JP2811576B2 - Game media lending system in pachinko parlors - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a game medium lending system in a game store that lends a game medium to be used for a game using a card-shaped storage medium supplied from a supply organization. .

<Prior Art> A card in which value information is stored by issuing money to a card issuing machine installed in a game arcade, and a card in which game media can be lent by inserting the card. A game media lending system using a game media lending device of the type has been developed. The card used in this game media lending system is valid only on the day of issuance at the issuing amusement store.

In other words, in the above-described gaming medium lending system, the player adjusts the value information of the remaining card on his / her own return, and the adjustment of the card sales and the value information conforms to the business form managed by the game store. The card cannot be used after the next day.

In such a game media lending system, only the portion related to the lending of conventional game media, which has been performed using coins, may be changed to use a game media lending card as an intermediary. Since there is no change, the introduction of the system is relatively easy, and there is no possibility that money will be extracted from the game medium lending device into which money has been directly inserted, there is a great advantage for the game store.

In addition, if a player purchases a game media lending card first, the player may continue to borrow the game media until the card loses its valuable value, even if the game media lending device does not always have an acceptable currency. In a recent game store where gaming machines that consume a large amount of gaming media in a relatively short time became mainstream, in order to exchange banknotes in order to borrow gaming media, players The trouble of frequently going to the office can be eliminated.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in a conventional game media lending system that issues a game media lending card that is valid only on the day of issuance in which the value information is stored, the player has valuable resources remaining when the store is closed. The value information must be settled, and the remaining value information cannot be used at a later date unless the settlement is performed, so that the player is forced to perform complicated settlement processing so as not to lose profit and loss, which is not always convenient for the player. Was not high.

In addition, there is a demand from the game store to use up the value of the card (because the sales of the game store will increase), and since installing a large number of checkout machines requires a reasonable cost, Since a sufficient number of payout machines installed in a game store where the above described game media lending system is introduced are not always secured, when the game store is closed, the player may be required to wait for the payment, and rather the game media In some cases, the convenience of the player who purchased the lending card was impaired.

Therefore, using a card supplied by a card supply agency,
A system in which a card supply agency is billed based on sales data used for renting game media is also conceivable, but in the case of such a game media lending system, a game media lending card is issued at the issue store on the issue date. It has the merit of eliminating the complexity of the player who pays for the account, but on the other hand, it can be assumed that an unintended amusement store falsifies the sales data to the card supply agency and makes a request.If the reliability of the sales data is low, the card supply Since the institution receives a great deal of profit and loss, in order to realize such a game media lending system, an apparatus configuration at the game store that can ensure the reliability of sales data is required.

As one means for preventing the falsification of the sales data as described above, the specifications related to the card control, the transmission format of the sales data, and the like are known to the game machine manufacturer or the manufacturer of the game medium discharge mechanism. It is conceivable that the contents of the control are not disclosed so as not to cause a problem. In order to do so, a method is conceivable in which the card supply organization supplies a game medium discharge device including a card control-related function and a sales data transmission function, and the card supply organization manages the game medium discharge device.

However, in the case where the card supply organization supplies and manages the above-described game medium discharging device, the game medium discharging device is relatively frequently used due to the structure in which the mechanical portion of discharging the game medium exists. It is inevitable that troubles (clogging of the game media, etc.) will occur, and the game store will not be able to deal with the problems that have occurred in the game media discharge device. If it had been done, the response would be delayed and hindered the operation of the amusement store, so it was hardly a realistic solution.

In addition, in the conventional card-type game media lending system as described above, the medium for renting the game media is merely changed from "money" to "card in which valuable information is stored". In some aspects, the convenience of the player was impaired.

For example, when the valuable information stored in the card is used up, unless the card is re-purchased by going to a card issuing machine arranged at a predetermined position in the game store,
Since it is not possible to borrow a game medium, a player who wishes to continue the game may be woken up because of the trouble, and the game may be stopped when the card is used up. This will have a considerable effect on the sales for the game store, which is not desirable for the player or the game store.

In addition, when a special game used in a recent gaming machine is created, when a game medium hardly remains and the value information of the card is used up, a large amount of gaming profit is generated. Since the special game that can be obtained cannot be continued, the disadvantage of the player becomes very large.

That is, in the conventional card-type game media lending system, no means for avoiding such a problem in this respect is taken, so that a used player can purchase an extra card in advance and play the game. In order to settle the remaining cards, the user must endure the above-mentioned complications. In addition, for a player who cannot afford it, purchasing extra cards is a burden.

In addition, if the purchase amount of the card is set low, it becomes easy to use up all the value of the card.
It may create the illusion of a desirable solution. However, the cost required for manufacturing the card is increased, and the card discarded as used is scattered in the amusement shop, thereby spoiling the beauty of the shop and taking time to clean it.

Also, in the conventional card-type game media lending system that lends game media only with a card, a player who does not have enough money to purchase a minimum amount of cards cannot borrow a game ball to play a game. It is not convenient for a player who cannot continue the game and wants to continue the game with the remaining coins.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and uses a card-shaped storage medium (for example, a card 2) supplied from a card supply organization (for example, a card issuing center 1) to play a game. In a game media lending system in a game store that lends a game medium (for example, a game ball) to be provided to a user, card-shaped storage medium selling means (for example, card sales) that sells the card-shaped storage medium when money is inserted Machine 3) and a predetermined number of game media are discharged based on a predetermined lending operation by the player, provided that predetermined value information is stored in the card-shaped storage medium. A first game medium lending control unit (for example, the main control device 61 of the ball lending machine 4) for subtracting the value information related to the discharge of the medium and outputting a use value information signal, To perform the discharge of the predetermined number of game media based on a predetermined lending operations's
Second game medium lending control means (for example, a flow-down regulating member 55, a coin discriminating device 56, a coin flow path branch, etc. in the ball lending machine 4) for collecting money provided for discharging the game medium and outputting a lending information signal. The member 59, the local control device 62, etc.) and an activation unit (for example, one of the first game medium lending control unit and the second game medium lending control unit) that activates one of the first game medium lending control unit and the second game medium lending control unit according to the operation mode of the player. A game control machine lending system having a main controller 61 and a local controller 62).

