JP5813194B2 - Game equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a counting unit that is provided corresponding to a gaming machine and has a counting unit that receives and counts gaming media, a lending processing unit that performs a gaming media lending process by communicating with the corresponding gaming machine, and A control section having a confirmation processing means for performing a confirmation process for confirming the number of game media counted by the counting means for use in exchange of prizes or games in other gaming machines, the counting section and the control section It is related with the game apparatus which can communicate.

  Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, an intermediary machine (so-called sand) that lends game media by communicating with corresponding game machines, and each counter that receives and counts game media, 2. Description of the Related Art A gaming device provided separately corresponding to a gaming machine is known.

JP 2007-229480 A

  In recent years, in developing and producing gaming machines that are provided for gaming machines and have a function of counting each car, the needs of game halls that desire a gaming machine with a car counting function are met. On the other hand, in order to suppress the development and production costs, the gaming machine is developed and produced so as to be able to respond to any needs, and the gaming machine is combined with each machine counter separately from the machine. May be configured to have the function of counting each vehicle.

  In the gaming device configured as described above, the number of game media counted by each counter is transmitted to the inter-machine, and the inter-machine is used for exchanging prizes or other game machines. It is conceivable to perform a confirmation process (for example, a ticket issuing process for issuing a recording medium that can identify a game medium) for use in the game. In this case, it is conceivable to provide a function for monitoring the presence / absence of counting abnormality (injustice) with each counter, like a counter conventionally provided at an end of a game island in a game hall. Even if it is determined to be normal as a result of the monitoring, if fraud is performed during communication in which the number of game media is transmitted from each unit counter to the inter-unit unit, it is simply counted by each unit counter. There is a problem that it is not possible to deal with it simply by monitoring the abnormality.

  The present invention has been made based on such a background, and the object thereof is an abnormality related to counting in a counting unit (corresponding to each of the counters) and a control unit (corresponding to the counter). An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming apparatus that can monitor an abnormality in the number of gaming media.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to solve the above problems. The reference numerals used in the description of the best mode for carrying out the invention and the drawings to be described later are appended in parentheses for reference, but the constituent elements of the present invention are not limited to the appended description.

First, the invention according to claim 1
Provided corresponding to the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10),
Counting unit having a game media (pachinko balls) the total number counting means (ball counter 35) and (30),
Wherein a counting unit and the separate, pre SL determination processing (card return processing S26a for confirming the number of game media counted by the counting means in order to use in a game in prize exchange or other game machine and S26b comprising a control unit having a defined processing means (ball lending ticket control unit 22) that manages piece count update processing) (the ball lending issuing processor 20), and
A gaming device (each unit counting unit 50) capable of communication between the counting unit and the control unit,
The counting unit is
Counting abnormality determining means (counting control unit 31) for determining abnormality related to counting by the counting means;
Count information transmitting means (count control section 31) for transmitting count information (operation instruction response) capable of specifying the number of game media (count value) counted by the counting means to the control section. ,
The controller is
Counting information receiving means (ball lending ticket control unit 22) for receiving the counting information transmitted from the counting information transmitting means;
Game medium number abnormality determining means (ball lending ticket control unit 22) that determines that an abnormality occurs when the fluctuation amount of the number of game media per unit time specified from the count information received by the count information receiving means exceeds a predetermined value And
The gaming device is:
Count abnormality notification processing means (count control unit 31) for performing a count abnormality notification process (S302, S304, S354) for notifying that there is an abnormality based on the abnormality determination by the counting abnormality determination means ,
Based on the abnormality determination by the game medium number abnormality determination means, the game medium number abnormality notification processing means (ball lending ticket control) for performing the game medium number abnormality notification process (S402) for notifying that there is an abnormality. Part 22), and a game apparatus characterized by further comprising:

The invention according to means 2
A gaming device (each unit counting unit 50) described in the means 1,
The counting unit (30)
Count stop processing means (count control unit 31) for performing count stop processing (S202) for stopping counting by the counting means (ball counter 35);
Communication abnormality determining means (counting control unit 31) for determining abnormality of communication with the control unit,
The counting stop processing means is a gaming apparatus characterized in that the counting stop processing is performed based on an abnormality determination by the communication abnormality determination means (S201).

The invention according to means 3 is
A gaming device (each unit counting unit 50) described in the means 1 or 2,
The counting unit (30) further includes a count stop processing unit (count control unit 31) that performs a count stop process for stopping counting by the counting unit,
The counting stop processing means is a gaming apparatus characterized in that the counting stop processing is performed based on an abnormality determination made by the gaming medium number abnormality determination means.

  First, according to the gaming apparatus according to the means 1, it is possible to monitor abnormality related to counting in the counting unit, and to monitor abnormality in the control unit of the number of game media specified from the counting information transmitted from the counting unit to the control unit. Therefore, compared with the case where only the former is monitored, it is possible to more accurately monitor the abnormality associated with the counting performed by the gaming apparatus. And since a control part determines with it being abnormal and alert | reports, when the variation | change_quantity of the number of game media per unit time exceeds a predetermined value, it can alert | report when the possibility that fraud was performed is high.

  Further, according to the gaming device according to the means 2, counting is performed by the counting unit if the communication between the counting unit and the control unit is normal, and the counting is stopped if the communication is abnormal. In the case of an abnormality, the game media acquired by the player can be left without being counted, and the player can be prevented from being disadvantaged.

  Further, according to the gaming apparatus according to the means 3, counting is stopped when an abnormality is determined by the game medium number abnormality determining means of the control unit, so that the player can be protected.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a gaming system including each unit counting unit which is a gaming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of each unit counting unit, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a cross-sectional right side view of a ball lending ticket processing unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a card table stored in the RAM of the ball rental ticket control unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a main screen displayed on the display of each unit counting unit. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of the counting unit, in which FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional front view of the external unit, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional left side view of the internal unit. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of the inflow path and the ball counter. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the business process performed by the ball lending ticket control unit of the ball lending ticket processing unit. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the counting process performed by the ball lending ticket control unit of the ball lending ticket processing unit and the counting control unit of the counting unit. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the case where polling interruption is detected in the counting process. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the types of errors in the abnormality determination process performed by the counting control unit. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example when the count control unit determines that an abnormality has occurred. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the counting abnormality 3. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating each error in the count value abnormality determination process performed by the ball lending ticket control unit. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a case where the ball rental ticket control unit makes an abnormality determination. 15A and 15B are views showing a first modification of the gaming apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 15A is a front view and FIG. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing a second modification of the gaming apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 16A is a front view and FIG. 16B is a right side view of a cross section of a ball lending ticket processing unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the database is abbreviated as “DB”, the reader / writer is abbreviated as “R / W”, and step S is abbreviated as “S”.

  The gaming device (each unit counting unit 50) according to the present invention is provided corresponding to the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and as shown in FIGS. The amount of game value possessed by the player (remaining prepaid amount) by communicating with the counting unit 30 having counting means (ball counter 35) for receiving and counting game media (pachinko balls) and the corresponding gaming machine Lending processing means (ball lending ticket control unit 22) for performing lending processing (ball lending processing) for paying out and lending gaming media equivalent to the gaming machine, and the number of game media counted by the counting means (total A control unit (ball lending ticket processing) having a confirmation processing means (ball lending ticket control unit 22) for performing a confirmation process (ticketing process) for confirming the numerical value) for use in exchange of prizes or games in other gaming machines Part 20) and counting And a control unit is capable communications.

  In each unit counting unit 50, which is a gaming apparatus, the counting unit 30 determines an abnormality related to counting by the ball counter 35 as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, and the ball counter 35 uses the ball counter 35 as shown in FIG. Count information (operation instruction response) that can specify the counted value is transmitted to the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that is a control unit, and the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 is as shown in FIGS. 13 to 14. Then, abnormality is determined based on the count value specified from the received operation instruction response, and as shown in FIG. 11, the abnormality determination processing (S304, S307) based on the abnormality determination by the counting unit 30 (S301). , S354), and as shown in FIG. 14, the game medium number abnormality notification process (S402) is performed based on the abnormality determination by the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 (S401). It is.

  First, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a gaming system 1 including each vehicle counting unit 50 that is a gaming apparatus according to the present invention includes an island computer 63 provided on each of a plurality of gaming islands, and each gaming island. Can communicate with the island computer 63 provided on the game island, and can communicate with the plurality of pachinko machines 10 arranged on the game island and the island computer 63 provided on each game island. Each unit counting unit 50 (ball lending ticket processing unit 20 + counting unit 30) provided corresponding to each of the pachinko machines 10, the remaining amount management device 60, the member management device 61, and the holding ball that can communicate with all the island computers 63. It consists of a management device 62 and a hall computer 70.

  In the gaming apparatus and gaming system 1, a membership card 2 and a visitor card 3 are used as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, when the membership card 2 and the visitor card 3 are not distinguished, both are simply referred to as “card”. These cards include a non-contact type IC chip having a nonvolatile EEPROM as a recording area at a predetermined portion of a thin plastic plate having a rectangular shape. Incidentally, the card here includes a coin having a circular shape.

  The membership card 2 is a recording medium issued to a player who has registered as a member at the amusement hall (member player), and a card ID, which is information for individually identifying the recording medium, is pre-installed on the IC chip. It is recorded. This card ID is made up of an initial M indicating a member player, followed by a unique 5-digit number, and is also information that can individually identify the member player. The IC chip also stores the prepaid balance, but does not store the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls. When the member card 2 is received by the card R / W 23 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, the password (not shown) of the password managed by the member management device 61 is associated with the card ID recorded on the IC chip. As shown in FIG. 1, the ball lending process using the prepaid balance managed by the balance management device 60 in association with the card ID can be performed on the condition that the authentication is successful, and the card ID is associated with the card ID. The stored ball replay process using the number of stored balls managed by the member management device 61 becomes possible, and the paid-out processing using the number of held balls managed by the managed ball management device 62 in association with the card ID. Is possible.

  The visitor card 3 is a recording medium issued to a player (visitor player) in a game hall, and a card ID, which is information for individually identifying the recording medium, is recorded in advance on the IC chip. This card ID consists of an initial letter V indicating a visitor player, followed by a unique 5-digit number. The IC chip also stores the prepaid balance, but does not store the number of balls. When this visitor card 3 is received by the card R / W 23 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, as shown in FIG. 1, it is managed by the balance management device 60 in association with the card ID recorded on the IC chip. The ball lending process using the remaining amount can be performed, and the ball payout process using the number of balls managed by the ball management device 62 in association with the card ID can be performed. Unlike a member player, a visitor player cannot save money or play again.

