JP2784958B2 - Game equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a technology effective when used in a game facility in which a game machine such as a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball, a slot machine and the like and a management device are connected so as to be able to transmit data. About.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a pachinko game store, a pachinko machine and a management device are connected by a transmission means such as a cable, and the operation data of the game machine is transmitted to the management device to manage the hitting control and the like. There is something.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in order to manage all terminal devices such as pachinko machines under the control of one management device, it is necessary to connect each pachinko machine and the management device with a communication cable. In that case, a method of connecting each pachinko machine with the management device in a 1: 1 manner can be considered. However, in such a method, it is necessary to draw one cable between each pachinko machine and the management device, so the cable laying work is troublesome and costly, and the number of pachinko machines is reduced. To increase the number, there is a disadvantage that it is necessary to newly add a cable.

The present invention has been made under the above background,
Its purpose is to enable communication between the gaming device and the management device, and to interpose a relay control device between the gaming device and the management device when configuring a gaming facility capable of collecting operation data of the gaming device. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly flexible game facility while improving work efficiency when disposing transmission means (including wired and wireless).

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming device (for example, a pachinko machine 100) capable of executing a required game, and a management device ( 400), the relay device (NAU530) is interposed between the management device and the game device, and the management device and the game device are communicable with each other. The device and the relay control device are connected by a first transmission means (for example, a high-layer network 520), and the gaming device and the relay control device are connected by a second transmission means (for example, a low-layer network 510). The gaming device includes an operation data transmitting unit (for example, a unit memory 550) for transmitting a plurality of operation data generated during the operation, and the relay control device operates from the gaming device. A data transmitting means (for example, a low-layer network controller 533, a data transmission controller 535, etc.) for collecting data and performing required processing and transmitting the operation data to the management device, and when the operation data cannot be collected a predetermined number of times from the gaming device Abnormal state determining means for determining that an abnormal state has occurred with respect to the collection of the operation data (for example, abnormal bit setting processing in FIG. 75, S3528), and the occurrence of the abnormal state is determined by the abnormal state determining means. In this case, the data transmission means notifies the management device of the occurrence of an abnormality.

The relay control device converts the signal in the communication mode of the first transmission unit into a signal in the communication mode of the second transmission unit, and converts the signal in the communication mode of the second transmission unit to the first signal.
A conversion unit (for example, a packet memory 534) for converting into a signal in a communication form of the transmission unit is provided.

Further, the management device, the gaming devices, and the relay control device each include a signal conversion unit that can convert transmission / reception data into a signal of a plurality of types of transmission systems, and a plurality of connection units to which transmission units corresponding to the respective transmission systems can be connected. (For example, the transceiver 507 and the changeover switch 543).

[Operation] According to the above-described means, the relay device is interposed between the management device and the gaming device, so that the management device only needs to communicate with the relay control device, thereby reducing the burden on the management device. Can be done. Further, since the communication between the management device and the relay control device is configured to be communicable by the first transmission unit, and the communication between the relay control device and the terminal device is configured to be communicable by the second transmission unit, it is possible to speed up the operation data collection by the management device. It is possible to increase the work efficiency when arranging transmission means (including wired and wireless) used for configuring the game equipment to be communicable, and to configure a highly flexible game equipment. It is possible to do. Further, the relay control device performs an abnormality determination when the operation data from the gaming device cannot be collected a predetermined number of times, and notifies the management device of the occurrence of the abnormality of the corresponding gaming device. It can be transmitted to the device.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a card-type pachinko game system as an example of a game facility to which the present invention is applied.

The pachinko gaming system of this embodiment includes a pachinko machine 100 as a gaming device and an issuing machine as a storage medium issuing device that emits a card CD as a storage medium having a local value in order to start a game in each pachinko machine. Centrally manages and controls 200, a prize ball obtained as a result of the game, and a payment machine 300 as a storage medium payment device for payment of remaining purchase money not used for the game, and the above various terminals. And a data transmission path 50 as transmission means for organically coupling the management device 400 and each terminal.
And these constitute an organic conjugate. This organic combination can be interposed only by the card CD, and the card can be operated and its valuable data can be converted only by the organic combination.
Therefore, the pachinko machine 10 as each component of the organic conjugate
0, the issuing machine 200, the settlement machine 300, and the management device 400 are each provided with a card reader as a storage medium reading device (in this specification, a device that writes on a magnetic surface of a card is also referred to as a card reader). At the same time, the information of the card and the information of each terminal are stored in the storage device of the management device 400 in the form of a file.

Next, before entering into a specific description of each component of the organic conjugate, a card used in the storage medium type game facility of the present embodiment will be described.

Card CD used in the storage medium type game facility of this embodiment
Is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The information required for the player, such as the date of issue (= valid date), DATE, and the issue serial number n, etc., required when the damaged card is restored, are printed at the time of issuance. (Longitudinal direction).
Therefore, there is no need to prepare a plurality of types of cards on which different amounts of money are printed in advance.

Immediately above the print display unit PRT, a punch as a punch forming unit for recording the status of the card, that is, issued, resurrected, playing, returning to zero (zero), and settlement or status transition of the card in the form of a punch. A hole forming area PH is also provided along the card insertion direction.

By detecting the above-mentioned perforations formed in the card with the photoelectric detector, the number of balls held is read from the file of the management device using the code recorded on the magnetic surface, and the state of the card can be easily checked without checking. Thus, it is possible to reduce the burden on the controller and the management device of the card reader required to determine the processing corresponding to the state of the card.

On the other hand, at a position slightly below the center of the card, a magnetic recording section MG coated with a band-shaped magnetic material from the front end to the vicinity of the center.
(See FIG. 2 (B)). However, the magnetic recording portion MG may be formed not only on a part of the card in the longitudinal direction but also in a continuous band shape from end to end of the card similarly to the print display portion PRT, or a magnetic material may be applied to the entire back surface of the card. May be used as a magnetic recording unit.

Further, in the card of this embodiment, a belt-like roller running area RRA slightly wider than the transport roller in the card reader is provided between the print display section PRT and the magnetic recording section MG, that is, in the center of the card, in the longitudinal direction of the card. The magnetic recording unit MG, the print display unit PRT, and the authenticity discrimination area TF, which have important information used for determining the card, are damaged due to contact with the transport rollers. To prevent the information from becoming unreadable.

In the card of this embodiment, a true / false discrimination area TF including a security mark concealed in characters such as a hole name printed on the surface of the card is provided below the magnetic recording unit MG. In other words, "PLAZ" printed on the surface of the card
The A "as the character, the legs of each character as shown in FIG. 2 (C) is then designed to come to a position corresponding to the detection bit pattern B ₀ .about.B ₉ the pitch of 3.5mm, and the like are provided Print it out. And the character width is 0.5-1.5mm,
It is set to 3.5 mm, and "1" or "0" of each bit is represented by shading of characters. Moreover, 10 5 th bit B ₄ from left of the bit and the last bit B _9, the bit B ₀ .about.B ₃
Previously determining the shading of text to represent the parity of the B ₅ .about.B ₈ and. It is more preferable that the security bits concealed in the character string be formed using a special ink that can be detected only by the sensor and cannot be distinguished by human eyes.

Further, on the surface of the game card of this embodiment, a head cleaning area HCN is provided in which a cleaning agent for removing dirt on the magnetic head is applied to a band-shaped area continuous with the magnetic recording section MG. At the same time, in the card of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (D), the magnetic recording portion MG is placed on a base material 11 made of a plastic such as polyester so as not to know where it is provided. A white layer 13 is formed on a magnetic layer 12 coated with particles uniformly, and a pattern printing layer 14 is further placed thereon, and then a part of the layer (a portion corresponding to the print display unit PRT) is subjected to heat-sensitive coloring. A layer 15 is formed, and a transparent protective film 16 is coated thereon. A cleaning agent of the same color as that of the white layer 13 is applied to the cleaning area HCN, and the surface thereof is exposed so that the protective film 16 is not coated, and the cleaning area hardly changes in color from other parts. In this way, the beauty is improved. Also,
A pattern printing layer 17 is formed on the back surface of the base material 11 of the card, and is coated with a protective film 18 thereon.

In the card having the above structure in which the white layer 13 is formed on the surface of the magnetic layer 12, the magnetic layer 12 made of black magnetic particles is covered with the white white layer 13, so that the pattern is It is possible to provide a card with rich fashion by printing, and has a function of concealing the magnetic recording unit MG.

Furthermore, since the surface of the card is coated with the protective film 16, the print display area PRT, the magnetic recording area MG, and the area holding important information used for discriminating the card such as the authenticity discrimination area TF is protected, The information is less likely to be destroyed, and the reliability of the card is improved.

FIG. 2 (E) shows a magnetic recording section MG provided on the card.
An example of the configuration will be described.

The magnetic recording unit MG of the card of this embodiment is composed of two tracks, of which the first track TRC1 records clock data for giving a sampling timing.
The second track TRC2 includes, starting from the left, a 4-bit start code and a field STX containing the parity bit, a company code MKC indicating the card reader manufacturer, a device code MCC indicating the model of the card reader, and an identification code DSC of the game store. , Date DATE, card number No, issuance command code FNC given from the card reader when the card is issued, text field TXT containing security data SDC read from the authenticity discrimination area, field ETX containing text end code, text It is composed of a field LRC containing an exclusive OR value (detection code) of data and an end code, and a field STX containing a start code. In addition, the date P is provided with a bit P indicating each parity every four bits, and the first four bits represent "month" and the sixth to ninth bits and the eleventh bit represent "month". The date, and the 12th to 14th bits and the 16th to 19th bits are recorded by binary coding the last two digits of the year.

In the case of a card having a magnetic recording section, it is generally easiest to decode the recording format and recording data from the date. However, in the card of the above embodiment, the order of the date is changed, and the parity is set every 4 bits. Put a bit,
Further, since the correspondence of the recording bits is changed, forgery of the card becomes extremely difficult. The issue serial number n
Is printed on the print display unit PRT, so that the card can be restored from the file information of the management device even if the information of the magnetic recording unit MC cannot be read due to damage of the card or the like.

Further, as described above, the information recorded in the magnetic recording unit of the card of this embodiment includes an identification code DSC for specifying the usable space of the card and an issue date for indicating the validity period of the card. Only the DATE, the card number as an identification code obtained from the issue serial number n using an appropriate function or conversion method, and a check code for error detection, the purchase amount and the number of balls held are not recorded. . These are managed by the management device 400 according to the card number NO.
It can be extracted in real time from the data file. This prevents fraud by copying the card and minimizes the damage caused by fraud. In other words, even if the card is copied, no damage occurs beyond the purchase price and the number of balls registered in the data file, so copying the card is a completely useless act.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, the authenticity of the card is determined not only by the magnetically recorded information recorded on the card but also by the authenticity discrimination area TF which is difficult to forge, so that the illegality of the card is more reliably prevented. be able to. In addition, since a fraudulent card can be immediately detected by checking the authenticity discrimination area TF, the fraudulent card can be found more quickly than sending the magnetic information to the management device 400 and determining the fraudulent card. It should be noted that a perforation is also formed in a telephone card or the like having a magnetic recording section, but a conventional card perforation is provided to inform a user of an unused balance, and a card reader is required to perform perforation. It is not intended to detect and use it for any processing or determination.

Next, an example of the configuration of a game device that provides an original game will be described with reference to FIGS.

The gaming machine of this embodiment is provided on a pachinko machine 100, an island facility or the like above the gaming machine main body in one-to-one correspondence with the pachinko machine, and mainly controls a display and a card reader and stores operation data during the game. The control unit 160 controls collection.

The pachinko machine 100 is mounted to be openable and closable by a hinge 102 in a machine frame 101 fixed to the island equipment of the pachinko parlor. A reinforcing plate 107 having an operation dial reinforcing member 107a that withstands the weight of the pachinko machine 100 and absorbs the vibration of the hit ball firing device 103 is fixed to a lower portion of the machine frame 101. In the lower part of the pachinko machine 100, a hit ball launching device 103 for firing the enclosed balls one by one into the game area and its operation dial 104 are provided, and above the operation dial 104, a game using the card is provided. An operation panel 110 is provided with an amount indicator 111, a ball number indicator 112, a purchase switch 113, an interrupt switch 114, an end switch 115, a game state indicator 116, and the like for enabling a start procedure. The configuration of the game area on the front of the pachinko machine is the same as that of the conventional one. The purchase switch 113 is an instruction switch for converting the card into a game ball in units of 200 yen or the like within the range of the amount of the card assuming insertion of the card into the card reader 800 built in the control unit 160. , The converted game balls are the number of possessed balls. The remaining amount of the card is displayed on the amount display 111 in units of 100 yen as one unit, and the converted number of balls is displayed on the number-of-balls display 112. Every time is fired, the number of possessed balls is decremented by one, and when a winning ball is generated, the number of added prize balls is displayed. The end switch 115 is turned on at any time when the player wants to end the game (including when the player wants to change the game console), so that the control unit 160 can eject the card in use. At that time, the unit controller 190 registers the remaining amount of the player and the number of balls (the sum of the purchased ball and the acquired ball) at that time in the file of the management device 400, and then inserts the card into the slot 802a of the card reader 800.
Discharge more. In addition, the interrupt switch 114 is a switch used to temporarily stop the game for a break, although the player does not intend to stop the game at the game machine currently playing, and when this switch is operated. The unit controller 190 once ejects the card and waits until the same card is inserted again, during which time no other cards are accepted. The purchase switch 113 among the above switches is of a built-in lamp type, and the lamp in the purchase switch 113 blinks when the number of balls held becomes “0”.

The operation panel 110 is, as shown in FIG.
Is mounted on an openable front panel 105 at the lower part of the panel and has a hollow shape with a triangular cross section. The upper surface is inclined forward and downward so that the display is easy to read. Inside the operation panel 110, wiring boards 120A and 120B are arranged in parallel with the display surface 110a. On the board 120A, a money amount indicator 111 composed of 7-segment type LEDs and a ball number indicator 112 are arranged.
However, the switches 113 to 115 and the built-in lamp are mounted on the substrate 120B, and the display plate 117 is covered. A portion of the display plate 117 corresponding to the indicators 111 and 112 is a transparent window 117a, and a portion corresponding to the switches 113 to 115 is an opening 117b (see FIG. 5).
The switches 113 to 115 are provided in the opening 117b.
The operation button 118 is mounted so as to cover the upper part of the camera. 1
Reference numeral 21 denotes a built-in lamp corresponding to the purchase switch 113.

Further, at the front end of the operation panel 110, a game state display section 116 in which a display lamp 123 is covered with a translucent Fresnel lens 119 or the like is provided, and the display lamp 123 operates the operation dial 104 of the hitting ball firing device 103. It is lit when turned.

Further, an operation button 125 having a built-in stop switch 124 is mounted on a side portion (the left side in the embodiment) of the operation panel 110, and when the switch 124 is turned on, an accessory provided in the game section is activated. Commands relating to the game, such as stopping the operation, can be given. The stop switch 124 is mounted on a wiring board 120C provided in the operation panel 110, and a wiring group 126C extending from the wiring board 120C and a wiring group 126A extending from each of the boards 120A and 120B. 126B is pulled out to the outside, and can be connected to a pachinko machine control device 195 arranged at the lower part of the back of the pachinko machine via connectors 127A to 127C connected to its ends.

On the other hand, the pachinko machine 100 constituting the gaming machine of the present embodiment
Is configured as a closed-type game machine that circulates and uses game balls sealed in the machine, and has a sealed ball circulation device 130 for circulating the sealed balls on the back surface.

 FIG. 13 shows a configuration example of the back surface of the pachinko machine 100.

A game board in which a plurality of winning ball collecting troughs 131 covering a plurality of winning ball derivation holes formed so as to penetrate the game board corresponding to a winning area provided in a game area on the front of the game board are held by a frame 106. It is attached to the back of. Winning ball assembly gutter 13
The bottom wall 1 is inclined downward toward the center to form a guide shelf 131a, below which an out ball gutter 132a, a first safe ball gutter 132b, and a second safe ball gutter 132c are integrally formed as shown in FIG. The formed guiding gutter 132 is provided. This gutter 132
In the middle of each gutter, a photoelectric out sensor SNS1, a first safe sensor SNS2, and a second safe sensor SNS3 each comprising a pair of light emitting and receiving devices are mounted. In addition, guide gutter 13
2 is a merging gutter section 132d that collects the balls flowing into each gutter at one place
The end of the merging gutter section 132d is connected to the upstream side of the guide gutter 133 which is gently inclined to align the pachinko balls in a line as shown in FIG. 7, thereby forming the sealed ball circulation device 130. Have been. On the upstream side of the guide gutter 133, a foul ball receiving port 13 provided at an upper end of the firing rail to collect a so-called foul ball in which a hit ball hit along the firing rail returns toward the rail base.
Foul ball gutter 1 installed facing 4 (see Fig. 9)
The ball 33a is formed integrally, and the foul ball merges with the ball that has flowed down onto the guide gutter 133 via the guide gutter 132. A foul sensor SNS4 is provided in the middle of the foul ball gutter 133a.

And, at the lower end of the guide gutter 133, there is a storage portion 135a for one ball, facing the lower end of the guide gutter 133, and a ball feed 135 for separating the balls on the guide gutter 133 one by one and allowing the balls to flow downward can swing. Mounted on A stopper 136 is fixed behind the ball feeder 135 to prevent the ball feeder 135 from rotating more than necessary.
When the ball 35 rotates downward by the weight of the ball that has flowed in, the upper end surface can prevent the ball from flowing down on the guide gutter 133. Further, a rotatable ball leveler 137 is attached in the middle of the guide gutter 133, and a slide type ball removing mechanism 138 is provided downstream.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the enclosing ball circulation device 130 is mounted on the back surface of the frame board 109, the ball removing mechanism 138 slides laterally by a blocking piece 148 protruding from the back surface of the frame board. He was blocked and could not remove the ball. The enclosed ball circulating device 130 is mounted so as to be able to rotate as a whole by a hinge portion 139 provided on one side (the right side in FIG. 8), and is rotated backward around the hinge portion 139. When moved, the ball removal mechanism 138
Slide to remove the ball. Moreover, the guide gutter 133
An elastic locking piece 133a is fixed to the end of the frame board 109. By engaging this with the engaging step portion 149 of the frame board 109, the sealed ball circulation device 130 can be fixed so as not to rotate. .

The pachinko balls separated by the ball feed 135 pass through ball passage holes 139 (see FIG. 9) formed in the frame board 109 disposed behind the front panel 105 and are fixed to the front of the frame board at an angle. One of them flows down to the base of the fired rail 140. Then, the firing rod 103a is disposed so as to face the base of the firing rail 140 (see FIG. 10). At the same time, below the base of the firing rail 140, there is provided an interlocking member 141 having a push-up piece 141a which is rotated in conjunction with the firing rod 103a and pushes up the ball feed 135 upward.

In addition, a concave groove for guiding a sphere is formed on the upper surface of the firing rail 140, and the frame board 109
A firing sensor SNS5 composed of a reflective photoelectric switch for detecting a ball passing on the rail is mounted on the front surface of the rail at a distance of at least one ball from the upper surface of the rail by a bracket 142, and a mounting bracket 142 for the firing sensor SNS5 is mounted. A return ball blocking wall 143 that prevents the return ball from jumping over the sensor is provided at the upper end of the sensor. Further, a foul ball receiving port 134 is formed in the frame board 109 corresponding to the upper end of the firing rail 140 to guide the return ball into the guiding gutter 132 behind the frame board, and the ball extends along the lower side of the foul ball receiving port 134. A receiving piece 144 protrudes.

In addition, on the upper end of the frame board 109, the mounting portion 1 of the game board
09a is provided, and game board positioning projections 145 are provided upright at both ends. Also, frame board 1
Along the top edge of 09, a frame 10 for holding the game board
A frame engaging portion 146 having a groove engageable with the frame 6 is formed, and as shown in FIG. 11, the frame 106 is lowered along the positioning protrusion 145 from above the frame board 109, and the lower end is formed on the frame board 109. By engaging with the groove of the engaging portion 146, both can be connected. On the side wall of the frame 106, four locking members 106a for detachably engaging the game board are provided, and the game board held by the frame 106 is mounted on the mounting portion 109a of the frame board 109. In this state, the fastener 147 is tightened and fixed. In addition,
On one side of the front of the frame board 109 (left side in FIG. 9), a speaker 150 for generating a sound effect related to the game is attached.

On the other hand, a front panel 105 covering the front of the frame board 109
As shown in FIG. 10, is mounted at the lower part of the opening framed by the holding frame 108c inside the front frame 108 so as to be openable and closable with one end (left end) as a fulcrum.
A firing rail frame 151 positioned above is fixed, and a cutout 151a is provided in the middle of the firing rail frame 151 so that the firing sensor SNS5 can face the inside of the frame. Further, a lock lever 152 is provided on the back surface of the end of the front panel 105 opposite to the hinge. Above the front panel 105 in the front frame 108, a glass frame 154 is similarly openably opened. on the other hand,
On one side of the rear surface of the front frame 108 opposite to the hinge portion 102, a
As shown in FIG. 12, a locking device 156 for locking the front surface to the machine frame 101 and a locking device 157 thereof are mounted. Reference numeral 155 denotes an opening lever of the glass frame 154.

On the back of this front frame 108, a frame 1 holding a game board
06 (see FIG. 11) and the frame board 109 are joined to the fitting receiving portion 108b on the back of the front frame so that the fitting projection 106b on the back of the frame and the fitting projection 109b on the back of the frame board are aligned, and screwed. By doing so, the front frame 108, the frame 106 holding the game board, and the frame board 109 are integrated.

FIG. 13 shows the frame 1 on the back of the front frame 108 in this way.
06 and a state where the frame board 109 is attached, a winning ball collecting gutter 131 is further mounted on the back of the game board held by the frame 106, and a pachinko machine control device 195 is provided below the frame board 109. It is arranged. Further, a game control device 158 and a relay board 159 are mounted on the back surfaces of the frame 106 and the winning ball collecting gutter 131.

FIGS. 14 to 16 show an embodiment of the control unit 160 which is configured separately from the pachinko machine 100. FIG.

The control unit 160 of this embodiment includes a status indicator 162 on the front of the storage frame 161 indicating the status of the pachinko machine, an analog indicator 163 in which a plurality of lamps are arranged in a line, and a safe It has a ball lamp 164, a call button 165 for calling a clerk, and the like. The above analog display 163
Is used to display the number of balls in play in an analog manner, and to display a hit state and a free state by simultaneous blinking and moving blinking.

In the storage frame 161, a speaker 166 and a card reader 80 are provided.
0 is built in, and a card insertion / ejection opening 802a of the card reader 800 is exposed on the front surface of the storage frame. A card holding display lamp 167 above the insertion / ejection opening 802a indicates whether or not there is a card in the card reader. Below the card insertion / ejection opening 802a, a card insertion indicator lamp 168 for indicating whether or not a card can be inserted into the control unit 160 is arranged.

Furthermore, the front panel 16 of the storage frame 161 of the control unit 160
Inside 1a, a test switch 179 for enabling a game operation using a test card described later is arranged in a peculiar state in which the pachinko machine 100 is separated from the management device 400, and the test switch 179 is provided on the front of the storage frame. Pin insertion hole 169 for enabling the switch to be turned on externally using a pin
And a nameplate indicating the machine number given to the pachinko machine
170 are provided respectively.

Then, inside the front panel 161a of the control unit 160, a setting switch 171 for the machine number displayed on the machine name plate 170 as shown in FIG. 15, the status indicator 162, the analog indicator 163, and the safe Built-in lamp group L11 to L of lamp 164
A lamp substrate 172 having 15, L21 to L28, L31, L32 (see FIG. 16), the speaker 166 and the card insertion lamp 168
The holding substrate 173 is mounted. Also, call button 1
A call switch 165a is provided behind 65.

Further, a card reader 800 and a unit controller 190 for controlling the entire control unit 160 are provided in the storage frame 161.
The control unit 180 includes a unit control unit 180 having a communication unit, a transmission unit, and monitor displays 174, 175, and 176, a card reader control unit 188, and a power supply unit 177. Further, below the card reader 800, a storage box 178 for perforated pieces generated when a perforation is performed by a perforation device (described later) in the card reader is detachably arranged. A card ejection switch (not shown) for instructing the card reader to forcibly eject a card is provided on a substrate constituting the card reader control device 188.

The control unit 160 has a locking tool 179a and a release lever 179b provided on a free end side of the front panel 161a,
The release lever 179b faces the opening 161b formed at the lower end of the front panel 161a. Then, the control unit 160 controls the machine frame 101 of the pachinko machine 100 as shown in FIG.
In addition, the front panel 161a is arranged so as to be flush with the front frame 108 of the pachinko machine at this time. Therefore, the opening 161b of the front panel 161 facing the release lever 179b is normally closed on the upper surface of the front frame 108, and the opening 161b is exposed by opening the front frame 108 so that the release lever 179b can be operated. become. This eliminates the need for the control unit 160 to be provided with a locking device.

The unit control device 180 in the control unit 160 includes:
A transmission path such as an optical fiber or a coaxial cable is connected to the control device 195 of the pachinko machine 100 and to the management device 400 via a transmission controller and a local network (transmission cable) described later.

In the control unit 160 of the embodiment, an optical fiber connector 186 and a coaxial cable connector 187 are provided on the back surface of the storage frame 161 in order to perform data transmission using any transmission path (FIG. 20). reference).

FIGS. 18 to 20 show an example of an island facility on which a gaming machine including the pachinko machine 100 and the control unit 160 is mounted, and a state in which the gaming machine is equipped therewith.

In the island facility of this embodiment, a plurality of pillars 22 are erected on the base 21 at intervals equal to the width of the gaming machine, and 60 cm from the floor.
A horizontal mounting table 23 is fixed at a height of about a level by a column 22. In addition, above the mounting table 23,
A first installation shelf 24 is fixed at a position separated by the height of 101, and a second installation shelf 25 is further fixed above the first installation shelf 24 by a column 22, and above the second installation shelf 25. Prop 22
A top plate 26 is fixed so as to cover the upper end of the top plate. In addition, the front end of the mounting table 23 is configured to protrude slightly forward from the support 22, and the first mounting table 24 has a front end that is closer to the machine frame than the support 22.
It is configured to be located rearward by the thickness of 101.

Then, the pachinko machines 100 are mounted together with the machine frames 101 on the mounting tables 23 between the columns 22, and the control unit 1 extends from the first mounting table 24 to the machine frames 101 on the same plane as this.
60 is placed. A transmission line (not shown) constituting a local network extends on the second installation table 25,
In addition, a transceiver 185 for transmitting data to and from the management device 400 via the transmission path is mounted between the columns 22. The front of the transceiver 185 is closed by the upper plate 27, and the lower part of the mounting table 23 is closed by the lower plate 28.

