JP2925917B2 - Game ball rental payment device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game ball lending and settlement apparatus for performing a game ball lending and a settlement process including counting of game balls at a pachinko game hall, and more particularly to a cash or card-shaped recording medium. After receiving and renting a game ball,
The present invention relates to a game ball lending settlement device including a lending machine for paying out a card-shaped recording medium in which a remaining amount and the number of balls held in response to a settlement instruction from a player are recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, as a device for lending a ball in a pachinko game arcade, there is known a lima ball lending machine arranged between respective gaming machines on a so-called pachinko island. The ball lending machine is provided with a medium lending switch for paying out cash and a medium lending switch for paying out game balls while subtracting and displaying the number of balls held by the ball counting machine. I was

[0003] On the other hand, as a device for counting the number of held balls of a game ball for settlement processing after the end of the game, a held ball counter installed at a position apart from a pachinko island in a game hall has been used.

[0004]

A medium lending switch for paying out cash and a medium lending switch for paying out game balls while subtracting and displaying the number of balls held by the ball counting machine are provided. Since the game balls are separately provided, the player must select whether to pay out the game balls by the medium lending switch or the medium payout switch during the game for the game ball lending process, and There was a problem that impaired. In addition, after the game is over, the player must take the game ball obtained to the place where the ball counting machine is located, perform ball counting, and further work to bring the issued receipts etc. to the prize exchange counter. .

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the conventional technology, and the payout of a game ball of the amount desired by the player is not necessary for the player to move unnecessarily or frequently. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game ball rental and settlement apparatus which can perform the game ball counting and settlement processing after the game is completed, while easily sitting in front of the gaming machine.

[0006]

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object resides in the following one aspect .

[0007]

[1] On a gaming machine island in which a plurality of gaming machines (1) are juxtaposed, provided for each gaming machine (1),
A game ball lending and settlement device that, after receiving cash or a card-shaped recording medium and renting a game ball, pays out a card-shaped recording medium recording the remaining amount and the number of balls held in response to a player's settlement instruction. A vertically long rental machine (10) disposed adjacent to each other between the gaming machines (1), and each gaming machine (1)
Top plate (5) to be located directly below the lower plate (3) in front of
Ball drop lever arranged on the lower plate (3)
The game ball is taken in from the inlet (91) by the operation of (4) and the ball is arranged below the top plate (5) so as to count the balls.
And a lifting ball counting machine (90), and storage means for storing the remaining amount and the number of lifting balls (70), wherein comprises a control means for controlling the lending machine (10) (60), wherein Rental machine (1
0) is an identification device (20, 30) for identifying the authenticity and the amount of the inserted cash, and a dispenser (40) for paying out game balls.
And a reader / writer (50) for reading and issuing the card-shaped recording medium therein.
An inlet for cash into the discriminating machine (20, 30), an outlet (17) for game balls from the dispenser (40), and an inlet (18) for a card-shaped recording medium of the read / write machine;
Medium payout switch (14) for instructing lending and payout of game balls, and settlement switch (15) for instructing settlement processing
And a display (16) for displaying the remaining amount and the number of balls registered in the storage means (70) on the front side, and the control means (60) is provided with the discriminator (20, 30). , The state in which the input of a small amount of cash is detected, the state in which the remaining amount is registered in the storage means (70) and the medium dispensing switch (14) is operated, or the state in which the storage means (70) has a ball When the medium payout switch (14) is operated in a state where the number is registered, a payout control unit (6) instructing the payout device (40) to pay out a predetermined amount of game balls.
1) and in a state in which the input of high-value cash is detected by the discriminating machine (20, 30) or in a state in which the input of the card-shaped recording medium is detected by the read writer (50),
The input amount or the registered amount is added to the storage means (70) as a remaining amount and registered, and further, in a state where the game ball is paid out by the payout device (40) by operating the medium payout switch (14), An amount calculation registration unit (62) for subtracting the amount of these payouts from the remaining amount and updating and registering the subtraction result as a new remaining amount in the storage means (70).
In the state in which the insertion of the card-shaped recording medium is detected by the lead writer (50), or in the state in which the possessed ball counting of the game ball is performed by the possessed ball counting machine (90), the card-shaped recording medium is The registered game ball count or the ball count of the ball counter (90) is added to and registered in the storage means (70) as the ball count, and is further operated by operating the medium payout switch (14). In the state where the payout device (40) has paid out the game balls, the number of game balls for the payout is subtracted from the number of held balls, and the result of the subtraction is updated and registered in the storage means (70) as a new number of held balls. In the state where the remaining amount or the number of possessed balls is registered in the ball number calculation registration unit (63) and the storage unit (70) and the settlement switch (15) is operated, the storage unit (70) at this time. The remaining amount registered in Settlement control unit for commanding issuance of a card-like recording medium that registered the fine lifting piece count to the reader and writer (50) (64) and Yu TECHNICAL ball lending settlement apparatus you characterized in that it comprises a.

