JP3150513B2 - Valuable data storage medium processing unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a valuable data storage medium processing apparatus for performing various control processes of a valuable data storage medium used when renting a game medium such as a pachinko ball or a medal for a slot machine to a player in a game store. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines have been constructed so that players can play games via game media such as pachinko balls and medals, and as a game profit according to the game result. The game medium discharged from the game medium discharge device of the gaming machine can be obtained.
In recent years, there has been a system in which a game medium can be rented using a valuable data storage medium such as a prepaid card issued in advance, and the game medium lending control device connected to each of the game machines is used to rent the game medium. There is a device in which a control device transmits game media lending possible information to a gaming machine and discharges a lending game medium from the gaming medium discharging device by operating a switch of the gaming machine. However, a prepaid card cannot be generally purchased unless a prepaid card issuance machine is installed in a corner of a game store, and purchasing a prepaid card is a troublesome act for a player. In addition, when renting a game medium using a prepaid card, if valuable data (equivalent data that can be exchanged with the game medium) stored in the card is exhausted, one must leave the seat to purchase the card again. The player must go to a card issuing machine, and when the card balance becomes zero, the game may be interrupted. This may cause sluggish card issuance at amusement arcades, which may lead to a slump in amusement arcade management. Therefore, a card vending machine to be installed between gaming machines has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-3303177.
However, the game cannot be started only by purchasing the prepaid card, and next, the player must borrow a game medium such as a ball. Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent No. 4252 proposes alternately arranging a card issuing machine and a card ball rental machine between gaming machines. Further, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-95087 proposes a prepaid card processing apparatus which enables a single machine to issue a prepaid card and lend a game medium by using the prepaid card.

[0003]

However, when a card issuing machine and a ball rental machine are alternately arranged between gaming machines,
Since the player must move left and right, the burden on the player may be reduced, but it is still complicated. Also,
According to one prepaid card processing device, it may be convenient for players, but lending of gaming media using cards can be achieved by transferring data to gaming machines without actually discharging the gaming media. Processing. Therefore, it is difficult for a player who has become accustomed to playing a game medium to play a game. The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and enables purchase of a valuable data storage medium that can be equivalently exchanged with a game medium without leaving a seat, and enables use of a conventional game medium, An object of the present invention is to provide a valuable data storage medium processing device that facilitates introduction of a card.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a receiving unit (for example, a card) for receiving money and valuable data storage media which can be exchanged with game media used for gaming in a gaming machine. Insertion / ejection slot 13), valuable data storage medium processing means (for example, included in control unit 24) capable of issuing a valuable data storage medium storing valuable data equivalent to money received from the receiving unit, and valuable data Valuable data reading / writing means capable of reading valuable data and writing valuable data to a storage medium (for example,
Card reader / writer 20) and reading of the valuable data
Stores therein the valuable data read out by the writing means as storage valuable data, and supplies the stored valuable data to lending controller lend game media to a player within a valuable data the storage actually game Valuable data storage control means (for example, included in the control unit 24) for subtracting and storing valuable data provided for lending of a medium, wherein the valuable data storage medium processing means, when accepting money, Is written to a new valuable data storage medium stocked internally by valuable data reading / writing means and supplied to the player, and when the valuable data storage medium is received from outside or the valuable data is read out -If there is a valuable data storage medium in which valuable data corresponding to the monetary value is written by the writing means, The valuable data stored the valuable data storage control means is subtracted at the time of game end condition has occurred in the machine, the valuable data storage medium supplied to the valuable data storage medium or the player received from the external,
A valuable data storage medium processing device characterized in that the valuable data is written by valuable data reading / writing means and supplied to a player.

