JP4401317B2 - Game ball transfer control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball transfer control device for controlling the transfer of game balls between a plurality of game machine islands equipped with a game ball storage tank, and in particular, a storage tank on a game machine island with a prize ball counter is full. The present invention relates to a technique for preventing the prize ball counter from stopping.

  At game stores, a plurality of game machine islands containing a plurality of game machines such as pachinko machines are formed in the store, and game balls used for games are circulated and repeatedly used in each game machine island. Yes. Each gaming machine island is equipped with a storage tank for game balls. By collecting excess game balls in the storage tank or replenishing game balls from the storage tank, the game balls in circulation can be made to an appropriate amount. Is maintained.

  The player continues the game by re-inserting the game balls acquired as prize balls into the gaming machine, but when a large number of prize balls are obtained, the excess game balls are stored in a ball box and stored. At the end of the game, the game balls stored in the tray of the game machine are discharged into the ball box, and then all of the game balls owned by the player are transported to the prize ball counter together with the ball box. Put it in a ball counter and let it count. Then, the receipt on which the counting result is printed is received from the prize ball counter and brought to a prize exchange, where it is exchanged for a prize or the like.

  Normally, prize ball counters are installed only on some game machine islands in the store. For this reason, on the gaming machine island with the prize ball counter, the storage amount gradually increases due to the game balls thrown into the prize ball counter, and on the gaming machine island without the prize ball counter, the storage amount gradually decreases.

  If the amount of storage increases and the gaming machine island with the prize ball counter becomes full, no more game balls can be thrown into the prize ball counter. Therefore, there is a game ball circulation system in which, when full is detected, a game ball is transferred from a game machine island with a prize ball counter to a game machine island without a prize ball counter (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .)

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-10421

  When the amusement store is closed, a large number of players who have been enjoying the game until then end the game and go to the prize ball counter all at once, so a large number of game balls are concentrated on the prize ball counter. Will be. At this time, if the free space on the gaming machine island with the prize ball counter is small, the prize ball counter will become full immediately and the prize ball counter cannot be used. In addition, even if the transfer of game balls to another game machine island is started after it is full, the use of the premium ball counter cannot be resumed until a certain amount of free space is available. There was a problem of waiting for a long time in front.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above problem, and even when a large number of players continuously throw game balls into the prize ball counter at the end of business, the prize ball counter cannot be used due to fullness. An object of the present invention is to provide a game ball transfer control device that can prevent the occurrence of a situation.

The invention according to claim 1 is a game ball transfer control device for controlling the transfer of game balls between a plurality of game machine islands (60) having a storage tank for game balls.
The total storage amount of game balls on the plurality of gaming machine islands (60) is measured before the start of business at the game hall and a predetermined time before the end of business, respectively, and the predetermined time at the end of business with respect to the total storage amount before the start of business The amount of decrease in the previous total storage amount is obtained, and the total free capacity of the gaming machine island (60) having the prize ball counter (75) among the plurality of gaming machine islands (60) is greater than or equal to the reduction amount. As described above, a gaming ball transfer control device is characterized in that a gaming ball is transferred between the plurality of gaming machine islands (60) before the end of business.

  According to the said invention, the reduction | decrease amount of the total storage amount before the business end predetermined time with respect to the total storage amount before business start is calculated | required. This amount corresponds to the number of game balls stored in the ball box or the like by the player before the end of business, and will be thrown into the premium ball counter (75). Therefore, the game balls are transferred at the end of the business by transferring the game spheres before the end of the business so that the total free capacity of the game machine island (60) having the prize ball counting machine (75) is equal to or more than the previously reduced amount. All game balls can be received by any premium ball counter (75).

The invention according to claim 2 is the game ball according to claim 3, wherein the total of the free capacity is obtained as a full capacity of a total storage amount before the start of business and a free capacity corresponding thereto. It is a transfer control device.

  According to the said invention, the sum total of the empty capacity which should be ensured in the game machine island (60) which has a prize ball counter (75) is calculated | required by making the total storage amount before a business start full amount. If a free space equivalent to the reduced amount is ensured with respect to the actual full amount, when a game ball that is slightly larger than the reduced amount is inserted, the prize ball counter (75) is full and stops. On the other hand, if the required free capacity is secured by taking the total storage volume before the start of business as a full capacity, the storage capacity will normally have some margin for full capacity before the start of business. Even if the number of game balls thrown by the player increases more than the calculated amount of decrease, this increase can be covered with the margin before, and any of the prize ball counters (75) can accept the game balls. become.

