90 and the reject unit 92 are integrally raised so that the storage unit 90 faces the belt 22 of the transport unit 5 again.

  Further, in the prize reader 1a according to the modification as shown in FIG. 10, the installation of the reject unit 92 may be omitted, and only the storage unit 90 may be provided on the left side of the central portion 20. Moreover, when only the storage part 90 is provided in the center part 20 on the left side, the position of the storage part 90 may be fixed without moving in the vertical direction. In this case, the cost can be reduced and the size of the entire apparatus can be reduced as compared with the case where the storage unit 90 is movable in the vertical direction.

  Further, in the prize reader 1b according to still another modified example as shown in FIG. 11, the second placement unit 12 on which the empty carton 80 is placed is provided on the left side of the central portion 20 and is normal. A plurality of storage portions 94, 96, and 98 for storing the prizes 40 are provided on the left side of the central portion 20. The plurality of storage units 94, 96, 98 are installed so as to be lined up and down, and the storage units 94, 96, 98 are integrally movable in the vertical direction. In 96 and 98, the prize 40 identified by the identification unit 6 is stored in a stacked state. The storage units 94, 96, and 98 are each divided into a plurality of storage areas corresponding to the plurality of transport units 5. In the prize reader 1 b using such a plurality of storage units 94, 96, 98, for example, by assigning a plurality of delivery destinations of the gaming facility to the storage units 94, 96, 98, for each delivery destination of the gaming facility. The prize 40 can be sorted and stored in the storage units 94, 96, and 98.

  Further, in the prize reader according to still another modified example, a plurality of prizes are provided instead of the first placement section 11 on which the carton 80 in which the prize 40 is stored is placed on the right side of the central portion 20. A plurality of set portions (not shown) in which 40 is directly set in a stacked state are provided on the right side of the central portion 20, and prizes 40 set in the set portion are fed out from the set portion one by one by the transport unit 5. It may be like this. Even in such a prize reader, a plurality of conveyance units 5 that convey the prize 40 are provided, and an identification unit 6 that identifies each prize 40 conveyed by the conveyance unit 5 corresponding to each conveyance unit 5. Are provided. In such a prize reader, the prize 40 can be identified without using the carton 80.

  In addition, as a prize dispenser installed in the hall 100 or the like of the game facility, a cassette in which the prize 40 is stored is placed on the cassette placement section of the prize dispenser, and the prize 40 is paid from the cassette to the staff in the hall 100. Instead of being delivered and handed to the player 102, a prize dispenser in which the carton 80 in which the prize 40 is stored can be set on the placement unit may be used. In this case, when the carton 80 in which the prize 40 is stored is set on the placement unit of the prize dispenser, the prize 40 is paid out to the staff in the hall 100 from each storage area of the carton 80. In such a prize dispenser, a plurality of transport units are provided in parallel corresponding to each storage area of the carton 80, but an identification unit for identifying the prize 40 is not installed in the prize dispenser.

  The operation of such a prize dispenser will be briefly described. After the carton 80 in which the prize 40 is stored is set on the placement section of the prize dispenser, when a prize payout switch is pressed, a plurality of conveyance sections installed in parallel from the respective storage areas of the carton 80 The prizes 40 are paid out at the same time, and the drawn prizes 40 are paid out to the staff in the hall 100. According to such a prize dispenser, since a plurality of prizes 40 are paid out to the staff of the hall 100 at a time, the time required for the payout operation of the prize 40 can be shortened.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a, 1b prize reader 4 Printer part 5, 5A-5E Conveyance part 6 Identification part 7 Operation display part 11 1st mounting part 12 2nd mounting part 15 Control part 16 Storage part 17 Communication interface 20 Center Portion 22 Belt 22A Outer peripheral surface 24 Side wall 25 Clearance 26 Side wall 27 Clearance 35 Protrusion 40 Premium 40A Front surface 40B Back surface 41 Main body 42 Valuable material 43 IC tag 44 Hologram 50 Upper identification block 51 Lower identification block 52 Reading unit 53 Casing 54 LED light emitting unit 55, 55A, 55B Color sensor 57 IC reader / writer 58 Light receiving surface 80 Carton 82 Partition wall 84 Bottom 86 Slit 87 Side 88 Slit 90 Storage part 92 Rejection part 94, 96, 98 Storage part 100 Hall 102 Player 104 Prize exchange place 106 Premium Reader 108 Wholesaler 110 Interchange 11 Management Center

Claims (11)

A plurality of transport units each for transporting prizes;
A plurality of identification units provided corresponding to the respective conveyance units, each for identifying a prize conveyed by the conveyance unit;
A premium reader. A first placement section on which a carton that is partitioned into a plurality of storage areas and capable of storing a prize in each of the storage areas is placed;
2. The prize reader according to claim 1, wherein each of the transport sections feeds out a prize from each of the storage areas of the carton placed on the first placement section. Each of the transport portions is provided with a plurality of protrusions that push out the rear edge portion in the transport direction of the prize,
The said carton is formed with two or more slits through which the said protrusion of each said conveyance part passes corresponding to each said storage area | region when mounted in the said 1st mounting part. Freebie reader. A plurality of the cartons are stacked in a stacked state on the first placement portion,
The carton pressing part which presses the carton from which all the prizes have been fed out by the respective transport parts and retracts the carton from the first mounting part is provided in the first mounting part. 3. The premium reader according to 3.   The premium reader according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transport units are arranged in parallel so as to be adjacent to each other.   The premium reader according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of transport units are driven independently of each other. A second placement section on which a carton that is partitioned into a plurality of storage areas and that can store prizes is placed in each of the storage areas;
Each said conveyance part accommodates the prize identified by each said identification part in each said storage area | region of the said carton mounted in the said 2nd mounting part. The premium reader according to claim 6. A first storage unit that is movable in a vertical direction and stores normal prizes among prizes identified by each of the identification units;
A reject unit that is provided above or below the first storage unit, moves together with the first storage unit, and stores premiums that could not be identified by the identification units as reject premiums; ,
The premium reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:   The premium reader according to claim 8, wherein the first storage unit is partitioned into a plurality of storage areas corresponding to the plurality of transport units.   The prize reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a second storage unit that stores a prize identified by each of the identification units.   11. The prize reader according to claim 10, wherein the second storage section is partitioned into a plurality of storage areas corresponding to the plurality of transport sections.

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