JP4478774B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a gaming machine that includes a prepaid card unit and enables a game using a gaming medium by a gaming machine represented by a pachinko gaming machine, a coin gaming machine, a slot machine, etc. using a card. This is a gaming machine applied to a prepaid card system using an optical network of an optical transmission system that can smoothly manage a card sales signal, a cash sales signal, etc. and settle a usage fee using a prepaid card.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A leisure card system using a card generally known from the past includes a card vending machine, a prepaid card unit and a data management device, and an optical transmission line connecting them, and is used as a price for a player's purchase price. There is a system that controls the issuance and settlement of a common recording medium (for example, a nationwide common card or a common card for each hall) on which a signal capable of specifying a common value is recorded. The sales signal of the prepaid card unit is transmitted from the terminal box of the pachinko hall to the management center via a repeater by optical communication and managed. The card is inserted into a prepaid card unit, and the game medium is lent out from a payout device for a game medium (pachinko ball, coin, etc.) of the gaming machine using the valuable value specified by the record of the inserted card. A command signal is output to the gaming machine main body, and the gaming medium is lent out from the gaming machine body, so that a game using the gaming medium becomes possible, and the gaming medium is lent out within the amount corresponding to the valuable value of the card. be able to. In each hall, a sales signal or the like corresponding to the rented game medium is stored in a data management device such as a terminal box, and is appropriately transmitted to a management center to charge a fee.
[0003]
Such a prepaid card unit enters an error state called a file full error when the sales amount indicated by the sales signal from the card exceeds the upper limit. In recent years, a prepaid card unit that can use a 500 yen coin together with a card has been developed, and a file full error occurs when the sales signal in the 500 yen coin exceeds the upper limit. Under normal operating conditions, sales signals collected late at night or at appropriate intervals are sent to the management center, and after being sent, the sales signal of the prepaid card unit is cleared, so there is no file full error in normal sales. So there is no problem. Possible causes of the file full error include data anomalies due to malfunction of the prepaid card unit or fraud. If abnormal data is transmitted to the management center in the state where the file full error has occurred, the reliability of the sales signal is lost, and the operation of the prepaid card unit is stopped in the state where the file full error has occurred. It is common for the hall to then replace the prepaid card unit with a normal product. The prepaid card unit whose operation is stopped in this way becomes evidence of data abnormality or fraud. In addition, the occurrence of a file full error is an indispensable function for improving the reliability of the sales signal. Therefore, there is no function for canceling the file full error.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
It is preferable that the hole cannot be released from the essential file full error function. On the other hand, for game machine manufacturers, etc., it is necessary to check in advance whether the file full error works normally for each model to be sold. Need to run. However, the prepaid card unit that has forcibly generated the file full error cannot be used again as described above, which causes troubles in the inspection of the prepaid card unit and the gaming machine.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the file full error inspection of the prepaid card unit from being hindered, and to facilitate the inspection so that an appropriate gaming machine is installed in the hall. is there.
[0005]
  In view of the above problems, the invention according to claim 1
    A card receiving unit that accepts a card to be inserted, and a lending signal control unit that performs control to output a lending signal that enables a game using a game medium using the value of the card received in the card receiving unit; In a gaming machine equipped with a prepaid card unit including
  Game medium lending means for lending the game medium based on the lending signal;
  The sales amount corresponding to the game medium lent by the game medium lending meansA sales signal output means for outputting an identifiable sales signal;
  Memory means for storing the sales signal not output by the sales signal output means;
  Sales initialization means for initializing the memory means after output of the sales signal by the sales signal output means;
  Stored in the memory meansThe sales signal isThe sales amount shown is the maximum amountWhen the sales signal is determined to be abnormal, the prepaid card unit is set to an abnormal state.SetAn abnormal state setting means;
  Setting of abnormal state by the abnormal state setting meansRenting out the game media from the game media lending meansBanGame media rental prohibition means,
  Cancel the abnormal state settingAn abnormal state canceling means;
  Along with releasing the setting of the abnormal state by the abnormal state releasing means,Prohibition of the lending by the gaming medium lending prohibition meansTo releaseGame media lending return means,With
  Along with the cancellation of the setting of the abnormal state by the abnormal state cancellation unit, the sales signal not yet output stored in the memory unit is output by the sales signal output unit, and after the output, the memory unit by the sales initialization unit InitializeIt is a gaming machine characterized by this.
