JP2630743B2 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine, for example, a game machine using a game medium, such as a pachinko game machine, a coin game machine or a slot machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to play a game with a ball game machine as an example of this type of game machine, it is necessary to first insert coins and bills into a ball lending machine and borrow a pachinko ball as an example of a game medium. There is. Then, the player can play the game by putting the borrowed pachinko balls into the supply plate of the ball game machine. When a player plays a game, a pachinko ball is driven into a game area where a winning area is formed. If the ball hit into the winning area, the pachinko ball was paid out to the player.

On the other hand, even in a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine, it is necessary to insert coins and bills into a coin lending machine and borrow coins as an example of game media in order to play a game there. When a variable display device including a reel and the like is variably started after being inserted and variably stopped, and a symbol of the variable display device satisfies a payout condition, a coin as an example of a game medium has been paid out.

[0004] A game arcade collects coins and bills that a player has thrown into a game medium lending machine such as a ball lending machine or a coin lending machine in order to play a game with a ball game machine or a slot machine.

That is, a player who plays a game with a gaming machine borrows a game medium corresponding to the value of coins and bills, plays a game with the gaming machine using the gaming medium, and responds to the game result of the gaming machine. The game medium was paid out to the player, and the player was enjoying the game.

On the other hand, in order for a player to enjoy a game, a game control unit represented by a game control circuit for controlling a game state of the game machine is detachably provided in the game machine. As described above, the reason why the game control unit can be attached and detached is that when exchanging a stand for exchanging an old game machine to provide a game with a new game control to a player, the game control unit and other games are related. This is because it is possible to replace only the place where the operation is performed and to reduce the cost involved in replacing the stand. Also, when a failure occurs in the game control unit, replacement is necessary.

[0007]

However, a player who has borrowed a game medium with a game medium lending machine needs to insert the game medium into the game machine, and a preparation step for enjoying the game with the game machine is required. Was inconvenient for the player.

[0008] Therefore, if the gaming machine is provided with a game medium lending function, and the game medium is lent to the player by the game medium lending function, the above problem is expected to be solved. That is, for example, if a game medium lending condition such as pressing a lending switch provided on the game machine is satisfied, and the game medium is dispensed from the game machine itself, an operation of loading the game medium into the game machine is performed. Is unnecessary, and the convenience for the player is expected to be improved.

In order to improve the convenience of such a player, a game medium payout control unit having a control function of renting a game medium is provided in the game machine, and the game medium is used for a prize according to a game result of the game machine. It is conceivable that not only the payout control as the game medium of the above, but also the control of paying out the game medium as the game medium for lending by fulfilling the game medium lending condition. In that case, in the case of a gaming machine, a gaming control unit that originally controls the gaming state of the gaming machine is provided, and in addition to the above, when the gaming medium payout control unit is provided in the gaming machine, both are provided by a control circuit. Since the control unit is configured, it is expected that the control unit is collectively provided and provided integrally in the gaming machine.

[0010] However, if the game control unit needs to be replaced due to the failure of one of the game control unit and the game medium payout control unit which is provided integrally, or the exchange of the platform, the game control unit is required. And the game medium dispensing control unit must be exchanged, and the control unit that does not need to be exchanged in the first place is exchanged. This causes a new problem that it becomes uneconomical.

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a game system which can improve the convenience of a player playing a game with a gaming machine and can avoid disadvantages caused by unnecessary parts replacement of a game room as much as possible. Is to provide a machine.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a game machine in which a game is played using a predetermined game medium, a game control section for controlling a game state of the game machine, and a payout of the game medium. Possible game medium payout means, and performs control of paying out game media from the game medium payout means as a game medium for lending when predetermined game medium lending conditions are satisfied, and according to a game result of the gaming machine, A game medium payout control unit for performing control of paying out game media from the game medium payout means as game media for premiums, wherein the game control unit and the game medium payout control unit are separately provided in the gaming machine. It is characterized by the following.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the gaming state of the gaming machine is controlled by the gaming control unit. The game medium can be paid out by the game medium paying means. By the function of the game medium payout control unit, when predetermined game medium lending conditions are satisfied, control for paying out game media from the game medium payout means as game media for lending is performed, and according to the game result of the game machine. Thus, control for paying out the game media as premium game media from the game medium payout means is performed. The game control unit and the game medium payout control unit are separately provided in the game machine.
Thereby, only one of the game control unit and the game medium payout control unit can be exchanged.

[0014]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a game arcade management system using a ball game machine (pachinko game machine, hereinafter, referred to as a pachinko game machine) 300 as an example of a game machine according to the present invention. It is a schematic structure block diagram shown. The block diagram in FIG. 1 shows a management system using a card for managing a pachinko hall. As shown, the system includes at least a card vending machine 10 that sells a pachinko card 22 and a card checkout. And a card system management device 14 for performing management based on data from them. Further, a plurality of pachinko gaming machines 300 having a card insertion slot 340 and a prize ball counter 2
0 is given to the card system management device 14 and the like, and the card system management device 14 also performs data management based on these data.

The card vending machine 10 sells a pachinko card 22 as a prepaid card on which predetermined information is recorded, such as a telephone card, which is an example of a lending recording medium whose value can be specified. It is for. The pachinko card 22 stores, for example, data on the number of balls that can be lent out, and by inserting the pachinko card 22 from the card insertion slot 340,
The pachinko gaming machine 300 is configured to lend pachinko balls.

Sales data generated by the card vending machine 10, that is, the amount of cash inserted into the card vending machine 10, the type of pachinko card sold (how much pachinko card was sold), and the pachinko card sold The sales data, such as the number of copies and the amount of returned change, are sent to the card system management device 14.

The card settlement machine 12 is for refunding an unused pachinko card or adjusting the unused fee of a pachinko card in use. Data such as the amount of money and the type of card settled by the card settlement machine 12 are given to the card system management device 14.

Further, the number of balls lent from the pachinko gaming machine 300, the number of driving balls, the number of refilling balls, the number of other balls in the pachinko gaming machine 300, and the prize ball counter 20
Card system management device 1
Give to 4.

The card system management device 14 collects and analyzes various data such as sales data of a game arcade, business guidelines or reference data, based on the data sent from each of the above devices. It is used for managing inventory data.

The above is the main device group constituting this system. Although not shown in this block diagram, not only a game machine provided with only a pachinko game machine but also other game machines such as slot machines (so-called pachislot machines) and arrangement type coin game machines. May be provided. In such a case, as described later, coins are rented out of the gaming machine with a pachinko card sold by the card vending machine 10. The card may be a card that can be commonly used in a pachinko gaming machine or a slot machine, or may be a card dedicated to a pachinko gaming machine or a slot machine.

In addition, instead of the card settlement machine 12, a card reader for reading card data is provided at a prize ball exchange or the like,
A clerk may check the read data, manually input the settlement amount, and send it to the management device.

The merits of introducing such a management system using a pachinko card to the management of a game arcade include a pachinko card used for lending game balls and game coins (for example, a relatively expensive card such as 1000 yen). )
Can be pre-sold (can be pre-sold), so that sales increase for the game arcade.

