JP2018078933A - Each game machine and game system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide each game machine capable of preventing a returned memory medium from being left.SOLUTION: A lending processor 5 includes a card processing part 22 which performs information processing to associate a valuable value with a card and a control part 29 which controls operations of the card processing part 22. The card processing part 22 can perform ejection operation to eject the card with which the valuable value is associated to a slot of the card processing part 22 so that a part of the card is exposed to the outside and taking-in operation to take the card ejected to the slot into the inside of the card processing part 22 so that there is no part exposed to the outside. The control part 29 causes the card processing part 22 to perform the taking-in operation when a specific taking-in condition is satisfied after causing the card processing part 22 to perform the ejection operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that is provided corresponding to a gaming machine and a gaming system that includes the gaming machine to lend gaming media based on valuable values such as cash and prepaid value.

  In gaming facilities such as pachinko parlors, in order to rent gaming media such as pachinko balls and medals to gaming machines such as pachinko machines and pachislot machines, lending machines, which are each machine, are attached to the gaming machines.

  Cash (banknotes) and cards are inserted into the lending processor. The card stores a prepaid value as a valuable value. The money handling machine accepts valuable values such as cash and prepaid value. After a player inserts cash or a card into the lending processing machine and performs a lending operation on the gaming machine, gaming media is lent out from the gaming machine. In the lending processor, the valuable value for the quantity of the rented game media is deducted from the original valuable value.

  When the player finishes the game on the gaming table, if the rental processing machine has a residual value, the player can return them by performing a return operation on the gaming table. At this time, if the input to the lending processor is cash instead of the card, the residual value is written on the card previously stored in the lending processor, and the card is discharged from the lending processor. That is, instead of cash being returned, a card in which the residual value is stored is issued. On the other hand, if the input to the lending processor is a card, the residual value is written on the inserted card, and the card is discharged from the lending processor.

  In a lending machine that handles cards in this way, if a player forgets to take a card out of the lending machine, it is determined whether the forgotten card has a residual value. Patent Document 1 discloses a lending processing machine in which a clerk can distinguish between these cards by performing different processing on a certain card and a card having no residual value. By adopting such a configuration, it is not necessary for the attendant to check whether there is a balance for each card that has been forgotten.

JP 2007-61170 A

  In addition to the case where the player forgets to take the card from the lending processor as described above, the player may forget to take the card returned from the lending processor by the return operation. For example, since a player has acquired a large amount of game media by jackpot, there may be a case where the balance of cash that is initially input is returned once. In this case, when a return operation is performed, the card in which the prepaid value corresponding to the balance is written is discharged from the lending processor. If the player does not immediately possess the ejected card and continues playing with the acquired game media, the player forgets about the ejected card over time and leaves the card unattended It ’s easy to get away from the game table or finish the game. It is not always desirable that the card returned from the money handling machine is left unattended because it causes loss or the like.

  The above Patent Document 1 does not disclose a countermeasure when a card returned from a lending processor is forgotten and left as it is.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide each apparatus and game system that can prevent the returned storage medium from being left unattended.

  A first aspect of the present invention relates to each device provided corresponding to a game machine in order to lend a game medium based on a valuable value. Each device according to this aspect includes a storage medium processing unit that performs information processing for associating a valuable value with a storage medium, and a control unit that controls the operation of the storage medium processing unit. Here, the storage medium processing unit discharges the storage medium associated with the valuable value to the opening of the storage medium processing unit so that a part of the storage medium is exposed to the outside; It is possible to perform a take-in operation of taking the discharged storage medium into the storage medium processing unit so that there is no exposed portion to the outside. The control unit causes the storage medium processing unit to perform the capturing operation when a predetermined capturing condition is satisfied after the storage medium processing unit performs the ejection operation.

  For example, the control unit determines that the capturing condition is satisfied based on a predetermined time elapsed after the storage medium is ejected to the opening. Alternatively, the control unit determines that the capturing condition is satisfied based on the gaming table being in a state where the game by the player has ended after the storage medium is ejected to the opening.

  According to the above configuration, when the storage medium returned to the opening of the storage medium processing unit is in a forgotten state, it is taken into the storage medium processing unit, so that the forgotten storage medium is left unattended. It can be prevented from staying.

  In each stand apparatus according to this aspect, the storage medium processing unit has a storage unit that stores the storage medium, and associates the valuable value with the storage medium taken out from the storage unit and discharges it to the opening, When the storage medium discharged into the opening is taken in, the taken-in storage medium may be held at a position before being stored in the storage part.

  According to the above configuration, the captured storage medium is not stored in the storage unit, but remains in the previous state. Therefore, when the storage medium is returned again, the storage medium is stored. The storage medium can be quickly returned to the opening as much as it is not necessary to take out the part.

  In each stand apparatus according to this aspect, after the control unit causes the storage medium processing unit to perform the take-in operation, the control unit performs a use restriction process that restricts the use of each stand apparatus related to at least the storage medium. It can be set as such a structure.

  According to the above configuration, after the storage medium is taken into the storage medium processing unit, the use of at least each device related to the storage medium is restricted, so that it is possible to prevent the trouble related to the taken-in storage medium from occurring. The

  In the case of the above configuration, the control unit may be configured to prohibit the acceptance of a lending operation for lending out at least the game medium as the use restriction process.

  With such a configuration, the valuable value associated with the captured storage medium is prevented from being used carelessly.

  In the case of the above configuration, the control unit may further be configured to change the content of the use restriction process according to the type of the storage medium.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to place restrictions on the use of each device according to the information content associated with each type of storage medium.