[0006]
According to the gaming machine of claim 1, the gaming machine manufacturer forcibly processes the sales signal of the prepaid card so as to indicate an abnormal value before shipping, so that the function for setting the prepaid card unit to an abnormal state is provided. It can be properly tested to work properly. The provision of the abnormal state canceling means enables normal use of the prepaid card unit again, and enables shipment of the prepaid card unit that has been inspected for the abnormal state. Furthermore, the game machine main body connected to the prepaid card unit can be shipped by providing the game medium lending return means.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a pachinko game machine called a so-called seven machine will be described as a gaming machine. It may be a model having a fluctuating function, a coin-operated game machine, a slot machine or the like, and any game machine capable of playing a game using a game medium is a target.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which a card reader 1 is adjacent to a pachinko machine 10 as an example of a gaming machine. First, the configuration of the card reader 1 will be described. The optical transmission / reception unit 2 transmits a card sales signal indicating a ball lending amount using a common card and a cash sales signal indicating a ball lending amount using a coin by optical communication, and forcibly clears the card to zero. Is for receiving. The availability indicator lamp 3 is turned on when the card reader 1 is available, and is turned off when the card reader 1 is unavailable. The fraction display switch 4 displays on the balance display unit 18 a fractional balance, a unit number, and the like after lending using a card inserted by pressing operation or an inserted coin. The connecting table direction indicator 5 displays an arrow indicating which of the pachinko machines 10 provided on both sides of the card reader 1 is connected to the pachinko machine 10. The card insertion slot 7 is for inserting a common card in a hole as an example of a recording medium. The common card (hereinafter simply referred to as a card) is a third-party prepaid card that can be used for any gaming machine in the hall as long as it is a member of the card system. The card insertion display lamp 6 is lit when the common card is inserted into the card insertion slot 7. The coin slot 8 is used to insert a 500 yen coin, and the card reader 1 can lend the ball also by the insertion.
[0012]
Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 according to this embodiment includes a rectangular outer frame 11 and a front frame 12, and a known card reader (prepaid card unit) is adjacent to the left side of the outer frame 11. 1 is provided. The front frame 12 is rotatably attached to the outer frame 11 by hinges 14 at the upper and lower left ends.
[0013]
An upper plate 15 is provided below the front frame 12, and a lending button 16, a settlement button 17 and a balance display unit 18 are provided on the upper plate 15. When a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 7 of the card reader 1 or a 500-yen coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 8, the stored balance is displayed on the balance display unit 18. When the lending button 16 is pressed, the pachinko balls are lent out. Then, the pachinko balls are discharged from the payout opening of the upper plate 15. As a result of the game, when a hitting ball is won, a pachinko ball as a prize ball is paid out to the upper plate 15, and when the player finishes the game, by sliding the upper plate ball removal lever 15a, The pachinko balls stored in the upper plate 15 are extracted by the lower plate 23 and dispensed. Then, when the player slides the lower plate ball extraction lever 23a with the ball box or the like installed under the lower plate 23, the pachinko balls stored in the lower plate 23 are extracted into the ball box or the like.
[0014]
A window-shaped metal frame 20 is removably attached to the front frame 12 with respect to the front frame 12. A plate glass 21 is double fitted in the metal frame 20. A game board 22 is stored behind the plate glass 21.
A lower plate 23 is provided at the lower part of the front frame 12 of the upper plate 15, and a firing handle 24 is attached to the right side of the lower plate 23. A rotation ring (not shown) is supported on the outer periphery of the launch handle 24, and the pachinko ball can be launched onto the game board 22 by rotating clockwise.
The upper plate 15 and the lower plate 23 are connected to each other, and are configured to guide the pachinko balls to the lower plate 23 when the upper plate 15 is filled with the pachinko balls.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a back view of the card reader 1 and the pachinko machine 10 viewed from the back side. As shown in the drawing, a mechanism board 26 to which the above-described game board 22 is detachably attached is housed in the above-described outer frame 11. The mechanism panel 26 is provided with a ball tank 27, a guide rod 28, and a payout device 29 from above. With this configuration, if there is a pachinko ball winning in the winning slot on the game board 22, a predetermined number of pachinko balls can be discharged from the ball tank 27 through the guide rod 28 to the above-described upper plate 15 by the payout device 29. .