The pachinko gaming machine only has to perform the ball lending process based on the insertion of a pachinko card, and it is easier to determine whether the pachinko card is correct as compared to the case of performing the ball lending process based on the insertion of bills and coins. In other words, the determination of the correctness of money, such as banknotes and coins, requires a relatively complicated and precise device, but the determination of correctness of a pachinko card requires only the use of a card reader such as a head that reads a magnetic signal. In addition, the manufacturing cost of a large number of required pachinko machines can be reduced. Further, if the device for identifying the pachinko card is simplified, the pachinko gaming machine can be reduced in size accordingly, and the space for disposing the gaming machine in the pachinko game hall can be saved.

It is only necessary to lend a ball for a required amount of the amount stored in the pachinko card, and it is not necessary to pay out change as compared with the case of a bill.

For a player, it is easier to insert a pachinko card than to insert bills and coins,
Operation is easy. In addition, it is not necessary to prepare a large number of bills and coins for pachinko ball lending, so that it is only necessary to carry one pachinko card, which is convenient.

There are many advantages as described above. Below are the individual devices that make up this system:
Card vending machines, pachinko cards, pachinko machines with ball lending functions, card settlement machines, card system management devices,
Its configuration and operation will be described in detail.

The illustration 2 of a card vending machine is an external perspective view of the card vending machine 10 according to an embodiment of the card system, FIG. 3, the card vending machine 1
0 is a front view. FIG. 4 is a block diagram drawn to explain the configuration of the card vending machine 10. The configuration and operation of the card vending machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, and particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.

In the card vending machine 10, while power is being supplied from the power supply circuit 24 to each mechanism, whether or not the card is being sold is displayed on the sale display 26 or the stop display 28. In the card vending machine, when coins or bills are inserted from the coin insertion slot 30 or the bill insertion slot 32, the coin sorter 34 or the bill sorter 36 determines whether the inserted coin or the inserted bill is a regular coin or a bill, respectively. Whether the coin or bill is a legitimate coin or bill is supplied to the bill counter 38. The bill counter 38 detects the amount of inserted money (coins and bills) and calculates the sum. The detected count data (money amount data) of the money counter 38 is given to the control section 40, stored in the money amount storing section 42, and displayed on the money amount display 46 via the display driver 44.

The inserted money counted by the money counter 38 is partially supplied to the change holding / returning mechanism 48 as replenishing money, and the other money is stored and stored in the safe 52.

If the input currency selected by the currency sorter 34 or the input banknote selected by the banknote selector 36 is a bad currency or a bad banknote, it is returned from the change return port 50 via a money holding / return mechanism 48. You.

After inserting the money, the user operates the selection instruction mechanism. That is, in the normal operation, the sales card amount selection buttons 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e
Is pressed, and the sales card number selection button 56 is pressed.
a or 56b is pressed. The signals generated by these button operations are detected by the signal reading circuit 58 and provided to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 supplies these signals to the display driver 44, and causes the sales card amount display 60 and the sales card number display 62 to display the amount and the number of the selected sales cards, respectively.

The user confirms the display on each of the displays 60 and 62, and presses the cancel button 64 when he / she wants to correct the displayed contents, and presses the sell button 66 when he / she wants to purchase a card of the displayed amount. The sales card number display 62
Displays the number "1" when any one of the sales card amount selection buttons 54 is pressed, and changes the display of the number when any one of the sales card number selection buttons 56a and 56b is pressed. Things.

Instead of providing the sales card number selection button 56, the number of sales cards may be detected and displayed in response to the number of times the sales card selection button 54 is pressed.

The signal of the sale button 66 is sent to the signal reading circuit 58.
Is given to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 controls the card selling mechanism based on this signal, removes the card from the card paper stock unit 68, writes necessary data to the magnetic stripe unit of the card by the data writing unit 70, and Print the necessary data on the surface,
A card is issued from a card payout exit 76 via a ticketing processing unit 74.

The control unit 40 controls the change holding and return mechanism 48 to return the change after purchasing the card from the change return port 50, and stores the returned change amount and the like in the change amount storage unit 42.

In the above description, in the card issuing mechanism, a card without data is stocked in the card paper stock unit 68, the card in the stock unit is taken out based on the sales control signal, and necessary data is written. (The data is magnetically encoded.) It is described that the data is printed and the ticketing process is performed. Instead, a card in which data is stored in advance is stocked by type,
Either of them may be selectively paid out.

As shown, the amount of the pachinko card sold by the card vending machine 10 is, for example, 1,000.
Yen card, 2,000 yen card, 3,000 yen card,
The price is higher than the 5,000-yen card and the 10,000-yen card, which is higher than the amount of a normal player who borrows a ball with money. This means that if you borrow a pachinko ball with a pachinko card, instead of borrowing the entire face value of the card, you can borrow a pachinko ball for the required amount of money, so the player can purchase the card many times This has been done so as to save time and effort.

The card vending machine is not limited to the one described above, and may include a ball-lending mechanism as shown in FIG. That is, in addition to the operation unit for selling cards, a ball-in-lending indicator 78 for ball-lending processing, a ball-lending amount selection button 80, and a ball discharge port 82 are provided, and the coin insertion slot 30 or the bill insertion slot is provided. A mechanism may be included in which a predetermined number of lending coins are paid out from the ball discharge port 82 by operating a lending money selection button 80 after coins or bills are inserted into the coin 32.

With such a card sales and ball rental machine,
At the start of the game, the user can borrow a predetermined number of pachinko balls, and furthermore can borrow pachinko balls according to the progress of the game.

In the pachinko hall, there is no need to arrange a card vending machine and a ball rental machine side by side, and the installation space of the hall can be advantageously used.

Further, the card vending machine may have the following simple configuration. That is, a banknote insertion slot that can insert only a predetermined banknote, for example, a 1,000 yen banknote, and a card payout slot may be provided as a currency slot. Then, a 1,000-yen bill is inserted from the bill insertion slot, and in response to the discrimination device discriminating that the inserted bill is a regular 1,000-yen bill, a pachinko card of 1,000 yen is provided. May be paid out from the card payout exit. That is,
Unlike the card vending machine 10 described with reference to FIG. 3, it is not a vending machine that can insert various kinds of banknotes and can select the amount of the purchased pachinko card, but it can be set to 1 according to the insertion of a 1,000 yen bill. A simple configuration such as issuing a 2,000 yen pachinko card may be used.

Description of Pachinko Card FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing one example of a pachinko card used in one embodiment of this system. Pachinko card 22
Is made of a paper ticket or a thin ticket based on polyester, for example, and has a magnetic coating portion on a part or the whole of the front surface or the back surface. In the illustrated embodiment, a magnetic stripe 84 is provided on a part of the surface. On the surface of the pachinko card 22, the name of the store (for example, “Fever I store”) and the expiration date (for example, “61.8.3”) are displayed.
1 "), the date of sale (for example," 61.7.01 "), and the amount of the card (for example," amount: 3,000 ") are printed.

The magnetic stripe 84 is a region in which data can be written magnetically, and the written data can be read mechanically. The magnetic stripe 84 includes, for example, data as schematically shown in FIG.
Sale date, expiration date, usable store code (code of a store that is not limited to the store that sold the pachinko card 22 and that has a business tie-up, and that can borrow pachinko balls with this pachinko card), Data such as the amount of the card, whether the card was settled (data indicating whether or not the card was settled), and the amount used (how much of the card amount of 3,000 yen has already been used for pachinko ball lending) It is remembered.

