JP3559248B2 - Recording medium processing device and game medium lending system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, when additional payment is made in a state where a recording medium is received, value information serving as a reference for renting a game medium is added and updated. Record The present invention relates to a game medium lending system for renting a game medium based on value information stored in association with a medium processing device and a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, when playing a game at a game store where a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine is installed, for example, a recording medium such as a prepaid card is temporarily purchased from a card issuing machine, and the value information given to this recording medium is In general, a method of borrowing a game medium such as a pachinko ball or a medal is generally used.
[0003]
In such a game media lending system, a prepaid card is a type in which the amount of money or value information itself corresponding to the amount is magnetically recorded, and only identification information for searching for the value information stored in the management device of the game store is magnetically recorded. Some types are recorded. In the former case, for example, if a prepaid card is inserted into a card processing unit installed between gaming machines, the value information can be obtained directly by reading the prepaid card. Can obtain value information from the management device based on the identification information read by the card processing unit, so that in any case, it is possible to lend game media up to the value information given to the prepaid card It becomes.
[0004]
The rental fee for the game media is settled by subtracting and updating this from the value information. That is, in a game media lending system in which a prepaid card in which value information is magnetically recorded on the prepaid card is used, the settlement is completed by subtracting the value information of the prepaid card itself. On the other hand, in a game media lending system using a prepaid card in which only identification information for searching for value information is magnetically recorded, the subtracted information is transmitted from the card processing unit to the management computer, and the new value information subjected to the subtraction processing is stored in the prepaid card. The payment is completed by being stored in the storage unit together with the identification information of the card.
[0005]
On the other hand, recently, a game medium lending system in which a card issuing machine or a card processing unit is provided with a function of adding value information is being introduced. That is, when an additional payment is made in a state where the prepaid card is inserted into the card issuing machine or the card processing unit, the value information of the prepaid card is to be added according to the amount of the additional payment.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, it is preferable to set an upper limit value in the value information stored in association with the prepaid card from the viewpoint of fraud prevention. However, when an upper limit is set in the value information, it is necessary to return a portion exceeding the upper limit from the additional payment as change. For example, in a gaming media lending system in which the upper limit of the value information is set to 10,000 yen, if the prepaid card has a residual value of 8,000 yen and the additional payment is 5,000 yen, it exceeds 3,000 yen to 3,000 yen. You must return the minute as change. As a result, it is necessary to provide a return mechanism for returning change to the card issuing machine and the card processing unit, which not only increases the manufacturing cost of the card issuing machine and the card processing unit, but also increases the cost of the card issuing machine and the card processing unit. The size of the processing unit increases, and it becomes difficult to install the gaming machines between each other.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the related art, and can set an upper limit value for value information without increasing manufacturing costs or increasing external dimensions. Record It is an object to provide a medium processing device and a game medium lending system.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and a recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 has a value that is a basis for renting a game medium when an additional deposit is made while receiving a recording medium. In the recording medium processing device to add and update information, has a function of identifying the denomination of the inserted money, And, based on the comparison result between the preset upper limit value of the value information and the residual value of the value information stored in relation to the recording medium, the acceptable denomination of the additional payment is changed, and the upper limit value of the value information and the While denominations exceeding the amount corresponding to the difference between the residual value of the value information are not allowed, the denomination and value corresponding to the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit value of the value information and the residual value of the value information are prohibited. Denominations below the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit of the information and the residual value of the value information are accepted each time as an additional deposit It is characterized by the following.
[0009]
Further, the game medium lending system according to claim 2 lends the game medium based on the value information stored in relation to the recording medium, and subtracts and updates the value information according to the lending of the game medium. In the game medium lending system, the unique information and the value information recorded on the recording medium are stored in association with the value information, and the unique identification information recorded on the recording medium when the recording medium is accepted is stored. Reading means for reading, additional payment receiving means for receiving an additional payment, and additional information relating to the unique identification information read by the reading means when the reading means has received a recording medium and has been additionally charged to the additional payment receiving means. And additional payment processing means for adding and updating the value information stored in the value information storage means, and a function of identifying a denomination of the inserted money, And, based on a comparison result between a preset upper limit value of the value information and a residual value of the value information stored in the value information storage means in relation to the unique identification information read by the reading means, a receivable money of the additional payment. Change the seed, while making it impossible to accept a denomination exceeding the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit value of the value information and the residual value of the value information, the upper limit value of these value information and the residual value of the value information Denominations that match the amount corresponding to the difference in the amount of money and denominations that fall below the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit of the value information and the residual value of the value information are accepted as additional deposits each time And accepting denomination changing means.
