JP3732165B2 - Game media counter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game medium counter that counts the number of game media such as pachinko balls used in a pachinko machine, and in particular, to a lane unit that aligns game media input from a hopper, A game for a lane in which counting operation is disabled due to a failure or the like by providing a flow prevention means for blocking or releasing the flow and a drive means for independently controlling the flow prevention means for each lane. To prevent the occurrence of counting errors by individually blocking the inflow of media, and adjusting the counting speed by arbitrarily changing the number of lanes into which game media flows according to the operating status of the hall, the amount of counting balls, etc. It is related with the game media counter which can do.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in a game hall or the like where a large number of gaming machines such as pachinko machines are installed, a game medium counter that counts the number of game media such as pachinko balls paid out as a result of the game is provided.
In this type of game medium counter, for example, in the case of a pachinko ball counter, by inserting the pachinko ball to be counted into the hopper, the pachinko ball sequentially falls and flows into the counter from the inlet at the bottom of the hopper, The pachinko balls that have flowed in pass through a counting unit such as a sensor provided in the counter, so that the number of balls is sequentially counted.
The result of counting with the pachinko ball counter is displayed on the ticket surface (premium exchange ticket), etc., and is issued to the player, etc. It can be exchanged with.
Such pachinko ball counters are installed at pachinko hall prize exchanges, at the edges of pachinko islands, between pachinko machines, at the lower front of pachinko machines, etc. so that players who have finished gaming machines can use them at any time. It has become.
[0003]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view conceptually showing the internal structure of a conventional general game medium counter (pachinko ball counter).
As shown in the figure, a conventional pachinko ball counting machine 101 includes a mortar-shaped hopper 102, an input port 103 formed on the bottom surface of the hopper 102, and a pachinko ball that has fallen from the input port 103 while rolling. A lay unit upper lid 104 having a flowing slope portion 104a, a lane unit 105 composed of a plurality of lanes for aligning pachinko balls flowing from the slope portion 104a, a sensor for counting pachinko balls aligned by the lane unit 105, and the like. A counting unit 106 and a discharge port 107 for discharging the counted pachinko balls to the outside of the counter are provided.
[0004]
FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of the lane unit 105 provided in the pachinko ball counter.
As shown in the figure, the lane unit 105 is an inclined surface having a plurality of lanes formed in a comb shape, and each lane has a width that allows pachinko balls to be aligned and rolled. In a normal pachinko ball counter, a lane unit with 16 lanes (16 lanes) is common.
By providing such a lane unit 105, a large number of pachinko balls dropped from the insertion port 103 of the hopper 102 (see FIG. 9) roll on the inclined surface 104a of the lane unit upper lid 104 and flow into the lane unit 105. The lane units 105 are arranged in a line for each lane and flow toward the counting unit 106. The counting unit 106 counts the number of balls one by one for each lane.
Thereafter, the pachinko balls counted by the counting unit 106 are discharged to the outside of the counter through the discharge port 107 continuous with the lane unit 105.
Pachinko balls released from the ball outlet 107 to the outside of the ball counter are received by a ball supply tank, etc., collected in a pachinko hall, etc., and pachinko balls that do not satisfy the prize exchange are returned to the player as extra balls. In some cases.
[0005]
In the conventional pachinko ball counter 101 having the above-described configuration, for example, when a player who has finished a game puts a pachinko ball put in a ball box (so-called dollar box) into the hopper 102, the pachinko ball becomes a mortar shape. Are sequentially dropped from the insertion port 103 on the bottom surface portion of the hopper, flow into the lane unit 105 via the slope portion 104a, and are aligned in a line in each lane of the lane unit 105.
In this aligned state, pachinko balls flow into and pass through the counting unit 106, and the number of balls is sequentially counted for each lane.
The counting result in the counting unit 106 is displayed on a gift voucher by a predetermined number indicating the number of balls or the like on a ticket vending machine (not shown) by a number, a barcode or the like, and issued to a player or the like.
As a result, the player who has issued the premium voucher can exchange it for a desired premium by presenting the voucher to the premium exchange.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in conventional game media counters such as pachinko ball counters, a large amount of game media (pachinko balls) thrown into the hopper are arranged in a row in a plurality of lanes via slopes and lane units. Aligned and accurate counting was performed by sensors provided for each lane.
However, in such a conventional game medium counter, all of the inserted game media flow evenly into the plurality of lanes of the lane unit, so that some of the lanes are broken or damaged. Even in such a case, there is a problem that the game medium flows into the faulty lane and erroneous counting (erroneous counting) occurs.
[0007]
Here, in the conventional game medium counter, as shown in FIG. 11, an error determination unit 106c that detects and determines a count error is included in the count processing unit 106b that counts the count signal from the sensor 106a that counts pachinko balls. When an abnormality such as a failure of the sensor 106a or a backflow of a pachinko ball occurs, the error determination unit 106c detects the error and notifies the error display unit 108b provided along with the count display unit 108a of the occurrence of the abnormality. An error message was displayed.
However, such an error display may cause the counter to continue to be used unless the manager of the hall notices the error display, and there is a possibility that an erroneous count state is left unattended.
For this reason, such error display alone is not sufficient as a countermeasure for preventing erroneous counting.
[0008]
Even if a failure or the like is recognized by such an error display, the counter cannot perform an accurate counting process thereafter unless the sensor in the corresponding lane is repaired.
For this reason, even if only some of the lanes (for example, only one lane) fail and other lanes (for example, the remaining 15 lanes) are operating normally, the counter is disabled. Will have to.
Such discontinuation of use of the counter can be dealt with by using another counter even if the discontinuance of the counter in which a failure has occurred in a hall having a large number of counters.
However, for example, in the case of a small hall with only a few counters (for example, 1 to 2), it is extremely difficult to stop the use of the failed counter immediately in the hall operation. Until it was carried in, it was known that it would count incorrectly, but there was a situation where it was only possible to use the counter.
[0009]
Further, in such a conventional game medium counter, the game medium thrown into the hopper flows uniformly into a plurality of lanes and the counting process is performed in all the lanes, so the counting speed is always constant, for example, a pachinko ball In the case of a counting machine, there is also a problem that the counting speed and counting capacity cannot be changed or adjusted according to the number of pachinko balls to be inserted and the processing capacity of the pachinko ball replenishment system in the hall.
In general, pachinko balls counted by a pachinko ball counter are discharged from a discharge port, collected in a ball supply tank, etc., and supplied to each pachinko machine again after polishing, etc. (Pachinko Island) is transported and circulated. In such a pachinko ball replenishment system, the pachinko balls are transported and circulated while performing various processes such as pachinko ball polishing processing, ball replenishment tank accommodation processing, and supply processing to each pachinko machine. May be slower than the pachinko ball counting speed of the pachinko ball counter (the discharge speed of the pachinko balls that have been counted).