[0005]

When the money is received, the valuable data storage medium processing means causes the valuable data corresponding to the money value to be written into the new valuable data storage medium stocked therein by the valuable data reading / writing means and then input. A valuable data storage medium corresponding to the paid amount is newly issued to the player. Further, the valuable data storage medium processing means, when the valuable data storage medium is received from the outside or when there is a valuable data storage medium in which the valuable data corresponding to the monetary value is written by the valuable data reading / writing means, The valuable data stored and subtracted by the valuable data storage control means is supplied to the valuable data storage medium or the player received from the outside by the valuable data reading / writing means when a game end condition occurs in the gaming machine. The valuable data storage medium is written, and the valuable data storage medium is rewritten and returned to the player. Further, the valuable data storage control means, within the range of the stored valuable data,
The game media is actually lent via the lending control device, and the valuable data actually provided for renting the game media is subtracted and stored.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine as a specific example of a gaming machine and a pachinko ball is lent as a game medium will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A plurality of pachinko machines 2... And a card unit 3 as a game medium lending processing device connected to each of the pachinko machines 2. I have. In this embodiment, the pachinko machine 2 and the card unit 3 are configured separately and connected via the connection cables 4..., But the functions of the card units 3. You may make it provide integrally with the pachinko machine 2 main body.

A card unit 3 connected to each of the pachinko machines 2 is connected to a bill collection conveyor 5, a coin collection conveyor 6a, a coin supply conveyor 6b, and a card supply conveyor 7, and collects coins and bills. , And coins and cards can be supplied. The banknotes collected by the banknote collection conveyor 5 are stored in the banknote storage unit 8, and the coins conveyed by the coin collection conveyor 6 a are collected by the coin hopper 9 and the coin delivery unit 10.
Unused valuable data storage medium (prepaid card, IC card, etc.) supplied to the card unit 3 from the coin supply conveyer 6b and stored in the card stocker 11
Is supplied from the card supply conveyor 7 to a predetermined card unit 3. The replenishment of this card will be described later in detail.

The bill storage unit 8, coin hopper 9, coin unloading unit 10, card stocker 11 and the like are provided in a group management device 1a provided on one side of the island facility 1. The group management device 1a is also provided with an island controller 12 that controls the collection of bills and coins from the card units 3 and the supply of coins and cards to the card units 3.

Next, the card unit 3 connected to each of the pachinko machines 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

A card insertion / ejection slot 13 is opened at, for example, an upper portion of the front side of the card unit 3, and a valuable data storage medium, which is a valuable data storage medium preliminarily storing valuable data which can be equivalently exchanged with a pachinko ball as a game medium which can be used for a game. A card or the like is received from the outside, and a prepaid card or the like issued by the card unit 3 can be discharged. In addition to the card insertion / ejection slot 13, a coin slot 14 for accepting coins, a bill slot 15, and a coin return slot 16 are provided, and the amount of money inserted from the coin slot 14 or the bill slot 15 is set. If the amount exceeds the amount of the prepaid card issued by the card unit 3, the prepaid card of the amount is issued.

Further, a display unit 17 is provided at an appropriate position on the front side of the card unit 3 and, for example, the number of prepaid cards in the card unit 3 (a reference amount of valuable data required for lending one game medium). The numerical value determined as “once” is displayed on the display unit 17. By operating the return switch 18 provided at an appropriate position on the front side of the card unit 3, the balance after purchasing the prepaid card is discharged as change. An operation state indicator 19 for visually indicating whether or not the ball lending operation by the card unit 3 is possible is also provided on the front side of the card unit 3.

On the other hand, inside the card unit 3, there is provided a card reader for reading the remaining count of the prepaid card inserted from the card insertion / ejection slot 13, a card reader for rewriting the count of the prepaid card, and a card issued by the card unit 3. A card reader / writer 20 which is integrated with a card writer for writing valuable data to
The card reader / writer 20 has a card supply conveyor 7
To be issued through the card feeder 21. The card unit 3 stores the total value of the amount of money to be inserted into the card unit 3 identified by the coin identification unit 22 and the bill identification unit 23, and transmits card data to the pachinko machine 2 and the card reader. A control unit 24 is provided to control the operation of the card unit 3 such as reading / writing to / from the writer 20.

The coins received from the coin slot 14 and the coins conveyed from the coin replenishment conveyor 6b pass through the coin passage 25 and are discharged to the coin return port 16 or led out to the coin collection conveyor 6a. . When the amount of money inserted into the card unit 3 is higher than the amount of issued cards, the change hopper 26 operates to discharge a predetermined amount of change to the coin return slot 16. Further, the card unit 3 is provided with a system communication unit 27 for transmitting card issuance information and the like of the card unit 3 to a card supplier or the like, and data is transmitted by, for example, optical communication.

Next, the control operation of the control unit 24 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 showing a functional block diagram related to card control.