[0010]
The game medium lending system according to claim 3 is characterized in that a setting means for setting an upper limit value of the value information is provided.
[0011]
Further, the game medium lending system according to claim 4 is characterized by comprising an upper limit value storage unit that stores an initial value information set value stored in relation to a recording medium as the upper limit value.
[0012]
Further, in the game medium lending system according to claim 5, the additional deposit receiving means has a plurality of receiving units for receiving different denominations, and the receivable denomination changing means, based on the comparison result It is characterized in that the operation of these plurality of receiving units is changed.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a game medium lending system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is mainly applied to a pachinko game will be described.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game medium lending system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the game medium lending system exemplified here, a prepaid card, specifically, a membership card and a general card are applied as a recording medium.
[0015]
The membership card is a synthetic resin card (JIS2) issued by a game arcade to members who have registered membership information such as address and name, and various information is magnetically recorded and printed. Specifically, the identification information of the issuing store, the member identification information, and the like are magnetically recorded, and the information such as the issued store code and the member code are printed, so that a part of the recorded contents can be visually checked. ing.
[0016]
On the other hand, a general card is a magnetic card made of paper issued by a game store to an arbitrary user every time, and similarly to the above-mentioned membership card, various information is magnetically recorded and printed. Specifically, the identification information of the issuing store, the identification information unique to the card, the issue amount, the card type, and the like are magnetically recorded, and the name of the issue store, the card unique identification information (for example, issuer number + serial number), the issue amount It is printed so that the expiration date and the like can be visually checked.
[0017]
Although these member cards and general cards differ in the material, plate thickness, and recorded content, they have the same vertical and horizontal dimensions, and have magnetic stripes for recording various information at the same positions.
[0018]
The member card and the general card are respectively provided with value information serving as a reference when borrowing a pachinko ball, specifically, value information called “frequency”. Here, the “frequency” is a unit of pachinko ball lending processing, and is set at a predetermined rate. For example, it is set so that one frequency corresponds to one yen, and 25 pachinko balls are lent at 100 frequencies. In the case of the first embodiment, the respective frequencies are not recorded on individual prepaid cards, but are stored in a terminal controller described later.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the game medium lending system according to the first embodiment, a plurality of pachinko machines 10 are arranged side by side for each group called “island”, and a card issuing machine 20 and a card Recording medium processing devices such as the processing unit 30, the card updating machine 40, and the card settlement machine 50 are appropriately provided.
[0020]
The pachinko machine 10 is a part where a user plays a game by firing a pachinko ball, which is a game medium, into a game area. The main functions of the card issuing machine 20 are an addition process for the number associated with the membership card and a process of issuing a general card, and several card issuing machines are installed in each game store. The main function of the card processing unit 30 is to lend pachinko balls up to the frequency associated with the membership card or general card. The card processing unit 30 is prepared so as to form a pair with each of a plurality of pachinko machines 10 installed in a game arcade, and is installed so as to be sandwiched between the pachinko machines 10. The main function of the card updating machine 40 is to issue a general card whose expiration date has expired as a new general card, and several card updating machines are installed in each game store. The main function of the card settlement machine 50 is to refund the frequency associated with the member card or the general card as cash, and a plurality of the card settlement machines are installed in each game store.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the card processing unit 30 and the pachinko machine 10 applied in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card processing unit 30.