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

According to the game ball lending settlement device of the present invention, the lending machine (1
If a bill or coin is inserted in 0), it is possible to pay out a predetermined number of payout game balls, but if the inserted cash is a high-value banknote, change is not paid out at this time, and the remaining amount is not paid. Registered as

[0013] Thus, according to the payout command using the medium payout switch (14), it is possible to further rent a game ball within the range of the remaining amount.

Each time a game ball is paid out, the registered value of the remaining amount is decremented.

Whenever cash is added, the registered value of the remaining amount is added each time.

On the other hand, when the card-shaped recording medium is inserted into the lending machine (10), the number of game balls registered in the card-shaped recording medium is registered as the number of possessed balls. Then, by the operation of the payout of the medium payout switch (14), a predetermined number of game balls are paid out, and the number of game balls for the payout is subtracted, and the new number of balls is updated and registered. Is done.

When the remaining amount is registered in the inserted card-shaped recording medium, this amount is added to the remaining amount and registered in the same manner as when cash is inserted. By the payout operation using (14), a predetermined amount of payout game balls are paid out, and the registered value of the remaining amount is changed to a value obtained by subtracting the amount of this amount.

In the middle of or after the game, a game ball is thrown into an intake (91) of a ball counter (90) installed under the front of the game machine (1). Ball counting is performed by the counter (90), the counting result of the ball is added, and registered as an updated ball number. The ball count updated based on the ball count result is also the same as the ball count read from the card-shaped recording medium,
It is possible to pay out by a payout operation using the medium payout switch (14).

At the end of the game or the like, the lending machine (10) issues a card-like recording medium in which the remaining amount and the number of balls registered at this time are registered by the operation of the player.
At this time, if a card-shaped recording medium is inserted,
The data of the inserted card-shaped recording medium is erased, and the remaining amount or the number of balls is newly registered and paid out.

In the above operation, in the present invention, the slot (91) of the lending machine (10) operated by the player or the ball counting machine (90) is located at the side of the gaming machine (1) or the gaming machine. (1)
The player is in a position where the player can reach it while sitting in front of the gaming machine, such as below the front of the game machine.

Therefore, even if the banknote is a large denomination, the player puts the cash on hand into the lending machine (10) and performs the operation of dispensing using the medium dispensing switch (14) on the lending machine (10). By doing so, while sitting in front of the gaming machine (1), a game ball can be paid out and a game can be started. Moreover, there is no need to receive the remaining amount at this time.

In addition to the above operation, the rental machine (1
By performing the payout operation using the medium payout switch (14) on the above (0) alone, the game can be continued by receiving the payout of the game ball while sitting in front of the gaming machine (1). Then, even if the remaining amount runs out, cash can be further input to the lending machine (10) to continue the game.

After the game is over, if the balance switch (15) of the rental machine (10) is operated while sitting in front of the gaming machine (1), the remaining amount and the number of balls at that time are registered. Since the used card-shaped recording medium is paid out, the payment process and the prize exchange can be performed simply by bringing the card-shaped recording medium to a prize exchange counter or the like.

Also, by putting the card-shaped recording medium into the lending machine (10) of another gaming machine (1), the game can be started in the same manner.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A description will now be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a game arcade apparatus to which a game ball rental and settlement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of sets of gaming machines 1 and ball rental machines 10 are provided on each gaming island.
And ball counting machine 90 and hall computer 100
, An exchange 110, and a management computer 120.