The pachinko card 22 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is merely an example, and the pachinko card usable in this embodiment is not limited to such an embodiment. The following are possible modifications of the pachinko card.

The amount of the pachinko card is set in advance to a predetermined amount, for example, 1,000 yen. Only the expiration date data and the usable shop name data are stored in the pachinko card, and the pachinko card is used once. Pachinko balls that can be lent out by doing this are set in units of 200 yen, and may be cards that can be used five times.
Each time it is used, one punch hole or notch
The card may be used when five punch holes or notches are formed. Here, the pachinko hole or the notch is included in the information that can specify the value. That is, if no pachinko hole or notch is formed, a value of 1,000 yen can be specified, and if one pachinko hole or notch is formed, a value of 800 yen can be specified. Such a pachinko card in which one pachinko hole or notch is formed each time it is used is an example of a recording medium on which information capable of specifying a valuable value is recorded.

Further, the storage of each data on the pachinko card may be such that the data is encoded in an optically detectable printing mode such as a bar code instead of the magnetic storage. The encoding of data on the pachinko card may be performed by combining small through holes formed in the pachinko card.

Further, the card expiration date data encoded on the card is not limited to the data stored in advance from the card vending machine, and when the card is used for the first time and the pachinko ball is lent for the first time, a predetermined time from that point onward is used. The expiration date data may be stored at that time so that the card can be used during the period.

In the case where the amount data (payment data) of pachinko balls that can be lent to a card is encoded, the data cannot be illegally re-recorded.
Depending on the number (payment) of pachinko balls already lent, through holes may be formed in a data recordable portion such as a magnetic coating portion so that data cannot be physically rerecorded.

Description of pachinko gaming machine FIG. 8 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine 300 which is an example of a gaming machine applicable to one embodiment of this system, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is an overall rear view showing a part of the internal structure. FIG. 10 is a side view of the pachinko gaming machine 300.
FIG. 11 is a configuration block diagram of the pachinko gaming machine 300.

The configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. A game board 304 is formed on a front frame 302 of the pachinko gaming machine 300, and a game area 305 is formed by the game board 304. The front plate 330 is provided with a hit ball supply tray 324 for temporarily storing pachinko balls, which are an example of a game medium paid out from the prize ball exit 323, and for hitting the pachinko balls one by one with a hit ball launching device 372 (FIG. 9), and the player can operate the operation handle 336 to drive the pachinko balls one by one into the game area 305. A surplus ball tray 332 is provided below the pachinko gaming machine 300. When the pachinko balls stored in the hit ball supply tray 324 are full, a part of the surplus ball outlet 334 is provided. And is stored in the surplus ball tray 332. The gaming board 304 is provided with a variable display device 306 at a central portion thereof and a variable winning ball device 310 at a lower portion thereof. Furthermore, the game board 30
4 are provided with starting winning ports 316a, 316b, 314, and the starting winning ports 316a, 316b, 31 are provided.
4, the rotating drums 308a, 308b, 308c of the variable display device 306 are configured to rotate and stop for a certain period of time when a pachinko ball is won. In the figure, 32
Reference numeral 8 denotes a stop button, and the rotary drums 308a, 308
The rotation of the rotating drums 308a, 308b, 308c is stopped when the player turns ON during the rotation of 8b, 308c. The rotating drums 308a, 308b, 308c may be constantly rotated, or may be configured to automatically stop when the pachinko ball is started and won. These rotating drums 308a, 3
When the combination of symbols at the time of stop of 08b and 308c becomes a predetermined combination (for example, 777), a big hit state is established, and the opening and closing plate 312 of the variable winning ball apparatus 310 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). Is controlled. However, during this opening period, the winning of pachinko balls is 10
In the case where the number of pieces is equal to, the number of pieces is controlled to be closed before the opening time reaches a predetermined time.

During the opening of the opening / closing plate 312,
When the pachinko ball wins in the V pocket provided in the variable winning ball device 310, the opening / closing plate 312 of the variable winning ball device 310 is closed and then reopened. It is set to 10 times.
The number of continuations is configured to be displayed on the continuation number indicator 318.

In the drawing, reference numeral 392 denotes a winning ball display for displaying the number of unpaid winning balls when the number of winning balls to the pachinko gaming machine is large and the prize ball payout device cannot pay out the prize balls. belongs to. In the figure, reference numeral 326 denotes a speaker for generating a sound effect in the state of the big hit and a warning sound in the event of an illegal act. 322 is an out hole for discharging an out ball, 320 is a variable winning ball device 31
It is a winning number display for displaying the winning number of pachinko balls to zero. A ball lending indicator 338 is formed on the front frame 302 to display that the device for lending a ball is being driven. A card insertion slot 340 is provided below the card insertion slot 340 so that a pachinko card can be inserted vertically. Further below, an amount indicator 342 and a ball lending signal command button 344 are provided. The money amount display 342 is for displaying the money amount that can be played and stored in the pachinko card. The ball lending signal command button 344 is "1,000 yen""500yen"
It includes five buttons of “300 yen”, “200 yen”, and “100 yen”, and when any one of the buttons is pressed, the pachinko ball is lent and displayed for an amount corresponding to the displayed amount. Then, by inserting a pachinko card and operating a lending signal signal button 344, the pachinko ball is lent out from the prize ball exit 323.

The ball lending signal command button is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be provided with a single price button (100 yen, 200 yen, etc.), and pays out a ball lending corresponding to each pressing of the price button. You may. In addition, each time a player manually inserts a pachinko card into a card slot without paying a ball-lending command signal button, a lending ball for a single amount (100 yen, 200 yen, etc.) is paid out. You may.

The starting winning opening 31 which is an example of a winning area.
As shown in FIG. 9, start winning prize ball detectors 364 a, 364 b, and 364 c are provided in 6 a, 316 b, and 314. Pachinko balls win the start winning prize holes 316 a, 316 b, and 314. The first winning state is generated by the detection, and the rotation display of the rotating drum 308 is controlled by the detection output of the detector. Further, based on the detection output of this detector, control is performed so as to pay out a predetermined number (for example, 7) of prize balls, and the starting winning ball detectors 364a, 364b, 364c are also configured as winning ball detectors. ing. In the figure, 368
Reference numerals a, 368b, and 368c denote winning prize detectors attached to the mechanism plate 349. A second prize state is generated by the detection of this detector, and a certain number (for example, thirteen) is obtained by prize winning of pachinko balls. ) To pay out prize balls. Further, 366a and 366b are also prize ball detectors, and a third prize state is generated by detecting the prize ball detectors.
Prize balls. When any of a plurality of types of winning states is generated by these starting winning ball detectors 364a, 364b, 364c, winning ball detectors 368a, 368b, 368c, and winning ball detectors 366a, 366b, the winning state is determined. Winning signal generating means for generating a winning signal according to the type of the game. Game medium payout means that can pay out game media,
A prize ball payout device 352, which is an example of a ball payout device capable of paying out a ball, is driven and controlled based on the detection output of these winning ball detectors, and a pachinko machine in the prize ball payout device. The ball is sent out to the prize ball passage 354 side, and a predetermined amount of the prize ball is paid out from the prize ball outlet 323 to the hit ball supply plate 324 (see FIG. 8). The prize ball passage 354 has a switching valve 35
The switching valve 358 is switched by a ball-off solenoid 356, so that the path of the pachinko balls falling can be selectively switched to either the prize ball path 360 or the ball-dropping path 362. I have. The ball removal passage 362 is for removing pachinko balls remaining in the pachinko game machine at the end of a game arcade or the like.