  In the case of the above configuration, the control unit further allows the input of a password when the storage medium captured by the capture operation is a type of storage medium to which a password is given, When the accepted password matches the password assigned to the storage medium, the use restriction process may be stopped.

  With such a configuration, a player who has a storage medium to which a password is assigned can return each device to a normal state by himself / herself, and convenience for the player is improved.

  In the case of the above configuration, when the received password matches the password assigned to the storage medium, the control unit further inserts the captured storage medium into the opening in the storage medium processing unit. It is possible to have a configuration in which the battery is discharged.

  With such a configuration, a player who has a storage medium to which a password is assigned can take out the storage medium once taken out from each device, thereby improving convenience for the player.

  The gaming system according to the second aspect of the present invention is configured such that each device according to the first aspect is connected to each device so as to be communicable, and the value associated with the storage medium in each device is A management device that stores and manages the identification information added to the storage medium.

  According to said structure, it can prevent that the storage medium forgotten to leave is left unattended like each stand apparatus which concerns on a 1st aspect.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, each stand apparatus and game system which can prevent the returned storage medium being left unattended can be provided.

  The effects and significance of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example when the present invention is implemented, and the present invention is not limited to what is described in the following embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gaming system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the pachinko machine and the lending processor according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the lending processor according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the internal structure of the card processing unit according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams for explaining a return operation of the card processing unit, which is an operation when the card is drawn out from the storage unit and discharged to the entrance / exit according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams for explaining an accepting operation of the card processing unit, which is an operation when taking a card from the entrance and storing it in the storing unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the card return / forgetting process according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the card return / forgetting process according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating examples of a guidance screen, a password input screen, and a re-input notification screen displayed on the operation display unit, respectively, according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing the control operation of the card return / forgetting process according to the first modification, and FIG. 10B is the return word displayed on the operation display unit according to the first modification. It is a figure which shows an example of an input screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the following embodiments, the pachinko machine 4 corresponds to the “game machine” described in the claims. The lending processor 5 corresponds to “each device” described in the claims. Further, the card processing unit 22 corresponds to a “storage medium processing unit” recited in the claims. Furthermore, the entrance / exit 22a corresponds to an “opening” described in the claims. Further, the storage chamber 108 corresponds to a “storage unit” recited in the claims. Further, the card C corresponds to a “storage medium” recited in the claims.

  However, the above description is only for the purpose of associating the configuration of the claims with the configuration of the embodiment, and the invention described in the claims is incorporated into the configuration of the embodiment by the above association. It is not limited at all.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gaming system 1 according to the present embodiment. The gaming system 1 is configured in a gaming facility, for example, a pachinko parlor, and includes a management device 2, a plurality of island controllers 3, a plurality of pachinko machines 4, and a plurality of lending processors 5. In the store, a plurality of game islands including a plurality of sets of pachinko machines 4 and rental processing machines 5 are provided. And the island controller 3 is arrange | positioned for every game island. The management device 2, the island controller 3, and the lending processor 5 are communicably connected via a network line 6 such as an in-store LAN. The pachinko machine 4 and the lending processor 5 are communicably connected via a wireless line or a wired line.

  The management device 2 is notified from each lending processor 5 of a valuable value such as a prepaid value and the number of balls associated with the card in the lending processor 5 together with an ID which is card identification information. The management device 2 centrally manages the valuable value received by each lending processor 5 by storing the notified valuable value in association with the card ID in an internal database (not shown). .

  The island controller 3 relays communication data between the management device 2 and the lending processor 5. The pachinko machine 4 is a game machine for a player to play a pachinko game.

  The lending processor 5 is installed for each pachinko machine 4. The lending processor 5 has a lending function for lending a pachinko ball to a player who uses the pachinko machine 4 based on the prepaid value associated with cash or a card. Further, the lending processor 5 has a counting function for measuring the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player from the pachinko machine 4.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the pachinko machine 4 and the lending processor 5 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the lending processor 5 according to the present embodiment.

  A game board 11 is provided on the front surface of the pachinko machine 4. The game board 11 is provided with an out port 11a at the lower portion, and an out ball detection sensor 12 is disposed in the back of the out port 11a. The out ball detection sensor 12 detects a pachinko ball discharged from the out port 11a, that is, an out ball, and outputs an out pulse.

  Further, an upper plate 13 and a lower plate 14 are provided below the game board 11 on the front surface of the pachinko machine 4. Pachinko balls are paid out to the upper plate 13 from the payout mechanism 15 provided in the pachinko machine 4 through the payout opening 13a when lending or winning a prize. Pachinko balls are temporarily stored in the upper plate 13, and when the upper plate 13 is full of pachinko balls, the pachinko balls are transferred from the upper plate 13 to the lower plate 14. A safe ball detection sensor 16 is disposed in the back of the payout port 13a. The safe ball detection sensor 16 detects a pachinko ball paid out from the payout opening 13a at the time of winning, that is, a safe ball, and outputs a safe pulse.

  On the front surface of the upper plate 13, a rental button 17, a return button 18, and a display unit 19 are provided. The lending button 17 is used for a lending operation for lending a pachinko ball. The return button 18 is used for a return operation for returning a card associated with a valuable value as the game ends. The display unit 19 displays the remaining amount of the card.

  The lending processor 5 is provided on the left side of the pachinko machine 4 and has an elongated box shape in the vertical direction. In the lending processor 5, a card C as a storage medium is handled in addition to cash (banknotes). The card C is, for example, an IC card. The card C stores the ID of the card C. The card C is associated with a valuable value. As types of the card C, there are a membership card issued to a player who has registered as a member and a general card issued to a player who does not have a membership card. The valuable value associated with the general card includes a prepaid value and the number of balls held. The value associated with the membership card includes the prepaid value and the number of balls held, as well as the number of stored balls. Also, a password (password) is given to the membership card.