Here, the ball lending machine 10 and the ball counting machine 90
Is used to show an embodiment in which the game ball lending settlement device of the present invention is configured.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ball lending machine 10 is installed adjacent to the side of the gaming machine 1 and the possessed ball counter 90 is provided at a lower part of the front of each gaming machine 1. The game ball is taken in from the mouth 91 and the ball holding is counted. In this case, the gaming machine 1 may be provided with a ball drop lever 4 that opens toward the intake port 91 at the bottom of the lower plate 3 for storing game balls overflowing from the front plate 2. The intake port 91 is provided on the top plate 5 of the gaming machine 1, and the main body of the ball counting machine 90 is disposed below the top plate 5, but is not shown in FIG. .

At the front of the ball lending machine 10, as shown in FIG. 1, a bill slot 11, a coin slot 12, a medium payout switch 14, a settlement switch 15, a display 16, a nozzle type ball vase 17, and a card entrance. 18 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, a bill validator 20, a coin validator 30, a ball dispenser 40, a lead writer 50, a control unit 60, and a storage unit 70 are provided inside the ball lending machine 10.

The display 16 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is controlled by the control means 60. In this case, there are two displays, one for displaying the remaining balance and the other for displaying the number of possessed balls. May be configured to display various predetermined comments.

The nozzle type ball vase 17 is provided with the medium discharging switch 1.
By the operation of payout using 4, the game balls paid out from the ball payout device 40 are sequentially sent to the upper plate 2 of the gaming machine 1 by the nozzle 17a.

The bill validator 20 receives a bill inserted from the bill insertion slot 11, identifies the authenticity and the amount of the bill, and outputs an identification signal to the control means 60. Note that the bills taken into the bill validator 20 are:
The paper is taken into a so-called bill transport machine 23 in the island by the transport path 21 shown in FIG. 1, and is sent to a bill storage (not shown) installed at the end of the island or the like.

The coin discriminator 30 discriminates the authenticity or the type of the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 12 and outputs the result of the identification to the control means 60.

The ball payout device 40 is a ball counter for paying out a predetermined number of game balls. The ball payout device 40 controls a game ball supplied from the island through the ball introduction port 19 shown in FIG. A predetermined number is sent out to the nozzle 17a via the nozzle type ball pot 17 based on the payout command.

The reader / writer 50 is, for example, a device for writing and reading a magnetic card as a card-shaped recording medium.

The read writer 50 reads the data of the magnetic card inserted from the card entrance 18 and operates by exchanging data or signals with the control means 60 as appropriate. The data is newly written on the magnetic card into which the data has been input, and the data is paid out.
The reader / writer 50 has a storage section for storing a magnetic card in a non-recording state therein and a payout mechanism for performing payout from the storage section. If the game starts with cash only without a magnetic card inserted,
It also has a function of writing and paying out data such as the remaining amount and the number of balls held on the magnetic card in the storage unit. As a data recording mode, a method of printing numbers or characters on the card surface or a method of printing with a barcode may be used in addition to the registration as magnetic data.

The reader / writer 50 is not limited to the one that uses a magnetic card as a card-shaped recording medium. For example, a recycler provided with a recycle recording means capable of displaying or erasing characters or the like on the surface by a change in temperature. A card (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-260879) may be used as a card-shaped recording medium. Further, an IC card can be used as a card-shaped recording medium. IC
The card is a writable and readable card-shaped storage device using a semiconductor integrated circuit. Compared with a magnetic card or the like, the storage capacity is extremely large, and various types of electronic secret protection are applied, so that it is possible to manage customer management, sales management, and the like by using this single card. Furthermore, it is possible to use the IC card provided with the recycle recording means. By providing the recycle recording means, it is possible to realize a card-shaped recording medium having a data display function of the recycle recording means in addition to a data management function of the IC card. With this data management function, customer management and sales management over a long period of time, not just one day, can be collectively managed with this one sheet.

By means of the recycling recording means, necessary data can be displayed immediately as character information which can be visually confirmed by an administrator or the like without printing on recording paper or the like. The character information once written can be immediately deleted when it is no longer needed, and the confidentiality of the information can be improved at the same time.

Further, the player can also display the data he or she needs on the IC card as character information that can be visually confirmed.

That is, in addition to being able to manage the data recorded in the IC card, it is possible for an administrator or a player to easily and selectively check only the data. Becomes

The storage means 70 is controlled by the control means 60.
A so-called RA that stores the remaining amount of money and the number of balls held
M.