When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 15, the insertion amount data identified by the bill identification section 23 is input. When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 14, the insertion amount identified by the coin identification section 22 is input. The data is supplied to the control unit 24, and the control unit 24 counts these input amount data,
If the counted amount has reached the card amount issued by the card unit 3 (for example, 5000 yen), a card of the amount is issued.

For example, assuming that the player has inserted 10,000 yen into the card unit 3, the inserted amount has reached the issued card amount (5,000 yen). Pay out. That is, the card in which valuable data for 5,000 yen has been written is sent to the card insertion / ejection slot 13.

Then, the player pushes the card issued from the card insertion / ejection slot 13 as it is, or inserts the brought card into the card insertion / ejection slot 13.

Then, the issued prepaid card is inserted into the card reader / writer 20 of the card unit 3, the valuable data read by the card reader 20a is supplied to the control unit 24, and the valuable data of the accepted card is stored. I do. Then, the game control unit 28 having the function of lending controller as well as overall control of the game control function of the pachinko machine 2 from the control unit 24 valuable data is supplied by receiving the valuable data, pachinko machine 2 The game control device 28 is in a ball lending possible state in which a ball lending operation is possible (a state in which a ball lending request based on a player operating a ball lending selection switch can be effectively received).

When a ball lending request signal based on the selection of the ball lending selection switch by the player is input to the game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2 which has shifted to the ball lending control enabled state, the ball lending request is issued. The game control device 28 as a lending control device performs the ball lending discharging operation based on the signal, whereby a predetermined number of pachinko balls are discharged from the pachinko ball discharging device of the pachinko machine 2 to the upper plate of the pachinko machine 2 and provided to the player. Lending. The player plays a pachinko game with the pachinko balls lent out in this manner. The game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2 has a game board control function of controlling various game machines and indicators of a game board related to an actual pachinko game, and a pachinko ball discharging operation or a prize ball discharging operation. There is also a case where the apparatus is divided into a ball discharge control function to be performed by the discharge device and the like.

Here, when the player operates the card return switch 29 in order to end the game, the control unit 24 returns the valuable data provided for lending pachinko balls and subtracting and storing them.
Writing is performed on a card existing in the card reader / writer 20, and the card is ejected.

When the player has used up the number of times corresponding to the amount of the issued card (when the internal memory of the control unit 24 has become "0"), the remaining number of the card is set to "0", Is returned.

In the present invention, the change is performed entirely by coins. When the change is discharged, the change is discharged from the coin discharge unit 30 under the control of the control unit 24, and the coin is detected by the coin remaining amount sensor 31. It is intended to ascertain the remaining amount.

Next, an operation control including the card unit 3 as a lending control device will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. This embodiment is an embodiment in which the card unit 3 is provided as described above, and the game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2 is applied as a lending control device.

In this embodiment, the apparatus is in a standby state until a bill (coin / coin) or a prepaid card is accepted, and when accepted, the type of the bill / coin is identified or the valuable data of the card is read.

First, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a case in which valuable data of a card is read will be described. Valuable data (or a frequency corresponding to valuable data, etc.) is stored therein, and this stored data is displayed. .

Next, the game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2
Send valuable data to. Then, it is determined whether or not the card return switch 29 has been operated. If the return switch 29 has not been operated, when the ball lending operation based on the valuable data is performed by the game control device 28, the game control device 2
Since the ball lending data is transmitted from 8, the ball lending data is received, the received data is subtracted from the stored data, the result of the subtraction is stored again, and new storage data (balance) is displayed.

Then, it is determined whether or not the new storage data, that is, the balance is "0". If not, the storage data is transmitted to the game control device 28 again. On the other hand, the balance is "0"
Is displayed, or when the card return switch 29 is operated, the data of the card in the card reader / writer 20 is rewritten to "balance" including "0" and is discharged from the card insertion / ejection port 13 to the customer side. At the same time, the internal storage data is reset to be in a standby state.

On the other hand, when cash is accepted, the type of the inserted bill or coin is identified, a new raw card is taken into the card reader / writer 20 from the card feeder 21, and valuable data to be issued to this card is stored. Write and issue the card to the player. Further, card sales information indicating that the card has been sold is transmitted from the system communication unit 27 to the card management company. If a large amount of money has been input with respect to the valuable data of the issued card, a change is required, and the required amount of change is paid out.