  Here, the balance management device 60, the member management device 61, the possession management device 62, and the island computer 63 will be described with reference to FIG. The balance management device 60 manages a prepaid balance that is a prepaid value that is a prepaid value that the player has prepaid in association with the card ID of the member card 2 or the visitor card 3. is there. When the remaining amount management device 60 receives an addition request including the card ID and the deposit amount provided for the deposit process from the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that performs the deposit process (S04, S22 in FIG. 7), the card ID The payment amount is added to the prepaid balance managed in association with the credit card, the addition completion notification is returned, and the ball ID issuing processing unit 20 that performs the ball lending process (S21a in FIG. 7) returns the card ID and the ball. When a subtraction request including the usage amount used for the lending process is received, the usage amount is subtracted from the prepaid balance managed in association with the card ID, and a subtraction completion notification is returned.

  The member management device 61 associates the card ID of the member card 2 with the number of stored balls that is a value for a game possessed by the player and that is obtained by saving the acquired value (prize ball) acquired by the player through the game. Is to manage. This number of stored balls can be used not only for the day of acquisition by the player but also for the game on the pachinko machine 10 after the next day. Although not shown, the member management device 61 also associates the card ID with the personal information (name, zip code, address, telephone number, etc.) and password of the member player registered at the time of member registration. I manage. When this member management device 61 receives a membership card 2 and receives a stored number acquisition request including a card ID and a password from the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that performs the management stored number acquisition process (S06 in FIG. 7), On the condition that the received personal identification number matches the personal identification number stored in association with the received card ID (that is, authentication has been obtained), the number of stored balls managed in association with the card ID The stored ball number information including the card ID and the stored ball number is returned from the ball issued ticket processing unit 20 which returns the stored ball number information to the ball loaned ticket processing unit 20 and performs the management ball number updating process (S26b in FIG. 7). When the request is received, the number of stored balls managed in association with the card ID is updated to the received number of stored balls. When the member management device 61 receives a free gift exchange request including a card ID and the number of balls used for free gift exchange from a POS terminal (not shown) that performs free gift exchange processing, the member management device 61 manages it in association with the card ID. When the number of balls used for prize exchange is subtracted from the number of stored balls and when a storage request including a card ID and the number of balls to be stored is received from the POS terminal, the number of stored balls managed in association with the card ID Add the number of balls to be stored.

  The possession management device 62 counts the game value possessed by the player in association with the card ID of the member card 2 or the visitor card 3 and the acquired value (prize ball) acquired by the player through the game. This is to manage the number of possessed balls. The number of possessed balls can be used for prize exchange or games on the pachinko machine 10 only on the day acquired by the player. This possession management device 62 receives a membership card 2 or a visitor card 3 and performs a management possession number acquisition process (S07 in FIG. 7), and issues a possession number acquisition request including the card ID. Upon receipt, the number-of-balls information including the number of balls managed in association with the card ID is returned to the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, and the management ball number update process (S26b in FIG. 7) is performed. When a ball number update request including the card ID and the number of balls is received from the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, the number of balls managed in association with the card ID is updated to the received number of balls. . Further, when receiving the prize exchange request including the card ID and the number of balls used for the prize exchange from the POS terminal (not shown) that performs the prize exchange process, the possession management apparatus 62 manages the prize in association with the card ID. Subtract the number of balls used for prize exchange from the number of balls you have.

  The possession management device 62 erases the number of possessions associated with the card ID of the member card 2 (that is, the card ID whose initial is M) after the end of the business day, and also deletes the card ID and the erased card. The transfer request including the number of held balls is transmitted to the member management device 61, and the member management device 61 adds the number of stored balls managed in association with the card ID included in the transfer request to the transfer request. Update the number of balls included. That is, the number of possessed balls associated with the card ID of the member card 2 is automatically reflected on the number of stored balls after the end of business on that day, and can be used after the next day. Moreover, the possession management device 62 deletes the number of possessions associated with the card ID of the visitor card 3 (that is, the card ID with the initial letter V) after the end of the business day. That is, the number of possessions associated with the card ID of the visitor card 3 is automatically deleted after the business day ends and becomes invalid.

  The island computer 63 is connected to each pachinko machine 10 and each unit counting unit 50 (that is, arranged on the game island where the island computer 63 is provided), the remaining amount management device 60, the member management device 61, and the possession management device. 62 and a relay device that relays data communication with the hall computer 70.

  Next, the pachinko machine 10 will be described. The pachinko machine 10 is an example of a gaming machine, and corresponds to each unit counting unit 50 (here, adjacent to the right side of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A. The pachinko ball is paid out from the pachinko machine 10 according to the ball lending processing performed by the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 by communicating with the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 of each corresponding counter unit 50 provided. This is a so-called CR-type pachinko machine. This pachinko machine 10 is arranged according to the model of the pachinko machine 10 on the game island provided in the game hall, and is individually identified by a unique machine number.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the pachinko machine 10 is provided with a game area, an upper plate, a lower plate, a launching handle, and the like on the front surface, and a remaining frequency indicator 14, a ball lending button 15, And a card return button 16, and as shown in FIG. 1, a game control board 11, a payout control board 12, a ball payout device 13, etc. are provided therein, and each of these components is as shown in FIG. It is connected to the.

  The game control board 11 controls the gaming state in the pachinko machine 10. The payout control board 12 is communicably connected to the ball lending communication unit 21a of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, and manages communication between the pachinko machine 10 and the ball lending ticket processing unit 20. Thereby, signals are exchanged with the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 in the ball lending process (S21a in FIG. 7), the ball payout process (S24), and the stored ball replay process (S25). The payout control board 12 is connected to the ball payout device 13 and controls the ball payout device 13. The ball payout device 13 pays out a pachinko ball in a ball lending process, a holding ball payout process, and a storage ball replay process, and also pays out a pachinko ball (so-called prize ball) given to a player as a result of the game. is there.

  The remaining frequency indicator 14 is a prepaid balance (that is, a card table shown in FIG. 3) recorded on the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) received by the card R / W 23 of the corresponding ball lending ticket processing unit 20. It is a display for displaying the remaining frequency specified from the stored prepaid balance, and here it is constituted by a 2-digit 7-segment display. In this remaining frequency indicator 14, the remaining frequency is displayed by inputting a frequency display signal indicating the remaining frequency from the ball lending communication unit 21a. The remaining frequency included in the frequency display signal is a quotient calculated by the formula “prepaid balance / minimum unit value (100 yen in this case)”. The remaining frequency displayed on the remaining frequency display 14 is updated and displayed every time the prepaid balance stored in the card table is updated.

  The ball lending button 15 is for performing a ball lending process using the prepaid balance recorded on the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) received by the card R / W 23 of the corresponding ball lending ticket processing unit 20. A button for accepting a ball lending operation. When this ball lending button 15 is operated, a lending input signal is sent to the ball lending communication unit 21a via a lending input signal line provided via a detection circuit (not shown) between the ball lending communication unit 21a. , And the detection circuit detects the input of the lending input signal, so that the ball lending ticket control unit 22 recognizes that the ball lending button 15 is operated, and the ball lending process (S21a in FIG. 7). I do.

  The card return button 16 is a button for receiving a return operation for returning the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) received by the card R / W 23 of the corresponding ball lending ticket processing unit 20. When this card return button 16 is operated, a return input signal is sent to the ball lending communication unit 21a via a return input signal line provided between the ball lending communication unit 21a and a detection circuit (not shown). And the detection circuit detects the input of the return input signal, so that the ball lending ticket control unit 22 recognizes that the card return button 16 has been operated, and returns the card (S26a in FIG. 7). I do.

  The remaining frequency indicator 14, the ball lending button 15, and the card return button 16 are provided on the front surface (here, the upper plate) of the pachinko machine 10, as shown in FIG. Since it is connected to the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 as shown in FIG. 4, it belongs to the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 constituting the gaming apparatus.

  In this pachinko machine 10, when the launch handle is operated, the pachinko balls on the upper plate are driven into the game area and a game is played. Then, when the hit ball that has been driven into the game area wins the start winning opening, the variable display device starts to fluctuate. When the display result of the symbol displayed on the variable display device is in a specific mode, a big hit occurs. . Further, when the hitting ball wins a winning opening (a start winning opening, a general winning opening, or a large winning opening that is opened when a big hit is made), a prize ball is paid out from the ball dispensing device 13 under the control of the dispensing control board 12. The paid-out prize ball is first guided to the upper plate, and when the upper plate is full, it is guided to the lower plate. Then, the prize ball guided to the lower plate falls from the lower plate and is guided to the ball placement unit 32 of the counting unit 30 when a drop lever (not shown) is operated. Although not shown, the hit balls are collected by an out tank provided behind the pachinko machine 10, counted by a hit ball counter, and taken into the game island after counting.

  Next, the ball rental ticket processing unit 20 of each unit counting unit 50 will be described. The ball lending ticket processing unit 20 constitutes a gaming device, and corresponds to the pachinko machine 10 that is a gaming machine (here, the left side of the pachinko machine 10), as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), and has a vertically long box shape. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), a multi-function lamp 26, a bill insertion slot 25a, a protrusion 20a, and a card are inserted on the front surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), a bill discriminator 25, a ball lending communication unit 21a, an on-site communication unit 21b, a ball lending ticket control unit 22, a card R / W 23, and a card stocker are provided. 23b and the like, and a touch panel type display 24 is provided on the right side of the projecting portion 20a (that is, the side facing the player), and these components are connected as shown in FIG. In addition, in the lower part of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, an external unit 30a of the counting unit 30 is arranged on the front surface, and an internal unit 30b of the counting unit 30 is arranged inside, which will be described later. The ball lending ticket processing unit 20 and the counting unit 30 constitute each unit counting unit 50 that is a gaming device, and each unit counting unit 50 is individually identified by the unit number of the corresponding pachinko machine 10. .

  As described above, the ball lending communication unit 21a is communicably connected to the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the on-site communication unit 21b is communicably connected to the balance management device 60, the member management device 61, the possession management device 62, and the hall computer 70 via the island computer 63. It manages communication with the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 (each unit counting unit 50).