A main control board 30 and a payout control board 31 serving as a prize ball and a rental ball control board can be attached to and detached from the mechanism board 26, a special symbol display device 32 is provided to the game board 22, and a launch control is provided to the lower left part of the front frame. The external connection terminal board 50 is attached to the left side of the special symbol display device 32, respectively.
A plug 57 is connected to the power supply terminal 56 of the pachinko machine 10, and by inserting the plug 57 into the power supply, power is supplied to the pachinko machine 10. A plug 9 is connected to the card reader 1, and a sales signal output terminal 66 is provided at the lower end of the card reader 1 in which power is supplied to the card reader 1 by inserting the plug 9 into a power source. Is provided.
[0016]
Next, the game board 22 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, an LCD panel unit (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 32a constituting a special symbol display device 32 is provided at the center of the game area 22a of the game board 22, and a normal electric motor serving as a first type starting port is provided below the LCD panel unit 32a. The winning symbol 36, the normal symbol display device 37 above the LCD 32a, the normal symbol operating gates 38 and 39 on the left and right of the LCD 32a used to start changing the symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 37, and the big prize below the ordinary electric accessory 36. A mouth 40, an out mouth 41 at the bottom of the board surface, other various winning holes, a windmill, a game nail (not shown), and the like are provided.
With this configuration, when the above-described launch handle 24 is rotated, the launch motor 33a (see FIG. 4) driven by the launch control board 33 is driven so that the pachinko balls on the upper plate 15 are connected to the game board 22 via the guide rail. Fired up. If the fired pachinko ball wins each winning opening, the pachinko ball is taken in as a safe ball on the back side of the board, and if it does not win, it is taken into the back side of the board as an out ball through the out port 41.
[0017]
Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 described above will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
As shown in the figure, the electric circuit of the pachinko machine 10 includes the main control board 30, the payout control board 31, the special symbol display device 32, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, the sound control board 35, and the like. Yes. In this circuit diagram, a so-called relay board or the like is not shown in order to exchange signals.
[0018]
The main control board 30 is configured as a logic operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer incorporating a ROM that stores a game control program and a RAM that serves as a work area for operations and the like. An external input / output circuit for inputting / outputting with various actuators is also provided.
On the input side of the main control board 30, there are a first type start port switch 36a, normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a, an accessory continuous operation switch (hereinafter simply referred to as "V switch") 40a, a count switch 40b, a full tank A switch 43, a replenishment switch 44, a plurality of other prize opening switches 45, a ball removal switch 46, and the like are connected. On the output side, a special prize opening solenoid 40c, a V solenoid 40d, a normal accessory solenoid 36b, an external connection terminal board 50, and the like are connected. The count switch 40b is set to detect the number of 10 winning prizes, but the function for detecting the abnormal state is deleted. A structure in which a winning detection switch is provided in all the winning openings including the count switch 40b of the big winning opening 40, and a system for controlling the paying out of the winning balls by detecting the winning of a pachinko ball to each winning opening collectively. Adopted. This is because in this method, even when the wiring of the count switch 40b is disconnected, short-circuited, or the count switch 40b is moved, prize balls are not illegally paid out.
[0019]
The first type start port switch 36a is in the above-described normal electric accessory 36 on the game board 22, the normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a are in the normal symbol operation gates 38 and 39, respectively, and the V switch 40a is in the big prize opening 40. Within a specific area, the count switch 40b is also in the big prize opening 40, the full tank switch 43 is in the lower pan 23, the replenishment switch 44 is in the ball tank 27, and the other prize opening switches 45 are the ordinary electric accessory 36 and the big prize opening 40. Each winning opening on the board surface and the ball removal switch 46 are attached in the vicinity of the payout device 29. Here, the V switch 40 a receives a prize in the grand prize opening 40 when the pachinko ball that has won in the big prize opening 40 has passed a special device operation area (hereinafter referred to as “special area”). For all pachinko balls, the full tank switch 43 indicates that the pachinko balls are full in the lower plate 23, the replenishment switch 44 indicates that there are pachinko balls in the ball tank 27, and other prize opening switches 45. Is for detecting that a pachinko ball has been won in each of the winning holes on the board other than the ordinary electric accessory 36 and the grand prize opening 40, and that the ball removal switch 46 has been pressed to detect that the ball removal operation button has been pressed. Is.