The control means 60 is specifically formed of, for example, a microcomputer. As shown in FIG. 2, as control elements, a payout control section 61, an amount calculation registration section 62, a ball number calculation registration section 63, The game device includes a payment control unit 64 and a display control unit 65, and controls the game ball lending payment device according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The payout control section 61 is roughly divided into the following cases, that is, [a] a true 100 yen or 500 yen coin by the bill validator 20 or the coin validator 30;
Alternatively, when the insertion of the 1,000 yen, 5000 yen, and 10,000 yen bills is detected, the medium dispensing switch 14 is operated, or when the remaining amount is registered in the storage unit 70, the dispensing switch 14 is dispensed. Is operated, or [c] the number of balls held is registered in the storage means 70, and the medium payout switch 14 is operated. The ball is paid out to the ball dispenser 40.

In this case, an overflow sensor (not shown) is provided on the front plate 2 of the gaming machine 1.

The overflow sensor is, for example, 100
When the number of balls to be paid for 0 yen insertion is too large and overflows, an overflow signal output from the overflow sensor is generated and the overflow signal is output to the payout controller 61.

Upon receiving the over signal, the payout control section 61 temporarily stops paying out the game balls and generates a command to register the remaining number of game balls in the storage means 70 as the number of possessed balls.
The command is output to the ball number calculation registration unit 63. In addition, instead of the overflow sensor of the front plate 2 of the gaming machine 1, an overflow sensor may be attached to the ball payout nozzle 17a.

When a stop signal is input from the gaming machine 1, the payout control unit 61 sets the ball payout device even if there is a command for cash input or a payout operation using the medium payout switch 14. Control is performed so that the game ball is not paid out without operating the 40.

When the bill discriminator 20 detects the insertion of a 5,000 yen bill or a 10,000 yen bill or the reader / writer 50 detects the insertion of a card-shaped recording medium, the amount calculation registration unit 62 The registered amount is added to the storage means 70 as the remaining amount and registered, and the payout operation is performed using the medium payout switch 14 and the ball payout device 40 is operated.
When the game balls are paid out, the payout amount is subtracted from the remaining amount, and the result of the subtraction is updated and registered in the storage means 70 as a new remaining amount.

When the lead writer 50 reads that the stop signal has been recorded on the inserted card-shaped recording medium, the amount-of-money calculating / registering section 62 registers the remaining amount on the card-shaped recording medium. However, this is not added and registered in the storage means, the payout operation using the medium payout switch 14 is not accepted, and control is performed so that the payout of the game ball is not possible, and the inserted card-shaped recording medium is returned as it is.

The ball number calculation registration unit 63 includes a read writer 50
When the insertion of the card-shaped recording medium is detected by the above, or when the ball counting of the game ball is performed by the ball-counting machine, the number of balls registered in the card-shaped recording medium or the ball count counted by the ball counting machine. The counting result of the balls is added and registered in the storage means 70 as the number of balls to be held, and when a game ball is paid out by the ball payout device 40 by the payout operation of the medium payout switch 14, the number of balls to be paid out is calculated from the number of held balls by Is subtracted, and the result of the subtraction is updated and registered in the storage means 70 as a new ball count. Note that the ball number calculation registration unit 63 determines that the stop signal is recorded on the inserted card-shaped recording medium.
If it is read as 0, even if the number of balls held is registered in the card-shaped recording medium, this is not added and registered in the storage means, and the inserted card-shaped recording medium is returned as it is.

When the settlement switch 15 is operated in a state in which the remaining amount or the number of possessed balls is registered in the storage means 70, the settlement controller 64 stores the remaining amount or the remaining amount registered in the storage means 70 at this time. This is to instruct the reader / writer 50 to register the number of balls and issue the card-shaped recording medium, and to reset the remaining amount and the number of balls in the storage means 70 to zero. When a stop signal is input from the gaming machine 1, the settlement controller 64 instructs the lead writer 50 to record the stop information on the issued card-shaped recording medium.

The display controller 65 causes the display 16 to display the remaining amount or the number of balls at that time based on the registration data in the storage means 70.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the gaming ball lending settlement apparatus of this embodiment, first, it is checked whether or not a card-shaped recording medium has been inserted and a bill or coin has been inserted (step S8, step S1).