In the drawing, reference numeral 372 denotes a hitting ball firing device, which includes a hitting motor 374 and a hitting rod 376 driven by the motor.
The pachinko balls sent one by one from the hit ball supply tray 324 (see FIG. 8) can be hit into the game area.

In the figure, reference numeral 340 denotes a card insertion slot.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a card control box, and 348 denotes a selection control box, which corresponds to the ball lending signal command button 344 (see FIG. 8). By inserting a card from the card insertion slot 340 and operating the ball lending signal command button 344 (see FIG. 8), as described later, the prize ball payout device 3
52 is driven and controlled, and a predetermined amount of pachinko balls is lent out.

FIG. 9 shows a pachinko gaming machine provided with a plurality of prize ball detectors. However, this prize ball detector is constituted by a single one, and the same number of prizes are obtained no matter which prize port is won. A ball may be paid out.

The payout of the prize ball is not only because the winning opening is awarded, but also because the display mode when the variable display device is stopped is a combination of predetermined symbols.
A prize ball may be paid out.

The card control box 346 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a card insertion detection switch 380 for detecting a card inserted from the card insertion slot 340, a card transport mechanism 382 for transporting the inserted card to a predetermined place, and data recorded on the card And a card data reading / writing device 384 for reading and writing new data. In addition, pachinko machine 3
In the front frame 302 of 00, a ball lending indicator 338 is provided so as to be able to display that the ball lending device is being driven. In the figure, 342 is an amount display, and 34
4 is a ball lending signal command button, 324 is a hit ball supply plate, 336
Denotes an operation handle, 332 denotes a surplus ball tray, and 349 denotes a mechanism plate.

The surface of the pachinko gaming machine 300 includes:
Further, a lamp for indicating whether the inserted pachinko card is a usable card may be provided.

The card insertion detection switch 380 is composed of a switch including a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver provided on both right and left sides of the card insertion passage. The card insertion detection switch 380 detects the insertion of the pachinko card 22 when the tip of the pachinko card 22 is inserted, whereby light from the light emitter to the light receiver is blocked.

The card insertion detection switch 380 is
Instead of the switch composed of the light emitter and the light receiver, a micro switch configured so that the actuator unit moves lightly may be used.

The card transport mechanism 382 includes a card transport roller, a motor, and the like. The both ends of the pachinko card 22 are sandwiched by rollers and driven in one direction to take the pachinko card 22 into the inside. And has a transport function of discharging the pachinko card 22 to the outside by being driven in the other direction.

The card data reading / writing device 384 comprises:
Magnetic stripe 84 provided on pachinko card 22
It is provided corresponding to the position (see FIG. 6), and is capable of reading encoded data magnetically stored in the magnetic stripe 84 and rewriting the encoded data. In this embodiment, this is constituted by a magnetic head.

When the information of the pachinko card 22 is encoded by, for example, a bar code, the card data reading element may be constituted by a bar code reader capable of optically reading data.

The pachinko card is manually inserted into the card insertion slot without using the card transport mechanism of the above embodiment,
After detecting this, data stored in the card may be read, a single payout may be performed, and once the card is pulled out and inserted again, the payout may be performed.

At a predetermined position in the prize ball passage 354, a pachinko ball deficiency detector 394 (not shown in FIG. 9) is provided. Normally, the pachinko ball passage 354 is constantly replenished with pachinko balls from the upstream end thereof. However, if the supply of pachinko balls is stopped for some reason, the rental provided from the prize ball passage 354 is stopped. The number of balls may be insufficient. In such a case, the pachinko ball deficiency detector 394 detects the lack of pachinko balls,
On the basis of this, the control unit 378 gives a signal to the display driver 390, turns off the display unit 338, and stops the control operation of other mechanisms. The presence or absence of a signal from the pachinko ball deficiency detector 394 is detected by the control unit 378 by an interrupt process in a predetermined time cycle. Each mechanism of the pachinko gaming machine 300 is controlled by the control unit 378, as shown in FIG. Control unit 37
8 is constituted by a microcomputer,
The control center includes a CPU, a RAM serving as a storage circuit, a ROM storing a control program, an input / output interface, and the like. In addition, a motor driver 386 for a pachinko ball payout motor 388, which is an example of a ball payout means capable of paying out balls constituting the game medium payout means, and an amount display 3
42, ball lending display 338 and winning ball number display 392
A display driver 390 and the like are provided as necessary. Further, the starting winning ball detectors 364a, 36
4b, 364c and winning ball detectors 366a, 366b, 3
Various detectors such as 68a, 368b, and 368c are also connected to the control unit 378. In particular, when the control unit 378 establishes a predetermined game medium lending condition which is generated when the ball signal signal command button 344 described above is pressed, the game medium is lent from the game medium payout unit 388 (352). A game medium payout control unit is configured to perform a control of paying out as a game medium for the game, and to perform a control of paying out the game medium as a game medium for a premium according to the game result of the gaming machine.

The ball control circuit shown in FIG. 11 and the game control circuit for controlling the game are provided separately. The game control circuit unit is an example of a game control unit that controls the gaming state of the gaming machine, and the ball lending control circuit unit of the control unit 378 is an example of a game medium payout control unit. Since the game control unit and the game medium payout control unit are separately provided as described above, even if one of the game control unit and the game medium payout control unit fails, a failure occurs. By simply exchanging only the game control unit or the game medium payout control unit, the game medium lending control unit or the game control unit having no failure can be left and used as it is. Similarly, even when the game control unit is replaced by a model change, the separately provided game medium payout control unit can be left. Therefore,
When the game control unit and the game medium payout control unit are separately provided, the disadvantage of the game hall due to unnecessary replacement can be minimized as compared with the case where the game control unit is provided integrally.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit of FIG. Next, the processing operation of the pachinko gaming machine 300 will be described according to the flow of the flowchart of FIG.

