JP5997046B2 - Management system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a management system used in a game arcade.

Conventionally, in game halls where game machines such as pachinko machines are installed, game media circulation for collecting game media discharged from the game machines and re-supplying the game media to the game machines and inter-machines A system is built for each gaming machine island.

The game medium circulation system usually includes a lifting device, and the game media is polished and removed from the soil when the gaming medium is transported by the lifting device. However, if circulation is repeated in the game medium circulation system, the polishing efficiency is lowered due to deterioration of the polishing cloth or polishing resin of the lifting device, and dirt is easily accumulated in the game medium. In addition, the surroundings of parts where game media pass, such as lifting devices and bags, are soiled by cigarette dust, dust in the air, and human sebum. turn into. Therefore, in amusement halls, it is necessary to replace polishing cloths, resin materials, and the like of the lifting device and clean peripheral devices regularly or appropriately.

For example, in Patent Document 1, the fabric belt 21 (abrasive cloth) of the feeding device 1 is a fabric made of warp yarn 21a made of cotton and a weft yarn 21c made of polyester, which is hard to shrink even if washing is repeated during replacement. The configuration of is shown.

JP 2007-020862 A

In addition to clogging of game media, the flow of game media may deteriorate depending on the temperature and humidity conditions in the game hall. If such a state is left unattended, the game media may be jammed at any point in the game media circulation system. As a countermeasure, the actual situation is that the amusement hall takes the best treatment depending on the temperature and humidity in the amusement area, depending on the experience and intuition so far.

However, this makes it impossible to take advance measures based on an accurate theory, and as a result, unexpected troubles caused by clogging of game media are frequently involved, and game hall personnel have their heads. This is due to the fact that the condition of the game media (dirty condition, temperature, moisture adhesion, etc.) cannot be accurately grasped, and until now there has been no quantified data without clear standards and indicators. It was.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a management system capable of adjusting the condition when the condition of the game medium is quantified and the decrease in the condition is recognized in order to deal with the above-described problems.

In order to achieve the object, in the invention of claim 1,
A management system in an amusement hall,
A detecting means installed in a counter for counting game media and detecting a game media;
Reserving game media and receiving an exit opening signal, a game media reservoir that opens its exit,
Based on the detection signal received from the detection means , the flow rate of the game medium is calculated,
The flow rate of the calculated game medium, determined using the state determination value as a criteria for determining the condition of the game media,
In accordance with the result of the determination, the management system has control means for outputting the outlet opening signal to the game medium reservoir .

In the invention of claim 2,
A management system in an amusement hall,
A detecting means installed in a counter for counting game media and detecting a game media;
Reserving game media and receiving an exit opening signal, a game media reservoir that opens its exit,
Based on the detection signal received from the detection means, the number of game media detected within a preset time,
The calculated number of game media, determined using the state determination value as a criteria for determining the condition of the game media,
In accordance with the result of the determination, the management system has control means for outputting the outlet opening signal to the game medium reservoir .

In the invention of claim 3,
A management system in an amusement hall,
A detecting means installed in a counter for counting game media and detecting a game media;
Reserving game media and receiving an exit opening signal, a game media reservoir that opens its exit,
Based on the detection signal received from the detection means, the elapsed time until a preset number of game media are detected,
The calculated elapsed time, determined using the state determination value as a criteria for determining the condition of the game media,
In accordance with the result of the determination, the management system has control means for outputting the outlet opening signal to the game medium reservoir .

According to the present invention, by calculating the flow rate of the game medium, etc. , the condition of the game medium (dirt condition, temperature, degree of moisture adhesion, etc.) is quantified, and the condition is adjusted when a decrease in the condition is recognized. With the configuration, it is possible to effectively adjust the condition of the game medium.

The present invention is a management system in a game hall, which is installed in a counter that counts game media. When a game media is detected, the detection means outputs a detection signal , stores the game media, and receives an exit opening signal. Then, the game medium reservoir that opens its own outlet, and the flow rate of the game medium is calculated based on the detection signal received from the detection means , and the calculated flow rate of the game medium is used as a criterion for determining the condition of the game medium. determined using the state determination value made in accordance with the determination result, by adopting a configuration and a control means for outputting the outlet opening signal to the game medium reservoir, effectively conditioning adjustment of game media Can be done.