If the card-shaped recording medium is inserted (step S8), the remaining balance, the number of balls (steps S8 to S9) recorded on the card-shaped recording medium and the presence / absence of hit recording (step S10) are determined. Can be examined. In the case of a hit card for which hit recording has been detected, or in the case where there is no remaining money or the number of balls recorded on the card-shaped recording medium, the hit card is returned as a card-shaped recording medium (step S25).

When a true bill or coin is inserted, the bill validator 2
0 or detected by the coin discriminator 30 (step S
1) This is a 100 yen or 500 yen coin, or 1
000 yen bill (step S4 to step S4).
6) The ball payout device 40 is operated under the control of the payout control unit 61, and a predetermined number of payout game balls are paid out regardless of the payout operation using the medium payout switch 14 (steps S14 to S14). Step S26).

The cash input is 5000 or 1000
If the bill is a zero yen bill (step S2, step S2)
3) At this time, the payout of the game ball is not performed, and the amount of the inserted money is once registered in the storage means 70 as the remaining amount under the control of the amount calculation registration unit 62, and is displayed on the display 16 (step S11).

Thereafter, it is detected whether or not there is a command for a payout operation using the medium payout switch 14 (step S12).
When an instruction to perform a payout operation using the medium payout switch 14 is detected (step S12), the number of remaining balls and the balance are checked to perform a payout operation of game balls (steps S13 to S14). If it is determined that there is no remaining balance in the memory (step S13), a ball lending impossible message is displayed, and a cash input is prompted (step S1).

In this embodiment, when the inserted cash is a fake coin or a 10 yen or 50 yen coin, it is returned from a return port (not shown) formed in the ball lending machine 10 (step). S7).

When the number of balls held is registered in the inserted card-shaped recording medium (step S19), the inserted card-shaped recording medium is detected by the reader / writer 50 in the same manner as when cash is inserted. Then, the number of balls registered in the card-shaped recording medium under the control of the ball number calculation registration unit 63 is registered in the storage means 70 as the number of held balls (steps S8 to S1).
1) After that, when the operation of the medium payout switch 14 is awaited (step S12), the payout of the game ball by the payout switch 14 is executed (step S14). When the number of possessed balls is registered, the display is performed. This number of balls is displayed on the container 16 (step S15), and the number of balls to be paid out is subtracted from the number of balls to be paid out under the control of the number-of-balls registering unit (step S17). The update is registered and displayed in the storage means (step S15). The game balls are paid out while checking whether the bowl is full (step S18). The remaining number is subtracted and displayed on the display 16 (step S15), and the payout is completed (step S15).
26).

When the remaining amount is registered in the inserted card-shaped recording medium (step S9), the amount is added to the storage means under the control of the amount calculating and registering unit in the same manner as when cash is inserted. And registered (step S1
1) After that, when the payout switch 14 is operated, a predetermined payout unit of game balls is paid out under the control of the payout control unit 61 (step S12), and the amount is registered by the processing of the amount calculation registration unit 62. The registered value of the remaining amount is changed to a value obtained by subtracting the amount (steps S13 to S13).
6). The game balls are paid out while checking whether the bowl is full (steps S15 and S16). Subsequently, the display 16
Is displayed and the payout is completed (step S26).
~ 28). The number of possessed balls is updated and registered, and the number of possessed balls is displayed on the display 16 (step S28).

Similarly, when the operation of the settlement switch 15 is awaited (step S31), the settlement of the number of balls by the settlement switch 15 is executed (steps S31 to S40).

After the payout switch 14 detects the payout command of the game balls (step S12), when the number of possessed balls is not registered, that is, when the number of possessed balls is zero (step S1).
4) It is checked whether the remaining amount is not registered in the storage means 70 or the remaining amount is insufficient (step S13).
If the price is less than 000 yen, a message indicating that the ball cannot be lent and a message prompting cash input are displayed (steps S1 to S
7).

After the payout switch 14 detects the game ball payout command (step S12), if the remaining money display is 1000 yen or more, a subtraction display of 1000 yen is displayed on the display 16 and the bowl becomes full. 1 while checking
A game ball within 000 yen is paid out (step S17 to step S21). Subsequently, the remaining number is added and displayed on the display 16 (step S21), and the payout is completed (step S26).

After the payout switch 14 detects the payout command of the game balls (step S12), when the number of possessed balls is registered, that is, when the number of possessed balls is not zero (step S1).
In 4), the display 16 is subtracted and displayed (step S1).
5) Pay out game balls while checking whether the bowl is full (step S18). Subsequently, the payout is completed (step S26).