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the card processing unit 30 is configured to be vertically long in appearance, and a card lamp 301, a cash lamp 302, a bill insertion slot 303, a coin insertion slot 304, a return lever 305, It has a lamp 306, an amount display section 307, an amount setting button 308, a fraction setting button 309, a coin return slot 310, and a card insertion slot 311. The card lamp 301 and the cash lamp 302 are turned on based on a control signal from the main control unit 312 to notify a user of a prepaid card and a state in which cash can be accepted. The bill insertion slot 303 is an opening for receiving a bill and taking it into a BV (Bill Bali) unit 313. The BV unit 313 identifies the denomination of the captured banknote, gives the identification result to the main control unit 312, and guides the captured banknote to the banknote transport path 314 so as to carry out the captured banknote to the island end collection box. is there. The coin slot 304 is an opening for receiving a coin and taking it into the coin selector 315. The coin selector 315 is a part that identifies the denomination of the taken-in coin, gives the identification result to the main control unit 312, and guides the taken-in coin to the coin transport path 316 in order to carry out the taken-in coin to the island end collection box. . The return lever 305 is for returning the inserted money. The returned bill is returned to the user from the bill input port 303 as it is, while the returned coin is returned to the user from the coin return port 310. The type lamp 306 is for lighting and displaying the type of game medium to be lent, that is, which of a pachinko ball and a medal to rent. The amount setting button 308 is for the user to set the amount (lending unit) of the pachinko balls to be lent each time a lending button of the pachinko machine 10 described later is operated once. The card insertion slot 311 is an opening for receiving a member card or a general card and taking it into the card reading unit 317. The card reading unit 317 is a unit that performs processing for reading the taken card and giving the read result to the main control unit 312.
[0023]
On the other hand, the pachinko machine 10, which is a gaming machine, is provided with a frequency display section 103, a lending button 104, and a return button 105 on an upper plate 102 provided below the gaming area 101. The frequency display unit 103 is a unit for numerically displaying the remaining frequency of the frequency associated with the prepaid card taken into the card reading unit 317 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the remaining frequency). The lending button 104 is a button switch that is turned ON by the user when the pachinko ball is lent. The return button 105 is a button switch that is turned ON by the user when returning the prepaid card taken into the card reading unit 317. The ON operation detection signals of the lending button 104 and the return button 105 are given to the main control unit 312 of the card processing unit 30, respectively.
[0024]
Further, the pachinko machine 10 is provided with ball throwing means 106 therein. The ball throwing means 106 receives a hit ball throwing request from the main control unit 312 of the card processing unit 30 and a prize ball throwing request from a control means (not shown) of the pachinko machine 10. Each is a portion for throwing out a predetermined number of pachinko balls on the upper plate 102 of the pachinko machine 10.
[0025]
The above-described pachinko machine 10, card issuing machine 20, card processing unit 30, card updating machine 40, and card settlement machine 50 are under the control of a management device called a terminal controller 70 through an island controller 60 provided on each island. . At least one terminal controller 70 is installed in each of the amusement arcades, and performs overall management of the installed arcades, for example, card management, member management, sales management, and the like. This is a part for storing and managing individual frequencies.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the terminal controller 70. The RAM 701 of the terminal controller 70 is a part that stores frequency management information 710 and frequency upper limit information 720. As shown in FIG. 5A, the frequency management information 710 is a table in which card identification information, the remaining frequency of the prepaid card, and the initial frequency at the time of issuance are stored in association with each other. The card identification information of the frequency management information 710 corresponds to the member identification information in the case of the member card, and corresponds to the unique identification information in the case of the general card. The remaining frequency of the frequency management information 710 is calculated and updated as needed when there is a subtraction update request or an addition update request through the communication interface unit 702. The frequency upper limit information 720 is a table in which the frequency upper limit is numerically set as shown in FIG. The frequency upper limit can be arbitrarily set by, for example, displaying a setting screen as shown in FIG. 6 on the display device 703 and inputting from the input / output device 704. The CPU 705 is a part for implementing the above-described various processes based on the program stored in the ROM 706.
[0027]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing executed by the main control unit 312 of the card processing unit 30. Hereinafter, the operation of the game medium lending system according to the first embodiment will be sequentially described with reference to this flowchart. It is assumed that “10000” is set as the frequency upper limit value A in the RAM 701 of the terminal controller 70.