<Operation> When the player performs a predetermined lending operation on the condition that predetermined value information is stored in the card-shaped storage medium, the activation means activates the first game medium lending control means. As a result, a predetermined number of game media are discharged, the value information relating to the discharge of the game media is subtracted, a value-of-use information signal is output, and the game is performed on condition that money is inserted. When the player performs a predetermined lending operation, the activation means activates the second game medium lending control means, thereby discharging a predetermined number of game media,
The money used for discharging the game medium is collected, and a lending information signal is output.

<Embodiment> Hereinafter, an explanation will be given based on an embodiment in which the game medium lending system in a game store according to the present invention is used in a pachinko game store.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a pachinko ball lending system according to the present invention.

A card issuing center 1 serving as a card supply organization issues a card 2 as a card-shaped storage medium storing valuable information and the like, and a card store provided by a gaming shop purchased from the card issuing center 1 in the store. The card vending machine 3 as a storage medium selling means sells to a player based on the insertion of money. The player uses the card 2 at a game store or uses money to receive a ball, which is a game medium, from a ball lending machine 4 as a game medium lending device, and inserts the ball into the pachinko machine 5. And play the game. The amusement store computes the sales data of the card vending machine 3 and the ball lending machine 4 by the management device 6 and sends it to the card issuing center 1. The card issuance center 1 performs settlement with the game store based on the sales data.

As shown in FIG. 2, a large number of pachinko machines 5 are arranged side by side in the pachinko game store, and
A ball lending machine 4 for renting a ball to be used as a game medium is arranged at an appropriate interval between the ball lending machine 4 and the pachinko machine 5, and the ball lending machine 4 and the management device 6 installed in the management room are transmitted via the in-store transmission path 7. Make an electrical connection.

The card 2 used in the pachinko game store is sold by a counter in the store or a card vending machine 3 installed at an appropriate position in the store.

The sales data and the like calculated and stored by the management device 6 are sent to the card issuing center 1. The management device 6 is electrically connected to the card issuing center 1 via an out-of-store transmission line 8 such as a telephone line. , Data may be transmitted.

The card 2 issued by the card vending machine 3 described above,
As shown in FIG. 3, it is a thin plate made of paper, synthetic resin, or the like. On the surface, a balance display section 9 and an issue display section 10 are provided at the upper part in the longitudinal direction. An amount display unit 11 for displaying an amount and a security storage unit 12 for storing security data are provided.

The balance display section 9 displays the approximate balance of the card 2 with a punch hole,
It is displayed by marking or the like, so as to inform the card user of the balance of the card 2.

The issuance display unit 10 is for preventing double issuance of the card 2 and indicates that the card has been issued by the card vending machine 3 by means of a punched hole, marking or the like when the card is issued.

The sales amount of the card 2 is displayed in the amount display section 11,
When the card 2 is to be sold with a premium, the effective amount obtained by adding the premium to the sales amount is also displayed. This premium is to increase the effective amount of Card 2 higher than the actual selling price and provide the difference to the player. For example, there is no 500 yen card, 40 yen for 1000 yen card, 100 yen for 2000 yen card, 3000 yen for 2000 yen card 200 yen for a card, 400 yen for a 5000 yen card, 8 for a 10,000 yen card
00 yen.

The security storage unit 12 is provided to prevent forgery of the card 2, stores the same data as the security data stored in the valuable data storage area using optical means, magnetic means, and the like, and The data is stored in a concealed state so as not to be read from the external appearance.

On the back side of the card, a magnetic data storage unit 13 is provided as a valuable data storage area at a lower portion in the longitudinal direction.
Below the number 13, an issue number display section 14 and an issue date display section 15 are provided.

The magnetic data storage unit 13 stores amount data representing the effective amount of the card 2, card type data representing the issued amount of the card 2, and security data for preventing forgery of the card 2. The amount data stores the effective amount of the card 2 when the card is manufactured, and when the card 2 is used in the ball lending machine 4, the used amount is subtracted and stored again. The card type data stores the issuance amount of the card 2 at the time of manufacture,
When the card 2 is sold at the card vending machine 3, it is checked whether the amount data and the card type data match,
It prevents card 2 issuance errors and unauthorized issuance. As the security data, the same data as the data stored in the security storage unit 12 at the time of card manufacturing is stored. If the two data are compared and the data does not match, the security data is processed as an inappropriate card. If a series of serial numbers that do not overlap with each other is displayed on the issue number display section 14, it is possible to detect a stolen card, and if a lottery is performed based on this number, the player will be able to detect an invalid card that has run out of balance. Since it is not thrown away in a game store, it can contribute to the beautification of the game store.

In addition, an arrow is displayed on the surface of the card 2 to indicate the insertion direction so that the insertion direction of the card can be easily understood, or one of the corners of the front end of the card 2 is slanted in advance in order to prevent mistakes in the insertion direction. The card 2 may be cut off, or an advertisement may be displayed by providing an advertisement display section 16 in a blank portion of the card 2, or a handling explanation section 17 may be provided to display a handling method of the card 2.

The management device 6 is, as shown in FIG.
, A main storage device 19, an auxiliary storage device 20, and a calendar 21.
, A keyboard 22, a display device 23 such as a cathode ray tube, a printer 24, a first transmission control device 25, and a second transmission control device 26, which are electrically connected. Further, power is supplied to the management device 6 via the auxiliary power supply device 27 and the power supply device 28.