Invention according to claim 3, further claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the free space of each game machine island (60) having prize ball counting machine (75) is transferring the game ball to average It is a game ball transfer control apparatus as described in above.

The invention according to claim 4 further transfers the game balls so that the storage amount of the gaming machine island (60) not having the prize ball counter (75) is averaged. Or it is a game ball transfer control apparatus of 3 .

  According to the game ball transfer control device according to the present invention, the game ball is transferred from the game machine island having the premium ball counter to the game machine island having no premium ball counter before a predetermined time before the game shop is closed. The free space of the gaming machine island with the prize ball counter will be expanded before the end of business, and even if a large number of players continuously throw game balls into the prize ball counter at the end of business, A certain game machine island becomes difficult to fill up. This prevents the prize ball counter from stopping due to fullness and causing the player to wait long in front of the prize ball counter.

In particular, since the game balls are transferred so that an empty capacity equal to or more than the decrease in the total storage amount before the business end predetermined time with respect to the total storage amount before the business start is secured in the entire gaming machine island having the prize ball counter , This amount of reduction is stored in the ball box by the player before the end of business, and almost matches the number of game balls to be thrown into the prize ball counter from now on, so it is possible to ensure the necessary free space. it can.

  Furthermore, in the case of transferring game balls so that the free capacity of each gaming machine island having a prize ball counter is averaged, some of the gaming machine islands become full immediately and the prize ball counter stops. The prize ball counters of all the gaming machine islands can be operated evenly, and the waiting time of the player can be minimized.

  Furthermore, in the case of transferring the game balls so that the storage amount of the gaming machine island without the prize ball counter is averaged, the work amount of the transfer process for averaging the storage amount of each gaming machine island after the end of business is It is reduced.

  Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a gaming machine island 60 managed by the game ball transfer control device according to each embodiment of the present invention. The gaming machine island 60 accommodates a plurality of gaming machines 61 such as pachinko machines arranged side by side, and the gaming balls such as pachinko balls used for gaming by these gaming machines 61 are circulated in the gaming machine island 60. It is configured to be used repeatedly. Specifically, the game balls discharged from each gaming machine 61 are collected by a collection conveyor 62 disposed at the lower part of the gaming machine island 60, and this is collected to a lifting and polishing machine 63 erected in the center of the gaming machine island 60. Transport. The lift polishing machine 63 lifts the transported game ball to the upper storage tank 64 of the gaming machine island 60 while polishing the game ball, and the game ball after polishing passes from the upper storage tank 64 to the respective game machines 61 through the replenishment rod 65. Will be supplied again.

  In addition, game balls and spare game balls overflowing from the upper storage tank 64 are stored in a plurality of lower storage tanks 66 arranged at the lower part of the gaming machine island 60, and the storage amount of the upper storage tank 64 is reduced. Sometimes, the opening and closing device 68 provided at the discharge port of the lower storage tank 66 is opened and the game balls are discharged onto the collection conveyor 62 so that the game balls circulating in the gaming machine island 60 are maintained at an appropriate amount. Be controlled.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a transfer path 81 serving as a path for game balls is reciprocally routed between the upper storage tanks 64 of adjacent game machine islands 60. In order to balance the storage amount of the balls, the game balls are delivered between the adjacent gaming machine islands 60 through the transfer path 81. This delivery is controlled by opening and closing the shutter of the inter-island ball transport device 69 provided in the upper storage tank 64.

  In order to fulfill such a function, the upper storage tank 64 and the lower storage tank 66 are provided with a storage amount sensor 66a (see FIG. 2) for detecting the storage amount of the game ball. In addition, the recovery conveyor 62, the lifting and polishing machine 63, the opening / closing device 68, and the inter-island ball transport device 69 are provided with various sensors (not shown) for detecting the respective operating states and occurrence of abnormalities.

  In addition, inter-bank ball machines 61 a for lending game balls to players are provided in parallel with each game machine 61. The inter-bank ball machine 61a lends game balls circulating in the game machine island 60 to the players. Between the backs of the gaming machines 61 arranged side by side on the front and back sides of the gaming machine island 60, the banknote transport device 71 that transports the banknotes taken into the inter-bank ball machine 61a to the island edge, and the inter-ball machine 61a. A coin transport device 72 that transports the taken coins to the end of the island is disposed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 60.