Further, although not shown, a 24 V power supply line extends on the lower surface of the mounting table 23, and a 100 V power line extends on the lower surface of the top plate 26. An outlet 30 for 24V power supply is provided at a position on the upper surface of the mounting table 23 corresponding to each gaming machine, and an outlet 31 for 100V power supply is provided on the bar 29 on the lower surface of the top plate 26 in correspondence with each gaming machine. They are provided individually (see FIG. 20).

FIG. 21 shows a configuration example of a control system of the entire gaming machine including the pachinko machine 100 and the control unit 160.

In the figure, reference numeral 188 denotes a transport motor 807 and a magnetic head 82, each of which is a component of the card reader 800 shown in FIG.
1. A card reader control device for controlling the punching device 820 and the like. Then, various switches 171, 179, indicators 162, 163, 164, 168, and speakers 16 provided in the card reader controller 188, the pachinko machine controller 195 and the control unit 160 are provided.
6 is controlled by the unit controller 180.

Further, although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the control device 195 of the pachinko machine 100 is connected to the unit control device 180 via the optical cable 191 and detection signals from various sensors are input, and the display device and the like are connected. A drive control signal is output. To enable communication using an optical fiber cable, an optical multiplexed data link (interface) including a parallel-to-serial converter for converting parallel data and serial data, an optical-to-electric converter for converting electric signals to optical signals, and the like. ) Are provided between the unit controller 180 and the optical fiber cable 191 and at the connection between the optical fiber cable 191 and the pachinko machine controller 195 (described later).

By using the optical fiber cable 191 for data communication between the unit control device 180 and the pachinko machine control device 195, a large number of wirings conventionally arranged in a complicated manner on the back side of the pachinko machine are reduced, maintenance, In addition to facilitating management, malfunction due to noise can be prevented.

Under the control of the pachinko machine control device 195, the amount indicator 1
11, a ball number display 112, a purchase lamp 121, a game state display lamp 123, a control device 194 of the hit ball launching device 103, and an accessory control device 158 are placed, and a purchase switch 113, an interruption switch 114, and an end switch 115. Signals from ball detection sensors SNS1 to SNS5 such as pachinko machine
The waveform is shaped by 195 and supplied to the unit controller 180. In this embodiment, the power supply system is set to two systems of 24 V AC and 100 V AC, and the pachinko machine 100 side
24 V AC is supplied, and 100 V AC is supplied to the control unit 160 side. Separating the power supply in this way prevents the pachinko machine control unit from being inadvertently destroyed by the influence of the power supply in a pachinko parlor having many problems in the power supply system.

FIG. 22 shows a configuration example of the pachinko machine control device 195.

The pachinko machine control device 195 includes a pachinko machine controller CPU1 composed of a microcomputer, a reset circuit RST1 that monitors a regular watchdog pulse output from the controller CPU1 and generates a reset signal when the pulse is interrupted, A multiplex transmission controller CNT1 having parallel-to-parallel conversion means for converting parallel transmission data to serial data and serial-parallel conversion means for converting serial reception data to parallel data in order to enable optical data transmission with the unit controller 180. And a photoelectric conversion circuit OET connected to the optical cable 191 via the optical connector 193, a filter circuit FLT for cutting noise of detection signals from various sensors, and display data to the money amount display 111 and the ball number display 112. Decoders DEC1 and DEC2 for decoding and a driver DRV for forming a display drive signal based on the output 1, DRV2
And a driver DRV3 for generating a drive signal for the hitting ball launching device 103.

Regarding the processing of the detection signal from the sensor in the pachinko machine control device 195, the noise is simply removed from the detection signal, shaped into a fixed pulse width, and then sent to the unit control device 180 as detection data of a launch sphere, a safe sphere, or the like. . In other words, the pachinko machine control device 195 does not calculate the number of safe balls or the like, and such calculation is performed on the unit control device 180 side.

In pachinko machines, noise is likely to occur due to static electricity, but a reset circuit that monitors watchdog pulses
Pachinko machine controller due to noise etc. due to RST1
Even if CPU1 goes out of control, a reset signal is generated and the CPU
Is initialized, runaway can be prevented.

The watchdog pulse can be easily generated by an interrupt or the like from a timer counter inside the CPU.

FIG. 23 shows a configuration example of the unit control device 180 as an example of the operation data transmission means in the gaming machine.

The unit controller 180 is a unit controller 190 that controls the card reader controller 188 and the pachinko machine controller 195 in order to enable a pachinko game with a card, and an operation that performs control related to data transmission with the management device 400. A data transmission controller 551 as an example of a data transmission unit, and a network controller 553 for establishing a transmission / reception right in a network and performing serial / parallel conversion of data under the control of the data transmission controller.
And so on. And each controller 190 and 551
The transfer of data between and between 551 and 553 is configured to be performed via dual port memories (RAMs) 550 and 552. Of these, packet memory 552
Is divided into a transmission data storage area and a reception data storage area. An adjustment function for equalizing all transmission / reception data lengths (packetization) and a high-speed data transmission (2.
It has a buffer function to measure 5Mbps).

The packet memory 552 is composed of four pages each having a capacity of 256 bytes, of which page 0 is used for transmitting a transmission request packet and page 1 is used for transmitting a regular data transmission packet. On the other hand, pages 2 and 3 are used alternately for data packet reception. The data transmission controller 551 instructs the network controller 553 on which page to use. Data transmission controller 5
Even if the next packet data is sent during the processing of the received packet data by 51, all the packets can be received reliably because they are received by another page. A common reset circuit 555 is provided so that the controllers 551 and 553 can be initialized at the same time.

On the connection side of the network controller 553 with the management device 400, an optical connector is provided via a signal conversion circuit 554 and a changeover switch 542 which perform waveform shaping of received data and level conversion of a signal in order to increase the drive capability of transmitted data. A branch circuit 540 which is connectable to 186 and separates and couples a transmission signal and a reception signal via a changeover switch 542 so as to cope with a case where the transmission line of the low-layer network is constituted by a coaxial cable. Can be connected to The optical transceiver 185 shown in FIG. 20 is connected to the optical connector 186.

Further, a data transmission controller 5 is provided between the data transmission controller 551 and the network controller 553.
A latch circuit 561 for the network controller 553 to store the data reception result in response to a request from 51,
A data transmission controller 551 displays a latch circuit 562 for storing a command such as a data transmission command to the network controller 553 and a latch circuit 563 for storing a low-layer network address, and displays an abnormality in a communication control state in the unit control device 180. Is provided with a latch circuit 564 for storing display data to the monitor display 556 composed of three LED lamps. A decoder 557 decodes an address given to each of the latch circuits 561 to 564 and generates a selection signal.

On the other hand, a transceiver 571 for performing level conversion of transmission / reception data is provided between the unit controller 190 and the card reader control device 188, and a multiplex transmission controller for performing parallel / direct conversion of transmission / reception data between the unit controller 190 and the pachinko machine control device 195. 572 and the photoelectric conversion device 573 are connected.

Furthermore, the unit controller 190 has a data bus 5
Latch circuit that latches the display data (segment data and common data) of the monetary value and number of balls display via 81
574, a purchase lamp, a game state display lamp, a latch circuit 575 for latching a control signal for the hit ball launching device, and input signals from various switches provided in the pachinko machine 100 and the control unit 160 at a predetermined timing on the data bus 581.
An input / output controller 576 for latching output signals for mounting on top or displaying various lamps, and a control unit 160
A latch circuit 577 for latching audio data and the like generated from the speaker 166 is connected.

582 is a voice synthesis LSI, 583 is a low-pass filter that cuts high-frequency components to improve sound quality, and 584 is an amplifier that adjusts the volume.The voice synthesis LSI 582 stores multiple voice data in a built-in EPROM. In response to the selection signal (S0 to S3) given from the unit controller 190, the audio data is selected, the audio signal is output in synchronization with the start signal ST, and the output is stopped by the reset signal R.

558 is a program ROM storing a control program of the unit controller 190, and 559 is a transmission controller 55
This is a program ROM storing the control program of No. 1. 58
Reference numeral 5 denotes a decoder that decodes an address signal output from the unit controller 190 and forms a selection signal for the program memory 558, the unit memory 550, the latch circuits 574, 575, 577, and the input / output controller 576.

As described above, the unit control device 180 includes the management device 400,
The card reader control device 188 and the pachinko machine control device 195 have information conversion windows on three sides, and under the control of the management device 400, control the pachinko game with the card, and as a game result It has software for periodically transmitting generated pachinko machine game information to the management device. Further, in the unit control device 180 of this embodiment, the digit select signal (common signal) of the display data output from the unit controller 190 for driving the monetary value and the number of balls is displayed at intervals of, for example, 2 ms. Paying attention to the point of periodic output, this is input to the reset circuit 555 as a watchdog pulse. In addition to the power-on reset, the reset circuit 555 monitors the watchdog pulse and generates a reset signal when the pulse disappears.

Therefore, even if the unit controller 190 runs away due to noise or the like, the common signal is not output at regular intervals when the runaway occurs, so that the reset circuit 555 operates to initialize the unit controller 190 and the data transmission controller 551, and the runaway occurs. Will be avoided.

At the same time, the unit controller 190 has a timer counter inside, and ACK (positive) or NAK (negative) as a response to the transmission request is transmitted for a fixed time (ex. 1).
0 seconds), or after a certain time (e
x.2 seconds), when a packet cannot be transmitted, or when a disturbance in the internal memory (RAM) is detected, the common signal can be forcibly fixed to a low or high level to reset itself. I can do it. Note that the disturbance of the internal memory can be easily performed by writing a specific code (A55A or the like) at a predetermined address in the memory at the time of initialization, for example, and checking it by interrupt processing every 1 ms. Can be detected.

Further, the unit control device 180 of the embodiment initializes the unit controller 190 even when the data transmission controller 551 cannot transmit data within a certain time (5.12 seconds), so that abnormal data is not transmitted to the management device 400. Is being dealt with. That is, in the embodiment, a watchdog counter area is provided in the unit memory 550,
The data transmission controller 551 sets a predetermined code FF every time data is transmitted to the management device, and the unit controller 190 counts down this counter by “1” every 20 ms. Therefore, if the state in which the data transmission controller cannot transmit for 5.12 seconds or more continues, the watchdog counter of the unit memory 550 becomes “0”, and this counter is monitored. It can be determined that the transmission controller 551 has gone down and reset itself.

Moreover, in this embodiment, a special RAM is used as the unit memory 550 such that when data is written at a certain predetermined address (7FE), a predetermined terminal INT rises.
Using this function, at the time of system startup, the data transmission controller 551 writes data to the above-mentioned predetermined address to start up the terminal INT, and inputs the signal of the terminal to the unit controller 190 so that the controller for use of the unit memory can be used. Synchronize. The specific terminal INT rises when the unit controller 190 reads the data at the predetermined address.

On the other hand, at the time of system startup, synchronization with the management device 400 is performed by the data transmission controller 551.
This is performed by the data transmission controller receiving a line test command (described below) transmitted from the management device 400 and transmitting a reception response to the management device 400.

By the way, as described above, the pachinko machine control device 195 does not calculate the number of safe balls or the like, and such calculation is performed on the unit control device 180 side. A detection signal relating to a game ball, such as a signal, and a signal from the purchase switch 113 are input. Based on these signals, the unit controller 190 calculates operation data such as the number of payout balls, the number of outgoing balls, the number of held balls, and the sales amount, and generates the operation information (game state) and the monitor information related to the pachinko machine. Then, they are written in the transmission data area SDA (see FIG. 24) of the unit memory 550 composed of a dual port memory.

Operation data and the like written in the unit memory 550
The data is transmitted to the management device by data communication with the management device 400 by the transmission controller 551. Also, the management device 400
Is also once written in the reception data area RDA in the unit memory 550, and the unit controller 190 reads the data to receive the data. The unit memory 550 includes a communication area CCA for storing commands and status information for notifying the other controller that other transmission data and reception data are in the memory, a working area UWA and DWA for each controller, and a communication area between the controllers. A synchronization area CSA is provided.

FIG. 24 shows the overall configuration of the unit memory, and Tables 1, 2, and 3 show examples of the configuration of the transmission data area SDA, the reception data area RDA, and the communication area CCA.

The monitor information 1 shown in Table 1 includes a bit indicating that a test is being executed at the time of system startup, a bit indicating whether an initial value is set / not set, a bit indicating a hot code error, and a local network, as shown in Table 4. (Two bits for low-rise and high-rise), a bit indicating a game machine abnormality, and the like. Further, the monitor information 2 has bits indicating an abnormality of the card reader as shown in Table 5.

Further, the operation information includes a bit indicating a stop state as shown in Table 6, a bit indicating that the game is being interrupted, a bit indicating a forced termination state by a management device or a controller based on a communication error or fraud detection, etc. , A bit indicating that the gaming machine is in a free state without a player, and the like.

From the above Table 6, it can be seen that the actual state of the pachinko machine is represented by the free state, 0000000000000001 during the game, 0000000000000010 at the time of the forced termination reception, 0000000000000100 at the time of interruption, and 0000000000001000 at the time of the occurrence of the stop, as 0000000000010000.

FIG. 25 to FIG. 30 show a specific configuration example of the card reader 800 for a pachinko machine provided in the control unit 160. FIG.

At the front end of a box-shaped case main body 801 constituting the card reader 800, a front lid 802 having a card holding display LED1 and a card insertion / ejection opening 802a is attached, and the side wall of the case main body 801 houses the control unit 160. L-shaped brackets 803 for fixing in the frame 161 are fixed to the four corners.

As shown in FIG. 26, a base plate 804 serving as a card transport path is disposed in the case body 801. Supporting substrates 805 and 806 are mounted above the base plate 804 with a gap slightly larger than the thickness of the card. It is supposed to be.

The support substrate 805 is located on the card insertion port side and has a card insertion detection sensor 808 including a motor 807 and a micro switch thereon, a card insertion detection sensor 808 including a shutter solenoid 809 and a micro switch, a shutter solenoid 809, and security. Reflection type optical sensors 810a and 810b for reading codes are attached. In this embodiment, only one of the sensors 810a and 810b (810a) is used, and the other sensor (810b) is provided as a spare so that the security code may be increased in the future.

A second roller shaft 811 is rotatably mounted between the motor 807 and the shutter solenoid 809. A transport roller 812 is provided at the center of the second roller shaft 811. Is protrudable from the side wall 801a of the case body to the outside, and a pulley 813 is fixed to the protruding end. Further, a projector 814 for irradiating the card position detection sensor SNS1 with detection light is attached near the shutter solenoid 809, and a second roller shaft 811 and a motor 807 are provided.
A light-transmitting portion 815 through which the detection light of the second position detection sensor SNS2 can pass is formed between them. Furthermore, the motor 8
A projector 816 for irradiating the detection light to the punch hole detection sensor SNSp is attached to the side of 07, and a rotary encoder 817 is provided at one end of a rotating shaft 807a of the motor 807.
Is fixed, and the other end of the rotating shaft 807a protrudes outside from the side wall 801b of the case body 801 to which a pulley 818 having a small diameter is fixed.

On the other hand, a first roller shaft 819 is rotatably disposed on the support substrate 806 disposed on the opposite side of the card insertion / ejection port 802a, and a punch device 820 and a magnetic head 821 using a solenoid as driving means. Can be attached. A through-hole 822 is formed in the support substrate 806 corresponding to the magnetic head mounting position so that the head surface can face downward when the magnetic head is inserted downward from above. A transport roller 823 is fixed to the center of the first roller shaft 819, and both ends of the shaft are made to be able to protrude to the outside from the side wall of the case, and pulleys 824 and 825 are attached thereto. A belt 826 is wound between the pulleys 818 and 825, and a belt 827 is wound between the pulleys 824 and 813. The rotational driving force of the motor 807 is transmitted to the first roller shaft 819 by the belt 826. And transmitted to the second roller shaft 811 by the belt 827.

Further, on the lower surface of the support substrate 806, light projectors 828 and 829 for irradiating the third and fourth card position detection sensors SNS3 and SNS4 with detection light are attached.

A first interface board 830 is disposed above the support boards 805 and 806 so as to cover the support boards 805 and 806, and is fixed to the side walls 801a and 801b of the case. This interface board 830
An interface circuit for receiving various control signals from a card reader controller 188 provided in the control unit 160 and for passing a read signal from a sensor or a magnetic head provided on the card reader side to the card reader controller 188 It has. Further, on the lower surface of the interface board 830, a light projector 831 is provided at a position corresponding to the light transmitting portion 815, and a speed detection sensor 832 is provided at a position corresponding to the encoder 817.

On the other hand, auxiliary rollers 836 and 837 urged upward by torsion springs 834 and 835 are provided on the base plate 804 at positions corresponding to the transport rollers 812 and 823 on the base plate 804 disposed below the support substrates 805 and 806. It is mounted so that the face slightly emerges from the formed openings 841,842. Further, the base plate 804 has an auxiliary roller 838 urged upward by a torsion spring 836 at a position corresponding to the magnetic head 821 attached so as to face below the through hole 822 provided in the support substrate 806, It is mounted so that its face is slightly above the opening 843. Along with this, the base plate 804
Has through holes 844 at positions corresponding to the projectors 814, 816, 828, 829 and 831 respectively. Further, the front end of the base plate 804 has a concave portion 845 (the
28 is formed, and there is a cylindrical shielding member 846
Is placed. A card insertion / ejection port 802a is provided for the shielding member 846.
In order to prevent dust from entering, and to act so that only cards having a certain rigidity or more by weight can be accepted.

On the lower surface of the base plate 804, a second interface board 848 is attached by screws. The first to fourth position detection sensors SNS1, SNS2, SN
S3, SNS4 and punch hole detection sensor SNSp are attached. In addition, a relief hole 849 is provided at a position corresponding to the auxiliary rollers 836, 837, 838 to prevent contact with the rollers.

Corresponding to the cylindrical shielding member 846 placed on the front end of the base plate 804, the front end of the upper support substrate 805 has
An empty space 851 slightly larger than the shielding member 846 is formed. When the support substrate 805 is disposed on the base plate 804, the shielding member 846 is housed in the empty space 851 so as to be vertically movable. In addition, the frame 8 constituting the empty space 851
An opening 853 is formed on the rear wall of the 52, and the insertion detection switch 808 is disposed behind the opening 853, and the movable contact 808a projects from the opening 853 into the space 851. This movable contact 808a
Is normally positioned above the shielding member 846 as shown in FIG. 28 (A), and when a card CD is inserted through the card insertion / ejection opening 802a, as shown in FIG. 28 (B). The movable contact 808 is used because the card CD pushes the shielding member 846 upward.
is rotated, and the insertion detection sensor 808 is turned on.

Shutter solenoid 8 mounted on support substrate 805
29 is disposed downward as shown in FIG. 29 (A), and the pin 809b formed at the tip of the plunger 809a passes through the insertion hole 854 provided in the support substrate 805 in the solenoid demagnetized state, and As shown in FIG. 7B, the card CD is prevented from being inserted by engaging with a corresponding recessed hole 855 formed on the upper surface of the base plate 804.

Although not particularly limited, the card reader 800 of this embodiment has a structure in which the rear wall of the case is open so that the card can be ejected backward so that the card reader 800 can be used in a card issuing machine. ing.

FIG. 30 (A) shows the mounting positional relationship of various sensors and a magnetic head in the card reader.

The insertion detection sensor 808 is disposed closest to the card insertion / ejection opening 802a, and the first position detection sensor SNS1 is disposed immediately before the transport roller. The shutter pin 809b is disposed between the insertion detection sensor 808 and the first position detection sensor SNS1, and the security code reading sensors 810a and 810b are
It is arranged almost right beside the position detection sensor SNS1. The second position detection sensor SNS2 is located behind the transport roller 812, the third position detection sensor SNS3 is located behind the transport roller 823, the fourth position detection sensor SNS4 is located at the innermost part of the card reader, and To the fourth position detection sensors SNS1 to SNS4 are located on the same straight line.

Further, the punch hole detection sensor SNSp and the punch pin PP are disposed between the second position detection sensor SNS2 and the transport roller 823, and the magnetic head 821 is disposed between the transport roller 823 and the third position detection sensor SNS3. .

FIG. 30 (B) shows the timing of detecting a card at the time of card insertion by various sensors arranged so as to have a positional relationship as shown in FIG. 30 (A) and the timing of a control signal to the motor 807 and the shutter solenoid 809. Show. As can be seen from the figure, in the card reader of this embodiment, when the card is inserted, the insertion detection sensor detects the insertion of the card, drives the motor and the shutter, and detects the position of the card with the position detection sensors SNS1 to SNS4. At a predetermined timing, information on the card is read in the order of a security code, a punched hole, and a magnetic code.

In addition, since the relative distance between the various sensors and the punch pins is important for accurately performing processes such as reading a card and punching a hole, the components are accurately mounted so as to have a predetermined positional relationship. .

FIG. 31 shows a card reader control device 188 (see FIG. 21).
2 shows a specific circuit configuration example.

The card reader control device 188 includes a card reader controller CPU 2 composed of a microcomputer, a transceiver TRV that performs level conversion of data signals transmitted and received between the unit control device 180, and a monitor display provided in the control unit 160. Drivers DRV11 and DRV12 forming the drive signals of 175 and 176 and motor 807 in card reader 800
And a driver DRV13 for generating a control signal for driving a punching device 820, a magnetic head 821, an LED lamp 167, a shutter solenoid 809, a driver DRV14 for driving a relay RLY for turning on / off a power supplied to a motor 807, and a card. leader
A waveform shaping circuit SMG consisting of a Schmitt trigger circuit for shaping the read data of the magnetic head in 800 and detection signals from various sensors, and a flip-flop circuit F / for latching each read data of two tracks read by the magnetic head Built-in F1, F / F2, power-on reset circuit and watchdog timer, monitor pulses periodically output from controller CPU2 (shared with reset pulses of latches LT1 and LT2) as watchdog pulses, and the pulses are interrupted Reset circuit RST2 that generates a reset signal when
It is composed of

The card reader controller CPU2 receives ON / OFF signals from a setting device 171 of a device provided in the control unit 160 and a card ejection switch SWc.

The four light-emitting diodes constituting the monitor display 176 include a power-on display LED 11 that is lit while the power is on, a card-in display LED 12 that indicates that the card is in the card reader, and a card reader. Lights when control by the controller can be executed normally.
Used as OK display LED 13, LED 14 is unused so that it can be used for any other monitor display.

On the other hand, the segment-type monitor display 175 combines the seven segments representing numbers and one dot display segment DT to display the contents of abnormalities of the card reader with codes as shown in Table 7 below. It has become. The error code in the right column of Table 7 is a code used when the card reader controller CPU2 notifies a higher-level control device of the content of the abnormality when a corresponding abnormality occurs.

The card reader controller CPU 2 operates in accordance with the control program in the built-in ROM, executes card travel control, reads card data, checks card data, and the like based on commands from the unit controller 180, and executes the card number and card reader Is transmitted to the unit controller. Communication with the unit controller 180 is performed by the built-in serial communication circuit using the serial ports TX and R.
Do this using X. Output of control signals to the components that make up the card reader 800 and input of detection signals from various sensors
This is performed via an interface circuit 198 as shown in FIG.

The flip-flop FF2 that latches the magnetic data a on the track TRC2 of the magnetic recording unit MG of the card is operated using the read clock b read from the track TRC1 and triggering the flip-flop FF1 as a sampling clock. The flip-flop FF1 outputs a periodic signal c by being triggered by a read clock b and reset by a pulse e output from the CPU 2.

FIG. 32 shows a configuration example of an interface circuit 198 provided between the card reader control device 188 and input / output components in the card reader.

In the figure, reference numerals SMG1 to SMG5 denote waveform shaping circuits including Schmitt trigger gates and the like, REC1, R
EC2 is a rectifier circuit, MCC1 and MCC2 are magnetizing current switching circuits, and AMP1 to
AMP4 is amplifier, MHD1 and MHD2 are magnetic head, MT is motor, S
OL1 and SOL2 are solenoids, LED1 is a light emitting diode, DRV21,
DRV22 is a driver, and SNS11, SNS12, SNSp, and SNS1 to SNS5 are sensors. CCC is a current switching circuit for switching the rotation direction of the motor MT, and VCC is a voltage switching circuit for switching the rotation speed of the motor MT.

Read clock signals of read data read by the two magnetic heads MHD1 and MHD2 respectively corresponding to the two tracks TRC1 and TRC2 are amplified by the amplifiers AMP1 and AMP3, and then rectified by the rectifier circuits REC1 and REC2. The signal is sent to the card reader control device 188 as a rectangular wave through the waveform shaping circuits SMG1 and SMG3. On the other hand, the write data and write clock supplied from the card reader controller 188 pass through the waveform shaping circuits SMG2 and SMG4, and the magnetization current switching circuit MCC.
1, input to MCC2, the direction of head drive current is switched according to write data “1”, “0”, and amplifier AMP2, AMP2
It is amplified by 4 and supplied to the magnetic heads MHD1 and MHD2.

Card reader controller 188 to drive motor MT
The current switching circuit CCC changes the direction of the current flowing to the driver DRV21 based on the forward rotation signal and the reverse rotation signal given from the controller, and switches the voltage applied to the motor by the driver DRV21 according to the speed switching signal.

On the other hand, the security code reading sensor SNS11 (810
a) The detection signals of SNS12 (unused), punch hole detection sensor SNSp, position detection sensors SNS1 to SNS4, and speed detection sensor SNS5 (821) are waveform-shaped by the waveform shaping circuit SMG5, and then to the card reader controller 188. Supplied and inserted detection switch 8
The detection signal 08 is noise-cut by the low-pass filter LPF, and then the waveform is shaped by the waveform shaping circuit SMG5.

FIG. 33 shows the timing of writing and reading of magnetic data by the card reader control device 188.

In the signals shown in FIG. 3, (A) to (D) indicate write data information,
(E) to (G) show write clock information, (H) to (J) show read data information, and (K) to (M) show signal waveforms of various parts related to read clock information. 31 (N) to (R) show timings of signals indicated by reference symbols a to e in the card reader control device 188 of FIG.

Of these, the signals (H) and (K) represent the output signals of the amplifiers AMP1 and AMP3 constituting the interface circuit of FIG. 32, and the signals (I) and (L) represent the rectifier circuit REC1.
And REC2, and the signals (J) and (M) indicate the output signals of the waveform shaping circuits SMG1 and SMG3, respectively.

In this embodiment, a so-called NRZI method is adopted as the writing method, in which the polarity is inverted when the data is "1" and the polarity is not inverted when the data is "0" or there is no signal. I have.

Therefore, the signals (B), (C), and (D) indicating the CPU output, the write current, and the magnetization state are inverted when the internal data (A) of the CPU changes from “0” to “1”. I have.