The central processing unit 18 is a device for centrally managing each control device in the management device 6, and performs data transfer between the devices, data processing, and the like.

The main storage device 19 stores a ball rental machine sales file storing sales data (use value information) and total sales data of each ball rental machine 4 and a vending machine sales file storing sales data of the card vending machine 3. And a common file that supervises them, and stores a processing program of the central processing unit 18 when the power is turned on.

The auxiliary storage device 20 is composed of, for example, a hard disk, and stores a processing program of the central processing unit 18 and unique data such as a store number used by the card issuing center 1 to identify each amusement store. Are stored.

The calendar 21 is used to set the date, time, and the like. The date information is used when each sales data is stored in the auxiliary storage device 20 or when each sales data is transmitted to the card issuing center 1. The time data is used when the sales information (use value information) from the ball rental machine 4 is stored in the main storage device 19.

The keyboard 22 is a command panel for the central processing unit 18. As shown in FIG. 5, a key switch 29, an opening switch 30, a closing switch 31, a sales switch 32, a printing switch 33, a transmission switch 34, a file switch A switch 35, a numeric keypad 36 and the like are provided. The key switch 29 is a switch for preventing an erroneous operation of the store opening switch 30 and the store closing switch 31, and each switch does not operate unless the switch is turned on. The store opening switch 30 is a switch for starting the acceptance of the card 2 in the ball lending machine 4 and for permitting the card vending machine 3 to sell the card. By operating this switch, a start command is issued to the ball lending machine 4.
A sales permit command is transmitted to the card vending machine 3. The closing switch 31 is a switch for terminating the acceptance of the card 2 in the ball lending machine 4 and prohibiting the card vending machine 3 from selling the card. By operating this switch, a termination command is issued to the ball lending machine 4. Then, a card sales prohibition command is transmitted to the card vending machine 3. The sales switch 32 is a command switch for displaying the total sales and individual sales of the ball lending machine 4 and the sales of the card vending machine 3 on the display device 23. The print switch 33 is a command switch for causing the printer 24 to print the total sales and individual sales of the ball rental machine 4 and the sales of the card vending machine 3. The transmission switch 34 is a command switch for transmitting the total sales data and the like to the card issuing center 1.
When the total sales data and the like are automatically transmitted according to a command from the card issuing center 1, the transmission switch is unnecessary. The file switch 35 stores sales data of the ball rental machine 4 and sales data of the card vending machine 3 in an auxiliary storage device.
This is a switch for storing in 20. Numeric keypad 36
This switch is used to input the machine number of the ball lending machine 4 when it is desired to know the sales of the specific ball lending machine 4.

The printer 24 is a device for printing the sales at the ball lending machine 4, the sales at the card vending machine 3, and the like.

The first transmission control device 25 is a device for establishing a transmission / reception right and standardizing transmission / reception data on the in-store transmission line 7 in the amusement store, and performing data transmission / reception management required by the central processing unit 18.

The second transmission control device 26 establishes a transmission / reception right on the out-of-store transmission line 8 between the game store and the card issuing center 1 and standardizes the transmission / reception data, and manages the transmission / reception of data required by the central processing unit 18. It is a device for performing.

The power supply device 28 is a device for supplying power to each control device, and the auxiliary power supply device 29 is a backup power supply at the time of a power failure, and sales data and the like stored in the main storage device 19 are lost due to the power failure. This is a device provided to prevent the problem.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show flowcharts of the processing in the management device 6 described above.

In the management device 6, the sales data relating to the ball lending machine 4 is processed as a ball lending machine sales file, the sales data relating to the card vending machine 3 is processed as a vending machine sales file, and both these data are processed as a common file. .

When the power is turned on in the management device 6, each file is cleared, the code is received from the card issuing center 1, the code is stored, and when the store opening switch 30 is turned on, the store opening command signal is sent to the ball rental machine 4. , Transmits the encryption, and waits for the sales data to be received. Here, if a response signal is not received from the main controller of the ball lending machine 4 within a certain period of time, the monitor information of the ball lending machine sales file is set to indicate that there is an abnormality, and the display device 23 and the printer 24 have an abnormality. The generated machine number and the contents of the abnormality are output to inform the game clerk, and the above processing is repeated until the confirmation of the response signal of the all-ball rental machine 4 is completed. When the processing for the gold coin lending machine 4 ends, the store opening instruction signal and the encryption are transmitted again to the ball lending machine 4 in which the abnormality has occurred, a response is waited for a certain period of time, and when the response is received, the communication abnormality of the monitor information of the sales file is reset. I do. On the other hand, if there is no response from the abnormal ball rental machine 4, the reset process is skipped and the process proceeds to the next process.

Then, the reception of the monitor information from the ball rental machine 4 is confirmed,
The corresponding machine number in the ball lending machine sales file is searched, the reception monitor information is read, and if no abnormality is set in the monitor information, the processing shifts to a sales data reception process. On the other hand, if an error occurs, the display device 23, the printer
At 24, the number of the machine where the malfunction occurred and the content of the malfunction are output to inform the game store clerk.

When the coin sales data is received, the unit number is searched for in the ball lending machine sales file, the received amount is added to the coin sales, and the common file is updated.

When the card sales data is received, the corresponding machine number is searched in the ball rental machine sales file, the time is read from the calendar,
Adds the amount received from the ball lending machine to the ball lending machine sales file, stores the time, card type, and purchase price, and updates the ball lending machine total sales, total purchase times, card usage count, and sales calculation value in the common file Then, the processing of the ball lending machine sales data ends.