Further, the large winning opening solenoid 40c connected to the output side is used for the large winning opening 40, the V solenoid 40d is used for a special area in the large winning opening 40, and the ordinary accessory solenoid 36b is used for opening and closing the ordinary electric accessory 36, respectively. Is.
[0020]
The special symbol display device 32 includes the LCD 32a described above, a symbol display device control board (hereinafter simply referred to as “design control board” (hereinafter also referred to as “image control board”)) 32b, a backlight, It consists of accessory units such as an inverter board. Similar to the main control board 30 described above, the symbol control board 32b is configured as a logic operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer.
[0021]
As with the main control board 30, the payout control board 31 is configured as a logical operation circuit using a microcomputer. A prize ball payout switch 31a and a ball rental payout switch 31b are connected to the input circuit of the payout control board 31, and a ball cutter is connected to the output circuit. A motor 31c and a ball lending motor 31d are connected. Further, the card reader 1 described above is connected to the payout control board 31 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication, and the card reader adjustment display board 47 is connected to the card reader 1 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. Are connected to the lending button 16, the checkout button 17, the balance display unit 18 and the like of the upper plate 15. The card reader settlement display board 47 may be connected to the payout control board 31. The prize ball payout switch 31 a is also connected to the main control board 30.
[0022]
The ball cutting motor 31c and the ball lending motor 31d are provided in the above-described payout device 29, and flow a predetermined number of pachinko balls supplied from the guide rod 28 downward. Pachinko balls paid out from the ball cutting motor 31c are detected by the prize ball payout switch 31a, and pachinko balls paid out from the ball rental motor 31d are detected by the ball rental payout switch 31b.
[0023]
When prize ball payout command data is transmitted from the main control board 30 with the above configuration, the payout control board 31 that has received this data adds the number of prize balls indicated by the transmitted data to the unpaid prize ball data. Are stored as new prize ball data, and after subtracting a predetermined number of pachinko balls as prize balls, subtraction processing is executed from the prize ball data stored with the pachinko balls detected by the prize ball payout switch 31a to obtain new prize balls. The payout process is executed until the value of the prize ball data becomes zero.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the lending button 16 of the card reader settlement display board 47 is depressed, a 5-pulse signal is transmitted from the card reader 1 to the dispensing control board 31 in response to one depression. The payout control board 31 executes a process of paying out the lending balls by drivingly controlling the ball lending motor 31d until 25 pachinko balls are detected by the lending payout switch 31b for one pulse signal.
[0025]
The launch control board 33 drives and controls the launch motor 33a in accordance with the amount of rotation of the launch handle 24 operated by the player. When the player presses the launch stop switch 24b, the launch control board 33 stops firing or launches. When the touch switch 24a built in the handle 24 is in an ON state, the touch lamp 48 is turned on.
The touch switch 24 a is built in the firing handle 24 and detects that the player is touching the firing handle 24.
[0026]
The lamp control board 34 is mainly composed of a driving element such as a transistor, and in response to a command from the main control board 30, the normal symbol display device 37, various lamps such as a big hit lamp and an error lamp, and various LEDs are lit and displayed. Is for.
[0027]
The sound control board 35 includes a sound source IC, an amplifier, and the like, and is used to drive and control the speaker 49 in response to a command from the main control board 30.
[0028]
In the conventional gaming machine, the lamp and sound are controlled by the main control board 30, but the lamp control board 34 and the sound control board 35 are placed outside the main control board 30 in order to reduce the burden of the program of the main control board 30. And is controlled by commands in the same manner as the symbol control board 32b. The power supply board 55 supplies power to each part.
[0029]
Transmission to the special symbol display device 32, the payout control board 31, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, and the sound control board 35 described above is a one-way communication circuit so that transmission can be performed only from the main control board 30. It is configured. This one-way communication circuit can be realized using an inverter circuit or a latch circuit.