When the control starts, first, in step S
1 determines whether the winning ball detector is ON or not,
If it is determined that there is no stored value, the process proceeds to step S2, and it is determined whether or not the winning ball storage counter has a stored value.
When it is determined that there is no stored value, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is determined whether or not there is an input from the insertion switch. When it is determined that there is no input, the DO loop that returns to step S1 again is executed. Is formed. If it is determined in step S1 that the winning ball detector is ON during the course of the DO loop, the process proceeds to step S3.
A process of incrementing the winning ball memory counter and the winning ball indicator by one is performed, and the process proceeds to step S4, where the payout of pachinko balls is controlled. Then, in step S5, the winning ball memory counter and the winning ball indicator are decremented by one, and the control is ended. If it is determined in step S2 that there is a stored value in the winning ball storage counter during the round of the DO loop, the process proceeds to step S4, and the subsequent control is performed. If it is determined in step S6 that there is an input from the insertion switch during the round of the DO loop, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the transport mechanism is moved to take in the card, and in step S8.
Thus, the card data reading process is performed, and the amount data is displayed in step S9. Further, step S
The process proceeds to step S10, where it is determined whether or not there is an input of a selection button. If there is an input, the process proceeds to step S11, where the selection amount and the balance are determined. That is, when the money equivalent value of the pachinko ball (game medium) to be borrowed is larger than the money equivalent value remaining in the inserted pachinko card, the process proceeds to step S12, and error processing is performed. On the other hand, if the selected amount is less than or equal to the balance,
In step S13, the motor driver is controlled in accordance with the selected amount. In step S14, the control is continued until it is determined that there is an output of the number of lending balls in accordance with the selected amount. Do. Next, proceeding to step S15, the balance is displayed, and step S16 is performed.
It is determined whether or not there is a balance, and if there is a balance, the process proceeds to step S17 to rewrite the amount data of the card. That is, the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the selected amount from the remaining amount is rewritten to a new remaining amount. Next, step S
Proceed to 18 to release the card after rewriting the data. If it is determined in step S16 that there is no remaining balance, the process proceeds to step S19, and the card is collected inside.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing the structure of the prize ball dispensing apparatus 352, which is drawn with its front cover member removed to explain the internal structure thereof. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the prize ball payout device 352 and its related parts.

The prize ball dispensing device 352 is mounted on a mechanism plate disposed on the back side of the game board 304 and is mounted on the mounting board 558.
And a cover member 560 disposed in parallel with the mounting board 558. Mounting board 558 and cover member 5
For example, a width slightly larger than the diameter of one pachinko ball is formed between the pachinko balls 60, and one pachinko ball can pass therethrough.

A transport belt 562 for transporting pachinko balls P is provided between the mounting board 558 and the cover member 560. The transport belt 562 is stretched between a main rotary pulley 564 and a secondary rotary pulley 566. The main rotary pulley 564 is driven by a drive motor 568, while the secondary rotary pulley 566 is rotatably mounted between the mounting board 558 and the cover member 560.

The outer peripheral surface of the conveyor belt 562, that is, the outer peripheral surface of the main rotary pulley 564 and the auxiliary rotary pulley 566, which is in contact with or engaged with the peripheral surfaces thereof, is opposite to the longitudinal direction. The prize ball mounting recesses 570 are formed at intervals, and the prize balls can be conveyed one by one by the recess 570.

The inner surface of the transport belt 562 is formed with irregularities, and engages with the irregularities formed on the surfaces of the main rotary pulley 564 and the slave rotary pulley 566 so that the transport belt 562 slides with each pulley. They can be moved without fitting.

When the transport belt 562 is made of a material having a large friction coefficient such as rubber, it is not necessary to form an uneven portion on its inner surface. In this case, unevenness of each pulley peripheral surface is unnecessary. It is.

As shown in FIG. 13, the conveying belt 562 is disposed so that the upper surface thereof is gradually raised and inclined from the sub-rotating pulley 566 side to the main rotating pulley 564 side. It is configured not to roll on the transport belt 562 from the main rotary pulley 564 side to the slave rotary pulley 566 side due to dropping or the like.

The prize balls rolling out from the prize ball communication port 572 formed on the mounting board 558 are sequentially placed on the prize ball mounting recesses 570 of the transport belt 562 one by one. It is sent to the rotating pulley 564 side.

A prize ball detector 574 is mounted near the main rotary pulley 564 so that prize balls conveyed by the conveyor belt 562 and discharged to the prize ball outlet 576 can be detected one by one.

Accordingly, the rotation of the drive motor 568 is started based on the prize ball payout start signal, and while the prize ball detector 574 counts the number of prize balls to be paid out, the drive motor 568 is activated when the predetermined number is reached. If stopped, any number of prize balls can be paid out.

It should be noted that the prize ball payout device is also driven by the signal of the ball lending command to pay out the corresponding ball lending. That is, the control unit 378 which controls the lending of the game medium is controlled by the motor driver 38 in accordance with the ball lending command signal.
6 to drive the game medium and pay out the game medium payout means 388 (3
52) The control of paying out and lending is performed.
The payout prize ball falls downward through the prize ball exit 576. Reference numeral 578 denotes a prize ball straightening projection for regulating the prize ball sent by the transport belt 562 so that the prize ball is always one for one prize ball mounting recess 570. is there.

As shown in FIG. 14, the prize ball exit 5
The prize ball falling through 76 reaches a prize ball passage 544.

Note that the prize ball payout apparatus is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be considered. Description of Card Payment Machine FIG. 15 is an external perspective view showing an example of a card payment machine used in one embodiment of this system, and FIG. 16 is a front view thereof. Referring mainly to FIG. 16, the card settlement machine 12 checks whether the card settlement machine is in a state capable of performing settlement processing,
An in-payment indicator 140 and an abort indicator 142 are provided to indicate whether or not the settlement process is stopped. The card slot 144 is for a card user (player) to insert a card 22 to be settled. When the card 22 is inserted from the card slot 144, the remaining amount of the card 22 is detected, and the remaining amount indicator is displayed. The amount is displayed at 146. The payment amount indicator 148 is for displaying the payment amount. The bill payout slot 150 and the coin payout slot 152 are both for paying out the settlement amount. The card settlement machine 12 further includes a numeric keypad 154 for inputting numerical data, a settlement key 156 for instructing settlement processing, and a collection key 158 for instructing card collection processing.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram for explaining the structure of the card settlement machine 12. As shown in FIG. FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the block diagram of FIG. Next, the configuration and operation of the card settlement machine 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the card user inserts the card 22 to be settled into the card slot 144, the card detection switch 160 is turned on, and a signal is given from the card detection switch 160 to the control unit 162. Control section 16
Reference numeral 2 drives the card transport mechanism 164 to take in the card 22, and at the same time, reads data encoded on the card 22 by the card reader / writer 166. The data read by the card reader / writer 166 is detected and stored by the control unit 162, and when the amount data of the read card data is not “0”, the remaining amount of the card 22 is displayed via the display driver 168. Display 1
46 is displayed.

Next, when the user operates the numeric keypad 154 to input numerical data, the input numerical data is displayed on the settlement amount display 148, and the input of the settlement button 156 is awaited. When the settlement button 156 is input, the control unit 162 compares the settlement amount input by the ten keys 154 with the remaining amount of the card 22, and only when the input amount is smaller than or equal to the remaining amount, the bill payout mechanism. By driving the coin payout mechanism 170 and / or the coin payout mechanism 172, the money corresponding to the settlement amount is output from the bills and / or coins in the bill storage box 174 and / or the coin storage box 176 to the bill outlet 150 and / or the coin outlet 1.
Pay out to 52.

When the settlement amount input by the ten keys is larger than the remaining amount of the card 22, the money dispensing process cannot be performed until the settlement amount is corrected by the ten keys 154 again.

The balance of the card may be settled by inserting the card into a card settlement machine so that the balance of the entire balance is settled.

At the same time as the money payout process, the controller 162 rewrites the amount data encoded on the card 22 by the card reader / writer 166. That is, the amount obtained by subtracting the input settlement amount from the remaining amount of the card 22 is encoded again on the card 22, and is encoded.
Will be the new remaining amount. When there is no more remaining money, the control unit 162 drives the card transport mechanism 164 to perform a card collection process, and collects the card 22 into the card collection box 178. If there is a new remaining amount, the card 22 is returned to the card slot 144 by the card transport mechanism 164 again.