  The ball lending ticket control unit 22 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, and the like. The processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, so that the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 Various operations are performed by controlling the operation of each component provided.

  The RAM of the ball rental ticket control unit 22 stores the card table shown in FIG. In this card table, the card ID read from the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) received by the card R / W 23, the prepaid balance corresponding to the card ID, the number of balls, and the number of stored balls (however, the number of stored balls is Is stored and updated). This storage and update will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The card R / W 23, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), accepts insertion of a card (member card 2 or visitor card) from the card insertion slot 23a, and reads the card ID and the prepaid balance from the IC chip of the card. It is. The card stocker 23b is provided behind the card R / W 23 and stores a predetermined number (for example, 10) of visitor cards 3. In this card stocker 23b, the ball lending process is performed, the prepaid balance becomes zero, and the visitor card 3 having the number of possessed balls is taken in and stored (S21c in FIG. 7). When a bill is accepted by the bill validator 25 in a state where no card is accepted by the card R / W 23 (YES in S01 of FIG. 7), the visitor card 3 stored in the card stocker 23b (hereinafter, “ One of the stock cards is also conveyed from the card stocker 23b to the card R / W 23 and set in the card R / W 23. The card R / W 23 is the visitor card set. The card ID and the prepaid balance (in this case, zero) are read from the IC chip 3 (S03 in FIG. 7).

  The touch panel display 24 is a display device that displays various types of information and an input device that accepts input of various types of information. On the display 24, a main screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. On this main screen, the number of balls currently stored in the card table of FIG. 3 is displayed, and a “payout” button for receiving a payout operation for performing a ball payout process using the number of balls is displayed. The In addition, when the number of stored balls is stored in the card table (that is, when a membership card is accepted at the card R / W 23), the stored ball number is displayed and the stored ball replay process using the stored number of balls is performed. A “replay” button for accepting a replay operation for performing is displayed. Further, the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls displayed on the main screen are updated and displayed every time the number of retained balls and the number of stored balls stored in the card table are updated.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the bill validator 25 accepts insertion of bills (1000 yen bills, 2000 yen bills, 5000 yen bills, or 10000 yen bills) from the bill insertion slot 25a and identifies the bills. To do. The identified banknotes are transported through the banknote passage 25b provided behind the banknote discriminator 25, taken into the game island, and collected in a safe provided at the end of the game island through the transport path provided in the game island. Is done.

  The multi-function lamp 26 emits light by lighting and / or blinking in various colors, thereby notifying according to the light emission mode, for example, communication abnormality notification shown in S204 of FIG. 9, S305 of FIG. In addition, the count abnormality notification shown in S355, the count value abnormality notification shown in S402 in FIG.

  Next, the counting unit 30 of each unit counting unit 50 will be described. The counting unit 30 constitutes a part of the gaming apparatus, and has a ball counter 35 that is a counting unit that receives and counts pachinko balls that are game media. The pachinko balls counted by the ball counter 35 are taken into the game island. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the counting unit 30 includes an external unit 30a disposed on the front surface in the lower part of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, and a ball lending ticket processing unit as shown in FIG. 2 (b). The counting unit 30 and the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 constitute an individual unit counting unit 50 that is a gaming device. Hereinafter, the structure of the counting unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  Inside the external unit 30a, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), a ball placing portion 32 for receiving and placing a pachinko ball dropped from the lower plate of the pachinko machine 10, and the ball placing portion 32 Provided on the downstream side is a shutter 33 that enables or disables the pachinko ball on the ball mounting portion 32 to be received by the ball counter 35, and an outflow path 40 provided below the ball mounting portion 32. It has been. Here, the shutter 33 is opened on the condition that there is a stock card in the card stocker 23b, and is closed when there is no stock card. Further, even if there is a stock card in the card stocker 23b, the shutter 33 is closed when counting is prohibited in the counting unit 30.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, an LED (light emitting diode) 41 is provided on the front surface of the external unit 30a, and further, on the lower end of the outflow passage 40 on the lower surface of the external unit 30a, A saucer 40 is provided for receiving a pachinko ball that has flowed down the outflow passage 40.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the internal unit 30 b is provided with an inflow path 34 that communicates with the downstream end of the ball mounting portion 32 and an downstream end of the inflow path 34. A ball counter 35 that counts pachinko balls flowing down in the inflow path 34, and a part of the pachinko balls that are provided below the inflow path 34 and counted by the ball counter 35 are stored on the downstream side. The ball storage portion 36 whose end portion communicates with the upstream end portion of the outflow passage 40 and the downstream end portion of the inflow passage 34, and the ball storage portion of the pachinko balls counted by the ball counter 35. A discharge path 37 for flowing pachinko balls other than those stored in the amusement island, and a payout counter for counting pachinko balls discharged from the ball storage portion 36, provided at the downstream end of the ball storage portion 36. 38. Here, in the ball storage unit 36, the maximum number (that is, 24 balls) less than the payout unit so that a number of pachinko balls less than a predetermined payout unit (for example, 25 balls) can be paid out from the counting unit 30. Pachinko balls are stored.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a solenoid (not shown) for driving the shutter 33, each counting sensor provided in the ball counter 35, a payout sensor provided in the payout counter 38, and the LED 41 are included in the count control unit 31 of the counting unit 30. It is connected to the.

  Further, the counting control unit 31 of the counting unit 30 is communicably connected to the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, and communication by polling is performed between the two at a predetermined interval (for example, 500 msec interval). Is called. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like which will be described later, first, an operation instruction is transmitted from the ball lending ticket control unit 22 to the count control unit 31 at intervals of 500 msec, and count control is performed according to the operation instruction. An operation instruction response is returned from the unit 31 to the ball rental ticket control unit 22. Communication between the two will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 6, the structure of the inflow path 34 and the ball counter 35 is demonstrated. The inflow channel 34 includes a first lane 341 and a second lane 342 which are parallel in plan view. The ball counter 35 includes a counting sensor 351a provided on the upstream side of the first lane 341, a counting sensor 351b provided on the downstream side of the first lane 341, a counting sensor 352a provided on the upstream side of the second lane 342, It consists of a counting sensor 352b provided on the downstream side of the second lane 342. Hereinafter, the counting sensors 351a, 351b, 352a, and 352b may be simply referred to as “counting sensors”.

  These counting sensors are photosensors. When the pachinko ball passes through the upstream counting sensor 351b and then passes through the downstream counting sensor 351b in the first lane 341, the pulse width corresponding to the passage time between the two counting sensors. Is output to the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a plus count and increments the count value by one. Similarly, in the second lane 342, when the pachinko ball passes the downstream counting sensor 352b after passing the upstream counting sensor 352a, a counting pulse having a pulse width corresponding to the passing time between both counting sensors is output. It is input to the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a plus count and increments the count value by one.

  If a pachinko ball flows backward due to a failure or the like, and the pachinko ball passes through the counting sensor 351a on the upstream side after passing through the counting sensor 351b on the downstream side in the first lane 341, a pulse corresponding to the passing time between both counting sensors. A width counting pulse is output and input to the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a negative count to decrement the count value. Similarly, in the second lane 342, when the pachinko ball passes the downstream counting sensor 352a after passing the downstream counting sensor 352b, a counting pulse having a pulse width corresponding to the passing time between both counting sensors is output. It is input to the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a minus count and decrements the count value by −1.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the flow of the pachinko balls in the counting unit 30 will be described. When a pachinko ball is dropped from the lower plate of the pachinko machine 10 during standby (that is, when the shutter 33 is open) shown in FIG. 8 to be described later, the pachinko ball flows down on the ball mounting portion 32 and the shutter 33 , Flows down in the inflow path 34, and is counted by the ball counter 35. The pachinko balls counted by the ball counter 35 are stored in the ball storage unit 36 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5C until the ball storage unit 36 is filled with the pachinko balls. After being filled with pachinko balls, it proceeds in the direction of arrow B, flows down in the discharge path 37, and is taken into the game island. The count value obtained by the ball counter 35 is detected by the count control unit 31 and transmitted to the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20. Will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the hall computer 70 will be described. The hall computer 70 is a computer having a communication unit 71, a control unit 72, a hard disk 73, a display 74, an input device 75, and the like connected as shown in FIG.

  The communication unit 71 passes through each of the plurality of island computers 63 to each of the plurality of pachinko machines 10 and the respective unit counting units 50 (the on-site communication unit 21b of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20) under the control of each island computer 63. Is communicably connected. The control unit 72 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. Each processing element stored in the ROM and the hard disk 73 is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, whereby each component included in the hall computer 70 is provided. The various operations are performed by controlling the operation. The hard disk 73 is a storage device that stores various types of information. The display 74 is a display device that displays various types of information, for example, a liquid crystal display. The input device 75 is an input device that receives input of various types of information, and is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 7-14, the effect | action of each stand counting unit 50 which is a game device which concerns on this invention is demonstrated. Here, with reference to FIG. 7, first, while the business process performed by the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 will be described, and next, with reference to FIGS. Processing performed by the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the unit 20 and the counting control unit 31 of the counting unit 30 will be described.

  First, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a business process performed by the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 waits for acceptance of a bill by the bill validator 25 at S01 or acceptance of a card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) by the card R / W 23 at S02. Here, S01 and S02 are performed by a player who plays a game with the pachinko machine 10 corresponding to the gaming apparatus.

  If a bill is accepted in S01 (YES), the bill validator 25 identifies the accepted bill, and the card stocker 23b removes one of the stored visitor cards 3 as a card R in S03. The card R / W 23 sets the conveyed visitor card 3 and reads the card ID and the prepaid balance (in this case zero) from the IC chip. A deposit process is performed in S04.

  In this deposit process, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 issues an addition request including the card ID read in S03 and the bill amount identified in S01 (that is, the deposited amount provided for the deposit process) to the remaining amount management device 60. Send. The remaining amount management device 60 that has received the addition request adds the deposit amount included in the addition request to the prepaid balance (in this case, zero) that is managed in association with the card ID included in the addition request. The addition completion notification is returned to the ball rental ticket processing unit 20. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that has received the notice of completion of addition adds the banknote amount identified in S01 to the prepaid balance in association with the card ID read in S03 on the card table. At the same time, the remaining number is displayed on the remaining number display 14 and the prepaid balance after the addition update is recorded on the visitor card 3 being accepted by the card R / W 23, and the deposit process is terminated. Proceed to

  If the card is received in S02 (YES), the card R / W 23 reads the card ID and the prepaid balance from the IC chip of the received card, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 reads the card read in S05. It is determined whether or not the accepted card is the membership card 2 based on the initial letter (M or V) of the ID. If it is determined in S05 that the card is a membership card 2 (YES), the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs the number-of-balls acquisition process in S06.

  In this stored number acquisition process, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a process of displaying a password input screen (not shown) on the display 24. If a password is input, the card ID read in S02 and the input are input. A request for acquiring the number of stored balls including the received personal identification number is transmitted to the member management apparatus 61. The member management device 61 that has received the storage ball number acquisition request determines whether or not the personal identification number included in the storage ball number acquisition request matches the personal identification number stored in association with the card ID included in the storage ball number acquisition request. And the number of stored balls information including the number of stored balls managed in association with the card ID is returned to the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 on condition that they match. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that has received the stored ball number information stores the number of stored balls included in the stored ball number information in association with the card ID read in S02 in the card table. At the same time, the number of stored balls is displayed on the main screen, the stored number acquisition process is terminated, and the number of acquired balls is processed in S07.

  In this number acquisition process, the ball rental ticket control unit 22 transmits a number acquisition request including the card ID read in S02 to the ball management device 62. The ball management device 62 that has received the ball number acquisition request receives the ball number information including the number of balls managed in association with the card ID included in the ball number acquisition request. Reply to 20 The ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that has received the number of possessed balls information is associated with the card ID read in S02 in the card table, and is included in the number of possessed balls information. And the number of possessed balls is displayed on the main screen, the number of possessed balls acquisition process is terminated, and a remaining amount confirmation process is performed in S08.

  In the remaining amount confirmation process, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 transmits a remaining amount confirmation request including the card ID read in S02 and the prepaid remaining amount to the remaining amount management device 60. The remaining amount management device 60 that has received the remaining amount confirmation request determines whether or not the prepaid remaining amount included in the remaining amount confirmation request matches the prepaid remaining amount managed in association with the card ID included in the remaining amount confirmation request. The remaining amount confirmation notification including the prepaid remaining amount is returned to the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 on the condition that it is determined and matched. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that has received the remaining amount confirmation notification stores the prepaid balance included in the remaining amount confirmation notification in association with the card ID read in S02 in the card table. At the same time, the remaining frequency display unit 14 displays the remaining frequency, ends the remaining amount confirmation processing, and proceeds to S11.

  If it is determined in S05 that the card is not a membership card 2 (NO), that is, it is a visitor card 3, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs the number-of-balls acquisition process in S07 and the remaining amount confirmation process in S08. And proceed to S11.

  When the processing of S04 or S08 ends, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 accepts the operation of the ball lending button 15 in S11, accepts the banknotes by the bill validator 25 in S12, and main screen in S14. The operation of the payout button displayed on the screen, the operation of the replay button displayed on the main screen during the reception of the member card 2 in S15, or the operation of the card return button 16 in S16 are awaited.

  When there is an operation of the ball lending button 15 in S11 (YES), the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a ball lending process in S21a. In this ball lending process, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 determines whether or not the prepaid balance stored in the card table is equal to or greater than a preset ball lending set amount (for example, 5 times = 500 yen), If the prepaid balance is equal to or larger than the ball lending set amount, the ball lending set amount is specified as the used amount. If the prepaid remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount, the prepaid remaining amount is specified as the used amount and specified. The payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10 is instructed to pay out the pachinko balls for the amount used, and a subtraction request including the card ID and the amount used is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 60. The remaining amount management device 60 that has received the subtraction request subtracts the used amount included in the subtraction request from the prepaid remaining amount managed in association with the card ID included in the subtraction request, and issues a subtraction completion notification. A reply is made to the ticket issuing processing unit 20. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that has received the subtraction completion notification updates the used amount by subtracting from the prepaid balance in the card table, and displays the remaining number on the remaining number display 14. In addition, a process of recording the prepaid balance after the subtraction update is performed on the card being accepted by the card R / W 23, the ball lending process is terminated, and the process proceeds to S21b.

  The ball lending ticket control unit 22 that performs the processing of S21a communicates with the corresponding pachinko machine 10 to generate a pachinko ball corresponding to the magnitude of the game value (prepaid balance) owned by the player. It functions as a lending processing means for performing lending processing (ball lending processing) for lending out and lending from.

  In S21b, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 determines whether or not the prepaid balance and the number of held balls that are being received by the visitor card 3 and stored in the card table are zero. If NO, the process returns to S11. If YES, the visitor card 3 is taken into the card stocker 23b at S21c, and the number of management balls is updated at S26b. In this management ball number update process, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a process of transmitting a ball number update request including the card ID and the number of balls (zero in this case) to the ball management device 62. Then, the management ball number updating process is terminated. The ball management device 62 that has received the number-of-balls update request includes the number of balls managed in association with the card ID included in the number-of-balls update request. Update to number. When the process of S26b ends, in S26c, the ball rental ticket control unit 22 erases the stored contents of the card table and ends the business process.

  When there is acceptance of a bill at S12 (YES), the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs the same depositing process as S04 at S22, and returns to S11.

  When there is an operation of the payout button in S14 (YES), the ball lending ticket control unit 22 and the counting unit 30 perform the ball payout processing in S24. In this coin payout process, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 determines whether or not the number of coins stored in the card table is equal to or greater than a preset payout setting number (for example, 125 balls for a 5-degree number). To do. If the number of holding balls is equal to or greater than the set number of payouts, the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10 is instructed to pay out the pachinko balls corresponding to the set number of payouts, and the set number of payouts is stored in the card table. While subtracting and updating the number of balls, the number of balls is updated and displayed on the main screen, the ball payout process is terminated, and the process returns to S11.

  On the other hand, if the number of held balls is less than the set number of payouts, the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10 is commanded to pay out pachinko balls that are an integral multiple of the payout unit (25 balls) out of the number of held balls. Pachinko balls less than the payout unit are paid out from the counting unit 30 and the number of held balls stored in the card table is updated to zero, and the number of held balls is updated to zero on the main screen, The ball payout process is terminated, and the process returns to S11. Specifically, when the number of balls is 124 balls, 25 balls × 4 = 100 balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 10, and the remaining 24 balls are paid out from the counting unit 30. When this fractional payout process is performed, the payout counter 38 is opened under the control of the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the pachinko balls stored in the ball storage unit 36 pass through the payout counter 38 and the payout sensor (not shown). When the count value of the payout sensor reaches the payout number, the payout counter 38 is closed. The pachinko balls that have passed through the payout counter 38 flow down in the outflow passage 39 and are received by the tray 40, and the player can use the pachinko balls in the game by supplying the pachinko balls to the upper plate of the pachinko machine 10.

  If there is a replay button operation while accepting the membership card 2 in S15 (YES), the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a stored ball replay process in S25. In this stored ball replay process, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 sets the number of stored balls stored in the card table in advance, for example, the replay setting number (for example, 125 balls for 5 degrees) + the number of commission balls (for example, 25 balls) ) Determine whether it is above. If the number of stored balls is equal to or greater than the number of replay settings + the number of fees, the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10 is instructed to pay out the pachinko balls corresponding to the number of replay settings, and the number of replay settings + the fee While subtracting and updating the number of balls from the number of balls stored in the card table, the number of balls is updated and displayed on the main screen, the stored ball replay process is terminated, and the process returns to S11. If the number of stored balls is less than the replay setting number + the number of commission balls, the stored ball replay process is terminated without paying out the pachinko balls, and the process returns to S11.

  If there is an operation of the card return button 16 in S16 (YES), the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs a process of returning the card being accepted by the card R / W 23 in S26a, and manages the number of balls in S26b. Perform update processing. In this management ball number update process, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 transmits a ball number update request including the card ID and the number of balls to the ball management device 62, and the accepted card is a member card. In the case of 2, the number of stored balls update request including the card ID and the number of stored balls is transmitted to the member management device 61, and the management ball number updating process is terminated. The ball management device 62 that has received the number-of-balls update request includes the number of balls managed in association with the card ID included in the number-of-balls update request. Update to number. Also, the member management device 61 that has received the storage ball number update request updates the number of storage balls managed in association with the card ID included in the storage ball number update request to the number of storage balls included in the storage ball number update request. The process of returning the card in S26a and the management ball number updating process in S26b can be used to change the number of balls that have not been used for the ball payout process or the number of stored balls that have not been used for the replay process of the prize or other This corresponds to a confirmation process (ie, a process of returning the card by associating the number of possessed balls and the number of accumulated balls with the card ID of the accepted card) for use in the game of the pachinko machine 10 . When the process of S26b ends, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 erases the stored contents of the card table in S26c, and ends the business process.

  The ball lending ticket control unit 22 that performs the processing of S26a and S26b determines the number of game media (the number of possessed balls) counted by the ball counter 35 to be used for prize exchange or other games in the pachinko machine 10. It functions as a confirmation processing means for performing a confirmation process for this purpose.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14, processing performed by the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 and the counting control unit 31 of the counting unit 30 will be described. In each unit counting unit 50, as shown in FIG. 8, the ball control unit 31 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 and the count control unit 31 of the counting unit 30 communicate with each other so that the counting control unit 31 The count value by the ball counter 35 is stored, and the count value is transmitted to the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 stores the count value as the number of balls in the card table. 10 to 12, the count control unit 31 performs a count abnormality determination process, and as illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 14, the ball rental ticket control unit 22 performs a count value abnormality determination process.

  First, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the counting process performed by each counter unit 50. Although not shown, when the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 and the counting unit 30 are turned on before the game hall starts business, the connected device confirmation instruction is transmitted from the ball lending ticket control unit 22 to the counting control unit 31. When the connected device confirmation instruction is received, the connected device confirmation response is transmitted from the counting control unit 31 to the ball rental ticket control unit 22, and the ball rental ticket control unit 22 that has received the connected device confirmation response activates the counting control unit 31. The instruction is transmitted, the activation instruction response is transmitted from the count control unit 31 that has received the activation instruction to the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the state shown in FIG. 8 is obtained. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 and the count control unit 31 both store a count sequence number. This counting sequence number is the same during counting standby, and is shifted by one from the start of counting until the next standby (specifically, the counting sequence number of the count control unit 31 is incremented by one). Number). Further, the counting control unit 31 stores “not counting” if the counting by the ball counter 35 is not performed, and stores “counting” if the counting by the ball counter 35 is performed. When the series of counting is completed, “counting end detection” is stored.

  In FIG. 8, when the ball lending ticket control unit 22 accepts the card by the card R / W 23 in S101 (S02, S03 in FIG. 7), the count is permitted and the count can be sucked up (that is, stored in the card table) in S102. The operation instruction A indicating that the count value can be added to the number of held balls) is transmitted to the count control unit 31 by polling, and the count control unit 31 that has received the operation instruction A receives “ In S103, an operation instruction response A indicating that there is no error and that counting is not in progress is returned to the ball lending ticket control unit 22. Upon receiving the operation instruction response A, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 transmits an operation instruction B indicating that there is no instruction and counting up is possible to the count control unit 31 by polling in S104, and the operation instruction B In S105, the count control unit 31 that has received the response returns the operation instruction response A to the ball rental ticket control unit 22. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 and the count control unit 31 repeat S104 to S105 until counting by the ball counter 35 is started. Here, the period between S102 and S105 is waiting for counting.

  When the counting by the ball counter 35 is started in S111 while waiting for the counting, the counting control unit 31 counts the count value by the ball counter 35 unless it is determined to be abnormal by a counting abnormality determination process described later. The accumulated value from the start is stored, and at S112, the stored count sequence number is incremented by 1, the stored count state is updated to “counting”, and the count start date and time is set. When the counting sequence number is incremented by 1, the counting sequence number stored in the counting control unit 31 and the counting sequence number stored in the ball lending ticket control unit 22 are shifted during counting. Next, in S113, the count control unit 31 transmits the operation instruction B to the count control unit 31 by polling, and the count control unit 31 that has received the operation instruction B sets “counting” as the count state. In S114, the operation instruction response B indicating no error, the updated counting sequence number, the counting is in progress, the cumulative value of the counting value from the count start, and the set count start date and time is displayed in S114. A reply is sent to the loaned ticket control unit 22.

  Here, the count control unit 31 that performs the processing of S111 functions as a game medium number storage unit that stores the number of game media counted by the ball counter 35 (accumulated value of the count value). In addition, the count control unit 31 that performs the processing of S114 provides counting information (operation instruction response) that can specify the number of game media (cumulative value of count values) counted by the ball counter 35 every unit time (every 500 msec). It functions as counting information transmission means for transmitting to the lending ticket processing unit 20. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 that receives the operation instruction response in S114 functions as a count information receiving unit that receives the count information (operation instruction response) transmitted from the count information transmitting unit.

  The ball lending ticket control unit 22 that has received the operation instruction response B, based on the accumulated value of the count value indicated by the operation instruction response B in S115, unless determined to be abnormal in a count value abnormality determination process described later, Update the number of cards in the card table. Specifically, by subtracting the accumulated value of the count value indicated by the operation instruction response B received last time from the accumulated value of the count value indicated by the operation instruction response B received this time, a predetermined unit time (here, An increase amount of the count value every 500 msec) is specified (see FIG. 13), and the specified increase amount is added to the number of balls in the card table unless it is determined to be abnormal in a count value abnormality determination process described later. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 and the count control unit 31 repeat S113 to S115 until a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) elapses from the final count by the ball counter 35. The predetermined time can be arbitrarily changed, and may be, for example, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, or the like.

  Next, after determining that a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) has elapsed from the final count by the ball counter 35 in S116, the count control unit 31 transmits the polling ticket control unit 22 by polling in S117. When the operation instruction B is received, the stored count state is updated to “count end detection” in S118, and in S119, there is no error, the count sequence number, the count end is detected, and the accumulated value of the count value (ie, the final value) An operation instruction response C indicating a typical count value) is returned to the ball rental ticket control unit 22. Here, the period from S112 to S116 is counting, and is a period for performing the counting abnormality determination process described later.

  Here, the counting control unit 31 that performs the process of S116 determines that a series of counting by the ball counter 35 has been completed based on the elapse of a predetermined time after the counting by the ball counter 35 is interrupted. It functions as counting end determination means.

  The ball lending ticket control unit 22 that has received the operation instruction response C sets the accumulated value of the count value indicated by the operation instruction response C in S120 unless it is determined in S120 that the count value abnormality determination process described later is abnormal. Based on the number of balls in the card table. Specifically, the cumulative value of the count value indicated by the previously received operation instruction response B is subtracted from the cumulative value of the count value indicated by the operation instruction response C received this time (ie, the final count value) in advance. The increment value of the count value is determined every predetermined unit time (here, 500 msec) (see FIG. 13), and the identified increment amount is stored in the card table unless it is determined to be abnormal in the count value abnormality determination process described later. Add to the number of holding balls. Here, the period from S115 to S120 is a period during which a count value abnormality determination process described later is performed.

  Then, in S121, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 polls the count control unit 31 by polling for the count confirmation command and the operation command C indicating that the count siphoning is possible, based on the fact that the operation command response C indicates the completion of counting. In S122, the count control unit 31 that has received the operation instruction C transmits the stored count state to “not counting” based on the fact that the operation instruction C indicates a count confirmation instruction. In step S123, an operation instruction response D indicating no error, counting sequence number, and not counting is returned to the ball lending ticket control unit 22.

  The ball lending ticket control unit 22 that has received the operation instruction response D increments the stored counting sequence number by 1 based on the fact that the operation instruction response D indicates that the operation instruction response D is not being counted in S124. Here, when the counting sequence number is incremented by 1, the counting sequence number stored in the counting control unit 31 and the counting sequence number stored in the ball lending ticket control unit 22 are shifted during counting. Will match. Then, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 updates the counting sequence number, and in S125, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 sends an operation instruction D indicating that the counting is permitted, the updated counting sequence number, and the count siphoning permission to the counting control unit 31 by polling. Send to. After the process of S125, the process of S104 is performed.

  Upon receiving the operation instruction D, the count control unit 31 receives an operation instruction response B indicating a count value based on the fact that the stored count sequence number matches the count sequence number indicated by the operation instruction D in S126. It is determined that the processing of S112 to S124 performed by the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 and the counting unit 30 with the transmission of C and the transmission of the operation instruction response has been performed normally, and in S127, the stored meter Clear the accumulated value of the numerical value. In S127, a minus count value of counting abnormality 3 described later is also deleted, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Here, the count control unit 31 that performs the processing of S126 transmits the count information (operation instruction response) by the count information transmission unit and / or the ball rental ticket processing unit 20 and the count unit 30 in accordance with the transmission of the count information. Functions as a transmission determination means for determining whether or not the processing performed by and has been performed normally. In addition, the count control unit 31 that performs the process of S127 stores the number of game media based on the determination that the series of counting is completed by the counting end determining unit and that the transmission determining unit determines that the counting is normally performed. It functions as game medium number erasure processing means for performing game medium number erasure processing for erasing the number of game media (accumulated value of count values) stored by the means.

  According to this, on the condition that the processing performed by the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 and the counting unit 30 with the transmission of the operation instruction response and / or the transmission of the operation instruction response is normally performed, the counting unit 30 Since the accumulated value of the count values stored in the memory is deleted, the counting unit 30 does not need to always store the count value, so that the memory load on the counting unit 30 can be reduced. Further, on the condition that the series of counts is completed, the cumulative value of the count values stored in the count unit 30 is deleted, so that the count unit 30 stores the count values every time the series of counts is completed. Since it is not necessary, the storage burden of the counting unit 30 can be further reduced. In addition, since a series of counts is managed by the counting sequence number, the counting date and time and the count value can be easily confirmed based on the counting sequence number.

  In addition, when the count is generated in the counting unit 30 from the return of the operation instruction response C (S119) indicating that the count end is detected to the reception of the operation instruction C (S121) indicating the count confirmation instruction, the count control is performed. The unit 31 returns the operation instruction response B to the ball rental ticket control unit 22 without performing the processing of S122 and S123, and the ball rental ticket control unit 22 that has received the operation instruction response B performs the process of S124. The process of S115 is performed without performing.

  In addition, when the counting unit 30 counts while the ball lending ticket control unit 22 is updating the counting sequence number, the counting control unit 31 adds and updates the stored count value, but stores the stored count value. If the operation instruction transmitted by polling from the ball lending ticket control unit 22 is received without updating the counting sequence number being stored, the stored counting sequence number matches the counting sequence number indicated by the operation instruction (that is, the ball lending) The stored count sequence number is updated on the condition that the ticketing control unit 22 has updated the count sequence number), and the subsequent count is performed with the updated count sequence number, while the stored count The processing of S112 to S124 is stored on condition that the serial number and the counting serial number indicated by the operation instruction do not match (that is, the counting serial number is not updated by the ball lending ticket control unit 22) ( That is, it is performed with the counting sequence number (before update).

  Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a case where polling interruption is detected in the counting process. During the repetition of S113 to S115 described with reference to FIG. 8, the counting control unit 31 determines that the operation instruction B in S113 is not received even after a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), as shown in S201 of FIG. If so, in S202, the shutter 33 is closed to stop counting, and the LED 41 blinks in a predetermined manner to notify that there is a communication abnormality.

  Here, the count control unit 31 that performs the process of S201 functions as a communication abnormality determination unit that determines an abnormality in communication with the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, and the count control unit 31 that performs the process of S202 includes Based on the abnormality determination by the communication abnormality determination means, it functions as a count stop processing means for performing a count stop process (here, closing the shutter 33) for stopping the counting by the ball counter 35.

  According to this, if the communication between the counting unit 30 and the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 is normal, the counting is performed by the counting unit 30, and if the communication is abnormal, the counting is stopped. In this case, it is possible to leave the pachinko balls acquired by the player without counting, and disadvantageous to the player (for example, an operation instruction response is not transmitted even if counted, so the counted value is the number of balls in the card table. Such as a disadvantage that the counter value is not added to the value, and a disadvantage that the count value becomes an incorrect value even if counting is performed).

  Moreover, since it is possible to stop counting when there is an abnormality in communication between the counting unit 30 and the ball lending ticket processing unit 20, it is possible to prevent an act of fraud by generating an offline. In this case, if the counting is not stopped even when offline occurs and the count value stored in the counting control unit 31 is transmitted to the ball lending ticket control unit 22 after returning to the online state, the counting is performed. Since there is room for fraud with respect to the count value stored in the control unit 31, it is inconvenient for the player, but the counting is stopped so that the pachinko ball remains at the player's hand is there.

  In addition, based on the fact that the ball rental ticket control unit 22 does not receive the operation instruction response C corresponding to the operation instruction B in S203, the multifunctional lamp 26 emits light in a predetermined manner in S204, indicating that there is a communication abnormality. Is notified.

  Next, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the types of errors in the abnormality determination process performed by the count control unit 31. The counting control unit 31 functions as counting abnormality determining means for determining abnormality relating to counting by the ball counter 35. Specifically, during the counting, the counting abnormality 1 (too fast) and counting shown in FIG. A counting abnormality determination process is performed to detect each error of abnormality 1 (too late), counting abnormality 1 (continuing in the same cycle), counting abnormality 2, and counting abnormality 3. The count control unit 31 also detects each error of radio wave abnormality, single flow abnormality, sensor abnormality (when the power is turned on), sensor abnormality (both lanes clogged), and ball dispensing abnormality shown in FIG. Hereinafter, each error will be described.

  First, “counting abnormality 1 (too fast)” shown in FIG. 10 is a case where the pulse width or pulse interval of the counting pulse output from the ball counter 35 is abnormally short. Specifically, first, the maximum value of the count value when there is no abnormality determined by the mass and size of the pachinko balls, the inclination and friction of the inflow passage 34 (when the pachinko balls flow continuously without a gap) The shortest pulse width and pulse interval when there is no abnormality is specified based on, for example, 20 balls / second per lane), and the shorter pulse width and pulse interval are set in advance as determination values. Based on the counting pulse (plus counting pulse) output from the counting ball counter 35, whether or not the pulse width of each counting pulse is equal to or smaller than the determination value, and the pulse interval of each counting pulse is the determination. It is determined whether or not the value is equal to or less than the value. If at least one of the pulse width and the pulse interval is equal to or less than the determination value, the counting abnormality 1 (too fast) is detected. As described above, when the pulse width or pulse interval of the counting pulse output from the ball counter 35 is abnormally short, there is a high possibility that fraud has been performed, and thus the abnormality is detected. It is also possible to make a determination only for either the pulse width or the pulse interval instead of making a determination for both the pulse width and the pulse interval.

  Further, “counting abnormality 1 (too late)” shown in FIG. 10 is a case where the pulse width of the counting pulse output from the ball counter 35 is abnormally long. Specifically, first, the maximum value of the count value when there is no abnormality determined by the mass and size of the pachinko ball, the inclination and friction of the inflow passage 34 (when the pachinko ball flows continuously without a gap) The shortest pulse width when there is no abnormality is specified based on, for example, 20 balls / second per lane), and a longer pulse width (for example, 500 msec / ball or more) is preset as a determination value. Then, based on the counting pulse (plus count pulse) output from the counting ball counter 35, it is determined whether or not the pulse width of each counting pulse is equal to or greater than the determination value, and the pulse width is equal to or greater than the determination value. If there is, counting abnormality 1 (too late) is detected. As described above, even when the pulse width of the counting pulse output from the ball counter 35 is abnormally long, there is a high possibility that fraud is being performed, and thus the abnormality is detected. The reason why the pulse interval is not determined is that even if there is no abnormality, the pachinko balls may flow at intervals, in which case the pulse interval becomes longer.

  Further, “counting abnormality 1 (continuous in the same cycle)” shown in FIG. 10 is a case where the pulse width or pulse interval of the counting pulse output from the ball counter 35 continues in the same cycle for a predetermined period. Specifically, based on the counting pulse (plus counting pulse) output from the ball counter 35 during counting, the pulse width of each counting pulse continues for the predetermined period (for example, X seconds or Y times). And whether or not the pulse interval of each counting pulse continues for a predetermined period (for example, X seconds or Y times) in the same cycle, and at least one of the pulse width or the pulse interval is continued. For example, counting abnormality 1 (continuation with the same period) is detected. When counting pachinko balls that naturally flow down the inflow path 34, it is natural that the pulse width and pulse interval of the counting pulse vary, and therefore the pulse width and pulse interval of the counting pulse have the same period and a predetermined period. It is unnatural to continue, and in such a case, it is highly likely that fraud (for example, fraud that sends a constant pulse width or pulse interval count pulse from the outside) is being performed, so the abnormality is detected. To do.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11A, the counting control unit 31 detects the counting abnormality 1 (too fast), the counting abnormality 1 (too slow), or the counting abnormality 1 (continuing in the same cycle) in S301. In step S302, the shutter 33 is closed to stop counting, and the stored counting state is updated to “counting end detection”. In step S303, an operation instruction transmitted by polling from the ball rental ticket control unit 22 is performed. When B is received, an operation instruction response E1 indicating that the counting abnormality 1 is detected, the counting sequence number, the counting end is detected, and the accumulated value of the counting value (that is, the final counting value) is issued in S304. A reply is sent to the control unit 22.

  Upon receiving the operation instruction response E1, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 emits the multi-function lamp 26 in a predetermined manner based on the fact that the operation instruction response E1 indicates that the counting abnormality 1 is detected in S305. In step S306, an operation instruction C ′ indicating a count confirmation instruction, count siphoning permission, count serial number, and LED blinking request is transmitted to the count control unit 31 by polling. In step S307, the count control unit 31 that has received the operation instruction C ′ notifies the LED 41 that the count abnormality is 1 by blinking the LED 41 in a predetermined manner based on the LED blink request. At the same time, the stored count state is updated to “not counting”, and the operation instruction response D ′ indicating that the counting abnormality 1 is detected in S308 ′, the counting sequence number, and the counting not being performed is controlled by the ball lending ticket control. Reply to part 22 That.

  Receiving the operation instruction response D ′, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 increments the stored count sequence number by 1 based on the fact that the operation instruction response D ′ indicates that the operation instruction response D ′ is not being counted in S 309. Here, when the counting sequence number is incremented by 1, the counting sequence number stored in the counting control unit 31 and the counting sequence number stored in the ball lending ticket control unit 22 are shifted during counting. Will match. Then, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 updates the counting sequence number, and in S310, the counting control unit 31 polls the operation instruction D ′ indicating that the counting is prohibited, the updated counting sequence number, and the count siphoning is possible. Send to.

  Upon receiving the operation instruction D ′, the count control unit 31 receives an operation instruction response indicating a count value based on the fact that the stored count sequence number matches the count sequence number indicated by the operation instruction D ′ in S311. With the transmission of E1 and the transmission of the operation instruction response, it is determined that the processing of S305 to S310 performed by the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 and the counting unit 30 has been normally performed, and in S311, the stored meter Clear the accumulated value of the numerical value. In S311, a negative count value of counting abnormality 3 described later is also deleted, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  As described above, when counting abnormality 1 occurs, the counting stops, but the counting determination sequence of S302 to S311 is performed in substantially the same manner as S118 to S127 of FIG. Here, the count confirmation sequence is performed to invalidate the count value after detection of count abnormality 1, but protect the player by confirming and validating the count value before detection of count abnormality 1. It is to do.

  Here, the count control unit 31 that performs the process of S304 functions as a count abnormality notification processing unit that performs a count abnormality notification process for notifying that there is an abnormality based on the abnormality determination by the counting abnormality determination unit. Here, in order to perform notification by the multi-function lamp 26 and notification by the LED 41, the process of S304 for returning the operation instruction response E1 is performed.

  Next, “counting abnormality 2” shown in FIG. 10 is a case where the counting sensor of the ball counter 35 detects the counting ball while the shutter 33 is closed. When the shutter 33 is closed, the pachinko ball does not flow into the inflow path 34, and if the counting sensor of the ball counter 35 detects the counting ball, fraud may be performed. This is because the abnormality is high.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the counting control unit 31 detects counting abnormality 2 in S352 when counting is prohibited = when counting is performed by the counting sensor of the ball counter 35 in S351 when the shutter 33 is closed. In S353, when the operation instruction B ′ transmitted from the ball lending ticket control unit 22 by polling and indicating that there is no instruction while the count is prohibited because the count is prohibited is received, in S354, An operation instruction response E2 indicating that the counting abnormality 2 is detected, the counting sequence number, the counting end is detected, and the accumulated value of the counting value is returned to the ball lending ticket control unit 22.

  Upon receiving the operation instruction response E2, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 emits the multi-function lamp 26 in a predetermined manner based on the fact that the operation instruction response E2 indicates that the counting abnormality 2 is detected in S355. To notify that the count abnormality is 2. Then, the ball rental ticket control unit 22 and the count control unit 31 repeat S353 to S355 until the predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) elapses from the final count by the ball counter 35.

  Then, the counting control unit 31 determines that a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) has elapsed from the final counting by the ball counter 35 in S356, and then, in S357, the operation transmitted by polling from the ball rental ticket control unit 22. When the instruction B ′ is received, in S358, the operation instruction response C ′ indicating that the count abnormality 2 is detected, the count sequence number, the count end is detected, and the accumulated value of the count value (that is, the final count value) is received. Reply to the ball rental ticket control unit 22.

  As described above, the counting is not stopped even when the counting abnormality 2 occurs, but the counting determination sequence is not performed because the counting is prohibited. Here, the counting determination sequence is not performed because the subject that manages the count value is the ball lending ticket control unit 22. It is because it does not perform.

  Here, the count control unit 31 that performs the process of S354 functions as a count abnormality notification processing unit that performs a count abnormality notification process to notify that there is an abnormality based on the abnormality determination by the counting abnormality determination unit. Here, in order to perform notification by the multi-function lamp 26, the process of S354 for returning the operation instruction response E2 is performed.

  Next, “counting abnormality 3” shown in FIG. 10 is a case where the ball counter 35 detects the minus count. When counting pachinko balls that naturally flow down the inflow channel 34, a negative count will not occur. Is detected.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12A, in principle, when the number of occurrences of minus count reaches a predetermined threshold value (for example, 5 times), the count abnormality 3 is detected. For example, when counting pulses A to M are output as shown in the figure, the number of occurrences of minus count reaches the threshold value of 5 when the counting pulse L is output. To do. However, as shown in FIG. 12B, when the count pulse starts from the plus count, the count value becomes minus (the count pulse G shown in the figure) even if the number of occurrences of minus count does not reach the threshold value. Is detected), the count abnormality 3 is detected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12C, when the counting pulse starts from minus count, the count value becomes positive before the number of occurrences of minus count reaches the threshold (counting pulse E shown in the figure). When the number of occurrences of minus count reaches a threshold value after that, counting abnormality 3 is detected as a rule.

  When the counting control unit 31 detects the counting abnormality 3, the counting control unit 31 and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 perform the same processing as described with reference to FIG. Note that, as indicated by S127 in FIG. 8 and S311 in FIG. 11 (a), the negative count value is deleted together with the stored count value, and the negative count value starts from zero in the next count. .

  Next, “radio wave abnormality” shown in FIG. 10 is a case where a radio wave sensor (not shown) provided in the counting unit 30 detects radio waves in a specific frequency band. The “single flow abnormality” is detected by a counting sensor provided in one of the first lane 341 and the second lane 342 of the inflow channel 34, but is not detected in the counting sensor provided in the other lane. Is not detected. Further, “sensor abnormality (when power is on)” is a case where the presence of a ball is detected when at least one of the counting sensor or the payout sensor when the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 and the counting unit 30 are powered on. In addition, “sensor abnormality (both lanes clogged)” indicates that a counting sensor provided in both lanes of the first lane 341 or the second lane 342 of the inflow channel 34 detects the presence of a ball, and then both lanes have a predetermined time (for example, This is a case where the presence of a ball is continuously detected for 15 seconds. Furthermore, the “ball payout abnormality” is a case where the payout sensor does not detect a payout ball within a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) after the ball lending ticket control unit 22 issues a payout instruction in the fraction payout process.

  When the count control unit 31 detects each of the radio wave abnormality, single-flow abnormality, sensor abnormality (when the power is turned on), sensor abnormality (both lanes clogged), or ball payout abnormality, the count control unit 31 closes the shutter 33. When the operation instruction transmitted by polling from the ball lending ticket control unit 22 is received, an operation instruction response indicating each error is returned to the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the operation instruction response The ball lending ticket control unit 22 that received the light emits and notifies the multi-function lamp 26 in a manner corresponding to each error indicated by the operation instruction response.

  Next, FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating each error in the count value abnormality determination process performed by the ball lending ticket control unit 22. The ball rental ticket control unit 22 functions as a game medium number abnormality determination unit that determines abnormality based on the number of game media (count value) specified from the count information (operation instruction response) received by the count information reception unit. Specifically, based on the reception of the operation instruction responses B and C indicating the accumulated value of the count value, the count value abnormality A shown in FIG. 13A and the count value shown in FIG. A count value abnormality determination process for detecting each error of abnormality B is performed.

  First, “count value abnormality A” shown in FIG. 13 (a) indicates that the fluctuation amount of the count value determined in advance for each predetermined unit time (500 msec in this case) specified from the received operation instruction responses B and C is determined in advance. This is a case where a predetermined threshold value (for example, 25 balls or more) is exceeded. Specifically, based on the mass and size of the pachinko balls, and the maximum flow rate of the pachinko balls determined by the inclination and friction of the inflow passage 34 (for example, 20 balls / 500 msec in 2 lanes), it is abnormally higher than the maximum flow rate. A flow rate (for example, 25 balls or more in 2 lanes / 500 msec) is preset as a threshold value. In this example, since the operation instruction responses B and C indicating the accumulated value of the count value per unit time are received every unit time, the operation instruction response received this time is received every time the operation instruction response is received. By subtracting the accumulated value of the count value indicated by the operation instruction response received last time from the accumulated value of the indicated count value, the fluctuation amount (increase amount) of the count value per predetermined unit time (500 msec in this case) is obtained. It is calculated and it is determined whether or not the calculated fluctuation amount exceeds the set threshold value. If the fluctuation amount exceeds the threshold value, the count value abnormality A is detected. In this way, when the fluctuation amount exceeds the threshold value, there is a high possibility that fraud is being performed, and thus the abnormality is detected.

  As described above, when the increment of the count value per unit time exceeds the threshold value, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and the notification is made. Therefore, it is possible to notify when there is a high possibility that fraud has been performed. Further, the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 does not measure the time, but based on the counting information (operation instruction response) that can specify the count value for each unit time transmitted from the counting unit 30, for each unit time. Therefore, the processing in the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 can be simplified.

  In addition, the “count value abnormality B” shown in FIG. 13B has the same amount of change in the count value for each predetermined unit time (500 msec in this case) specified from the received operation instruction responses B and C. This is a case where a predetermined number of times (for example, 10 times) is continued. Specifically, in the same manner as in the case of the count value abnormality A, the variation amount (increase amount) of the count value per predetermined unit time (here, 500 msec) is calculated, and the calculated variation amount is It is determined whether or not the same number is continued for a predetermined number of times. If the predetermined number of times is continued, a count value abnormality B is detected. When counting pachinko balls that naturally flow down the inflow passage 34, it is natural that the fluctuation amount of the count value per unit time varies, so it is not possible to continue the predetermined number of times while the fluctuation amount remains the same. Natural and fraudulent in such a case (for example, fraud such as sending an operation instruction response indicating a certain count value from a hanging board provided between the counting control unit 31 and the ball lending ticket control unit 22) Therefore, the abnormality is detected.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 14, when the ball lending ticket control unit 22 detects the count value abnormality A or the count value abnormality B in S401, the multifunctional lamp 26 emits light in a predetermined manner in S402. An operation instruction F indicating that the numerical value is abnormal is transmitted and an operation instruction F indicating that counting is prohibited and counting is not allowed to be transmitted is transmitted to the count control unit 31 by polling and the operation instruction F is received in S403. Returns the operation instruction response B to the ball rental ticket control unit 22 in S404. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 and the count control unit 31 repeat S403 to S404 until a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) elapses from the final count by the ball counter 35.

  Here, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 that performs the process of S402, based on the abnormality determination by the game medium number abnormality determination means, a game medium number abnormality notification process (count value) for notifying that there is an abnormality. It functions as an abnormality notification processing means for the number of game media for performing (abnormality notification processing).

  Next, after determining that a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) has elapsed from the final count by the ball counter 35 in S405, the counting control unit 31 transmits the polling ticket control unit 22 by polling in S406. When the operation instruction F is received, the stored count state is updated to “counting end detection” in S407, and the operation instruction response C is returned to the ball rental ticket control unit 22 in S408.

  As described above, counting does not stop even if a counting value abnormality occurs, but counting is prohibited, so the ball lending ticket control unit 22 does not suck up the counting value and also performs a counting determination sequence. Absent. The reason why the counting confirmation sequence is not performed here is that there is a possibility that the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 is out of order, and thus the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that has failed in this way. This is because it is not appropriate to take up and confirm the count value. When the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 is out of order, the counting unit 30 is connected to another ball lending ticket processing unit 20 that is not out of order so that the counting unit 30 in the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 The stored count value can be taken up and confirmed.

  According to the present invention described above, an abnormality relating to counting in the counting unit 30 can be monitored, and the number of game media specified from the counting information (operation instruction response) transmitted from the counting unit 30 to the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 Since the abnormality in the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 of (count value) can be monitored, the abnormality associated with the counting performed by each counter unit 50 can be monitored more accurately than in the case where only the former is monitored. In particular, when the count value abnormality notifying process by the ball lending ticket control unit 22 is performed even though the count abnormality notifying process by the count control unit 31 is not performed, the counting unit 30 and the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 Specified that an abnormality occurred in communication between the two (for example, fraud such as sending an operation instruction response indicating a certain count value from a hanging board provided between the counting control unit 31 and the ball lending ticket control unit 22) can do.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 15, the modification 1 of this invention is demonstrated. In the first modification, the gaming device provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10 is composed of a ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ′, the counting unit 30, and a possession card unit 50 ′. The mode of the confirmation process is different from that of the apparatus for use (that is, each unit counting unit 50 = ball lending ticket processing unit 20 + counting unit 30). Here, the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ′ differs from the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 only in that the internal unit 30 b is not arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 15 (a), the holding card unit 50 ′ is provided adjacent to the left side of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ′ and has a vertically long box shape. A ticket issuing button 51 ′, a storage ball button 52 ′, a possession card insertion slot 53a ′ and the like are provided, and as shown in FIG. 15B, a possession card R / W 53 ′ and a possession card stocker 53b ′ are provided therein. The ticket issuing button 51 ′, the storage ball button 52 ′, and the possession card R / W 53 ′ are communicably connected to the ball lending ticket control unit 22 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ′. Note that the external unit 30a of the counting unit 30 is disposed on the front surface and the internal unit 30b of the counting unit 30 is disposed on the lower side of the holding card unit 50 '.

  In the gaming apparatus of the first modification, when the player wishes to move the table or exchange prizes, if the ticket issuing button 51 ′ is operated in a state where the number of held balls is stored in the card table, The possession card stocker 53b ′ storing the ball card 5 conveys one of the stored possession cards 5 to the possession card R / W 53 ′, and the possession card R / W 53 'Performs the process of associating the ID of the possessed ball card 5 with the number of possessed balls (in this case, the process of recording the number of retained balls in the retained ball card 5), Issued from 53a '. In the first modification, the issue of the possession card 5 corresponds to the confirmation process.

  By inserting the ball card 5 issued in this way into the ball card R / W 53 ′ of the ball card unit 50 ′ corresponding to another pachinko machine 10, it corresponds to the ID of the ball card 5 Using the number of balls that are attached, it is possible to perform the ball payout process. In addition, it is possible to exchange prizes at the POS terminal using the number of possessed balls. Note that the member card 2 visitor card 3 that is being accepted by the card R / W 23 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ′ is returned when the card return button 16 is operated.

  That is, in the first modification, the number of balls is not managed by the ball management device 62 in association with the card ID of the member card 2 visitor card 3, but the number of balls is associated with the ID of the ball card 5. It is done. The association between the ID of the possession card 5 and the number of possessions is not limited to the example in which the number of possessions is recorded in the possession card 5, and the number of possessions is not recorded in the possession card 5. The management device 62 may manage the ID of the possession card 5 and the number of possession balls in association with each other. That is, whether or not to record the number of balls on the ball card 5 is not particularly limited.

  In addition, in the gaming apparatus of the first modification, when a member player wishes to store balls, the number of possessed balls is stored in the card table, and the member is stored in the card R / W 23 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ′. When the stored ball button 52 ′ is operated while the card 2 is being received, a stored ball request including the card ID of the member card 2 and the number of balls to be stored is transmitted to the member management device 61. The member management device 61 that has received the storage ball request adds the number of balls to be stored included in the storage ball request to the number of storage balls managed in association with the card ID included in the storage ball request as described above. Then, the member card 2 being accepted by the card R / W 23 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ′ is returned when the card return button 16 is operated. In the first modification, the return of the member card 2 corresponds to the confirmation process.

  The member card 2 returned in this way is inserted into the card R / W 23 of the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ′ corresponding to the other pachinko machine 10, thereby being associated with the card ID of the member card 2. The stored ball replay process can be performed using the number of stored balls managed by the management device 61. Further, it is possible to exchange prizes at the POS terminal using the number of stored balls. Unlike the case where the ticket issuing button 51 'is operated, the possession card 5 is not issued.

  Next, a second modification of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second modification, a gaming device provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10 is composed of a ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ″ and the counting unit 30, and the gaming device (that is, each unit counting unit). 50 = ball lending ticket processing unit 20 + counting unit 30), the mode of the confirmation processing is different. Here, the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 ″ is compared with the ball lending ticket processing unit 20 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16A, the mobile phone proximity portion 26a is further provided on the front surface, and as shown in FIG. 16B, the IC chip R / W 26 is further provided therein. The point which is connected so that communication with the ticketing control part 22 is possible, the member card 2 and the visitor card 3 are not used, and the card R / W 23 receives the prepaid card 6 which can specify the prepaid balance, and the card stocker 23b Preparation That it does not have is different.

  In the gaming apparatus of the second modification, when the player wishes to move the table or exchange prizes, the mobile phone 7 having the IC chip is in the proximity of the mobile phone while the number of balls is stored in the card table. In the vicinity of the unit 26a, the IC chip R / W 26 reads the identification information of the mobile phone 7 (chip ID, phone number, etc., hereinafter referred to as “mobile ID”) from the IC chip of the mobile phone 7. When a not-shown issue button displayed on the display 24 is operated, the number of balls and the mobile ID are stored in association with each other (stored in the IC chip of the mobile phone 7 or stored in the management device). Perform storage processing. In the second modification, the storage process corresponds to the determination process.

  Finally, other modifications of the present invention will be described.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an example in which the gaming machine is a pachinko machine 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the gaming machine may be a slot machine or a game machine. .

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an example in which the ball management device 62 manages the number of balls and the member management device 61 manages the number of balls has been described. The management device may manage the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the number of possessions is not recorded on the card (member card 2 or visitor card 3) has been described, but not limited to this, the number of possessions may be recorded on the card, The membership card 2 does not record the number of balls, but the visitor card 3 records the number of balls, or the visitor card 3 does not record the number of balls, but the membership card 2 records the number of balls. It may be.

  In the above embodiment, if it is determined in S05 of FIG. 7 that the member card 2 has been accepted, an input of a personal identification number is accepted, and the input personal identification number has been authenticated. In the above, an example has been described in which the number of managed storage balls acquired in S06, the number of managed coins acquired in S07, and the remaining amount confirmation processing in S08 are performed, and the number of stored balls, the number of held balls, and the prepaid balance become usable. Not limited to this, for example, even when it is determined that the member card 2 has been accepted, the management number acquisition process in S07 and the remaining amount confirmation process in S08 are performed without accepting the input of the password. In addition, the number of holding balls and the prepaid balance can be used, and if the replay button is operated in S15, the input of the password is accepted, and the management is performed on the condition that the input password is authenticated. Number of balls Performing resulting process may be available for 貯玉 number. That is, it is not necessary to enter a personal identification number for the use of the number of balls and the prepaid balance, and it is possible to enter a personal identification number only for the use of the number of stored balls.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the example in which the remaining amount confirmation process in S08 is performed after the number acquisition process of S07 is performed has been described. The number of balls acquisition process may be performed, and the number of balls acquired process and the remaining amount confirmation process may be performed in parallel.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S21a of FIG. 7, the example in which the use process for using the game value is a ball lending process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the use process is a game value. May be a medal lending process for use in a slot machine, a process for converting a game value into a score and using it in a game machine, or the like.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in S26b of FIG. 7, the example of performing the management ball number update process when the card return button 16 is operated has been described. , It may be performed for each holding ball payout process and stored ball replay process, and if the card return button 16 is operated, the card may be returned without performing the management ball number updating process.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S114 of FIG. 8 and the like, the count control unit 31 uses the count information indicating the accumulated value of the count value as the count information (operation instruction response) for each unit time. Although the example which transmits with respect to 22 was demonstrated, not only this but the count control part 31 memorize | stores the log data which matched count time and the count value, and after completion | finish of a count, this log data is a ball rental ticket It may be transmitted to the control unit 22, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 may specify a count value for each unit time based on the count time and the count value indicated by the log data.

  Further, every time a counting pulse is output from the ball counter 35, the counting control unit 31 transmits an operation instruction response indicating 1 as a count value to the ball lending ticket control unit 22, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 A count value per unit time may be specified based on the reception time of the operation instruction response (that is, the count value is specified from the number of operation instruction responses received within 500 msec).

  That is, the count information may be information that can specify at least the count value counted by the ball counter 35.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S114 of FIG. 8 and the like, the count control unit 31 uses the count information indicating the accumulated value of the count value as the count information (operation instruction response) for each unit time. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIGS. 13 (a ′) and 13 (b ′), the count information indicating the amount of change in the count value per unit time is displayed for each unit time. May be transmitted to the ball rental ticket control unit 22. In this case, in the determination of the count value abnormality A shown in FIG. 13 (a ′), the ball lending ticket control unit 22 determines whether or not the received fluctuation amount exceeds the set threshold value, and the fluctuation amount is the threshold value. Is exceeded, the count value abnormality A is detected, and in the determination of the count value abnormality B shown in FIG. 13 (b '), it is determined whether or not the received fluctuation amount remains the same for a predetermined number of times. If the predetermined number of times continues, the count value abnormality B is detected. According to this, since the processing for calculating the fluctuation amount of the count value is eliminated in the ball lending ticket control unit 22, the processing load on the ball lending ticket control unit 22 can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, in the determination of the count value abnormality B shown in FIGS. 13B and 13B, the count value abnormality B is detected when the variation amount of the count value continues for a predetermined number of times (10 times). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the count value abnormality B may be detected when the variation amount of the count value continues for a predetermined period (for example, 5 seconds).

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S127 of FIG. 8, the example in which the count value is erased based on the reception of the operation instruction D of S125 has been described. The count value may be deleted after C is transmitted. That is, the game medium number erasure process may be performed based on the determination that the transmission of the count information (operation instruction response C) is normally performed.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S127 of FIG. 8, the example in which the count value is erased every time the series of counts is finished is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and immediately after the series of counts is finished. The erasure may be performed at an arbitrary timing without erasing the count value. Further, the count value may be stored as it is without erasing the count value.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in S202 of FIG. 9 or S302 of FIG. 11A, the example in which the count stop process is the closing of the shutter 33 has been described. When the pachinko ball on the ball mounting portion 32 is configured to be fed into the ball counter 35, the process of stopping the motor may be used.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11A, the counting control unit 31 performs the processing of S304 as the counting abnormality notification processing, and the counting abnormality 1 is detected by the multi-function lamp 26 of the ball lending ticket control unit 22. Although the example notified is demonstrated, not only this but the count control part 31 may perform the process which blinks LED41 itself, and may alert | report count abnormality 1, and the count control part 31 is, for example, By outputting an error signal to the hall computer 70, the hall computer 70 may notify the counting abnormality 1.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), even when the counting abnormality 1 is detected, the count value before the counting abnormality 1 is detected by performing the counting determination sequence of S302 to S311. In the above example, the player is protected by confirming and validating. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and before detecting the counting abnormality 1 without performing the counting determination sequence when the counting abnormality 1 is detected. The count value may also be invalidated.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the ball lending ticket control unit 22 performs the process of S <b> 402 as a game medium number abnormality notification process (count value abnormality notification process), and the multi-function lamp 26 performs a count value abnormality. The ball lending ticket control unit 22 transmits an error signal to the count control unit 31, and the count control unit 31 performs a process of blinking the LED 41 to calculate A numerical value abnormality may be reported, and the ball lending ticket control unit 22 outputs an error signal to the hall computer 70, for example, so that the hole computer 70 notifies the count value abnormality. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game system 10 ... Pachinko machine 20 ... Ball rental ticket processing part 21a ... Ball loan communication part 21b ... In-field communication part 22 ... Ball loan ticket control part 23 ... Card R / W
26 ... Multifunctional lamp 30 ... Counting unit 30a ... External unit 30b ... Internal unit 31 ... Counting control unit 32 ... Ball placement unit 33 ... Shutter 34 ... Inflow passage 341 ... First lane 342 ... Second lane 35 ... Ball counter 351a ... (first lane upstream) counting sensor 351b (first lane downstream) counting sensor 352a (second lane upstream) counting sensor 352b (second lane downstream) counting sensor 36 ... ball reservoir 37 ... discharge path 38 ... Dispensing counter 39 ... Outflow passage 40 ... Receptacle 41 ... LED
50: Each unit counting unit

Claims (1)

Provided for game machines,
A counting unit having a counting means for counting the game media,
Is said counting unit and separate, having determination processing hand stage for performing determination processing for finalizing the order to use the number of game media counted by the prior SL counting means to the player at the prize exchange or other game machine A control unit,
A gaming device capable of communicating between the counting unit and the control unit,
The counting unit is
Counting abnormality determining means for determining abnormality related to counting by the counting means;
Count information transmitting means for transmitting count information capable of specifying the number of game media counted by the counting means to the control unit;
The controller is
Counting information receiving means for receiving the counting information transmitted from the counting information transmitting means;
Game medium number abnormality determining means for determining that the amount of change in the number of game media per unit time specified from the count information received by the count information receiving means is abnormal when it exceeds a predetermined value;
The gaming device is:
Count abnormality notification processing means for performing a count abnormality notification process for notifying that there is an abnormality based on the abnormality determination by the counting abnormality determination means;
And a game medium number abnormality notification processing unit for performing a game medium number abnormality notification process for notifying that there is an abnormality based on the abnormality determination by the game medium number abnormality determination unit. A gaming device.

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