On the other hand, when the data written as described above is read by the magnetic head MHD2, when the magnetization state (D) changes, the output of the amplifier AMP1 changes to + or-depending on the direction of magnetization.
At the rising edge of the read clock b, the read data a corresponding to the signal (J) obtained by shaping the output of the amplifier AMP1 is latched by the latch F / F2.
When the signal a (N) is at a high level, it is recognized that the data is "1". When the signal a is at a low level, the data is recognized as "0". 33
(See FIG. (S)).

In this embodiment, since the recording density of magnetic data on the card is 4.134 bits / mm (= 105 BPI) and the card transport speed is 300 mm / sec, the pulse period of the read clock data is about 806 μS. Therefore, when the magnetic data write by CPU2 is adapted to output a period T ₀ of the CPU output (E) about the write clock twice the clock pulse as (1.612mS).

34 and 35 show examples of the structure of the card issuing machine 200.

The card issuing machine 200 of this embodiment includes a bill identifying device 210 that identifies bills for card purchase, an issuing device 700 that prints an amount corresponding to an inserted bill, and issues a card.
Bill dispensing device 230 for dispensing bills as change
And a unit control device 280 for performing data communication between the various displays 221 to 225 and the control and management device 400 of the entire card issuing machine 200. The front panel 201, which can be freely opened and closed, is provided with a bill insertion slot 211, a purchase selection switch group 212, and a money amount display 213, corresponding to the bill recognition device 210. Therefore, when the player first inserts a bill from the bill insertion slot 211, the inserted amount is displayed on the amount display 213. Then, the purchase selection switch group 212
By pressing a switch corresponding to the desired purchase price from among the cards, a card corresponding to the desired purchase price is issued from the card ejection port 202 of the issuing device 700. Each of the purchase selection switch groups 212 is constituted by a switch with a built-in lamp, and when a bill is inserted, switches that can be selected within the range of the inserted amount (three for 3,000 yen, three for 5,000 yen) (5) built-in lamps are turned on.

When a bill is inserted from the bill insertion slot 211 of the card issuing machine 200, the purchase amount is determined by the purchase selection switch 212, and a balance is generated, the bill dispensing device 230 for refunding the balance stores the bill. It has a bill tank, and is configured to discharge bills corresponding to the balance from a bill payout port 232 provided on the front panel 201.

A front panel 201 of the card issuing machine 200 has an issuing lamp 22 indicating that the card is ready to be issued.
1, an issuance stop lamp 222 indicating a card issue disabled state, a bill insertion indicator 2 indicating whether or not a bill can be accepted into the bill insertion slot 211
23, card issuance display to notify card issuance status 22
4. A bill dispensing indicator 225 is provided to inform the dispensing state of the balance. Also, inside the front panel 201 of the card issuer 200, a monitor display 206 for displaying the type (number) of the abnormality of the issuer with a two-digit number, and resetting the display of the monitor display 206 And a reset button 207 for resetting.

Further, the card issuing machine 200 of this embodiment is capable of distinguishing each of a plurality (several tens) of issuing machines installed in a game arcade so that the managing device 400 can identify the issuing machine that has issued a specific card. The setting unit 205 is provided internally, and the unit number set by the setting unit 205 is sent to the management device 400 to generate a transmission address at the time of data communication and for each issuing machine. Used to create data files.

On the other hand, the issuing device 700 takes out the blank cards stored in the card tank 701 one by one and sends them to the card reader 800 first, and the calculated data is sent to the magnetic recording unit of the card by the management device 400. The card number and identification code (store code), issue date code, check code, etc. are recorded, and the punch device 8 in the card reader 800 is recorded.
After punching a punch hole at the issued punching position PH ₁ (see FIG. 2) at 20, the printing device 750 issues the issue date and issue serial number n.
And the purchase price is printed and discharged from a card issuing port 202 provided in the front panel 201. Issuing serial number n
Means that the management device 400, which has received an application for card purchase from the card issuing machine 200, determines the issue serial number n in the order of acceptance for purchase applications from a plurality of card issuing machines under its control, and issues each card. Number given to the machine,
The code obtained by performing the code conversion processing such as the above-described bit rearrangement based on the issuance serial number n is recorded as a card number on the magnetic surface of the card and issued, and information on the card is stored in a file in the management device 400. To be recorded.

In order to enable generation of a card number from the issue serial number n, the control program of the management device 400 is provided with a card number generation routine and a code conversion routine. In order to confirm the coincidence with the serial number n, an inverse conversion and an inverse calculation routine are prepared.

The card issuing machine 200 of this embodiment records magnetic data with a card reader 800 and prints three “0” s except for a serial number n, an issue date, and a thousand digit of a purchase amount with a printing device. In this state, the card is put on standby, and when a purchase switch is pressed, a thousand-digit number is printed and discharged, thereby shortening the apparent issuance required time.

FIG. 36 is an overall perspective view of the issuing device 700 incorporating a card reader, and FIG. 37 shows a schematic configuration example of the issuing device.

The issuing device 700 according to this embodiment includes a card removal device 710 that removes cards one by one from a card tank 701 in which a large number of cards whose magnetic recording unit MG and print display unit PRT are blank are stored. Card reader 800, a card reversing device 740 further disposed behind the card reader 800, and a printing device disposed below the card reader 800.
750, and a card deriving device 770 disposed in front of the card reader 750, and is controlled by a card issuing control device 790 disposed above the card reader 800. The card reader in the issuing device 700 of this embodiment may have the same structure and function as the card reader 800 for the pachinko machine.

A card reader for an issuing machine is different from a card reader for a pachinko machine in that (1) it is necessary to have a magnetic data recording function, and (2) it is necessary to have a structure capable of ejecting a card backward. There is a point. (1)
For the interface circuit 198 as shown in FIG.
Waveform shaping circuit SMG2, S that shapes the write data signal
MG4 and magnetic current switching circuits MCC1 and MCC2, and magnetic heads MHD1 and MHD2 not only read magnetic data, but also
There is no problem because writing can be performed. In addition, as mentioned in the description of the structure of the card reader 800 for the pachinko machine, the card reader 800 shown in FIGS. 25 to 28 has an opened rear wall of the case, and the inserted card can be moved backward. It can be discharged. Therefore, as the issuing device 700 of this embodiment, the same device as the card reader 800 for the pachinko machine can be used.

On the other hand, the card tank 701 has a space of the same size as the card and is formed of a U-shaped frame, and is fixed to the upper end of the side wall 711 of the card removal device 710 with bolts.
On the cards stored in this card tank 701,
A pressing member 702 for applying a certain pressure to the card to ensure that the card is taken out is placed.
Notches 702a are formed on the right and left sides of the pressing member 702 so as not to be detected by a sensor 703 for detecting the presence or absence of a card in the tank. The blank card CD stored in the card tank 701 is inserted into a card ejection device as shown in FIG.
710 is placed on the front half of the base substrate 711. This base substrate 711 has openings 711a, 711b, 711 along the center line.
A first transfer roller 712, a second transfer roller 713, and a third transfer roller 714 are arranged so as to protrude slightly upward from the opening. The operating piece 703 of the card presence / absence detection sensor 703 is provided on the front end side of the base substrate 711.
Notch 711d is formed so that a can be seen from below.

Further, a support plate 715, which is orthogonal to the base plate 711, is disposed substantially at the center above the base substrate 711, and is fixed to the side wall 716 of the card removal device 710. On the front surface of the support plate 715, a bracket 718 having a stopper 717 opposed to the base substrate 711 at an interval of one card is mounted. A take-out motor 719 for driving the transport rollers 712 to 714 is disposed behind the support plate 715, and is fixed to the side wall 716.

A drive pulley 721 is connected to a rotation shaft of the take-out motor 719 via a speed reduction mechanism 720, and the drive pulley 721 is driven by a driven pulley attached to an end of the rotation shafts 713a and 714a of the transport rollers 713 and 714. A timing belt 724 is wound between 722 and 723. Further, the second transport roller 7
A clutch disc 725a is mounted on the rotation shaft of the thirteen, and a second clutch disc 725b is rotatably arranged facing the disc 725a. Further, a clutch lever 727 having a roller 726 at one end that can contact the outer circumference of the pair of clutch disks 725a and 725b is swingably attached to the side wall 716. The other end of the clutch lever 727 is connected to a plunger 729a of the clutch solenoid 729 via a spring 728. When the solenoid 729 is excited, the clutch lever 727 is turned on.
Is rotated so that the rollers 726 are moved to the clutch disks 725a and 725.
At the same time, it contacts the outer circumference of b and transmits the torque, and when the solenoid 729 is turned off, the torque is shut off. Further, a pulley 730 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the clutch disk 725b, and a belt 732 is wound between the pulley 730 and the pulley 731 fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 712a of the first transport roller 712. Has been turned. Therefore, the rotational force of the take-out motor 719 is only transmitted through the clutch mechanism (725, 726) while the clutch solenoid 729 is being excited.
The light is transmitted to the transport roller 712.

In addition, the first transport roller 712 has its rotating shaft 712a
Is mounted eccentrically with respect to the base substrate 711.
When the is rotated by 180 °, it slightly projects upward from the opening 711a.

Then, when the purchase selecting switch 212 is operated after the bill is inserted, the issuing device 700 of this embodiment outputs the take-out motor 719.
Is rotated, and then the clutch solenoid 729 is turned on for a certain period of time, so that the first transport roller 712 is rotated once. As a result, the first transport roller 712 is eccentrically rotated, and the card tank 7 above the first transport roller 712 is rotated.
Send the card backwards while pushing up the card in 01. At this time, since the pressing member 702 is placed on the card CD and applies a constant pressure, the lowermost card is separated from the card group in the tank by the frictional force with the roller. In addition, since a stopper 717 having an interval of one card and the base substrate 711 is provided at the rear, feeding of two cards is prevented.

In this manner, only one card taken out of the tank is sent out toward the rear card reader 800 by the second and third transport rollers 713 and 714 that are being rotated while the take-out motor 719 is rotating.

In addition, a traveling position detection sensor CPS1 is provided at the rear end of the card removal device 710, and detects the sent card.

In addition, a pressing roller 734 for preventing the card from floating is disposed above the third transport roller 714.

The card removed from the tank 701 by the card removal device 710 is subjected to writing of an identification code, a card number, and the like to a magnetic recording unit by a card reader 800, and a punching hole is formed at an issue hole punching position by an internal punching device 820. Is opened and then sent out to the rear card reversing device 740. Below the card reader 800, a case 705 for accommodating perforated pieces, that is, punch waste is arranged.

The card reader controller 288 for the issuing machine corresponding to the controller 188 of the card reader 800 for the pachinko machine is provided in the card issuing controller 790.

The card sent to the card reversing device 740 is first S-shaped while being sandwiched between the belt 742 wound around the transport rollers 741a, 741b, 741c and the belt 744 wound around the transport rollers 743a, 743b. The transport roller 7 is transported along the road and pushes the runway switching piece 745 arranged at the exit as shown by the broken line a.
The belt 747 wound around 46a, 746b, and 746c and the belt 742 above
And once sent upward. Then, when the card passes the runway switching piece 745, the switching piece 745 is pivotally returned from the position shown by the broken line A to the position shown by the solid line by the tension of the spring 745a, and the running position sensor CPS2 disposed above the When the end is detected, the traveling motor 706 for driving the belt 742 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, the card changes its direction and starts to be conveyed downward. Then, the belt 749 wound around the transport rollers 748a, 748b, 748c
Then, the direction is gradually changed by being sandwiched between the belts 747, and finally, the sheet is fed forward in the horizontal direction.

The belts 742 and 749 are a belt 707 directly driven by a traveling motor 706 and a belt 708 linked therewith.
And is driven by. Belts 744 and 7
The driving force of the traveling motor 706 is not transmitted to 49, and the card rotates with the frictional force as the card moves.

The belt 707 is also wound around a pulley integrated with a transport roller 771 of a card dispensing device 770 described later, and the card is discharged by the driving force of the traveling motor 706.

Further, a rotary shaft 709 of the transport roller 748c is protruded to the side, and a knob 709a is fixed to an end portion thereof as shown in FIG. 36. The card can be manually moved while the printer is stopped to remove the jammed card. Running position sensor C at the end of card reversing device 740
PS3 is arranged, and when this sensor detects the rear end of the card, the traveling motor 706 is stopped.

The card sent from the card reversing device 740 enters the printing device 750, and is first detected by the traveling position sensor CPS4. Then, the transfer motor 751 in the printing device 750 is driven, and the driving force is transmitted to the transfer rollers 752a and 752b via the belt 762 and the gear group 763, and is transmitted to the pressing rollers 753a and 753b disposed thereabove. Hold the card in between and move it forward. In front of the transfer rollers 752a and 752b, transfer rollers 754 and 755 are arranged along the traveling path, and a print head 756 such as a thermal head is provided with guide pins 7 above the transfer rollers 754 and 755.
It can be moved up and down along 57. A return spring 758 is inserted around the guide pin 757.

Reference numeral 758 denotes a print head raising / lowering motor. The rotation of the motor 758 is reduced and transmitted to the driven shaft 759. This driven shaft 759
A detection piece 760 having a notch is fixedly attached thereto, and rotation position sensors 761a and 761b are arranged to face the periphery of the detection piece 760. Although not shown, the lifting motor 758
Is transmitted to the print head 756 via, for example, a cam fixed to the driven shaft 759 and a tappet in contact with the outer periphery of the cam, and moves the cam up and down. At this time, the lifting motor
758 rotates the driven shaft 759 by 180 ° in one operation.
That is, the elevation motor 758 always stops rotating at the position where the notch of the detection frame 760 faces the sensor 761a or 761b, and the traveling position sensor CPS4 detects the card and operates the elevation motor 758. Then, when the sensor 761a or 761b detects the notch of the detection piece 760, the rotation of the motor is stopped. This allows the printhead 756
Is lowered when the card is detected by the traveling position sensor CPS4, and when printing is completed, the elevating motor 758 is operated again to drive the driven shaft 7
By rotating 59 by 180 °, print head 756 is raised and stopped. At the exit of the printing device 750, a traveling position sensor CPS5 is provided, and when the sensor CPS5 detects the leading end of the card, the traveling motor 706 is operated in the same direction (reverse direction) as before, so that the transport rollers 771a, The belt 772 wound around 771b, 771c is driven, and when the sensor CPS5 detects the rear end of the card, the transport motor 751 in the printing device is stopped. As a result, the card sent from the printing device 750 is quickly conveyed into the card leading device 770 in front.

In the card dispensing device 770, as shown in detail in FIG. 39, conveying rollers 773 and 774 are provided below the belt 772.
a and 774b, of which a belt 775 is wound around the transport rollers 774a and 774b. In addition, in this embodiment, only the transporting roller and its belt 77
2,775 are provided in two rows so that discharge can be reliably performed. A card issuing port 202 is arranged in front of the conveyance path constituted by the belts 772 and 775, and a traveling position sensor CPS6 is arranged immediately before the card issuing port.

A runway switching member 777 rotatable around a support shaft 776 is provided between the transport rollers 773 and 774b.
This runway switching member 777 is normally in the first position by a spring 778.
The leading end is positioned below as shown by the broken line B in FIG. 37, and guides the card sent from the printing device 750 toward the card issuing port 202. If the card is not valid or cannot be recorded correctly on the magnetic recording unit due to damage, the card is guided to the confiscation tank 780 below by the runway switching member 777. When the card is correctly written, the switching member 777 is rotated downward as shown by the solid line in FIG. Then, the card sent from the printing device 750 is guided to the card issuing port 202. A confiscation tank 780 is disposed below the transport rollers 774a and 774b.
The card guided down by 7 is the confiscated tank 780
Is stored inside.

A notch 781a is formed in the rear wall 781 of the confiscation tank 780, and a sensor 782 is provided so as to face the notch 781a. The sensor 782 is a light receiver and the corresponding light projector 783 is disposed between the pair of belts 775, the detection optical axis is set to be oblique, and the confiscation tank
When the card in the tank reaches a certain amount or more while detecting the card entering the 780, the upper end of the card blocks the detection optical axis to detect that the card is full. Further, the confiscation tank 780 is slidably mounted on a plate 784 disposed obliquely below the tank 780, and a guide pin 785 for engaging with a long hole 784a formed in the plate 784 is fixed to a lower surface thereof. The spring 786 is stretched between the guide pin 785 and the rear end of the plate 784, and is always urged rearward.

This card deriving device 770 is, when the end of the card passes and the traveling position sensor CPS6 or the detection sensor of the confiscated card changes from on to off, the traveling motor 706 is turned off,
Stop the discharge or confiscation operation.

Note that a card issuance display is provided above the card issuance slot 202 to indicate the progress of card issuance work in the issuance device 700.
There are 787s.

Further, as shown in FIG. 36, the issuing device 700 of this embodiment has left and right rails 792a, 792b on a fixed base 791.
A power supply box 794 with an auxiliary power supply is mounted on the left half of the base 793. Is provided with a counter 795 for displaying the number of issued cards and a spare counter 796 that can be used for displaying the number of confiscated cards and the like.

Reference numeral 797 denotes a handle used to slide the entire issuing device placed on the fixed base 791 forward, and reference numeral 798 denotes an operation button for locking the slide mechanism.

FIG. 40 shows a card issuing machine 20 configured as described above.
A configuration example of a control system of 0 is shown.

In the same figure, 790 is a card issuing control device, 280
Is a unit control device, and 288 is a transport motor 807, a magnetic head 821, and a punching device 82, each component of the card reader 800.
It is a card reader control device that controls 0, etc.
~ LMP5 indicates the purchase price selection switches
The lamp corresponding to the turned on switch is turned on by a lamp built in 212, and the operation button is illuminated from behind.

The control system of this embodiment is roughly divided into a control system by the unit control device 280 and a control system by the card issuance control device 790, and the unit control device 280 is a means for receiving money and a means for selecting a desired purchase amount. Communication means for transmitting valuable data to the management device and receiving a card number in place of the valuable data, means for paying out coins,
The card issuing control device 790 controls the status display means indicating the issuing process status.
, A card reversing device 740, a printing device 750, and a card deriving device 770, and a card reader 800 for checking a card and recording magnetic data.
Of the control unit 288. Communication between the unit controller 280 and the card issuing controller 790 is performed by serial communication.

On the other hand, the unit control device 280 is connected to a low-layer network communication line 510 including an optical cable or a coaxial cable via an optical transceiver 285 in order to transmit and receive data such as a card number to and from the management device 400. I have. The card issuing machine 200 according to the present embodiment provides a user with an operation procedure by lighting or blinking status display means including various indicators 221 to 225 provided on the front panel 201 according to the card issuing procedure by the unit control device 280. In addition, the card and the change of the discharged card are prevented from being forgotten.

That is, when the power of the card issuing machine 200 is turned on and preparation for card issuance is completed, the unit control device 280 first turns on the issuing display 221 provided on the front panel 201, and blinks the bill insertion display 223. Then, a message prompting the user to insert a bill is displayed to notify the outside that the user is in a bill insertion waiting state. In this state, when a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 211, the unit controller 280 displays a number corresponding to the inserted amount on the amount indicator 213, and inputs the purchase lamps LMP1 to LMP5 with the built-in purchase selection switch 212. Light up to the amount of money. In other words, the lamp LMP1 for 1,000 yen, the lamp LMP1 to LMP3 for 3,000 yen, the lamp LMP1 to LMP5 for 5,000 yen
Is turned on to clearly indicate the operable switch. When any one of the valid purchase selection switches 212 is turned on in this state, the bill insertion display 223 is turned off, and the card issuance display 224 near the card issuance slot 202 is blinked instead, and the card is ejected. To the user.

Then, the unit control device 280 turns off the amount indicator 213 and the purchase lamps LMP1 to LMP5 when the card is actually ejected from the card issuing port 202. At this time, if there is a change, the bill payout indicator 225 is blinked to pay attention, and the change is paid out. When there is no change, the bill payout indicator 225 is kept off.
When the card is ejected, if the user removes the card ejected to the card issuing port 202, the blinking of the card issuing display 224 is stopped and the light is turned off.

On the other hand, when there is change, the bill insertion indicator 223 is turned off after the bill payout indicator 230 detects the removal of the change and receives the payout completion signal sent.

Table 8 shows the state transition of various indicators on the front panel 201 by the unit controller 280.

In the figure, ○ means lighting, × means turning off, △ means blinking, D means numerical display according to the inserted amount, and B means turning on a lamp corresponding to the amount. Table 8 also shows how the bill insertion state of the bill insertion slot 221 is in each state. This indicates that the next bill cannot be inserted until the card and change are removed.

FIG. 41 shows a configuration example of the unit control device 280.

The unit controller 280 of the issuing machine, a unit controller 290 that comprehensively controls the card reader controller 288 and the card issuance controller 790, and a data transmission controller 551 that performs control related to data transmission with the management device 400,
It is composed of a network controller 553 and the like for establishing a transmission / reception right in a network and performing serial / parallel conversion of data under the control of a data transmission controller. The communication system is completely the same as the unit control device 180 of the pachinko machine. That is, each controller 290 and 551
The transfer of data between and between 551 and 553 is configured to be performed via dual port memories (EAM) 550 and 552. Of these, the memory 552 is divided into a transmission data storage area and a reception data storage area,
It has an adjustment function to make all transmission / reception data lengths the same (packetization) and a buffer function to measure high-speed data transmission (2.5 Mbps).

The packet memory 552 is composed of four pages each having a capacity of 256 bytes, of which page 0 is used for transmitting a transmission request packet and page 1 is used for transmitting a regular data transmission packet. On the other hand, pages 2 and 3 are used alternately for data packet reception. The data transmission controller 551 instructs the network controller 553 on which page to use. Data transmission controller 5
Even if the next packet data is sent during the processing of the received packet data by 51, all the packets can be received reliably because they are received by another page. A common reset circuit 555 is provided so that the controllers 551 and 553 can be initialized at the same time.

On the connection side of the network controller 553 with the management device 400, an optical connector is provided via a signal conversion circuit 554 and a changeover switch 542 which perform waveform shaping of received data and level conversion of a signal in order to increase the drive capability of transmitted data. A branch circuit 540 which is connectable to 186 and separates and couples a transmission signal and a reception signal via a changeover switch 542 so as to cope with a case where the transmission line of the low-layer network is constituted by a coaxial cable. Can be connected to An optical transceiver 185 is connected to the optical connector 186.

Further, a data transmission controller 5 is provided between the data transmission controller 551 and the network controller 553.
A latch circuit 561 for the network controller 553 to store the data reception result in response to a request from 51,
A data transmission controller 551 displays a latch circuit 562 for storing a command such as a data transmission command to the network controller 553 and a latch circuit 563 for storing a low-layer network address, and displays an abnormality in the communication control state in the unit control device 280. Is provided with a latch circuit 564 for storing display data to the monitor display 556 composed of three LED lamps. A decoder 557 decodes an address given to each of the latch circuits 561 to 564 and generates a selection signal.

On the other hand, the point that the unit controller 280 of the issuing machine is different from the unit controller 180 of the pachinko machine is that the unit controller 290 does not directly communicate with the card reader controller 288, but through the card issuing controller 790. It is. Therefore, a transceiver 571 that performs level conversion of transmission / reception data is connected between the unit controller 290 and the card issuing control device 790.

The unit controller 290 has a unit number setting device 2
An input / output controller 576 for putting an input signal from the reset switch 207 on the data bus 581 at a predetermined timing or latching a drive signal for displaying various lamps such as the issuing display 221; and a bill validator 210. , Bill dispenser
The input signals from 230 and the purchase selection switch 212 are placed on the data bus 581 at a predetermined timing, and the bill validator 2
10 and an input / output controller 578 for latching control signals to the bill dispenser 230 are connected.

As a control signal from the unit controller 290 to the bill validator 210, the bill determined to be a true bill is 10,000 yen, 500
There is an instruction signal for discriminating between 0 yen and 1000 yen to be stored in a safe, and an instruction signal for enabling or disabling insertion of a bill into a bill insertion slot.

The input signal from the bill validator 210 to the unit controller 290 includes a signal when the inserted bill is determined to be a true 10,000 yen bill, a signal when the inserted bill is determined to be a true 5000 yen bill, and an inserted bill. Is a signal when it is determined to be a true 1000 yen bill, after the bill determination, an alarm signal output when the bill is pulled out toward the bill insertion slot direction, there is a bill inserted, and the bill is being identified There is a signal indicating that the banknote jam has occurred, and a signal indicating that the banknote storage in the safe is full.

On the other hand, as a control signal from the unit controller 290 to the bill dispenser 230, an instruction signal for setting the number of bills to be dispensed by a binary code, an instruction signal for executing the dispensing of a bill based on the number of sheets set value, and dispensing There is an instruction signal for clearing the display of a monitor display (not shown) for displaying the execution result.

The input signals from the bill dispenser 230 to the unit controller 290 include a signal output every time one bill is dispensed and an alarm output when an abnormality occurs in the dispensing apparatus and the dispensing operation cannot be performed. Signal, a signal indicating that the bill remaining amount of the bill storage unit has become 20 sheets or less, a signal indicating that the bill dispensing operation is being performed, and a bill dispensing operation is completed, and the bill issuing port is closed. There is a signal to indicate that the bill has been removed.

Further, the unit controller 290 includes decoders 586 and 587, decoder drivers 588 and 589, and a data bus 581 for dynamically displaying an amount indicator 213 for displaying the purchase price and a monitor display 206 for displaying a number indicating the type of abnormality of the issuing machine. Connected through.

Table 9 shows an example of error numbers displayed on the monitor display 206, their contents, and processing.

In Table 9 above, when an error marked with an asterisk occurs, the system is brought down and reset. When the error display is blinking, it indicates that the reset button needs to be pressed after the error recovery processing.

Reference numeral 585 denotes a decoder that decodes an address signal output from the unit controller 290 and forms a selection signal for the program memory 558, the unit memory 550, the input / output controllers 596 and 598, the decoders 586 and 587, and the decoder drivers 588 and 889.

Further, in the unit control device 280 of this embodiment, of the display data output from the unit controller 290 to drive the amount indicator 213, a digit select signal (common signal) periodically output at intervals of 2 ms is used. ) Is input to the reset circuit 555 as a watchdog pulse. The reset circuit 555 monitors the watchdog pulse in addition to the power-on reset, and generates a reset signal for each of the controllers 290, 551, and 553 when the pulse disappears.

As described above, the unit control device 280 includes the management device 400,
The card issuance control device 290 has an information exchange window in two directions, controls the issuance of a card under the control of the management device 400, and controls the issuance machine generated as a result of the issuance process. Software for periodically transmitting operation information to the management device is provided.