Thereafter, when the sales switch 32 and the print switch 33 are turned on, the store closing switch 31 outputs the sales data stored in the common file to the display device 23 and the printer 24.
Is turned on, an end command signal is transmitted to the ball rental machine 4. When the transmission switch 34 is turned on, the sales data of the common file is read, the transmission data is processed by the encryption transmitted from the card issuing center 1, and the sales data is transmitted to the card issuing center 1. When the file switch 35 is turned on, the date information, the ball rental machine sales file, the vending machine sales file, and the common file are stored in the auxiliary storage device, and the processing in the management device 6 ends.

The data may be transmitted to the card issuing center 1 at the same time as the store is closed, or the data may be transmitted in response to a transmission request command from the card issuing center 1, without operating the transmission switch 34. Further, the file may be automatically stored in the auxiliary storage device 20 at the same time when the store is closed without operating the file switch 35.

The ball lending machine 4 shown in FIG. 8 is arranged between the pachinko machine 5 and the pachinko machine 5, and has a coin slot 39 as a currency slot at the top of the front portion 38 of the box 37, Coin slot
At the upper part of 39, there is provided an insertion amount indicator 40 for displaying the amount of inserted coins, a pilot lamp 41, and at the lower part of the coin insertion slot 39, there is provided a coin return device 42 for returning inserted coins, and coin return. A ball outlet 43 for discharging a ball as a game medium is provided at a lower portion of the device 42, and a coin return port 44 for returning a coin to the player is provided at a lower portion of the ball outlet 43, and a coin return port is provided.
A card insertion port 46 of a card reader / writer 45 as a storage medium mounting device is provided below 44, and a balance display 47 for displaying the balance of the card is provided between the card insertion port 46 and the coin return port 44.

Also, inside the box 37 is a ball supply gutter above the pachinko machine crack.
A ball storage unit 50 is provided above a ball supply gutter 49 branched from 48,
A sphere supply detector 51 is provided in the sphere storage unit 50, a sphere discharge device 52 is provided at a lower end of the sphere storage unit 50, and an outlet of a ball flow down gutter 53 of the sphere discharge device 52 is connected to the sphere discharge port 43. A coin flow passage 54 communicating with the coin slot 39 is provided with a flow control member 55 for flowing coins one by one, and a coin discriminating device is provided below the flow control member 55.
56, a coin flow path 53 below the coin discriminating device 56 is branched into a recovered coin flow path 57 and a return coin flow path 58, and a coin flow path branching member 59 is provided at this branch point, and the collected coin flow path 57 is provided. The lower end of the return coin channel 60 faces the coin collection port 60, and the lower end of the return coin flow path 58 faces the coin return port 44.

Further, the card reader / writer 45 and the balance display 47 are electrically connected to the main controller 61, and the main controller 61,
The local controller controls the input amount indicator 40, the ball discharging device 52, the flow-down regulating member 55, the coin discriminating device 56, and the coin flow branching member 59.
62, and electrically connects the main control device 61 to the in-store transmission line 7.
Is connected to the management device 6 via the.

The main control device 61 controls the card reader / writer 45,
And a control device for transmitting sales data and the like to the management device 6. The card issuing center 1 supplies and manages the card 2 to prevent forgery of the card 2 and falsification of the sales data.
Therefore, the card specifications, communication specifications, and the like handled by the main control device 61 are not disclosed to the pachinko game machine maker, the ball rental machine maker, and the pachinko game store. Further, by falsifying the main control device 61 with a board case or the like, affixing a sealing paper or sealing with a resin to prevent the control device from being opened, it is possible to prevent falsification of the sales data and the like.

The main controller 61 reads and updates data such as valuable data stored in the card 2 and transmits data to the management device 6. That is, in the present embodiment, the main control device 61 determines that “a predetermined number of game balls are discharged based on a predetermined lending operation of the player on condition that predetermined value information is stored in the card 2. Let them do
Also, it functions as "first game medium discharge control means for subtracting value information relating to the discharge of the game ball and outputting a use value information signal."

On the other hand, the local control device 62
Is controlled, that is, the operation associated with the lending of the game media and the like. The operation control of the ball discharge device 52 based on the use of the card 2 is performed by the local control device 62 based on a request from the main control device 61. You may make it controllable directly.

The local control device 62 is appropriately manufactured according to the specifications of the ball rental machine 4, and the management is performed by the game store. The local control device 62 is provided with a restart switch (not shown) for transmitting a recovery signal when an abnormality occurs and the abnormality is recovered by a staff member.

The card reader / writer 45 is a device for reproducing and updating magnetic data stored in the card 2, reading security data, and marking the balance.

As shown in FIG. 9, the flow-down regulating member 55 is
This is a device for causing coins inserted from the system to flow down one by one, and comprises a first solenoid 63 and a coin stop member 65 connected to a plunger 64 of the first solenoid 63. The coin stopping member 65 is an L-shaped member, one end of which is connected to the plunger 64 of the solenoid 63, and a first stopper on one side of the other end.
A second stopper 67 protrudes from the same side of the bent portion as the first stopper 66. In addition, an arc-shaped first stopper insertion hole 68 for inserting the first stopper 66 is inserted through both wall surfaces of the coin flow passage 54 from a substantially central portion in the width direction of the coin flow passage 54 to a lower end thereof. An arc-shaped second stopper insertion hole 69 is formed from the upper end in the width direction of the coin flow path 54 to almost the center thereof, and the first stopper insertion hole 68 is formed.
A first coin detector 70 is provided on an outer wall of the coin flow passage 54 between the first stopper detecting hole 69 and the second stopper insertion hole 69. And the first
A first stopper 66 is inserted through the stopper insertion hole 68, and a second stopper 67 is inserted through the second stopper insertion hole 69.