  The pachinko balls acquired by the player on the game of the day can be converted into data, and the number of balls can be associated with the card C as the number of balls. If the ball is on the day, it can be pulled out of the card C and replaced with a pachinko ball or a prize. Mochitama loses its effectiveness when the day's business ends. The coins associated with the membership card can be deposited at the store as savings when used on the following day. In this case, the number of stored balls is associated with the membership card, and pachinko balls can be lent or exchanged based on the number of stored balls.

  In this embodiment, a valuable value is associated with the card C by storing the valuable value in the card C itself. Further, the valuable value is associated with the card C by storing the valuable value in association with the ID of the card C in the database of the management device 2. Thus, since the valuable value is stored in both the card C and the management device 2, even if the storage of the valuable value in either one is lost, the loss of the valuable value can be prevented.

  The lending processor 5 includes a banknote processing unit 21, a card processing unit 22, a counting unit 23, an operation display unit 24, a replay button 25, a status display lamp 26, a remote control light receiving unit 27, and a communication unit 28. And a control unit 29 and a storage unit 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the front surface of the lending processor 5, in order from the top, a status display lamp 26, a remote control light receiving unit 27, a bill insertion slot 21a of the bill processing unit 21, an operation display unit 24, a replay button 25, A card C entrance / exit 22a of the card processing unit 22 is provided. The counting unit 23 is provided at the lowermost part of the lending processor 5, and a ball receiving tray unit 31 is connected to the front surface thereof. The lending button 17 and the return button 18 may be provided on the lending processor 5 side.

  The banknote processing unit 21 identifies whether the denomination of the banknote inserted from the insertion slot 21a is 1000 yen, 2000 yen, 5000 yen, or 10,000 yen, and the identified denomination is controlled by the control unit. 29 is notified. The banknote processing unit 21 returns the inserted banknote to the insertion slot 21a when the banknote is not one of the above denominations. The identified banknotes are collected by a banknote collection unit (not shown) provided in the store through a transport mechanism unit (not shown) connected to the lending processor 5.

  When the card C is inserted into the gateway 22a, the card processing unit 22 reads the information such as the valuable value (prepaid value, number of possessed balls, number of stored balls) stored in the card C after reading the card C. Information is notified to the control unit 29. Further, the card processing unit 22 writes (stores) information such as a balance of valuable value (remaining valuable value) in the card C, and returns the card C to the entrance 22a. In the card processing unit 22, a card C to be a general card is stored in advance. If the card C is not used in the lending processor 5 and cash (banknotes) is used, and the balance needs to be returned, the card processing unit 22 corresponds to the balance remaining in the card C stored in advance. The prepaid value is stored, and the card C is returned to the gateway 22a as a general card. The detailed configuration of the card processing unit 22 will be described later.

  Pachinko balls dropped from the lower plate 14 of the pachinko machine 4 are introduced into the counting unit 23 through the ball receiving plate unit 31. The counting unit 23 measures the number of introduced pachinko balls and notifies the control unit 29 of the number of balls.

  The operation display unit 24 is configured with, for example, a touch panel, accepts various input operations to the lending processor 5, and displays various information such as the balance and the number of balls. The replay button 25 is a button that is operated when lending a storage ball to perform replay, and is also operated when lending a ball.

  The status display lamp 26 informs the status of the lending processor 5, for example, whether there is an abnormality, by the color and lighting state. The remote control light receiving unit 27 receives an infrared operation signal from a remote control carried by an attendant.

  The communication unit 28 includes a communication device such as a LAN board, and performs data communication with the management apparatus 2 and the pachinko machine 4.

  The storage unit 30 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, stores an operation program of the control unit 29, and is used as a work area when the control unit 29 performs control processing.

  The control unit 29 includes an arithmetic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and each component (the banknote processing unit 21, the card processing unit 22, the counting unit 23) according to the operation program stored in the storage unit 30. , Operation display unit 24, replay button 25, status display lamp 26, remote control light receiving unit 27, communication unit 28, etc.).

  FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the internal structure of the card processing unit 22 according to the present embodiment.

  The card processing unit 22 includes a transport path 101 extending rearward from the entrance 22a on the front side. The card C is transported in the transport path 101 in a state where the card C is erected so that the longitudinal direction thereof is the front-rear direction. A transport mechanism 102 for transporting the card C is provided in relation to the transport path 101. The transport mechanism 102 includes two first rollers 103 that can be rotated around a vertical axis and arranged in front and rear on the left side of the transport path 101, and a first endless belt 104 that is stretched between the two first rollers 103. Two second rollers 105 that are arranged on the right side of the conveyance path 101 and that are rotatable around the vertical axis, a second endless belt 106 that is stretched between the two second rollers 105, and a right side of the conveyance path 101. And a conveyance motor 107 that rotationally drives the first roller 103. Part of the first roller 103 and the first endless belt 104 is exposed in the conveyance path 101 from the left side, and part of the second roller 105 and the second endless belt 106 is exposed in the conveyance path 101 from the right side. A gap enough to sandwich the card C is provided between the first endless belt 104 and the second endless belt 106. When the first roller 103 is rotationally driven by the transport motor 107, the first endless belt 104 rotates.

  A storage chamber 108 for storing the card C is provided behind the transport path 101. The rear side of the right side surface of the storage chamber 108 is formed as an inclined surface 108a that extends obliquely to the rear right. A support plate 109 having substantially the same shape as the card C is disposed in the storage chamber 108. The support plate 109 is pressed toward the inclined surface 108 a by two springs 110 disposed between the rear portion of the support plate 109 and the left side surface of the storage chamber 108. In the storage chamber 108, a plurality of cards C are stored in a slightly tilted state by being sandwiched between the support plate 109 and the inclined surface 108a.