Transmission and reception of data with the management device is performed via the unit memory 550 as in the case of the pachinko machine. Unit memory 5
The configuration of the 50 is exactly the same as that of the pachinko machine (see Fig. 24)
The transmission data area SDA and the reception data area RDA
And a shared data area CDA for storing commands and status information for notifying the other controller that transmission data and reception data are in the memory.

Tables 10 and 11 show configuration examples of the transmission data area SDA and the reception data area RDA in the unit memory 550, respectively. The structure of the communication area CCA is exactly the same as that of the unit memory of the pachinko machine (see Table 3).

The hot code shown in Table 10 above is stored in the transmission area of the unit memory 550 by the management device 400 at the start of the system, for example, by writing a code such as 010101 ‥‥ 01, and periodically writing the code to the management device. The data is sent to check whether or not the RAM data has been destroyed due to noise such as static electricity, so that abnormalities in the transmitted data can be detected quickly.

Note that the monitor information 1 shown in Table 10 above corresponds to Table 12
As shown in the figure, a bit indicating that a test is being executed at system startup, a bit indicating initial value setting / unset, a bit indicating a hot code error, and a bit indicating a local network (transmission cable 500) error (for low and high layers) 2 bits), a bit indicating an issuer abnormality, and the like.

Further, as shown in Table 13, the monitor information 2 indicates a bit indicating an abnormality of the card reader, a bit indicating the presence or absence of a card, a bit indicating a state in the banknote tank, a bit indicating a banknote jam, and a forcible withdrawal of the banknote. It comprises a bit, a bit indicating the state of the balance dispenser in the bill tank, a bit indicating an abnormality of the balance dispenser, and the like.

42 to 44 show examples of the structure of the above-described settlement machine 300.

The payment machine 300 of this embodiment has a built-in card reader that reads the card number recorded in the magnetic recording section of the inserted card CD and checks the code, and collects the card after receiving data from the management device. And a bill dispenser 321 for refunding an amount corresponding to an unused amount remaining unused for the card.
And a coin dispenser 325, a printer 330 for issuing a receipt printed with the number of balls held by the game, and various display devices 3
03, 304, 341 and 342 and a unit control device 350 for controlling the entire settlement machine 300.

The payment machine 300 is configured such that an upper panel 301 is rotatable in the vertical direction. A card insertion slot 302 is provided at the front end of the upper panel 301, and the upper panel 301 corresponds to the card payment device 310.
On the upper surface of 301, a ball number display 303 for displaying the number of awarded balls (the number of balls held) and an amount display 3 for displaying an unused amount.
04 is provided. Moreover, the settlement machine 300 of this embodiment
Has a flat top surface so that it can form a counter installed in a pachinko parlor, and has two sets of ball number display 303 and money amount display 304, one of which is inclined forward and Is easy to read, and the other is inclined backward to make it easy for a staff member inside the counter to read. Moreover, the number of balls indicator 303 and the amount indicator 304
Is covered by a transparent plate such as a glass plate. In addition, a display reset switch for clearing the display of the above-mentioned display unit to “0” is provided on the rear side of the upper surface of the upper panel 301.
305 is provided. The player first enters the card slot 302
When you insert a card, the card reader 8 in the checkout machine 300
00 reads the card number recorded on the magnetic surface of the card CD, sends it to the management device 400, and receives data on the card. Then, the unused amount is displayed on the amount display 304, the acquired number of balls is displayed on the ball number display 303, and the printer 330 issues a receipt on which the unused amount, the acquired number of balls, the history data and the like are printed. Further, the inserted card in the card reader by drilling device, and is discharged to the inside of the card collecting tank 314 after formation of the punched holes (settlement Sumiana) is performed at a predetermined punching position PH _5.

In this embodiment, a recording head is not necessary for the card reader of the checkout machine. However, by providing a recording head and erasing and discharging the data on the magnetic surface of the settled card, the card number can be reduced. May be made impossible to decipher the conversion method, and forgery of the card may be prevented.

As the card reader, the card reader 800 of the pachinko machine 100 (see FIG. 25) is used as it is, and the card can be ejected backward like the card reader for the issuing machine. A collection tank 314 is arranged. The printer 330 pulls out a blank sheet of paper stocked in a roll state, prints the date of issue, the number of obtained balls, the amount of unused money, and the card history, etc. on the surface thereof, and prints the concave portion 301a of the upper panel 301. It is discharged from the receipt issuing port 331 opened inside.

At the same time, money corresponding to the unused amount is paid out from the balance payout device. The balance dispensing device includes a bill dispenser 321 for dispensing bills and a coin dispenser 325 for dispensing 100 yen coins.
The front panel 306 has a bill outlet 322 corresponding to the bill dispenser 321, and a coin outlet 326 corresponding to the coin dispenser 325. In addition, in the settlement, a fraction of less than 1,000 yen is generated as unused money, and therefore, a coin dispenser 325 that pays out coins of 100 yen unit as described above is required.

Further, on the upper surface of the upper panel 301 of the payment machine 300,
A checkout lamp 341 indicating that the card is being settled and a settlement stop lamp 342 indicating that the card cannot be settled are provided.

Also, inside the openable front panel 306, as shown in FIG. 42 (B), a monitor display 343 for displaying an abnormality of the settlement machine such as a shortage of bills using an error number, A reset number switch 351 for resetting the display and a number setting device for distinguishing each of a plurality of payment machines installed in the amusement arcade so that the management device 400 can recognize the payment machine that has performed the payment for a specific card. 352, a coin removal switch 353 for discharging coins remaining in the tank of the coin dispenser 325 when the store is closed, and a print changeover switch 354 for giving an instruction whether or not to print history data on a receipt issued by the printer 330. Is provided.

The machine number set by the machine number setting unit 352 is sent to the management device 400, and is used for generating a transmission address in data communication and creating a data file for each settlement machine.

The card settlement device 310 has a card reader 800 as shown in FIG. 43, an auxiliary transport device 311 disposed behind the card reader 800,
Card reader 8 according to the instruction from unit controller 350
00 and a card settlement controller 3 that controls the auxiliary transport device 311
12 and a card collection tank 314 arranged behind the power supply device 313 and the auxiliary transport device 311.

The card collection tank 314 is used for the card settlement device 310.
And is removably inserted into a vertically long tank storage frame 316 fixed to the frame 315. Two counters 317 and 318 are provided on the side of the frame 315, and one of them displays the number of cards collected. The other counter is unused.

The auxiliary transport device 311 includes transport rollers 361 and 362, a pair of upper and lower transport belts 363 and 364 wound therearound, and a transport motor 365 that drives the lower transport belt 364, and is discharged from the rear end of the card reader 800. The card is sandwiched between a pair of belts 363 and 364 and is transported toward the collection tank 314 at the rear.

Although not shown in FIG. 43, the card collection tank 31
4 is provided with a card sensor 319 for detecting that the card is discharged into the tank or becomes full (see FIG. 46). However, the payment machine 300 of this embodiment
Is set to the card confiscation mode only when the highest digit of the unit number setting device 352 is set to “9”, and the card inserted for settlement is guided to the card collection tank after settlement and is forfeited. In other cases, the card is ejected forward after the settlement and returned to the player.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 44, the checkout machine 300 of this embodiment has a plurality of counters arranged in combination with the corner unit 50 and the card collection machine 900 to form a counter provided in a prize exchange corner of a pachinko parlor. Is available.

That is, the main body of the checkout machine 300 is designed so that the upper panel 301 is approximately 1 m above the floor and the upper surface is substantially flat, so that it can be used as a work table for prize exchange and the like. .

The card collection machine 900 has a card insertion slot 905 and a prize payout port 906 on the front, a built-in card reader (not shown) for reading the inserted card, and a game for providing a game using a used card on the top. CRT as device
The display 910 is placed.

FIG. 45 shows an example of a print format of a receipt printed out in two print modes set by the print switch 354.

Among them, FIG. (A) shows an example of a receipt format when printing of only the settlement data is designated by the print changeover switch 354. The hall name HALL of the pachinko parlor, the serial number n of the card, the settlement date, and Reception time TIME,
The settlement amount AMs, the settlement ball number CNT, and the message MSG are printed.

On the other hand, FIG. 45 (B) shows an example of a receipt format when the history data printing is designated by the print changeover switch 354. In addition to the settlement data shown in FIG. And the history data in the card file (unused amount and number of balls at each time the card status changes during the game) and CRR are printed.

In the settlement machine of the embodiment, the card collection mode is set by setting the highest digit of the unit number setting unit 352 to “9”, and in other cases, the card after settlement is ejected forward. By checking the card status at the time of settlement, if the card used is "0" and the purchase amount is to be refunded, the card is discharged to the collection tank 314 at the rear after the unused money is refunded. It can be controlled by software. This makes it possible to avoid abuse of purchasing a card only for the game in the case where the system is configured so that the game using the adjusted card is performed by the collection machine.

FIG. 46 shows a configuration example of a control system of the payment machine 300 configured as described above.

The control system of this embodiment is roughly divided into a control system by the unit control device 350 and a control system by the card settlement control device 312, and the unit control device 350 has bill and coin dispensers 321, 325 and various displays 303, 304, 341. ~
Control of 343 and printer 330 and various switches 351 to 35
The card settlement controller 312 is in charge of receiving an input of 4,305, and the card settlement controller 312 is provided with an auxiliary transport device 311, a counter 317 as a counting and displaying means of collected cards, and a card reader 800 for checking cards and reading magnetic data. It is in charge of overall control of the control device 388. Communication between the unit controller 350 and the card settlement controller 312 is performed by serial communication.

On the other hand, the unit control device 350 can be connected to the low-layer network communication line 510 formed of an optical cable or a coaxial cable via the optical transceiver 185 in order to transmit and receive data such as a card number to and from the management device 400. I have.

FIG. 47 shows the configuration of the unit control device 350 of the checkout machine 300. The configuration of the unit control device 350 is almost the same as the unit control device 280 of the issuing machine 200 shown in FIG. 41, and is a unit for controlling the card reader control device 388 and the card settlement control device 312 in an integrated manner. A controller 390, a data transmission controller 551 for controlling data transmission with the management device 400, and a network controller 553 for establishing a transmission / reception right in a network and performing serial / parallel conversion of data under the control of the data transmission controller. The communication system has exactly the same configuration as the unit control device 180 of the pachinko machine. That is, between each controller 390 and 551 and 551 and 5
Data transfer between the 53
M) is configured to run via 550 and 552. Of these, the memory 552 is divided into a transmission data storage area and a reception data storage area, and has an adjustment function for making all transmission / reception data lengths the same (packetization), and a high speed data transmission (2.5 Mbps).

The packet memory 552 is composed of four pages each having a capacity of 256 bytes, of which page 0 is used for transmitting a transmission request packet and page 1 is used for transmitting a regular data transmission packet. On the other hand, pages 2 and 3 are used alternately for data packet reception. The data transmission controller 551 instructs the network controller 553 on which page to use. Data transmission controller 5
Even if the next packet data is sent during the processing of the received packet data by 51, all the packets can be received reliably because they are received by another page. A common reset circuit 555 is provided so that the controllers 551 and 553 can be initialized at the same time.

On the connection side of the network controller 553 with the management device 400, an optical connector is provided via a signal conversion circuit 554 and a changeover switch 542 which perform waveform shaping of received data and level conversion of a signal in order to increase the drive capability of transmitted data. A branch circuit 540 which is connectable to 186 and separates and couples a transmission signal and a reception signal via a changeover switch 542 so as to cope with a case where the transmission line of the low-layer network is constituted by a coaxial cable. Can be connected to An optical transceiver 185 is connected to the optical connector 186.

Further, a data transmission controller 5 is provided between the data transmission controller 551 and the network controller 553.
A latch circuit 561 for the network controller 553 to store the data reception result in response to a request from 51,
The data transmission controller 551 displays a latch circuit 562 for storing a command such as a data transmission command to the network controller 553 and a latch circuit 563 for storing a low-layer network address, and displays an abnormality in the communication control state in the unit control device 350. Is provided with a latch circuit 564 for storing display data to the monitor display 556 composed of three LED lamps. A decoder 557 decodes an address given to each of the latch circuits 561 to 564 and generates a selection signal.

On the other hand, the point that the unit controller 350 of the settlement machine is different from the unit controller 180 of the pachinko machine is that the unit controller 390 does not directly communicate with the card reader controller 388, but through the card settlement controller 312. It is. Therefore, a transceiver 571 that performs level conversion of transmission / reception data is connected between the unit controller 390 and the card settlement controller 312.

The unit controller 390 includes a ball number display 303
The input signals from the reset switch 305, the unit number setting unit 352, the reset switch 351 of the monitor display 343, the coin removal switch 353, and the print changeover switch 354 are placed on the data bus 581 at a predetermined timing, or the display 341 is displayed. And an input / output controller 576 for latching the drive signal of the payment stop display 342, the bill dispenser 321 and the coin dispenser 325.
Also, an input / output controller 578 for inputting a signal from the printer 330 onto the data bus 581 at a predetermined timing and for latching control signals to the bill dispenser 321 and the coin dispenser 325 and the printer 330 is connected.

As a control signal from the unit controller 390 to the bill dispenser 321, an instruction signal for setting the number of bills to be dispensed by a binary code, an instruction signal for executing dispensation of a bill based on the number of sheets set value, and a dispensing execution result There is an instruction signal for clearing the display of a monitor display (not shown) for displaying.

Further, as an input signal from the bill dispenser 321 to the unit controller 390, a signal output every time one bill is dispensed and a signal output when an abnormality occurs in the dispensing device and the dispensing operation cannot be performed. Alarm signal,
A signal indicating that the remaining amount of bills in the bill storage unit has become 20 or less, a signal indicating that the bill dispensing operation is being performed, the bill dispensing operation is completed, and the bill in the bill issuing port is removed. And a signal to indicate that the

On the other hand, as a control signal from the unit controller 390 to the coin dispenser 325, there is a drive signal of a coin dispensing motor, and while this drive signal is being output, coins are continuously discharged one by one. The coin dispenser 325 supplies the unit controller 390 with a coin detection signal output every time one coin is dispensed and a signal indicating that the remaining amount in the coin storage tank is low. The control signals from the unit controller 390 to the printer 330 include print data, a paper cut command after printing, an 8-bit data signal for giving a print command, and a signal for instructing the start of capture of this data signal. There is a printer initialization signal. Unit controller 390 from printer 330
The input signals to the printer include an error signal indicating a printing error, a signal indicating that the printing paper has run out, and a signal indicating that a printing operation is being performed.

Further, the unit controller 390 dynamically displays a ball number display 303 for displaying the number of settlement balls, an amount display 304 for displaying the settlement amount, and a monitor display 343 for displaying a number indicating the type of abnormality of the settlement machine. 586a, 586b, 587 and decoder drivers 588, 589 are connected via a data bus 581.

Table 14 shows an example of the error numbers displayed on the monitor display 343, their contents, and actions.

In the table, when an error marked with an asterisk occurs, the system is reset as a system down. Also,
When the error display is blinking, it indicates that it is necessary to press the reset button after the error recovery processing.

Reference numeral 585 denotes a decoder that decodes an address signal output from the unit controller 390 and forms a selection signal for the program memory 558, the unit memory 550, the input / output controllers 596 and 598, the decoders 586 and 587, and the decoder drivers 588 and 589.

Further, in the unit control device 350 of this embodiment, of the display data output from the unit controller 390 to drive the amount indicator 304, a digit select signal (common signal) output periodically at intervals of 2 ms is used. ) Is input to the reset circuit 555 as a watchdog pulse. The reset circuit 555 monitors the watchdog pulse in addition to the power-on reset, and generates a reset signal for each of the controllers 390, 551, and 553 when the pulse disappears.

As described above, the unit control device 350 includes the management device 400,
It has a window for exchanging information in two directions of the card settlement controller 312, controls the card settlement under the control of the management device 400, and controls the settlement machine generated as a result of the settlement process. Software for periodically transmitting operation data to the management device is provided.

The unit controller 390 of the checkout machine 300 controls the above components, checks the card number, receives and displays the card data, executes the checkout process, collects the operation data, and configures it as a dual port memory. Write to the transmission data area SDA in the unit memory 550. The operation data written to the unit memory 550 is
The data is transmitted to the management device by data communication between the data transmission controller 551 and the management device 400 via the transmission cable. Data sent from the management device is also temporarily written to the reception data area RDA in the unit memory 550,
The unit controller 390 reads this to receive data. Unit memory 550 is provided with a shared data area CDA for storing commands and status information for notifying the other controller that transmission data and reception data are in the memory.

Tables 15 and 16 show configuration examples of the transmission data area SDA and the reception data area RDA in the unit memory 550, respectively. The structure of the communication area CCA is exactly the same as that of the unit memory of the pachinko machine (see Table 3).

As shown in Table 16, in this embodiment, the history data of the card is also received, and this is printed on the receipt together with the time data and is ejected, thereby impressing the player that the payment data has high reliability. Can be. However, the history data is up to 20 in the card file
It is data up to times.

As shown in Table 17, the monitor information 1 shown in Table 15 includes a bit indicating that a test is being executed at system startup, a bit indicating initial value setting / not set, a bit indicating a hot code error, and a local network error. It consists of bits indicating the abnormality of the transmission cable 500 (two bits for the low layer and the high layer), bits indicating the abnormality of the checkout machine, and the like.

Further, as shown in Table 18, the monitor information 2 includes a bit indicating a paper out condition, a bit indicating a printer error, a bit indicating a card reader error, a bit indicating a state in the card tank, and the presence or absence of a coin in the coin dispenser. , A bit indicating an abnormality of the coin dispenser, a bit indicating a state of the bill dispenser in the bill tank, a bit indicating an abnormality of the bill dispenser, and the like.

Next, the pachinko machine 100, the card issuing machine 200, and the payment machine 300 configured as described above are comprehensively controlled, operation data is collected in real time, and the operation status of all terminals is monitored. Even if it occurs, the original data state is restored immediately upon restoration, the operation of each system part is resumed, the data necessary for the management of the amusement store can be counted, and the same qualification is restored if the card is damaged The management device 400 that issues a card will be described.

FIG. 48 shows a specific configuration of the management device 400, and FIG. 49 shows a system configuration of the management device.

The management device 400 includes a central processing unit CPU of a mini-con class, a main storage device M-MEM including a semiconductor memory (RAM), a master control device 401 in which a transmission control device SCC and the like are stored, and an upper part of the master control device 401. It comprises a floppy disk storage device 402 as a provided auxiliary storage device, a hard disk storage device 403, and a personal computer 410. The personal computer 410 has a CRT display device 411 for displaying messages and collected data, and a console for giving commands and setting data by an operator.
A local processing unit 413 having a CPU, a timer TMR (including a calendar), and being connected to a central processing unit in the master control unit 401 via a communication line and an interrupt line;
And a printer 414 for printing collected data and the like.

To couple the local processing device 413 and the central processing unit CPU, serial communication control devices 406a and 406b are provided in the master control device 401. Among them, the communication control device 406
a is used for normal communication, and the communication control device 406b is used for emergency interrupt communication.

The printer 414 includes a buffer for temporarily storing data to be printed in order to improve the throughput of the management device 400.

In addition, the management device 400 issues a resurrection card having the same qualification as the damaged card and a test card capable of starting the pachinko machine in a state separated from the system, which is unique to the pachinko gaming system. A box 420 containing an auxiliary printer 408 for printing in real time emergency information generated by the system, such as a card issuing device 700 or a "stop" generated by a pachinko machine, and an auxiliary power device 409 are connected to the master controller 401. They are provided adjacent to each other. The card issuing device 700 and the auxiliary printer 408 are connected to the central processing unit CPU via the communication control devices 406c and 406d, respectively. In addition, the card issuing device 700
Card issuing device 700 for issuing machine 200 shown in FIG. 36
It has exactly the same configuration as the one used. 202 is the card issuing port.

The auxiliary power supply 409 is provided when the power failure occurs.
Operating data of all terminals volatilely stored in
In order to transfer all issued card data to the hard disk storage device 403 for protection, at least 10
Backup for about a minute so that the management device can operate.

In FIG. 49, reference numeral SCC denotes a transmission control device for enabling data transmission to / from each terminal via the network 500.

In this embodiment, the pachinko machine 100 is mainly used.
And a system including a card issuing machine 200, a checkout machine 300, and a management device 400 will be described. However, the present invention provides a system in which an in-store broadcast device, a prize exchange device, a vending machine, and the like are also controlled by the management device 400. Can be extended to In particular, the prize exchange device uses a card to
There is a possibility that a system that can be exchanged for a prize directly without passing through 0 may be easily applied.

Further, the console 412 configuring the management device 400 also has a unique key configuration most suitable for the pachinko gaming system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 50 shows a configuration example of the console 412. FIG. 1B shows the upper surface of the console, that is, the panel surface, and FIG. 1A shows the rear surface of the console.

In FIG. 50, reference numeral 421 denotes a store opening switch for instructing the start of business for each terminal of the system, and reference numeral 422 denotes a store close switch for instructing the end of business.
After the 421 is turned on, the card can be operated in each terminal until the store closing switch 422 is turned on. Also, 423 is a system end switch for storing operation data of all terminals in the floppy disk storage device 402 after business closing, and instructing the management device to stop control, and 424 is for instructing a recovery process of a damaged card. Card resurrection switch.

Note that four of the above-mentioned store opening switch 421, store closing switch 422, system end switch 423, and card recovery switch 424
The two switches are particularly important switches for the present system, and are interlocked with a key switch 420 provided behind (upward in the figure) a key switch 420 in order to prevent easy operation during system operation. If the switch 420 is not turned on, the switches 421 to 424 cannot be operated to be turned on.

Reference numerals 425, 426, and 427 denote ten keys, a return key, and a delete key similar to those provided on a console of a normal personal computer or the like.

On the other hand, reference numeral 428 denotes a display menu switch for giving an instruction to display data related to the card and operation data of each terminal on the screen of the CRT display device 411, and reference numeral 429 denotes a CRT clear switch for requesting deletion of data displayed on the CRT display device. It is. Reference numeral 430 denotes a print menu switch for giving a command to cause the printer 414 to print data on the card, operation data of each terminal, and the like. 432 is a setting switch for requesting the setting of the number of hits and the hitting mode in the pachinko machine, and 433 is a hitting, that is, a game continuation impossible state in which a prize ball of the set hitting number is paid out. The stop release switch 434 for giving the release command of the stop state of the pachinko machine that has been shut down, forcibly shuts down each terminal type at the end of business, normal control and data collection due to communication network abnormalities etc. Forced termination switch for forcibly terminating all terminals if disabled, or forcibly stopping a specific terminal if a player is found to be fraudulent, 43
Reference numeral 5 denotes an end release switch for releasing the forcibly stopped terminal, and reference numeral 439 denotes a date and time setting switch. Further, the console 412 of the embodiment is provided with a buzzer 440 that generates a sound to urge the operator to wake up when an emergency such as a pachinko machine is hit and a buzzer stop switch 436 that instructs to stop the sound generation. Have been. 431a and 431
b is a spare switch prepared in anticipation that the function of the management device 400 will be expanded in the future, and can be used as a switch for instructing interruption of printing by the printer 414, for example.

Of the above switches, the switches 421 to 424 and 432 to 436 indicated by double frames in the figure are switches with built-in lamps. Lights up. However, the lamp in the buzzer stop switch 436 is linked with the buzzer, lights up while the buzzer is sounding, and the stop switch 43
Turns off when 6 is pressed.

Further, the console 412 of this embodiment has a test card switch 437 for giving a test card issuance command on the back thereof, an exchange rate of purchased balls and store codes, a total number of terminals, a winning ball 1 when the system is introduced. A built-in switch 438 is provided for instructing setting of a set value such as the number of prize balls per unit and a change of the set value. Unlike other switches, these switches 437 and 438 are switches that are rarely used, and are switches that only need to be known to a specific person (such as a game manager). It is provided in.

Here, the test card will be described. As is clear from the configuration already described, the gaming system of this embodiment includes all terminals (pachinko machines, card issuing machines,
The settlement machine is under the control of the management device, and shifts to an operable state by exchanging card numbers and the like, and cannot be operated by the terminal alone. However, since pachinko machines are frequently used, jams and so-called tulips and other accessories often break down, and it is necessary to adjust nails in the game area to adjust the payout rate. In this case, a test drive is performed after repair or nail adjustment. In this embodiment, the test switch 179 in the control unit 160 of each pachinko machine described above is turned on, and a special device issued by the management device is used. When a test card is inserted through the card insertion / ejection port 802a of the control unit 160, a certain number of balls is given, and the pachinko machine can execute a game operation alone. As a result, it is not necessary to start up the entire system in trial running during non-business hours. In addition, during business hours, a trial hit can be performed without impairing the operation data during the game.

In the embodiment, the same card issuing device 700 as that used in the issuing device 200 is used as the card issuing device 700 provided in the management device 400, and a card tank 701 storing a blank card and a card reader 800 are built therein. However, a method may be adopted in which a blank card is inserted from outside, a code is recorded on a magnetic surface, and the code is ejected, without a blank card inside. In that case, the card tank 701 can be omitted. Also, since the test card and the resurrection card issued by the management device 400 do not necessarily need to specify the date of use or the serial number of issue like other general cards,
The printing device 750 may be omitted. At the time of revival card issuing is in a punch hole in a predetermined punching position PH ₂ (revival hole) of the card by the punch unit 820.

As described above, the terminals 100, 200, and 300 of this embodiment are all under the control of the management device 400, and cannot operate independently unless the management device 400 is activated. Therefore, when the system is started up, the management apparatus 400 gives setting values to all terminals and initializes them.
In addition, prior to this initialization, the terminal number is collected from each terminal to enable data transmission, and one by one.
Form two transmission addresses. During operation of the system, operation data of all terminals is collected in real time and stored in the main storage M-MEM.

In other words, since the number of terminals under the control of the management device 400 is large, the response is slow if all control is performed by the management device, so a distributed processing method in which some processing is left to the unit control device of the terminal is adopted. Then, on a regular basis, data for all terminals was collected and the operating status was monitored.

Further, when the regular data is collected, the amount of data handled by the management device 400 becomes enormous. Therefore, in this embodiment, these data are organized by file management to facilitate handling.

FIG. 51 shows a main storage device M in which a data file is set.
-MEM configuration and Table 19 shows the function and save location of each file.

Of the files in the main storage device M-MEM, the files FL1 to FL5 except for the transmission address file FL6 are saved in the hard disk HDD (auxiliary) storage device 403 at the time of power failure. Further, data files relating to the terminals, that is, pachinko machine files (hereinafter referred to as P machine files) FL2, issuing machine files FL3 and settlement machine files FL4 are stored in the floppy disk FDD (auxiliary storage device 402) at the end of business hours as daily report files. , And monthly operation data.