Therefore, the first stopper 66 and the second stopper
67 is always at the upper end of the first stopper insertion hole 68 and the second stopper insertion hole 69 by the bias of the spring 71, respectively.
The stopper 66 is located substantially at the center of the coin flow path 54 and regulates the flow of coins. In this state, when the player inserts a coin into the coin slot 39, the coin flows down the coin flow path 54,
It comes into contact with the first stopper 66 and stops. At this time, when the first coin detector 70 detects a coin, the first solenoid 63 is excited to attract the plunger 64, the coin stop member 65 connected to the plunger 64 is lowered, and the first stopper 66, the second stopper 67 However, the inside of the first stopper insertion hole 68 and the inside of the second stopper insertion hole 69 are respectively lowered toward the lower end. Then, the first stopper 66 goes out of the coin flow path 54 to the outside, and the second stopper 67 is located substantially at the center of the coin flow path 54.
Therefore, the coin stopped by the first stopper 66 flows down the coin flow path 54 toward the coin identifying device 56. At this time, if the player has continuously inserted coins, the flow of the next coin is regulated by the second stopper 67. Then, the solenoid 63 is demagnetized, and the coin stop member 65 connected to the plunger 64 rises, and the first stopper 66 and the second stopper
The stoppers 67 are respectively in the first stopper insertion holes 68,
When the coin moves upward in the second stopper insertion hole 69 toward the upper end, the next coin flows down the coin flow path 54 to the first stopper 66, and abuts on the first stopper 66 to restrict the flow. Then, the above operation is repeated.

 The coin flow branching member 59 is shown in FIGS.

The coin flow path branching member 59 includes a second solenoid electromagnet 72 provided on one outer surface of the coin flow path 54 and a second solenoid electromagnet.
And a flow path switching member 74 attached to the 72 case 73.

The flow path switching member 74 includes a suction member 75 made of a magnetic material, and a flexible L-shaped coin receiving piece 76 integrally attached to the suction member 75.
A spring mounting portion 77 is provided above the suction member 75. On the other hand, the case 73 is provided with a spring receiving portion 78 protruding toward the coin flow path 54 on the upper surface. A long hole 79 through which a coin receiving piece 76 enters and exits is formed on both wall surfaces of the coin flow path 54.
An introduction piece 80 is provided above the elongated hole 79 on the solenoid electromagnet 72 side. Therefore, in order to attach the flow path switching member 74 to the case 73, the coin receiving piece 76 faces the lower portion of the introduction piece 80, the suction member 75 is screwed to the outer end of the case 73, and the spring mounting portion 77 and the spring receiving member 77 are attached. A spring 81 may be attached to the portion 78. A second coin detector 82 is provided on the outer surface of the coin flow passage 54 near the lower end of the elongated hole 79.

Therefore, the coin receiving piece 76 of the coin flow path switching member 59 is always outside the coin flow path 54 by the bias of the spring 81, and the coin flowing down the coin flow path 54 flows down directly below and returns. It flows down to the coin return port 44 via the coin flow path 58 (11th
Figure). On the other hand, when the coin is identified as a regular coin by the coin identification device 56, the second solenoid electromagnet 72 is excited, the attraction member 75 is attracted to the second solenoid electromagnet 72, and the coin receiving piece 76 is inserted into the slot 79. The coin that has protruded and flowed down is placed on the coin receiving piece 76 and guided to the collected coin flow path 57, and the coin collection port 60.
(Figure 10). Here, when the second coin detector 82 detects a coin, the second solenoid electromagnet 72 is demagnetized, and the coin receiving piece 76 goes out of the coin flow path 54 again.

In this manner, regular coins are guided to the coin collection port 60, and defective coins are guided to the coin return port 44.

Flow-down regulating member 55 for processing the above-mentioned coins
The local control device 62 cooperates with the coin controller 56, the coin discriminating device 56, the coin flow branching member 59, and performs a predetermined number of game ball discharges based on a predetermined lending operation by the player on condition that money is inserted. In addition, a function as a "second game medium discharge control means for collecting money provided for discharging the game balls and outputting a lending information signal" is realized.

As shown in FIG. 13, the ball discharging device 52 includes a sprocket 83 in which balls are engaged one by one, and a first gear 84 mounted coaxially with the sprocket 83 and rotating together with the sprocket 83.
A second gear 85 meshing with the first gear 84; and a locking member mounted coaxially with the second gear 85 and rotating together with the second gear 85.
86 and a stopper member 87 for preventing rotation of the locking member 86
A discharge solenoid 88 for driving a stopper member 87,
The discharge end sensor 89 detects the discharge of the ball.

The stopper member 87 is a substantially triangular member.One vertex is attached to the plunger 90 of the discharge solenoid 88, and the other vertex on the opposite side is provided with a locking portion 91. It is mounted on a support shaft 94 provided on the member 93.

On the outer peripheral surface of the locking member 86, a claw portion 95 that is engaged with the locking portion 91 of the stopper member 87 protrudes.

One end of a switch member 96 is attached to the plunger 90 of the discharge solenoid 88, and the other end of the switch member 96 faces the discharge completion sensor 89.
A shaft hole 97 is opened substantially at the center of the support shaft 94, and the shaft hole 97 is mounted on the support shaft 94.

Therefore, always the plunger 90 of the discharge solenoid 88
Is projected by its own weight, and the claw portion 95 of the locking member 86 is engaged with the locking portion 91 of the stopper member 87. Discharge solenoid 88
Is excited, the plunger 90 is attracted, the stopper member 87 connected to the plunger rotates, and the engagement between the claw portion 95 and the locking portion 91 is released, and the second gear 85 and the second gear 85 mesh with each other. The first gear 84 and the sprocket 83 coaxial with the first gear 84 rotate. Then, a predetermined number of balls are discharged by the rotation of the sprocket 83. Further, since the discharge solenoid 88 is demagnetized after being excited for a certain period of time, when the claw portion 95 makes one rotation, it is demagnetized, and the claw portion 95 and the locking portion 91 are engaged again to finish discharging the ball. Also, the discharge solenoid 88
Is excited, the switch member 96 also rotates, the discharge end sensor 89 is turned on, and a discharge end signal is sent.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the main control device 61 and the local control device 62 of the ball lending machine 4 described above.