The settlement of the card 22 is, for example, 10
It is preferable that the payment be made in units of 0 yen, so that payments smaller than that can not be made, and that unnecessary payments are prevented.

If there is no remaining amount in the amount data in the card data detected when the card 22 is first taken in, the control unit 162 causes the remaining amount display 146 to display the card amount. Here, the card price will be briefly described.

The card 22 applied to this system is a disposable card. Therefore, when the user runs out of remaining money encoded on the card 22, the card 22 is discarded. Normally, some scrap baskets are installed in pachinko halls, but players playing on gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines and slot machines allow game machines such as pachinko balls and coins to be transferred from gaming machines. If the remaining amount of the card 22 is exhausted when the card is borrowed, without carrying the card 22 to the waste basket,
It is conceivable to put them on the edge of the island or throw them away on the floor. Since there will be many such players during business hours, a large number of cards 22 that are no longer needed in the game hall will be disturbed, and it will be difficult to clean them later.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the disposable card 22 that is no longer needed is collected by the card checkout machine, so that the amusement arcade is stained with the unnecessary card 22 that has no remaining balance, and the trouble of cleaning the card can be eliminated. . That is, the unnecessary card 22 is purchased at a predetermined card price, for example, 20 yen, and in order to do so, the player may insert the unnecessary card 22 into the card settlement machine.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 18, when the collection button 158 is pressed after the card price is displayed, the control section 162 performs the collection processing of the card 22 in the card collection box 178. Then, thereafter, the coin payout mechanism 172 is driven, and a payout process of, for example, 20 yen, which is a card price, is performed from the coin payout port 152.

When the remaining amount of the card 22 after the settlement is exhausted, the card collection processing is performed and then the card payment processing is performed.

In addition to the above control, the card settlement machine 12 performs the following interrupt control. That is, it is determined whether or not bills and coins of a predetermined amount or more are stored in the bill storage box 174 and the coin storage box 176, respectively. If the bills and coins are stored, the processing operation of the apparatus is further performed normally. It is determined whether or not there is any trouble in control, and if there is no trouble, the display 142 is turned on via the display driver 168.

When there is no money exceeding a predetermined amount or when there is an abnormality in the processing, the settlement stop processing, that is, the processing operation of the card settlement machine 12 is deactivated and the processing is prohibited, and the settlement stop display 142 is turned on. Let it. Such interrupt processing is performed, for example, every 0.4 ms.

Description of Card System Management Apparatus FIG. 19 is an external perspective view of a card system management apparatus 14 used in one embodiment of this system, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an arrangement of keys provided on an operation panel unit.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, on operation panel 180 of card system management device 14, mode switch 182 for switching operation modes, numeric keypad 184 for inputting numerical data, and various operations are provided. A plurality of function keys 186 for issuing commands and a receipt outlet 188 of a built-in printer are provided. The mode changeover switch 182 is used to switch a power supply of the management apparatus 14 to an OFF mode, an ON mode in which the management apparatus 14 can perform a normal operation, and a function performed by the management apparatus 14 to a specific operator, for example, a game room. The mode is switched between a SECRET mode in which only data that can be confirmed by the manager or the person in charge of the amusement arcade and a PROGRAM mode for changing or rewriting an operation program of the management apparatus 14 are displayed. The mode changeover switch 182 is designed to be able to switch the mode by inserting a key. Usually, a general employee has a key capable of switching between the OFF mode and the ON mode, and is responsible for the playground. For example, it is conceivable to have a key capable of switching between OFF mode, ON mode, SECRET mode and PROGRAN mode.

The mode switch 182 is turned off.
In a mode other than the mode, a display lamp 190 for indicating that the management device 14 is energized is provided above the mode change switch 182.

The ten keys 184 are provided with eleven keys of "1" to "9" and "0" and "C (clear)" key, and numerical data can be inputted by using these keys. The "C" key is used to correct input data.

The function keys 186 include various keys described below. That is, the card sales status key 192: This key 192 is used to output data such as the number of cards sold for each card type, the sales amount for each card type, the total number of cards sold, the total amount for all cards sold, and the like. Yes, input money status key 194: This key 194 is used to output data on the number of input money for each money type, the input money amount for each money type, and the total amount of all money. Change status key 196: This key 196 is for displaying and instructing the number of coins for each type of change that has been dispensed, the amount of money for each type of change that has been dispensed, and the total amount of all change that has been dispensed. Change status key 198: This key 198 is used to display and instruct a monetary amount of change built in a card vending machine or a card settlement machine in advance. Built-in change setting key 200: This key 200 is used to input and set the amount of change stored in advance in a card vending machine and a card settlement machine by using a ten-key for each change type. Machine number designation key 202: This key 202 is for instructing the display of ball lending information for each ball lending machine. All ball lending (all amount) key 204: This key 204 Print key 206: This key 206 is for instructing the data displayed on the display screen to be printed by the built-in printer, and the total number of replenishment balls. Key 208: This key 208 is for instructing the display of the total number of replenishment balls supplied for each gaming machine. Is for displaying commands all hammering balls Number of driven for each skill machine payout rate key 212 for loan balls Number: This key 212,
This is for displaying and instructing the ratio of the payout rate of the pachinko gaming machine to the number of pachinko balls borrowed by the pachinko game machine.
Numeral 4 is for instructing display of the payout rate of all pachinko machines based on the current game with respect to the sales amount of the sold card. Difference key 216: This key 216 The actual sales key 218: This key 218 is for calculating and displaying the actual sales. The actual sales / all lending amount comparison key 220: This key 220
Is a command for instructing a comparison display between the total sales amount and the ball lending amount. A key 222 for comparing the total card sales amount and the total ball lending amount This is for instructing calculation and display of the amount.

Referring to FIG. 19, card system management device 14 has CRT display 2 for displaying data.
24 are provided. The display 224 includes:
Various data are displayed by operating each key of the operation panel 180.

The internal configuration of the management device 14 is composed of a microcomputer centered on a CPU.
An example of the configuration circuit is as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 21, card system management device 14 has operation panel 180 including various keys as described above, and C to which a signal from operation panel 180 is given.
PU 226, ROM 228 storing an operation program of CPU 226, RAM 230 capable of writing and reading various data, and CRT display 224
And a printer 232. The block diagram of FIG. 21 is an illustrative view simplified, and in actuality, a signal path provided from the CPU 226 to the CRT 224 and the printer 232 includes an interface, a driver circuit, and the like. Such techniques are already well known and are not important as the embodiments of the present invention, and therefore will not be described.

Various data from the above-described card vending machine, card settlement machine, ball lending machine, pachinko game machine, premium ball exchange machine, and the like are input to the CPU 226. CPU2
26 temporarily stores these input data in the RAM 230, and in response to a command signal from the operation panel 180, performs arithmetic processing and the like based on the data stored in the RAM 230, and stores the designated data. It is displayed on the CRT display 224 or printed by the printer 232.