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the card reader 1. The card reader 1 includes an optical transmitter / receiver 2, a coin selector 60, a card reader / writer 61, an optical communication circuit 62, a control circuit 63, a signal input / output circuit 64, a sales signal output circuit 65, a sales signal output terminal 66, a release signal communication circuit. 67, and a power supply unit 68 for supplying a predetermined voltage to each unit. The coin selector 60 receives a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 8, determines whether it is a proper coin and its face value type, takes in only a proper coin, and receives a coin acceptance signal when determining that it is a proper coin Is output to the control circuit 63. The card reader / writer 61 reads the recording signal of the card inserted into the card insertion slot 7, determines whether the inserted card is appropriate, and when it is determined to be appropriate, transmits a card acceptance signal to the control circuit 63 to insert the inserted card. Is determined to be abnormal, a card abnormality signal is output to the control circuit 63, and a memory capacity capable of storing a card sales signal and a cash sales signal for several days is provided. When discharging the inserted card, the control circuit 63 outputs a current balance signal and a command signal for writing and discharging the current balance signal to the card to the card reader / writer 61, and via the signal input / output circuit 64, A ball lending request signal and a ball lending command signal are output to the payout control board 31 of the pachinko machine 10, and a payout enable signal and ball lending preparation are output from the payout control board 31 of the pachinko machine 10 via the signal input / output circuit 64. The signal and the ball lending completion signal are input, the card sales signal and the cash sales signal are output to the optical communication circuit 62, and the card sales signal and the cash sales signal are transmitted from the optical communication circuit 62 to the relay device 76 via the optical transmission / reception unit 2. The control circuit 63 outputs a card sales signal and a cash sales signal to the sales signal output circuit 65. The sales signal output circuit 65 is connected to the hall computer 74 via the sales signal output terminal 66, and outputs a card sales signal and a cash sales signal to the hall computer 74. The card sales signal is a sales signal of the current magnetic card, and the cash sales signal is a card issuing signal corresponding to a 500 yen coin and a card sales signal corresponding to a 500 yen coin.
[0031]
The cancel signal communication circuit 67 is capable of optical communication with the cancel device 90, and includes an interface that receives the cancel signal from the cancel device 90 and transmits a file full error signal to the cancel device 90. Here, light is used as the transmission medium, and infrared light is used as the light. If the file full error is detected by optical communication in the hall 70, it is preferable that the release device 90 used on the gaming machine manufacturer side can also be released by the same optical communication as the hall 70. The release device 90 is strictly stored by a gaming machine manufacturer or the like in order to prevent fraud on the hall 70 side. The release device 90 is provided with a push button 91. When the push button 91 is pressed, a release signal is generated by the control circuit 92, and the release signal is transmitted to the card reader 1 by optical communication via the release signal communication circuit 95. The file full error signal transmitted from the reader 1 is stored in the memory 93 of the canceling device 90, and the purchase amount until the middle is displayed on the display unit 94. The canceling device 90 may include only the file full canceling function and the file full error receiving function may be deleted. Note that the canceling device 90 can be implemented by an interface other than optical communication, for example, a device that cancels by cable, for example, an interface board of the canceling device 90 and an interface board of the card reader 1 connected by a cable.
[0032]
If there is a problem in terms of security, the card reader 1 or the release device 90 may be a black box whose internal structure is unknown to the hall 70 by being manufactured by the management center 80 (see FIG. 6) or a game machine manufacturer. Further, when the opening / closing cover of the card reader 1 or the release device 90 is opened in the hall 70 and the inside is to be modified, the control program stored in the control circuit 63 or the like is automatically deleted and disabled. You may comprise so that the hardware of various internal devices may be destroyed. Further, the opening / closing cover of the card reader 1 or the release device 90 may be caulked or sealed so that the opening / closing cover can be monitored later. In this way, by configuring the card reader 1 or the release device 90 so that it cannot be accessed inside the hall 70, unauthorized modification can be prevented in the hall 70, and correct sales signals can be collected at the management center 80. Alternatively, it is possible to cancel the abnormality of the file full error.