  Also, at one end of the gaming machine island 60 (the right end in FIG. 1), a bill safe 73 and a coin safe 74 for sorting and storing bills and coins transported by the bill transport device 71 and the coin transport device 72 are installed. Yes. Further, at the other end of the gaming machine island 60, a prize ball counter 75 is installed that collects and collects the game balls acquired by the player. The game balls thrown into the prize ball counter 75 are stored in the lower storage tank 66 closest to the prize ball counter 75.

  FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of the game hall management system 10 including the game ball transfer control device according to the present embodiment. The game hall management system 10 includes an island monitoring device 11 installed on each gaming machine island 60 in the game hall, and a game facility management device 13 to which the island monitoring device 11 is connected through an in-store network 12.

  The gaming facility management device 13 functions as a gaming ball transfer control device 14 that controls the transfer of gaming balls between a plurality of gaming machine islands 60. The gaming facility management device 13 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), an input / output circuit, a communication unit, etc. which are not shown. Computer device.

  The island monitoring device 11 is a relay device configured by a circuit having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output circuit, a communication unit, and the like, not shown, as main parts. The island monitoring device 11 includes an inter-bank ball machine 61a, a prize ball counter 75, a sub-controller 76, a recovery conveyor 62, a lifting and polishing machine 63, an inter-island ball transport device 69, a banknote transport device 71, which the gaming machine island 60 has. A coin transport device 72 and the like are connected. Under the sub controller 76, a storage amount sensor 66a of the lower storage tank 66, an opening / closing device 68, and the like are connected. The prize ball counter 75 does not exist on all the gaming machine islands 60 and is installed only on some of the gaming machine islands 60.

  The in-island monitoring device 11 fulfills a function of collecting state information representing the operating state and abnormal state from these gaming equipment devices installed on the gaming machine island 60 and sending them to the gaming equipment management device 13. For example, information indicating the storage amount of the upper storage tank 64 and the lower storage tank 66 is collected from the storage amount sensor 66a. In addition, the count information of game balls (referred to as incoming balls) that have been driven into the gaming machine 61, the count information of game balls (referred to as outgoing balls) that the gaming machine 61 has paid out as prize balls, and the games that are lent out by the inter-ball machine 61a Count information of a sphere (referred to as a rented ball), count information of a game sphere (referred to as a premium sphere) that has been thrown into the premium sphere counter 75, and the like are collected.

  Further, the island monitoring device 11 relays various instructions sent from the gaming facility management device 13 and outputs them to the corresponding gaming facility device, or corresponds based on the instructions sent from the gaming facility management device 13. Control the operation of gaming equipment. For example, it performs a function of opening / closing control of the shutters of the opening / closing device 68 and the inter-island ball transport device 69 based on an instruction from the gaming facility management device 13.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the connection state of a plurality of gaming machine islands 60. In the amusement hall, a plurality of gaming machine islands 60 are connected in a row by connecting adjacent gaming machine islands 60 with a game ball transfer path 81. The transfer path 81 has a forward path and a return path. The arrows in the figure indicate the transfer direction of the game ball in each transfer path 81. Each transfer path 81 is inclined downward toward the transfer destination, and a shutter of the inter-island ball transport device 69 is provided at the source.

  For convenience of explanation, the gaming machine islands 60 shown in FIG. 3 are designated as island 1, island 2, island 3, island 4, island 5, island 6 from the left, and the transfer path between island 1 and island 2. Cross 81, cross transfer path 81 between island 2 and island 3, cross transfer path 81 between island 3 and island 4, and transfer path 81 between island 4 and island 5 The transfer path 81 between the crossover 4 and the island 5 and the island 6 is referred to as a crossover 5. Also, the black circles in the figure indicate the unit amount (one level) of game balls, and the number of black circles represents the amount of game balls stored (storage level) in each gaming machine island 60 in a simulated manner. Here, one level corresponding to one black circle is set as one transfer amount. In FIG. 3, the prize ball counter 75 is provided only on the island 1, the island 3, and the island 5.

  FIG. 4 shows the flow of the transfer control process performed by the game ball transfer control device 14. The game ball transfer control device 14 examines and stores the storage level of each gaming machine island 60 at the start of operation of the game hall (step S101). Thereafter, when a predetermined time before the end of business (for example, 20 minutes before), the storage level of each gaming machine island 60 is measured (step S102).

  Then, a total storage level obtained by summing up the storage levels before the start of business for all the gaming machine islands 60 and a total storage level obtained by summing up the storage levels for a predetermined time before the end of business for all the gaming machine islands 60 are obtained, and the business starts. The amount of decrease in the total storage level before the business end predetermined time relative to the previous total storage level is obtained (step S103).