The main control device 61 includes an arithmetic control circuit 98, a ROM 99, a RAM 10
0, comprising a CPU 102 having a transmission control circuit 101,
02 card reader / writer 45, unit number setting switch 103,
A restart switch 104 is connected and controls these, and a local controller 62 is connected to exchange data. Further, power is supplied to the CPU 102 via a power supply circuit 105. Transmission control circuit 101 described above
Is connected to a level conversion circuit 106, which performs waveform shaping of received data and converts a signal level for improving the drive capability of a transmission data signal. A branching circuit 107 is connected to the level conversion circuit 106 to separate and combine a transmission signal and a reception signal. Also, the branch circuit 107 has a transmission line connector terminal 1.
08 is provided and connected to the in-store transmission line 7 by a connector.

The unit number setting switch 103 is a switch for setting the transmission address of the ball rental machine 4, and this address data is always added to the transmission data.

The local control device 62 includes an arithmetic control circuit 109, a ROM 110, an R
It consists of a CPU 112 having an AM 111, and a driver 1
13. The receiver 114 is connected and controls them, and the main controller 61 is connected to exchange data. Further, power is supplied to the CPU 112 via the power supply circuit 105.

The driver 113 described above is a control signal from the CPU 112,
Pilot lamp 41, balance indicator 47, input indicator 4
0, the discharge solenoid 88, the first solenoid 63, and the second solenoid electromagnet 72 are driven.

The receiver 114 has a discharge end sensor 89, a supply ball detector 5
1. The first coin detector 70, the second coin detector 82, and a signal from a ball rate setting switch 115 for setting the number of balls to be loaned for 100 yen are sent to the CPU 112.

Various signals are transmitted and received between the main control device 61 and the local control device 62, but card amount data, a ready signal, and a ball lending signal are transmitted from the main control device 61 to the local control device 62. An alarm signal, a first ejection completion signal, a second ejection completion signal, and a card acceptance prohibition signal are transmitted from the device 62 to the main control device 61.

The flowchart of the processing in the ball lending machine 4 described above
FIG. 20 to FIG.

In the main controller 61, when the power of the ball lending machine 4 is turned on, the RAM 100 is cleared, the I / O port is initialized, and the machine number is read from the machine number setting switch 103. Upon receiving a store opening command signal from the management device 6, the device stores the encryption, transmits a response signal to the management device 6, checks for an abnormality in the card reader / writer 45, and detects an improper card. If no abnormality is found, Sends a ready signal to the local control device 62 indicating that the preparation in the management device 6 has been completed,
In the local control device 62, the ball rental machine 4 can be used.
On the other hand, when an abnormality is found, monitor information indicating the abnormality is set, the monitor information is transmitted to the management device 6, and the ready signal is turned off. Here, when the abnormality is recovered and the restart switch 104 provided on the local control device 62 is pressed, the monitor information is reset, the monitor information is transmitted to the management device 6, and the ready signal is turned on.

When the player inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 39, the player discharges a pachinko ball corresponding to the inserted amount. Local controller 62
The first showing that the coin has ejected the panchinko ball from the coin
Upon receipt of the ejection completion signal, it transmits coin sales data to the management device 6 and waits for the card acceptance prohibition signal from the local control device 62 to be turned off.

When the card insertion prohibition signal from the local control device 62 is off and the player inserts the card 2 into the card insertion slot 46, the card 2 is transferred to the inside of the card reader / writer 45. The security data in the magnetic data storage unit 13 and the security data stored in the security storage unit 12 are read, and when the security data in the magnetic data storage unit 13 and the security data in the security storage unit 12 match and the card 2 has a balance, The card amount data is transmitted to the local control device 62, and a local monitoring timer for detecting an abnormality of the local control device 62 is set. If no abnormality is found by the local control device 62, a predetermined fixed number of pachinko balls are discharged, and the process proceeds to the next process. Here, if the security data does not match, the monitor is set to indicate that there is an error, and if there is no balance in the card 2 or if the local controller 62 has an error, the card 2 is ejected. Then, the process returns to the state of waiting for card insertion.

Then, when the ball discharge operation of the local control device 62 is completed and a second discharge completion signal indicating that the pachinko ball has been discharged by the card 2 is sent, the card amount is subtracted and the magnetic data is deleted. The amount of money in the storage unit 13 is updated, and the card 2 is ejected from the card insertion slot 46.

When the above processing is completed, the machine number,
Data such as card type and purchase price are processed and transmitted to the management device 6 as sales data. Thereafter, when a store closing command signal is received from the management device 6, the ready signal is turned off, and the processing in the main control device 61 ends.

In the local controller 62, when the power of the ball lending machine 4 is turned on, the RAM 111 is cleared, the I / O port is initialized, and the ball rate from the ball rate setting switch 115 is read. Upon receiving the ready signal from the main control device 61, the presence or absence of supply balls is checked, and if a predetermined number or more of supply balls are accumulated, the alarm signal is turned off, the pilot lamp 41 is turned on, and the card 2 Is displayed to the player that the reception is possible. On the other hand, if the number of supply balls is not equal to or more than the predetermined number, an alarm signal is transmitted to the main control device 61.