[0033]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration diagram of a prepaid card system using an optical network of an optical transmission system. A plurality of pachinko machines 10 are juxtaposed in two rows on the gaming machine installation island 72 of the hall 70. A card reader 1 is provided between each of these pachinko machines 10. Each card reader 1 and the relay device 76 are capable of bidirectional optical communication, and the relay devices 76 and 77 are capable of bidirectional optical communication. The terminal control device 78 is connected via the relay device 77. In addition, the terminal control device 78 can communicate with the management center 80 via the communication line 81. In the present embodiment, light is used as a wireless transmission medium between the optical transmission / reception unit 2, the relay devices 76 and 77, and the terminal control device 78 provided for each card reader 1 in the hall 70. Here, infrared light is used as light. The terminal control device 78 has a ball lending processing function and includes a terminal box 78a and a memory 78b. The card sales signal and the cash sales signal are output from the optical transmission / reception unit 2 of the card reader 1 to the terminal control device 78 via the relay devices 76 and 77, and the communication line 81 is connected to the management center 80 provided outside the hall 70. Send through. The management center 80 is operated by a common card issuing company that issues the common card, and a host computer is installed to collect the sales signals from the holes 70 and manage the sales of the holes 70. ing.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 5, the card sales signal and the cash sales signal are temporarily stored in the card reader / writer 61 of the card reader 1, read out from the card reader / writer 61 by a transfer request from the terminal control device 78, The data is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 2 to the terminal control device 78 via the relay devices 76 and 77. In this way, the card sales signal and the cash sales signal transmitted from the plurality of card readers 1 are received by the terminal control device 78 and stored in the memory 78b built in the terminal control device 78. The memory 78 b has a capacity capable of storing a card sales signal and a cash sales signal for a plurality of days stored by all the card readers 1 in the hall 70. In the terminal control device 78, the card sales signal and the cash sales signal are stored in the memory 78b, but the card sales signal and the cash sales signal are transmitted to the management center 80 once every midnight or at a periodic timing of about 30 minutes. Is transferred to the management center 80 via the communication line 81. Along with this, a deadline control, that is, a zero clear signal is generated by the deadline device 79, which is transmitted to each card reader 1 via the relay devices 77 and 76, and the card sales signal stored in the card reader / writer 61 and Set the cash sales signal to zero clear.
[0035]
7 to 9 are flowcharts executed by the control circuit 63 of the card reader 1 shown in FIG.
The main process of FIG. 7 will be described. First, in step S (hereinafter simply referred to as S) 1, the setting of a lent amount (for example, 100 yen, 500 yen) set by a lent amount setting switch (not shown) provided in the card reader 1 is read.
[0036]
Next, control is performed to display on the balance display unit 18 a code indicating processing of the cause of abnormality such as inability to read the inserted card or security error, and if the recorded data of the card is abnormal, the abnormal card is collected. The command signal is output to the card reader / writer control unit (S2).
[0037]
Next, it is determined whether or not the stored sales signal exceeds the set upper limit. If the upper limit is exceeded, it is determined that a file full error has occurred, and a file full error notification and lending prohibition process are performed (S3). .
[0038]
Next, input / output processing is performed (S4). Specifically, a payout preparation signal, a payout enable signal, a lending button press signal, a ball lending completion signal, etc. are input from the payout control board 31, and a ball lending request signal, a ball lending command signal, etc. are output to the payout control board 31. To do. A card acceptance signal, an abnormality signal, and a card processing completion signal are input from the card reader / writer 61, a current balance signal and a card write / discharge command signal are output to the card reader / writer 61, and a sales signal is output to the optical communication circuit 62 and the hall computer 74. Is transmitted, and the zero clear signal is received from the relay devices 76 and 77.
[0039]
Next, the balance of the card at the present time is displayed on the balance display unit 18 on the display of the availability indicator lamp 3, the card insertion indicator lamp 6, other ball lending indicator (not shown), the return indicator (not shown), etc. Is displayed (S5).
[0040]
Next, when an appropriate card or coin is inserted and the lending button 16 is pushed down, a ball lending process is performed (S6).
[0041]
A balance update process associated with the ball lending process is performed (S7).