In the course of the game, when a game ball is inserted into the intake 91 and the ball count is counted by the ball counting machine 90, the ball count calculation registration unit 63 controls the ball count result to display the ball count. Is added to the storage means 70 and registered. The number of balls that are counted as a result of counting the number of balls can be paid out by operating the medium payout switch 14 again, similarly to the number of balls that are read from the card-shaped recording medium.

Next, when the settlement switch 15 is operated in a state in which the remaining amount or the number of possessed balls is registered in the storage means (step S31), the ball drop lever 4, the possessed ball counter 90 and the like are automatically activated. When activated, all game balls on the bowls 2 and 3 are taken in from the inlet 90 and the number of balls held is counted (steps S28 to S30). Or, manually drop ball 4
Is operated, the balls on the plate are all flowed to the ball holding counter 90, and the ball held by the customer is counted and the balance switch is operated.

Then, under the control of the settlement controller 64, the card-shaped recording medium in which the remaining amount and the number of balls registered in the storage means at this point are issued from the reader / writer 50 (steps S33 to S37). . At this time, when the card-shaped recording medium is inserted, the remaining amount or the number of balls is newly registered and paid out in the inserted card-shaped recording medium (steps S31 to S40).

If the registered values of the remaining amount and the number of balls held in the storage means 70 are 0, no card is issued (steps S33 to S37), and if a stop signal is input, the stop information is output. The registered card is issued (step S36).

As described above, according to the gaming ball lending settlement apparatus, the player sits in front of the gaming machine, such as the front of the ball lending machine disposed on one side of the gaming machine or the lower front of the gaming machine. By operating the payout switch 14 or the like at a position where it can be easily reached, the player can easily borrow the ball and pay out the card, which is extremely convenient for the player.

In other words, even if the player has a large bill, the player must insert cash into the slots 11 and 12 on the front of the ball lending machine 10 and also operate the payout switch 14 on the front of the ball lending machine 10. Thus, it is possible to start the game by paying out the ball while sitting in front of the gaming machine 1, and it is not necessary to receive the remaining amount at this time. If there is a remaining amount while looking at the display 16, the payout switch 14 is further operated, so that the player can continue to play the game by paying out the ball while sitting in front of the gaming machine 1. Even if the money runs out, the game can be continued by re-entering the cash from the slots 11 and 12 again.

After the game is over, the gaming machine 1
If the user operates the checkout switch 15 while sitting in front of the card, the card-shaped recording medium in which the remaining amount and the number of balls registered at that time registered in the storage means 70 are paid out. Just by taking it with you, etc., it is possible to perform the settlement process and exchange prizes.

That is, when a card is inserted into the exchange 110, data such as a bar code registered in the card is read, and it is first determined that the card is not a defective card. Is displayed on both the customer side and the clerk side, and the change corresponding to the remaining amount is paid out with a 1000 yen bill. Then, the prize is exchanged in such a manner that the clerk inputs the number of balls corresponding to the prize desired by the customer and subtracts it from the number of possessed balls. This prize exchange may be automatically performed when a customer operates a switch and designates a prize. When all the prizes have been paid out, the exchange 11
The display of "0" becomes "0", and the card is erased and recovered from the data taken into the machine.

The game can be started again by putting the paid-out card-shaped recording medium into the ball lending machine 10 of another gaming machine 1, and the card-shaped recording medium can be similarly played after the game is over. The exchange of the prize can be easily completed after the issuance of the medium.

It is to be noted that the ball lending machine 10 is provided with a sensor or an indicator for detecting and displaying an excess or deficiency of the storage amount of the card-shaped recording medium in the read writer 50 to display an excess or deficiency of the storage amount of the card-shaped recording medium. Or hall computer 1
The detection result can be transmitted to the management computer 120 or the management computer 120 to facilitate the operation of replenishing or collecting the card-shaped recording medium.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a gaming machine is described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a gaming machine using medals or coins such as a slot machine.

[0077]

According to the game ball lending settlement apparatus of the present invention, the function of a medium lending switch for paying out cash and the number of balls held by the ball counting machine are displayed while subtracting the numbers. Since the function of the medium ejection switch for performing the ejection of the medium is shared by one medium ejection switch,
The player needs to select whether to pay out the game ball by operating the medium lending switch or the medium payout switch during the game for the game ball lending process while watching the display as in the conventional case. Disappears.