Thereafter, when the player inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 39 and the first coin detector 70 detects a coin, a card acceptance prohibition signal is transmitted to the main control device 61, and the first solenoid 63 is turned on for a certain period of time. Flows down to the coin identification device 56. If the coin identification device 56 determines that the coin is bad, the coin is returned. On the other hand, when the coin is a regular coin, the counting by the discharge counter and the display of the inserted amount are performed based on the amount of the coin. The count and the display of the inserted amount are as follows. In the case of a 500 yen coin, "5" is added to the discharge counter, "5" is displayed on the inserted amount display 40, and in the case of a 100 yen coin, "1" is displayed on the discharge counter. Is added, and “1” is displayed on the input amount indicator 40.

Then, the second solenoid electromagnet 72 is turned on and a timer is set. When the second coin detector 82 detects a coin within a fixed time set by the timer, the second solenoid electromagnet 72 is turned off to discharge the ball. Move to. On the other hand, if the second coin detector 82 does not detect a coin within the fixed time set by the timer, the alarm signal is turned on, assuming that an abnormality such as the coin jamming in the coin flow path 54 has occurred,
Turn off the second solenoid electromagnet 72 to return coins to the coin return slot
Lead to 44.

In the discharge operation of the ball, the discharge solenoid 88 is turned on for a predetermined time, the discharge monitoring timer is set, and when the discharge end sensor is turned on within the fixed time set by the discharge monitoring timer, "1" is set from the discharge counter, and the amount of money inserted is set. "1" is subtracted from the display 40, and the first discharge completion signal is sent to the main controller 61.
Send to On the other hand, if the discharge completion sensor 89 is not turned on within the fixed time set by the timer, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the ball discharging operation, the alarm signal is turned on, and the process returns to the initial stage. After repeating the above process,
When the value of the ejection counter becomes "0", the card acceptance prohibition signal is turned off and the process returns to the beginning.

When the card amount data is received from the main controller 61, the amount is displayed on the balance display 47, the number of ejected balls is determined from the ball rate, the discharge solenoid 88 is turned on for a certain period of time, the discharge monitoring timer is set, and the discharge is monitored. When the discharge completion sensor is turned on within a predetermined time set by the timer, a second discharge completion signal is transmitted to the main control device 61. on the other hand,
Discharge end sensor within a certain time set by timer
If 89 is not turned on, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the ball discharging operation, the alarm signal is turned on, and the process returns to the beginning. Then, set the main monitoring timer, subtract the purchase amount from the initial balance and display 47 on the balance display, and after a certain time set by the timer, turn off the balance display 47 and discharge the ball. finish.

As described above, in the ball lending machine 4, the control device is divided into a main control device 61 for controlling the card reading, updating and data transmission with the management device 6, and a local control device 62 for controlling the ball lending operation. Since the division is performed, forgery of the card 2 and falsification of the sales data and the like can be prevented. That is, the main control device 61 stores the card data at the card issuing center 1 and distributes it to each pachinko game store. Therefore, the storage method and storage location of valuable data and the like stored in the card 2, the arithmetic processing method in the CPU 102, and the management device 6, the data encryption method, etc., are not disclosed to pachinko game machine manufacturers, game medium rental device manufacturers, and pachinko game stores. Further, the local control device 62 only controls the lending operation of the ball, and does not calculate the sales data or the like. Therefore, in the pachinko game store, if the sales data of the card 2 is inflated, for example, when the pachinko game ball is actually rented out for pachinko game balls, the request is made to the card issuing center 1 for settlement. It would be impossible to make a claim as if the pachinko game ball for 400 yen had been lent.

21 and 22 show an embodiment of sales data managed by the management device 6.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a ball rental machine sales file,
When the ball is lent by coins in the ball lending machine 4, the large number of the ball lending machine 4 and the purchase price are transmitted to the management device 6. When the ball is lent by the card 2, the machine number of the ball machine 4, the type of the inserted card 2, and the purchase price are transmitted to the management device 6. These data are stored in the management device 6.
It is stored as a file for each ball rental machine. The file for each ball lending machine is composed of data for one day including coin sales, card sales, purchase time, card type, purchase amount, and monitor information.

Further, when an abnormality occurs from the ball rental machine 4 to the management device 6, monitor information is transmitted together with the machine number. This monitor information is composed of 8 bits, and is used to control abnormal information.
It consists of bits and four pieces of abnormality information corresponding to each bit. Note that the remaining three bits are unused. Then, when the restart switch 104 is pressed by the game clerk whose abnormality has been recovered, the monitor information is transmitted again to indicate the recovery.

FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a common file for managing vending machine sales data and ball lending machine sales data and transmitting the vending machine sales data to the card issuing center 1. Updated together when updated.
This common file contains the total amount of ball lending machine sales corresponding to card ball lending machine sales, the total number of purchases, the number of times of use for each card type, and the vending machine sales corresponding to vending machine sales data. Total, total number of cards issued, total number of cards issued by each type, total sales of ball rental machines minus total sales of vending machines Sales calculated value, which is the actual receivables at the amusement store, set at the card issuing center and transmitted Encryption code used for data processing, date information,
A ball lending rate and a working area are written, and the coin ball lending machine sales total which stores the ball lending machine sales by coins is written in the working area.

The encrypted data may be changed every day, or the ball rate may be stored in the management device 6 so as to be changeable, and the ball rate may be transmitted to the ball rental machine 4 simultaneously with the store opening instruction. The ball rate setting switch 115 of No. 4 becomes unnecessary.

The above common file is transmitted to the card issuing center 1. If more detailed data is required,
The contents of the ball lending machine sales file and the vending machine sales file may be added and transmitted, or the sum of the ball lending machine sales by money may be transmitted together. By transmitting the above file, the amusement store requests the card issuing center 1 to settle the total sales of the card vending machines and the total sales of ball lending machines (sales calculation value).