[0042]
Next, the sales signal is transmitted to the terminal control device 78 and the hall computer 74 (S8). Sales data associated with ball lending is aggregated and transmitted for each hall by distinguishing sales signals using cash and sales signals using cards. The sales signal output from the terminal box 78a to the management center 80 may be performed in real time, or may be performed every certain time (for example, every 30 minutes) or every day (for example, once every midnight).
[0043]
Next, the control for returning the card is performed in accordance with the pressing operation of the settlement button 17, the abnormality on the payout control board 31 side, the card balance zero or the card abnormality (S9).
[0044]
Next, other processing (S10) and standby processing (S11) are performed.
[0045]
If a card is inserted into the card reader 1 or a coin is inserted by the above processing, the remaining card amount or coin insertion amount is displayed on the balance display unit 18 on condition that they are appropriate. When the lending button 16 is operated, a pachinko ball corresponding to a predetermined amount is lent out from the pachinko machine 10 to the upper plate 15. In this state, when the player operates the firing handle 24, the pachinko balls lent out in the upper plate 15 can be driven one by one into the game area 22a, and a game using the pachinko balls is possible. It becomes a state. The card reader 1 reads information on the card or information corresponding to the inserted 500 coins, writes the amount information obtained by subtracting the amount information corresponding to the number of pachinko balls released from the payout control board 31, and the card sales signal And the cash sales signal are accumulated in the card reader / writer 61, the card sales signal and the cash sales signal are transferred to the terminal control device 78 and the hall computer 74, and a lending ball is instructed. A ball lending command signal is transmitted to the payout control board 31, and the ball lending motor 31d is controlled to pay out and lend a predetermined number of pachinko balls to the upper plate 15.
[0046]
The file full error process of FIG. 8 will be described. It is determined whether or not the card sales signal is equal to or greater than the upper limit (999,000 yen) (S21). If a negative determination is made in S21, it is determined whether or not the cash sales signal is equal to or greater than the upper limit (99,000 yen) (S22). If an affirmative determination is made, it is assumed that the card reader 1 has malfunctioned or fraudulent. If it is determined that an error has occurred, the process proceeds to S23. In S23 performed when it is determined that the file full error has occurred, the card reader 1 is set to a file full error, an error signal is transmitted from the card reader 1 to the payout control board 31, and the balance display portion of the card reader settlement display board 47 18 is instructed to prohibit error lending even if the lending button 16 is pressed. The ball lending prohibiting process may be executed by the payout control board 31 that has received the error signal, or the card reader 1 does not accept the lending button press signal transmitted from the payout control board 31 when the lending button 16 is depressed. A configuration in which the card reader 1 does not transmit the ball lending command signal to the payout control board 31 may be used. Subsequently, a notification signal for notifying that the ball lending is prohibited is output to the payout control board 31 (S24), and a predetermined error display corresponding to a file full error is performed, whereby a command from the card reader 1 is displayed. As a result, the balance display unit 18 displays a file full error and returns to return. In the hole 70, as described above, the file full error does not occur in the normal business. However, a file full error may occur during normal business operations due to failure or fraud, and a file full error may be forcibly generated for inspection by the gaming machine manufacturer before shipping.
[0047]
Next, when the game machine manufacturer forcibly generates a file full error for inspection before shipment, to cancel this file full error, the card reader 1 is set to the release mode, and FIG. Perform file full error release processing. That is, first, it is determined whether or not communication with the release device 90 is possible (S31), and it is determined whether or not a release signal is received from the release device 90 (S32). When an affirmative determination is made in S32, that is, when the push button 91 is pressed by pointing the infrared emitting portion of the release device 90 to the card reader 1, the control circuit 92 creates a release signal and emits the release signal with light (infrared here). When it is determined that the card reader 1 has received the release signal, the setting of the file full error is canceled, and the ball lending is permitted by canceling the above-mentioned ball lending prohibiting process (S33), and the balance display unit 18 described above. The ball lending prohibition notification display is canceled (S34), and the file full error signal and the sales signal up to the file full error are transmitted (S35). As a result, the canceling device 90 receives the signal, stores it in the memory 93, and displays the sales signal and the like up to the file full error on the display unit 94. Subsequently, an initialization process such as clearing the sales signal of the card reader / writer 61 is performed (S36), normal use is enabled, and the process returns. If a negative determination is made in S31 and S32, the process returns.