  On the left side of the transport path 101, a reader / writer unit 111 is disposed behind the transport mechanism 102. The reader / writer unit 111 performs information processing for reading and writing information such as valuable value with respect to the card C. The transport mechanism 102 moves the card C inserted into the entrance / exit 22a to a position where the reader / writer 111 can process information (hereinafter referred to as a processing position), and moves the card C at the processing position to the entrance / exit 22a.

  A shutter lever 112 is disposed on the right side of the conveyance path 101. The shutter lever 112 has a detection portion 112a that extends in the front-rear direction and projects to the left at the rear end portion. The shutter lever 112 is supported by a swing shaft 113 extending in the vertical direction. A small piece of shutter 114 is attached to the front end of the shutter lever 112. The shutter lever 112 can swing around the swing shaft 113 from an inclined position where the rear end portion is inclined leftward with respect to the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 4 to a parallel position substantially parallel to the front-rear direction. When the shutter lever 112 is in the inclined position, the detection unit 112a is in a state of being advanced into the storage chamber 108, and the shutter 114 is in a state of being retracted from the conveyance path 101. When the shutter lever 112 swings to the parallel position, the shutter 114 advances into the transport path 101, and the detection unit 112a retracts from the storage chamber 108.

  In relation to the storage chamber 108, a loading / unloading mechanism 115 is provided for taking the card C at the processing position in the transport path 101 into and out of the storage chamber 108. The entry / exit mechanism 115 includes a take-in part 116, a feed-out part 117, a lift part 118, and a drive motor 119.

  The take-in part 116 and the feeding part 117 are arranged on the right side of the transport path 101 and below the shutter lever 112. The intake portion 116 has an arm shape extending in the front-rear direction. A halfway portion of the take-in portion 116 is bent to the right side and then bent to the rear side, and the rear end portion is bent to the left side to form a recess 116a that is recessed to the right side on the rear side. In addition, an intake claw 120 is attached to the front end portion of the intake portion 116 so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 116b extending vertically. As shown in FIG. 4, the take-in claw 120 takes a tilting form that tilts along the front-rear direction (solid line in the figure) and an upright form that stands up along the left-right direction (broken line in the figure).

  The feeding portion 117 has an arm shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is connected to the capturing portion 116 behind the capturing portion 116. The front end portion 117a of the feeding portion 117 is bent to the right side and fitted into the recess 116a of the take-in portion 116 from the left side. The front end portion 117a can move in the front-rear direction within the recess 116a, and the feeding portion 117 can move in the front-rear direction with respect to the take-in portion 116 within the movement range of the front end portion 117a. In addition, a flat surface 117b is formed at the rear end portion of the feeding portion 117, and a feeding claw 117c is formed behind the flat surface 117b.

  The intake part 116 and the feeding part 117 can move in the front-rear direction. When the take-in part 116 moves rearward from the position shown in FIG. 4, when the take-in part 116 reaches a predetermined standing position (a position ahead of the card C in the processing position), the take-in claw 120 is tilted. Switches from standing to standing.

  The lift portion 118 is disposed behind the inclined surface 108a of the storage chamber 108, and is moved in the left-right direction between the retracted position retracted from the storage chamber 108 and the advanced position advanced into the storage chamber 108 as shown in FIG. Can be moved to.

  The drive motor 119 is connected to the take-in unit 116, the feed unit 117, and the lift unit 118 via a transmission mechanism (not shown) including a gear, a cam, and the like, and moves the take-in unit 116 and the feed unit 117 in the front-rear direction. And lift unit 118 is moved in the left-right direction.

  An entrance / exit detection sensor 121 that detects the presence of the card C at the entrance / exit 22a is disposed in the vicinity of the entrance / exit 22a. The in / out detection sensor 121 is configured by, for example, a photo interrupter.

  FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams for explaining the return operation of the card processing unit 22 as the operation when the card C is drawn out from the storage chamber 108 and discharged to the entrance / exit 22a according to the present embodiment. is there. Hereinafter, the return operation of the card processing unit 22 will be described.

  From the state shown in FIG. 4, first, the card C in the storage chamber 108 is taken out to the processing position of the transport path 101 by the access mechanism 115. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the take-in portion 116 and the feeding portion 117 are moved backward to a position where the feeding claws 117c of the feeding portion 117 are located behind the plurality of cards C in the storage chamber 108. To do. At this time, the rear portion of the leftmost card C is supported by the flat surface 117b of the feeding portion 117, and the plurality of cards C are in a state along the front-rear direction.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the taking-in portion 116 and the feeding portion 117 move forward, the rear end of the leftmost card C is pushed forward by the feeding claw 117c, and the card C is Move forward. Thereby, one card C is taken out from the storage chamber 108 to the processing position of the transport path 101. In the present embodiment, since the size of the card processing unit 22 in the front-rear direction is small, the rear portion of the card C enters the storage chamber 108 even when the card C is taken out of the storage chamber 108 and is in the processing position.

  When the card C is in the processing position, the shutter 112 is swung to a parallel position by pressing the detection unit 112 a against the card C, and the shutter 114 moves into the transport path 101 to close the transport path 101. As a result, another card C cannot be inserted into the entrance 22a.