1 is a conceptual diagram exemplarily illustrating an overall configuration of a management system according to a first embodiment which is an embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a conceptual diagram which shows illustartively the whole structure of the game machine island of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which illustrated the outline of the external appearance structure of the game machine of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which illustrated the outline of the external appearance structure of the game machine of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which illustrated the outline of the external appearance structure of the counter of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is the conceptual diagram which showed typically the hardware constitutions of the management apparatus of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the detection signal reception log | history storage area of the management apparatus of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the flow-velocity information storage area | region of the management apparatus of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the state judgment value storage area of the management apparatus of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the corresponding | compatible identification information storage area of the management apparatus of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which the management apparatus of Example 1 which is one Example of this invention performs. It is a conceptual diagram which shows exemplarily the whole structure of the management center of another Example which is one Example of this invention, and a game arcade. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the state judgment value storage area of the management apparatus of the other Example which is one Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the state judgment value storage area of the management apparatus of the other Example which is one Example of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the components described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

<Configuration of management system>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram exemplarily showing a system configuration on the network of the management system according to the present embodiment. The management system includes a detection unit 95, a gaming machine 100, a pedestrian machine 200, a repeater 350, a pedestal management device 400, an island management device 500, a management device 600, and a network 801 that connects these devices. Specifically, a plurality of gaming machines 100 are installed, and a pedestal machine 200 is installed corresponding to each gaming machine 100. The gaming machine 100 and the inter-machine 200 are connected to a management device 600 and a network 801 that manage and supervise each device installed in the game hall via the repeater 350, the base management device 400, and the island management device 500. Connected through.

Moreover, as a device included in the gaming machine island 10 (described later), as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1, the detection means 95, the gaming machine 100, the inter-machine 200, the repeater 350, the base management device 400, and the island management device There are 500. Each device will be described in detail below.

The configuration of the management system on the network illustrated in FIG. 1 is a basic configuration for explaining the configuration according to the present embodiment. When the management system is operated in an actual game arcade, the management device 600 can acquire a detection signal from the detection means 95 such as an optical sensor installed in each counter 700 and is installed on each gaming machine island 10. If an exit opening signal can be output to the game medium reservoir 90, various configurations can be taken based on the application and purpose, or the constraint conditions such as the arrangement of the devices.

<Configuration of the gaming machine island 10>
In the gaming machine island 10, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of gaming machines 100 are usually arranged back to back and side by side along the longitudinal direction of the rectangular parallelepiped gaming machine island 10. In addition, on the gaming machine island 10, a pedestrian machine 200 is arranged corresponding to each gaming machine 100. In the present embodiment, a configuration of a so-called double-sided island in which a plurality of gaming machines 100 are installed in two rows back to back is shown as the gaming machine island 10, but the gaming machine island 10 is limited to the configuration of the double-sided island. is not. A configuration of a so-called wall island in which a plurality of gaming machines 100 are installed in a row with the wall of the game hall in the back, or an island configuration of another shape may be used.

In addition, the gaming machine island 10 is provided with a gaming medium circulation system for collecting gaming media discharged from the gaming machine 100 and resupplying the gaming media to the gaming machine 100 and the inter-machine 200. . In this embodiment, the detecting means 95 is installed in the counter 700 in the game medium circulation system.

<Configuration of detection means 95>
The detection means 95 detects the flowing game medium, and outputs a detection signal to the management apparatus 600 together with detection means identification information for identifying the detection means 95, for example, every time ten game media are detected. As the detection means 95, for example, a configuration in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are opposed to each other with a certain interval, and an object passes between them to block light from the light emitting element, thereby detecting the presence or absence of the object between them. Or a light sensor configured to reflect light emitted from a light emitting element to an object and detect the reflected light by the light receiving element. Can be used. The detection means 95 is not limited to an optical sensor, and has, for example, a gear having 10 recesses (a gear that rotates once with 10 game media), and the received game media is transmitted to the gear. It is good also as a structure which outputs a detection signal from a connector, when counting by rotation and the magnet which interlock | cooperates by rotation of a gear pass on a reed switch by 1 rotation of a gear.