For this reason, for example, depending on the operating conditions of the hall, the counting speed in the pachinko ball counter becomes too larger than the transport speed of the pachinko ball replenishment system, and the pachinko balls that have been subjected to the counting process are not discharged smoothly outside the counter, There was a problem that the ball stayed inside the counter and caused clogging.
[0010]
In order to solve the problem caused by the difference in the conveying speed of the pachinko ball replenishment system and the pachinko ball counting machine, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-224829 discloses a predetermined number of lanes in a lane unit. A “pachinko ball counter” has been proposed that is equipped with regulating means for blocking and releasing the flow of pachinko balls into the lane.
However, in the pachinko ball counter described in this publication, in order to change (delay) the counting speed in the counter, pachinko balls flow into several lanes located on both left and right sides of the plurality of lane units. The lanes where the flow of pachinko balls is blocked and released are fixed to a predetermined number of lanes (a few lanes on the left and right ends of the lane unit).
For this reason, it was possible to slow down the counting speed at the counter according to the processing speed of the pachinko ball replenishment system. It was impossible to block and prevent pachinko balls from flowing only.
For this reason, the problem of the conventional pachinko ball counter when a non-countable lane occurs in part due to a failure of a sensor or the like cannot be effectively solved.
[0011]
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and a game medium is poured into each lane in a lane unit that aligns the game media input from the hopper. By providing an inflow prevention means for preventing and releasing and a drive means for independently controlling the inflow prevention means for each lane, the flow of game media to the lane where the counting operation is disabled due to a failure or the like The number of lanes into which game media flows according to the operating status of the hall and the number of balls to be counted can be arbitrarily changed independently to adjust the counting speed. An object of the present invention is to provide a game medium counter that can be used particularly for a pachinko ball counter.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, a gaming medium counter according to claim 1 of the present invention is a hopper into which a gaming medium to be counted is thrown in, and the gaming medium thrown in from the hopper flows in and is aligned in a line. A lane unit having a plurality of lanes that roll in a predetermined direction, and a counting unit that counts the number of game media rolling in each lane of the lane unit for each lane,An error determination unit for detecting the presence or absence of counting abnormality for each lane;Corresponding to each lane of the lane unitIndependent for each laneIt is provided and game media is poured into each lane.Independent of other lanesInflow prevention means for blocking, and driving the inflow prevention means at a predetermined timing, to prevent the flow of the game medium to the lanes and release thereof,Independent for each laneDriving means for controlling,The drive means inputs an error signal from the error determination unit to drive the inflow prevention means corresponding to the lane in which the counting abnormality is detected, and the inflow of the game medium to the lane is made to another lane. Stop independentlyAs a configuration.
  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game medium counter, wherein a hopper into which a game medium to be counted is loaded, and a game medium loaded from the hopper flow in, are aligned in a line and aligned in a predetermined direction. A lane unit having a plurality of rolling lanes, a counting unit that counts the number of game media rolling in each lane of the lane unit for each lane, and detecting the presence or absence of a counting abnormality for each lane Corresponding to each lane of the lane unit, an error determination unit, a display unit provided corresponding to each lane of the lane unit and displaying a predetermined error indicating the corresponding lane determined to be error by the error determination unit. Provided independently for each lane, and prevents inflow of game media into each lane independently from other lanes, and this inflow prevention means is driven at a predetermined timing. In addition, driving means for controlling the flow of the game medium to each lane and the release thereof are controlled independently for each lane, and provided for each lane corresponding to the display unit, and turned on / off. And an operation button for inputting a predetermined ON / OFF signal to the driving means, and the driving means inputs a predetermined ON / OFF signal via the operation button, whereby The inflow prevention means corresponding to the lane indicated by the error is driven to prevent the inflow of game media into the lane independently from other lanes.
[0013]
  According to the game medium counter of the present invention having such a configuration, the lane unit for aligning the game media such as pachinko balls to be counted in each row is prevented from flowing in the game media for each lane. An inflow prevention means for releasing is provided, and the inflow prevention means is driven independently for each lane by a drive means such as a solenoid or a motor, so that the inflow of game media and Inflow prevention can be controlled.
  Thereby, for example, when only a specific lane cannot be counted due to a sensor failure, the inflow prevention means can be driven only for the failed lane to prevent the inflow of game media. . In addition, regardless of the occurrence of a failure or the like, the inflow prevention means is driven for one or more arbitrary lanes to prevent the inflow of game media into a specific lane, and the flow of game media in the entire lane. The counting speed can be reduced, and the counting speed of the counter can be suppressed and adjusted.
  Therefore, according to the game media counter of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of miscounting due to the game media flowing into the lane where the counting operation is disabled due to a failure or the like, and the operating status of the hall, the count amount, etc. Accordingly, it is possible to arbitrarily adjust the counting speed of the game medium counter.
  In addition, the game medium counter according to the present invention includes an error determination unit that detects a counting abnormality in each lane, thereby driving the lane inflow prevention unit based on the error signal output from the error determination unit. Can be made. As a result, for the lane in which an error in counting error is detected, the inflow prevention means can be automatically driven by the error signal to prevent inflow of game media, and an error such as a sensor failure has occurred. In this case, it is possible to immediately prevent the game medium from flowing into the corresponding lane. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to more easily, reliably and quickly prevent the occurrence of erroneous counting due to a sensor failure or the like, and it is possible to realize a more reliable game medium counter.
  Furthermore, in the game media counter of the present invention, the flow prevention means for preventing the flow of game media into each lane by inputting an ON / OFF signal via an operation button or the like is provided at a desired timing. It can be driven each time. In other words, according to the present invention, it is possible to freely prevent or release the flow of game media to one or more desired lanes by ON / OFF operation of an operation button or the like. It is possible to drive at any time with timing. This makes it possible to adjust the counting speed by simply changing the number of lanes into which the game media flows according to the operating status of the hall, the amount of counting, etc. with only a button operation, etc. A game media counter can be realized.
[0014]
  Specifically, especiallyClaim 3Then, the inflow prevention means comprises at least a part of the bottom surface portion of the lane unit, and enters the game media entry portion of each lane.Independent for each laneBy standing upside down, game media can be poured into the lane.Independent of other lanesThe drive means is configured to prevent and release the game medium from flowing into the lane by raising and releasing the standing bottom at a predetermined timing.Independent for each laneIt is configured to control.
[0015]
According to the game medium counter of the present invention having such a configuration, the bottom surface of the lane unit on which the game medium rolls can stand up freely as an inflow prevention means for preventing inflow of the game medium into each lane. It can be realized by the formed standing bottom.
According to such a standing bottom portion, in the normal state, the standing state is canceled to be the same as the bottom surface portion in the existing lane unit, and when the inflow of game media is prevented, only the standing bottom portion of the corresponding lane is driven. By standing up and driving by the means, it is possible to block the entry portion of the game medium and easily and reliably prevent the game medium from flowing into each desired lane.