Further, the set value file FL5 and the transmission address file FL6 are loaded from the hard disk HDD into the main storage device M-MEM at the time of starting the system, and are saved on the hard disk HDD when there is a change.

The setting value file is loaded into a common data area CDA provided in the main storage device M-MEM. This common data area CDA is an area that becomes a working area of the central processing unit CPU, and includes the above-mentioned setting file.
In addition to the FL5, a system mode, the latest card issue serial number, a power failure flag, a random number for creating a card number, and the like are stored.

Next, each file shown in Table 19 will be described in more detail.

The setting value file FL5 in the table is based on the system characteristics and configuration, such as the exchange rate of purchased balls, the store code, the number of terminals, the number of prize balls, the number of hits, etc. Is a setting value that fluctuates. This setting value file is normally loaded from the hard disk HDD to the main storage device at the start of business.
Further, the setting value file FL5 can be updated by the console 412 by pressing the built-in switch 438 when replacing a pachinko machine or the like.

 Table 20 shows a configuration example of the setting value file FL5.

In the figure, the purchase ball exchange rate is the number of lending balls per purchase price unit (for example, 200 yen), that is, the minimum number of balls, and the number of NAUs is the connection between the high-layer network and the low-layer network as a data transmission system. The total number of network adapter units (communication control devices) provided in the unit. In the above file, the type and number of terminals connected below each NAU are set in the table indicated by h. Further, the number of prize balls from a certain pachinko machine to a certain pachinko machine is set in the table indicated by the symbol j. Two types of prize balls can be set for each prize ball. Moreover, j = 1
In this embodiment, as shown by .about.Y, all the pachinko machines in the game arcade are divided into groups of Y, and two main and sub prize balls can be set separately.
However, consecutive machine numbers are given to pachinko machines having the same set value, and the target range is specified by the start number and end number.

Further, the number of hits and the hit mode are set in a table indicated by k. Here, the hit mode indicates a method of calculating the number of hits (arithmetic formula). For example, a mode in which hitting is performed when the number of payout prize balls reaches the hit number,
There is a mode in which the number of hit balls is subtracted from the number of payout prize balls and the number of hit balls reaches the number of hits. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, as shown by k = 1 to Z, the number of hits and the hitting mode can be set independently for each of Z groups.

Table 21 shows a configuration example of a transmission address file FL6 used for data transmission.

In Table 21, the type flag is a flag for indicating the type of terminal. "1" indicates a pachinko machine, "2" indicates a card issuing machine, "4" indicates a checkout machine, and "0" indicates a terminal. Indicates the absence of each. NAU status indicates the status of the NAU, as shown in Table 22, the bit B ₄ "1" when is set to the token bus is abnormal, and the bit B ₁ "1" is If set, "Opening code"
That has already received a packet, if set to "1" More bit B _0, respectively that the NAU is normal.

The terminal number and serial number are the terminal number and its serial number created except for "4" and "9". The unit number is placed under one NAU (network adapter unit) regardless of the type of terminal. The number of each terminal, that is, the number that is an address on a low-layer network described later, and the channel number is the address of each terminal viewed from the management device, that is, the number that is an address on a high-layer network described later. However, in the system of the embodiment, the number of pachinko machines connected under one NAU is set to 64 or less.

The NAU number and the unit number are set by the setting switches (1
71, 205, 305, 544). In the case of a pachinko parlor, the pachinko machine numbers are customarily "4" and "9".
It is a jump number given by a number excluding. Here, the fact that "4" and "9" are not used indicates that an octal representation is possible. Therefore, the unit numbers expressed in decimal notation are represented by only the numbers 0 to 7 using the conversion table shown in Table 23. According to this, for example, a stand number of “258” is described as “247”.

If this is represented by a binary code in a binary octal system, it will be "010/100/111". This code indicates the decimal "167", which results in "4" and "9"
Pachinko machine numbers that are missing are consecutive serial numbers.
On the other hand, in order to reduce the address on the low-layer network to 8 bits, the lower 8 bits of the above code are taken, and this is taken as 2 bits.
Assuming the code "1010-0111" expressed in the octal evolution system,
If this is expressed in HEXA, it will be "A7H". Furthermore, besides pachinko machines, terminals such as issuing machines and settlement machines are also connected under one NAU. To give them an 8-bit unit number, the number of pachinko machines under one NAU is increased by 64.
The number is limited to one, and the logical product of the code "A7H" and the code "3FH" (corresponding to 64 in decimal) is obtained to obtain "27H". "3
ANDing with "FH" means an operation to find the remainder when divided by 64. In this embodiment, this is used as the unit number. And at the beginning of this unit number
"NAU number + unit number" with the NAU number is used as the channel number. According to such a method, in the custom of a pachinko game store having a number that does not use “4” and “9”, efficient address processing that matches the characteristics of a microcomputer that performs data processing using only the binary system Becomes possible.

The above transmission address file is created by input from the console when the system is installed, but NAU itself creates an address file (unit table) for the unit under its control based on the input from the serial number setting device when the system starts up. And keep it in memory,
After the line test, the management device makes a unit table request to the NAU, compares it with the response data, and if it does not match, automatically changes (described later). The transmission address file is stored in the built-in switch 438 on the back of the console.
Can also be changed.

In addition, NAU, issuing machine and checkout machine are given consecutive serial numbers starting from "1" for each type as machine numbers.
For U and the payment machine, the machine number is used as it is as the address (unit number), and for the issuing machine, the machine number plus "128" is used as the address (unit number) on the low-layer network. This is to avoid address duplication when a pachinko machine having the same machine number and an issuing machine coexist under the same NAU. Duplication of pachinko machine and checkout machine addresses is avoided by not allowing both to coexist under the same NAU. Also, the issuing machine and the checkout machine can be placed under the same NAU (because the machine number +128 is used as the issuing machine address).

Furthermore, the address of the NAU 530 on the high-layer network uses the NAU number set by the setting unit 544, and the address of the NAU on the low-layer network uses a fixed address of “255”. The address of the management device is “0”.

Table 24 shows a configuration example of the card file FL1. The card file FL1 contains information for each card.

In Table 24, the card number is a number obtained from the issue serial number n using the function f (n), and the number of balls held, the amount, and the card status indicate the current status of the card specified by the issue serial number n and the card number. This information is referred to as a card text in this embodiment. Here, the card state is, as shown in the following Table 25, a bit indicating a free state that is not used for a game, a bit indicating a game, a bit indicating a pause temporarily moving away from the gaming machine, A bit indicating that the card has been settled at the checkout machine, a bit indicating that the number of balls held and the balance of the card have both become zero, a bit indicating that one or more hits have occurred in the past, and a forced termination And a bit indicating that the card has been used in the pachinko machine that has been used.

Returning to Table 24, the terminal file serial number indicating the position of the terminal where the card is currently located and the terminal number are registered in the card file FL1. Since pachinko machine gaming stores do not use the numbers “4” and “9” as unit numbers as a convention, two types of terminal numbers, back and front, are generated.

In Table 24, the i-counter indicates the number of times the card has taken an action, that is, the number of times the card has been ejected from the system, which is an organic combination, to the outside. Number, number of balls, amount,
Card information such as time, that is, card history is recorded. Statistically, most players play with less than 20 pachinko machines per day.
It is decided to record the card history up to 20 times. However, 20
If the number of times exceeds the number of times, the information is recorded in a form updating the table indicated by i = 20. In the above case, the i counter does not count the interruption of the game. That is, each card information is recorded in a new area at the time of interruption, but the value of the i-counter is substantially updated by recording the card information in the same area without updating the counter when the game end switch is turned on after the interruption is released, and recording the card information in the same area. The number is matched.

Here, the registration of the card state and action and the card information of the card file FL1 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a card is issued in the card issuing machine 200, the card is ejected and the card shifts from the unissued (blank) state SS0 to the free state SS1. then,
When the card is inserted into the desired pachinko machine 100, the gaming state S
Move to S2. Here, when the ball and the amount of money of the card become zero by the game, the card is ejected and the state is returned to zero return SS3
Move on to Further, when the interruption switch 115 is pressed during the game, the card is ejected, and the state shifts to the interruption state SS4, and returns to the game state SS2 again by reinserting the same card. Then, when the end switch 114 is pressed to end the game during the game, the card is ejected and the state shifts to the free state SS1. The card is ejected by the forced termination or hitting by the CPU, and the game state SS2 is shifted to the free state SS1.
When the user goes to the checkout machine 300 with the card in the free state and performs the checkout process, the card is collected after an invalid mark is added, and the state is shifted to the settled state SS5. In the system of this embodiment, it is also possible to go to the checkout machine 300 without returning to the pachinko machine with the card in the interrupted state SS4 and perform the checkout process.In that case, the state shifts from the interrupted state SS4 to the settled state SS5. .

In the state transition diagram described above, an action accompanied by recording of card information in the card file FL3 is indicated by a circle in the arrow indicating the transition direction. In each block, the code indicated by XXH represents the corresponding state in hexadecimal using the code indicating the card state in Table 25 (HE
XA expression).

 Next, Table 26 shows a configuration example of the P machine file FL2.

In the table, items from the machine number to the card status are as follows:
The data held in the transmission data area shown in Table 1 is sampled once a second by the management device 400 and registered in a file. In addition, the number of main prize balls, the number of sub prize balls, the number of hits, and the hit mode,
Setting value file shown in Table 20 at system startup
It is registered in the P machine file FL2 based on FL5.

In Table 26, the data marked with a circle means that the data is saved on a floppy disk as a daily report file at the end of the system. The monitor information 1 and 2 in the pachinko machine file are shown in Tables 4 and 5, and the operation information is shown in Table 6.

Next, Table 27 and Table 28 show the issuing machine file FL3 and the settlement machine file FL4, respectively. The data items shown in Table 27 are stored in the transmission data area of the issuing machine shown in Table 10, and the data items shown in Table 28 are stored in the transmission data area shown in Table 15. And each of the data matches. These are sampled by the management device once a second.

In Tables 26 and 27, data marked with a circle in the save column is data saved on the floppy disk FDD at the end of business.

Further, the monitor information 1 and 2 in the issuing machine file are shown in Tables 12 and 13, and the monitor information 1 and 2 of the checkout machine file are shown in Tables 17 and 18. Further, when the operation information of the issuing machine and the operation information of the settlement machine are 0000 0000 0000 0001, it indicates that the machine is in operation.

Next, the card issuing machine 200 as a terminal configured as described above, the pachinko machine 100, the payment machine 300, and the management device 400 that performs centralized control of those terminals are organically connected to perform data transmission and card transfer. A data transmission path (local area network) as a transmission means enabling operation will be described. FIG. 53 (A) shows a configuration example of a pachinko game system using a hierarchical data transmission path.

That is, 100 to 1000 terminals are grouped in units of 20 to 40, for example, in units such as amusement park island facilities, and each group of terminals is a token that circulates at high speed on a ring-shaped transmission path. A low-layer network of a token passing system (token bus) as a second transmission means, in which a node (terminal) that has received a packet indicating a transmission right has a right to transmit and receive data in the form of a packet.
A connection 510 is connected to a network adapter unit (hereinafter referred to as NAU) 530 as a relay control device.

The plurality of NAUs 530 that control each low-layer network (token bus) 510 include a CSMA as a first transmission unit.
/ CD (Carrier Sence Multiple Access with Collision
Detect) management device 4 via high-layer network 520
Connected to 00.

The low-layer network 510 is 2.5Mbps (megabit /
Second) and have a high-speed network 520
Is controlled to have a transmission rate such as 10 Mbps,
The NAU 530 acts as a buffer that absorbs the difference between the two transmission rates and enables smooth data transmission. That is, NAU5
Reference numeral 30 has a function of relaying data between heterogeneous networks and a function of logical collection and delivery of data. Thus, the data transmission path
The reason that the 500 is a hierarchical configuration is that a system in which the host computer directly communicates with all terminal units when more than 500 terminals are connected to one management device and when trying to collect regular data every second from each terminal Then, the load on the host computer becomes too large, and the transmission speed of the chiper net is as fast as 10 Mbps. However, since the controller LSI is expensive, the cost for directly connecting the terminal unit becomes too high. Also, the transmission speed is too slow to collect data once per second using only the token bus. In addition, in the system of the present embodiment, the transmission path configuring the high-layer network
Is also configured so that either a coaxial cable or an optical fiber cable can be used.

In FIG. 53 (A), the symbol P indicates a pachinko machine as a terminal, the symbol H indicates a card issuing machine, and the symbol S indicates a checkout machine. is there.

Each of the terminals P, H, S is connected to a branch line branched from the network 510. The control units 160, 250 and 350 of each terminal are connected to the end of each branch line. No.
In FIG. 53 (A), a unit control device of each terminal is indicated by reference numeral U.

As can be seen from the figure, 25 NAUs are arranged facing the management device in the high-layer network, and 23 pachinko machines, checkout machines, and issuing machines are arranged in the low-layer network facing the NAU. .

The low-layer network consists of one issuing machine and a pachinko machine.
There are two types: one issuing machine, 10 issuing machines, and 5 checkout machines. As described above, since at least one issuing machine exists in each low-layer network, NAU5 is used in this embodiment.
30 is mounted in the issuing machine 200. Issuer 1
The reason why 0 and 5 checkout machines are provided is that it is possible to arrange issuing machines or checkout machines in one place.

FIG. 53 (B) shows a configuration example of a network when a coaxial cable is used as a transmission line, and FIG. 53 (C)
2 shows a configuration example of a network when an optical fiber cable is used as a transmission path.

When using a coaxial cable as the transmission line, each NAU530
In parallel form by high-rise is connected to the network cable 515, the units _{(terminals) H 1, P 1, P} 2, ‥‥ P 22 is also T-shaped connector 505 in parallel form to one another by T-shaped connector 505 Connected to low-layer network cable 525.

On the other hand, when an optical fiber cable is used as the transmission line, the management device 400 is provided with a multi-channel optical transceiver 502 having a photoelectric conversion function and a transmission data distribution and reception data multiplexing function, and the NAU 530 has a transmission / reception data transmission function. Optical transceivers 507 for performing photoelectric conversion are provided, and each optical transceiver 507 and the multi-channel optical transceiver 502 are connected by a two-core optical fiber cable 512. In addition, NAU530 and units H ₁ , P ₁ , P ₂ ,
The ‥‥ P ₂₂ is provided an optical transceiver 508 for performing data communication of a token bus method in low-network respectively, connected by two-core optical fiber cables 522. Each of the optical transceivers 508 has an optical signal branch switching function as well as a photoelectric conversion function of transmission / reception data.

The optical transceivers 507 and 508 and the NAU 530 or the units H ₁ , P ₁ , P ₂ and ΔP ₂₂ are connected by a coaxial cable. Although the transmission and reception of data on the high-layer network 520 and the low-layer network 510 both use the packet switching method, the format of the packet differs on each network.

That is, the packet on the high-layer network 520 is 1
10 bits consisting of 64 bits, called preamble
It consists of a 10 ‥‥ 1011 synchronization signal, a destination address, a source address, a packet type column (unused), a data field of 48 to 1500 bytes, and an error correction code CRC. Although not particularly limited, data on the high-layer network is transmitted using Manchester codes.

On the other hand, on the low-layer network (token bus) 510, data is transmitted and received by five types of packets having different field configurations and functions. The five types of packets include a token packet for granting a transmission right, a free buffer inquiry packet for asking the other party whether reception is possible, a data packet for transmitting data, and an acknowledgment and a negative acknowledgment for the source. "ACK" packet and "NAK" packet. Each packet has a different length, but has a common bit pattern at the head indicating the head of the packet called an alert burst. In addition to the alert burst, the data packet has an address field indicating a transmission source and a transmission destination, a field indicating a data length, a data field, and a field containing an error correction code. Note that data is transmitted on the low-layer network 510 using an RZ (return-to-zero) code.

Table 29 below shows a list of packets used on the high-layer network, and Table 30 shows a list of packets used on the low-layer network.

The hard ACK in Table 30 is an ACK issued by hardware from the network controller, and is not a response in which the unit controller or the data transmission controller is involved in software.

FIG. 54 (A) shows the NAU buffering data transmission between the low-layer network 510 and the high-layer network 520.
(Network adapter unit) 530 shows an example of the circuit configuration, and FIG. 2B shows an example of the configuration of a unit body incorporating the same.

The NAU 530 of this embodiment includes a low-layer network controller 533 as an example of the data transmission unit that establishes a transmission / reception right in the low-layer network 510 and performs serial / parallel conversion of data, and a transmission / reception right in a CSMA / CD system high-layer network. An upper layer network controller 537 that performs establishment and serial-parallel conversion of data, and a data transmission controller 535 as an example of the data transmission unit that controls data transfer between these network controllers 533 and 537. . Of the above controllers, low-level network controller 533
Comprises a communication LSI dedicated to token passing, and the high-layer network controller 537 and the data transmission controller 535 are configured by general-purpose microcomputers. Further, between these controllers 533 and 535 and between 535 and 537, a buffer packet as an example constituting a conversion means for absorbing a difference in data transmission speed between the low-layer network 510 and the high-layer network 520 is provided. The memory 534 and the data memory 536 are connected respectively. The packet memory 534 and the data memory 536 are constituted by dual port memories, and have a transmission data area and a reception data area. The data memory 536 has a regular data area for storing regular data collected from the unit, a unit table area for storing unit transmission addresses on a low-layer network, and a working area for the data transmission controller 535, in addition to the transmission / reception data area. ing. The data in the transmission data area (see Table 1, Table 10 and Table 15) of all units is entered in the regular data area, and the unit table area has the same configuration as the transmission address file of the management device. Also, a transceiver 508 that performs waveform shaping and level conversion of transmission / reception data signals is connected to the low-layer network controller 533. In addition, as described above, the transceiver 508 is connected via the changeover switch 542 so as to be able to cope with the case where the transmission line of the low-layer network is constituted by a coaxial cable or an optical fiber cable. A branch circuit 540 for separating and coupling a transmission signal and a reception signal and an optical connector 186 are connectable. Coaxial cable connector 1 for branch circuit 540
87 is connected.

Similarly, a transceiver 507 that performs waveform shaping and level conversion of transmission / reception data signals is connected to the high-layer network controller 537. Moreover, as described above, the transceiver 507 transmits the transmission signal via the changeover switch 543 so as to be able to cope with the case where the transmission line of the low-layer network is constituted by a coaxial cable or an optical fiber cable. And a branch circuit 541 for separating and coupling a received signal and an optical connector 186. Branch circuit 541 has coaxial cable connector 187
Is connected.

Further, the NAU 530 of this embodiment has a NAU number setting unit 544 for setting a number for distinguishing a plurality of NAUs from each other.
Among the terminals existing on the low-layer network 510 under the control of each NAU 530, the minimum number setting device 545 for setting the minimum number of the pachinko machine or the settlement machine, and existing on the low-layer network under its own control. There are provided a number setting device 546 for setting the number of pachinko machines or payment machines to be set, setting devices 547 and 548 for setting the minimum number of issuing machines and the number of connected machines, and a setting device 549 for setting the type of NAU. Here, the NAU type indicates that the configuration of the terminal indicates either a combination of an issuing machine and a pachinko machine or a combination of an issuing machine and a payment machine. The set values of the setting units 544 to 549 are input to the data transmission controller 535 in the NAU 530 via the buffer gate 538, and the NAU number is used for forming the transmission address of each NAU in the high-layer network 520. Also, the transmission address of each terminal in the low-layer network 510 is formed by the minimum number and the number.

In FIG. 54 (A), 531 is a program memory for storing a control program of the data transmission controller 535, and 532 is each controller 535, 537 and memories 531 and 53.
This is a system bus connecting 4,536 lines.

The board on which the circuit having the above configuration is mounted is shown in FIG. 54 (B).
Built in the NAU unit body 539. This unit body
The connector 186 for the high-layer and low-layer network optical fiber cable and the connector 187 for the high-layer and low-layer network coaxial cable are respectively provided on the front and rear walls of the 539.
Are provided. Further, on the upper surface of the unit main body 539, the various setting units 545 to 549 are provided. NAU
The number setting device 544 is provided on a substrate in the case.

In addition, 501 is a power switch, 502 is a power-on lamp,
503 is a power fuse, and 504 is a power connector.

In the local network having a hierarchical configuration in which the high-layer network and the low-layer network are connected via the NAU 530 as described above (FIG. 53), when the system starts up, the management apparatus 400 performs a line test through each NAU 530 and a setting for each terminal. While setting values, the NAU 530 collects operation data from the terminals P, H, and S once a second using the low-layer network 510 and stores the data in its own memory while the system is operating. The stored data is stored in the management device
In response to a request from 400, the data is stored in the data file in the management device 400 from each NAU 530 through the high-rise network 520 once a second.

As described above, the communication network has a hierarchical configuration using the NAU 530 as a buffer, and the high-layer network 520 has a transmission rate four times the transmission rate of 2.5 Mbps of the low-layer network 510. Tables 1, 10 and 10 from each terminal
A large amount of operation data as shown in FIG. 15 can be collected to the management device once a second.

Table 31 shows the management devices in the data transmission system.
The types of packets transmitted and received between the management device 400 and the pachinko machine 100, the card issuing machine 200, and the unit controllers 190, 290, and 390 of the payment machine 300 between the NAU 530 and the NAU 530, respectively, are shown.

In the table, a unit is a terminal (pachinko,
Control unit of a card issuing machine or a payment machine).
A packet called "unit table request" is used by the management device to confirm the connection and address of the unit connected to each NAU when the system is started. The unit receives the ACK packet monitor information 1 from the NAU. Connection is confirmed. Also, the address information in the packet is compared with the value of the unit table file, and if they do not match, the data is changed to the data in the packet. The unit whose connection cannot be confirmed is confirmed again by the subsequent initial value setting packet.

The “card-in” to “interruption end” packets shown in Table 31 are packets specific to the pachinko machine 100. Among them, the “card-in” packet is transmitted to the control unit 160 of the pachinko machine. When inserted, this is a packet for requesting information (card text) on the card from the unit side to the management device 400. Here, the card text is the card number, the number of balls,
This is a text containing four pieces of information of the amount (unused portion) and the card status. The packet “return to zero” is used to transmit the card text from the control unit 160 of the pachinko machine to the management device 400 when both the number of balls held and the amount of the card become zero during the game with the pachinko machine. Packet.

On the other hand, the packet of "interruption end" is when the player presses the interruption switch 114 to receive the card, leaves the pachinko machine, and then inserts the card into the checkout machine without returning to the suspended pachinko machine and performs the settlement. Is a packet for issuing a command for canceling the suspended state of the pachinko machine that is being suspended by the management device. As a result, the player can return to the pachinko machine that has been interrupted and can perform the settlement without pressing the game end switch 115.

The “card purchase” packet listed in Table 31 is a packet unique to the card issuing machine 200, and when a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 211 of the issuing machine and the purchase selection switch 212 is turned on, the unit is purchased. Control device 280 to management device 400
Is a packet for requesting a card number and a serial number for the card.

In the system of this embodiment, the card issuing machine 200
Make a reservation such as a card number before the bill is inserted into
A card issuing machine to prepare for printing and issuing money when bills are actually inserted
When 200 transmits a "card purchase" packet in which the card amount column is "0", the management device 400 determines that the packet is an issuance reservation packet, determines an issuance serial number and a card number, and stores it in the card file. After securing the area of the card, an ACK packet containing the serial number and the card number is returned to the card issuing machine. On the other hand, when a bill is inserted, the card issuing machine transmits a “card purchase” packet in which the actual purchase amount is entered in the card amount column to the management device. Then, the management device looks at the card number column, determines that the card is reserved for issuance, searches the card file, writes data such as the purchase amount and the issuance time in the data area of the card, and then transmits the ACK packet. It is to be returned to the issuing machine.

The “card settlement” and “card settlement end” packets listed in Table 31 are packets unique to the card settlement machine 300 and are transmitted from the unit control device 350 when a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 302 of the settlement machine. This is a packet for sending the card number of the card to the management device 400 and requesting the unused amount, the number of balls, and the history of the card.

The “card settlement completed” packet is a packet for notifying the management device 400 that the card settlement has been completed. When the management device receives this packet, the card status of the card in the card file is set to “payment completed”. And writes the data at the time of settlement in the column of i = 20 of the history data. A management device for this "card settlement end" packet
By transmitting the “ACK” packet of the payment device 300 from 400, the payment process of the card is completed, and the next card can be inserted into the payment device.

The “line monitor check” packet in Table 31 indicates that the NAU
This is a packet to confirm the recovery of the NAU. It is transmitted periodically (every 30 seconds) until the recovery, and the recovery is confirmed by receiving the ACK packet from the NAU. The operation data of all the units is transmitted, and the NAU and the units are restored. The “unit monitor check” packet is a packet for confirming the recovery of a unit when the unit is determined to be abnormal based on the scheduled data. The packet is transmitted periodically until the unit is recovered, and an ACK packet is received from the NAU. Confirm recovery with. Upon receiving this packet, the NAU performs a connection check with the network controller of the unit, and when the connection is confirmed, transmits an ACK packet to the management device.

Furthermore, the packets “ACK” and “NAK” in Table 31 are transmitted between the management device 400 and the network adapter unit 530.
And between each of the terminals 100, 200, and 300, when receiving a transmission request, when responding to the request to the other party when responding to the request and when responding to not responding to the request. When returning "ACK", requested data such as a card text may be added.

Note that the packet codes 80H, 81H,
‥ is displayed in hexadecimal notation, and its code is merely an example, and it is needless to say that the code is not limited to this.

FIG. 55 (A) shows the basic configuration of a packet transmitted and received between the management device 400 and the NAU 530 via the high-layer network 520, and FIG. 55 (B) shows the relationship between the management device 400 and each unit. The basic configuration of the packets transmitted and received between the units (excluding command packets that do not require ACK) on the high-layer network 520, and FIG. 55 (C) shows the configuration between the NAU 530 and each unit via the low-layer network 510. 2 shows a basic configuration of a packet transmitted and received.

In FIG. 55, a packet head used in the high-layer network 520 is indicated by HHD, and a packet head used in the low-layer network 510 is indicated by LHD.

By the way, in the system according to the present embodiment, the communication control by the NAU 530 can be roughly classified into control that simply mediates communication and auxiliary control that substitutes for control of the management device. Of these, the auxiliary control means that the management device entrusts the NAU with the communication control for information exchange that must be performed directly with the unit, and the NAU exchanges information with the unit, and a line test at system startup Information that is not related to card data, such as a store opening code, regular data collection, etc., corresponds to this. With this method, 25 management devices
It is sufficient to communicate with the NAU, and since the NAU only needs to communicate with 23 units, the burden on the management device is greatly reduced.

On the other hand, at the time of mediation control, NAU 530 may simply remove or add a packet head to a transmitted / received packet.

That is, the packet of the format as shown in FIG. 55 (B) transmitted from the management device 400 to the unit is removed from the high-layer packet head HHD by the NAU 530 and the low-layer network 5
The NAU530 sends a packet to the management device 400 using only the low-layer packet head LHD and sends it to the management device 400.
Is added and sent out on the high-layer network 520 as a packet in the format of FIG. 55 (B).

In Table 32, the definition of the unique data laid out in the head portion of each packet is described.

FIGS. 56 to 61 show examples of typical packet formats transmitted and received between the management apparatus 400 and the NAU 530 on the high-layer network 510. FIG.

In the “line test” packet shown in FIG. 56 (A), the date and time code, the identification code (store code), the number of pachinko machines, issuing machines, and payment machines belonging to the destination NAU 530 and the minimum of each Enter the machine number and send. Then NAU530
Stores a date code and an identification code, and compares it with a number calculated based on the set value of the unit number setting switch 562 and the like, and sends it to the management device 400 as shown in FIG. 56 (B). Returns “ACK” packet. When the NAU 530 receives the “line test” packet from the management device, the NAU 530 calculates in advance for all the units belonging to itself under the control of the unit number setting unit or the number setting units 544 to 548 by itself. A "line test" packet to which only the packet head LHD for the low-layer network is attached is formed using the transmitted address, and the packet is transmitted to the second unit one after another while updating the address. Then, "ACK" containing the unit number, the serial number, and the channel number is received from each unit, and a unit table as a transmission address file is created and stored based on the received data.

FIG. 57 (A) shows the structure of a “unit table request” packet from the management device 400 to the NAU 530, and FIG. 57 (B) shows the structure of an “ACK” packet as a response.
Upon receiving the "unit table request" packet, NAU 530 returns an "ACK" packet containing the NAU number and NAU status and data on all units in the unit table.

FIGS. 58 (A) and (B) show the structure of the “initial value setting” packet from the management apparatus 400 to the pachinko machine 100 and the “ACK” packet as a response on the high-layer network.
In the data column of this packet, initial values such as the purchased ball rate and the number of prize balls required for operation of the pachinko machine are entered and transmitted.

FIG. 58 (A) shows an “initial value setting” packet for the pachinko machine. In an “initial value setting” packet (not shown) for the issuing machine 200 and the settlement machine 300, the date and time code and An identification code and a hot code are inserted and transmitted.

Further, FIGS. 59 (A) and 59 (B) show the structures of the "periodic data request" packet for the pachinko machine and the response packet among the "periodic data request" packet for the unit.

In the response packet to the scheduled data request shown in FIG. 59 (B), below the packet head LHD,
The operation data of all pachinko machines belonging to one NAU530 is linked, and the head and data indicated by * 1 relate to the first pachinko machine, and the head and data indicated by * 2 relate to the second pachinko machine. The data for all pachinko machines continue in the same manner.

The data column of the response packet (not shown) of the scheduled data request to the issuing machine 200 or the payment machine 300 includes all data in the transmission data area of all the issuing machines (see Table 10) or the transmission data of all the payment machines. Send all data in the area (see Table 15).

FIG. 60 shows an example of the configuration of various instruction packets without data from the management device 400 to the settlement machine 300 and their response packets.

In the packet type column PACKET ＄ TYPE in the figure, code 90
One of H (Opening code), 91H (Closed code), 95H (Forced termination request), 96H (Forced termination release), 8CH (Line monitor check), or B1H (Restart) is entered. In addition, the “forced termination request”, “forced termination release”,
Among the “restart” packets, the type (for the entire unit) packet has a column for entering a code indicating the unit type.

FIGS. 61 (A) to 61 (C) show the “card-in” packet, its acknowledgment packet “ACK” and its negative acknowledgment packet “NAK” transmitted to the management device when a card is inserted into the pachinko machine. 5 shows a format of a packet on the high-layer network 520.

In the data field of the “card-in” transmission packet, a card text in which only the card number is written is read from the unit memory and sent. On the other hand, the data field of the response "ACK" packet contains the card text among the data related to the card read from the card file of the management device. In addition, the card state in the card text indicates the updated card state.

The transmission / reception packet when the interruption switch is turned on, the transmission / reception packet when the interruption card is inserted, the transmission / reception packet when the settlement switch is turned on, and the transmission / reception packet when the “return to zero” or “stop” occurs The configuration is also the same as the “card-in” packet and its response packet in FIG. 61, and the point where the corresponding packet code A2H, A1H, A3H, A4H or A5H enters in the packet type column and the card text in the data column respectively. The only difference is that different data of the other card is entered. Especially “Card In”
In the packet, the "ball count", "amount", and "card status" fields of the card text are "0", while in other packets of the same type, data relating to the card is also stored in those fields. Send it in.

62 and 63 show typical examples of the format of a packet transmitted and received between the pachinko machine 100 and the NAU 530 via the low-layer network 510.

Of these, FIG. 62 shows a configuration example of a “scheduled data transmission” packet, and FIGS. 63 (A) and 63 (B) show a configuration example of a “unit recovery data” transmission / reception packet.

Of these, the “scheduled data transmission” packet contains the transmission of the unit memory of the pachinko machine and all the data in the data area and sends it. The management device receives this data and sends the data to the pachinko machine in the P machine file. Update the data of. On the other hand, in the “unit recovery data” packet, all data in the P device file of the management device, the date read from the set value file, the identification code and the hot code are made to match the configuration of the data area of the unit memory. I will send you. However, the reception data packet head and the card text overlapping the transmission data area of the unit memory do not duplicate transmission, and the unit controller copies the transmission data area to the reception data area. In a response packet to the above packet, all data in the transmission data area is put and transmitted.

FIGS. 64 to 66 show typical examples of the format of a packet transmitted and received between the card issuer 200 and the NAU 530 in the low-layer network 510.

FIGS. 64 (A) to 64 (C) show examples of the structure of a “card purchase” packet for requesting the management apparatus to issue a card issuance reservation, a response packet “ACK” and a negative response “NAK”.

In the data field of the "card purchase" packet at the time of card issuance reservation, only the issuance receipt number m indicating the number of the issuance card in the issuing machine is entered, and the card amount, card number, and issuance serial number are Send as "0". On the other hand, in the data field of the response "ACK" packet, the management apparatus inserts and issues the issue serial numbers n for all issuing machines determined from the issue acceptance number m and the card numbers calculated from the issue serial numbers n. In the "check sum" field at the end of the ACK packet, an added value from the issuer number to the issue receipt number is entered as a check code.

On the other hand, when a bill is inserted into the issuing machine and the purchase amount is determined, the "card purchase" sent from the issuing machine to the management device is determined.
The structure of the response packet is exactly the same as that of the packet shown in Fig. 64. The actual purchase amount is entered in the card amount column of the transmission packet, and the numbers already determined at the time of reservation are entered in the card number and issue serial number columns. The only difference is that you put the

Further, FIG. 65 shows a configuration example of a “periodic data transmission” packet, and FIGS. 66 (A) and (B) show a configuration example of a “unit recovery data” transmission / reception packet.

The “scheduled data transmission” packet contains all the data in the transmission data area of the unit memory of the issuing machine and sends it. The management device receives this data and sends the data of the issuing machine in the issuing machine file. Update data. However, the card amount and the issuance receipt number of the transmission data are data that are not used in the management device, and therefore are not registered in the file even if transmitted.

On the other hand, in the “unit recovery data” packet, all data in the issuing device file of the management device, the date read from the setting value file, the identification code and the hot code are included.
The data is sent according to the configuration of the data area of the unit memory 550. However, for the received data packet head and the card text that overlap with the transmission data area of the unit memory, duplicate transmission is omitted, and the unit controller 290
Is to copy from the transmission data area to the reception data area. The data indicated by * 4 in the received data is written in the received data area in the unit memory. In the response packet to the above packet, only the entire data in the transmission data area is inserted and transmitted.

67 to 70 show typical examples of the format of a packet transmitted and received between the card settlement machine 300 and the management device 400 on the low-layer network 520. FIGS. 67 (A) to 67 (C) show examples of the structure of a "card settlement" packet requesting the management device to settle the card, and its response packets "ACK" and "NAK".

At the time of card settlement, only the card number read by the card reader of the settlement machine is sent in the data field of the "card settlement" packet and sent. On the other hand, in the data field of the response "ACK" packet, data of the card read out by reading out the card file by using the issue serial number n calculated backward from the card number in the management device is sent.

On the other hand, when the payment processing such as refund of unused money or issuance of a receipt printed with the number of balls in the payment machine 300 is completed, the “card payment end” sent from the payment machine 300 to the management device 400 and a configuration of a response packet thereof Is shown in FIG. Only the card number is put in the data field of the transmission packet and sent. The data field is unnecessary for the response packet.

In addition, Fig. 69 shows "scheduled data transmission" from the payment machine.
FIGS. 70A and 70B show an example of the structure of a packet, and FIGS. 70 (A) and 70 (B) show examples of the structure of a packet for transmitting and receiving "unit recovery data" relating to the settlement machine.

Of these, the "scheduled data transmission" packet contains all the data in the transmission data area of the unit memory of the settlement machine and sends it, and the management device receives this data and transmits the data of the settlement machine in the settlement machine file. Update data. However, since the card number of the transmission data is data that is not used in the management device, even if transmitted, it is not registered in the file.

On the other hand, in the “unit recovery data” packet, all data in the checkout machine file of the management device 400, the date read from the set value file, the identification code and the hot code are included in the data area configuration of the unit memory 550. I will send it with matching. However, for the received data packet head and hot code that overlap the transmission data area of the unit memory, duplicate transmission is omitted and the unit controller
The 390 copies the received data area from the transmitted data area. The data indicated by * 6 in the received data is written in the received data area of the unit memory 550. In the response packet to the "unit recovery data" packet, all the data in the transmission data area are put and transmitted.

The packets shown in FIG. 55 to FIG. 70 are not the whole of the original packet put on the network but only the main part, and in addition to the above-mentioned packet, an alert burst for finding the head of data , A header section including a source address field indicating a transmission source, a synchronization data, a count section indicating a data length, and a check code section for error detection. These are automatically generated and added by the network controller 553 in the unit control device of each terminal.

The "PADDING" portion added to the end of each packet in FIGS. 56 to 61 is a dummy data field added to adjust the length of the packet data to a predetermined length.

Next, the control procedure of the data transmission controller 535 and the procedure of low-layer network abnormality detection processing by a timer interrupt in the NAU 530 that mediates data transmission between the two networks 510 and 520 are shown in FIG. 71 and FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power of the NAU 530 is turned on and a reset pulse is supplied, the data transmission controller 535 starts the initialization processing shown in FIG.

Then, first, the NAU provided on the upper surface of the unit body 539
Number setting device 544, pachinko machine or checkout machine minimum number setting device 545, pachinko machine or checkout machine connection number setting device 5
46, the setting values of the issuing machine minimum machine number setting device 547, the issuing machine connection number setting device 548, and the NAU type setting device 549 are read (steps S1 to S6). Then, based on the unit number and the number read in step S1, the own address on the high-layer network 520 and the unit number, address (unit number), serial number, and the like of each terminal on the low-layer network 510 under its control. The channel number is calculated by the method described above (step S7).

Thereafter, the network controller 533, 537 is initialized by giving initial value data (step S8), and then, in the monitor table (regular data storage area) in the data memory 536, the machine number, serial number, and channel number calculated in step S7. Is written, and the type of each unit (the distinction between the pachinko machine and the issuing machine) is determined and written from the set value of the NAU type setting device, and the other operation data is cleared to "0" (step S9). Then, the unit table (transmission address storage area) in the data memory 536 also contains the NAU number, the type name of each unit, the unit number,
The serial number and the channel number are written, and each bit of the NAU status and monitor information 1 in the unit table is cleared to "0" (step S10).

Next, the data transmission controller 535 waits for a packet to be sent from the master control device 401 of the management device (step S11), and upon receiving the packet, determines whether the packet is a “line test” or a “unit table request”. Is determined (steps S12, S13).

When it is determined that the received packet is a “unit table request”, the process proceeds from step S13 to S14, and transmits an “ACK” packet containing the data of the unit table read from the data memory 536 to the management device. Then, after setting the one-second timer for the timer interrupt and starting the timer interrupt, the process returns to step S11 to wait for reception of the next packet (step S15).

On the other hand, if the received packet is a "line test", the process proceeds from step S12 to S21, where an "ACK" packet is first transmitted to the management apparatus, and then the NAU is set based on the set values of the serial number setting units 546 and 548. The number of units connected to is set in a counter or the like (steps S21, S22). Next, a "line test" packet is transmitted to each unit under its control using the address calculated in step S7, and then a timer is set (steps S23 and S24). Then, check the timer and check the “AC
When the "K" packet returns, the token bus abnormality bit B6 of the monitor information 1 for the corresponding unit in the monitor table is cleared to "0" (steps S25 to S27). If the "ACK" packet has not returned within the predetermined time, the token bus abnormal bit B6 of the monitor information 1 is set to "1" (step S28). Then, after subtracting (-1) from the counter set in step S22, it is determined whether or not it has become "0", thereby determining whether or not transmission of the "line test" packet has been completed for all units. When the processing is completed, the process returns to step S23 to send a packet to the next unit. When the processing is completed for all units, the process returns to step S11 to wait for reception of a “unit table request” packet.

Further, if the received packet is neither "line test" nor "unit table request" in step S11, it is determined in step S16 whether or not the packet is a registered packet other than those described above. After executing the corresponding process, the process returns to step S11 and waits for reception of the next packet (step S17).

The NAU process corresponding to each received packet is simply a mediation process (removal or addition of a packet head) of data transmission between the management device and the unit, or an auxiliary process of transmitting a command packet to each unit in place of the management device. Since these will be gradually clarified in the following description of the flow of the entire system, description thereof will be omitted here.

On the other hand, when an interrupt signal comes in every one second from the interrupt timer set in step S15, the data transmission controller 535 of the NAU starts the low-layer network abnormality detection processing of FIG. 72, and first, in steps S3 and S5. After setting the number of connected units read in step 3 in the counter, it is determined whether or not the regular data has been received from each unit within the past three seconds (steps S31 and S32). If it has been received, the process jumps to step S34. If it has not been received, in step S33, the token bus abnormal bit B6 of the monitor information 1 in the column of the unit in the regular data storage area of the data memory 536 is set to " Step S3 after setting to "1"
Move to 3. Then, the counter set in step S31 is subtracted, and it is determined whether or not the check has been completed for all units by determining whether or not the value has become "0". If not completed, the process returns to step S32 to perform the above procedure. repeat. As a result, it is possible to detect a communication abnormality in the low-layer network and to embody it in the monitor information 1.

Next, the operation of the pachinko gaming system that conducts business while performing data transmission between the management device and each terminal using each packet shown in Table 31 will be described.

FIG. 73 shows the flow of the procedure of the initialization of each terminal and the line test of the network by the management device 400.

When the system is powered on, the management device 400
First, the central processing unit CPU clears all the files FL1 to FL6 in the main storage device M-MEM, and then a file (framework).
Is created (step S2501). On the other hand, the local processing device 413 first displays an initial screen on the CRT display device 411, and then notifies the central processing device of the date and time (steps S1501, S1
502). Then, when the central processing unit does not determine the presence or absence of the power failure file, the hard disk (the auxiliary storage device 1)
Initial values such as the number of terminals, the number of awarded balls, the number of hits, etc. are read from the set value file to initialize each file in the main storage device, and a random number for calculating a card number from a card issue serial number is read. Occurs (steps S2502 to S25
04). Then, when a line test request command is sent from the local processing unit, the
Start a line test using the NAU address (step S
1503, S2505). That is, a “line test” packet is transmitted to each NAU 530 using the high-layer network 520. At this time, the local processing device displays a message “line test in progress” on the CRT display 411 and waits for a response of the line test result (step S1504). The “line test” packet is transmitted with the date and identification code (store number) added together with the packet head.

On the other hand, when the power is turned on, the NAU530 first sets the setting values (NAU number, minimum unit number,
The number of terminals, etc.), calculate the network transmission address of each terminal, create a unit table, recognize the transmission addresses of each unit (terminal) and the NAU itself, and clear the monitor table that contains the operation data of each unit (Steps S3501 to S3504). And
Upon receiving a “line test” packet from the management device,
The NAU returns an “ACK” packet containing the transmission address calculated by itself in the unit table (steps S3505, S350
6). The address calculated by the NAU based on the set value read from the setting device should match the NAU address loaded from the data of the set value file FL1 by the management device 400 in step S2503. Recognition of the same address enables each other to communicate with each other.

Further, when the management device 400 receives the "ACK" packet from the NAU 530, it can be recognized that there is no line abnormality with the corresponding NAU, and the above procedure (step S2
By repeating steps 505 to S2506) by the number of NAUs, the check of all the lines is completed, and thereafter, the process proceeds to a unit table request process (FIG. 74).

On the other hand, the unit control devices 180, 280, 350 of each terminal are:
When the power is turned on, first, the data transmission controller 551 in the unit clears all data areas in the unit memory 550, and then a predetermined address “27FF” in the unit memory.
The data is written to (steps S4501 and S4502). Then, a predetermined terminal INT of the unit memory rises to a high level. Unit controllers 190, 290, 39 for each terminal
0 means that after turning on the power, the internal memory, registers, and I / O ports are initialized, and when the rise of the above-mentioned initialization signal INT from the unit memory is detected, the set value (unit number) is read from the unit number setting unit, and the serial number and channel After calculating the lower order of the number, it is written to the transmission data area of the unit memory (steps S5501 to S5504). The unit address is recognized on the unit side by reading it by the data transmission controller 551 (step
S4503). This enables data transmission between the NAU 530 and each terminal using the token bus.

After that, a “line test” packet to which the data (date and identification code) already received from the management device 400 is added is transmitted from the NAU 530 to each unit (terminal), and the data transmission controller 551 on the unit side transmits the “line test” packet. Upon receipt, the received date and identification code are written into the unit memory, and then an "ACK" packet is transmitted to NAU 530 (steps S4504, S4505). When receiving the identification code via the unit memory, the unit controller waits for the reception of the initial value (steps S5505, S5506). Also, NAU
When the "ACK" is received from the data transmission controller 551, a "line test" is transmitted to the next unit, and this is repeated for all the units, whereby the low-layer network 51
The line test of 0 is completed, and a unit table request is awaited (steps S3507 to S3509).

FIG. 74 shows a processing procedure of a unit table request and a subsequent line test.

When the above-described initialization processing is completed, the management device 400 starts unit table request processing, and the central processing unit CPU
Transmits a “unit table request” packet to each NAU 530 (step S2511). Then, NAU530 receives the packet and places “ACK” (= 08) in the PACKET @ TYPE column.
H), followed by the NAU number and NAU status (consisting of a token bus error, opening code received, bits indicating NAU normal, etc.), and the data of the unit table (unit number and An "ACK" packet including the type flag, the unit number, the serial number, the channel number, and the monitor information 1) for the number of units is transmitted (steps S3511, S3512).

When the central processing unit CPU receives this unit table, it compares it with the address in the transmission address file FL2,
If there is any unregistered one, add the transmission address file to the hard disk, check the monitor information 1 sent from each terminal, send the result of the line test to the local processing unit, and wait for a command. (Step S2
512-S2514).

If the local processing device 413 receives the line test result and there is no abnormal terminal, it immediately transmits an initial value setting command to the central processing device. On the other hand, if there is an abnormal terminal
An abnormal terminal is displayed on the screen of the CRT display device 411,
It waits for the store opening switch on the console to be turned on, and transmits an initial value setting command to the central processing unit when there is a store opening request (steps S1511 to S1513).

When receiving the initial value setting command, the central processing unit CPU
Reads the initial value of each unit from the setting value file FL1 of the main storage device M-MEM and stores the initial value in the data section (for a pachinko machine, date, identification code, purchased ball exchange rate, number of main prize balls, sub prize An "initial value setting" packet containing initial values such as the number of balls, the number of hits, a hit mode, and a hot code is transmitted (steps S2515 and S2516).

Then, the NAU530 receives the packet, removes the high-layer network head, transmits an “initial value setting” packet to each unit via the low-layer network, and sends a hard ACK (response signal) from the network controller of each unit. ) Is received, and “ACK” is sent to the management device.
The packet is transmitted (steps S3513 to S3515). When confirming the reception of "ACK" from all units, the central processing unit CPU transmits an end of initial value transmission to the local processing unit 413 and waits for the opening request command (step
S2517, S2518). The local processing device that has received the end of the initial value transmission displays a store opening request message on the screen of the CRT display device, and then waits for the store opening switch to be turned on (steps S1514 and S1515).

On the other hand, on the lower layer network 510 side, when the specified unit receives the packet transmitted from the NAU 530,
The initial value setting command is written in the command register CR2 in the unit memory 550, and the received initial value is written in the reception data area (step S4511). Then, when the unit controllers 190, 290, and 390 read the command in the unit memory and confirm the reception of the initial value, the transmission head is created by copying the packet data portion of the reception data area to the transmission data area, and the hot code is also received. After copying from the area to the transmission area, the initial value unset bit of the monitor information 1 is changed to "0" (set), and if there is an initial value request from the card reader, the function with the initial value is returned. (Steps S5511 to S551
Four). On the other hand, the fact that the initial value unset bit of the monitor information 1 has been set to “0” causes the data transmission controller 551 to start transmitting the scheduled data with the scheduled timer set (step S4512).

FIG. 75 shows a procedure for periodically collecting operation data from each terminal after setting the initial value.

When the transmission controller 551 in the unit control device 180, 280, 350 of each terminal confirms a fixed time, for example, every one second by an interrupt from its own timer, the transmission data 551 written in the transmission data area SDA in the unit memory 550. And put it in the “scheduled data transmission” packet, put it on the low-layer network 510, and read the NAU530
(Steps S4521 to S4523). When the NAU530 receives the scheduled data from each unit, the NAU530 checks the write flag and checks whether the monitor table for storing the operation data of each unit formed in its own memory is in a writable state, and the flag is checked. After waiting until it becomes “0”, the unit table is updated with the received regular data (steps S3521 to S3523). This is to prevent data from being rewritten during transmission of scheduled data to the management device 400. The periodic data collected by the NAU 530 is configured so that the unit controllers 190, 290, and 390 of each terminal download operation data of the terminal in real time and write the data in the unit memory 550 one after another. Also, if the scheduled data cannot be collected three times in a row,
The token bus abnormal bit of the monitor information 1 is set to "1" (step S3528).

On the other hand, also on the management device 400 side, the central processing unit CPU confirms the scheduled time every second by interruption from its own timer, starts the scheduled data request processing, and sends a “scheduled data request” to each NAU 530. Transmit the packet (S2521, S252
2). When the specified NAU530 receives the packet,
After setting the write flag, an "ACK" packet containing the monitor table data is transmitted to reset the write flag (steps S3524 to S3527). The management device 40
When 0 is received, monitor information is checked, and if there is an abnormal terminal, inform the local processing unit of the error and interrupt the unit error on the screen of the CRT display device, and then periodically run the operation data in each unit file Rewrite with data (steps S2523 to S2525).

FIG. 76 shows the flow of a store opening process after the management device 400 sets initial values for each terminal.

After the completion of the line test and preparation processing such as initial value setting, the store opening switch on the console 412 of the management device 400
When 421 is turned on, the local processing device 413 transmits a store opening request command to the central processing unit CPU. Then, the central processing unit forms a "store opening code" packet and transmits it to each NAU 530 (steps S1531, S2531). When the NAU 530 receives the packet, it transmits an “ACK” packet to the management device, then removes the high-layer network head from the received packet, and transmits a “store opening code” packet to each unit via the low-layer network ( Step S3531-S
3533).

Upon receiving “ACK” from all the NAUs 530, the management device 400 changes the mode to “business”, shifts to normal business processing, and returns a response to the local processing device (step S253).
2). Then, the local processing device performs a normal display on the screen of the CRT display device 411, displaying a message indicating that the service is open, a switch name on the operable console, and an operation method (step S1532).

On the other hand, when the data transmission controller 551 of each terminal receives the “store opening code” packet transmitted from the NAU 530, the “store opening code” is written in the command register CR2 of the unit memory 550 in each of the unit controllers 180, 280, and 350. Are read by the unit controllers 190, 290 and 390, the card reader control devices 188, 288 and 388 are allowed to accept and issue cards, and the banknote recognition machine 210 of the card issuing machine is set in a state capable of accepting banknotes, and a display outside each terminal is displayed. 164,221,341 are turned on to inform the player that the terminal is in operation (steps S4531 to S4533, steps S5531 to S5531).
S5533).

FIG. 77 shows a procedure of a card issuing process by the card issuing machine 200.

When the initialization is processed, the unit controller 290 of the card issuing machine 200 starts the issuance reservation processing even before the actually purchased bill is inserted into the issuing machine, and first sets the amount to “0”.
The transmission request command of the “card purchase” packet described above is written in the command register CR1 of the unit memory 550, and the issue acceptance number in the transmission data area is updated (step S5541). Then, the data transmission controller 551 gives the issue acceptance number as a number indicating the order of acceptance for each issuing machine. A “card purchase” packet (= 0) for card purchase reservation is formed and transmitted to NAU 530 (step S4541). When NAU receives this packet,
A high-layer packet head is added and sent to the management device (step S3541). Then, the central processing unit CPU checks whether the card number in the packet is "0", reads the number of issuances from the file of the issuing machine that sent the packet, compares it with the issuance number, and makes a reservation. If it is determined that the packet is a purchase packet, the issue serial number and card number are calculated,
After creating the card file, enter the card number “AC
K "packet is transmitted to the NAU (steps S2541 to S254
Four). The issuance serial number is obtained by adding the number of issuances in all issuing machines.

The NAU that has received “ACK” removes the high-layer packet head from the packet and transmits the packet to the unit controller 280 of the issuing machine (step S3542). When the data transmission controller 551 in the unit controller receives the “ACK”, the fact is notified via the unit memory to the unit controller 29.
Notify to 0 (step S4542). Then, the unit controller sends a “card issue” function containing the card number to the card issuing device 700. In response,
The card issuing device takes out one card from the card tank, supplies the card to the card reader 800, records the card number in the magnetic recording unit, and stands by (step S5542).

Thereafter, when a bill is actually inserted into the bill insertion slot 211 of the issuing machine 200, the bill validator 210 identifies the bill and notifies the unit controller 290, and lights a lamp in the purchase selection switch 212 to prompt the selection. While displaying, the input amount is displayed on the amount display 213. Then, when one of the purchase selection switches 212 is turned on and the purchase amount is specified, the unit controller 290 confirms the amount and transmits a “card purchase” command to the command register CR1 in the unit memory 550, and transmits the “card purchase” command again. The card purchase price is written in the data area (step S5543).

Next, the data transmission controller 551 reads this to form a “card purchase” packet, inserts the purchase amount and the reserved card number into this packet, and sends it to the NAU530, which manages it by attaching a high-layer network head. Equipment 400
(Steps S4543, S3543). When the management device 400 receives this “card purchase” packet, it checks the card number, purchase amount and issue serial number in the packet and determines that the card is actually purchased. Is written, and an "ACK" packet is transmitted (steps S2545 to S2547).

This "ACK" packet is received once by the NAU530, the head for the high-layer network is removed, and the low-layer network is removed.
510 and received by the data transmission controller 551 of the designated issuing machine 200 (steps S3544, S454
Four). Then, the transmission controller 551 sets the unit memory 55
The unit controller 290 is notified of the reception of the ACK via 0. After that, the unit controller transmits the issuance function including the purchase price to the card issuing device 700 (step S5544). Then, the purchase amount of the waiting card is printed and ejected. At this time, if there is a change, the unit controller 290 gives a change dispensing command to the bill dispensing device 230, turns off the lamps L1 to L5 in the purchase selection switch, and clears the display of the amount display 213 to “0”. Also, the money data such as the deposit amount in the transmission data area is updated (steps S5545 and S554).
6).

As described above, when issuing a card, a card issuance reservation is made in advance and the card number is recorded, and a standby is made,
Since only the purchase amount is printed and discharged at the time of actual bill insertion, the waiting time from bill insertion to card issuance can be greatly reduced.

FIG. 78 shows a procedure from the insertion of the card CD into the pachinko machine 100 to start the game until the game is actually started.

When a card CD is inserted from the outside into the card slot 802a of the unit controller 180 in the upper part of the pachinko machine, the card reader 800 reads information recorded on the punched hole and the magnetic surface of the card to settle or return. The zero card is eliminated and the other cards are checked for the date and identification code (store number). If the date or code does not match, the card is ejected as it is. Transfer to Then, the unit controller 190 receives the card number and issues a command indicating that the card has been inserted into the command register CR1 in the unit memory 550, and writes the card number in the transmission data area to request transmission of a “card-in” packet. Perform (step S5551). The data transmission controller 551 has a code "card-in" in the head part, transmits a packet with a card number in the data part to the NAU 530 via the low-layer network, and when the NAU 530 receives it, the head for the high-layer network is set. It is attached to the head and transmitted to the management device 400 (steps S4551, S3551).

When the management device 400 receives the card number from the NAU530,
The issue serial number n is calculated from the card number, and the main storage device M
-Read the data of the corresponding card from the card file FL3 in the MEM (steps S2551 to S2553). Then, the card number in the file is compared with the received card number and the card number does not match, or the state of the card in the card file is checked and it is determined that it is not appropriate to start the game ( In the case of a settlement card etc.)
, A “NAK” packet as a response rejection signal is transmitted (steps S2554 to S2556). Then, the NAU 530 receives the packet, removes the head for the high-layer network, and sends the packet to the low-layer network 510. The data transmission controller 551 of the specified unit receives “NAK” and sends a command in the unit memory 550. Write a command indicating that the response was rejected to the register CR2 (steps S3552, S455
2). This is read by the unit controller 190 to confirm rejection of the response, and the card is ejected from the card reader 800 (step S5552).

On the other hand, when the central processing unit confirms that the card is appropriate, the card file FL1 and the P machine file FL2
(Tables 24 and 26) are updated. That is, the card status is updated from "free status" to "playing", and the number of the terminal (pachinko machine) where the card is located or the card number is written in the corresponding table, and then the card text (amount, holding amount) is written. Then, an “ACK” packet as a response signal is transmitted with the number of balls or the like (steps S2557 and S2558).

When the designated NAU530 receives this packet, it removes the head for the high-layer network and removes the low-layer network.
When the data is sent to the data transfer controller 510 and the data transmission controller 551 of the designated unit receives this, a command "Card In" is entered in the command register CR2 in the unit memory 550, and a card text is entered in the reception data area (steps S3553 to S4553). ).

Then, the unit controller 190 reads the unit memory 5
When the command is read from among the commands 50 and the response is confirmed, the game control is started while the card is held in the card reader 800, and the operation information in the transmission data area SDA of the unit memory 550 is displayed as `` playing game ''. At the same time, the number of balls and the amount of the card are displayed on the number-of-balls display 112 and the amount display 111, and when the amount is not zero, the purchase possible display lamp 121 is turned on to indicate the purchase possible state. (Steps S5553, S5554).

FIG. 79 shows a processing procedure when the interruption switch 114 of the pachinko machine 100 is turned on during the game.

When the suspend switch 115 is pressed, the unit controller 190 suspends the game control, and then changes the card state of the card text contained in the transmission data area of the unit memory 550 to “suspended”, and issues a command in the shared data area. The command for "interrupt switch on" is written in the register CR1 (step S5561). Then, the data transmission controller 551 reads this, forms an “interruption switch” packet, inserts the card text in the data part, and transmits it to the NAU 530 (step S4561). Upon receiving the packet, NAU 530 attaches the head for the high-layer network to the head and sends it to management device 400 (step S3561).

When the management device 400 receives it, the issuing serial number n is calculated backward from the card number in the card text, the card file FL1 in the main storage device M-MEM is read, and the location number in the file, the device number in the packet and And if the card numbers do not match, or if the card status in the file is not playing or interrupted, a NAK is transmitted (steps S2561 to S2566). On the other hand, if the unit numbers match and the card status is also playing a game, the data of the corresponding card is updated, and then a "ACK" packet is sent with a card text as a response signal (steps S2567, S2568). NAU530 is “N
Upon receiving "AK" or "ACK", the high-layer network head is removed and sent out onto the low-layer network 510 (steps S3562, S3563).

Then, the data transmission controller 551 of the transmission destination unit control device 180 receives the “NAK” or “ACK” packet and stores it in the command register CR2 in the unit memory 550.
NAK or ACK is inserted, and if ACK, the card text is further written in the reception data area (steps S4562, S456
3). When the unit controller 190 confirms the NAK reception, the card state is returned to the original "playing", and the game control is restarted (step S5562). When confirming the reception of ACK,
After the card is ejected from the card reader 800, the operation information in the transmission data area SDA of the unit memory is changed to “suspended”, and the lamp 121 with the built-in purchase switch 113 provided in the pachinko machine 100 is turned off. Then, the display state of the game state display lamp 123 and the like is changed to the suspended display (flashing) (steps S5563 and S5564).

Next, FIG. 80 shows a procedure of processing when a card CD is inserted into the pachinko machine 100 which is being suspended.

The procedure in this case is almost the same as the procedure for card-in shown in FIG. 78. That is, the processing steps S5571 to S2571 for notifying that the card has been inserted from the pachinko machine to the management apparatus 400 are the same as the processing steps S5551 in FIG. 78.
The transmission processing steps S2572 to S5573 of “ACK”, which is the acknowledgment, correspond to processing steps S2552 of FIG. 78.
To S5553, and the transmission processing steps S2572 to S5572 of “NAK” as a negative response are the processing steps S2552 to S5552 in FIG. 78.
Respectively.

The difference is that a “suspended card-in” packet is used as a transmission packet instead of a “card-in” packet, and the card reader 800 immediately sends the card when the card number is different from that before interruption when the card is inserted. File FL2 at the point of discharging the machine and the management device 400 side
Is not updated. To update the P machine file,
This is because the operation is already performed when the interruption switch is turned on. In the card file FL1, the card status is updated from "suspended" to "playing". Further, the display state of the game state display lamp 123 is changed to a game display (lighting).

FIG. 81 shows a game end switch 1 in the pachinko machine 100.
The procedure of the game end process when 15 is pressed is shown. The procedure in this case is substantially the same as the procedure when the interruption switch is turned on in FIG. 79.

That is, when the end switch 115 provided at the lower part of the pachinko machine 100 is pressed, the unit controller 190 detects this and rewrites the card state of the card text in the unit memory 550 from "playing" to "free" and , Command register CR1 in unit memory 550
In step S5581, a command indicating that the end switch has been turned on is written. Then, the data transmission controller 551 reads this and inserts the card text,
Forming "end switch" packet to lower layer network
It transmits to NAU 530 via 510 (step S4581). NAU5
30 receives the packet and sends a message to the management device 400 with the head for the high-layer network attached to the head (step S
3581). Thereafter, the processing procedure when the interruption switch 115 of the pachinko machine 100 is turned on (steps S2561 to S25 in FIG. 79).
Follow the same procedure as described in section 68)
CK "is returned (steps S2581 to S2588), the card is ejected from the card reader 800 (step S5583), and the operation information on the pachinko machine in the unit memory 550 is changed to" free state (customer waiting state) ". In addition, the display of the number-of-balls display 112 and the amount display 111 are cleared to "0", and the lamp 121 and the status display lamp 123 in the purchase switch indicating that the purchase is possible are turned off.

FIG. 82 shows the procedure of processing when both the number of balls held and the amount of money become zero during the game (referred to as “return to zero”).

When the unit controller 190 of the pachinko machine detects the occurrence of the zero return, it stops firing the ball, and the unit memory
The state of the card in 550 is changed to "return to zero", and a return to zero command is written to the command register CR1 (step S559).
1). Then, the data transmission controller 551 forms a "return-to-zero" packet, inserts the card text in the transmission data area of the unit memory, and transmits it to the NAU 530 (step
S4591). When NAU 530 receives this “return-to-zero” packet, it adds a high-layer packet head and sends it to management device 400 (step S3591). When the management apparatus receives the "return-to-zero" packet, it reverses the issue serial number from the card number in the packet, and uses the issued serial number to write the main memory M-.
The file of the card is read from the file in the MEM, and the card status and the terminal number of the terminal are checked. If the card status is other than “playing” or the device numbers do not match, a NAK is transmitted (steps S2591 to S2595). .

On the other hand, if the card status is correct and the device numbers match, the number of balls, the amount, the card status (during game play → return to zero) and the location terminal number in the card file are updated, and the card history data is written. ACK is transmitted (steps S2596 to S2
598). Upon receiving the ACK, the NAU 530 removes the high-layer packet head and transmits the packet to the specified unit (step S359).
3). When the data transmission controller 551 of the unit receives the "ACK" packet, it writes an ACK reception command in the command register CR2 of the unit memory 550 and a card text in the reception data area (step S4593). Then, after the unit controller 190 confirms the reception of the ACK and instructs the card reader 800 to make a return-zero hole and eject the card, the operation information of the transmission data area SDA is changed to “free”, and The display of the number of possessed balls and the amount display unit is set to zero, and the status display of the purchase lamp 121, the game status display lamp 123, and the analog display 163 is changed to a display indicating "free" (steps S5593, S5594).

FIG. 83 shows a processing procedure in the case where the unit controller 190 determines that the number of prize balls discharged or the like has reached the number of hits according to the initially set hitting mode and the game has been hit during the game. The processing in this case is almost the same as the procedure of the zero-zero processing in FIG.

That is, the processing steps S5601 to S2601 for notifying the management device 400 of the processing factor (stopping) occurring on the pachinko machine 100 side due to the occurrence of the processing factor (stopping) are performed in the processing step S5591 of FIG.
Corresponding to steps S2601 to S2591, the management apparatus updates the file and transmits the response “ACK”.
This corresponds to the processing steps S2592 to S2598 in the figure. The difference is that when the unit controller 190 determines that a hit has occurred, a command of “hit” is entered in the unit memory 550 to change the card state to “hit” (step
Along with S5601), the "stop" packet is used for transmission (step S4601), and after confirming the ACK, the operation information in the transmission data area SDA of the unit memory is changed to "stop" instead of "free", and then purchased. The point is that the available lamp 121 is turned off, the number of hits and the display of the amount are cleared to zero, and the status display lamp 123 and the analog display 163 are stopped (blinking).

In addition, the card reader 800 disables acceptance of the next card after the card is ejected, and the management device updates the card file and changes the operation information in the pachinko machine file to "stop" (step S2606), and the CRT. The interruption message of the hitting table is displayed on the display device 411, and the hitting information is printed by the printer 408 (step S26).
08). Further, similarly to the updating of the card file FL1, the fact that the state of the pachinko machine has changed to "stop" is registered in the P machine file FL2 (step S2607).

FIG. 84 shows a procedure of card settlement processing in the settlement machine 300. When the card CD is inserted into the card reader 800 of the checkout machine 300, the information recorded on the magnetic surface of the card is read, the date and the identification code are checked, and if they match, the card number is sent to the unit controller 390. Forward. The unit controller 390 writes the message “Card settlement” in the command register CR1 in the unit memory 550, and writes the card number in the transmission data area (step
S5611). Then, the data transmission controller 551 reads it, forms a “card payment request” packet, inserts the card number, and transmits it on the low-layer network 510 (step S4611). Then, the NAU 530 receives it, attaches the high-layer network head to the head of the packet, and transmits the packet to the management device 400 (step S3611). When the management device 400 receives the packet, the issuing serial number (n) is back calculated from the card number, and the card file FL1
And reads the corresponding card text (card information) to check the card status (steps S2611 to S26)
14). Here, if the card status is not appropriate, for example, it is already settled, or the return is zero (both ball and amount are zero)
If it is in the state, a "NAK" packet indicating refusal of settlement is formed and transmitted (step S2615). Then NAU530
Receives it, removes the high-layer network head, and transmits it to the unit controller 350 of the requesting settlement machine 300 (step S3612). Then, the data transmission controller 551 receives it, writes "Rejection of response" in the command register CR2 in the unit memory 550, reads and confirms it, and ejects the card from the card reader 800 (step S4612, S5612).

On the other hand, when the management device 400 determines in the processing step S2614 that the card status is appropriate, it forms an “ACK” packet as a response signal, and sets the adjustment data (the number of balls held and the remaining number) read from the card file. The amount of money used), card history, payment reception time, etc.
U530 removes the high-layer network head from the packet and transmits the packet to unit control device 350 (step S261)
6, S3613). Then, the data transmission controller 551 receives it and the command register CR2 in the unit memory 550.
ACK is written in the received data area RDA, and the received data and the like are written in the received data area RDA (step S4613). The unit controller 390 reads the data and confirms that there is a positive response. (Including earned balls)
In addition to displaying the number and the unused amount on the amount indicator 304, the printer 330 issues a receipt (prize voucher) on which details of the settlement data and the like are printed. Unused balance is discharged from the coin payer 321 and the coin dispenser 325 (step S5614-
S5616).

After that, the unit controller 390 sends the card reader 800
A punched hole is punched out of the card held in the unit memory and the card is ejected as a settlement card, and a command indicating “payment completion” is written in the command register CR1 of the unit memory 550, and a card text is written in the transmission data area (step S5).
617). Then, the data transmission controller 551 reads this, forms a “payment end” packet, and transmits the packet.
30 attaches a high-layer network head to the head of the packet and sends it to the management device 400 (steps S4614, S3614).

The management device 400 that has received the “payment end” packet calculates the issue serial number n again from the card number in the packet, searches the card file FL1 based on that, reads the card data, checks the card status, and checks the card status. When the status is "Pausing", the pachinko machine shown in Fig. 85
After executing 100 interruption end processes, change the card status to "paid" and update the card history, then "ACK"
Transmits the packet to NAU530 (steps S2618-S
2621).

When the NAU receives "ACK", it removes the high-layer packet head and sends it to the unit controller 350 of the checkout machine. When the transmission controller 551 receives this, it notifies the unit controller 390 via the unit memory 550. Upon confirming the reception of "ACK", the next card can be accepted (steps S3615 to S5618).

As described above, in response to the card settlement request from the settlement machine 300, the settlement device sends the settlement data from the management device 400, and when the settlement is completed, notifies the management device of the completion of the settlement again,
At that time, the settlement was processed for the first time, so even if an accident such as a power failure occurred during the settlement in the settlement machine 300, the settlement data is kept in the card file FL1, and The settlement process can be promptly continued. As a result, there is no possibility that the player will be disadvantaged, and the reliability of the system is improved. In addition, in the above embodiment, the history data is also printed on the settlement receipt (prize voucher).
The credibility of the printed adjustment data (number of balls) increases,
Trust in the system will be enhanced.

FIG. 85 shows the interruption release processing procedure accompanying the card settlement processing described above.

That is, in the system of this embodiment, the pachinko machine 100 in which the game is interrupted by the above-described interrupting process (see FIG. 79) and the rejection of another card is refused,
When the card released from the interrupter is inserted into the checkout machine 300 to perform the checkout process, the interrupt is released by a command from the management device 400.

The suspended card is inserted into the checkout machine, and the checkout process is performed by data transmission between the checkout device 300 and the management device 400 (the eighth process).
(See FIG. 4), and when the management device 400 confirms the end, the “interruption end” packet is transmitted to the corresponding interrupted pachinko machine 100 based on the card information (step S2622). This packet is temporarily received by the NAU 530, and is transmitted to the corresponding unit control device 180 of the pachinko machine 100 after the high-layer network head is removed (step S3621). When this packet is received by the data transmission controller 551, a command of "interruption end" is written to the command register CR2 in the unit memory 550, and when this is read and confirmed by the unit controller 190, the card can be accepted by the card reader 800. And the operation information about the pachinko machine in the unit memory 550 is changed from "interrupted" to "free".
(Steps S4621, S5621, S5622). In addition, the display of the ball number display 112 and the amount display 111 on the front of the pachinko machine are cleared to “0”, the lamp 168 indicating whether or not a card can be inserted is blinked, and the display of the analog display 163 is in a customer waiting state ( (Scroll) (Steps S5623 to S56)
twenty five).

On the other hand, after transmitting the “interruption end” packet from the management device 400 to the unit control device 180, the NAU 530 receives a hard ACK from the network controller, and
An "ACK" packet as a response signal is transmitted to 00, and when this is received by the management device 400, the operation information in the P machine file FL2 is changed from "interrupted" to "free" (step S3).
622-S2624).

FIG. 86 shows a procedure of a strike release process based on a strike release command from the console 412 of the management device 400.

When the hit release switch 433 on the console 412 is turned on, the local processing device 413 sends a hit table data request command to the central processing unit CPU (step S1631). Then
The central processing unit searches the file FL1 of the P machine and sends the machine number of the pachinko machine being stopped, and the local processing unit
A list of percussion tables is displayed on the screen of the display device 411 (steps S2631, S2632, S1632). When the operator inputs the machine number of the pachinko machine whose release is desired to be released while viewing it, using the numeric keypad 425 on the console 412, the local processor sends a stop release command to the central processing unit (step S1633). Then, the central processing unit CPU receives the command, determines whether or not all the units have been designated, and the communication control unit SCC of the management device sends a “cancel release” packet containing the serial number and the channel number together with the unit number. Or, it transmits to the designated pachinko machine (step S2633). Then, when the designated NAU 530 receives the packet, it removes the head for the high-layer network and sends it out to the low-layer network 510, and the data transmission controller 551 of the unit control device 180 that has received the packet sends the command in the unit memory 550. The “cancel release” command is written to the register CR2 (steps S2634, S3631, S4631). Then, when this is read by the unit controller 190 of the pachinko machine and it is confirmed that the stop release command has been entered, the pachinko machine operation information in the transmission data area of the unit memory is changed to "free" and the transmission data area is changed. After clearing a certain stop calculation register to zero, and changing the analog display 163 and the card insertion lamp 168 to the customer waiting display, a command is issued to the card reader 800 to permit acceptance of the card ( Steps S5631-S563
Four).

On the other hand, upon receiving the “cancel release” packet, the NAU 530 receives a hard ACK from the network controller of the unit control device 180 and sends a response packet “ACK” to the management device 4.
(Steps S3632, S3633), and when the management device receives this, the operation information in the P machine file FL2 is changed to the "free state" and the result is notified to the local processing device (Steps S2635 to S2635). S2637). Then, the local processing device 413 changes the status display "stop" at the end of the hit table data on the CRT display screen from "stop" indicating "free" to "empty" (step S1634).

FIG. 87 shows a processing procedure when the terminal is forcibly terminated from the management apparatus 400 side.

The business of the amusement store ends when the store is closed, but in the past, the business end notification was given by an in-store broadcast and a staff member.
However, there are some players who purchase balls just before the end, and those who are in the pachinko machine 100 in good condition of the ball do not readily stop the game, and it is difficult to close the business on time. there were.

In the system of this embodiment, when the forced termination switch 434 on the console 412 is operated and the type is selected, the operation can be stopped for each terminal type. Stop the issuance of cards by the issuance machine 200, stop the operation of all pachinko machines at the business closing time, and stop the operation of the payment machine 300 after the last player has completed payment, so that the business closes smoothly. Can be performed.

In this case, when the forced termination switch 434 is turned on, the local processing device 413 displays a forced termination menu on the screen of the CRT display device 411 (step S1641). When the type of terminal to be terminated according to this menu is selected using the numeric keypad 425, a display prompting entry of a forced termination unit number is displayed (step S1642). In this embodiment, it is possible to terminate all terminals simultaneously for each terminal type (pachinko machine, card issuing machine, payment machine) or to terminate only one specific terminal. When "0" designating batch termination for each type or a unit number is input from the console, a forced termination command is transmitted to the central processing unit CPU (step S1643).

When the central processing unit CPU receives this command, it first determines whether or not all units have been designated.If all units have been designated, the pachinko machine file FL2 is read in order to check the operation information and check whether "playing" or "suspending". In the case of "", the number of the playing or interrupted card is read out, and the issuing serial number is calculated backward (steps S2641 to S2644). Then, using the issued serial number, the number of balls and the amount in the card file are rewritten to the data in the pachinko machine file and the card state is changed to "free" (step S264).
Five). After executing this for all the units, a “forced end” packet is transmitted to the NAU 530 (step S2646).

When NAU530 receives this packet, it removes the high-layer network head and sends a “forced end” packet to all pachinko machines. When a hard ACK is received from the network controller, a response signal “ACK” is sent to management device 400. Is returned (steps S3641, S3642). Management device is ACK
Is received, the result is transmitted to the local processing device (steps S2647, S2648). Then, the local processing unit is CRT
The state display of the display data on the display screen is changed from "empty" indicating "free" to "strong" indicating the forced termination state (step S1644).

On the other hand, in the unit control devices 180, 280, and 350 of each terminal that have received the “forced termination” packet from the NAU 530, the data transmission controller 551 writes a forced termination request command to the command register CR2 in the unit memory 550, and the unit controller 190 sends the forced termination request command. Reads
First, the card text in the transmission data area in the unit memory is cleared, and the operation information is changed to forced termination (steps S4641, S5641). Then, after the detection of the sensor and the firing motor are stopped, and all the lamps are turned off to stop the game control, a command to eject the card in the card reader 800 is issued, and thereafter, the acceptance of the card is disabled (step S5).
642, S5643).

Incidentally, in the system of the embodiment, it is possible to forcefully terminate by inputting the machine number of a specific pachinko machine without specifying all machines using the numeric keypad 425, in which case the central processing unit proceeds to step S2641. Judgment as Noo (specified specific vehicle)
The process immediately proceeds to step S2646 to transmit a “forced end” packet to the designated pachinko machine (see the broken line). Then, when the ACK returns from the NAU530, the process proceeds from step S2647 to S2642, where the pachinko machine file is read for the first time and the operation information is checked, and the card file is read only during the game or during interruption. After updating, the process jumps from step S2645 to S2648, and transmits the result to the local processing device 413.

FIG. 88 shows a procedure for forcibly terminating the issuing machine or the payment machine.

In this case, when the forced termination switch 434 is turned on, the local processing device 413 displays a forced termination menu on the screen of the CRT display device 411 (step S1651). When the type of the terminal to be terminated according to this menu is selected using the numeric keypad 425, a display for prompting the entry of the forced termination unit number is displayed (step S1652). In this embodiment, it is possible to terminate all terminals simultaneously for each terminal type (pachinko machine, card issuing machine, payment machine) or to terminate only one specific terminal. When "0" designating batch termination for each type or a unit number is input from the console, a forced termination command is transmitted to the central processing unit CPU (step S1653).

When the central processing unit CPU receives this command, it first determines whether or not all units have been designated.
When the specific terminal is designated, the terminal transmits a "forced end" packet to the designated issuing machine or payment machine (step S2651). When an ACK is received from the NAU530, the operation information in the file of the terminal is changed to "Forced termination" immediately when all units are designated, and the result is sent to the local processing unit when specified units are designated. Send (Step S265
2, S2653).

On the other hand, the card issuing machine that received the “forced end” packet
At 200, the in-operation bit of the operation information in the unit memory 550 is cleared (step S5651), and the issue stop lamp 222 is turned on (S5652).

If the forced termination is for the settlement machine 300, when the settlement machine receives the packet, the operating bit in the operation information in the unit memory is cleared, the settlement stop lamp 342 is turned on, and the card reader 800 Is disabled (steps S5652 and S5653).

Further, in the transmission system of this embodiment, the management device 40
There is also provided a "forced termination release" packet for transmitting a command to release the operation stop of the terminal being forcibly terminated from the 0 side.
There are types.

FIG. 89 shows the procedure of the forced termination release processing common to the pachinko machine, the issuing machine and the checkout machine.

The procedure in this case is almost the same as the procedure for the forced termination process shown in FIG. That is, the management device 40
Turning on the forced termination release switch 435 from the console 412 while watching the CRT display device 411 of 0, the local processing device 413
Displays the forced termination release menu (step S166)
1). When you specify the type (pachinko machine, issuing machine or checkout machine) using the numeric keypad while viewing this screen, a command is sent from the local processing unit to the central processing unit CPU to request the data of the forcibly terminated unit. (Step S1662).

Then, the central processing unit searches the file of each unit, finds the unit that is forcibly terminated, and transmits the data (steps S2661, S2662). Since the local processing device displays the data on the CRT display device, a forced termination release command is sent when all the devices are designated ("0") or a device number is input from the numeric keypad while looking at the screen (step S166).
3, S1664). Then, the central processing unit first determines whether or not all units are designated, and transmits a "forced termination release" packet to all NAUs 530 when all units are designated, and to the designated unit when specific units are designated. (Steps S2663, S266
Four). The “forced termination release” packet is transmitted from the data transmission controller 551 to the unit controllers 190, 290, and 390, and an “ACK” packet is transmitted to the management device (steps S3661, S4661, S3662). When the management device receives the ACK, the operation information in the unit file is “free” immediately when all units are specified, and when the specific unit is specified, the operation information is “free”.
(Pachinko machine) or “In operation” (Issuing machine, Checkout machine) (Steps S2665, S2666) and then Step S2667
Then, the result is notified to the local processing device (step S1665).