[0028]
First, in the card processing unit 30, when the power is turned on, an initialization process is performed by the main control unit 312 (step S101), and thereafter, communication with the terminal controller 70 is started (step S102). When communication is started, unit setting for instructing various settings of the card processing unit 30 from the terminal controller 70 and information indicating the frequency upper limit A stored in the frequency upper limit information 720 of the RAM 701 are given.
[0029]
Upon receiving the unit setting and the frequency upper limit value A from the terminal controller 70 in step S103, the main controller 312 stores the frequency upper limit value A in the memory 318 (step S104), and confirms that the prepaid card and the cash are waiting to be received. For notification, the card lamp 301 and the cash lamp 302 are turned on (step S105), and a standby state for inserting a prepaid card is entered (step S106).
[0030]
When the prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot 311 in step S106, the main control unit 312 reads the card identification information magnetically recorded on the prepaid card through the card reading unit 317 (step S107). (Step S108), and the terminal controller 70 enters a response reception standby state (step S109).
[0031]
During this time, the terminal controller 70 that has received the inquiry from the card processing unit 30 reads the corresponding remaining number of prepaid cards from the frequency management information 710 in the RAM 701 based on the card identification information, and transfers this to the card processing unit 30.
[0032]
In step S109, the main control unit 312 that has received the residual frequency from the terminal controller 70 stores the residual frequency as the residual frequency B in the memory 318 (step S110), and displays the same through the frequency display unit 103 (step S111). Thereafter, an operation standby state is set (steps S112, S113, S114).
[0033]
When the return button 105 is turned on in the operation standby state, the prepaid card is returned from the card insertion slot 311 (step S121), and the procedure returns to step S105. As a result, the card processing unit 30 turns on the card lamp 301 and the cash lamp 302 again, and enters a standby state for inserting a prepaid card.
[0034]
Further, when the lending button 104 is turned on in the operation standby state, the ball throwing request is sent to the ball throwing means 106 of the pachinko machine 10 in order to throw pachinko balls for the amount set by the amount setting button 308. (Step S115). After that, a request for subtracting and updating the remaining amount B according to the set amount is made to the terminal controller 70 including the card identification information (step S116), and a value obtained by subtracting the set amount from the remaining amount B is set as a new remaining amount B. The procedure is stored in the memory 318 (step S117), and the procedure is returned to step S111 to enter the operation standby state.
[0035]
On the other hand, when a bill or coin is inserted in the operation standby state, the deposit amount C is obtained through the coin selector unit 315 or the BV unit unit 313, and the deposited amount C is stored in the memory 318 (step S118). . Thereafter, the main control unit 312 determines whether or not the sum of the remaining number B and the deposit amount C stored in the memory 318 exceeds the frequency upper limit value A (step S119). The money is returned to the user (step S120). On the other hand, if the sum of the remaining amount B and the deposit amount C does not exceed the frequency upper limit value A, the terminal controller 70 including the card identification information informs the terminal controller 70 of the remaining amount B according to the deposit amount C. An addition update request is made (step S122), and a value obtained by adding the deposit amount C to the remaining number B is stored in the memory 318 as a new remaining number B (step S123), and the procedure is returned to step S111 to wait for operation. It becomes.
[0036]
Here, in the above-described series of processing for deposit, the deposit amount C, that is, the acceptable denomination is changed according to the remaining number B. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, if the residual count B is “0”, all the gold of the 100-yen coin, the 500-yen coin, the 1000-yen bill, the 2000-yen bill, the 5000-yen bill, and the 10,000-yen bill Seeds can be credited. On the other hand, when the remaining number B is 1 to 5000, when a 10,000 yen bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 303, the sum of the deposit amount C and the remaining number B exceeds the frequency upper limit value A, and step S119 is performed. Is false (NO), the 10,000 yen bill is returned from the bill insertion slot 303 as it is. Even if the remaining number B is 1 to 5000, if the deposited denomination is 5000 yen bill or less, the sum of the deposited amount C and the remaining number B does not exceed the frequency upper limit value A. Is true (YES), and the remaining number B of the prepaid card can be added and updated. Similarly, when the remaining number B is 5001 to 8000, a denomination of 2000 yen bill or less can be accepted. When it is 8001 to 9000, a denomination of 1000 yen bill or less can be accepted. , A denomination of 500 yen or less can be accepted, in the case of 9501 to 9900, only a 100 yen coin can be accepted, and in the case of 9901 to 9901, all denominations cannot be accepted.