Here, a card supply method will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the cards are concentrated and stored in the card stocker 11 provided in the group management device 1a, and the card unit 3 is transferred via the card supply conveyor 7 as necessary. To the card reader / writer 20 (hereinafter, referred to as “card reader / writer”).
This supply method is called a centralized type).

However, the supply of the cards is not limited to the above-described centralized type, and each card unit 3 is provided with a cartridge 11a for storing a predetermined number of cards.
1a (hereinafter, this supply method is referred to as a dispersion type). In addition, the replenishment of the raw card into the cartridge 11a may be performed manually by an employee, for example, before opening the store.

According to this decentralized system, it is not necessary to convey the card, and it takes no time to convey the card, so that a new card can be issued quickly. In addition, dull to Yas equipment costs.

On the other hand, in the centralized card supply, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, a card standby section 21a is formed between the card reader / writer 20 and the card supply conveyor 7a. The card standby unit 21a can always keep one raw card in standby during business hours. In this way, when the card reader / writer 20 requests a raw card, the card can be immediately supplied from the card standby unit 21a, and there is no time loss in issuing a new card. Card feeder 2 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 corresponds to the card standby unit 21a.

Further, in the above-mentioned centralized card supply, a card collection path can be further provided. That is, as schematically shown in FIG. 7C, a card collection conveyor 7b in the opposite direction is provided in parallel with the card supply conveyor 7a, and the card reader / writer 20 and both conveyors 7a are provided.
A card standby section 21a is formed between the card standby section 21a and the card standby section 21a. In this way, when the card reader / writer 20 requests a raw card, the card can be immediately supplied from the card standby unit 21a, and unnecessary cards can be collected. If the card supply conveyor 7 can be transported in the reverse direction, replenishment and collection can be performed by one conveyor.

On the other hand, unnecessary cards are collected. That is, the card whose balance has become “0” and has no value is collected without being returned to the player. In this way, it is possible to prevent the used cards from being scattered in the store while being left in the store and impairing the appearance. In addition, if a card with high sliding property is dropped on the floor, it may lead to a risk of walking, but it is safe once collected. When the store is closed, the raw cards remaining in the card standby section 21a can be collected in the card stocker 11. Thus, once the raw cards are collected, it is safe for security.

In order to collect a card which has become worthless, the card balance is determined in the control process, and if the balance is "0", a process of collecting the card may be added.

In the above embodiment, the card issuance amount is described as a single price of "5,000 yen". However, cards of a plurality of prices may be issued, or the issuance amount may be freely set. It is also possible to issue a card that can be set, or issue a card with an issue amount based on the accepted amount. In the above-described embodiment, the change is paid out with coins. However, the change may be paid out with bills, or bills and coins may be mixed. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the card reader / writer 20 writes predetermined valuable data to a raw card on which valuable data is not written, and issues the valuable data to the player. A plurality of types of written cards may be prepared and stored in the card stocker 11, and may be appropriately selected and issued based on the received amount.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a case has been described in which a game control device housed in a pachinko machine is applied as a lending control device. The ball lending control device provided in can be applied to the lending control device. In this case, the above-described card unit 3 may be replaced with a betting machine that can use a card, and the flowchart may be changed to FIG.

That is, in FIG. 8, a ball lending control device housed in a Taima ball lending machine is provided as a lending control device. In this embodiment, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the apparatus is in a standby state until money (banknotes / coins) or prepaid cards are accepted, and when these are accepted, the types of the bills / coins are identified or the valuable data of the card is read. .

First, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a case where valuable data of a card is read will be described. Valuable data (or a frequency corresponding to valuable data, etc.) is stored therein, and this stored data is displayed. .

Next, valuable data is transmitted to the ball lending control device of the Taima ball lending machine. Then, it is determined whether or not the card return switch 29 has been operated, and if the return switch 29 has not been operated, the ball lending control device performs a ball lending operation based on the valuable data. Since the ball lending data is transmitted, the ball lending data is received, the received data is subtracted from the stored data, the subtraction result is stored again, and new storage data (balance) is displayed.