The RAM 230 includes at least the following storage areas as areas for storing various data. That is, a storage area for each card type,
Storage area for the number of inserted coins by money type, storage area for the number of paid-out coins by currency type, storage area for the number of built-in change coins by currency type, storage area for the number of refilled balls by pachinko machine, storage area for the number of inserted balls by pachinko machine, and settlement number by card type There are a storage area, a payment reimbursement amount storage area for each card type, a collection card number storage area for each card type, a prize exchange ball number storage area, an exchange prize type and number storage area, a calculation register area, and the like.

[0109] Of the above storage areas, more preferably, the storage area for the number of cards sold per card type, the storage area for the number of inserted coins for each type of money, the storage area for the number of change payments for each type of money,
The built-in change number storage area for each currency type is a card vending machine,
A storage area is configured for each card vending machine and each card payment machine so that each data can be stored for each card payment machine.

The CPU 226 of the management device 14 accesses the control units of the card vending machine, the card settlement machine, the ball lending machine, the pachinko gaming machine, and the premium ball exchange machine connected to the management device in a predetermined time cycle. And stores the data in a predetermined area of the RAM 230. Further, when a display command signal or the like is given from operation panel 180, predetermined calculation processing is performed based on data stored in RAM 230, and the result is displayed on a CRT.
It is displayed on the display 224. Operation panel 1
When a printout signal is given from
The data and the like displayed on the RT display 224 are printed out by the printer 232.

In this embodiment, the case where the RAM 230 is used as the data storage means of the CPU 226 has been described. However, when the storage capacity of the RAM 230 is insufficient, an external storage device such as a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, or the like is used. May be used.

Instead of outputting the data by the printer 232, the data may be stored on a floppy disk or the like.

FIGS. 22 to 29 correspond to FIGS.
C of the card system management device 14 described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data displayed on an RT display 224 and data printed out by a printer 232. These figures show various data examples in a state of being printed as print data. Hereinafter, data obtained by the card system management device 14 will be described step by step.

FIG. 22 shows an example of “input money management data”. This data is a total of the type, the number, and the amount of money inserted into a card vending machine for card purchase. This data is tabulated, for example, every three hours and printed automatically, as shown. At the time when the user wants to check, the input banknote situation key 194 (see FIG. 20) is pressed to be issued.

FIG. 23 is a printout example of “sales card management data”. This data is data in which the number of cards sold and the sales amount of cards sold in all card vending machines are totaled, and is also printed out at predetermined time intervals so that the change can be recognized. Further, when the card sales situation key 192 is pressed, the card sales situation at a desired time can be printed out. Referring to this data, the pachinko hall manager
It is possible to grasp the card sales situation and the like, and based on the situation, it is possible to know the time of replenishment of card tickets and the like to be stocked in the card vending machine.

FIG. 24 is a printout example of “change management data”. This data is data obtained by summing up how many coins have been paid out of the change stored in advance in all card vending machines. Based on this data, the manager of the pachinko hall can always supply change in advance so that shortage of change in each card vending machine does not occur.

FIG. 25 shows "built-in change management data", which indicates how much change is stored in the card vending machine in advance by money type.

FIG. 26 is an example of a printout of “actual sales and ball lending amount comparison data”. This data is obtained by subtracting the settlement amount paid by the card settlement machine from the total card sales amount sold by the card vending machine, and displaying the actual sales of pachinko halls at a certain point in time. This data includes sales amounts for ball rental machines,
That is, the ball lending amount borrowed by the ball lending machine is also displayed in an aggregated manner. In this case, when the actual sales> the ball lending machine sales amount, the card user determines the actual balance of the cards that have been sold and have not been processed for lending and have not been settled. Appears as the difference between sales and ball rental machine sales.

On the other hand, if the actual sales amount is less than the ball lending machine sales amount, the ball lending process has not been properly performed by the card, so it can be estimated that there was some misconduct regarding the ball lending.
Quick processing for it is possible.

With this data, the situation of selling and using cards in a pachinko hall, the situation of using balls for money, the situation of possession of unused cards by players, and the like can be grasped.

FIG. 27 is a printout example of “Comparison data of total amount of card sales / total amount of ball lending”. This data calculates the calculated settlement amount based on the card sales total amount and the ball lending total amount, and calculates the difference between the calculated settlement amount and the actual settlement amount by summing up the actual settlement amount. Detected and used as reference data for ascertaining the possession rate and possession status of a card with an unpaid balance. In addition, when the difference between the calculated settlement amount and the actual settlement amount is larger than a predetermined value, there is an advantage that it is possible to estimate or detect that an illegal operation has been performed.

FIG. 28 shows data representing the payout rate with respect to the number of balls to be loaned, which is the result of calculating the payout rate from the total number of balls to be lent, the total number of supply balls, and the total number of driven balls. It is. Generally, the payout rate during business hours in a pachinko hall is, for example, as shown in JP-B-56-6306, payout rate = ｛total number of lending balls + (total number of supply balls−total number of driving balls) Number)｝ / total number of lending balls × 100 or payout rate = {total number of lending balls− (total number of driving balls−total number of supply balls)} / total number of lending balls × 100.

Therefore, the card system management device 14 according to this embodiment calculates and outputs the payout rate based on data from the pachinko gaming machine 300 with a ball lending function.

FIG. 29 shows an example of a printout of “Payout Rate for Card Vending Machine”. The calculation of the payout rate in this case is calculated as the total number of ball rentals = the total number of card sales total ball rentals−the total number of card settlement total ball rentals instead of the total number of ball rentals in FIG. 28 described above. This represents the expected payout rate calculated based on the assumption that the amount of the card pre-sold by the card vending machine has been subjected to the ball-lending process, not based on the number of balls borrowed by the ball-lending machine. Pachinko halls can be used as business guidelines.

FIG. 30 is an illustrative plan view showing an example of a system arrangement of an embodiment of the present invention in an actual game arcade. FIG. 30 shows that the system having the schematic configuration shown in FIG.
It is an example arranged in an actual game arcade. In FIG. 30, 10 is a card vending machine, 12 is a card settlement machine, 1
4 is a card system management device, 300 is a pachinko gaming machine, and 396 is a slot machine. Reference numeral 18 denotes a ball lending machine, which is a dedicated machine provided with the pachinko gaming machine 300 and having a ball lending function. Also,
In the figure, reference numeral 18 'denotes a coin lending machine, which is a dedicated machine provided with the slot machine 396 and having a coin lending function. Arrows shown in the figure represent a part of the signal flow as a representative.

A pachinko gaming machine 30 with a ball lending function according to the present embodiment.
The ball lending function unit of 0 may be provided integrally for each pachinko gaming machine, and the ball lending function unit is provided on the pachinko island side,
It may be commonly used when replacing pachinko balls.

(Other Embodiments) The gaming machine of the present invention may be a slot machine 396 as shown in FIG. 31 instead of the pachinko gaming machine 300.