That is, if there is a remaining amount or the number of balls to be taken while looking at the display, the required game balls can be replenished only by operating the medium payout switch.

Therefore, the game can be easily continued by receiving the payout of the ball while sitting in front of the gaming machine, and the gaming ability is not impaired.

After the game is over, if the settlement switch is operated while still sitting in front of the gaming machine, the card-shaped recording medium in which the remaining amount and the number of balls at that time registered in the storage means are registered. Is paid out, and it is easy to carry out the settlement process and the prize exchange simply by bringing the prize to a prize exchange counter or the like.

Therefore, operations such as lending and paying out balls for a game, settlement after the game, and exchange of prizes are extremely easy, and the convenience of the player is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gaming machine on a gaming island provided with a gaming ball rental settlement apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a game ball lending settlement device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a game arcade apparatus to which a game ball rental settlement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and a signal or processing flow.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a game ball lending settlement device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Game machine 10 ... Bill lending machine 11 ... Bill insertion slot 12 ... Coin insertion slot 14 ... Medium ejection switch 15 ... Adjustment switch 16 ... Display 18 ... Card entrance / exit 20 ... Bill identification machine 30 ... Coin identification Machine 40: Ball dispenser 50 ... Lead writer 60 ... Control means 61 ... Dispensing control unit 62 ... Amount calculation registration unit 63 ... Ball number calculation registration unit 64 ... Settlement control unit 65 ... Display control unit 70 ... Storage means 90 ... Holding ball Counter 91… Inlet

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A63F 7/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. In a gaming machine island in which a plurality of gaming machines are arranged side by side, provided for each gaming machine, after renting out gaming balls by receiving cash or a card-shaped recording medium, adjusting the player. A game ball lending and settlement device for paying out a card-shaped recording medium recording a remaining amount and the number of balls held in response to a command, comprising a vertically-elongated rental machine arranged adjacent to each gaming machine. , Placed on the top plate just below the lower plate in front of each gaming machine
The top plate is used to take in a game ball from an intake by operating a ball drop lever provided on the lower plate and perform ball counting.
Become comprises a lifting ball counting machine which is disposed on the lower side of a storage unit for storing the remaining amount and the number of lifting balls, and a control means for controlling the rental machine, the lending machine is turned on An identification machine for identifying the authenticity and amount of cash
A payout device for paying out game balls and a reader / writer for reading and issuing the card-shaped recording medium are provided therein, and a cash slot for the discriminator and a payout of game balls from the payout device are provided. An exit, an entrance of the card-shaped recording medium of the read / write machine, a medium dispensing switch for instructing lending and dispensing of a game ball, and a settlement switch for instructing a settlement process;
A display for displaying the remaining amount and the number of balls registered in the storage means on the front side, wherein the control means is in a state in which the input of small cash is detected by the identification device,
When the medium payout switch is operated in a state where the remaining amount is registered in the storage means and the medium payout switch is operated, or when the medium payout switch is operated in a state where the number of balls held is stored in the storage means, a predetermined amount of games is played. A payout control unit that instructs the payout device to pay out balls, or in a state in which the input of large cash is detected by the identification device,
In the state where the insertion of the card-shaped recording medium is detected by the reader / writer, the inserted amount or the registered amount is added and registered in the storage means as the remaining amount, and further, the game ball is operated by the dispenser by operating the medium dispensing switch. Is paid out, the amount of the payout is subtracted from the remaining amount, and the subtraction result is updated and registered in the storage means as a new remaining amount. In the state where insertion of the game ball is detected, or in the state where the ball counting of the game ball is performed by the ball counting machine, the number of the game balls registered in the card-shaped recording medium or the ball count of the ball counting machine. The counting result is added and registered in the storage means as the number of held balls, and further, in the state where the game balls are paid out by the payout device by operating the medium payout switch, the number of the held balls is The number of game balls for these payouts is subtracted from the number of balls, and the result of the subtraction is updated as a new number of balls to be registered in the storage means in the ball number calculation and registration section. A settlement controller for instructing the reader / writer to issue a card-shaped recording medium in which the remaining amount and the number of balls registered at this time are registered in the storage means in a state where the settlement switch is operated. Yu TECHNICAL ball lending settlement apparatus characterized by comprising.