Further, in order to prevent falsification of the sales data on the in-store transmission path 7 or the out-of-store transmission path 8, if the sales data is processed by rearranging the bits of the transmission data by encryption from the card issuing center 1, etc. In addition, it is possible to prevent data from being falsified in the game store. If this code is changed every day, it is more effective.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the card 2 is inserted into the ball lending machine 4, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are discharged, but the player can arbitrarily select the number of discharged pachinko balls. , A selection switch is provided, for example, 100
A pachinko ball equivalent to a circle, 200 yen, 300 yen or the like may be selected and discharged.

In the above embodiment, the game medium lending device for renting a ball used in a pachinko parlor has been described. However, the game medium in the present invention is not limited to a ball, and a game coil or the like may be lent. In addition, the card-shaped storage medium issued by the card supply organization may be used in, for example, a card-type enclosed ball-type pachinko machine, a vending machine, and the like.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the game medium lending system in the game store according to the present invention, the player can obtain the predetermined value on the condition that the predetermined value information is stored in the card-shaped storage medium. When the lending operation is performed, the activation unit activates the first game medium lending control unit, thereby discharging a predetermined number of game media, and subtracting value information relating to the discharge of the game medium. Then, a value-of-use information signal is output, and when the player performs a predetermined lending operation on condition that money is inserted, the activation means is activated by the second activation means.
By activating the game medium lending control means, a predetermined number of game media are discharged, the money used for discharging the game medium is collected, and a lending information signal is output. A player can borrow a game medium by using a card-shaped storage medium and money together.

Therefore, even if the valuable information stored in the card is lost during the game, the game can be continued with the money on hand without purchasing a new card,
Even when there is almost no remaining game media and no value information on the card-shaped storage medium when a special game occurs, if you have the minimum unit of money that can be lent out of the game media, Since the game media can be quickly rented, it is possible to effectively prevent a situation in which a special game started immediately after the game media has been used up cannot be performed and a great disadvantage is caused.

In addition, the first game medium lending control means for lending the game medium using the card-shaped storage medium storing the valuable value information of the predetermined mode, and the second game medium lending control means for lending the game medium using money. Since the game media lending control means is provided separately, the card processing function and the use value information transmission function of the first game media lending control means are kept secret,
A game machine maker and a game medium dispense device maker can design and manufacture the game medium discharge device and the second game medium lending control means at their own discretion.

Therefore, by not disclosing the control contents of the first game medium lending control means to the outside, it is possible to prevent tampering of the value-in-use information by the game store, and to prevent the game medium discharge mechanism and the second game medium lending control. The means can be designed and manufactured by the game machine maker and the game medium discharge device maker at their own discretion, so that the game medium discharge mechanism and the second game medium lending control means should be provided in advance in the game store for maintenance as before. In addition to ordinary maintenance work and simple repair work due to clogging of balls, etc., even if a serious failure occurs, if the control device is completely replaced, the repair work can be quickly performed at the game store side .

As a result, it is extremely unlikely that the card supply mechanism will suffer from a business disadvantage due to falsification of value-in-use information, which becomes sales data, and the reliability as a game media lending system is improved. For a game store, a simple trouble does not occur in the game medium discharge mechanism or the second game medium lending control means, etc., and the entire game medium lending function is not disabled. There is no possibility that a number of media lending devices are generated and the game store suffers a significant disadvantage in business.

Further, if the first game medium lending control means is provided by performing a process of not revealing the control content from the card supply organization, the first game medium lending control means is provided in advance at the game store for maintenance. In the event that a trouble occurs in the card processing function or the lending data transmission function in the game store, prompt control on the game store side is required while keeping the control contents of the first game medium lending control means confidential. It becomes possible.

Further, as described above, by concealing the card processing function and the value-of-use information transmission function of the first game medium lending control means, it is possible to effectively prevent the sales profit of the card-shaped storage medium from being significantly impaired by the card supply organization. Can be prevented.

In addition, even when the value information of the card-shaped storage medium is used up, it is possible to borrow the game medium by money, so that the player does not need to purchase an extra card-shaped storage medium in advance, and an extra card can be used. Even if the card storage medium is bought, the card-shaped storage medium remaining at a later date can be used, so that there is no trouble in card settlement and the convenience is improved for the player.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko game store. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a game medium lending system including a card supply organization, FIG. 3A is a front view of the card, FIG. 3B
FIG. 4 is a back view of the card, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the management device, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the keyboard, FIG. 6 and FIG.
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the ball lending machine, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a flow-down regulating member, Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views of a coin flow path branching member,
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the coin flow branching member, FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the inside of the ball discharging device, FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control device of the ball lending machine, and FIGS. FIG. 21 is a flowchart of processing in the ball lending machine control device, FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram of a ball lending machine sales file, and FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of a common file. In the figure, 1 ... Card issuing center, 2 ... Card, 3 ...
… Card vending machine, 4… Ball rental machine, 55… Flow down regulation member,
56 ... Coin identification device, 59 ... Coin flow branching member, 61 ...
Main control unit 62 Local control unit

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A63F 7/02 B42D 15/10 G06F 15/20 G06F 15/21 G07F 7/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game medium lending system in a game shop for renting a game medium to be used for a game using a card-shaped storage medium supplied from a card supply organization. And a predetermined number of game media are discharged based on a predetermined lending operation of a player, provided that predetermined value information is stored in the card-shaped storage medium. A first game medium lending control means for subtracting value information relating to the discharge of the game medium and outputting a use value information signal; and a predetermined number based on a predetermined lending operation of a player by inputting money. A second game medium lending control means for causing the player to discharge the game medium, collecting money provided for discharging the game medium, and outputting a lending information signal; and An activation means for activating one of the first game medium lending control means and the second game medium lending control means. A game medium lending system in a game store, comprising: