JP5805936B2 - Giveaway machine, giveaway management machine, and giveaway system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a prize dispenser for dispensing prizes exchanged with game media such as pachinko balls, a prize management machine connected to the prize dispenser, and a prize dispensing system including them.

In game facilities such as pachinko parlors, prize dispensers are provided for paying out prizes to the player in accordance with the number of game media such as pachinko balls acquired by the player. In the following Patent Documents 1 and 2, a prize dispenser that is installed directly on the floor of a game facility is proposed. A card-like prize is paid out by the prize dispenser.
In the prize dispensers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a cassette in which a plurality of prizes are stored in a stacked state is built in, and a necessary number of prizes are drawn out from the cassette and paid out to the player. Further, the prize dispenser described in Patent Document 2 includes a counting device that counts prizes stored in a cassette. Therefore, in this prize dispenser, it is possible to grasp how many prizes are stored in the prize dispenser.

Japanese Patent No. 3722878 JP 2009-297402 A

  A prize is stored in the cassette by a staff member or the like. At this time, a prize having a different thickness (a prize different from a legitimate prize) may be mixed in the cassette, a foreign object may be caught between the prizes, or the prize may be stored in a standing state. When such a prize stacking abnormality (accumulation abnormality) has occurred, there is a possibility that a wrong prize different from a legitimate prize will be paid out or a prize will be clogged.

  If a prize different from the original prize is paid out, if the clerk or the player does not immediately notice it, the prize cannot be purchased at the prize exchange. On the other hand, if the clerk or player notices that the wrong prize has been paid out, it is necessary to pay out the valid prize again, which increases the burden on the clerk and also makes the player wait. Become. When a prize is clogged, the clerk needs to perform recovery work, which increases the burden on the clerk. It also makes the player wait.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a prize dispenser, a prize management machine, and a prize dispensing system that can detect an accumulation abnormality in a prize group in a storage unit and notify an attendant or the like. is there.

The invention according to claim 1 is a 1 or a prize payout machine having a plurality of storage portions a plurality of plate-shaped prize is accommodated in superimposed stacked state in one direction, a plurality of prizes to the receiving portion Are stored in an integrated state, an integrated state detection unit for detecting the integrated state of individual prizes constituting the prize group in the storage unit, and a plurality of premiums in the storage unit in an integrated state In the stored state, the prize group in the storage part and the accumulation state detection part are relatively moved so that the accumulation state detection part moves in the accumulation direction of the prize group in the storage part. An abnormality determining means for determining whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred with respect to individual prizes constituting the prize group in the storage unit, based on a detection result of the accumulation state detection unit during movement; and Accumulation abnormality occurs due to abnormality judgment means If it is determined that there, and an output means for outputting information to an integrated abnormalities prize, a prize payout machine.

The abnormality determining means determines whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the prize group in the storage unit. When it is determined by the abnormality determining means that an accumulation abnormality has occurred, information relating to the accumulation abnormality of the prize is output. As a result, it is possible to detect that an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the prize group in the storage unit and notify the staff or the like.
The invention according to claim 2, relatively moves the prize group in the storage unit and the accumulation state detection unit so that the accumulation state detection unit moves in the accumulation direction of the prize group in the storage unit, Based on the detection result of the accumulation state detection unit during the relative movement, including a prize number acquisition unit that acquires the number of prizes in the storage unit, and the abnormality determination unit acquires the number of prizes by the prize number acquisition unit. The prize dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the prize dispenser is configured to determine whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the prize group in the storage unit. In this configuration, when the number of prizes in the storage unit is acquired by the prize number acquisition unit, it is determined whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the prize group in the storage unit. Thereby, the acquisition process of the number of prizes in the storage unit and the process for determining whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred can be performed simultaneously.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the integrated state detection unit irradiates light on the side surface of the prize group stored in the storage unit in an integrated state, and receives light reflected from the side surface of the stack. An optical reflection type sensor that outputs a signal according to the amount, wherein the abnormality determination means is configured to add the optical type in the stacking direction of the prize group along the side surface of the prize group that is stored in the storage unit in an integrated state. The prize group in the storage unit and the optical reflective sensor are relatively moved so that the reflective sensor moves, and based on the output signal of the optical reflective sensor during the relative movement, 3. The prize dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the prize dispenser is configured to determine whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the prize group in the storage unit.
Invention according to claim 4, before Symbol abnormality determining means further includes an abnormality type specifying means for specifying the type of integrated abnormal, a prize payout machine according to any one of claims 1-3. With this configuration, it is possible to specify the type of accumulation abnormality. As a result, the type of accumulation abnormality can be notified to an attendant or the like.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the abnormality type specifying means includes a “no gap abnormality” in which a gap between prizes cannot be specified, and a “price interval abnormality” including a prize having a thickness different from that of a proper prize. ”,“ Overfilled abnormality ”in which a predetermined number or more of prizes are stored in the storage unit,“ Foreign substance mixture abnormality ”in which foreign matter is mixed between prizes, and the thickness direction of the prize does not coincide with the prize accumulation direction The prize dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein at least one abnormality is identified from among the “principle attitude anomalies” in which the prize is present.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the abnormality determination means further includes an abnormal position specifying means for specifying a position of a prize in which an accumulation abnormality has occurred among a plurality of prizes stored in the storage section in an accumulated state. The prize dispenser according to claim 4 or 5 , further comprising: According to this configuration, it is possible to identify a prize position where an accumulation abnormality has occurred and to notify an attendant or the like.
Invention of claim 7, wherein the abnormality by the determining means when the integrated error is determined to have occurred, further comprising an abnormality display means for displaying information about the integrated anomaly prize, the prize of claim 6 It is a dispenser. According to this configuration, when it is determined by the abnormality determination means that an accumulation abnormality has occurred, information relating to the accumulation abnormality of the prize can be displayed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the abnormality display means includes information indicating a type of accumulation abnormality, information indicating a storage unit in which the accumulation abnormality has occurred, and a storage unit in which the accumulation abnormality has occurred. The prize dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of information indicating a position of a prize in which an accumulation abnormality has occurred among a plurality of prizes stored is displayed. According to this configuration, when it is determined by the abnormality determining means that an accumulation abnormality has occurred, information indicating the type of accumulation abnormality, information indicating the storage unit in which the accumulation abnormality has occurred, and an accumulation abnormality have occurred. It is possible to display at least one of the information indicating the position of the present prize.

Invention of Claim 9 is the prize management machine connected so that communication with the prize dispenser as described in any one of Claims 1-8 , Comprising: Information regarding accumulation | storage abnormality of prizes from the said prize dispenser The prize management machine includes information acquisition means for acquiring the information and display means for displaying the information acquired by the information acquisition means. According to this configuration, when it is determined by the abnormality determining means that an accumulation abnormality has occurred, information regarding the accumulation abnormality of the prize can be displayed on the prize management machine side.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a premium dispensing system including the premium dispensing machine according to any one of the first to eighth aspects and the premium management machine according to the ninth aspect .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to detect that an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the prize group in the storage unit and to notify an attendant or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a prize management system 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prize dispenser 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing unit 8 and shows a state in which the drawer portion 21 is in the open position. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the inside of the casing 20 is exposed in FIG. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are perspective views of the cassette 7 viewed from different angles. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the prize 5. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are diagrams schematically showing a longitudinal section of the prize dispenser 2. FIG. 8 is a side view of the dispensing unit 8 in the state of FIG. FIG. 9A is a front view of the counting unit 61, and FIG. 9B is a side view of the counting unit 61. FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view of the dispensing unit 8. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow AA in FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining the counting unit 61 and the drive mechanism 70. FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the prize dispenser 2. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of the cassette-by-cassette prize type table TA1, the cassette-by-cassette inventory management table TA2, and the prize-type-by-species inventory management table TA3. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of the cassette number (cassette No.) assigned to each cassette and the types of prizes stored in each cassette. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of a screen displayed during standby on the attendant display unit 9B of the prize dispenser 2. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the giveaway management machine 3. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the giveaway machine 2. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the inventory confirmation process in steps S2 and S8 of FIG. FIG. 20 is a time chart showing output signals of the counting sensor 60 during the counting operation. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining types of abnormality. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the prize counting process in step S21 of FIG. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the prize counting process in step S21 of FIG. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the prize counting process in step S21 of FIG. FIG. 25 is a time chart for explaining an operation example of the control unit 200 during the counting process. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a counting result screen displayed on the attendant display unit 9B of the gift dispenser 2 when the counting operation ends normally. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a count result screen displayed on the attendant display unit 9B of the gift dispenser 2 when a stacking abnormality is detected during the counting process. FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a count result screen displayed on the attendant display unit 9B of the gift dispenser 2 when a stacking abnormality is detected during the counting process. FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an abnormality display screen displayed on the attendant display unit 306 of the prize management machine 3. FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of an abnormality display screen displayed on the attendant display unit 306 of the prize management machine 3.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a prize management system 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, a prize management system 1 of the present invention is provided in a game facility such as a pachinko parlor. The prize management system 1 includes a prize dispenser 2 for delivering prizes, a prize management machine 3 that manages the prize dispenser 2, and a terminal computer (“T / C” for short) that is a host device for the prize management machine 3. 4). The prize management system 3 and the prize dispenser 2 connected thereto constitute a prize dispensing system.

The prize dispenser 2 stores a large number of prizes, and gives the player the type and number of prizes according to the number of game media (pachinko balls and medals) that the player has acquired by playing on the game stand. Pay out.
The prize management machine 3 is also called “POS” and is arranged at a prize exchange counter or the like in a game facility. One or a plurality of prize dispensers 2 are connected to the prize management machine 3 so as to communicate with each other. When the game medium acquired by the player is counted by the counter, a recording medium (receipt, ball card, etc.) on which the acquired number (count value) is recorded is issued. The prize management machine 3 reads the number of acquired game media recorded on the recording medium, identifies the type / number of prizes according to the number of acquisitions, and pays out the type / number of prizes. 2 is instructed. The prize management machine 3 manages the number of prizes stored in the prize dispenser 2 for each type. In FIG. 1, a plurality of free gift management machines 3 are shown, but one of the free gift management machines 3 is a parent machine, and the remaining free gift management machines 3 are slave machines. You may be comprised so that a subunit | mobile_unit may be managed.

T / C4 is installed in an office or the like in a game facility. The prize manager 3 is connected to the T / C 4 so as to be communicable. The T / C 4 not only manages prizes, but also manages the entry and exit of gaming media on the gaming table, the flow of money in the entire gaming facility, and the like.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prize dispenser 2. In the following, the up / down, front / back, left / right directions of the giveaway machine 2 are defined based on the attitude of the giveaway machine 2 in FIG. That is, in FIG. 2, the longitudinal direction of the prize dispenser 2 (the direction connecting the upper left and the lower right in FIG. 2) is the left-right direction (width direction), and the front side of FIG. 2 is the front side of the prize dispenser 2. The rear side of the paper surface in FIG. 2 is the rear side of the prize dispenser 2.

The prize dispenser 2 is used by being placed directly on the floor of the amusement facility. The customer who receives the payout of the free gift is located on the rear side of the free gift dispenser 2, and the clerk is located on the front side of the free gift dispenser 2 for customer service.
The prize 5 handled by the prize dispenser 2 is a valuable card body that is exchanged according to the number of game media such as pachinko balls acquired by the player at the game facility and is also called a special prize (see FIG. 6 described later).

The prize dispenser 2 has a wide, hollow, substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped cabinet 6 (apparatus body) and a plurality (for example, seven) of prizes 5 stacked in a cassette 7 (accommodating section). ) (See also FIGS. 5 and 7 to be described later).
The front side of the cabinet 6 is open, and the cabinet 6 is provided with a door 18 that opens and closes an open portion of the front side. The cabinet 6 is provided with a door opening / closing detection unit 230 (see FIG. 13) that detects opening / closing of the door 18.

The plurality of payout units 8 are built in the cabinet 6 in a state of being aligned in the width direction (in FIG. 2, for the sake of convenience, only the rightmost payout unit 8 is drawn forward).
A display unit 9 is provided on the upper surface of the cabinet 6. The display unit 9 includes a customer display unit 9A that can be viewed from the customer side, and an attendant display unit 9B that can be viewed only from the employee side, and each display unit displays necessary information. Further, for example, an operation unit 10 that is operated by a staff member to control the operation of the gift dispenser 2 is provided beside the staff member display unit 9B.

  On the upper surface of the cabinet 6, an outlet 11 is formed above each payout unit 8. A plurality (seven in this case) of outlets 11 are formed according to the number of payout units 8. Each outlet 11 communicates with the inside of the cabinet 6. Each outlet 11 is provided with a shutter 12. The shutter 12 opens and closes the outlet 11 by sliding individually back and forth.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the prize dispenser 2 has a lift mechanism for lifting the prize 5 stored in the cassette 7 (see FIG. 5) as a mechanism for paying out the prize 5 stored therein. 13 (conveying means), a feeding mechanism 14 for feeding the prize 5 lifted by the lift mechanism 13 to the outlet 11 side, a temporary holding section 15 for holding the fed prize 5 below the outlet 11, An elevator mechanism 16 for lifting the held prize 5 toward the outlet 11 and a delivery mechanism 17 for pushing the prize 5 lifted up to the outlet 11 to the upper surface of the cabinet 6 are provided. The above-described shutter 12 and the configuration for sliding the shutter 12 are included in the above-described delivery mechanism 17. These mechanisms will be described individually when the payout unit 8 is described below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing unit 8 and shows a state in which the drawer portion 21 is in the open position.
As shown in FIG. 3, each payout unit 8 has a hollow box shape that is slightly thin in the left-right direction. The dispensing unit 8 includes a casing 20 (housing) that forms an outer shell, a drawer portion 21 that can be pulled out from the casing 20, a plurality of (here, four) cassettes 7, and a carrier 22 that holds these cassettes 7 ( Holding means). The drawer part 21, the cassette 7, and the carrier 22 are normally housed in the casing 20 (see FIG. 2). The carrier 22 integrally holds the four cassettes 7 in a state where they are arranged in the front-rear direction. The four cassettes 7 arranged in the front-rear direction may be distinguished from the cassette 7A, the cassette 7B, the cassette 7C, and the cassette 7D in order from the front (see FIG. 7). In FIG. 3, only the fourth cassette 7D from the front is shown.

A longitudinal opening 23 is formed in the front wall of the casing 20 in the vertical direction. The opening 23 communicates with the inside of the casing 20.
The drawer portion 21 is integrally provided with a front plate 24, a side plate 25, and a bottom plate 26. The front plate 24 is long in the vertical direction when viewed from the front side, and has a size that can just block the opening 23 of the casing 20. The side plate 25 is thin in the width direction and continuously extends from the left edge of the front plate 24 to the rear side. The bottom plate 26 connects the lower end of the front plate 24 and the lower end of the side plate 25.

  The side plate 25 is supported in a slidable manner in the front-rear direction by a rail 27 provided on an inner wall surface 20A that divides the inside of the casing 20 from the left side. Thereby, the drawer | drawing-out part 21 is slidable to the front-back direction. Specifically, the drawer 21 can slide between a closed position (see FIG. 2) and an open position (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 2, when the drawer portion 21 is in the closed position, the front plate 24 closes the opening 23 of the casing 20 from the front side (see the right end dispensing unit 8). When the drawer portion 21 in this state is pulled out by a predetermined amount to the front side, the drawer portion 21 is arranged at the open position shown in FIG. When the drawer portion 21 is in the open position, the front plate 24 is positioned in front of the opening 23 to open the opening 23, and almost all of the side plate 25 and the bottom plate 26 are drawn to the front side.

  The carrier 22 is integrally provided with a plurality of partitions 28 and a frame 29. These partitions 28 have a plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction and extends in the up-down direction, and is arranged along the front-rear direction at a predetermined interval. The frame 29 is a substantially rectangular plate having a size slightly smaller than the side plate 25, and the left end portion of each partition 28 is connected to the frame 29. Each cassette 7 is held by the carrier 22 by being sandwiched between two partitions 28 that are adjacent to each other with a gap in the front-rear direction.

  The carrier 22 is supported on the frame 29 by the side plate 25 of the drawer portion 21 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. Here, regarding the relative position of the carrier 22 with respect to the side plate 25, the position of the carrier 22 at the most front side is referred to as the front position (see FIG. 7B), and the position of the carrier 22 at the most rear side. Is referred to as a rear position (see FIG. 7A). That is, the carrier 22 is movable between the front position and the rear position. In FIG. 3, the carrier 22 in the front position is shown.

A slide mechanism 30 that slides the carrier 22 back and forth is provided below the carrier 22. The slide mechanism 30 is configured by, for example, a motor-driven rack and pinion mechanism or the like, and is fixed to the bottom plate 26 of the drawer portion 21.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which the inside of the casing 20 is exposed in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the casing 20, two lifts 31 are provided that are arranged at an interval in the arrangement direction (front-rear direction) of the cassettes 7. Each lift 31 has a flat plate shape in the front-rear and left-right directions, is supported by the casing 20, and can be raised and lowered along the up-down direction in the casing 20. The standby position of the lift 31 is the position of the lift 31 shown in FIG. 4 and is near the bottom wall of the casing 20. The lift 31 and the configuration for raising and lowering the lift 31 are included in the lift mechanism 13 described above.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are perspective views of the cassette 7 viewed from different angles.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cassette 7 is long in the vertical direction, and its flat cross section is substantially U-shaped. The upper surface and the bottom surface of the cassette 7 are open. One side surface of the cassette 7 (the right side surface in a state of being held by the carrier 22) is opened over the entire range in the vertical direction so as to form the above-described substantially U shape, and the portion thus opened. Is referred to as an open part 32. The open portion 32 is continuous with both the top surface and the bottom surface opened in the cassette 7. Further, referring to FIG. 5B, both ends (front and rear end portions) in the horizontal direction of the other side surface opposite to the one side surface in the cassette 7 are cut out over almost the entire range in the vertical direction. Such a notched portion is referred to as a notched portion 33. Each notch 33 is vertically partitioned into a strip shape, and the inside of the cassette 7 is exposed.

  The cassette 7 can store, for example, a maximum of 100 prizes 5 of a predetermined type in a stacked state in which they are stacked in the vertical direction. The lower end of the cassette 7 is provided with a claw 34 that engages the lowermost prize 5 in the cassette 7 from the lower side, and the prize 5 may fall off from the bottom surface opened in the cassette 7. It is prevented. Further, in a state in which the prizes 5 are filled in the cassette 7, the end faces of all the prizes 5 are exposed to the outside of the cassette 7 from the open portions 32 and the respective cutout portions 33 (FIGS. 5A and 5). b)).

Further, a substantially U-shaped handle 19 is attached to the upper end portion of the cassette 7 so that the cassette 7 is sandwiched between two free end portions that are substantially U-shaped. The handle 19 is rotatable around two free ends.
Here, the arrangement direction of the four cassettes 7 held by the carrier 22 is the front-rear direction as described above, and the crossing direction (strictly, orthogonal) to the stacking direction (vertical direction) of the prize 5 in the cassette 7. Direction) (see FIG. 7 described later). The arrangement direction of the cassettes 7 may not necessarily be orthogonal as long as it intersects the stacking direction of the prizes 5.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the prize 5.
As shown in FIG. 6, the giveaway 5 is generally a resin card having a thickness of about 1 mm to several mm. The prize 5 has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and its four corners are rounded. The prize 5 has a built-in object having a predetermined monetary value. For example, there are three types according to the monetary value, such as 200 yen (small prize), 1000 yen (medium prize), and 5000 yen (large prize). Exists. In addition, the giveaway 5 may have a built-in RFID tag or the like for identifying its type, or may have been subjected to processing for preventing fraud such as forgery.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a longitudinal section of the prize dispenser 2.
With reference to FIG. 7, the above-described feeding mechanism 14 is disposed above each lift 31 in the casing 20 of each dispensing unit 8. That is, two feeding mechanisms 14 are provided according to the number of lifts 31. The feeding mechanism 14 is disposed adjacent to the upper wall of the casing 20 and is supported by the casing 20.

Each feeding mechanism 14 is rotatably supported by one feeding roller 40 that is rotatably supported, a prize detection sensor 41 that is disposed on the left and right sides, and a pair of gates 42 that are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween. It includes a pair of upper and lower feed rollers 43 supported and arranged on the left and right.
In the feeding mechanism 14 on the front side (left side in FIG. 7), a feeding roller 40, a prize detection sensor 41, a gate 42 and a feed roller pair 43 are arranged in this order from the front side. In the feeding mechanism 14 on the rear side (right side in FIG. 7), the feeding roller 40, the prize detection sensor 41, the gate 42, and the feed roller pair 43 are arranged in this order from the rear side.

With reference to FIG. 7, a feeding space 51 is formed in a portion located between the two feeding mechanisms 14 on the upper wall of the casing 20. In a state where the dispensing unit 8 is housed in the cabinet 6, the feeding space 51 of the casing 20 communicates with the corresponding outlet 11 in the cabinet 6 from below.
In each feeding mechanism 14, the feed roller 43 is disposed at a position closest to the feeding space 51 in the front-rear direction.

  And in the casing 20, the temporary storage part 15 connected from the bottom with respect to the delivery space 51 is divided under the delivery space 51, and the elevator mechanism 16 mentioned above is provided in the temporary storage part 15. FIG. . The elevator mechanism 16 includes an elevator 53. The elevator 53 has a flat plate shape in the front-rear and left-right directions, is supported by the casing 20, and can move up and down along the up-down direction in the casing 20. When the elevator 53 is in the standby position, the upper surface of the elevator 53 is at a position lower than the feed roller 43 of each feeding mechanism 14. A mechanism for raising and lowering the elevator 53 is included in the elevator mechanism 16.

Next, the payout operation of the prize 5 by the prize dispenser 2 will be described focusing on one payout unit 8.
First, the door 18 of the cabinet 6 is opened (see FIG. 2), and the drawer unit 21 is pulled out to the open position in the dispensing unit 8 as shown in FIG. In this state, the cassette 7 (see FIG. 5) containing the same type of prize 5 is inserted into the carrier 22 from above and is held by the carrier 22. Although the types of the prizes 5 in the cassette 7 are the same, the types of the prizes 5 accommodated in the cassettes 7 may be different.

  After the cassette 7 is held by the carrier 22, the drawer 21 is pushed into the closed position (see FIG. 2), and is housed (built in) in the casing 20 together with the cassette 7 and the carrier 22. At this time, the carrier 22 is moved to the rear position (see FIG. 7A). When the door 18 (see FIG. 2) is closed, the prize 5 can be paid out by the prize dispenser 2.

  Thus, when the drawer part 21 is in the closed position and the carrier 22 is in the rear position, as shown in FIG. 7A, the two lifts 31 described above are in the standby position (in FIG. 7A). (See the lift 31 indicated by the dotted line). Specifically, among these lifts 31, the bottom surface of the first cassette 7A from the front is located above the front lift 31, and the third cassette 7 C from the front is above the rear lift 31. The bottom is located.

  When the carrier 22 moves from this state to the front position, the four cassettes 7 move relative to the front side relative to the lift 31 as shown in FIG. In this case, the bottom surface of the second cassette 7B from the front is positioned above the front lift 31, and the bottom surface of the fourth cassette 7D from the front is positioned above the rear lift 31. (Refer to the lift 31 indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 7B).

  When the carrier 22 is in the rear position, the prize 5 can be paid out from either or both of the cassette 7A and the cassette 7C (see FIG. 7A). When the carrier 22 is in the front position, the prize 5 can be paid out from either or both of the cassette 7B and the cassette 7D (see FIG. 7B). From which cassette 7 the prize 5 is paid out can be arbitrarily set. Here, the carrier 22 can move within the casing 20 to a payout position (front position) at which the premium 5 in the cassette 7B and the cassette 7D can be paid out, and the premium 5 in the cassette 7A and the cassette 7C can be paid out. It can be said that it can move within the casing 20 to a payout position (rear position) where it can be performed.

Next, taking the cassette 7A as an example, a procedure for paying out the prize 5 from the cassette 7 will be specifically described.
First, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the standby position lift 31 (see lift 31 indicated by the dotted line) located below the cassette 7A is opened as shown by the solid line. It rises from the bottom through the cassette 7A. As a result, all the prizes 5 in the cassette 7A are pushed up by the lift 31.

When the top prize 5 is pushed up to the feeding mechanism 14 and comes into contact with the lower outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller 40 and the prize detection sensor 41, the prize detection sensor 41 reaches a feeding position where the prize 5 of the cassette 7A can be fed. Detecting that The payout position is the position of the prize 5 when it comes into contact with the prize detection sensor 41.
Then, in response to detection by the prize detection sensor 41, the lift of the lift 31 stops, and the feeding mechanism 14 feeds the highest prize 5 out. Specifically, the feeding roller 40 rotates in a direction in which the lower peripheral surface approaches the feeding space 51 side. In the case of the cassette 7A, the front feeding roller 40 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. At this time, since the uppermost prize 5 is in contact with the lower peripheral surface of the feeding roller 40, the feeding roller 40 slides the uppermost prize 5 toward the feeding space 51 along with the rotation. The gaps between the gates 42 and the pair of feed rollers 43 are sequentially passed. The prize 5 is discharged to the feeding space 51 side by the pair of rotating feed rollers 43 and is placed on the upper surface of the elevator 53 at the standby position in the temporary storage unit 15.

  Then, the lifting of the lift 31 and the feeding of the prize 5 by the feeding mechanism 14 are repeated for each prize 5, and the prizes 5 in the cassette 7 </ b> A are stacked on the elevator 53 in order from the top and temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 15. Deferred. Here, it can be seen that the lift mechanism 13 having the lift 31 conveys the prize 5 in the cassette 7A upward in the vertical direction to the feeding position where the prize 5 is fed one by one by the feeding mechanism 14. .

  In addition, when the prize 5 is fed out by the feeding mechanism 14, the elevator 53 is appropriately lowered from the standby position so that the prize 5 is stacked on the elevator 53 satisfactorily. Specifically, every time one prize 5 is placed on the elevator 53, the elevator 53 may be lowered, or even if the elevator 53 is lowered after a predetermined number of prizes 5 are stacked on the elevator 53. Good.

  Further, not only the prize 5 of the cassette 7A but also the prize 5 of the cassette 7C may be stacked on the elevator 53 in the same procedure as in the case of the cassette 7A. When there is no prize 5 in the cassette 7A and the cassette 7C, the carrier 22 moves from the rear position to the front position (see FIG. 7B), and the prize 5 in the cassette 7B and the cassette 7D is the same as in the case of the cassette 7A. Are stacked on the elevator 53 by the following procedure.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the number of prizes 5 required for payout are stacked on the elevator 53, the corresponding shutter 12 moves forward on the upper surface of the cabinet 6 (the shutter 12 indicated by the dotted line is moved). Open the outlet 11 above this elevator 53. Along with this, the elevator 53 rises to the exit 11 through the feeding space 51 of the dispensing unit 8. When the elevator 53 is raised until the upper surface of the elevator 53 is flush with the upper surface of the cabinet 6, the shutter 12 moves rearward to close the outlet 11, and at that time, is stacked on the upper surface of the elevator 53. The prize 5 is pushed out to the upper surface of the cabinet 6. Thereby, the prize 5 is paid out to the customer side (rear side).

FIG. 8 is a side view of the dispensing unit 8 in the state of FIG.
The payout unit 8 is provided with a counting sensor 60 (counting means) for counting the number of prizes 5 stored in a stacked state in the cassette 7 for each cassette 7.
As shown in FIG. 8, in each payout unit 8, two counting sensors 60 are adjacent to each other to form one set, and two sets are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction. That is, each dispensing unit 8 is provided with four counting sensors 60 arranged side by side. In FIG. 8, the counting sensor 60 on the rearmost side (right side in FIG. 8) is hidden behind the cassette 7D and cannot be seen.

FIG. 9A is a front view of the counting unit 61, and FIG. 9B is a side view of the counting unit 61.
Referring to FIG. 9, the above-described two counting sensors 60 forming one set constitute one counting unit 61. As shown in FIG. 9A, the counting unit 61 includes two counting sensors 60 and a holder 62 (supporting member) having a substantially rectangular thin plate shape (see FIG. 9B). Counting sensors 60 are attached to both ends in the horizontal direction of the upper end of the front surface of the holder 62 (the side surface viewed from the right side when incorporated in the dispensing unit 8). That is, one counting unit 61 has two counting sensors 60. In the state where the counting unit 61 is incorporated in the dispensing unit 8, the two counting sensors 60 are arranged in the front-rear direction and are supported by the holder 62 in this state (see FIG. 12). A guide member 63 is provided on the surface of the holder 62 between the two counting sensors 60. The guide member 63 has a substantially U-shaped cross section and can be connected to a guide rail 64 described later (see FIG. 10 described later).

FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view of the dispensing unit 8. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow AA in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 10, in each dispensing unit 8, two counting units 61 are attached to the frame 29 (see FIG. 3) of the carrier 22 with an interval in the front-rear direction. That is, the counting sensor 60 of each counting unit 61 is provided on the carrier 22.

  Specifically, referring to FIG. 11, in the frame 29, when the cassettes 7A to 7D are held by the carrier 22 (see FIG. 7), the position between the cassette 7A and the cassette 7B, and the cassette 7C and the cassette A guide rail 64 extending vertically is provided at a position between 7D. That is, the two guide rails 64 are provided on the frame 29 with a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 11).

  A guide member 63 (see FIG. 9A) of the holder 62 in the front counting unit 61 is connected to the front guide rail 64, and the rear counting unit is connected to the rear guide rail 64. The guide member 63 of the holder 62 in 61 is connected. In this state, the entire counting unit 61 is supported by the corresponding guide rail 64 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. In each counting unit 61, the two counting sensors 60 face the right side (the front side in FIG. 11 and the side facing the cassette 7). Here, the position of the counting unit 61 (counting sensor 60) when it is located at the lower end of the guide rail 64 is defined as a standby position.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining the counting unit 61 and the drive mechanism 70. In FIG. 12, the left side is the front side of the gift dispenser 2.
As a configuration for moving the counting unit 61 up and down, for example, the carrier 22 of each payout unit 8 is provided with a drive mechanism 70 (drive means). The drive mechanism 70 includes a drive motor 71, a transmission gear 72, connection gears 73 and 74, a drive gear 75, and a belt 76.

The drive motor 71 is, for example, a stepping motor, and is disposed at the lower end of one of the two guide rails 64 (here, the front guide rail 64). The drive motor 71 has an output shaft (not shown), and a drive gear 75 having gear teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface is attached to the output shaft.
The transmission gear 72 is disposed at the lower end of the other guide rail 64 (in this case, the rear guide rail 64) instead of the one of the two guide rails 64. Gear teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the transmission gear 72.

The connecting gear 73 is disposed at the lower end of the one (front) guide rail 64 and is connected to the counting unit 61 supported by the guide rail 64 by a drive transmission member (not shown). Gear teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connection gear 73, and the connection gear 73 meshes with the drive gear 75.
The connecting gear 74 is disposed at the lower end of the other (rear) guide rail 64 and is connected to the counting unit 61 supported by the guide rail 64 by a drive transmission member (not shown). Gear teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connection gear 74, and the connection gear 74 meshes with the transmission gear 72.

The belt 76 is an endless belt having gear teeth formed on the inner peripheral surface, and is wound around the drive gear 75 and the transmission gear 72.
In such a drive mechanism 70, when the drive motor 71 is driven, the drive gear 75 rotates in a predetermined direction. As a result, the connecting gear 73 meshing with the drive gear 75 rotates, and the driving force of the drive motor 71 is transmitted to the front counting unit 61 by the drive transmission member described above, and the front counting unit 61 is moved in the vertical direction. Slide to either. This driving force is also transmitted to the connecting gear 74 via the belt 76 and the transmission gear 72. Accordingly, the connecting gear 74 rotates, and the driving force of the drive motor 71 is transmitted to the rear counting unit 61 by the drive transmission member described above, and the rear counting unit 61 is in the same direction as the front counting unit 61. Slide to.

Conversely, when the drive motor 71 is driven so that the drive gear 75 rotates in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, both the front and rear counting units 61 slide in the opposite direction.
That is, the drive mechanism 70 moves each of the two counting units 61 in the vertical direction.
Since the counting unit 61 and the lift 31 are offset from each other in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 10), the counting unit 61 and the lift 31 do not interfere with each other during operation.

  The counting sensor 60 is disposed adjacent to the cassette 7 accommodated in the casing 20 from the left side. Specifically, the counting sensor 60 can face the notch 33 (see FIG. 5) of the corresponding cassette 7 from the left side. As described above, each dispensing unit 8 has two counting units 61, and each counting unit 61 has two counting sensors 60. Therefore, in the counting unit 61 on the front side (left side in FIG. 12), the front counting sensor 60 can face the rear notch 33 in the frontmost cassette 7A from the left side (the back side in FIG. 12). The rear counting sensor 60 can be opposed from the left side to the front notch 33 in the second cassette 7B from the front. In the rear counting unit 61, the front counting sensor 60 can be opposed to the rear notch 33 in the third cassette 7C from the front, and the rear counting sensor 60 is The front-side notch 33 in the fourth cassette 7D from the front can be opposed from the left side.

  When the drive motor 71 is driven, each counting sensor 60 slides up and down while facing the notch 33 (see FIG. 5) of the corresponding cassette 7 from the left side. At this time, the counting sensor 60 counts the number of prizes 5 exposed from the notch 33 in the cassette 7. That is, the counting sensor 60 counts the prizes 5 in the cassette 7 by moving in the vertical direction (the stacking direction of the prizes 5 in the cassette 7).

The counting by the counting sensor 60 will be specifically described. The counting sensor 60 is a so-called optical reflective sensor, and includes a light emitting element (not shown) and light emitted from the light emitting element (not shown). And a light receiving element (not shown) for receiving the light reflected upon the object to be detected.
When such a counting sensor 60 counts the number of prizes 5 in the cassette 7, the counting sensor 60 is moved upward from the standby position. Referring to FIG. 9B, while the counting sensor 60 is moving up, the counting sensor 60 has light emitting elements (not shown) arranged in order from the lower prize 5 to the left side surface 5 </ b> A of the prize 5. The reflected light reflected by the left side surface 5A of the prize 5 is received by a light receiving element (not shown). Here, when light from a light emitting element (not shown) is applied to the boundary Y of the left side surface 5A of the prize 5 adjacent to the top and bottom, light is received compared to the case where light is applied to the left side surface 5A of the prize 5. The amount of reflected light (light reception amount) received by the element (not shown) changes. Therefore, every time the amount of light received by the light receiving element (not shown) in the counting sensor 60 changes, the counting sensor 60 counts that there is one prize 5. Then, according to the same procedure, the counting sensor 60 counts the prizes 5 one by one in order from the upper prize 5, counts the number of prizes 5, and reaches the upper end (upper limit position) of the guide rail 64 (see FIG. 11). By the time, the counting of all the prizes 5 is completed. Thereafter, the counting sensor 60 returns to the standby position.

As described above, the counting sensor 60 counts the number of prizes 5 in a non-contact manner in accordance with a change in a light reception signal (light reception amount) of a light receiving element (not shown).
Here, referring to FIG. 7, since the counting sensor 60 is provided on the carrier 22 (see FIG. 3), the carrier 22 is in the front position (see FIG. 7B) and the rear position (see FIG. 7A). )), The prize 5 in the cassette 7 and the counting sensor 60 can be moved together. Therefore, the relative position between the prize 5 and the counting sensor 60 in the cassette 7 (in other words, the interval between the counting sensor 60 and the left side surface 5A of the prize 5 in FIG. 9B) is stabilized with high accuracy. In particular, since the counting sensor 60 is an optical type, the relative position between the prize 5 and the counting sensor 60 greatly affects the accuracy of the counting sensor 60. Since the relative position can be stabilized with high accuracy, the counting accuracy of the prize 5 stored in the cassette 7 by the counting sensor 60 can be improved.

  Further, when each counting unit 61 is moved in the stacking direction (vertical direction) of the prize 5, a plurality (cassettes) arranged in the front-rear direction by a plurality (two) counting sensors 60 supported by the holder 62 of the counting unit 61. The prizes 5 in the cassette 7 (two of the cassette 7A and the cassette 7B, or two of the cassette 7C and the cassette 7D) can be counted at a time. Thereby, the counting time of the prize 5 stored in the cassette 7 can be shortened.

  Furthermore, by moving a plurality of holders 62 (that is, a plurality of counting units 61) by the drive mechanism 70 (see FIG. 12), more (in this case, four) prizes 5 in the cassette 7 are counted at a time. it can. As a result, the counting time of the prize 5 stored in the cassette 7 can be further shortened. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the drive mechanism 70 (drive motor 71) for each counting unit 61, the number of parts can be reduced.

  The data (counting data) of the number of prizes 5 in each cassette 7 counted by the counting sensor 60 is the above-described clerk display unit 9B (see FIG. 2) or the prize management machine 3 connected to the prize dispenser 2. The number of prizes 5 stored in each cassette 7 of the prize dispenser 2 is collectively managed. Of course, this data may be output to a printing device (not shown) and printed on paper, or may be stored in the T / C 4 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the prize dispenser 2.
Referring to FIG. 13, the prize dispenser 2 includes a control unit 200. The control unit 200 includes a CPU and a memory (ROM, RAM, etc.) that stores the program and the like, and executes predetermined processing according to the program. The control unit 200 performs prize payout control, prize counting control, prize stacking abnormality (accumulation abnormality) determination, prize inventory quantity management, communication with the prize management machine 3, and the like.

  The control unit 200 has a drive for moving the lift mechanism 13, the feeding mechanism 14, the elevator mechanism 16, the sending mechanism 17, the slide mechanism 30, the counting sensor 60, and the counting sensor 60 (counting unit 61) for each dispensing unit 8. A mechanism 70 is connected. The counting sensor 60 and the driving mechanism 70 constitute a prize counting unit 201 for counting the number of prizes.

The control unit 200 is connected to the operation unit 10, the customer display unit 9A, the attendant display unit 9B, the communication unit 202, the door open / close detection unit 203, the buzzer 204, the storage unit 205, and the like. The control unit 200 communicates with the prize management machine 3 (see FIG. 1) via the communication unit 202.
The storage unit 205 is provided with an inventory management table for managing inventory of prizes in the prize dispenser 2. As shown in FIG. 14, the inventory management table includes a “cassette-by-cassette gift type table TA1”, a “cassette-by-cassette inventory table TA2”, and a “by-product type inventory management table TA3”.

  The “cassette-by-cassette prize type table TA1” (see FIG. 14A) is a table in which the types of prizes stored in each cassette are stored. The “cassette inventory management table TA2” (see FIG. 14B) is a table that stores the “stock number of premiums” for each cassette. “Premium type-specific inventory management table TA3” (see FIG. 14C) is a table for storing “Premium inventory quantity” for each premium type. The contents of the storage unit 205 are retained without being erased even when the power is turned off.

  FIG. 15 shows a cassette number (cassette No.) assigned to each cassette and specific examples of types of prizes stored in each cassette. Each of the seven rows of cassettes is referred to as a first row, a second row, a third row,..., A seventh row in order from the leftmost row when viewed from the front side (front side in FIG. 2) of the prize dispenser 2. I will decide. As viewed from the front side (the front side in FIG. 2) of the gift dispenser 2, the cassette number is such that the number on the left side becomes smaller, and the number on the front side between cassettes in the same row becomes smaller. Assigned to each cassette. In this embodiment, cassette numbers 1 to 28 are assigned to each cassette.

Further, in this embodiment, large prizes (equivalent to 5000 yen) are stored in the first to third row cassettes, and middle prizes (equivalent to 1000 yen) are stored in the fourth and fifth row cassettes, Small prizes (equivalent to 200 yen) are stored in the sixth and seventh row cassettes.
For example, a screen as shown in FIG. 16 (a) or FIG. 16 (b) is displayed on the attendant display unit 9B (display unit with a touch panel in this example) of each premium dispenser 2 during standby. A screen 501a of 16 (a) is a screen for displaying the number of premium stocks for each cassette. On this screen 501a, a title “stock quantity by cassette”, a message “can be paid out”, a diagram schematically showing the number of premium stock for each cassette, and various buttons are displayed. A diagram schematically showing the number of premiums in stock for each cassette is a box representing each cassette, characters representing premium types (large, medium, small) displayed in the box, and corresponding cassettes displayed in the box. A number representing the number of prizes in stock and a color representing the kind of prize displayed in the box. Note that the color representing the prize type is set in advance to be the same as or similar to the color of the outer surface of each prize.

  The various buttons include a display switching button, a menu button, a previous transaction button, and an inventory counting button. The display switching button is a button for switching the current screen 501a to a screen 501b shown in FIG. The menu button is a button for displaying a menu screen. The previous transaction button is a button for displaying the type and the number of prizes paid out in the prize payout process carried out last time (just before). The inventory count button is a button for inputting an inventory confirmation command (see step S5 in FIG. 18).

  A screen 501b in FIG. 16B is a screen that displays the number of premium stocks for each premium type. This screen 501b schematically shows the title “Premium inventory quantity”, the message “Can be paid out”, the premium inventory quantity for each prize type, and the type of prize stored in each cassette. Various buttons are displayed. The diagram schematically showing the types of prizes stored in each cassette is displayed in a box representing each cassette, characters representing the prize type (large, medium, small) displayed in the box, and in the box. And a color representing the type of prize. The various buttons include a display switching button, a menu button, a previous transaction button, and an inventory counting button. The display switching button is a button for switching the current screen 501b to a screen 501a shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 shows the electrical configuration of the prize management machine 3.
The giveaway management machine 3 includes a control unit 300. The control unit 300 is provided with a memory (ROM, RAM, etc.) that stores a CPU and its program, etc., and executes predetermined processing according to the program. The control unit 300 performs a prize dispensing control for the prize dispenser 2, counting control for the prize dispenser 2, communication with the prize dispenser 2 and the T / C 4 and the like. A communication unit 301, a barcode reader 302, a printing unit 303, an operation unit 304, a customer display unit 305, a staff display unit 306, a storage unit 307, and the like are connected to the control unit 300.

The operation unit 304 of the prize management machine 3 is provided with an inventory confirmation button, a numeric keypad, and the like. When the inventory confirmation button of the operation unit 304 of the prize management machine 100 is operated, the prize management machine 100 transmits an inventory confirmation command to the prize dispenser 2.
FIG. 18 shows a procedure of processing executed by the giveaway machine 2.
When the power is turned on (step S1: YES), the control unit 200 of the prize dispenser 2 performs an inventory confirmation process (step S2). This inventory check process is a process for counting the actual number of prizes in the prize dispenser 2 using the prize counting unit 201 and updating the inventory management data. Details of the inventory confirmation process will be described later.

  When the stock confirmation process in step S2 is completed, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the prize dispensing command from the prize management machine 3 has been received (step S3), and the door 18 of the prize dispensing machine 2 has been closed from the open state. Is detected (step S4), whether an inventory confirmation command is input (step S5), and whether an inventory confirmation command is received from the prize management machine 3 (step S6). Such monitoring is repeated until the power is turned off (until YES in step S9).

  The prize payout command in step S3 is a command transmitted from the prize management machine 3 because the prize management machine 3 has read the number of game media (ball data) recorded on the recording medium. is there. This prize payout command includes information regarding the type and number of prizes to be paid out. Whether or not it is detected that the door 18 has been closed from the open state in step S4 is determined based on the output of the door opening / closing detector 203.

  The stock confirmation command in step S5 is input by operating a stock count button in a screen (for example, the screen shown in FIG. 16) displayed on the clerk display unit 9B while the premium dispenser 2 is on standby. . The inventory confirmation command in step S6 is a command transmitted from the prize management machine 3 due to the operation of the inventory confirmation button on the operation unit 304 of the prize management machine 3.

  When a prize payout command is received from the prize management machine 2 (step S3: YES), the control unit 200 performs a prize payout process (step S7). Specifically, the control unit 200 determines one or a plurality of cassettes to which a prize is to be paid out and the number of payouts from each cassette based on the number of payouts for each prize type sent from the prize management machine 3. Make a decision and pay out the prize according to the decision. Then, the control unit 200 updates the inventory management data.

  Specifically, the contents of the “cassette-by-cassette inventory management table TA2” (see FIG. 14B) and the “price-type inventory management table TA3” in the storage unit 205 are updated. More specifically, out of the data for each cassette in the “inventory management table TA2 by cassette (TA2)”, the data of the cassette for which the premium has been paid out is subtracted from the number of the payout from that cassette. Update with Further, the control unit 200 determines the number of prize stocks for each prize type based on the number of prize stocks for each cassette in the updated “cassette inventory management table TA2” and the contents of the “cassette prize type table TA1”. Based on the calculation result, the number of premium stocks in the “price type-specific inventory management table TA3” is updated. When the inventory management data is updated, the process proceeds to step S4 in FIG.

  When it is detected that the door 18 of the prize dispenser 2 is closed from the open state (step S4: YES), when an inventory confirmation command is input (step S5: YES), or an inventory confirmation command from the prize management machine 3 Is received (step S6: YES), the control unit 200 performs inventory check processing (step S8). This inventory confirmation process is the same as the inventory confirmation process in step S2. Details of this processing will be described later. When the inventory check process in step S8 ends, the control unit 200 proceeds to step S9. In step S9, if the gift dispenser 2 is not powered off, the process returns to step S3.

FIG. 19 shows the detailed procedure of the inventory confirmation process in steps S2 and S8 of FIG.
In this inventory confirmation process, the control unit 200 first performs a prize counting process (step S21). Specifically, the number of prize stocks for each cassette is counted using the prize counting unit 201. When the prize counting process is performed, a stacking abnormality determination process for determining an abnormality in the prize stacking state (stacked state) is performed. In other words, the prize counting process includes a stacking abnormality determination process. Details of the prize counting process will be described later.

  When the prize counting process is completed, the control unit 200 updates the inventory management data (step S22). Specifically, the control unit 200 uses the data for each cassette in the “cassette inventory management table TA2” (see FIG. 14B) as a count value (the number of free gift inventory) obtained by the counting process for the cassette. Update to Further, the control unit 200 determines the number of prize stocks for each prize type based on the number of prize stocks for each cassette in the updated “cassette inventory management table TA2” and the contents of the “cassette prize type table TA1”. Based on the calculation result, the number of premium stocks in the “price type-specific inventory management table TA3” is updated.

The type of abnormality in the prize stacking state (stacked state) and an outline of the determination method will be described.
FIG. 20 shows an output signal of the counting sensor 60 during the counting operation.
The counting sensor 60 (counting unit 61) moves in the direction (upward direction) indicated by the arrow Z in FIG. In this embodiment, the output signal (sensor output) of the counting sensor 60 is detected when the light emitted from the counting sensor 60 is not reflected by the laminated side surface 5B (the entire left side surface of the laminated prize 5). When not, a constant value (output upper limit value) equal to or greater than a predetermined value A is obtained. When the output light of the counting sensor 60 is reflected by the laminated side surface 5B (when a prize is detected), the output signal of the counting sensor 60 becomes a value (output lower limit value) smaller than the predetermined value A. When the light emitted from the counting sensor 60 is reflected by a region including the gap between adjacent prizes 5 on the stacked side surface 5B (when a gap between prizes is detected), the output signal of the counting sensor 60 Becomes a value (output intermediate value) smaller than the predetermined value A and larger than the output lower limit value.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, when the counting sensor 60 rises from the lower standby position and approaches the prize 5 at the lowest position (left side in FIG. 20), the output signal value of the counting sensor 60 decreases from the output upper limit value. And smaller than the predetermined value A. When the counting sensor 60 moves to a position facing the left side of the prize 5 at the lowest position, the output signal value of the counting sensor 60 becomes a value close to the lower limit value. When the counting sensor 60 moves to a position facing the vicinity of the gap between the adjacent prizes 5 on the stacked side surface 5B, the output signal value of the counting sensor 60 rises. Then, when the counting sensor 60 finishes passing near the gap of the prize 5, the output signal value of the counting sensor 60 falls. Thereafter, the output signal value of the counting sensor 60 changes every time the product counting sensor 60 passes near the gap between adjacent prizes 5.

That is, every time the counting sensor 60 passes near the gap between adjacent prizes 5, a peak appears in the output signal. The interval between adjacent peaks is called the pitch interval. When the counting sensor 60 passes the premium 5 at the uppermost position, the output signal value of the counting sensor 60 increases and exceeds the predetermined value A, and the output signal value of the counting sensor 60 becomes the output upper limit value.
FIG. 21 shows the types of abnormalities.

Types of abnormalities include “No gap error”, “Premium interval small error”, “Premium interval large error”, “Overpacking error”, “Foreign object mixing error”, “Premium standing error (Premium posture error)”, etc. is there.
The “abnormality without gap” is an abnormality indicating that a gap between prizes is not detected (specified). For example, as shown in FIG. 21, the “abnormality without gap” is an abnormality that occurs when the tape 401 is stretched to cover the gap between the prizes on the laminated side surface 5B. When “abnormality without gap” occurs, a peak does not appear within a predetermined time, or even if it appears, the peak becomes small. Therefore, the “abnormality without gap” can be detected based on the monitoring of the appearance of the peak or the size of the peak.

  “Small prize interval abnormality” indicates that, as shown in FIG. 21, a prize 5c having a smaller thickness than the appropriate prize is mixed, or that all prizes are prizes thinner than the appropriate prize. It is abnormal. When “the prize interval small abnormality” occurs, the pitch interval of the output signals of the counting sensor 60 is shortened. Therefore, it is possible to detect “a prize interval small abnormality” based on the pitch interval.

  As shown in FIG. 21, “large prize interval abnormality” indicates that a prize 5d thicker than the appropriate prize is mixed or that all prizes are prizes thicker than the appropriate prize. It is abnormal. When a “prize interval large abnormality” occurs, the pitch interval of the output signals of the counting sensor 60 becomes longer. Therefore, it is possible to detect “a prize interval large abnormality” based on the pitch interval. “Premium interval small abnormality” and “premium interval large abnormality” may be collectively referred to as “premium interval abnormality”.

  “Overfilled abnormality” is an abnormality indicating that the maximum number of premiums 5 is packed in the cassette 7. When the maximum prescribed number of prizes 5 are stored in the cassette 7 and the prize 5 is not lifted by the lift 31, the height position corresponding to the upper surface of the top prize is referred to as a “prize upper limit line”. To do. During the counting process, the counting sensor 60 is moved from the standby position at the lower end of the guide rail 64 to the upper limit position above the premium upper limit line. When the “overfilling abnormality” has occurred, the prize 5 exists above the premium upper limit line as shown in FIG. Accordingly, when the “overfilling abnormality” occurs, the prize 5 is detected even if the counting sensor 60 exceeds the prize upper limit line. Therefore, even if the counting sensor 60 exceeds the premium upper limit line (even when it reaches the standby position), if the output signal of the counting sensor 60 does not exceed the predetermined value A (when a premium is detected), It can be determined that "abnormal" has occurred.

  The “foreign matter contamination abnormality” is an abnormality indicating that the foreign matter 402 is mixed between the prizes 5, as shown in FIG. “Premium standing abnormality” is an abnormality indicating that there is a prize 5e standing in the cassette 7, as shown in FIG. The “prize standing abnormality” can be said to be an abnormality indicating that there is a prize in a posture in which the thickness direction of the prize does not coincide with the prize stacking direction (prize accumulation direction). Therefore, the “principal standing abnormality” may be referred to as “premium posture abnormality”. When the “foreign matter contamination abnormality” or “premium standing abnormality” occurs, a phenomenon in which the output signal of the counting sensor 60 exceeds the predetermined value A (see FIG. 20) during the counting operation and then becomes a predetermined value A or less again appears. . Therefore, by monitoring whether the output signal of the counting sensor 60 falls below the predetermined value A within a predetermined time after the output signal of the counting sensor 60 exceeds the predetermined value A during the counting operation, the “foreign matter contamination abnormality” Standing error ”can be detected.

22 to 24 show the detailed procedure of the prize counting process in step S21 of FIG.
Here, a prize counting process when counting the number of prizes in one cassette 7 will be described. When the prize counting process is started, first, the control unit 200 performs a pre-process (not shown). That is, with reference to FIG. 7, the lift 31 in the standby position below the target cassette is raised. As a result, all the prizes 5 in the cassette 7 are pushed up by the lift 31. When the premium 5 at the top is detected by the premium detection sensor 41, the control unit 200 stops the lift 31 from being lifted. The control unit 200 measures the lift amount (lift lift amount) of the lift 31 from the standby position and stores it as a lift movement amount. The lift movement amount is a value corresponding to the number of prizes stored in the cassette 7. Thereafter, the control unit 200 lowers the lift 31 to the standby position.

  When the pre-processing is completed, the control unit 200 raises the counting sensor 60 from the standby position. Then, the control unit 200 waits for the output signal of the counting sensor 60 (hereinafter referred to as “sensor signal P”) to become smaller than the predetermined value A (see FIG. 20) (step S31). When the sensor signal P becomes smaller than the predetermined value A (step S31: YES), the control unit 200 sets 1 to the variable K for storing the count value (step S32). Note that the value of the variable K, when an accumulation abnormality is detected, indicates information indicating the position where the accumulation abnormality has occurred (abnormal prize position information: indicates the number of prize positions from the bottom where the abnormality occurrence position is. Information).

Further, the control unit 200 determines the first peak detection range (peak detection period) (step S33). Specifically, the control unit 200 stores the current time t as the counting operation start time ts. Further, the control unit 200 sets the first variable t _n for defining the peak detection range to t _n = ts + α. Here, α is a predetermined time, and is set to a time slightly longer than the time for which the counting sensor 60 moves, for example, a distance corresponding to ½ of the thickness of the prize 5. Furthermore, the control unit 200 sets the second variable t _{n + 1} for defining the peak detection range to t _{n + 1} = t _n + β. Here, β is a predetermined time, and is set to a time substantially equal to the time for which the counting sensor 60 moves a distance corresponding to the thickness of the prize 5, for example. Peak detection _range, the _{t n ~t} n _{+ 1.}

Control unit 200, a peak detection range _{t n ~t} n _{+ 1,} for detecting the minimum value Pmin of the sensor signal P, and the maximum value (peak) Pmax. Further, the control unit 200 monitors whether or not the sensor signal P is equal to or greater than the predetermined value A within the peak detection range t _{n to} t _{n + 1} . When the sensor signal P does not become equal to or greater than the predetermined value A, the control unit 200, a time when the sensor signal P becomes the maximum value Pmax, stored as a first maximum value detection time T _n. On the other hand, when the sensor signal P becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value A, the control unit 200 stores the time when the sensor signal P reaches the predetermined value A as the counting operation end time te (step S34). Thereafter, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the counting operation end time te is detected within the peak detection range t _{n to} t _{n + 1} (step S35).

  When the counting operation end time te is not detected (step S35: NO), the controller 200 has a difference ΔP (ΔP = Pmax−Pmin) between the maximum value Pmax and the minimum value Pmin equal to or greater than the predetermined value B. Whether or not (step S36). When the difference ΔP is less than the predetermined value B (step S36: NO), the control unit 200 determines that the “abnormality without gap” has occurred, ends the counting operation, and performs the abnormality notification process (step). S37). In the abnormality notification process, the control unit 200 displays, for example, abnormality information indicating that a stacking abnormality has occurred on the attendant display unit 9B. The abnormality information includes, for example, information indicating the type of abnormality (abnormality type information), information indicating the cassette in which the abnormality has occurred (abnormal cassette position information), information indicating the prize position in which the abnormality has occurred (abnormal prize position information), etc. May be included. In step S37, the abnormality type information is information indicating “abnormality with no gap”. The abnormal prize position information is information indicating that the abnormality occurrence position is the K-th prize position from the bottom. Further, in the abnormality notification process, the control unit 200 may drive the buzzer 204.

When it is determined in step S36 that the difference ΔP is greater than or equal to the predetermined value B (step S36: YES), the control unit 200 increments the variable K by 1 (step S38).
Next, the control unit 200 determines the next peak detection range (step S39). Specifically, using the first maximum value detection time T _n , the control unit 200 sets t _n to t _n = T _n + β / 2, and sets t _{n + 1} to t _{n + 1} = t _n + β. Here, T _n is the time when the maximum value Pmax is detected in the previous peak detection range. The control unit 200 detects the minimum value Pmin and the maximum value Pmax of the sensor signal P within the peak detection range t _{n to} t _{n + 1} . Further, the control unit 200 monitors whether or not the sensor signal P is equal to or greater than the predetermined value A within the peak detection range t _{n to} t _{n + 1} . When the sensor signal P does not become equal to or greater than the predetermined value A, the control unit 200 stores the time when the sensor signal P becomes the maximum value Pmax as the second maximum value detection time _{Tn + 1} . On the other hand, when the sensor signal P becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value A, the control unit 200 stores the time when the sensor signal P reaches the predetermined value A as the counting operation end time te (step S40). Thereafter, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the counting operation end time te is detected within the peak detection range t _{n to} t _{n + 1} (step S41).

  When the counting operation end time te is not detected (step S41: NO), the controller 200 has a difference ΔP (ΔP = Pmax−Pmin) between the maximum value Pmax and the minimum value Pmin equal to or greater than the predetermined value B. Whether or not (step S42). When the difference ΔP is less than the predetermined value B (step S42: NO), the control unit 200 determines that the “abnormality without gap” has occurred, ends the counting operation, and performs the abnormality notification process (step S42). S37).