Then, it is determined whether the new storage data, that is, the balance is "0", and if not, the storage data is transmitted to the ball lending control device again. On the other hand, when the balance becomes “0” or when the card return switch 29 is operated, the data of the card in the card reader / writer 20 is rewritten to “balance” including “0” and the card insertion / ejection slot is changed. 1
3 and is discharged to the customer side, and the internal storage data is reset to enter a standby state.

On the other hand, when cash is accepted, the type of the inserted bill or coin is identified, a new raw card is taken into the card reader / writer 20 from the card feeder 21, and valuable data to be issued to this card is stored. Write and issue the card to the player. Further, card sales information indicating that the card has been sold is transmitted from the system communication unit 27 to the card management company. If a large amount of money has been input with respect to the valuable data of the issued card, a change is required, and the required amount of change is paid out.

According to this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a pachinko machine that does not have a ball lending function, and can borrow balls in the same manner as a conventional tama ball lending machine. Therefore, even a player or a game store unfamiliar with handling prepaid cards and the like can play games without being confused, and can easily accept introduction of prepaid cards.

Furthermore, the present invention can be made a more advanced embodiment by changing software means. Thus, the control operation will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

Card reader / writer 2 of card unit 3
If the issued prepaid card is inserted at 0,
The valuable data read by the card reader 20a is stored in the control unit 2
4 and the control unit 24 controls the game control function of the pachinko machine 2 in an integrated manner and supplies valuable data to a game control device 28 having a function of a lending control device. By receiving this valuable data, The game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2 enters a ball lending possible state in which a ball lending operation is possible (a state in which a player can effectively accept a ball lending request based on operating a ball lending selection switch).

On the other hand, when a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 15, the inserted amount data identified by the bill identifying section 23 is:
When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 14, the input amount data identified by the coin identification unit 22 is supplied to the control unit 24, and the input amount data is counted by the control unit 24. If the card amount issued by the card unit 3 has reached the amount (for example, 5000 yen), the card of the amount is issued, and the issued card is accepted into the unit for lending a ball, and the card data is transferred to the pachinko machine 2. To the game control device 28. That is, the control unit 24
Does not physically access the issuance card at this stage, but stores the card data in the internal storage in the same manner as when a valid prepaid card is accepted.
Is supplied to the game control device 28.

For example, assuming that the player has inserted 10,000 yen into the card unit 3, the input amount data corresponding to 5,000 yen is supplied to the ball lending control device 24, and the input amount is the issued card amount ( 5,000 yen), so it is assumed that one card has been issued
It is stored as 50 (one frequency is 100 yen). The card may not be received from outside, but may also be stored with a memory indicating that the card is issued by the card unit 3. And the remaining 500
Pay out 0 yen to the player as change.

When a ball lending request signal based on the player selecting the ball lending selection switch is input to the game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2 which has shifted to the ball lending control enabled state, the ball lending request is issued. The game control device 28 as a lending control device performs the ball lending discharging operation based on the signal, whereby a predetermined number of pachinko balls are discharged from the pachinko ball discharging device of the pachinko machine 2 to the upper plate of the pachinko machine 2 and provided to the player. Lending. The player plays a pachinko game with the pachinko balls lent out in this manner. The game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2 has a game board control function of controlling various game machines and indicators of a game board related to an actual pachinko game, and a pachinko ball discharging operation or a prize ball discharging operation. There is also a case where the apparatus is divided into a ball discharge control function to be performed by the discharge device and the like.

Here, when the player operates the card return switch 29 to end the game, the control unit 24 returns the card from the outside regardless of whether or not the card remaining number in the internal memory is “0”. It is determined whether the card is accepted or issued by the card unit 3. If the card is issued by the card unit 3 (the card reader / writer 20.
), The card feeder 21 supplies one card for issuance to the card reader / writer 20.
The controller 24 causes the card writer 20b to write the card residual count (including “0”) internally stored in the issuing card by the card writer 20b, and supplies a new card to the player. That is, at this point, the player has not
You receive a prepaid card from. in short,
In the control unit 24, "virtual issuance of a card" and "actual supply of a card to a player" are separately processed. If the card is received from outside (card reader / writer 20
Card reader / writer 2)
The valuable data of the card existing in 0 is rewritten and discharged.

That is, in this embodiment, even if the player has used up the number of issued cards (the internal memory of the control unit 24 has reached "0"), whether the card has been accepted from the outside Regardless of the card unit 3 issued, the card is returned or issued with the remaining count of the card set to "0".

However, it is useless to issue a card having a residual number of "0", that is, an unusable card. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress unnecessary card issuance, and it is easy to suppress the card issuance cost and effectively use resources.

Therefore, in order to set the embodiment as described above, when the player operates the card return switch 29 in order to end the game, the control section 24 sets the card residual number in the internal memory to "0". It is determined whether or not it is.
If the remaining card count is not “0”, it is determined whether the card is accepted from outside or issued by the card unit 3.
Is issued (if there is no card in the card reader / writer 20), one card for issuance is supplied from the card feeder 21 to the card reader / writer 20, and the card remaining stored in the controller 24 is stored in the controller 24. The frequency is written to the card for issue by the card writer 20b, and a new usable card having the remaining frequency is supplied to the player. That is, for the first time at this point, the player receives from the card unit 3 a valuable prepaid card obtained by subtracting the used amount from the card issued amount. In short, in the control unit 24, "virtual issuance of a card" and "actual supply of a card to a player"
In addition to processing, the issuance of useless cards is suppressed.

On the other hand, when the player has used up the number of times corresponding to the amount of the issued card (when the internal memory of the control unit 24 has become "0"), whether the card has been accepted from the outside or the card unit It is determined whether the card 3 has been issued, and if the card has been received from the outside, the remaining number of the card is set to "0" and the card is returned.

In this embodiment, the card unit 3 issues a card provided for ball lending (the control unit 2).
4, the card feeder 21 and the card writer 20
The operation is ended as it is without issuing a command to b. That is,
According to the present embodiment, since the control unit 24 internally stores information regarding card issuance, a ball lending operation can be performed without physically accessing the issuance card, and the available frequency can be reduced. If you run out, you don't need to issue a useless card. Therefore, the issuance of unnecessary cards can be suppressed, and the cost of card issuance can be suppressed and resources can be effectively used.

Next, the operation control including the card unit 3 as a lending control device will be described with reference to the flowcharts of the respective embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 show an embodiment in which the card unit 3 is provided as described above, and the game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2 is applied as a lending control device.

In these embodiments, currency (banknotes,
It is in a standby state until a coin) or a prepaid card is accepted, and when accepted, the type of bill / coin is identified or the valuable data of the card is read.

First, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a case where valuable data of a card is read will be described. Valuable data (or a frequency corresponding to valuable data, etc.) is internally stored and the stored data is displayed. I do. On the other hand, when the currency is accepted, the type of the inserted bill or coin is identified, the valuable data corresponding to the amount of the card issued by the card unit 3 is internally stored, and a card indicating that the card has been sold is provided. The sales information is transmitted from the system communication unit 27 to the card management company, and the valuable data in the internal storage is displayed. If the amount of money inserted is larger than the amount of the issued card, change of the required amount is paid out.

Next, the game control device 28 of the pachinko machine 2
Send valuable data to. Then, it is determined whether or not the card return switch 29 has been operated. If the return switch 29 has not been operated, when the ball lending operation based on the valuable data is performed by the game control device 28, the game control device 2
Since the ball lending data is transmitted from 8, the ball lending data is received, the received data is subtracted from the stored data, the result of the subtraction is stored again, and new storage data (balance) is displayed.

Then, it is determined whether or not the new storage data, that is, the balance is "0". If not, the storage data is transmitted to the game control device 28 again. On the other hand, the balance is "0"
When the card is returned or the card return switch 29 is operated, the presence or absence of a card in the card reader / writer 20 is determined, and if there is a card, the data of the card is set to a “balance” including “0”. The card is rewritten and ejected from the card insertion / ejection port 13 to the customer side, and the internal storage data is reset to enter a standby state.

On the other hand, if there is no card in the card reader / writer 20, a new card is taken into the card reader / writer 20 from the card feeder 21, and the "balance" including the new storage data "0" is written into this card. Then, the card is ejected from the card insertion / ejection port 13 to the customer side, and the internal storage data is reset to be in a standby state.

In this embodiment, as described above, useless cards can be prevented from being issued. That is, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, if the stored data becomes "0" before the card return switch 29 is operated, if there is a card in the card reader / writer 20, the balance "0" is written into the card. The card is returned to the player, but if there is no card in the card reader / writer 20, the apparatus is kept in a standby state. In FIG. 10, the stored data is reset just in case.

On the other hand, if the card return switch 29 is operated before the stored data becomes "0", the presence or absence of a card in the card reader / writer 20 is determined. Is rewritten to the "balance", the card is ejected from the card insertion / ejection port 13 to the customer side, and the internal storage data is reset to enter a standby state. If there is no card in the card reader / writer 20, the card feeder 21
, A new card is taken into the card reader / writer 20, the new storage data "balance" is written into the card, and the card is ejected from the card insertion / ejection slot 13 to the customer side.
The internal storage data is reset and the apparatus enters a standby state.

According to this embodiment, when the player uses up the purchased card by inserting money into the card unit 3, this card is processed as a virtual card, and the card whose balance is set to "0" is replaced with a virtual card. Do not issue. That is, the control unit 24
Internally stores information related to card issuance, enabling ball lending operation without physically accessing the card for issuance, and issuing useless cards when the number of usable cards is exhausted do not do. Therefore, the issuance of unnecessary cards can be suppressed, and the cost of card issuance can be suppressed and resources can be effectively used.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the game control device housed in the pachinko machine is applied as the lending control device is described. The ball lending control device provided in the machine can also be applied to the lending control device. In this case, the above-mentioned card unit 3 is replaced with a betting machine that can use a card,
What is necessary is just to change a flowchart into FIG. 11 and FIG.

That is, in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, a ball lending control device housed in a tama ball lending machine is provided as a lending control device. In these embodiments, as in the above-described embodiments, the apparatus is in a standby state until a currency (a bill or a coin) or a prepaid card is accepted. When these are accepted, the type of the bill or a coin is identified or the valuable data of the card is recognized. Read.

First, the case where valuable data of a card is read will be described. Valuable data (or a frequency corresponding to valuable data, etc.) is stored therein, and the stored data is displayed. On the other hand, when the currency is accepted, the type of the inserted bill or coin is identified, the valuable data corresponding to the amount of the card issued by the tama ball lending machine is internally stored, and the card is sold. Is transmitted from the system communication unit to the card management company, and the valuable data in the internal storage is displayed. If the amount of money inserted is larger than the amount of the issued card, change of the required amount is paid out.

Next, the valuable data is transmitted to the ball lending control device of the tama ball lending machine. Then, it is determined whether or not the card return switch has been operated. If the return switch has not been operated, the ball lending control device performs a ball lending operation based on the valuable data. Since the lending data is transmitted, the ball lending data is received, the received data is subtracted from the stored data, the result of the subtraction is stored again, and new storage data (balance) is displayed.

Then, it is determined whether the new storage data, that is, the balance is "0", and if not, the storage data is transmitted to the ball lending control device again. On the other hand, when the balance becomes “0” or when the card return switch is operated, it is determined whether there is a card in the card reader / writer, and if there is a card, the data of the card is set to “0”. The card is rewritten into the “balance” including the card, the card is ejected from the card insertion / ejection port to the customer side, the internal storage data is reset, and the apparatus enters a standby state.

On the other hand, if there is no card in the card reader / writer, a new card is taken into the card reader / writer from the card feeder 21, and the “balance” including new storage data “0” is written into this card, and the card is read. The paper is discharged from the insertion / ejection port to the customer side, and the internal storage data is reset to be in a standby state.

In this embodiment, as described above, useless cards can be prevented from being issued. That is, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, if the stored data becomes "0" before the card return switch 29 is operated, if there is a card in the card reader / writer 20, the balance "0" is written into the card. The card is returned to the player, but if there is no card in the card reader / writer 20, the apparatus is kept in a standby state. In FIG. 12, the stored data is reset just in case.

On the other hand, if the card return switch is operated before the stored data becomes "0", the presence or absence of a card in the card reader / writer is determined. The card is rewritten as "balance" and ejected from the card insertion / ejection port to the customer side, and the internal storage data is reset to enter a standby state. If there is no card in the card reader / writer, a new card is taken into the card reader / writer from the card feeder 21, the new storage data "balance" is written into this card, and the card is ejected from the card insertion / ejection port to the customer side. At the same time, the internal storage data is reset and the apparatus enters a standby state.