[0037]
As described above, according to the card processing unit 30 in which the acceptable denomination is changed in accordance with the remaining number B, the addition update result of the remaining number B due to the payment is always equal to or less than the frequency upper limit value A. There is no need to return the portion exceeding the value A as change. Therefore, there is no need to provide a change return mechanism inside the card processing unit 30, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost. In addition, since the size of the external dimensions is not increased, it is possible to improve the convenience for the player by installing the pachinko machines 10 between each other.
[0038]
In the first embodiment, after the inserted money is once taken into the coin selector unit 315 or the BV unit unit 313, the main control unit 312 determines whether or not the money is acceptable. However, it is also possible to change the acceptable denomination depending on whether or not the coin selector unit 315 and the BV unit unit 313 operate.
[0039]
FIG. 9 shows the contents of processing executed by the main control unit 312 of the card processing unit 30 in the game medium lending system in which the acceptable denomination is changed depending on whether or not the coin selector unit 315 and the BV unit operate. It is a flowchart. Hereinafter, the operation of the game medium lending system according to the second embodiment will be sequentially described with reference to this flowchart. It is assumed that “10000” is set as the frequency upper limit value A in the RAM 701 of the terminal controller 70.
[0040]
First, in the card processing unit 30, when the power is turned on, an initialization process is performed by the main control unit 312 (step S101), and thereafter, communication with the terminal controller 70 is started (step S102). When communication is started, unit setting for instructing various settings of the card processing unit 30 from the terminal controller 70 and information indicating the frequency upper limit A stored in the frequency upper limit information 720 of the RAM 701 are given.
[0041]
Upon receiving the unit setting and the frequency upper limit value A from the terminal controller 70 in step S103, the main controller 312 stores the frequency upper limit value A in the memory 318 (step S104), and confirms that the prepaid card and the cash are waiting to be received. For notification, the card lamp 301 and the cash lamp 302 are turned on (step S105), and a standby state for inserting a prepaid card is entered (step S106).
[0042]
When the prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot 311 in step S106, the main control unit 312 reads the card identification information magnetically recorded on the prepaid card through the card reading unit 317 (step S107). (Step S108), the terminal controller 70 enters a response reception standby state (step S109).
[0043]
During this time, the terminal controller 70 that has received the inquiry from the card processing unit 30 reads the corresponding remaining number of prepaid cards from the frequency management information 710 in the RAM 701 based on the card identification information, and transfers this to the card processing unit 30.
[0044]
In step S109, the main control unit 312 that has received the residual frequency B from the terminal controller 70 stores the residual frequency B in the memory 318 as the residual frequency B (step S110). Main controller 312 having stored remaining frequency B in memory 318 calculates difference E between frequency upper limit value A and remaining frequency B (step S200), and determines whether or not difference E is 10,000 or more (step S200). Step S201). If there is a difference of 10,000 or more, an operation request is given to both the BV unit 313 and the coin selector 315 (steps S203, S204). That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the remaining frequency B is “0” and the difference E between the frequency upper limit value A and the remaining frequency B is 10,000 or more, the BV unit 313 and the coin selector 315 Therefore, all denominations of 100 yen coin, 500 yen coin, 1000 yen bill, 2000 yen bill, 5000 yen bill, and 10,000 yen bill can be deposited.
[0045]
On the other hand, if the difference E between the frequency upper limit A and the remaining frequency B is less than 10,000 in step S201, it is determined whether the difference E is 500 or more (step S202). If there is a difference of 500 or more, an operation request is given only to the coin selector 315 (step S204). That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the remaining frequency B is 1 to 9500 and the difference E between the frequency upper limit value A and the remaining frequency B is 9999 to 500, only the coin selector 315 operates. Therefore, only the 100 yen coin and the 500 yen coin can be paid.