As a result, the bottom portion of the lane unit is configured to stand upright, and the inflow prevention means for the game medium according to the present invention can be realized simply by driving it upright by a driving means such as a solenoid or a motor. It is possible to provide the game medium counter according to the present invention only with a simple, small, light, and low-cost configuration without requiring a separate device or mechanism.
[0016]
  on the other hand,Claim 4In the gaming medium counter described above, the inflow prevention means is provided in the rolling space of the gaming medium in each lane.Independent for each laneInserting the game media into the lane by inserting it freelyIndependent of other lanesIt comprises an advance / retreat insertion section for blocking, and the drive means drives the advance / retreat insertion section to advance / retreat at a predetermined timing, thereby preventing the flow of the game medium to the lane and its release.Independent for each laneIt is configured to control.
[0017]
According to the game medium counter of the present invention having such a structure, the thin plate is inserted into the rolling space into which the game medium flows as a flow blocking means for blocking the flow of the game medium into each lane. This can be realized by an advancing / retreating insertion portion made up of a rod-like member, a rod-like member and the like.
According to such an advancing / retreating insertion unit, when the lane unit is used in the same way as an existing lane unit and the inflow of the game medium is prevented in a normal state by retreating from the rolling space of the game medium of each lane. Can advance and advance the advancing / retreating insertion portion toward the corresponding lane to block the rolling space of the game medium and easily and reliably prevent the flow of the game medium into each desired lane.
Thus, a plate-like member or a rod-like member that can be inserted into each lane is disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the inflow of the game medium according to the present invention can be prevented only by being driven forward and backward by a driving means such as a solenoid or a motor. The game medium counter according to the present invention can be provided only by a simple, small, light, and low-cost configuration without requiring a complicated device or mechanism. .
[0020]
  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming medium counter, the driving means is set for each lane in a predetermined driving mode set in advance.IndependentlyDrive inflow prevention means to prevent the flow of game media to the lane and inflow preventionIndependent for each laneIt is configured to control.
[0021]
According to the game medium counter of the present invention having such a configuration, a flow blocking means for blocking the flow of game media to each lane by performing a predetermined setting in advance via a setting unit or the like is desired. It can be driven in the drive mode.
Thereby, the inflow prevention means can be driven at an arbitrary timing, and the inflow of game media into one or more desired lanes can be freely prevented or released according to the set contents. For example, the number of lanes into which game media flows can be reduced during a certain time period and increased during a certain time period by periodically driving predetermined driving means according to the opening hours of the hall or the operating status. It becomes possible.
Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to automatically adjust the counting speed of the counter according to the number of customers, the amount of counting balls, the counting frequency, etc., and to provide a gaming medium counter that is more versatile and expandable. become able to.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a game medium counter according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
First, with reference to FIGS. 1-5, 1st embodiment of the game media counter based on this invention is described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view showing a game medium counter according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional side view conceptually showing the internal structure of the game medium counter shown in FIG. is there.
As shown in these drawings, the game media counter according to the present embodiment is a pachinko ball counter 1 for counting pachinko balls, which are game media of a pachinko machine, and includes a mortar-shaped hopper 2 and a hopper 2. A lane unit upper lid 4 provided with an inlet 3 formed on the bottom surface of the slab, a sloped part 4a into which a pachinko ball falling from the inlet 3 rolls and flows, a lane unit 5 continuous with the sloped part 4a, a lane A counting unit 6 that counts pachinko balls flowing through the unit 5, a discharge port 7 that discharges the counted pachinko balls to the outside of the counter, and a display unit 8 that displays a counting result in the counting unit 6 are provided.
[0025]
The hopper 2 is a ball receiving portion that receives a pachinko ball to be counted, and as shown in FIG. 1, the hopper 2 is formed in a mortar shape in which the pachinko ball can roll toward the bottom surface portion.
The bottom surface of the hopper 2 is provided with an insertion port 3 through which a pachinko ball falls.
Here, the hopper 2 may have any configuration as long as the hopper 2 has a size and depth into which a certain amount of pachinko balls can be inserted and can be rolled toward the insertion port 3. However, it is generally formed so as to have a ball capacity corresponding to the ball counting speed of the counter. For example, in the case of a counter having a ball counting speed of about 14,000 to 20,000 per minute, the hopper 2 has a size having a pachinko ball capacity of about 6,000 to 8,000, A shape is preferable.
The hopper 2 is usually configured to be assembleable and detachable with respect to the counter body so that maintenance, inspection and the like of the counter can be easily performed, but the detachable structure and the like are particularly limited. It is not a thing.
[0026]
The insertion port 3 is a hole through which the pachinko balls introduced into the hopper 2 fall. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the hopper 2 has a mortar-shaped bottom portion substantially in the center along the hopper longitudinal direction. It is formed in an open rectangular shape. As a result, even if a large amount of pachinko balls are put into the hopper 2, a plurality of pachinko balls can be dropped and flown simultaneously.
Note that the shape and size of the insertion port 3 can also be set in a manner corresponding to the ball counting speed of the counting machine, as in the case of the hopper 2. A pachinko ball flow path is formed by the lane unit upper lid 4 and the lane unit 5 in the counter below the inlet 3.
[0027]
The lane unit upper lid 4 is a lid-like member that is mounted and engaged above the lane unit 5 formed in a box shape (housing shape) opened on the upper surface as described later. As shown in FIG. In addition to having an opening continuous with the mouth 3, there is provided a slope portion 4 a that causes the pachinko ball dropped from the opening 3 and the opening to roll and flow in a predetermined direction and lead to the lane unit 5.
By providing the lane unit upper lid 4 having such a slope portion 4a, as shown in FIG. 2, after the pachinko balls put into the hopper 2 roll in a direction different from the inclination direction of the lane unit 5, The pallet rolls on the lane unit 5, and a pachinko ball passage that follows a substantially “Z” shape is formed between the hopper 2 and the discharge port 7. As a result, the distance from the hopper 1 to the discharge port 7 is configured in a stepwise manner, and even if a jig or the like is inserted from the insertion port 3, the sensor of the counting unit 6 cannot be directly operated, and the count result is obtained. It is designed to eliminate fraudulent acts that increase the actual number of balls.
[0028]
The pachinko balls that have fallen from the inlet 3 by flowing through the slope 4a of the lane unit upper lid 4 are evenly distributed from the beginning of the inlet portion (input 3) of the counter to the entire inflow path. Will flow into 5.