The slot machine 396 is provided with a coin insertion slot 408 for inserting a coin, which is an example of a game medium, and by inserting a coin into the coin insertion slot 408, a game can be played. . Then, when the player presses the rotation start button 414, the spinning reels 398a, 398b, 398c start to rotate, and then, according to the player's arbitrary selection, the stop buttons 415a, 41.
5b and 415c are stopped, and the rotating reel 39 is stopped.
8a, 398b and 398c are stopped. Then, when the display mode of the stopped rotating reel becomes a predetermined combination of symbols (for example, 777), a big hit state is reached, and coins for prizes are paid out on the coin tray 416. The big hit state is the rotation reels 398a, 398a, 3
This is established when the same symbols in 98b and 398c are aligned in a horizontal line or in an oblique direction. The hit line indicator 4 for displaying a line in which the same symbols are aligned.
10a, 410b, 410c, 410d, and 410e are provided, and jackpot indicators 412a and 412b for displaying a jackpot are provided.

Incidentally, such rotating reels 398a, 398
A plurality of different display results of the variable display device, including 98b and 398c, which can variably display symbols are defined, and coins, which are an example of a different number of game media, are paid out to the player according to the type of the display result. .

In the drawing, reference numeral 400 denotes a coin lending indicator.
This is for displaying that the coin lending device is being driven. Reference numeral 402 denotes a card insertion slot, 404 denotes an amount indicator, and 406 denotes a coin lending signal command button.

While the coin lending display 400 is displayed, as shown in FIG. 32, when the card 22 is inserted into the card insertion slot 402, first, the card insertion detection switch 380 detects that the card has been inserted. Then, the card transport mechanism 382 operates to transport the card to a predetermined position. Further, the card data reading / writing device 384
The data recorded on the card 22 is read, and the data is rewritten as necessary. The card data reading / writing device 384 is for reading the data for determining the authenticity of the card 22 and the balance (money equivalent value) remaining on the card 22 as described above. Then, the remaining amount of the card 22 is displayed on the amount display 404. In addition, when the player operates the coin lending signal command button 406, a required number of coins as an example of the game medium are paid out to the coin tray 416 from the coin payout device 420 as an example of the game medium payout means. As described above, also in the slot machine 396 as an example of another gaming machine, the game control unit and the game medium lending control unit may be provided separately or may be provided integrally. In the present embodiment, coins have been described in the present embodiment. However, in the case of a gaming machine capable of playing a slot machine using the above-described pachinko balls of a pachinko gaming machine, a pachinko ball is used as a gaming medium. May be. This coin payout is performed by a payout coin detector 424 provided below the coin payout device 420.
Payout motor 422 while counting the detection output of
Is controlled so that a predetermined amount can be paid out. The control mechanism for paying out coins can be substantially the same as that shown in the block diagram shown in FIG. 11 except that the start winning ball detector and the winning ball detector are deleted. Here, it is omitted. The control operation for paying out coins is the same as that shown in FIG.
In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the control part based on the detection output of the winning ball detector and the stored value of the winning ball storage counter is replaced with a known control at the time of a big hit in a slot machine. Further detailed description will be omitted. It should be noted that in FIG.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a coin deficiency detector which detects that the coin in the coin payout device 420 is deficient,
To replenish coins. 4 in the figure
Reference numeral 28 denotes a coin full detector, which is a coin supply tube 430.
It is detected that the coins in the coin payout device 420 are full due to the supply of coins from
This is for stopping supply of coins from zero.
The supply of coins may be performed manually instead of automatically. Reference numerals 398a, 398b, and 398c denote rotating reels, which are driven and rotated by pulse motors 418 provided for the respective reels. Not only the coin payout device 420 but also a coin payout motor 422, a coin shortage detection device 426, a coin full detector 428, and a payout coin detector 424 constitute a game medium payout unit.

As described above, according to the present invention, the game state of the gaming machine is controlled by the game control unit, and when the predetermined game medium lending condition is satisfied, the game medium is rented out from the game medium payout means. The payout is performed by the game medium lending control unit as a medium, and since the game control unit and the game medium lending control unit are separately provided, only one of the game control unit and the game medium lending control unit is provided. Is to be replaced, only the game control unit or the game medium lending control unit to be replaced can be replaced. Therefore, for example, a failure that occurs in only one of the game control unit and the game medium lending control unit, or a replacement of the game control unit or the game medium lending control unit due to a model change of the game control unit, etc. Is compared to the case where the game control unit and the game medium lending control unit are provided integrally,
Since there is no need to exchange a game control unit or a game medium lending control unit that does not need to be exchanged, a gaming machine that can meet the needs of a game arcade that wants to suppress disadvantages due to unnecessary exchange is provided.

[0133]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the game control section and the game medium payout control section are separately provided in the gaming machine, the game control section and the game medium payout control section are integrated. It is possible to avoid unnecessary replacement of the game control unit or the game medium payout control unit that occurs when the game device is provided, and to minimize the disadvantage of the game hall.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a system using a gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an example of a card vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the card vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a card vending machine.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of a card vending / ball rental machine as another example of a card vending machine.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing one example of a card applicable to the system;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view showing an example of data that can be magnetically encoded on a card;

FIG. 8 is an overall front view showing a pachinko gaming machine which is an example of the gaming machine according to the present invention.

9 is an overall rear view showing a partial internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine 300. FIG.

10 is a side view of the pachinko gaming machine 300. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of the premium ball payout device 352.

14 is an exploded perspective view of the premium ball payout device 352. FIG.

FIG. 15 is an external perspective view showing an example of a card settlement machine.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the card settlement machine.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a card settlement machine.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the card settlement machine.

FIG. 19 is an external perspective view illustrating an example of a card system management device.

FIG. 20 is a plan view for explaining keys and the like provided on an operation panel of the card system management device.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a card system management device, in which contents stored in a storage device are schematically illustrated.

FIG. 22 is an illustrative view showing one example of various data printed out by the card system management device;

FIG. 23 is an illustrative view showing an example of various data printed out by the card system management device;

FIG. 24 is an illustrative view showing an example of various data printed out by the card system management device;

FIG. 25 is an illustrative view showing one example of various data printed out by the card system management device;

FIG. 26 is an illustrative view showing an example of various data printed out by the card system management device;

FIG. 27 is an illustrative view showing an example of various data printed out by the card system management device;

FIG. 28 is an illustrative view showing an example of various data printed out by the card system management device;

FIG. 29 is an illustrative view showing an example of various data printed out by the card system management device;

FIG. 30 is an illustrative plan view showing a state where each device for constructing a system in a game arcade is connected to a gaming machine.

FIG. 31 shows another embodiment of the present invention and is an overall front view of a slot machine which is an example of a gaming machine.

FIG. 32 is a longitudinal sectional view of the slot machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

P is a pachinko ball which is an example of a game medium, C is a coin which is an example of a game medium, and 388 (352) is a motor for paying out a pachinko ball which is an example of a game medium (ball) payout means (prize ball payout device). 378, a control unit as an example of a game medium payout control unit; 420, a coin payout device as an example of game medium payout means; 22, a card as an example of a lending recording medium;
0 is a pachinko gaming machine as an example of a gaming machine, and 396 is a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game machine in which a game is played using a predetermined game medium, a game control section for controlling a game state of the game machine, a game medium payout means capable of paying out the game medium, When predetermined game medium lending conditions are satisfied, control is performed to pay out the game medium from the game medium payout means as a game medium for lending, and the game medium is supplied from the game medium payout means in accordance with a game result of the gaming machine. A gaming machine, comprising: a game medium payout control unit that performs control to pay out as a game medium for a prize, wherein the game control unit and the game medium payout control unit are separately provided in a gaming machine. .