JP5230176B2 - Gift purchase device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to a technical field related to a prize purchase device that automatically purchases a prize provided to a player by a game hall such as a pachinko hall or a game center.

  Conventionally, this kind of prize purchase device is well known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, a barcode or IC tag in which premium value information, security information for forgery determination, or the like is recorded is recorded. When a prize (special prize) having an information recording section such as a magnetic stripe is inserted, the information recorded in the information recording section of the prize is read to identify the authenticity or value of the prize, and the prize value The amount of money (banknotes and coins) according to the information is automatically paid out. On the other hand, prizes whose information cannot be read or prizes that may be counterfeited are returned. Incidentally, reading of information in the information recording unit is also described in Patent Document 2.

The prizes purchased by the prize purchase device are purchased by the prize wholesaler and re-used from the prize wholesaler to the game hall to be recycled and loaded into the prize dispenser installed in the game hall. Prizes are paid out in exchange for balls, medals, etc. acquired by players in the game hall.
JP 2005-218599 A JP 2005-287595 A

  By the way, in the prize purchase device as described above, when money is paid out to the regular prize that has been inserted, there is a possibility that the money (especially banknote) may be in a state where it cannot be paid out, for example, because the money (particularly banknote) is stuck in the middle of the payout. is there. In the operation where the clerk keeps the prize from the player and the money paid out from the prize purchase device is hand-paid to the player, the clerk hands the money to the player even if such a state becomes impossible. And can respond immediately without waiting for the player.

  However, if there is no clerk and the player himself / herself performs an unattended operation of exchanging prizes for money using a prize purchase device, the player (equipment user) will be unable to withdraw during the withdrawal of money. Since the prize is in the device and cannot receive money, it is very inconvenient that it is impossible to leave the place until an attendant comes and it is impossible to move.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is to provide a device in which the gift purchase device cannot be paid out in the middle of paying out money during unattended operation of the gift purchase device. The purpose is to improve the convenience of the apparatus user by waiting for the user.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not money has been normally paid out, and when it is determined that money has not been normally paid out, the prize is returned to the apparatus user. I did it.

  Specifically, in the first aspect of the invention, a premium receiving unit having at least an information recording unit in which premium value information is recorded is received in the premium receiving unit, and the information recording unit in the premium received by the premium receiving unit is recorded. The present invention is directed to a gift purchase device comprising information reading means for reading out the information and money payout means for paying out money based on the prize value information read by the information reading means.

And, when it is determined that the money has not been normally paid out by the money dispensing means, the prize accepting unit for judging whether or not the money has been normally paid out by the money dispensing means The prize return means for returning the prize received at the device to the apparatus user, the temporary holding section for temporarily holding the prize received at the prize acceptance section, and the money dispensing means normally paying out the money A transfer means configured to transfer a prize held in the temporary holding section to a prize storage section, a prize return section configured to allow the apparatus user to receive a prize, and the information reading unit. based on the prize value information read by means, and a determining identification determining means for determining whether or not the prize which accepted a prize of normal at the prize receiving section, the information reading means, said Jing Provided between the receiving unit and the temporary holding unit, and the premium received by the premium receiving unit between the information reading means and the temporary holding unit, the temporary holding unit or the premium return unit A first branching unit that distributes to the first branching unit, and when the prize received by the prize receiving unit is not determined to be a regular prize by the identification determination unit, The premium is arranged to be distributed to the premium return unit, and the premium is transferred to the premium storage unit or the premium return unit on a transport path from the temporary storage unit to the premium storage unit of the premium stored in the temporary storage unit. A second branching unit for sorting is provided, and the prize return means is held in the temporary holding unit by the second branching unit when it is determined that the money is not normally paid out by the money dispensing unit. Scenery And it assumed to be configured to convey distributes to the prize return unit.

  With the above configuration, when the gift purchase device is in a state where it cannot be paid out in the middle of paying out the money and the money is not normally paid out, the free gift is returned to the device user by the free gift returning means. The user can take the returned prize and go to another prize purchase apparatus and exchange it for money using the other prize purchase apparatus. It is also possible to take the returned prize back and exchange it for money at a later date by the same prize purchase device as that of the previous time when it has been normally restored or another gift purchase apparatus. Therefore, even if the gift purchase device is in a state where it cannot be paid out in the middle of paying out money, the device user does not have to wait until an attendant comes, and the convenience of the device user can be improved.