  When information such as valuable value is written on the card C by the reader / writer unit 111, the transport mechanism 102 operates and the card C is transported by the transport mechanism 102 to the entrance / exit 22a. That is, the first endless belt 104 moves in the direction of moving the card C forward, and the card C moves toward the entrance / exit 22a through the gap between the first endless belt 104 and the second endless belt 106. When the shutter 114 is pushed at the front end of the card C in a state where the detection unit 112a is not pushed by the movement of the card C, the shutter 114 is retracted and the conveyance path 101 is opened. As shown in FIG. 5C, when the card C reaches the entrance / exit 22a and the front portion of the card C is exposed to the outside, the transport mechanism 102 stops. At this time, the rear end portion of the card C is in a state of being hooked between the first endless belt 104 and the second endless belt 106.

  Depending on the structure of the card processing unit 22, such as the length in the front-rear direction being long, when the card C is taken out to the processing position of the transport path 101, the entire card C can be out of the storage chamber 108.

  FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams for explaining the receiving operation of the card processing unit 22 which is an operation when the card C is taken from the entrance 22a and stored in the storage chamber 108 according to the present embodiment. is there. Hereinafter, the reception operation of the card processing unit 22 will be described.

  The state where the card C is inserted into the entrance / exit 22a is similar to the state shown in FIG. When the card C is inserted into the entrance / exit 22a, the transport mechanism 102 operates, and the card C is transported to the processing position of the transport path 101 by the transport mechanism 102. That is, the first endless belt 104 moves in the direction of moving the card C backward, and the card C moves toward the processing position through the gap between the first endless belt 104 and the second endless belt 106. When the card C reaches the processing position, the transport mechanism 102 stops.

  When information such as valuable value is read from the card C by the reader / writer unit 111, the card C is stored in the storage chamber 108 by the loading / unloading mechanism 115. That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the taking-in part 116 moves rearward with the feeding part 117 stopped, and the taking-in claw 120 in the standing form is applied to the front end of the card C. Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the taking-in part 116 and the feeding part 117 move backward, the front end of the card C is pushed backward by the taking-in claw 120, and the card C moves backward. To do. As a result, the card C is stored in the storage chamber 108. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, the lift part 118 moves to the advanced position, and the rear parts of the cards C in the storage chamber 108 are separated from the flat surface 117 b of the feeding part 117 by the lift part 118. To the left. In this state, the taking-in part 116 and the feeding part 117 move forward, so that the taking-in claw 117c does not hit the card C, and the taking-in part 116 and the feeding part 117 return to the front position (see FIG. 4). .

  The card C stored in advance in the storage chamber 108 is a general card. When the card C is a membership card, the card C inserted into the entrance / exit 22a by the accepting operation of the card processing unit 22 is transported to the processing position in the transport path 101, and information such as valuable value is read by the reader / writer unit 111. Remains in the processing position. At the time of return, the card C in which information such as valuable value is written is conveyed from the processing position to the entrance / exit 22a by the return operation of the card processing unit 22.

  In the above example, when the card C inserted into the entrance / exit 22a is a general card, after the information such as the valuable value is read from the card C at the processing position in the transport path 101, the card C is stored in the storage chamber. It is stored in 108. However, the card processing unit 22 temporarily keeps the card C in the processing position, and only when the valuable value associated with the card C has disappeared and the card C does not need to be returned, It may be configured to be stored in the storage chamber 108.

  Next, the operation of the lending processor 5 will be described.

  When the player starts the game on the pachinko machine 4 and does not have the card C, the player inserts cash (banknote) into the insertion slot 21a of the banknote processing unit 21. The control unit 29 stores the amount of cash inserted in the storage unit 30 in association with the ID assigned to the card C that can be issued next, and the management device 2 manages the information. Is sent to the management apparatus 2 via the network line 6.

  On the other hand, when the player possesses a card C (member card, general card) associated with a valuable value such as a prepaid value or the number of possessed balls, the player inserts the card C into the entrance 22a of the card processing unit 22. The control unit 29 causes the card processing unit 22 to perform the above-described receiving operation (see FIGS. 6A to 6C), and associates the valuable value read from the card C with the ID of the card C. The information is stored in the storage unit 30 and the ID and valuable information are sent to the management apparatus 2 via the network line 6.

  Next, the player performs a lending operation using the lending button 17 of the pachinko machine 4 in order to lend a pachinko ball. Pachinko balls are paid out from the payout mechanism 15 of the pachinko machine 4. From the pachinko machine 4, quantity specifying information for specifying the quantity of the lent pachinko balls is sent to the lending processor 5.

  When the lending processor 5 receives the quantity specifying information through the communication unit 28, the value corresponding to the number of the pachinko balls lent out from the value stored in the storage unit 30 (here, the amount of cash or the prepaid value). Is subtracted, and the valuable value after the subtraction is stored in the storage unit 30 and sent to the management device 2.

  The player, when the number of accumulated balls (limited to the membership card) and the number of possessed balls is associated with the inserted card C, the lending operation by the replay button 25 of the lending processor 5 in order to have the pachinko ball lend. May be performed. In this case, the control unit 29 sends the quantity specifying information for specifying the quantity of the pachinko balls to be lent to the pachinko machine 4 together with the rental instruction. Then, the number of balls lent out is subtracted from the number of stored balls and the number of possessed balls stored in the storage unit 30, and the number of stored balls and the number of possessed balls after the subtraction is stored in the storage unit 30 and sent to the management device 2. From the pachinko machine 4, a quantity of pachinko balls based on the quantity specifying information are paid out.

  When a player throws a pachinko ball from the lower plate 14 of the pachinko machine 4 to the counting unit 23 during a game, such as a big hit, the control unit 29 stores the number of held balls measured by the counting unit 23. The information is stored in the unit 30 and sent to the management device 2. At this time, if the number of possessed balls already exists in the database of the storage unit 30 and the management device 2, the new number of retained balls is added to the original number of retained balls.

  When the player finishes the game on the pachinko machine 4, when the player has a residual value (cash or prepaid value balance) or has a ball, the player performs a return operation using the return button 18 on the pachinko machine 4. . A return command is sent from the pachinko machine 4 to the lending processor 5.

  In the lending processor 5, when the control unit 29 receives a return instruction through the communication unit 28, the card C (member card, general card) is returned when there is a residual value or there is a possession (general card). In addition, a card return / forgetting process is executed in order to prevent the card C that has been forgotten to be left unattended (including new card issuance).

  7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the control operation of the card return / forgetting process according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating examples of the guidance screen S1, the password input screen S2, and the re-input notification screen S3 displayed on the operation display unit 24, respectively, according to the present embodiment.

  First, the control unit 29 performs a card return process (S101). That is, the control unit 29 causes the card processing unit 22 to perform the return operation described above (see FIGS. 5A to 5C), thereby storing the valuable value read from the storage unit 30 in the card C, The card C is discharged to the entrance / exit 22a. At this time, the control unit 29 stores in the storage unit 30 whether the type of the discharged card C is a general card or a membership card.

  Next, the control unit 29 determines whether or not the card C is extracted from the entrance / exit 22a (S102). When the entrance / exit detection sensor 121 no longer detects the presence of the card C at the entrance / exit 22a, the control unit 29 determines that the card C has been removed.

Further, the control unit 29 determines whether or not a predetermined capturing condition is satisfied (S103). The take-in condition is a condition for taking the card C returned to the entrance / exit 22a into the card processing unit 22 again, and examples thereof include the following conditions.
Condition Example 1: The time limit has elapsed since the card C was returned to the entrance 22a.
Condition Example 2: After the card C is returned to the entrance 22a, the pachinko machine 4 is in a state where the game is finished.
Condition Example 3: The condition of Condition Example 1 is satisfied, and the condition of Condition Example 2 is satisfied.
Condition Example 4: The condition of Condition Example 1 or the condition of Condition Example 2 was satisfied.

  Condition example 1 and condition example 2 are conditions for assuming that the returned card C is likely to be forgotten. In Condition Example 1, the time limit may be set to a time longer than a time that is considered necessary for the player to remove the card C in a normal case, for example, a time of about 10 minutes. In Condition Example 2, for example, a time during which both the out pulse from the out ball detection sensor 12 and the safe pulse from the safe ball detection sensor 16 transmitted from the pachinko machine 4 are not output is a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) When the operation is continued, the control unit 29 can determine that the pachinko machine 4 has finished playing the game.

  If the AND condition of Condition Example 1 and Condition Example 2 is used as in Condition Example 3, it is possible to reduce misjudgment and determine forgetting to remove the card C with high accuracy. Moreover, if the OR condition of Condition Example 1 and Condition Example 2 is used as in Condition Example 4, it can be quickly determined that the card C has been forgotten.

  When the player normally removes the card C and the card C is removed from the entrance 22a before the take-in condition is satisfied (S103: NO → S102: YES), the control unit 29 performs the card return / forget process. finish. Thereby, the lending processor 5 enters a standby state waiting for the insertion of a card or cash.

  Note that the control unit 29 also ends the card return / forgetting process when the card C is pushed into the back of the entrance 22a by the player while waiting for withdrawal. In this case, the card processing unit 22 performs the receiving operation again.

  On the other hand, if the player forgets to remove the card C and the taking-in condition is satisfied without taking out the card C from the entrance 22a (S102: NO → S103: YES), the control unit 29 performs the card taking-in process. This is performed (S104). That is, the control unit 29 causes the card processing unit 22 to take in the card C. In the card processing unit 22, the transport mechanism 102 operates in the same manner during the accepting operation. As described with reference to FIG. 5C, the card C discharged to the entrance / exit 22a is in a state where its rear end portion is hooked between the first endless belt 104 and the second endless belt 106 of the transport mechanism 102. The card C is transported to the processing position of the transport path 101 by the operation of the mechanism 102 (see FIG. 6A). As a result, the entire card C is taken into the card processing unit 22. Unlike the case of the general card receiving operation, the card C stays at the processing position, that is, the position before being stored in the storage chamber 108 and is stored in the storage chamber 108 (the entire card C It is not in a state of entering the storage chamber 108).

  Next, the control part 29 displays the guidance screen S1 on the operation display part 24 (S105). As shown in FIG. 9A, the guidance screen S1 includes a message M1 for notifying that the card C has been forgotten. This informs the outside that the card C has been forgotten. In addition to the notification on the guidance screen S1, notification by voice may be performed.

  Next, the control unit 29 determines whether the captured card C is a member card or a general card (S106). When the captured card C is a general card (106: general), the control unit 29 performs a general use restriction process (S107). The use restriction process is a process for restricting the use of the lending processing machine 5 involving at least the card C taken in, and here, any input operation by the player, that is, an input operation to the operation display unit 24, The lending operation by the replay button 25 and the lending button 17 and the returning operation by the return button 18 are not accepted. Also, the acceptance of cash by the banknote processing unit 21 and the acceptance of a new card C by the card processing unit 22 are not performed. However, an operation of taking out the card C by the remote controller owned by the staff is accepted. It should be noted that the operation display unit 24 browses general information such as input operations not involving the card C, such as operation guidance of the lending processor 5, model information of the pachinko machine 4 to which the lending processor 5 is connected, and storefront advertisements. An input operation may be accepted.

  Next, the control unit 29 transmits information indicating that the card C has been forgotten to be removed to the income (headphone set) worn by the attendant via the management device 2 (S108). Such information transmission may be made directly from the lending processor 5 to the income without going through the management device 2.

  Thereafter, the control unit 29 waits for a take-out operation by the clerk's remote control (S109). When accepting an extraction operation from the remote controller (S109: YES), the control unit 29 performs a card ejection process (S110). That is, the control unit 29 discharges the taken card C to the entrance / exit 22a. Then, the control unit 29 stops the use restriction process (S111), and ends the card return / forgetting process.

  When the card C taken into the card processing unit 22 by the card taking-in process is a member card (S106: member), the control unit 29 performs a member use restriction process (S112). The usage restriction process for members is partly different from the general use restriction process. Here, although the operations by the replay button 25, the lending button 17 and the return button 18 cannot be accepted, the operation display unit 24 can input the password attached to the card C which is a membership card. In addition, for example, an input operation for browsing member information on the operation display unit 24 may be enabled.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed since the guidance screen S1 was displayed (S113: YES), the control unit 29 causes the operation display unit 24 to display the password input screen S2 (S114). As shown in FIG. 9B, the password input screen S2 includes a numeric keypad K1 composed of numbers 0 to 9 and a display box D1 in which the number of digits of the password is displayed. In the display box D1, the number of digits is displayed as, for example, a symbol “•”. When a number is input with the numeric keypad K1, the symbol “•” is replaced with a symbol “*”, for example. The password may include not only numbers but also letters (alphabet letters, hiragana, etc.) and symbols. In this case, a soft keyboard is arranged on the password input screen S2 instead of the numeric keypad K1.

  When the password is input on the password input screen S2 (S115: YES), the control unit 29 determines whether or not the input password matches the password attached to the taken-in card C (member card). (S116). When the passwords match (S116: YES), the control unit 29 performs the card ejection process (S110), stops the use restriction process (S111), and ends the card return / forget process.

  On the other hand, when the passwords do not match (S116: NO), the control unit 29 re-displays the operation display unit 24 if the number of mismatches does not exceed a predetermined threshold (for example, 3 times) (S117: NO). After the input notification screen S3 is displayed (S118), the password input screen S2 is displayed again on the operation display unit 24 (S114). As shown in FIG. 9C, the re-input notification screen S3 includes a message M2 that prompts the user to re-enter the password.

  When the number of password mismatches exceeds the threshold (S117: YES), the process proceeds to S108, and the control unit 29 transmits information indicating that the card C has been forgotten to be taken to the attendant's income (S108). ). Even when a predetermined time limit (for example, 10 minutes) elapses without the password input on the password input screen S2 being started (S119: YES), the process proceeds to S108, and the forgotten information by the control unit 29 Is transmitted (S108). Thereafter, as in the case of a general card, the processing from S109 to S111 is performed, and the card return / forgetting processing ends.

<Effect of embodiment>
According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

  (1) When the card C returned to the entrance / exit 22a of the card processing unit 22 is in a forgotten state, the card C is taken into the card processing unit 22, so that the forgotten card C remains left unattended. Can be prevented. Thereby, loss of the card C etc. is prevented.

  (2) Since the card C taken into the card processing unit 22 forgetting to take it is not stored in the storage chamber 108 but remains in the previous state, when returning the card C again The card C can be quickly returned to the entrance / exit 22a as much as the operation of taking out from the storage chamber 108 is not required.

  (3) After the forgotten card C is taken into the card processing unit 22, the use of the lending processing machine 5 related to the card C is restricted, so that it is possible to prevent the trouble related to the taken card C from occurring. The In particular, since a lending operation for lending a pachinko ball is prohibited, it is possible to prevent the value associated with the card C that has been taken in from being used carelessly.

  (4) Since the content of the use restriction process is changed depending on whether the type of the card C is a membership card or a general card, the use of the lending processing machine 5 corresponds to the information content associated with the card C. Limits can be applied.

  (5) If the card C taken into the card processing unit 22 forgetting to take is a member card with a password, the password is allowed to be entered and the accepted password is given to the card C. Since the use restriction process is stopped when the two match, the player who has the membership card can return the lending processor 5 to the normal state by itself regardless of the attendant, and the convenience for the player is improved. .

  (6) If the accepted password matches the password assigned to the card C, the captured card C is returned, so that the player possessing the membership card can use the once captured card C to the staff. Regardless, it can be taken out from the lending processor 5 itself, and convenience for the player is improved.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restrict | limited at all by the said embodiment, Moreover, various changes besides the above are possible also for embodiment of this invention as shown below. It is.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing the control operation of the card return / forgetting process according to the first modification, and FIG. 10B is the return displayed on the operation display unit 24 according to the first modification. It is a figure which shows an example of the word input screen S4. In the card return / forgetting process shown in FIG. 10A, the processes of S121 to S123 are added when compared with the card return / forgetting process shown in FIGS. Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 10A, the illustration of the processing after S102 is omitted.

  In the above embodiment, when the return operation is performed by the return button 18 on the pachinko machine 4 side and the card return / forgetting process is started, the card return process is performed immediately.

  On the other hand, in the present modification example, since the card C is returned, a further return operation is required on the lending processor 5 side.

  That is, when the card return / forgetting process is started, the control unit 29 displays the return word input screen S4 on the operation display unit 24 (S121). As shown in FIG. 10B, the return word input screen S4 includes a numeric keypad K2 made up of numbers 0 to 9 and a display box D2 in which the numbers inputted with the numeric keypad K2 are displayed. Further, the return word input screen S4 displays a return word W1 composed of a numeric string of several digits. Note that the return word W1 may include not only numbers but also letters (alphabet letters, hiragana, etc.) and symbols. In this case, a soft keyboard is arranged on the return word input screen S4 instead of the numeric keypad K2.