  Then, the game balls are transferred between the game machine islands 60 before the end of business so that the total free capacity of the game machine islands having the prize ball counters 75 is equal to or larger than the previously obtained reduction amount (step S104). ) End processing (END).

  The amount of decrease obtained a predetermined time before the end of business corresponds to the total amount of game balls that the player holds in the ball box or the tray of the gaming machine 61 at that time. Therefore, the game balls are transferred from the gaming machine island having the prize ball counter 75 to the gaming machine island having no prize ball counter 75, to the gaming machine island having the prize ball counter 75, a predetermined time before the end of business. Free space corresponding to the amount of decrease is formed.

  In this way, at the same time as the amusement store is closed, even if a large number of players who have enjoyed the game so far have concentrated the game balls held in the ball box etc. into the prize ball counter 75, Since the storage capacity of the gaming machine island with the prize ball counter 75 is already secured, the storage tank 66 is full, and all the prize ball counters 75 cannot be used. Things don't happen. For example, when the storage tank is full and the prize ball counter 75 is stopped, the prize ball counter 75 can be used until a predetermined amount of game balls are transferred from the gaming machine island to another gaming machine island. However, if the transfer control according to the present invention is performed, such a situation does not occur and a smooth end of business can be reached.

  Next, the operation related to the transfer control process shown in FIG. 4 will be described with a specific example.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a storage state before the start of business. The storage levels before the start of business on islands 1 to 6 are all “4”, and the total total storage level is “24”. Here, it is assumed that the maximum storage level of each island is “4” and all the islands are full at the start of business.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the storage state a predetermined time before the end of business. The circles indicated by broken lines in the figure indicate the free capacity for one level. The total total storage level on the islands 1 to 6 before the predetermined closing time is “15”, and the amount of decrease compared to the time of the start of business is “9” level. A game ball corresponding to this reduced amount is held in the ball box 91 or the like by the player. At this time, the total free capacity of the island 1, island 3, and island 5 where the prize ball counter 75 is located is “5” level, and the player holds “9” level in the ball box 91 or the like. Cannot accept the game balls.

  Therefore, the processing of step S104 in FIG. 4 is executed so that the total free capacity of the island 1, island 3 and island 5 having the prize ball counter 75 is equal to or higher than the “9” level which is the reduction amount. The game ball is transferred before the end to secure the necessary free space. For example, by transferring game balls for one level from island 1 to island 2 through 1, the free capacity of island 1 with the prize ball counter 75 is set to “3” level. Further, by transferring game balls for two levels from island 3 to island 4 through 3, the free capacity of island 3 with prize ball counter 75 is set to “3” level. Further, by transferring the game balls for one level from the island 5 to the island 6 through the island 5, the free capacity of the island 5 with the prize ball counter 75 is set to the “3” level. As a result, the total free capacity of the island 1, the island 3, and the island 5 where the prize ball counter 75 is located becomes the “9” level.

  FIG. 6 shows a storage state after the game ball is transferred by the above method. Since the total free capacity of island 1, island 3 and island 5 with the prize ball counter 75 is “9” level, the game balls for “9” level held in the ball box 91 etc. by the player are held. Can be accepted on either Island 1, Island 3, or Island 5.

  In this example, the game balls are transferred so that the free capacity of each gaming machine island having the prize ball counter 75 is averaged. As a result, the prize ball counter 75 does not stop at some gaming machine islands immediately, and the prize ball counter 75 can be operated evenly. Latency can be minimized.

  In addition, since the game balls are transferred so that the storage level of each gaming machine island without the prize ball counter 75 is averaged, it is necessary to average the storage amount of each gaming machine island 60 after the end of business. Transfer amount is reduced. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, when “3” levels of game balls are inserted into the prize ball counters 75 of the islands 1, 3, and 5, the storage levels of all the islands 1 to 6 are “ 4 ”is uniform, and subsequent transfer work is not necessary.

  FIG. 7 shows a transfer control process in a case where the required free space is obtained by another method. The gaming ball transfer control device 14 has a number of incoming balls that are game balls that have been driven into each gaming machine 61 since the start of business, a number of outgoing balls that are game balls that the gaming machine 61 has paid out as prize balls, The number of rental balls that are game balls lent out by the inter-bank ball machine 61a and the number of premium balls that are game balls thrown into the premium ball counter 75 are accumulated (step S201). Then, when it is a predetermined time before the end of business (step S202; Y), the total number of incoming balls, the total number of outgoing balls, the total of rented balls, and the total of premium balls are obtained from the start of business (step S203).