Note that the lane unit upper lid 4 having the inclined surface portion 4a as described above can be formed into a lid shape using, for example, a metal plate or the like by bending, welding, or the like. The lane unit 5 is integrally engaged to form a unit. Thus, by unitizing the lane unit upper lid 4 together with the lane unit 5, attachment / detachment to / from the counter main body becomes easy, and assembly, maintenance, management, etc. of the pachinko ball counter 1 can be easily and quickly performed. .
In this embodiment, the lane unit upper lid 4 is unitized as a unit with the lane unit 5 as long as the lane unit upper cover 4 is provided with and supports a sloped portion 4a continuous below the insertion port 3 of the hopper 2. A configuration other than the lid-shaped configuration may be used. For example, it is possible to arrange and fix only the slope portion 4a alone on the lower side of the inlet 3.
[0029]
And the lane unit 5 is provided under the lane unit upper cover 4 which has such a slope part 4a.
FIG. 3 is a schematic external perspective view showing the lane unit 5 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the lane unit 5 is positioned below the slope portion 4a of the lane unit upper lid 4, and constitutes an inclined surface that inclines in the direction opposite to the slope direction of the slope portion 4a (the other direction). .
Specifically, the lane unit 5 is configured in a substantially box shape (housing shape) opened on the upper surface and the counting unit 6 side, similar to the lane unit provided in a normal pachinko ball counter (see FIG. 10), A plurality of partition plates are arranged at predetermined intervals on the bottom surface in the box.
A plurality of lanes are formed in a comb shape by the plurality of partition plates.
[0030]
The plurality of lanes formed by the partition plates have a width in which each lane can roll with pachinko balls arranged in a row, and in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. It is supposed to be formed.
Here, the partition plate that partitions each lane has a height that the pachinko balls to be aligned and rolled do not get over the adjacent lanes. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. It is a substantially mountain-shaped partition plate that is low on the part side and the discharge part side and has a high central part.
Needless to say, the number of lanes formed by the partition plate is not limited to the 16 lanes shown in the present embodiment, and may be any number of lanes (n lanes).
[0031]
Thus, the pachinko balls dropped and rolled from the inclined surface portion 4a by the lane unit 5 having a plurality of lanes are aligned in a line for each lane and flowed in the direction of the counting unit 6, and are provided for each lane. The counting unit 6 counts the number of balls one by one.
Although not shown in the present embodiment, the lane unit 5 is usually provided with a pressing plate that integrally covers the upper surfaces of a plurality of lanes. This type of holding plate is composed of a single plate-like member disposed on the upper surfaces of a plurality of lanes, is rotatably supported by a shaft portion or the like on the discharge port 7 side, and is arranged in the lane. Is pressed from above to function as a pressing means for preventing the slack of pachinko balls from each lane, clogging of balls, and the like.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, the lane unit 5 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of lanes, and the standing bottom portion 10 (10a to 10n) that serves as an inflow prevention unit that inhibits the inflow of pachinko balls into each lane. ), And driving portions 11 (11a to 11n) serving as driving means for driving the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n at a predetermined timing to control the flow prevention and release of the pachinko balls to each lane. .
First, the standing bottom portion 10 (10a to 10n) is configured by at least a part of the bottom surface portion of the lane unit 5, and by standing upright at the entrance portion of the pachinko ball of each lane, the pachinko to the lane is concerned. It is designed to prevent the flow of balls.
[0033]
Specifically, in the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n, the bottom surface portion of the lane unit 5 is divided and formed corresponding to each lane. In this embodiment, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are divided into 16 corresponding to 16 lanes (standing up). Bottom 10a-10p).
Each divided portion is divided in accordance with the width of each lane from the end on the entrance side of the pachinko ball to the position corresponding to the highest portion of the mountain shape of the partition plate partitioning each lane. Each of the divided bottom surfaces has a side portion facing in parallel with each partition plate, and as shown in FIG. 3, as a whole, it is formed in a box shape (housing shape) having a substantially sectoral cross section. ing.
Further, the respective bottom portions divided in this way are rotatably supported and pivotally attached on the pachinko ball entry portion side of the lane unit 5.
By providing such standing bottom portions 10a to 10n, in the state where each of the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n stands, the rolling space of the pachinko balls is blocked in the lane (see 10a and 10j shown in FIG. 3). ), Pachinko balls are prevented from flowing into the lane.
[0034]
Then, each of the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n is raised and released from the height of the bottom surface of the lane unit 5 to the height of the highest portion of the partition plate by the driving portions 11a to 11n described later, to each lane. The pachinko balls will be prevented from being released and released.
In this embodiment, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n that stand upside down in the rolling space of the pachinko balls in each lane in this way are arranged so that the bottom portion of the lane unit 5 extends in the longitudinal direction of each lane (pachinko ball rolling). Although it is formed by dividing up to a part of the (moving direction) (up to almost the middle part of the lane), it is of course possible to form this by a bottom face part over the entire lane.
That is, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n can be realized by dividing and forming any part of the bottom surface portion of the lane unit 5 as long as the pachinko balls can be prevented from entering each lane.
[0035]
The drive unit 11 (11a to 11n) drives the pachinko ball from flowing into the lane and controls the release thereof by raising or lowering the standing bottom 10 (10a to 10n) at a predetermined timing. It is.
Specifically, the drive unit 11 is provided corresponding to each of the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. It is comprised by the solenoid arrange | positioned (refer the drive part 11a shown in FIG. 3). In FIG. 3, only the drive unit 11a corresponding to the standing bottom portion 10a is shown, and the other drive units 11b to 11n (11b to 11p) are not shown, but the same solenoid as the drive unit 11a is shown. However, it will be provided corresponding to the other standing bottom portions 10b to 10n (10b to 10p).
By the drive portions 11a to 11n, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are independently driven to stand up and are raised and released so as to be rotatable in the spaces in the lanes.
The drive units 11a to 11n are configured by solenoids in the present embodiment, but are not limited to solenoids. The drive units 11a to 11n are drive units that can drive the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n independently. If there is, for example, an arbitrary configuration such as a motor in addition to the solenoid can be adopted.
[0036]
And the drive parts 11a-11n are driven at predetermined timing according to the counting state etc. in the counting part 6, and stand up | raise the standing bottom parts 10a-10n or perform the cancellation | release.
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the relationship between the counting unit 6 provided in the pachinko ball counter 1 of the present embodiment, the standing bottom 10 serving as an inflow prevention means, the driving unit 11, the error display unit 8b, and the like.
First, when a counting abnormality is detected in each lane, the drive unit 11 is configured to erect the standing bottom portion 10 of that lane in an automatic machine.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the counting unit 6 that performs pachinko ball counting processing includes an error determination unit 6 c that detects the presence or absence of counting abnormality such as clogging or backflow for each lane. And the drive parts 11a-11n drive the standing bottom part 10a-10n corresponding to the lane by which the count abnormality was detected by inputting the error signal from the error determination part 6c, and the pachinko ball to the said lane It is designed to prevent inflow.