[0048]
According to the embodiment described above, the gaming machine manufacturer forcibly generates a file full error in the card reader 1 before shipping, and checks whether or not the file full error function operates normally. This can be done for each model you want to sell. Further, the file full error of the card reader 1 can be canceled by the canceling device 90, so that the inspected appropriate card reader 1 can be used again, and the prepaid card unit and the game The machine will be shipped properly. In addition, when the card sales signal and the cash sales signal are transmitted to the management center 80 via the relay devices 76 and 77 and the terminal control device 78 by optical communication, the cancellation signal of the cancellation device 90 is also transmitted to the card reader by optical communication. By transmitting to 1, the file full error can be canceled. As a result, the entire leisure card system can be appropriately operated. Further, since the sales signal until the file full error is recorded and displayed on the display unit 94, the storage state of the card reader / writer 61 until the file full error occurs can be known.
[0049]
Although the present embodiment has been described above, it is obvious that the configuration of the present invention can be appropriately modified and added without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the cancel signal communication circuit 67 may be eliminated, and a cancel command from the cancel device 90 may be received by the optical transmission / reception unit 2 to cancel the file full error.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a pachinko machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine 10 as viewed from the back.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a game board 22 of the pachinko machine 10;
4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the card reader 1;
6 is an overall block diagram of various devices constituting an optical network installed in a hall 70. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of “main processing” by the control circuit 63 shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of “file full error processing” by the control circuit 63 shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of “file full error cancellation processing” by the control circuit 63 shown in FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Card reader (prepaid card unit) 2 ... Optical transceiver
3 ... Available indicator lamp 4 ... Fractional indicator switch
5 ... Connector direction indicator 6 ... Card insertion indicator lamp
7 ... Card insertion slot 8 ... Coin slot 9 ... Plug
10 ... Pachinko machine 22 ... Game board 24 ... Launch handle
24a ... touch switch 24b ... firing stop switch
30 ... Main control board 31 ... Dispensing control board
31a ... Prize ball payout switch 31b ... Ball rental payout switch
31c ... Ball cutting motor 31d ... Ball lending motor
32 ... Special symbol display device 32a ... LCD panel unit (LCD)
32b ... design display control board (design control board)
47 ... Card reader settlement display board 48 ... Touch lamp
60 ... Coin selector 61 ... Card reader / writer
62: Optical communication circuit 63: Control circuit
64 ... Signal input / output circuit 65 ... Sales signal output circuit
66 ... Sales signal output terminal 67 ... Release signal communication circuit
68 ... Power supply 72 ... Amusement machine installation island
74 ... Hall computer 76, 77 ... Relay device
78 ... Terminal control device 80 ... Management center
81 ... Communication line 90 ... Release device
91 ... push button 92 ... control circuit
93 ... Memory 94 ... Display section

Claims (1)

A card receiving unit that accepts a card to be inserted, and a lending signal control unit that performs control to output a lending signal that enables a game using a game medium using the value of the card received in the card receiving unit; In a gaming machine equipped with a prepaid card unit including
Game medium lending means for lending the game medium based on the lending signal;
A sales signal output means for outputting a sales signal capable of specifying a sales amount corresponding to the gaming medium lent by the gaming medium renting means ;
Memory means for storing the sales signal not output by the sales signal output means;
Sales initialization means for initializing the memory means after output of the sales signal by the sales signal output means;
An abnormal state setting means for determining that the sales signal is abnormal when the sales amount indicated by the sales signal stored in the memory means is an upper limit, and setting the prepaid card unit in an abnormal state;
Game medium lending prohibiting means for prohibiting lending of the game medium from the game medium lending means according to the setting of the abnormal state by the abnormal state setting means;
An abnormal state canceling means for canceling the setting of the abnormal state;
A game medium lending return means for releasing the lending prohibition by the game medium lending prohibiting means together with the cancellation of the abnormal state setting by the abnormal state releasing means ,
Along with the cancellation of the setting of the abnormal state by the abnormal state cancellation unit, the sales signal not yet output stored in the memory unit is output by the sales signal output unit, and after the output, the memory unit by the sales initialization unit A gaming machine characterized by initializing the game machine.

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