On the other hand, the unit that has received the “forced termination release” packet changes the operation information in the unit memory 550 to “free” or “in operation”, and then turns on the status display lamp 123 in the pachinko machine, Display 163
Is changed to the customer waiting display, and the card reader 800 can accept the card (steps S5661 to S5663). In the card issuing machine 200, the bill validator 210 can accept the purchased bill, and the issuing lamp 241 is turned on. Further, in the checkout machine 300, a check-in lamp 341 is used.
Is turned on to allow the card reader 800 to accept the card.

Figure 90 shows the unit down detection process when the power of the terminal is accidentally shut down, the control by the unit controllers 190, 290, 390 on the terminal side becomes impossible, or when an abnormality such as disconnection of the cable of the low-layer network occurs. The procedure is shown.

If the unit goes down, the scheduled data will not be sent. If the scheduled data is not received within 3 seconds, the NAU530 detects a timeout and determines that the unit is down, and the token bus of the monitor information 1 of the unit in the monitor table is abnormal. Set the bit to “1” (steps S3671, S367
2). Thereafter, when the central processing unit CPU of the management device 400 sends a “periodic data request” packet due to a timer interrupt (step S2671), it receives it and transmits an “ACK” packet containing a unit table (step S3673). ,
S3674). When the central processing unit receives the "ACK", it first checks the monitor information of each unit in the packet, and when there is an abnormality, causes the printer 408 to print out the occurrence of the unit abnormality and the details of the abnormality and display the CRT. A command to interrupt and display the abnormality of the unit is sent to the device 411 (steps S2672 to S2674).

Then, the CRT display device 411 displays an interrupt message notifying of the unit abnormality at a predetermined position (the 19th line) of the screen being displayed (step S1671).

On the other hand, after instructing the display of the unit abnormality, the central processing unit clears or changes the operation information of the unit file to "free", changes the card state in the card file to "free", and sets the number of balls in the P machine file. After saving the amount in the card file, a "unit check" packet is formed and transmitted to the NAU 530 (steps S2675, S2676).
When the NAU 530 receives this packet, it removes the high-layer head and transmits a "unit check" packet to each unit (step S3675). If the unit to which the packet is sent is down or has a low-layer network error, a hard ACK from the network controller
Since it does not return to AU530, NAU530 transmits an "ACK" or "NAK" packet to the management device according to the presence or absence of a hard ACK (steps S3676, S3677).

FIG. 91 shows a procedure of a unit restoration process when a unit or communication with the NAU 530 is interrupted or a low-layer network is restored.

While the “unit check” packet is periodically transmitted in step S2676 of the unit down detection process in FIG. 90, the unit is restored due to the power being turned on or the low-layer network being connected, and the step S267 is performed.
Upon confirming the reception of the ACK from the NAU in step 7, the central processing unit reads the file of the unit and transmits a "unit recovery data" packet containing the operation data of the unit immediately before the unit is down to the NAU 530 (steps S2681, S2682).

Upon receiving the “unit recovery data” packet, the NAU530 copies the recovery data in the packet into the monitor table, and then transmits the “unit recovery data” packet with the high-layer network packet head removed to the recovered unit (step S3681, S3682).

Then, the data transmission controller 551 of the unit writes a “unit recovery” command to the command register CR2 in the unit memory 550, and writes the recovery data to the reception data area to receive the packet.
Notify 290 or 390 (step S4681). Upon confirming the reception of the “unit recovery data” packet, the unit controller copies the packet head to the transmission data area, and in the pachinko machine 100, sends the date and time to the card reader.
After transmitting the identification code, “AC
A transmission request of “K” is made to the data transmission controller (steps S5681, S5682).
The packet is sent to the NAU, and the NAU adds a high-layer head to the beginning of the packet and sends an "ACK" to the management device (step
S4682, S3683).

Upon receiving “ACK”, the central processing unit CPU of the management device 400 forms a “restart” packet and transmits it to the NAU 530 (steps S2683, S2684).

This packet is transmitted from the NAU530 to the data transmission controller 55.
When transmitted to the unit controllers 190, 290, and 390 via 1, the unit controller restores the display of the display lamp, the number of balls, the amount indicator, and the like to the state before down (steps S3684, S4683, S5683). Thereafter, the pachinko machine transmits a “reload” command to the card reader (step S5684). Then, when the card is inside, the card reader 800 re-reads the magnetic data or the like and transmits the card number to the unit controller 190. Thereafter, the unit controller executes the same processing as in the case of the card-in of FIG. 78, transmits the card number, and receives the corresponding card text.

The NAU 530 that has received the “restart” packet in step S3684 confirms the hard ACK from the unit's network controller and transmits an “ACK” packet to the management device (step S3685).

FIG. 92 shows a procedure of a detection process and a recovery process when the NAU 530 is shut down due to an accidental shutdown of the power supply of the NAU 530 or disconnection of a cable of a high-layer network.

When NAU530 goes down, management device by timer interrupt
Since the ACK for the "Scheduled Data Request" packet from 400 does not return, the central processing unit CPU detects that the NAU has gone down, and sends an interrupt display command to the local processing unit 413 and an emergency print command to the printer 408. (Steps S2691 to S2694). Then, the local processing device 413
Displays an interrupt message at a predetermined position on the screen of the CRT display device 411 informing that the NAU has gone down, and the printer 408 prints on a paper that the NAU has gone down.

Thereafter, the central processing unit transmits a "line monitor check" packet to the NAU (step S2695). While repeating the above procedure every second, for example, due to a timer interrupt, the clerk checks the NAU and high-layer network by watching the interrupt display and emergency print, and when the NAU recovers,
The "line monitor check" packet is received by the NAU and its ACK is transmitted to the management device (steps S3691, S369
2). This allows the central processing unit to confirm the ACK and
, The interrupt display command is transmitted to the local processing device 413, and the emergency print command is transmitted to the printer 408 (steps S2696 to S2698). Then, the local processing device
Reference numeral 413 displays an interrupt message at a predetermined position on the screen of the CRT display device 411 indicating that the NAU has been recovered, and the printer 408 prints that the NAU has been recovered on paper.

On the other hand, on the unit side, a transmission cause occurs due to an external action or the like, and when a transmission request is made to the data transmission controller 551 via the command register CR1 of the unit memory 550, the data transmission controller forms a corresponding packet. Send to NAU530 (Step S469
1). At this time, if the NAU is down, the network controller 553 detects the unsuccessful transmission and describes this in the packet memory 552. As a result, the data transmission controller knows that the transmission has failed (step S4692), and returns to step S4691 to repeat transmitting the same packet again. Thus, when the NAU is not down, the data transmission controller knows that the transmission was successful, and notifies the unit controllers 190, 290, and 390 of the successful transmission via the unit memory 550 (step S4693). Even if the transmission is not successful, the unit controller detects that the timer (step S5692) set after the transmission request has timed out and knows that the transmission has failed (step S5693). As a result, the unit controller stops outputting the watchdog pulse (step S5694). As a result, the external reset circuit 555 generates a reset signal, and the unit controllers 180, 280, 350
All other controllers 551 and 553 are reset to stop the control operation.

Thereafter, when the NAU recovers, the NAU 530 and the central processing unit detect the unit down and execute the unit recovery processing (FIGS. 90 and 91). The unit receives the “unit recovery” packet after initialization and returns to the state before the unit went down.

FIG. 93 shows a processing procedure when the store close switch 422 and subsequently the system end switch 423 are turned on.

When the closing switch 422 on the console 412 is turned on,
The local processing device 413 sends a store closing request command to the central processing unit CPU (step S1701). When this command is received by the central processing unit, the P machine files are sequentially read from the main storage device to check whether the operation information is "playing", and if there is no pachinko machine being played, an ACK is transmitted to the local processing device, In addition, a “closed” packet is transmitted to all NAUs (steps S2701 to S2704). The local processing unit is ACK
Is received, the system waits until the system end switch 423 is turned on. When the switch is turned on, the local processing unit transmits a system end request command to the central processing unit (step
S1703, S1704).

On the other hand, upon receiving the "ACK" from the NAU 530, the central processing unit that has transmitted the "closed store" packet in step S2704 waits for the reception of a system termination command from the local processing unit (steps S2704, S2705). Then, when the central processing unit receives this command, it creates a daily report file including business data for one day, saves it on the hard disk HDD, deletes the power failure save file from the hard disk, and transmits system end message data (step S270).
6 to S2708). This is received by the local processing device, and a message instructing to turn off the power is displayed on the system end screen (step S1705).

Upon receiving the “closed” packet from the management device, the NAU 530 transmits the “closed” packet from which the high-rise head has been removed to each unit (steps S3701 and S4701), and when the unit receives the packet, indicates that the unit is operating. Are turned off, and a command is issued to the card reader to refuse to accept or issue the card (steps S5701, S570
2).

FIG. 94 shows a processing procedure of the management device 400 when a power failure occurs.

When a power failure occurs, the power is switched to the central processing unit.
The CPU operates by being backed up by the auxiliary power supply 409, first stopping the collection of scheduled data from each unit,
The fact that the power outage is being taken is transmitted to the local processing device 413 (steps S2711, S2712). Then, the local processing device displays a power failure message on the CRT display device 411 (step S1711). On the other hand, the central processing unit reads the P machine file and checks the operation information, and the operation information is "playing".
In this example, the issue serial number is calculated backward from the card number in the file of the P machine, the card file is searched using the calculated number, and the card status is rewritten to “free” (steps S2713 to S27)
15). After that, the operation information in the P machine file is "free"
After saving the data in the common data area (including the setting value file and power failure flag) and the card file, P machine file, issuing machine file, and checkout machine file on the hard disk HDD, the result ("closed") is processed locally. The system goes down after sending to the device (step
S2716 to S2718).

The local processing device that has received the “closed store” from the central processing device displays an end message on the CRT display device (step S1712).

FIG. 95 shows a procedure of a system start-up process after the occurrence of the power failure.

When the power is restored and the system power is turned on again, first, in the management device 400, the central processing unit CPU stores the main memory M-
After clearing all the files FL1 to FL6 in the MEM, a file (framework) is created (step S2721).

On the other hand, the local processing device 413 first displays an initial screen on the CRT display device 411, and then transmits the date and time to the central processing device (steps S1721, S1722). Then, the central processing unit determines the presence or absence of a power failure file by looking at the power failure flag, and if there is a power failure file, the hard disk (auxiliary storage device 1)
The power outage file is read from the server and loaded into the main storage device, and the local processing device is notified that the power outage is being started (steps S2722 to S2724). Then, the local processing device has a response after displaying the message “power failure is starting” on the CRT display 411 (step S172).
3).

After reading the power failure file, the central processing unit CPU transmits a “unit recovery data” packet to each NAU 530 using the higher network 520 (step S2725).

On the other hand, when the power is turned on, the NAU530 first sets the setting values (NAU number, minimum unit number,
Reads the number of terminals, etc.), calculates the network transmission address of each terminal, creates a unit table, recognizes the transmission address of each unit (terminal) and the NAU itself, and clears the unit table that contains the operation data of each unit (Steps S3721 to S3724). Then, upon receiving the “unit recovery data” packet from the management device, the NAU puts the recovery data in the packet into the monitor table, removes the high-layer head, and puts the “unit recovery data” in the data section with the recovery data. The packet is transmitted to each unit (steps S3725, S3726).

Also, the unit control devices 180, 280, 350 of each terminal are:
When the power is turned on, first, the data transmission controller 551 in the unit clears all data areas in the unit memory 550, and then a predetermined address “27FF” in the unit memory.
The data is written to (steps S4721 and S4722). Then, a predetermined terminal INT of the unit memory rises to a high level. Unit controllers 190, 290, 39 for each terminal
0 means that after power-on, the internal memory, registers, and I / O ports are initialized, and the initialization signal IN
When the rise of T is detected, the set value (unit number) is read from the unit number setting unit, the lower order of the serial number and the channel number is calculated, and then the data is written in the transmission data area of the unit memory (steps S5721 to S5724). The data transmission controller 551 reads this to recognize the unit address on the unit side (step S472).
3). This enables data transmission between the NAU 530 and each terminal using the token bus.

After that, when a “unit recovery data” packet containing the recovery data already received from the management device 400 is transmitted from the NAU 530 to each unit (terminal), the data transmission controller 551 of the unit issues a command in the unit memory. `` Unit recovery '' command to register CR2,
The recovery data is written in the reception data area to notify the unit controller 190, 290 or 390 of the reception of the packet (step S4724). The unit controller is
After confirming the reception of the “unit recovery data” packet,
After the packet head is copied to the transmission data area and the pachinko machine transmits the date and the identification code to the card reader, a transmission request of "ACK" is made to the data transmission controller via the unit memory (steps S5725 and S5726). .
The data transmission controller sends an “ACK” packet to the NAU, and the NAU adds a high-layer head to the beginning of the packet and sends the “AC”
K "is transmitted to the management device (steps S4725, S3727).

When the central processing unit of the management device receives “ACK”,
A "restart" packet is formed and transmitted to NAU 530 (steps S2726, S2728).

This packet is transmitted from the NAU530 to the data transmission controller 55.
When the information is transmitted to the unit controller via 1 (step S3728), the unit controller restores the display of the display lamp, the number of balls, and the money amount display to the state before down (step S5727). Thereafter, the pachinko machine transmits a "reload" command to the card reader (step S5728). Then, when the card is inside, the card reader 800 re-reads the magnetic data or the like and transmits the card number to the unit controller 190. Thereafter, the unit controller executes the same processing as in the case of the card-in of FIG. 78, sends the card number, and receives the card text.

The NAU 530 that has received the “restart” packet in step S3684 confirms the hard ACK from the unit's network controller and transmits an “ACK” packet to the management device (step S3729).

In the above embodiment, the backup auxiliary power supply is provided only in the management device, the operation data of the pachinko machine is periodically collected, and the data relay means interposed between the pachinko machine or the pachinko machine and the management device is down. Then, in the case of recovery, a command to restart after sending the recovery data from the management device to the terminal is given, and at the terminal to which the restart command is given, the card is once discharged to the card reader and read again. The pachinko machine is equipped with a memory for storing its own operation data and an auxiliary power supply for backing up the memory, and when a power failure occurs, only the memory is backed up and the operation data is saved. You may make it.

Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a gaming system in which only a card number is recorded on a card as a storage medium, and the purchase amount and the number of balls are stored in a storage device of a management device in correspondence with the card number. Although the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to a system in which a game is enabled by a card in which the purchase amount or the number of balls is recorded.

Further, the card issuing machine and the settlement machine do not necessarily need to be connected to the management device via the transmission medium, and may issue or settle a card under their own judgment.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case where the invention is applied to a game facility having a pachinko game machine of an enclosed ball circulation system as an example of a game device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, Gaming equipment provided with a gaming device configured to play data by converting data into a real ball at each gaming device and supplying it to the inside of the gaming device from a supply plate on the front of the gaming device, and other gaming facilities The present invention can be applied to a game facility provided with a game device of any configuration (including a game device other than a pachinko game machine). In the above embodiment, the gaming machine,
Issuing machines and settlement machines are each handled as terminals,
A control unit provided in a one-to-one relationship with the gaming machine and configured to perform data communication with the management device may be regarded as a terminal device. Further, in the above embodiment, a card having a magnetic storage unit is used as a game storage medium, but the present invention can be applied to a game facility using a so-called IC card having a semiconductor memory as an information storage unit.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention includes a gaming device capable of executing a required game, and a management device capable of collecting operation data of the gaming device, wherein the management device and the gaming device are connected to each other. In a gaming facility configured to be communicable, a relay control device is interposed between the management device and the gaming device,
The management device and the relay control device are connected by a first transmission unit, and the gaming device and the relay control device are connected by a second transmission unit. Data transmission means for transmitting a plurality of generated operation data, wherein the relay control device collects the operation data from the gaming device, performs necessary processing, and transmits the operation data to the management device; And an abnormal state determination unit that determines that an abnormal state has occurred with respect to the collection of the operation data when the operation data cannot be collected a predetermined number of times from the gaming device. When the determination is made, the occurrence of an abnormality is notified to the management device by the data transmission means, so that the burden on the management device can be reduced. At the same time, communication between the management device and the relay control device is enabled by the first transmission means, and communication between the relay control device and the terminal device is enabled by the second transmission means. It is possible to increase the work efficiency when arranging the transmission means (including wired and wireless) used to configure the game equipment to be communicable, thereby providing a highly flexible game equipment. There is an effect that it becomes possible to do. Further, the relay control device performs an abnormality determination when the operation data from the game device cannot be collected a predetermined number of times, and notifies the management device of the occurrence of the abnormality of the corresponding game device. There is an effect that the information can be transmitted to the device.

The relay control device converts the signal in the communication mode of the first transmission unit into a signal in the communication mode of the second transmission unit, and converts the signal in the communication mode of the second transmission unit to the first signal.
Since the conversion means for converting the signal into the communication form of the transmission means is provided, the overall cost can be reduced as compared with a case where the high-speed transmission means directly connects between the management device and the gaming device. There is an effect that the burden on the management device can be reduced.

Further, the management device, the gaming devices, and the relay control device each include a signal conversion unit that can convert transmission / reception data into a signal of a plurality of types of transmission systems, and a plurality of connection units to which transmission units corresponding to the respective transmission systems can be connected. Since the connection means is provided, a plurality of transmission methods can be selected in accordance with a desired game facility of each game store, so that there is an effect that the flexibility of the game facility is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a pachinko gaming system to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are front views showing an example of a card used in the system according to the present invention; FIG. 2 (C) is an explanatory view showing a configuration example of a true / false identification area in the card, FIG. 2 (D) is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross-sectional structure of the card, and FIG. 2 (E). Is an explanatory view showing a configuration example of a magnetic recording unit in the card, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the whole pachinko machine constituting the gaming system, and FIGS. 4 (A) and (B) are front views of the pachinko machine. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the operation panel unit, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inside of the operation panel unit, and FIG. 7 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a sealed ball circulating device, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the details of the base of the hitting ball launching rail, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the front panel of the pachinko machine is opened, and FIG. 11 is a game board. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a frame board provided with a frame holding a frame and a firing rail coupled thereto, FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a rear configuration of a front frame of a pachinko machine, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a pachinko machine control unit, FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the control unit, and FIG. 16 is a front panel of the control unit. 17 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between a pachinko machine and a control unit, FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a framework of an island facility in which the pachinko machine is installed, and FIG. 19 is an island facility. Pachinko machine and control unit FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the back of the island equipment, FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a control system of the entire pachinko machine, and FIG. 22 shows a circuit configuration example of the pachinko machine control device. Block diagram, FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of the pachinko machine control unit, FIG. 24 is a memory map showing an area configuration of the unit memory, and FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a card reader of the pachinko machine. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the card reader, FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view showing details of a card insertion portion of the card reader, and FIGS. 29 (A) and (B) are cross-sectional side views showing details of a shutter portion at the entrance of the card reader, and FIG. 30 (A) is mounting of various sensors provided in the card reader. Plan view showing a positional relationship, FIG. 30 (B) is a detection timing chart of a sensor when a card is inserted, FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of a card reader control device, FIG. 32 is a block diagram showing an interface circuit of the card reader, FIG. Figure is a timing chart showing the data reading and writing timing of the card reader, FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a card issuing machine used in the gaming system according to the present invention, FIG. 35 is a front panel of the issuing machine FIG. 36 is a perspective view of a card issuing device provided in the issuing machine, FIG. 37 is a schematic configuration diagram of the same card issuing device, and FIG. 38 is a card removal device constituting the card issuing device. FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a card dispensing device which also constitutes a card issuing device, and FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control device of the card issuing machine. 41 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a unit control device of a card issuing machine, FIG. 42 (A) is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a checkout machine, and FIG. 42 (B) is a top panel of the checkout machine. FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front panel is opened, FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of a card settlement apparatus which constitutes a checkout machine, and FIG. 44 is a view showing a counter of a pachinko parlor using the checkout machine of this embodiment. 45 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the structure of a receipt issued by a checkout machine, FIG. 46 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a control device of the checkout machine, FIG. FIG. 47 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a unit control device of a checkout machine. FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the entire management device. FIG. 49 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of the management device itself. The figure shows a configuration example of the console of the management device.
(A) is a plan view, (B) is a rear view, FIG. 51 is a memory map showing a configuration example of a file in a main storage device, and FIG. 52 shows a state transition of a card in the game system of the present invention. FIG. 53 (A) is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transmission system in the gaming system of the present invention, and FIG. 53 (B) is a block diagram showing a connection method of the transmission system when a transmission path is constituted by an optical cable. FIG. 53 (C) is a block diagram showing a connection method of a transmission system when a transmission path is formed by a coaxial cable, and FIG. 54 (A) is a NAU (network adapter unit) for controlling data transfer on a network. FIG. 54 (B) is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the NAU, and FIGS. 55 (A) and (B) are the management device-NAU and management device-unit on a high-layer network. Configuration diagram showing the packet structure between them, FIG. 55 (C) Management device -NAU on the low-rise network
FIG. 56 to FIG. 61 show configuration examples of packets transmitted and received on a high-layer network, and FIG. 56 (A) and FIG. 57 (A) and (B) show the configuration of a “unit table request” packet and its response packet, and FIGS. 58 (A) and (B). ) Is a configuration diagram of an “initial value setting” packet and its response packet. FIGS. 59 (A) and (B) are configuration diagrams of a “periodic data request” from the management device to the pachinko machine and its response packet. A) and (B) are diagrams showing the structure of a "various command" packet and its response "ACK" packet. FIGS. 61 (A), (B) and (C) are "Card-in" packets and its response "ACK". And negative response “NAK” packet configuration diagram. FIG. 63 (A), (B) is a block diagram of “unit recovery data” for a pachinko machine on a low-layer network and its response packet, FIG. 64 (A) ), (B), and (C) are configuration diagrams of a “card purchase” packet, a response “ACK” packet, and a negative response “NAK” packet between the issuing device and the NAU on the low-layer network. FIG. Fig. 66 (A) and (B) are configuration diagrams of a "unit recovery data" packet and a response "ACK" packet for an issuer on a low-layer network. 67 (A), (B) and (C) show the “card checkout” packet and the response “AC” to the checkout machine on the low-layer network.
K "and negative acknowledgment" NAK "packet. FIGS. 68 (A), (B) and (C) show the structure of the" card settlement end "packet and its acknowledgment" ACK "and negative acknowledgment" NAK "packet. Fig. 69 Fig. 69 shows the structure of the "scheduled data transmission" packet from the checkout machine to the NAU. Figs. 70 (A) and (B) show the structure of the "unit recovery data" packet and the response "ACK" packet to the checkout machine. FIG. 71, FIG. 71 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of data transmission in the data transmission controller of the NAU, FIG. 72 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of token bus abnormality detection by a timer interrupt in the NAU, and FIG. 73 is initialization of the entire system. FIG. 74 is a system flowchart showing a procedure from a unit table request by a management device to setting of an initial value for a unit, and FIG. 75 is a management flowchart. 76 is a system flowchart showing a procedure of a regular data collection from each terminal by the device, FIG. 76 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure of a store opening instruction to each terminal by the management device, and FIG. 77 is a card issuing reservation and a card issuing machine. 78 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure when a bill is inserted into the pachinko machine and a purchase switch is turned on. FIG. 78 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure when a card is inserted into a pachinko machine being suspended. FIG. 80 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure when a pachinko machine interrupt switch is turned on, FIG. 80 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure when a card is inserted into a pachinko machine being interrupted, and FIG. 81 is playing a game. FIG. 82 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure when the game end switch of the pachinko machine is turned on. A system flowchart showing a processing procedure when both the number of balls and the amount of money of the card become zero during the game, FIG. 83 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure when a hit occurs during the game, and FIG. The figure shows a system flow chart showing the processing procedure when a card is inserted into the checkout machine, FIG. 85 shows a system flow chart showing the interruption end processing procedure when a suspended card is settled in the checkout machine, and FIG. 86 shows the management FIG. 87 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure when a stop release command is input from the console of the apparatus; FIG. 87 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure when a forced termination command is input to the pachinko machine from the console of the management apparatus; Is a system flow that shows the processing procedure when a forced termination command is issued to the issuing machine or payment machine from the console of the management device. FIG. 89 is a system flowchart showing a processing procedure for canceling termination of a terminal during forced termination, FIG. 90 is a system flowchart showing a detection processing procedure when a unit is down, and FIG. 91 is down. A system flowchart showing a unit recovery processing procedure in which the management device recovers data of the terminal when the unit recovers. FIG. 92 detects that the NAU has gone down, and thereafter, when the NAU recovers, the data for each terminal is restored. FIG. 93 is a system flowchart showing a procedure for restoring processing, FIG. 93 is a system flowchart showing a procedure for terminating the system from a store closing command to each terminal by the management device, FIG. 94 is a system flowchart showing a procedure for detecting the occurrence of a power outage, Fig. 95 is a system flow chart showing the procedure of system startup processing after recovery from power failure. It is a door. 100 ... Pachinko machine, 110 ... Operation panel, 113 ... Purchase switch, 114 ... Pause switch, 115 ... End switch, 130 ... Ball circulation device, 160 ... Control unit, 180 ...
… Unit controller, 188 …… Card reader controller, 1
95… Pachinko machine controller, 190… Unit controller, 200… Card issuer, 700… Card issuer,
710 …… Card removal device, 740 …… Card reversing device, 750
…… Printing device, 770 …… Card dispensing device, 300 …… Checkout machine, 400 …… Management device, 550 …… Unit memory, 551…
... Data transmission controller, 553 ... Network controller, 800 ... Card reader, 802 ... Card insertion / ejection port, 807 ... Convey motor, 809 ... Shutter solenoid,
820: Punch device, 821: Magnetic head.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game device capable of executing a required game, and a management device capable of collecting operation data of the game device,
In a game facility in which the management device and the gaming device are configured to be communicable, a relay control device is interposed between the management device and the gaming device, and a relay control device is provided between the management device and the relay control device. Is connected by a first transmission means, and the gaming device and the relay control device are connected by a second transmission means. The gaming device transmits operation data generated during operation. Data transmission means for collecting operation data from the gaming device, performing required processing, and transmitting the operation data to the management device, and transmitting the operation data from the gaming device a predetermined number of times. Abnormal state determining means for determining that an abnormal state has occurred with respect to the collection of the operation data when the data cannot be collected; and If the occurrence is determined, game equipment, characterized in that it has to notify the occurrence of abnormality by said data transmission means to said management device. 2. The relay control device converts a signal in the communication mode of the first transmission means into a signal in the communication mode of the second transmission means, and converts the signal in the communication mode of the second transmission means to the first transmission means. 2. The gaming facility according to claim 1, further comprising a conversion unit configured to convert the signal into a communication signal of the following type. 3. The management device, each of the gaming devices, and the relay control device are connected to a signal conversion unit capable of converting transmission / reception data into signals of a plurality of types of transmission systems, and a transmission unit corresponding to each transmission system. A game facility according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of possible connection means.