When it is determined in step S42 that the difference ΔP is equal to or greater than the predetermined value B (step S42: YES), the control unit 200 increments the variable K by 1 (step S43).
Next, the control unit 200 determines the next peak detection range (step S44). Specifically, using the second maximum value detection time T _{n + 1} , the control unit 200 sets t _n to t _n = T _{n + 1} + β / 2, and sets t _{n + 1} to t _{n + 1} = t _n + β. Here, T _{n + 1} is the time when the maximum value Pmax is detected in the previous peak detection range. Peak detection _range, the _{t n ~t} n _{+ 1.}

The control unit 200 detects the minimum value Pmin and the maximum value Pmax of the sensor signal P within the peak detection range t _{n to} t _{n + 1} . Further, the control unit 200 monitors whether or not the sensor signal P is equal to or greater than the predetermined value A within the peak detection range t _{n to} t _{n + 1} . When the sensor signal P does not become equal to or greater than the predetermined value A, the time when the sensor signal P reaches the maximum value Pmax is stored as the third maximum value detection time _{Tn + 2} . On the other hand, when the sensor signal P becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value A, the control unit 200 stores the time when the sensor signal P reaches the predetermined value A as the counting operation end time te (step S45). Thereafter, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the counting operation end time te is detected within the peak detection range t _{n to} t _{n + 1} (step S46).

  When the counting operation end time te is not detected (step S46: NO), the controller 200 has a difference ΔP (ΔP = Pmax−Pmin) between the maximum value Pmax and the minimum value Pmin equal to or greater than the predetermined value B. Whether or not (step S47). When the difference ΔP is less than the predetermined value B (step S47: NO), the control unit 200 determines that “abnormality with no gap” has occurred, ends the counting operation, and performs an abnormality notification process (step). S37).

When it is determined in step S47 that the difference ΔP is equal to or greater than the predetermined value B (step S47: YES), the control unit 200 increments the variable K by 1 (step S48).
Next, the control unit 200 includes a difference between the second maximum value detection time _{T n + 1} and the first maximum value detection time _{T n Ta (Ta = T n} + 1 -T n), and the third maximum value detection time _{T n + 2} a 2 The sum (Ta + Tb) of the difference Tb (Tb = T _{n + 2} −T _{n + 1} ) from the maximum value detection time T _{n + 1} is a value not less than a predetermined value C (C> 0) and within a predetermined value D (D> C). It is determined whether or not (step S49). Tb is the difference (corresponding to the pitch interval) between the detection time of the current maximum value Pmax and the previous detection time of the maximum value Pmax. Ta is a difference (corresponding to a pitch interval) between the detection time of the previous maximum value Pmax and the detection time of the previous maximum value Pmax. Therefore, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the sum of the two most recent pitch intervals (Ta + Tb) is within a predetermined range (C or more and D or less).

If the sum of the two most recent pitch intervals (Ta + Tb) is within a predetermined range (a range not less than C and not more than D) (step S49: NO), the control unit 200 sets the second maximum value detection time T _{n + 1} to the first The first maximum value detection time T _{n +} is set, and the third maximum value detection time T _{n + 2} is set to the second maximum value detection time T _{n + 1} (step S50). Then, the process returns to step S44. Therefore, the processing after step S44 is executed again.

  If it is determined in step S49 that the sum of the two most recent pitch intervals (Ta + Tb) is not within the predetermined range (C or more and D or less) (step S49: NO), the control unit 200 performs the step The process proceeds to S51 (see FIG. 24). In step S51, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the sum of the most recent two pitch intervals (Ta + Tb) is less than the predetermined value C. When the sum of the two most recent pitch intervals (Ta + Tb) is less than the predetermined value C (step S51: YES), the control unit 200 determines that “the prize interval small abnormality” has occurred, The counting operation is stopped and an abnormality notification process is performed (step S52). On the other hand, when the sum (Ta + Tb) of the two most recent pitch intervals is not less than the predetermined value C, that is, when the sum (Ta + Tb) is larger than the predetermined value D (step S51: NO), the control unit In step S53, it is determined that “a prize interval large abnormality” has occurred, and the counting operation is stopped and an abnormality notification process is performed (step S53). The abnormality notification process in steps S52 and S53 is the same as the abnormality notification process described in step S37. However, the abnormality type information is information indicating “small prize premium abnormality” in step S52, and is information indicating “large prize premium abnormality” in step S53.

  If it is determined in step S35, step S41 or step S46 that the counting operation end time te has been detected (step S35, step S41 or step S46: YES), the control unit 200 proceeds to step S54. . In step S54, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the sensor output P is greater than or equal to a predetermined value A until a predetermined time γ elapses from the counting operation end time te (step S54). The predetermined time γ is set to be longer than the longest side of the prize 5 in plan view and shorter than the time required for the counting sensor 60 to move from the prize upper limit line to the upper limit position of the counting sensor 60.

  If the sensor output P becomes less than the predetermined value A before the predetermined time γ elapses from the counting operation end time te (step S54: NO), the control unit 200 determines that the “foreign matter contamination abnormality” It is determined that "abnormal" has occurred, the counting operation is stopped, and an abnormality notification process is performed (step S55). This abnormality notification process is the same as the abnormality notification process described in step S37. However, the abnormality type information is information indicating “foreign matter mixing abnormality” and “premium standing abnormality”.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the sensor output P is greater than or equal to the predetermined value A until the predetermined time γ elapses from the counting operation end time te (step S54: YES), the control unit 200 displays the count value K, Based on the lift increase amount measured in the pre-processing, it is determined whether or not the “uppermost prize standing error” in which the highest prize in the cassette 7 is standing has occurred (step S56). When the highest prize in the cassette 7 stands, the value obtained by converting the count value K into a distance is shorter than the lift increase amount measured in the pre-processing. Therefore, the control unit determines whether or not “the highest standing prize standing abnormality” has occurred based on the difference between the value obtained by converting the count value K into a distance and the lift increase amount measured in the pre-processing. Can do.

  If it is determined that the “top position free standing error” has occurred (step S56: YES), the control unit 200 generates a “free top standing error” (“top position free standing error”). Is determined, the counting operation is stopped, and an abnormality notification process is performed (step S57). This abnormality notification process is the same as the abnormality notification process described in step S37. However, the abnormality type information is information indicating “premium standing abnormality” or “topmost prize standing abnormality”.

When it is determined that the “topmost prize standing error” has not occurred (NO in step S56), the control unit 200 determines that the counting operation has been completed normally (step 58). In this case, after the counting sensor 60 is raised to the upper limit position and stopped, the counting process ends. Thereafter, the counting sensor 60 is returned to the standby position.
After “YES” in the step S1, any of “abnormality without gap”, “small abnormality in prize interval”, “abnormality in prize interval”, “abnormality of foreign matter mixing” and “abnormality in prize standing” is detected. If the counting sensor 60 has been raised to the upper limit position, but the counting operation has not been completed normally (see step S58) (if YES in steps S35, S41, S46), the control unit 200 It is determined that an “overpacked abnormality” has occurred, the counting operation is stopped, and an abnormality notification process is performed. This abnormality notification process is the same as the abnormality notification process described in step S37. However, the abnormality type information is information representing “overpacked abnormality”.

With reference to FIG. 25, an exemplary operation of the control unit 200 during the counting process will be described. FIG. 25 shows an example in which four prizes are stored in the cassette 7 and the counting operation ends normally.
When the sensor output P becomes less than the predetermined value A (time ts) after the counting sensor 60 starts to rise from the standby position, K = 1 is set (see steps S31 and S32 in FIG. 22). Thereafter, the sensor output P is monitored within the first peak detection range from the time t1 corresponding to ts + α to the time t2 corresponding to t1 + β, and the minimum value Pmin1 and the maximum value Pmax1 are detected. The detection time of Pmax1 is T1 (see steps S33 and S34 in FIG. 22). Then, it is determined whether or not the difference ΔP1 between Pmax1 and Pmin1 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value B (see steps S35 and S36 in FIG. 22).

  If the difference ΔP1 is greater than or equal to the predetermined value B, K is incremented by 1 (see steps S36 and S38 in FIG. 22). That is, K = 2. Thereafter, from time t2 corresponding to T1 + β / 2 (in FIG. 25, the same time as t2 in the first peak detection range is used for the sake of simplicity of illustration, and the same applies hereinafter), corresponding to t2 + β. The sensor output P is monitored within the second peak detection range up to time t3, and the minimum value Pmin2 and the maximum value Pmax2 are detected. The detection time of Pmax2 is T2 (see steps S39 and S40 in FIG. 22). Then, it is determined whether or not the difference ΔP2 between Pmax2 and Pmin2 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value B (see step S41 in FIG. 22 and step S42 in FIG. 23).

  If the difference ΔP2 is greater than or equal to the predetermined value B, K is incremented by 1 (see steps S42 and S43 in FIG. 23). That is, K = 3. Thereafter, the sensor output P is monitored within a third peak detection range from time t3 corresponding to T2 + β / 2 to time t4 corresponding to t3 + β, and a minimum value Pmin3 and a maximum value Pmax3 are detected. The detection time of Pmax3 is T3 (see steps S44 and S45 in FIG. 23). Then, it is determined whether or not the difference ΔP3 between Pmax3 and Pmin3 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value B (see steps S46 and S47 in FIG. 23).

  If the difference ΔP3 is greater than or equal to the predetermined value B, K is incremented by 1 (see steps S47 and S48 in FIG. 23). That is, K = 4. Next, it is determined whether or not the difference Ta between T2 and T1 and the difference Tb and the sum (Ta + Tb) between T3 and T2 are within a predetermined range (a range not less than C and not more than D) (FIG. 23). Step S49). If the sum (Ta + Tb) is within a predetermined range, the sensor output P is monitored within the fourth peak detection range from time t4 corresponding to T3 + β / 2 to time t5 corresponding to t4 + β. Within the fourth peak detection range, the counting sensor 60 finishes passing the fourth premium from the bottom (the premium at the top position), so the sensor output P becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value A. Therefore, the time when the sensor output P reaches the predetermined value A is stored as the counting operation end time te (see steps S49, S50, S44, and S45 in FIG. 23).