As described above, by driving the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n of the corresponding lanes based on the error signal output from the error determination unit 6c, the lanes in which counting errors such as clogging or backflow are detected are detected. The error signal can automatically prevent the flow of pachinko balls, and if an error such as a sensor failure occurs, the flow of pachinko balls to the corresponding lane can be immediately blocked. Yes.
[0038]
The driving unit 11 is controlled by a predetermined driving mode (driving timing) set in advance, and drives the inflow prevention means for each lane according to the set content, so that the pachinko ball flows to each lane. Inflow and inflow prevention can be controlled.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a setting unit 12 is connected to the driving unit 11 of the present embodiment, and a predetermined driving mode of the driving unit 11 can be set for the setting unit 12. It is like that.
By setting the driving mode of the driving unit 11 in advance through the setting unit 12 in this way, it becomes possible to drive the standing bottom 10 that prevents the flow of pachinko balls into each lane in a desired driving mode, For example, the number of lanes into which pachinko balls flow can be reduced in a certain time zone and increased in a certain time zone according to the business hours and operating conditions of the hall.
[0039]
Thus, in the pachinko ball counter 1 of this embodiment, the counting speed of the counter can be arbitrarily adjusted according to the number of customers, the amount of counting balls, the counting frequency, and the like.
Here, the setting for raising or releasing the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n is set so that the lane where the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n stand and the lane where the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n do not stand are equal, and the lane unit 5 counts uniformly. It is preferable that the processing is performed. For example, when the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are erected in 8 lanes of 16 lanes, it is desirable to set the standing bottom portion to be erected every other lane.
The setting unit 12 can be configured by an input unit that inputs desired setting contents, a storage unit that stores the input setting contents, a program that controls the stored setting contents, and the like. Any setting means can be used as long as the drive mode can be stored and controlled.
[0040]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the drive parts 11a-11n drive the standing bottom parts 10a-10n corresponding to each lane by inputting a predetermined ON / OFF signal from the outside, and the pachinko ball to the lane Inflow and prevention of inflow are controlled.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, operation buttons 13 (13a to 13n) for inputting ON / OFF signals are connected to the drive units 11a to 11n.
The operation buttons 13a to 13n are provided corresponding to the drive units 11a to 11n (see the operation buttons 13a to 13p shown in FIG. 5), and the operation buttons of the drive units 11a to 11n corresponding to a desired lane. 13a-13n can be turned on and off independently.
Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation buttons 13a to 13n are provided corresponding to lane LEDs of the display unit 8 described later (operation buttons 13a to 13p shown in FIG. 5). The operation buttons and the lane LEDs corresponding to each lane are distinguished at a glance so that they can be operated easily.
[0041]
By inputting ON / OFF signals through such operation buttons 13a to 13n, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n that prevent the flow of pachinko balls into each lane can be driven at any time, The flow of pachinko balls into one or more desired lanes can be freely prevented or released.
Thereby, the counting speed can be arbitrarily adjusted by appropriately changing the number of lanes into which the pachinko balls flow, for example, according to the operating condition of the hall, the amount of counting balls, and the like.
For example, an employee of a hall or the like turns on any one of the operation buttons 13a to 13n to erect a specific standing bottom portion 10a to 10n, and the standing standing bottom portions 10a to 10n to stand up. It is possible to cancel, and the count speed of the counter can be adjusted each time by looking at the operating status of the hall, the usage frequency of the counter, etc., and the setting content of the setting unit 12 can be changed in the middle It becomes like this.
Even when the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are individually raised or released by the operation buttons 13a to 13n, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are raised over a plurality of lanes as in the case of the setting content in the setting unit 12 described above. It is preferable to operate so that the lanes that are present and the lanes that are not raised are even.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 2, the counting unit 6 is a counting unit that counts pachinko balls that pass through each lane of the lane unit 5 one by one.
The counting unit 6 includes, for example, a sensor unit 6a including a photo sensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a proximity sensor, and the like, a count processing unit 6b that inputs a sensor signal from the sensor unit 6a and performs a predetermined counting process, and a sensor An error determination unit 6c is provided that detects and determines a counting abnormality in each lane based on a signal from the unit 6a (see FIG. 4).
Here, the sensor unit 6a according to the present embodiment, two sensors in which two sensors are continuously arranged along the flowing direction of the pachinko balls so that the back flow of the pachinko balls flowing through each lane can be detected. (Dual sensor).
In this way, by configuring the sensor unit 6a with two sensors arranged along the flow direction of the pachinko balls, an abnormality such as a reverse flow in which the pachinko balls flow in the reverse direction within each lane, or two sensors Thus, it is possible to detect an abnormality such as a ball clogging in which both of them are simultaneously turned off, and a malfunction such as a failure in which one of the two sensors does not operate.
[0043]
Based on the signal from the sensor unit 6a, the error determination unit 6c detects and determines whether there is a counting abnormality such as clogging or backflow for each lane, and an error signal from the error determination unit 6c is sent to the drive unit 11. It is designed to be entered.
As a result, the drive unit 11 is driven and controlled by the error signal, and the standing bottom portion 10 corresponding to the lane in which the counting abnormality is detected is erected to prevent the pachinko ball from flowing into the lane. .
The result of the counting process in the counting unit 6 is displayed on the display unit 8, and the total number of pachinko balls counted, the number of prizes, and the remainder are displayed on the counting display unit 8a. When an error is detected by the error determination unit 6c, a predetermined error display is displayed on the error display unit 8b.
[0044]
The pachinko balls counted by the counting unit 6 are then discharged to the outside of the counter through the discharge port 7 continuous with the lane unit 5 (see FIG. 2).
As with the existing pachinko ball counter, the discharge port 7 passes through the counting unit 6 and rolls from each lane of the lane unit 5 so that the released pachinko balls can be collected in one place and released to the outside. It has become.
Pachinko balls released to the outside of the ball counting machine from the discharge port 7 are received by a ball box, a ball supply tank, etc. and collected in a pachinko hall or the like, and extra balls are returned to the player as necessary. It will be.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 8 includes a count display unit 8 a that displays the count processing results (the total number, the number of prizes, and the number of remainders shown in FIG. 5) in the counting unit 6 and an error determination unit 6 c in the counting unit 6. An error display unit 8b for displaying the detected error is provided.
Here, in this embodiment, as the error display portion 8b, as shown in FIG. 5, a lane LED that is lit corresponding to each lane and an error LED that is lit according to the error content are provided.
A lane LED is provided for each lane (L-1 to L-16 shown in FIG. 5), and is lit whenever a pachinko ball passes through the sensor unit 6a. Also, clogging or backflow occurs in the lane. If it comes to light up. As described above, the corresponding operation buttons 13a to 13p are disposed near the lower side of the lane LED.