According to this embodiment, when the player uses up the purchased card by putting money into the Taima ball lending machine,
This card is processed as a virtual card, and a card with the balance set to “0” is not issued. That is, since the control unit internally stores information on card issuance, ball lending operation can be performed without physically accessing the card for issuance, and if the number of usable frequencies is exhausted, it is wasteful. Do not issue a special card. Therefore, the issuance of unnecessary cards can be suppressed, and the cost of card issuance can be suppressed and resources can be effectively used.

Further, according to this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a pachinko machine which does not have a ball lending function, and can borrow a ball in the same manner as a conventional tama ball lending machine. Therefore,
Even a player or a game store who is unfamiliar with handling prepaid cards and the like can play games without being confused, and can easily accept introduction of prepaid cards.

The above-described card supply method is also effective for these embodiments. For example, in the case where a recoverable supply method is employed as shown in FIG. 7C, not only useless cards are not issued but also used and valueless cards can be collected. It can be prevented that the aesthetic appearance is spoiled by being scattered in the store while being left in the store. When the card standby unit 21a is provided, the card can be transported to the card standby unit 21a during the game, so that when a new card is needed, it can be supplied immediately, There is no time loss when issuing a new card. Further, various settings such as setting the price of a card to be issued, writing valuable data every time a raw card is issued, and preparing a plurality of types of cards in which valuable data has been previously written can be appropriately adopted. .

In the above embodiment, the game machine was described as a pachinko machine, so the game medium was a pachinko ball. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where the game machine is a pachislot and the game medium is a medal.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately implemented unless the structure described in the claims is changed. . For example, the change function, acceptable denominations, and the like can be set as appropriate.

[0078]

As described in the foregoing, according to the calling <br/> light according to claim 1, is provided with the valuable data storage medium processing means valuable data storage medium processing apparatus, valuable to lending controller It is possible to perform not only the data transmission processing and the subtraction processing of the used valuable data, but also the issuance processing of a new valuable data storage medium. There is no hassle of purchasing. Therefore, even when the card balance becomes zero and a new game medium is to be lent, a valuable data storage medium using money can be issued on the spot, so that the game can be continued without interruption. As a result, issuance of cards at the game store is promoted. Further, according to claim 2
According to the present invention, the present invention can be applied to a gaming machine having no conventional game medium lending control function, thereby facilitating introduction of a valuable data storage medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an island facility.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the card unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the internal configuration of the card unit.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram related to card control.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of control of the card unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a card supply method.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a card supply method in further detail.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of control of the tama ball lending machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the flow of control of the card unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the flow of control of the card unit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the flow of control of the betting machine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another example of the control flow of the tama ball lending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Pachinko machine 3 Card unit 13 Card slot 14 Coin slot 15 Bill slot 20 Card reader / writer 24 Control unit 28 Game control device

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A receiving section for receiving a currency and a valuable data storage medium capable of being equivalently exchanged with a game medium used for a game in a gaming machine, and a valuable resource storing valuable data equivalent to the currency received from the receiving section. Valuable data storage medium processing means capable of issuing a data storage medium, valuable data read / write means capable of reading valuable data and writing valuable data to the valuable data storage medium, and the valuable data read / write means stores therein the valuable data read out as the storage valuable data, lending of the stored within a valuable data to lending controller lend game media to a player and supplying the stored valuable data, actually game media And a valuable data storage control means for subtracting and storing the valuable data provided to the valuable data storage medium processing means. When the currency is accepted, the valuable data corresponding to the monetary value is written to the new valuable data storage medium stocked inside by the valuable data reading / writing means and supplied to the player, and the valuable data storage medium is externally stored. When the value is received or when there is a valuable data storage medium in which valuable data corresponding to the monetary value is written by the valuable data reading / writing means, the valuable data storage medium is stored when a game ending condition is generated in the gaming machine. The valuable data stored by subtraction by the control means is written to the valuable data storage medium received from the outside or the valuable data storage medium supplied to the player by the valuable data reading / writing means and supplied to the player. A valuable data storage medium processing device. 2. The valuable data storage medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein the lending control device that lends the game medium to the player within the range of the valuable data is a game control device housed in a gaming machine. 3. The lending control device for renting out a game medium to a player within the range of valuable data is a ball lending control device housed in a tama ball lending machine arranged between gaming machines. Valuable data storage medium processing device.