  The player uses the numeric keypad K2 to input the same numeric string as the displayed return word W1. When there is an input of a numeric string (S122: YES), the control unit 29 determines whether or not the input numeric string matches the return word W1 (S123), and if it matches (S123: YES), the card Return processing is performed (S101).

  In this modified example, it takes a certain amount of time to return the card C, so that it is possible to prevent the card C from being easily drawn out to the other person from the lending processor 5.

<Other changes>
In the above embodiment, in order to associate the valuable value with the card C during the card return process, both the ID stored in the database of the management device 2 and the valuable value associated with this ID are stored in the card C. . However, only the ID may be stored in the card C. In this case, since the management device 2 associates the valuable value with the ID, if the ID is stored in the card C, the valuable value is associated with the card C as a result.

  In the above embodiment, when the card C is a membership card, the card C is returned and the use restriction process is stopped by inputting the password. However, when the card C is a membership card, the same processing as that for a general card may be performed (S107 to S111), and the password may not be requested.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a photographing unit for photographing a player sitting on the pachinko machine 4 may be installed in the pachinko machine 4 or the lending processor 5. In this case, the following Condition Example 5 can be added as the capture condition.
Condition Example 5: After the card C is returned to the entrance 22a, the player is no longer photographed by the photographing unit.

  In Condition Example 5, it can be assumed that there is a high possibility that the card C has been forgotten to be removed because the player has left the pachinko machine 4 without the card C being removed. In this case, Condition Example 5 may be appropriately combined with Condition Example 1 and Condition Example 2. For example, Condition Examples 1, 2, and 5 may be AND conditions or OR conditions.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, after the card C is taken into the card processing unit 22, a notification that the forgetting to take out the card C is generated by lighting the status display lamp 26 in a predetermined color and a predetermined lighting state. You may make it perform.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, while waiting for the withdrawal of the card C returned to the entrance 22a of the card processing unit 22, a transaction with a valuable value different from the valuable value associated with the card C, for example, a new If the pachinko ball is lent out with the cash entered into the card, or if the mobile member who can handle the stored ball using the mobile phone rents the pachinko ball with the stored ball stored in the mobile phone, the card C is re-carded. You may make it take in the process part 22 and make it add together the valuable value currently being dealt with and the valuable value linked | related with the card | curd C taken in.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, when the ID of the card | curd C taken in by the card | curd taking-in process differs from ID of the card | curd C returned to the entrance / exit 22a, you may make it return the taken-in card C to the entrance / exit 22a immediately.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the lending processor 5 includes the counting unit 23. However, the lending processor 5 does not necessarily include the counting unit 23. Moreover, when lending the pachinko balls, which are stored balls and holding balls, to the lending processing machine 5, a payout nozzle for paying out these pachinko balls may be provided.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, the lending processing machine 5 which lends it to the pachinko stand 4 and lends a pachinko ball was mentioned as an example of each stand apparatus of this invention. However, each device of the present invention can also be applied to a lending processor that lends a medal, which is a game medium, together with a pachislot table, which is a game table.

  In addition, the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately changed within the scope of the claims.

1 gaming system 2 management device 4 pachinko machine (game machine)
5 Rental processing machines (each equipment)
22 Card processing unit (storage medium processing unit)
22a doorway (opening)
29 Control unit 108 Storage room (storage unit)
C card (storage medium)

Claims (10)

In order to lend gaming media based on value, in each device provided corresponding to the gaming table,
A storage medium processing unit for performing information processing for associating the valuable value with the storage medium;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the storage medium processing unit,
The storage medium processing unit discharges the storage medium associated with the valuable value to the opening of the storage medium processing unit so that a part of the storage medium is exposed to the outside, and is discharged to the opening It is possible to perform an operation of taking the storage medium into the storage medium processing unit so that there is no exposed portion to the outside,
The control unit causes the storage medium processing unit to perform the capture operation when a predetermined capture condition is satisfied after the storage medium processing unit performs the ejection operation.
Each stand device characterized by that. The control unit determines that the capture condition is satisfied based on a predetermined time elapsed after the storage medium is ejected to the opening.
Each stand apparatus of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The control unit determines that the capture condition is satisfied based on the gaming table being in a state where the game by the player has ended after the storage medium has been ejected to the opening.
Each stand apparatus of Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. The storage medium processing unit
Having a storage unit for storing the storage medium, associating a valuable value with the storage medium taken out from the storage unit and discharging it to the opening;
When the storage medium discharged into the opening is taken in, the taken-in storage medium is held at a position before being stored in the storage part.
Each stand apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The control unit, after causing the storage medium processing unit to perform the take-in operation, performs a use restriction process that restricts the use of each device related to at least the storage medium.
Each stand apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The control unit prohibits acceptance of a lending operation to lend at least the game medium as the use restriction process.
Each stand apparatus of Claim 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The control unit changes the content of the use restriction process according to the type of the storage medium.
Each stand apparatus of Claim 5 or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. The controller is
When the storage medium captured by the capture operation is a storage medium of a type to which a password is given, accept the input of the password,
If the accepted password matches the password assigned to the storage medium, stop the use restriction process;
Each stand apparatus of Claim 7 characterized by the above-mentioned. When the accepted password matches the password assigned to the storage medium, the control unit causes the storage medium processing unit to discharge the captured storage medium to the opening.
Each stand apparatus of Claim 8 characterized by the above-mentioned. Each stand apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A management device that is communicably connected to each of the table devices, and stores and manages the value associated with the storage medium in each of the table devices together with identification information added to the storage medium;
A gaming system comprising:

Images