In this embodiment, the error LED has four types of LEDs (E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4 shown in FIG. 5) as shown in FIG. 4 types of errors can be displayed.
[0046]
Specifically, E-1 displays error 1 and lights up when a predetermined number or more of pachinko balls (for example, 64 or more) flow in the reverse direction for each lane. It is designed to show abnormalities such as backflow.
E-2 displays error 2, and for each lane, it lights up when both sensors (dual sensor) change at the same time, clogging of pachinko balls in the lane, Abnormalities such as stagnation are indicated.
E-3 displays error 3 and lights up when only one of the two sensors in each lane continues to change continuously for a predetermined number of times (for example, 50 times or more). This indicates an abnormality such as disconnection or failure of one of the sensors.
Further, E-4 displays an error 4 and is lit when a disconnection or a connection failure occurs between the sensor unit 6a and the internal board. A connector or connection cable between the sensor unit 6a and the board is disconnected. In addition, abnormalities such as poor connection and disconnection are indicated. This error 4 is not an abnormality for each lane but an error of the entire sensor unit 6a.
[0047]
Then, by combining the error LED and the lane LED, it is possible to determine what error has occurred in which lane.
For example, when lane LED 15 and error LED E-1 are lit, error 1 (backflow or the like) has occurred in lane 15.
Similarly, when lane LED 8 and error LED E-3 are lit, error 3 (sensor failure, etc.) has occurred in lane 8.
When the error LED E-4 is lit, an error 4 such as a connection failure of the sensor unit 6a has occurred regardless of the state of the individual lanes.
The error indicated by the error LED is an example of a counting abnormality detected and determined by the counting unit 6, and is not particularly limited to only four types of errors 1 to 4. That is, it is needless to say that a counting abnormality other than the above-described errors 1 to 4 can be displayed as an error as long as it is an abnormal state that can be detected and determined by a signal from the sensor unit 6a. For example, although it is usually difficult to occur, it is omitted in the present embodiment, but it is of course possible to display an error when two sensors of the sensor unit 6a fail simultaneously.
[0048]
Apart from the components described above for the pachinko ball counter 1 according to the present embodiment as described above, the configuration and functions of the existing game medium counter (pachinko ball counter) are almost the same, and the method of use, counting The processing system is almost the same.
Therefore, although detailed explanation was omitted, the pachinko ball counting machine 1 according to the present embodiment is a ticket issuing machine that issues a ticket surface (a gift voucher) displaying the counting result, a slot for inserting a membership card, and various operations. Each component provided in a normal game medium counter such as a button is provided (see FIG. 1).
The pachinko ball counter 1 according to the present embodiment described above constitutes a horizontal counter as shown in FIG. 1, but the counter to which the present invention is applied is a horizontal counter. It is not limited to the machine.
For example, a vertical counter as shown in FIG. 6 may be used.
[0049]
In general, horizontal counters are smaller than vertical counters, and can be installed at any location regardless of installation location. For example, they are installed at a prize exchange or a hall entrance of a game hall. It is used as a counter-standing type and a gaming machine integrated type installed at the lower front of a gaming machine (pachinko machine). On the other hand, the vertical counter is formed in the same size as a gaming machine, and is used as an in-island installation type that is installed in parallel with the gaming machine, such as at the end of a gaming machine island (pachinko island) or between gaming machines. It is done.
As described above, the game medium counter according to the present invention is characterized in that the lane unit 5 in the counter includes the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n and the drive portions 11a to 11n corresponding to the lanes. There are no particular limitations on the outer shape, mode, etc. of the counter, and any type of counter, vertical or horizontal, may be used.
[0050]
Next, the operation in the case of counting pachinko balls using the pachinko ball counter 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
First, when setting the drive mode of the drive units 11a to 11n with respect to the setting unit 12, a predetermined setting operation is performed in advance before the hall starts business.
When counting is performed using the pachinko ball counter 1, the pachinko balls to be counted are put into the hopper 2.
The pachinko balls thrown into the hopper 2 flow toward the inlet 3 on the bottom surface of the hopper and fall into the counter from the inlet 3.
Then, as shown in FIG. 10A, the fallen pachinko ball rolls on the slope portion 4a of the lane unit upper lid 4 located on the lower side of the insertion port 3, and along the inclination direction of the slope portion 4a. It will flow.
The pachinko balls rolling on the slope portion 4a uniformly flow into the pachinko ball passage, fall from the slope tip portion of the slope portion 4a, and flow into the lane unit 5 positioned below.
As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko ball that has flowed into the lane unit 5 rolls in the right direction in the drawing along the inclination of the lane unit 5.
[0051]
Thereby, even if a large amount of pachinko balls flow in, the pachinko balls are sent to the counting unit 6 one row at a time for each lane, and the number of balls is counted for each lane by passing the pachinko balls through the counting unit 6. Will be.
And in this embodiment, when counting abnormality is detected for every lane, according to the preset setting content, or when the operation buttons 13a-13p are turned ON individually, the standing bottom 10a To 10n are driven upright by the drive units 11a to 11n, and the pachinko balls are prevented from entering the lane.
That is, the pachinko balls do not flow into the lane where the standing bottom portion 10 is raised, and the counting process is performed by the remaining lanes where the standing bottom portion 10 is not raised.
[0052]
First, when a pachinko ball backflow, clogging, or a sensor failure occurs in any of the lanes, the error determination unit 6c detects a corresponding abnormality (for example, as described above) by a signal from the sensor unit 6a of the counting unit 6. Error 1 to error 4) are detected and judged.
When an error is detected, an error signal is input from the error determination unit 6c to the corresponding drive units 11a to 11n.
The drive parts 11a to 11n are driven by this error signal, and the corresponding upright bottom parts 10a to 10n are raised. This prevents the pachinko balls from flowing into the lane where the standing bottom portion 10 is erected.
At this time, a predetermined error display is displayed on the error display portion 8b of the display portion 8 for the lane where the error has occurred.
[0053]
Further, when a predetermined setting is made in the setting unit 12, the driving units 11a to 11n are driven at a predetermined timing according to the setting contents, and the specific standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are erected (or erected release). Then, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are released from standing (or raised) after a predetermined time has elapsed.
Therefore, in this case, the flow of pachinko balls into some lanes is blocked (or canceled) within the predetermined time, and the counting speed of the counter becomes slow (fast).
For example, if a specific time zone is set during which the pachinko replenishment system is busy during the business hours of the hall, the pachinko ball is prevented from flowing into a specific lane (for example, 4 lanes) in 16 lanes only during that time zone. In the case of performing the setting, the rising bottom portions 10a to 10n are raised by the setting in the setting unit 12 when the set time zone is reached, and the counting speed of the counter is suppressed during the time zone. Then, after the set time elapses, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n of the specific lane are released from the standing state and returned to a state where counting is possible in all 16 lanes.