  The target amount of the free capacity to be secured on the gaming machine island where the prize ball counter 75 is located is obtained by calculating the target amount = total rental amount + total outgoing ball−total incoming ball−total premium ball (step S204). . Then, the game balls are transferred between the game machine islands 60 before the end of business so that the total free capacity of the game machine islands having the prize ball counting machine 75 is equal to or greater than the target amount (step S205), and the process is terminated. (End)

  The target amount obtained by the above calculation is almost the same as the total number of game balls that the player has stored in the ball box 91 and the like before the end of business, and will be thrown into the prize ball counter 75 from now on. It is equivalent. Therefore, if the game ball is transferred so that the target amount of free space is secured on the gaming machine island equipped with the premium ball counter 75 before the predetermined time of the end of business, the transfer control process shown in FIG. Similarly to the case where the game is executed, all the game balls thrown in at the end of the business of the game shop can be received by any of the prize ball counters 75, and the smooth business end can be achieved.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 6 and the like, the game balls are transferred so that the free capacity of the gaming machine island having the prize ball counter 75 is averaged, but the free capacity exceeding the reduction amount or the target amount is secured in total. For example, it is not necessary to secure the free space equally. In addition, although the storage level of the gaming machine island without the prize ball counter 75 is averaged by the transfer before the end of business, it may not be averaged.

  What is necessary is just to set suitably how many minutes before the predetermined time of a business end. If the transfer capability is high, it may be just before the end of business. In short, it is only necessary that a large number of players can continuously transfer the game balls to the prize ball counter 75 at the end of business before the storage tank is full. Further, the number of minutes before the predetermined time before the end of business may be switched depending on whether the business day is a weekend, a public holiday or a weekday.

In the embodiment, the free space corresponding to the reduction amount and the target amount is secured based on the full capacity, but the total storage amount before the start of business is used as a reference , and the reduction amount and You may comprise so that the vacant capacity for target amount may be ensured. The free space that is actually secured is larger than when full is used as a standard, and even if a certain amount of game balls are actually thrown in than the calculated reduction amount or target amount, it is prevented from becoming full. Thus, the operation of the prize ball counter 75 can be maintained.

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the internal structure of the game machine island made into the control object by the game ball transfer control apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the game hall management system containing the game ball transfer control apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the connection state of the some game machine island by a transfer path, and the storage state at the time of a business start. It is a flowchart which shows the transfer control process which the game ball transfer control apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the storage state before business completion predetermined time. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the storage state after transferring a game ball before business completion. It is a flowchart which shows the transfer control process in the case of calculating | requiring a target amount.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Game hall management system 11 ... Island monitoring device 12 ... In-store network 13 ... Game equipment management device 14 ... Game ball transfer control device 60 ... Game machine island 61 ... Game machine 61a ... Inter-table ball machine 62 ... Collection conveyor 63 ... Lifting Polishing machine 64 ... Upper storage tank 65 ... Supply bowl 66 ... Lower storage tank 66a ... Storage amount sensor 68 ... Opening / closing device 69 ... Island ball transport device 71 ... Bill transport device 72 ... Coin transport device 73 ... Bill safe 74 ... Coin safe 75 ... Premium ball counter 76 ... Sub-controller 81 ... Transfer path 91 ... Tama box

Claims (4)

In a game ball transfer control device for controlling the transfer of game balls between a plurality of game machine islands equipped with a storage tank for game balls,
The total storage amount of game balls in the plurality of gaming machine islands is measured before the start of business at the game hall and a predetermined time before the end of the business, respectively, and the total storage amount before the end of the business with respect to the total storage amount before the start of business A reduction amount of the storage amount is obtained, and a game between the plurality of gaming machine islands is made such that a total free space of the gaming machine islands having a prize ball counter among the plurality of gaming machine islands is equal to or more than the reduction amount. A game ball transfer control device for transferring a ball before the end of business. The gaming ball transfer control device according to claim 1, wherein the total free capacity is a total storage amount before the start of business as a full amount. The game ball transfer control device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the game balls are transferred so that the free capacity of each game machine island having a prize ball counter is averaged. Further, the game ball transport control device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 storage amount of the gaming machine islands without a prize ball counting machine is characterized in that for transferring the game balls to average.

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