  If the sensor output P is equal to or greater than the predetermined value A until the predetermined time γ elapses from the counting operation end time te, it is determined whether or not the “uppermost prize standing error” has occurred (step S46 in FIG. 23). , See steps S54 and S56 in FIG. 24). If the “uppermost prize standing abnormality” has not occurred, it is determined that the maximum counting operation has been completed normally. Thereafter, when the counting sensor 60 moves to the upper limit position and stops (time tmax), the prize counting process ends.

FIG. 26 shows an example of a count result screen displayed on the clerk display unit 9B of the prize dispenser 2 when the counting operation is normally completed.
This counting result screen 502 is a screen for displaying a counting result (amount of free gifts) for each cassette. This counting result screen 502 is substantially the same as the standby screen 501a shown in FIG. However, on the counting result screen 502, a character string of “counting result” indicating a counting result is displayed next to the title “stock quantity by cassette”.

FIG. 27 shows an example of a count result screen displayed on the attendant display unit 9B of the prize dispenser 2 when a stacking abnormality is detected during the counting process.
This counting result screen 503 is substantially the same as the counting result screen 502 of FIG. However, information (abnormality occurrence information) indicating that a stacking fault has occurred in a box corresponding to a cassette in which a stacking fault is detected (in this example, the first cassette from the front of the payout unit in the first row), Information indicating the position of the prize where the stacking abnormality has occurred (abnormal prize position information) is displayed. Since the abnormality occurrence information is displayed in the box corresponding to the cassette in which the stacking abnormality is detected, it also serves as information (abnormal cassette position information) indicating the cassette in which the abnormality has occurred. In this example, the abnormality occurrence information is a character string “! In this example, the abnormal prize position information includes information indicating in which number of prizes from the lowest position prize a stacking abnormality has occurred. In this example, it consists of a character string “sixth”. In addition, when the box in which the abnormality occurrence information is displayed is pressed, information indicating the type of stacking abnormality (abnormality type information) may be displayed.

FIG. 28 shows another example of the count result screen displayed on the attendant display unit 9B of the gift dispenser 2 when a stacking abnormality is detected during the counting process.
This counting result screen 504 is substantially the same as the counting result screen 502 of FIG. However, information indicating the type of stacking abnormality (abnormality type information) is displayed in the box corresponding to the cassette in which the stacking abnormality is detected (in this example, the first cassette from the front of the payout unit in the first row). Yes. Since the abnormality type information is displayed in a box corresponding to the cassette in which the stacking abnormality is detected, it also serves as information (abnormal cassette position information) indicating the cassette in which the abnormality has occurred. In this example, the abnormality type information displays a character string “! Overfilled” indicating “overfilled abnormal”. In addition, when the box displaying the abnormality type information is pressed, information (abnormal prize position information) indicating the prize position where the stacking abnormality has occurred may be displayed.

  From the screen shown in FIG. 27 or FIG. 28, the clerk can recognize that a stacking abnormality has occurred. A staff member who recognizes the occurrence of a stacking abnormality takes out the cassette in which the abnormality has occurred from the prize dispenser 2, checks the state of the prize, removes the abnormal prize or foreign matter, or corrects the attitude of the prize. After eliminating the stacking abnormality, the cassette is returned to the prize dispenser 2. Thereafter, the counting process is performed again, and if there is no abnormality, it prepares for the transaction. When the stacking abnormality has not been eliminated, or when another stacking abnormality has occurred, a screen notifying the occurrence of the abnormality is displayed again.

  If a stacking fault occurs, the cassette may be separated from inventory management with the stacking fault occurring, and a function may be used to operate only with other normal cassettes (separate operation). Good. When players who wish to exchange prizes are lined up, the above-described disconnection operation is performed so that prize exchange can be continued and the abnormality can be resolved when time is available.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form. For example, in the above-described embodiment, when a stacking abnormality is detected, the control unit 200 of the prize dispenser 2 displays the abnormality information on the clerk display unit 9B of the prize dispenser 2, but instead or In addition, the control unit 200 may transmit abnormality information to the prize management machine 3. In this case, the control unit 300 of the prize management machine 3 displays an abnormality display screen indicating that a stacking abnormality has occurred on the attendant display unit 306 based on the abnormality information sent from the prize dispenser 2. Good.

  FIG. 29 shows an example of an abnormality display screen displayed on the attendant display unit 306 of the prize management machine 3. The abnormality display screen 601 includes a message indicating the abnormality content. Specifically, the message indicating the abnormality content includes information indicating the prize dispenser 2 in which the stacking abnormality has occurred (unit number etc.), information indicating the cassette in which the stacking abnormality has occurred (abnormal cassette position information), and stacking abnormality. Information indicating the position of the generated prize (abnormal prize position information).

FIG. 30 shows another example of an abnormality display screen displayed on the attendant display unit 306 of the prize management machine 3. The abnormality display screen 602 includes a schematic diagram similar to the counting result screen 503 described with reference to FIG. 27 and a message indicating abnormal contents similar to those described with reference to FIG.
When a stacking abnormality is detected, the control unit 200 of the prize dispenser 2 may notify the T / C 4 to that effect.

  In the above-described embodiment, the prize dispenser 2 performs counting processing (including abnormality determination processing) based on the output signal of the counting sensor 60. However, the counting process based on the output signal of the counting sensor 60 is performed on the prize management machine 3 side. You may make it carry out. That is, the prize dispenser 2 moves the counting sensor 60 and transmits the output signal of the counting sensor 60 to the prize management machine 3 during the prize counting process. The prize management machine 3 performs counting processing based on the output signal of the counting sensor 60 sent from the prize dispenser 2.

The counting sensor 60 may be an optical sensor including a light emitting element that outputs blue light, or may be an optical sensor including a light emitting element that outputs visible light, infrared light, or the like of another color. Also, a sensor other than an optical sensor such as a contact (mechanical) sensor may be used.
The present invention can also be applied to a desktop type gift dispenser as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-73169.

  The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Premium offer system 2 Premium dispenser 3 Premium management machine 5 Premium 7 Cassette 8 Delivery unit 9B Personnel display unit 60 Count sensor 200 Control unit

Claims (10)

A prize dispenser having one or a plurality of storage units in which a plurality of plate-like prizes are stored in a stacked state stacked in one direction,
An integrated state detection unit for detecting an integrated state of individual prizes constituting a prize group in the storage unit in a state where a plurality of premiums are stored in the storage unit in the integrated state;
In a state where a plurality of prizes are stored in the storage unit in an integrated state, the prize group in the storage unit and the integration state detection are performed so that the integration state detection unit moves in the stacking direction of the prize group in the storage unit. Whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the individual prizes constituting the prize group in the storage unit based on the detection result of the accumulation state detection unit during the relative movement. An abnormality determining means for determining whether or not,
A prize dispenser comprising: an output means for outputting information relating to a prize accumulation abnormality when the abnormality judging means determines that an accumulation abnormality has occurred. The prize state in the storage part and the accumulation state detection part are relatively moved so that the accumulation state detection part moves in the accumulation direction of the prize group in the storage part, and the accumulation state detection during the relative movement is performed. A prize number obtaining means for obtaining the number of prizes in the storage part based on the detection result of the part;
The abnormality determination unit is configured to determine whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the prize group in the storage unit when the number of prizes is acquired by the prize number acquisition unit. The prize dispenser described in 1. The integrated state detection unit is an optical unit that irradiates light on the stacked side surface of the prize group stored in the integrated state in the storage unit, receives reflected light from the stacked side surface, and outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of received light Type reflective sensor,
The abnormality determination means includes a prize group in the storage unit such that the optical reflective sensor moves in a stacking direction of the prize group along a stacked side surface of the prize group stored in the storage unit in a stacked state. Whether or not an accumulation abnormality has occurred in the prize group in the storage unit based on the output signal of the optical reflective sensor that is moving relative to the optical reflective sensor and the relative movement of the optical reflective sensor. 3. A prize dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, configured to determine. The prize dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the abnormality determination unit further includes an abnormality type identification unit that identifies a type of accumulation abnormality . The abnormality type specifying means includes a “no gap abnormality” in which a gap between prizes cannot be specified, a “price interval abnormality” including a prize having a thickness different from a proper prize, a prescribed number in the storage unit There are “overfilled abnormalities” in which the above-mentioned prizes are stored, “foreign-object abnormalities” in which foreign matter is mixed between prizes, and prizes in which the thickness direction of the prizes does not match the prize accumulation direction 5. The prize dispenser according to claim 4, wherein at least one abnormality among "abnormalities" is specified . The abnormality determination means further includes an abnormality position specifying means for specifying a position of a prize in which an accumulation abnormality has occurred among a plurality of prizes stored in the storage unit in an accumulated state. The gift dispenser described. 7. The prize dispenser according to claim 6 , further comprising an abnormality display means for displaying information relating to a prize accumulation abnormality when the abnormality judging means determines that an accumulation abnormality has occurred . The abnormality display means includes information indicating the type of accumulation abnormality, information indicating a storage unit in which the accumulation abnormality has occurred, and a plurality of prizes stored in a storage state in the storage unit in which the accumulation abnormality has occurred. 8. The prize dispenser according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the information indicating the position of the prize in which the accumulation abnormality has occurred is displayed . A prize management machine that is communicably connected to the prize dispensing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Information acquisition means for acquiring information related to accumulation abnormality of the prize from the prize dispenser;
A prize management machine including display means for displaying information acquired by the information acquisition means . A prize dispensing system comprising: the prize dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ; and the prize management machine according to claim 9.

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