In addition , the prize can be returned by temporarily holding the prize in the temporary holding section and transporting the prize to the prize storage section or the prize return section after determining whether or not the money has been normally paid out. As compared with the case of returning from the prize container, as a result, the configuration of the prize return means can be simplified and the prize can be returned promptly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the money dispensing means can receive the money to be dispensed from the money storage portion through the opening that the device user opens into the device housing. The money dispensing unit has a shutter that opens and closes the opening, and the money dispensing determination unit is configured to transfer all of the money to be dispensed to the money dispensing unit. The shutter is configured to determine whether or not the money has been normally paid out according to whether or not the money has been reached, and the shutter is in a closed state before the money is paid out, and the money is normally discharged by the money dispensing means. It is assumed that it is configured to be in an open state when it is determined that the payout has been made.

  As a result, the shutter is not opened unless all the money to be paid out reaches the money dispensing unit, so that the apparatus user can be prevented from receiving only a part of the money to be paid out. In other words, the device user receives all the money that can be originally received from the other gift purchase device with the returned gift, but the money to be paid out from the product purchase device in which the money has not been normally paid out. If you receive only a part of it, you have received extra money. However, in the present invention, only a part of the money to be paid out cannot be received, and the device user does not receive extra money.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further comprises notification means for notifying that an abnormality has occurred when it is determined that the money has not been normally paid out by the money dispensing means. It shall be.

  In this way, by notifying the device user by display or voice, the device user knows that the gift purchase device has become unable to be paid out in the middle of paying out the money, and the device user returns the premium By notifying the management device that manages the gift purchase device via communication, the device administrator immediately sends the staff to the gift purchase device where the abnormality has occurred. be able to.

As described above, according to the prize purchase device of the present invention, when it is determined whether or not money has been normally paid out, and it is determined that money has not been normally paid out, the prize is given to the device user. A first branching unit is provided between the information reading means and the temporary holding unit to distribute the premium received by the premium receiving unit to the temporary holding unit or the premium return unit, and is held in the temporary holding unit. A second branching unit that distributes the prize to the prize storage part or the prize return part is provided in the transport path from the temporary holding part to the prize storage part, so that the prize purchase device is in the process of paying out the money Even when the payout state becomes impossible, the device user can exchange the returned premium for money by another premium purchase device, and thus the convenience of the device user can be improved.

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

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a gift exchange system including a gift purchase device 22 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a game hall (in this embodiment, it is a pachinko hall, but it may be a game center or the like), 21 is located in a place different from the game hall 1, and a plurality ( In this embodiment, the present invention is an unmanned giveaway exchange station in which two (2) giveaway purchasing devices 22 are installed and no attendant is resident. The number of the gift purchase devices 22 installed in the gift exchange 21 need not be plural, and may be only one.

  In the gaming hall 1, there are a gaming machine 2 (in this embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine), and a ball counter 3 that counts the number of balls (game media) obtained by the player playing with the gaming machine 2. Is installed. When a player inserts a ball into the ball counter 3, the ball counter 3 counts the number of balls inserted and outputs a counting receipt 4 including a barcode on which the counted value is recorded. Then, the player goes to the prize exchange counter 5 provided in the game hall 1 with the count receipt 4 and gives the count receipt 4 to the staff of the prize exchange counter 5.

  The prize exchange counter 5 is connected to a prize management machine 6 having a bar code reader (not shown), and the prize management machine 6 via a serial communication line 7, and a prize (special prize) 13 is stored in advance. A payer 8 is installed, and a staff member of the prize exchange counter 5 causes the bar code reader to read information (the count value) recorded on the bar code of the count receipt 4 delivered from the player. . As a result, when the count value is input to the prize management machine 6 and “exchange to special prize” is selected, the prize management machine 6 responds to the prize dispenser 8 in accordance with the input count value. An instruction is given to pay out the prize 13. The prize dispenser 8 dispenses the prize 13 in response to an instruction from the prize management machine 6. This prize 13 is handed over to the player from the staff of the prize exchange counter 5.

  The game table 2, the ball counter 3 and the prize management machine 6 are connected to a terminal controller 10 that performs overall management via the LAN 9, and information about their operating status is input to the terminal controller 10. It has come to be. The terminal controller 10 processes the input information and displays the processing result on a display (not shown). The manager of the game hall 1 can manage the game table 2 and the like from this processing result, and can also perform sales management and various analyses.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the prize 13 is of a card type incorporating a non-contact IC tag (RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag) 14 as an information recording unit. The IC tag 14 performs wireless communication via the tag antenna 15. When the IC tag 14 is close to the RFID antenna, the IC tag 14 receives a radio wave transmitted from the RFID antenna and operates by the received radio wave. Start the power. Then, a reflected wave changed according to the information stored (recorded) in the IC tag 14 (memory) is generated, and the radio wave transmission source reads the information.

  The information stored in the IC tag 14 includes information of a prize identification code that is different for each prize 13 for checking fraud by copying (consisting of a store number and a serial number that are different for each game hall 1), prize. Type information, security information for forgery determination, date and time information when the prize dispenser 8 is paid out, reject information when there is an abnormality in the prize dispenser 8 and the like.

  In the present embodiment, there are three types of prizes: a large prize, a middle prize, and a small prize. For example, a large prize is equivalent to 5000 yen, has a red appearance, and a middle prize is equivalent to 1000 yen. However, it has a blue appearance, and the small prize is equivalent to 500 yen, and has a yellow appearance. That is, the prize type corresponds to the amount of money, and thus the prize type information is also prize value information (amount information). Note that the color information for each type may also be stored in the IC tag 14.

  The printing unit 16 on the surface of the prize 13 is printed with a barcode, a hologram, or the like on which the type of the prize 13 is recorded.

  A plurality of free gift purchase devices 22 in the free gift exchange 21 are connected to each other via a serial communication line 23 so that information can be shared, and also connected to a management device 78 that manages these free gift purchase devices 22. Has been. In this embodiment, the management device 78 is installed in a management company in a location different from the game hall 1 and the prize exchange 21, but may be installed in the game hall 1. When installed in the game hall 1, the terminal controller 10 can also be used.

  A player who has received a free gift 13 from a staff member of the free gift exchange counter 5 goes to the free gift exchange 21 with the free gift 13, and uses any one free gift purchase device 22 in the free gift exchange 21 to receive the free gift 13. Exchange for money 20 (banknotes and coins). The prizes 13 purchased by each prize purchase device 22 are accommodated in a prize cassette 71 as will be described later, and are sent to the prize wholesaler 75 in this accommodated state, and are again wholesaled from the prize wholesaler 75 to the game hall 1 for recycling. (See FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the prize purchase device 22 has a substantially rectangular box-shaped casing 30, and a prize processing unit 31 is provided in the lower part of the casing 30, and a money handling unit 32 is provided in the upper part. Each is arranged. In addition, an overall control unit 33 that controls the gift processing unit 31 and the money processing unit 32 is provided in the housing 30. Furthermore, in addition to the units 31 to 33, the prize purchase device 22 has an operation unit 34 provided with an exchange start switch operated by a player (a user of the gift purchase device 22), and the player can operate. A display unit 35 composed of a touch panel type liquid crystal for displaying various types of information, a receipt printing unit 36 for printing a purchase receipt describing details of the purchase of a gift to be passed to the player, and the front side of the gift purchase device 22 are imaged. Surveillance camera 37, storage unit 38 for storing various information, power supply unit 39 for supplying power to each of units 31-33, etc., other premium purchase device 22, management device 78, and serial A communication unit 40 for performing communication via the communication line 23 is provided, and these units 34 to 40 are connected to the overall control unit 33.

  On the front surface of the housing 30, the operation unit 34, the display unit 35, the monitoring camera 37, and a housing front side portion of a prize input unit 41 as a prize receiving unit that receives the prize 13 are configured. The front portion of the housing in the first and second prize return sections 52 and 53 for returning the prize 13 once taken into the prize purchase device 22 from the prize throwing section 41 to the player 41 , First and second prize return openings 52c and 53c, a receipt issuing port 60 for outputting a purchase receipt printed by the receipt printing unit 36, and a player pays a bill (in this embodiment, A bill withdrawal opening 61a that constitutes the front side portion of the housing in the bill withdrawal portion 61 for receiving 10,000 yen bills and 1000 yen bills), and a player receives coins (in this embodiment). A coin opening 62a constituting the housing front part is disposed in the coin dispensing unit 62 for receiving the 500 yen coins) (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  The premium processing unit 31 includes a premium input unit 41, a premium identification unit 42, a first branching unit 43, a temporary storage unit 44 for temporarily storing a premium, an upstream transport unit 49a, and a downstream unit. A prize transport section 49 comprising a side transport section 49b, a second branch section 50 provided between the upstream transport section 49a and the downstream transport section 49b in the prize transport section 49, and a lower transport section 49b. A prize storage section 51 provided on the side, the first and second prize return sections 52 and 53, and a prize control section 58 for controlling the operation of each section are provided (see FIGS. 4 and 5). .

  The first branching unit 43 is configured to distribute the prize 13 sent out from the prize identifying unit 42 to the temporary holding part 44 or the first prize returning part 52 as described later, and the second branching part 50 The prize 13 sent from the upstream conveyance section 49a of the conveyance section 49 is configured to be distributed to the downstream conveyance section 49b or the second prize return section 53 as will be described later.

  In the prize throwing portion 41, a shutter 41a (including a drive mechanism) that opens and closes the prize throwing opening 41d that opens in front of the housing 30 in the prize throwing portion 41, and a prize 13 is thrown in the prize throwing portion 41. An input detection sensor 41b that detects that the (set) has been set, and a prize 13 (usually, a plurality of prizes 13 are input) that have been input to the prize input unit 41, are fed to the prize identification unit 42 one by one. A feeding mechanism 41c is provided (see FIG. 5). The shutter 41a is opened in response to the operation of the exchange start switch in the operation unit 34 of the player, and when the prize detection sensor 41b detects that the prize 13 is thrown, the shutter 41a is closed. The feeding mechanism 41c is activated to feed the prizes 13 to the prize identification unit 42 one by one.

The prize identification unit 42 has a function of reading all information stored in the IC tag 14 of the prize 13 sent from the prize input unit 41 (having an RFID antenna). As a result, the prize identification unit 42 constitutes an information reading unit that reads information recorded in the IC tag 14 (information recording unit) of the prize 13. Information read by the prize identification unit 42 is input to the identification determination unit 58 a (identification determination unit) of the prize control unit 58 and is also stored in the storage unit 38. Then, the identification determination unit 58a determines the type of the prize 13 (that is, the prize value) and the authenticity of the prize 13 based on the input information.

  When the identification determination unit 58a determines that there is a possibility of forgery (including a copy) (including a case where information cannot be read), the prize control unit 58 performs the first branching unit 43 with respect to the first branching unit 43. The sort operation to the 1 prize return unit 52 is performed, and the prize 13 is conveyed to the first prize return unit 52.

  On the other hand, when the identification determination unit 58a determines that the gift is a regular prize 13, the prize control unit 58 causes the first branching unit 43 to perform a distribution operation to the temporary holding unit 44, and The prize 13 is conveyed to the temporary storage unit 44. As a result, the regular prize 13 is accumulated in the temporary storage unit 44 and temporarily stored therein.

  The overall control unit 33 is configured so that all the regular prizes 13 among the prizes 13 that are input to the prize input unit 41 and fed to the prize identification unit 42 are accumulated in the temporary storage unit 44, and then the identification determination unit 58 a Based on the determined prize value, the amount to be paid out for the prize 13 is displayed on the display unit 35. When the player performs an operation of permitting the payout in response to this display, the overall control unit 33 operates the money handling unit 32. As a result, the money handling unit 32 pays out banknotes to the banknote dispensing unit 61 and coins to the coin dispensing unit 62 according to the amount to be paid out. Thus, the money handling unit 32 constitutes a money paying means for paying the money 20 based on the premium value information. On the other hand, when the player performs an operation to stop paying out the money 20 after the payout amount is displayed, the money 20 is not paid out, and the prize 13 temporarily held in the temporary holding unit 44 is returned to the player as will be described later. Is done. Note that the money 20 may be automatically paid out after all the regular prizes 13 are accumulated in the temporary holding unit 44 without accepting an operation for permitting the player to pay out or an operation for canceling the payout.

  When the money 20 is normally paid out as described later, the prize control unit 58 takes out all the money 20 from the banknote dispensing unit 61 and the coin dispensing unit 62 and receives them (described later). After the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 66c and the coin presence / absence detection sensor 67c no longer detect banknotes and coins), the temporarily held premium 13 is transferred to the upstream transport section 49a of the premium transport section 49. To be sent out. At this time, the prize control unit 58 causes the second branching unit 50 to perform the sorting operation to the downstream transport unit 49b, and the premium sent from the temporary storage unit 44 to the upstream transport unit 49a. 13 is accommodated in the prize accommodating part 51 through the upstream conveying part 49a, the second branching part 50 and the downstream conveying part 49b of the prize conveying part 49. As a result, the prize transport unit 49, the second branching unit 50, and the prize control unit 58 constitute a transport unit that transports the prize 13 held in the temporary storage unit 44 to the prize storage unit 51.

  The premium storage unit 51 is loaded with a plurality of premium cassettes 71 so that the staff of the premium exchange 21 can set in advance which type of premium 13 is stored in each premium cassette 71. Yes. The downstream transport unit 49b of the premium transport unit 49 has a function of distributing the premium 13 to the corresponding premium cassette 71 according to the premium type information read by the identification determination unit 42. The set type of prize 13 is accommodated in 71.

  Each prize cassette 71 is provided with a moving mechanism for moving a support member for supporting the prize 13 up and down, and this support member is positioned at the top when the prize 13 is empty. The prize storage unit 51 is provided with moving means for moving the movement mechanism of each prize cassette 71 downward according to the number of prizes 13 accommodated in the prize cassette 71.

  In addition, each premium cassette 71 stores the type information of the premium to be accommodated and the number information of the premium purchase device 22 in which the premium cassette 71 is loaded (a different number is assigned to each premium purchase device 22). A storage unit is provided, and the free gift wholesaler 75 can read out the information stored in the storage unit of the free gift cassette 71 to determine which type of free gift 13 is stored in the free gift cassette 71. In addition, the storage unit of each premium cassette 71 may store the number of premiums 13 accommodated in the premium cassette 71.

  As described above, when the player performs an operation to stop paying out the money 20, or when the money 20 is not normally paid out as described later, the prize control unit 58 sends the temporary holding unit 44 to the temporary holding unit 44. On the other hand, after the temporarily held prize 13 is sent out to the upstream conveyance section 49a of the prize conveyance section 49, the prize 13 is returned to the player. That is, the prize control unit 58 causes the second branching unit 50 to distribute the prize 13 to the second prize return unit 53 so that the prize 13 temporarily held in the temporary holding unit 44 is transferred to the upstream transport unit 49a and It is made to convey to the 2nd prize return part 53 through the 2nd branch part 50. FIG. As a result, the upstream transport section 49a, the second branch section 50, the second prize return section 53, and the prize control section 58 provide a prize return means for returning the prize 13 to the player (user of the prize purchase device 22). Will be composed.

  The first prize return unit 52 includes a shutter 52a (including a drive mechanism) that opens and closes the first prize return opening 52c that opens to the front of the housing 30 in the first prize return unit 52, and a first prize. A premium presence / absence detection sensor 52b for detecting the presence / absence of the premium 13 in the return unit 52 is provided. The shutter 52a is opened when the presence / absence detection sensor 52b detects the presence of the prize 13 in the first prize return unit 52, and the player can pass the prize 13 through the first prize return opening 52c. It is taken out from the first prize return unit 52 and received, and when the prize 13 is detected in the first prize return unit 52 by the prize presence / absence detection sensor 52b, the closed state is entered.

  Similarly to the first prize return section 52, the second prize return section 53 also has a shutter 53a that opens and closes the second prize return opening 53c that opens to the front of the housing 30 in the second prize return section 53. (Including a drive mechanism) and a prize presence / absence detection sensor 53b for detecting the presence / absence of the prize 13 in the second prize return unit 53 are provided. The opening / closing operation of the shutter 53a is the same as that of the shutter 52a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the money handling unit 32 performs a banknote dispensing device 66 that dispenses banknotes to the banknote dispensing unit 61, a coin dispensing device 67 that dispenses coins to the coin dispensing unit 62, and these operations. A money control unit 68 for controlling is provided.

  The banknote dispensing device 66 includes a banknote transport section 66a that transports banknotes from the banknote storage section 63 (see FIG. 4) to the banknote dispensing section 61, and the banknote dispensing section 61 that opens to the front of the housing 30 in the banknote dispensing section 61. A shutter 66b (including a drive mechanism) that opens and closes the gold opening 61a, a bill presence / absence detection sensor 66c that detects the presence / absence of bills in the bill dispensing unit 61, and a plurality of predetermined locations (at one location) in the bill transport unit 66a. And a banknote passage detection sensor 66d that detects the passage of banknotes.

  The coin dispensing device 67 also includes a coin transport unit 67 a that transports coins from a coin storage unit (not shown) to the coin dispensing unit 62, and a coin dispensing unit 62, as with the banknote dispensing device 66. A shutter 67b (including a driving mechanism) that opens and closes the coin dispensing opening 62a that opens to the front of the body 30, a coin presence / absence detection sensor 67c that detects the presence or absence of coins in the coin dispensing part 62, and a coin transport unit 67a. And a coin passage detection sensor 67d which is disposed at a predetermined plurality of locations (may be one location) and detects the passage of coins. The banknote storage part 63 and the coin storage part correspond to a money storage part.

  The shutter 66b is in a closed state before the banknote is paid out, and is opened when the abnormality monitoring unit 68a described later determines that the money 20 has been normally paid out. When the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 66c detects that no banknote is present in the banknote dispensing unit 61, the closed state is established. Similarly, the shutter 67b is in the closed state before the coins are paid out, and is opened when the abnormality monitoring unit 68a determines that the money 20 has been normally paid out, and the player takes out the coins. It is taken out from the coin dispensing unit 62 through the gold opening 62a and received, and is closed when the coin dispensing unit 62 detects that no coin is present in the coin dispensing unit 62c. The banknote dispensing unit 61 and the coin dispensing unit 62 correspond to a currency dispensing unit configured to allow a device user to receive currency via openings 61a and 62a that are opened in the device housing 30.

  Information from the bill presence / absence detection sensor 66c, bill passage detection sensor 66d, coin presence / absence detection sensor 67c, and coin passage detection sensor 67d is input to the money control unit 68, and the money 20 is transferred to the money control unit 68 based on the input information. An abnormality monitoring unit 68a is provided for determining whether or not the dispensing unit 61 or the coin storage unit 62 has been normally paid out. The abnormality monitoring unit 68a is configured such that banknotes and coins (particularly banknotes) are stuck on the way to the banknote dispensing unit 61 and the currency dispensing unit 62, and the banknotes and coins are transferred from the banknote storage unit 63 and the coin storage unit. When a bill or coin cannot be detected even after a predetermined time (different for each sensor) has elapsed since the start of conveyance, or when a bill or coin is continuously detected for a predetermined time or more by the same sensor, Judge that it was not paid out normally. When all the money 20 to be paid out is finally detected by the bill presence / absence detection sensor 66c and the coin presence / absence detection sensor 67c (when only one of the bills and coins is paid out, all of the ones are detected). It is determined that the money 20 has been paid out normally. Thus, the abnormality monitoring unit 68a constitutes a money dispensing determination unit that determines whether or not the money 20 has been paid out normally depending on whether or not all the money 20 to be paid out has reached the money dispensing unit. Will do.

  When the abnormality monitoring unit 68a determines that the money 20 has not been paid out normally, the prize 13 temporarily held in the temporary holding unit 44 is returned to the player as described above. Then, the money control unit 68 transmits to the overall control unit 33 that the money 20 has not been normally paid out and an abnormality has occurred, and the overall control unit 33 notifies the management device 78 of this fact via the communication unit 40. At the same time, it is displayed on the display unit 35 to notify the player. Thus, the display unit 35 and the communication unit 40 constitute a notification unit that notifies that an abnormality has occurred. Note that the notification to the player may be made by voice. Further, the player may be prompted to confirm a prize return by notifying the player, and when the player performs the confirmation operation, the prize 13 may be returned to the player.

  On the other hand, when the abnormality monitoring unit 68a determines that the money 20 has been paid out normally (that is, (when all the money 20 to be paid out is detected by the bill presence / absence detection sensor 66c and the coin presence / absence detection sensor 67c). The money control unit 68 opens the shutters 66b and 67b so that the player can take out and receive the paid-out money 20. The player can then receive the banknote dispensing unit 61 and the coin dispensing unit 62. After all the money 20 is received from the banknote (after the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 66c and the coin presence / absence detection sensor 67c are no longer detected), the shutters 66b, 67b are closed. In addition, the temporarily held prize 13 is transported to the prize container 51.

  Hereinafter, the operation will be described along the flow of processing of the gift purchase device 22.

  When a player who comes to the prize exchange 21 with the prize 13 from the game hall 1 stands in front of the prize purchase device 22 and operates the exchange start switch of the operation section 34, the prize entry opening in the prize input section 41 is displayed. The shutter 41a of the part 41d is opened. When the player puts all the prizes 13 together (sets) into the prize throwing section 41 through the prize throwing opening 41d, the prizes 13 are sent one by one to the prize identifying section 42. Information stored in the IC tag 14 of the prize 13 is read sequentially.

  Then, the identification determination unit 58a of the prize control unit 58 determines the value of the prize 13 and the presence / absence of the prize 13 from the read information, and if it is determined that there is a possibility of forgery, The prize 13 is conveyed from the first branch part 43 to the first prize return part 52 and returned to the player.

  On the other hand, when the identification determination unit 58a determines that the regular prize 13 is the regular prize 13, the regular prize 13 is sent to the temporary holding section 44 and temporarily held there. After all the regular prizes 13 are accumulated in the temporary holding unit 44, the amount to be paid out for all the prizes 13 is displayed on the display unit 35. Upon receiving this display, the player permits the payment. When the operation is performed, according to the payout amount, the banknotes are paid out to the banknote dispensing unit 61, the coins are dispensed to the coin dispensing unit 62, and all the money 20 to be dispensed is normally paid out. Since the shutters 66b and 67b are opened, the player can take out the banknotes and coins from the banknote dispensing unit 61 and the coin dispensing unit 62, respectively. Further, a purchase receipt describing the details of the purchase of the premium is printed by the receipt printing unit 36 and output from the receipt issuing port 60.

  After the player has picked up and received all the money 20 from the banknote dispensing unit 61 and the coin dispensing unit 62, the prize 13 temporarily held in the temporary holding unit 44 is the upstream transfer unit 49a of the gift transfer unit 49. Then, it passes through the second branching section 50 and the downstream transport section 49b and is sent to the prize storage section 51 where it is stored.

  If the abnormality monitoring unit 68a of the money control unit 68 determines that the money 20 has not been normally paid out, the prize 13 temporarily held in the temporary holding unit 44 is transferred to the upstream transport unit 49a and the second transport unit 49a. It is conveyed to the 2nd prize return part 53 through the branch part 50, and is returned to a player. As a result, the player can exchange the returned prize 13 for money 20 by another prize purchase device 22, and can receive the money 20 immediately without having to wait until an attendant comes. In addition, when there is no other gift purchase device 22 that is operating normally in the gift exchange 21 (particularly when there is only one gift purchase device 22 in the gift exchange 21), there is at least one that is operating normally. Even if there is one, for example, when a large number of players are lined up, the player brings back the prize 13 and, at a later date, the same prize purchase device 22 as the previous one that has been restored normally, or another It is also possible to exchange it for money 20 using the present gift purchase device 22.

  In addition, when the abnormality monitoring unit 68a determines that the money 20 has not been paid out normally, the management device 78 is notified that an abnormality has occurred, and in response to this, an attendant of the management company reports an abnormality. Come to the generated gift purchase device 22 and deal with it.

  The prize purchase device 22 can be set to the maintenance mode by inputting a clerk code, and the clerk sets the prize purchase device 22 to the maintenance mode so that each prize containing the prize 13 is stored. The cassette 71 is taken out from the prize container 51 and collected, and a new empty prize cassette 71 is loaded. Then, the collected prize cassette 71 is sent to a prize wholesaler 75.

  Therefore, in the embodiment, the prize 13 determined to be legitimate is temporarily held in the temporary holding section 44, and after all the regular prizes 13 are accumulated in the temporary holding section 44, the money processing unit. 32, the money 20 is paid out, and when the money 20 is not normally paid out due to a banknote or the like stuck in the middle of the payout, the prize 13 temporarily held in the temporary holding unit 44 is Since it is transported to the second prize return unit 53 and returned to the player (user of the prize purchase device 22), the player holds the returned prize 13 at another prize purchase device 22. Can be exchanged for money 20 by the other gift purchase device 22. Therefore, even if the gift purchase device 22 becomes in a state where it cannot be paid out in the middle of paying out the money 20, it is not necessary for the player to wait until an attendant comes, and the convenience of the player can be improved.

  The configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but includes various other configurations.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the IC tag 14 is used as an information recording unit for recording the prize type information (prize value information) in the prize 13, but the information recording part for the prize is not limited to the IC tag 14, and for example, magnetic It may be a stripe or the like, or may be the printing unit 16 including a barcode on which the type of the prize 13 is recorded. In this case, the prize identifying unit 42 may be configured to be able to read the information recorded on the magnetic stripe or the barcode.

The information recorded in the information recording unit of the prize 13 may be at least prize value information .

  Here, an embodiment different from the present invention will be described as a reference embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, when the money 20 is not paid out normally, the prize 13 is returned to the player. However, instead of returning the prize 13, reception information indicating that the prize 13 has been received is recorded. A receipt including the received barcode or a magnetic card recording the received information is issued. At this time, issuance information including an issuance number, issuance date and time, issuance contents (type and number of prizes 13 that have been input), and the like are stored in the storage units 38 of all the prize purchasing devices 22 connected via the serial communication line 23. (Or issue information may be stored in a storage unit provided in the management device 78). The reception information includes the same number information as the issue number of the issue information. The gift purchase device 22 is provided with reception information reading means capable of reading the receipt information of the receipt or the magnetic card.

  Then, when the player causes the reception information reading means of another premium purchase device 22 to read the receipt information of the receipt or the magnetic card, the premium purchase device 22 stores the reception information stored in the storage unit 38. The issuance content of the issuance information including the same issuance number as the number information is confirmed, and the money 20 is paid out based on the issuance information. As a result, as in the above-described embodiment, even if the gift purchase device 22 becomes in a state where it cannot be paid out during the payout of the money 20, the player does not have to wait until an attendant comes and can receive the money 20 immediately. it can. In addition, the player takes the receipt or the magnetic card home, and later receives the receipt information reading means of the same gift purchase device 22 as the previous one that has been successfully restored or the receipt information reading means of another gift purchase device 22 to the receipt. Or the money 20 can be received by making the reception information of a magnetic card read.

  The gift purchase device 22 exchanges the issue information in the storage unit 38 of all the gift purchase devices 22 after paying out the money 20 by the receipt or the magnetic card (after determining that the money 20 has been paid out normally). History information is stored. Thereby, even if the receipt or the magnetic card is copied and the reception information reading means reads the reception information again, the money 20 is not paid out.

  The present invention is useful for a prize purchase device that automatically purchases a prize provided to a player by a game hall.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the prize exchange system whole containing the prize purchase apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of a free gift. It is a perspective view of a prize purchase device. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of a prize purchase apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a free gift purchase apparatus.

13 Premium 14 IC tag (information recording part)
22 Gift Purchasing Device 32 Money Processing Unit (Money Payout Means)
35 Display (notification means)
36 Receipt printing section (output means)
38 storage unit (storage means)
40 Communication unit (notification means)
41 Premium Input Department (Premium Acceptance Department)
42 Premium identification part (information reading means)
43 First branching section 44 Temporary holding section 49 Premium transport section (transport means)
49a Upstream transport section (premium return means)
50 Second branch (premium return means) (conveyance means)
51 prize storage part 53 2nd prize return part (premium return means)
58 Premium Control Unit (Premium Return Means) (Conveyance Means)
58a identification determination unit (identification determination means)
61 Banknote withdrawal part (money dispensing part)
61a Opening 62 for banknote withdrawal Coin withdrawal part (money dispensing part)
62a Coin dispensing opening 63 Banknote storage part (money storage part)
66 Banknote dispensing device 66b Shutter 67 Coin dispensing device 67b Shutter 68 Abnormality monitoring unit (money dispensing determining means)

Claims (3)

A prize accepting section for receiving a prize having at least an information recording section in which the prize value information is recorded; an information reading means for reading information recorded in the information recording section of the prize received by the prize accepting section; and the information reading section A prize purchase device comprising a money dispensing means for dispensing money based on the prize value information read by the means,
A money dispensing determination means for determining whether or not money has been normally paid out by the money dispensing means;
A prize return means for returning the prize received by the prize accepting unit to the apparatus user when it is determined that the money has not been normally paid out by the money dispensing means ;
A temporary holding section for temporarily holding a prize received at the prize receiving section;
A transporting means for transporting a prize held in the temporary holding section to a prize storage section when it is determined that the money has been normally paid out by the money dispensing means;
A prize return unit configured so that the device user can receive a prize;
Identification determination means for determining whether or not the prize received by the prize receiving unit is a regular prize based on the prize value information read by the information reading means ,
The information reading means is provided between the premium receiving unit and the temporary holding unit,
Between the information reading means and the temporary storage unit, a first branching unit that distributes the premium received by the premium receiving unit to the temporary storage unit or the premium return unit is provided,
The first branching unit is configured to distribute the premium to the premium return unit when the identification determining unit determines that the premium received by the premium receiving unit is not a regular premium. ,
A second branching unit that distributes the prize to the prize accommodating part or the prize returning part is provided in a transport path from the temporary retaining part to the prize accommodating part of the prize held in the temporary retaining part;
The premium returning means, when it is determined that the money has not been normally paid out by the money paying means, the premium that is held in the temporary holding section by the second branching section, A prize purchase device characterized in that the gift purchase apparatus is configured to distribute and transport the items. In the premium purchase device according to claim 1 ,
The money dispensing means is configured to convey the money to be dispensed from a money storage part to a money dispensing part configured to be able to receive money through an opening that is open to the apparatus housing by the apparatus user.
The money dispensing unit has a shutter that opens and closes the opening,
The money dispensing determination means is configured to determine whether or not money has been normally dispensed according to whether all of the money to be dispensed has reached the money dispensing unit,
The shutter is configured to be in an open state when the shutter is in a closed state before the money is dispensed and it is determined that the money has been normally dispensed by the money dispensing means. apparatus. In the premium purchase device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A prize purchase device, further comprising a notifying means for notifying that an abnormality has occurred when it is determined by the money paying means that money has not been normally paid out.