[0046]
Further, when the difference E between the frequency upper limit value A and the remaining frequency B is less than 500 in step S202, the procedure is performed without giving an operation request to both the BV unit 313 and the coin selector 315 in step S111. Proceed to That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the remaining frequency B is 9501 to 10000 and the difference E between the frequency upper limit value A and the remaining frequency B is 499 to 0, the BV unit 313 and the coin selector 315 Do not work, so that all denominations are unacceptable.
[0047]
The main control unit 312 that has set the operation availability of the BV unit unit 313 and the coin selector unit 315 as described above displays the remaining frequency B acquired in step S109 on the frequency display unit 103 (step S111). A standby state is set (steps S112, S113, S114).
[0048]
Hereinafter, the operation in the operation standby state is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. However, in the second embodiment, before the operation standby state is set, whether or not the BV unit unit 313 and the coin selector unit 315 are operable is set according to the remaining number B, so that the money is inserted in step S113. At this point, the sum of the deposit amount C and the remaining number B does not exceed the frequency upper limit A, and this directly corresponds to the acceptable denomination. Accordingly, the procedure proceeds to steps S122 and S123 without going through the determination made in step S119 of the first embodiment, and the remaining amount B according to the deposit amount C is added to the terminal controller 70 including the card identification information. An update request is made, and a process of storing a value obtained by adding the deposit amount C to the remaining number B as a new remaining number B in the memory 318 is executed.
[0049]
Also in the second embodiment, since the addition update result of the remaining frequency B due to the payment is always equal to or less than the frequency upper limit A, it is not necessary to return a portion exceeding the frequency upper limit A as change. Therefore, there is no need to provide a change return mechanism inside the card processing unit 30, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost. In addition, since the size of the external dimensions is not increased, it is possible to improve the convenience of the player by installing the pachinko machines 10 between each other. Further, since the acceptable denomination is changed depending on whether or not the BV unit 313 and the coin selector 315 operate, there is no need to determine whether or not the denomination is acceptable for each denomination, and control is easy. It becomes. However, in the present invention, the operation of the BV unit 313 and the coin selector 315 is subdivided and the BV unit 313 and the coin selector 315 determine whether or not the denomination is acceptable. It does not matter.
[0050]
In the first and second embodiments, the frequency upper limit A set by the terminal controller 70 is transferred to the card processing unit 30. However, the frequency upper limit A may be set by the card processing unit 30 alone. Is also possible.
[0051]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing executed by the main control unit 312 of the card processing unit 30 in the gaming medium lending system in which the card processing unit 30 sets the frequency upper limit value A. Hereinafter, the operation of the game medium lending system according to the third embodiment will be sequentially described according to this flowchart.
[0052]
First, in the card processing unit 30, when the power is turned on, an initialization process is performed by the main control unit 312 (step S101), and thereafter, it is determined whether or not the setting button is turned on when the power is turned on (step S101). S300). The setting button may be provided at an appropriate position such as the front panel of the card processing unit 30.
[0053]
If the setting button has been turned on when the power is turned on, it is displayed that the frequency upper limit value A is in a setting standby state (step S302), and the setting input is waited for (step S303). The display of the setting standby state may be provided by a separate display unit, or may be switched and displayed on the amount display unit 307. In step S303, when the frequency upper limit value A is set and input by appropriately operating the setting button, the frequency upper limit value A is stored in the memory 318 (step S104) to notify that the prepaid card and the cash are waiting to be accepted. The card lamp 301 and the cash lamp 302 are turned on (step S105).
[0054]
On the other hand, if the setting button is not turned on when the power is turned on, it is determined whether or not the frequency upper limit value A has been set (step S301). If the frequency upper limit A has been set, the procedure proceeds to step S105.
[0055]
Hereinafter, the same processing as that after step S106 in FIG. 7 or FIG. 9 is performed. If the frequency upper limit A is not set in step S301, the card processing unit 30 is abnormally terminated.
[0056]
According to the gaming medium lending system of the third embodiment as described above, it is possible to set the frequency upper limit A by the card processing unit 30 alone.
[0057]
In the above-described first to third embodiments, since the frequency upper limit A can be set arbitrarily, it is possible to cope with various business modes, but the frequency upper limit A is fixed to a fixed value. It does not matter. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, after performing the initialization processing (step S101), a fixed value (for example, 10000) is substituted for the frequency upper limit value A (step S400), and this is stored in the memory 318. (Step S104).