[0054]
Furthermore, when an employee or the like of the hall turns on an arbitrary button of the operation buttons 13a to 13n, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n corresponding to the specific button are raised, and the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are standing. 10n can be canceled and the counting speed of the counter can be individually adjusted. Accordingly, the counting speed of the counter can be adjusted each time by looking at the operating status of the hall, the usage frequency of the counter, and the like, and the setting contents of the setting unit 12 can be changed on the way.
In this way, among the lanes of the lane unit 5, the pachinko balls are counted by the counting unit 6 of the lanes whose standing bottom portions 10 a to 10 n are released from standing, and the pachinko balls counted are counted from the discharge port 7. Released outside the machine.
The counting result is issued to a player, etc. as a gift voucher displaying the number of balls, etc. on a ticketing machine (not shown), and the player, etc. who received the ticket, presents the voucher to the gift exchange office, It can be exchanged for a free gift.
[0055]
As described above, according to the game medium counter according to the present embodiment, the pachinko balls that are to be counted are aligned and arranged in a row, and the lane unit 5 is prevented and released for each lane. By providing the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n serving as inflow prevention means, and driving the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n independently for each lane by the driving portions 11a to 11n serving as driving means including solenoids and motors. For each corresponding lane, the flow of pachinko balls and the flow prevention can be controlled independently for each lane.
Thereby, for example, even when only a specific lane cannot be counted due to a failure of the sensor 6a of the counting unit 6, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are raised with respect to the failed lane to prevent the inflow of pachinko balls. Can do.
[0056]
In addition, regardless of the occurrence of a failure or the like, the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n are driven upright with respect to one or more arbitrary lanes to prevent the pachinko balls from flowing into a specific lane, and the pachinko balls of the entire lane Can be slowed down and the counting speed of the counter can be suppressed and adjusted.
Therefore, according to the pachinko ball counting machine 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of erroneous counting due to the pachinko ball flowing into the lane where the counting operation becomes impossible due to a failure or the like, and the operation status of the hall and the counting ball It is possible to arbitrarily adjust the counting speed of the entire pachinko ball counter according to the amount and the like.
[0057]
Further, particularly in the present embodiment, as the inflow preventing means for preventing the pachinko balls from flowing into the respective lanes, by the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n formed so that the bottom surface portion of the lane unit 5 on which the pachinko balls roll can stand up freely. Since it is realized, the pachinko ball counter 1 according to the present embodiment can be realized with a simple, small, and lightweight configuration.
According to the standing bottom portions 10 a to 10 n configured by dividing the bottom surface portion of the lane unit 5, the standing state is canceled in the normal state, the same as the bottom surface portion in the existing lane unit 5, and the flow of pachinko balls is prevented. In this case, only the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n of the corresponding lanes are driven upright by the driving portions 11a to 11n to block the entrance portions of the pachinko balls, so that the pachinko balls can be easily and reliably poured into each lane. Can be blocked.
Thereby, the bottom face part of the lane unit 5 is configured to stand upright, and the pachinko ball inflow prevention unit according to the present embodiment is realized only by standing up and driving the drive parts 11a to 11n such as solenoids and motors. Therefore, the pachinko ball counter according to the present embodiment can be provided only by a simple, small, light, and low-cost configuration without requiring a complicated device or mechanism.
[0058]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the game medium counter according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a schematic external perspective view showing a lane unit provided in the game medium counter according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view conceptually showing the internal structure of the game medium counter according to the present embodiment.
The game medium counter of this embodiment shown in these drawings is a modified embodiment of the first embodiment described above, and as a flow blocking means for blocking the flow of game media (pachinko balls) to each lane, Instead of the standing bottom portions 10a to 10n in the first embodiment, advance / retreat insertion portions 20a to 20n are provided.
Therefore, other components are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment in the drawing, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0059]
Specifically, the game media counter according to the present embodiment is a pachinko ball counter 1 that counts pachinko balls, and the inflow prevention means is inserted into the rolling space of the pachinko balls in each lane so as to freely advance and retract. As a result, the advancing / retreating insertion portion 20 (20a to 20n) that prevents the pachinko ball from flowing into the lane, the driving portion (not shown) serving as a driving means for the advancing / retreating insertion portions 20a to 20n By driving the insertion portion forward and backward at a predetermined timing, it is configured to control the prevention of the pachinko ball from flowing into the lane and the release thereof.
The advance / retreat insertion portions 20a to 20n are formed of plate-like members (bar-like members, housing-like members, etc.) provided corresponding to the respective lanes. In the present embodiment, 16 plate-like members corresponding to the 16 lanes. (Advanced and retracted insertion portions 20a to 20p).
Each plate-like member is formed in a rectangular shape that is inserted in each lane so as to freely advance and retract, and in a state of being inserted into the lane, a peak of a partition plate that divides each lane from the end of the pachinko ball entering portion side. The part up to the position corresponding to the highest part of the shape is blocked.
[0060]
Further, in the lane unit 5 of the present embodiment, the advance / retreat insertion portions 20a to 20n are inserted into and removed from the wall surface on the entrance portion side of the pachinko ball so that the advance / retreat insertion portions 20a to 20n can be advanced and retracted and inserted from the outside of the lane unit. An opening is formed.
Such advancing and retracting insertion portions 20a to 20n (20a to 20p shown in FIG. 7) are positioned from the height of the bottom surface of the lane unit 5 to the height of the highest portion of the partition plate by a driving unit (not shown). In the state where each of the advancement / retraction insertion portions 20a to 20n is inserted, the rolling space of the pachinko balls is blocked in the lane (see 20a and 20j shown in FIG. 7), and the pachinko balls flow into the lane. Will be blocked.
In the present embodiment, illustration of a drive unit that drives the advance / retreat insertion unit 20 forward / backward is omitted, but as in the case of the first embodiment, existing drive means such as a solenoid and a motor can be used. .
[0061]
According to the game medium counter of the present embodiment having such a configuration, it is inserted into the rolling space into which the pachinko balls flow as the inflow preventing means for preventing the pachinko balls from flowing into each lane. This can be realized by the advance / retreat insertion portions 20a to 20n made of a thin plate member, a rod-like member, or the like.
According to such advancing and retracting insertion portions 20a to 20n, normally, the pachinko balls are retreated from the rolling space of the pachinko balls in each lane, and the lane unit 5 is used in the same manner as the existing lane units, so In the case of blocking, the advancement / retraction insertion portions 20a to 20n are advanced and advanced toward the corresponding lanes to close the rolling space of the pachinko balls, so that the pachinko balls can be easily and reliably poured into each lane. Can be blocked.
[0062]
As a result, in the present embodiment, the plate-like member and rod-like member that can be inserted into each lane are disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat, and this is simply driven forward and backward by driving means such as a solenoid and a motor. As in the case of the embodiment, the pachinko ball counter 1 equipped with the pachinko ball inflow prevention means is realized only by a simple, small, light and low-cost configuration without requiring a complicated apparatus or mechanism. can do.
In addition, although the advance / retreat insertion part 20a-20n which concerns on this embodiment becomes a structure which advances / retreats in the front-back direction toward each lane from the entrance part side of the pachinko ball of the lane unit 5, the advance / retreat direction of this advance / retreat insertion part 20 Is not particularly limited to the case of the present embodiment. That is, as long as the advance / retreat insertion portion 20 is inserted into the rolling space of the pachinko balls of each lane so as to be freely advanced and retracted and can prevent the pachinko balls from flowing into a specific lane, the advance / retreat insertion portion 20 can be moved back and forth in any way. good.
For example, not only when moving forward and backward along the inflow direction of the pachinko balls shown in this embodiment, but also by moving up and down from the bottom side or top side of the lane unit toward the corresponding lane, in each lane It is also possible to adopt a configuration to be inserted and removed.
[0063]
As mentioned above, although the preferred embodiment was shown and demonstrated about the game media counter of this invention, the game media counter which concerns on this invention is not limited only to embodiment mentioned above, Various in the range of this invention. Needless to say, it is possible to implement this change.
For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, a pachinko ball counter is shown as an example of the game medium counter of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to a pachinko ball counter, and other game media counters are also included. It may be a machine. That is, game media that can be counted by the game media counter according to the present invention are not limited to pachinko balls as long as they are counted by passing through the sensor unit while rolling on the slope. Other game media may be used.
Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the control of the driving means for driving the inflow prevention means (the standing bottom part or the advance / retreat insertion part) is as follows: (1) By the error signal output from the counting part, (2) In the setting part Although the case where three of the set contents according to the set contents and (3) the ON / OFF operation of the operation button are simultaneously provided has been shown, these (1) to (3) are, for example, (1) and (2) , (1) and (3), etc., can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.
These (1), (2), and (3) can be used alone.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the game media counter of the present invention, the lane unit for aligning the game media thrown in from the hopper has the inflow prevention means for preventing and releasing the inflow of the game media for each lane. In addition, by providing the driving means for controlling the inflow and the inflow prevention of the game medium by independently driving the inflow prevention means for each lane, the game to the lane where the counting operation is disabled due to a failure or the like It is possible to prevent the occurrence of counting errors by individually blocking the inflow of media, and adjust the counting speed by arbitrarily changing the number of lanes into which game media flows according to the operating status of the hall, the counting amount, etc. can do.
As a result, there is provided a game medium counter suitable for pachinko ball counters that can perform a reliable counting process without erroneous counting, can arbitrarily change the counting speed, and is highly reliable, versatile, and expandable. It becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view showing a game medium counter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view conceptually showing the internal structure of the gaming medium counter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic external perspective view showing a lane unit provided in the game medium counter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the relationship between a counting unit, an inflow prevention unit, a driving unit, and an error display unit provided in the gaming medium counter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic external front view showing an error display unit provided in the gaming medium counter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic external perspective view showing a game medium counter according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic external perspective view showing a lane unit provided in the game medium counter according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view conceptually showing the internal structure of the gaming medium counter according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a sectional side view conceptually showing the internal structure of a conventional game medium counter.
FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a lane unit provided in a conventional game medium counter.
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the relationship between a counting unit and an error display unit provided in a conventional game medium counter.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Pachinko ball counting machine
2 Hoppers
3 Input port
4 Slope
5 lane units
6 counter
6a sensor
6b Counting processing unit
6c Error judgment part
7 Release port
8 Display section
8a Count display
8b Error display section
10 (10a-10p) Standing bottom
11 (11a to 11p) drive unit
20 (10a-10p) advance / retreat insertion part

Claims (5)

A hopper into which a game medium to be counted is inserted;
A lane unit having a plurality of lanes in which game media thrown in from the hopper flows in and is aligned in a row and rolls in a predetermined direction;
A counting unit for counting the number of game media rolling in each lane of this lane unit for each lane;
An error determination unit for detecting the presence or absence of counting abnormality for each lane;
Inflow prevention means that is provided independently for each lane corresponding to each lane of the lane unit, and prevents inflow of game media into each lane independently of other lanes ,
Drive means for driving the inflow prevention means at a predetermined timing, and controlling the inflow prevention and release of the game medium to each lane independently for each lane ;
The drive means inputs an error signal from the error determination unit to drive the inflow prevention means corresponding to the lane in which the counting abnormality is detected, and the inflow of the game medium to the lane is made to another lane. A game media counter characterized by being blocked independently . A hopper into which a game medium to be counted is inserted;
A lane unit having a plurality of lanes in which game media thrown in from the hopper flows in and is aligned in a row and rolls in a predetermined direction;
A counting unit for counting the number of game media rolling in each lane of this lane unit for each lane;
An error determination unit for detecting the presence or absence of counting abnormality for each lane;
A display unit that is provided corresponding to each lane of the lane unit and that displays a predetermined error indicating the corresponding lane in which the error determination is performed by the error determination unit;
Inflow prevention means that is provided independently for each lane corresponding to each lane of the lane unit, and prevents inflow of game media into each lane independently of other lanes,
Driving means for driving the inflow prevention means at a predetermined timing, and controlling the inflow prevention and release of the game medium to each lane independently for each lane;
An operation button which is provided for each lane corresponding to the display unit and inputs a predetermined ON / OFF signal to the driving means by being turned ON / OFF,
The drive means inputs a predetermined ON / OFF signal via the operation button to drive the inflow prevention means corresponding to the lane displayed in error on the display unit, and the game medium to the lane A game medium counter characterized by blocking inflow independently of other lanes. The inflow prevention means comprises at least a part of the bottom surface portion of the lane unit, and stands up in an invertible manner independently for each lane at the entry portion of the game medium in each lane , thereby allowing the game to enter the lane. Consists of an upright bottom that prevents the inflow of media independently of other lanes ,
Said drive means, said by releasing erected and standing in an upright bottom a predetermined timing, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pouring blocking and releasing its game medium into the lane controlled independently for each lane Game media counting machine. The inflow prevention means is inserted into the rolling space of the game media in each lane so as to be able to advance and retreat independently for each lane , so that the inflow of the game media into the lane is independent of other lanes. It consists of an advancing and retracting insertion part that prevents
3. The drive unit according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the drive means controls the inflow prevention and release of the game medium to the lane independently for each lane by driving the advance / retreat insertion part at a predetermined timing. Game media counter. The driving means drives the inflow prevention means independently for each lane in a predetermined driving manner set in advance, and the inflow and prevention of inflow of game media into the lane are independently made for each lane. The game medium counter according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 to be controlled.

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