[0058]
According to such a game medium lending system of the fourth embodiment, the work of setting the frequency upper limit A becomes unnecessary, and maintenance and inspection become easy.
[0059]
In the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the frequency upper limit value A is set to 10000, but is not necessarily required to be 10000. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5A, the initial frequency at the time of issuance of the prepaid card included in the frequency management information 710, that is, the initial value information given at the time of issuance of the prepaid card, is directly used as the frequency upper limit value A. You may set as. For example, if the frequency upper limit A of a prepaid card purchased for 5000 yen is set to 5000 and the frequency upper limit A of a prepaid card purchased for 1000 yen is set to 1000, individual prepaid cards can be set without complicated setting work. The frequency upper limit values A can be different from each other.
[0060]
Further, in the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the game medium lending system in which the value information (remaining number B) of the prepaid card is stored in the terminal controller 70 is illustrated, but the value information is stored in the prepaid card itself. The present invention can be similarly applied to a game medium lending system in which the information is stored, and the same effect can be expected.
[0061]
Furthermore, in the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the recording medium processing device determines whether or not the inserted money is acceptable. However, the terminal controller 70 capable of communicating with the recording medium processing device is used. In addition to the management of the frequency upper limit A, it may be determined whether or not the inserted money is acceptable.
[0062]
Further, in the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the card processing unit 30 is exemplified as the recording medium processing device. However, when the recording medium is received and an additional deposit is made, the card medium is lent as a reference. If the value information is added and updated, for example, the card issuing machine 20 or other Record The present invention is similarly applicable to a medium processing device.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it has a function of identifying the denomination of the inserted money, And, based on the comparison result between the preset upper limit value of the value information and the residual value of the value information stored in relation to the recording medium, the acceptable denomination of the additional payment is changed, and the upper limit value of the value information and the While denominations exceeding the amount corresponding to the difference between the residual value of the value information are not allowed, the denomination and value corresponding to the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit value of the value information and the residual value of the value information are prohibited. Denominations below the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit of the information and the residual value of the value information are accepted each time as an additional deposit Thus, the result of adding and updating the value information by additional payment can always be set to be equal to or less than the upper limit value. As a result, a return mechanism for returning a portion exceeding the upper limit value as change is not required, and the upper limit value can be set in the value information without increasing manufacturing costs or increasing external dimensions. .
[0064]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the game medium is lent based on the value information stored in relation to the recording medium, and the value information is subtracted and updated in accordance with the rental of the game medium. In a game medium lending system, value information storage means for storing the unique identification information and the value information recorded on the recording medium in association with each other, and reading the unique identification information recorded on the recording medium when the recording medium is accepted Means, an additional deposit receiving means for receiving an additional deposit, and, in a case where the additional deposit receiving means is additionally charged in a state where the reading means has received the recording medium, in relation to the unique identification information read by the reading means. Additional payment processing means for adding and updating the value information stored in the value information storage means, and has a function of identifying the denomination of the inserted money, And, based on a comparison result between a preset upper limit value of the value information and a residual value of the value information stored in the value information storage means in relation to the unique identification information read by the reading means, a receivable money of the additional payment. Change the seed, while making it impossible to accept a denomination exceeding the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit value of the value information and the residual value of the value information, the upper limit value of these value information and the residual value of the value information Denominations that match the amount corresponding to the difference in the amount of money and denominations that fall below the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit of the value information and the residual value of the value information are accepted as additional deposits each time Since the receivable denomination changing means is provided, the result of adding and updating the value information by additional payment is always equal to or less than the upper limit value. As a result, a return mechanism for returning a portion exceeding the upper limit value as change is not required, and the upper limit value can be set in the value information without increasing manufacturing costs or increasing external dimensions. .
[0065]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the setting means for setting the upper limit of the value information is provided, the upper limit of the value information can be set arbitrarily.
[0066]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since an initial value information setting value stored in association with a recording medium is provided as the upper limit value, an upper limit value storage unit is provided, so that a complicated setting operation is performed. It is possible to set the upper limit value of each recording medium to a different value without performing the above.
[0067]
Further, according to the invention of claim 5, the additional deposit receiving means has a plurality of receiving portions for receiving different denominations, and the receivable denomination changing means sets the plurality of denominations based on the comparison result. Since the acceptability of the accepting unit is changed, it is not necessary to determine whether accepting is possible for each denomination.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game medium lending system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external front view of a card processing unit and a pachinko machine applied in the game medium lending system shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the card processing unit shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a terminal controller.
5A is a chart showing a specific example of frequency management information, and FIG. 5B is a chart showing a specific example of frequency upper limit information;
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram exemplifying a frequency upper limit setting screen.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing performed by a main control unit of the card processing unit.
FIG. 8 is a table showing the correspondence between the remaining number of value information and acceptable denominations.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing executed by the main control unit of the card processing unit in the game medium lending system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a table showing the correspondence between the remaining number of value information and whether or not the BV unit and the coin selector can operate;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a main part of processing executed by a main control unit of a card processing unit in the game medium lending system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a main part of processing executed by a main control unit of a card processing unit in a game medium lending system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Pachinko machines
20 Card issuing machine
30 Card processing unit
40 Card Update Machine
50 Card payment machine
60 island controller
70 Terminal controller
101 game area
102 Upper plate
103 frequency display
104 lending button
105 Return button
106 ball throwing means
301 Card Lamp
302 Cash Lamp
303 Bill slot
304 coin slot
305 Return lever
306 Type lamp
307 Amount display section
308 Amount setting button
309 Fraction setting button
310 coin return
311 Card slot
312 Main control unit
313 BV unit
314 Banknote transport path
315 Coin selector
316 coin transport path
317 Card reader
318 memory
701 RAM
702 Communication interface unit
703 Display device
704 I / O device
710 frequency management information
720 Frequency upper limit information

Claims (5)

In a recording medium processing apparatus, in a case where additional payment is made in a state where a recording medium is received, the value information serving as a reference standard for renting a game medium is updated.
It has a function to identify the denomination of the inserted money, and accepts additional payment based on a comparison result between a preset upper limit value of the value information and a residual value of the value information stored in relation to the recording medium. The possible denominations are changed to make it impossible to accept denominations exceeding the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit value of the value information and the residual value of the value information, while the upper limit value of these value information and the residual value of the value information are not accepted. A denomination that matches the amount corresponding to the difference between the value and the denomination that is less than the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit of the value information and the residual value of the value information, each of which is accepted as an additional deposit each time. Media processing device. In the game medium lending system, in which the lending of the game medium is performed based on the value information stored in relation to the recording medium, and the value information is subtracted and updated according to the lending of the game medium,
Value information storage means for storing the unique identification information and the value information recorded on the recording medium in association with each other;
Reading means for reading the unique identification information recorded on the recording medium when the recording medium is received,
An additional deposit receiving means for accepting additional deposits,
When the additional payment is received by the additional payment receiving unit in a state where the reading unit receives the recording medium, the value information stored in the value information storage unit in association with the unique identification information read by the reading unit is added. Additional payment processing means to be updated,
It has a function of identifying the denomination of the inserted money, and the upper limit value of the value information set in advance and the unique value of the value information stored in the value information storage means in relation to the unique identification information read by the reading means. Based on the result of comparison with the residual value, change the denomination that can be accepted for additional payment, and make it impossible to accept a denomination exceeding the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit value of the value information and the residual value of the value information. On the other hand, denominations that match the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit of the value information and the residual value of the value information and denominations that are less than the amount corresponding to the difference between the upper limit of the value information and the residual value of the value information are: A game media lending system, comprising: acceptable denomination changing means for accepting each time as an additional deposit . 3. The game medium lending system according to claim 2, further comprising a setting unit for setting an upper limit of the value information. 3. The game medium lending system according to claim 2, further comprising upper limit value storage means for storing, as the upper limit, an initial value information set value stored in relation to a recording medium. The additional deposit receiving unit has a plurality of receiving units that receive different denominations, and the receivable denomination changing unit changes the acceptability of the plurality of receiving units based on the comparison result. The game medium lending system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein:

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