<Configuration of gaming machine 100>
The gaming machine 100 installed on the gaming machine island 10 is a device in which a player plays a game using a game medium, and in particular, uses a pachinko ball as the game medium. Specifically, a pachinko machine, a slot machine using a pachinko ball (so-called parrot), an arrangement ball, and the like are exemplified. Here, a pachinko machine will be described as an example of the gaming machine 100.

A configuration of the gaming machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the outline of the external configuration of the gaming machine 100. Of course, the pachinko machine is not limited to the one described later and in FIG.

The gaming machine 100 is provided with a board surface 111 on which a symbol display device 113, a start winning port 114, a jackpot winning port 115, an out port 116, a normal winning port (not shown), and a change in the flow of gaming media. A number of game nails (not shown) such as valley nails 117 are provided. Further, at the lower part of the gaming machine 100, an upper plate 121 and a lower plate 122 for storing game media to be driven into the board surface 111 and paid-out game media, a handle 123 for adjusting the strength of game media driving, and the like are provided. It has been. When a user such as a player operates the handle 123 to drive a game medium into the board surface 111, the game medium that has reached the upper part of the board surface 111 falls downward while changing the direction of travel by a game nail or the like, and the starting prize opening 114, winning jackpots 115 such as jackpot winning ports 115, or reaching the out port 116 without collecting any of the winning ports and collected. When game media wins the jackpot winning opening 115, a considerable number of game media (for example, 15 per winning game media) is paid out from the game media payout opening 120 onto the upper plate 121 as a ball. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the game machine 100 normally pays not only the game medium payout outlet 120 for paying out the game medium onto the upper plate 121 but also the game medium for paying out the game medium onto the lower plate 122. A medium outlet (not shown) is provided. When the upper plate 121 is filled with game media, the fact is detected and the game media is paid out onto the lower plate 122 from the game media payout port.

<Supply of game media to the gaming machine 100>
By the way, normally, the gaming machine 100 stores game media therein for use as a ball rental or as a payout ball to be paid out in accordance with winning. Further, the gaming machine 100 is connected to the replenishment bowl 60, and when the game media stored in the game machine 100 are reduced by payout, a predetermined amount of gaming media is replenished from the replenishment bowl 60 into the gaming machine 100.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. Above the gaming machine 100, a replenishment basket 60 for replenishing the game medium by natural flow from an upper tank 50 that stores a game medium lifted from a lifting device 40 described later is passed. The branched lead-out path 70 extends to a prize ball tank 63 disposed on the upper back surface of the gaming machine 100. In the middle of the lead-out path 70, replenishing means 64 for controlling whether or not the game medium is replenished from the replenishing bowl 60 to the prize ball tank 63 is attached. When the game medium is paid out from the prize ball tank 63 due to winning or the like and the amount of game media in the prize ball tank 63 decreases, the supply means 64 supplies the game medium from the supply basket 60 to the prize ball tank 63. At this time, the replenishing means 64 counts the number of game media that have been replenished, and sends a replenishment ball signal related to the counted value to the management device 600.

<Discharge of gaming media from the gaming machine 100>
The out port 116 is a collection port that collects the game medium when the game medium launched into the gaming machine 100 does not win any of the winning winning ports such as the start winning port 114 and the jackpot winning port 115. .

FIG. 4 shows a game medium that has passed through any one of the winning prize openings 114 such as the start prize opening 114 provided in the gaming machine 100, and a game medium that has not passed through any of the prize winning openings and has passed through the out port 116 of the gaming machine 100. As shown in FIG. 4, the game machine 100 is discharged to the outside of the game machine 100 through a game medium discharge port 125 provided at the lower back of the game machine 100 or the like. A so-called out box 130 is provided near the game medium outlet 125. The outbox 130 is provided with a tray 131 for receiving the discharged game media and a counting means 132 for counting the game media. The outbox 130 receives the game media discharged from the gaming machine 100 by the receiving tray 131, counts these game media as the game media (= ball hitting) launched into the gaming machine 100, and counts them by the counting means 132. Then, it is guided to the discharge basket 20 and collected. For example, the counting means 132 outputs one hitting ball signal for every 10 gaming media counted. The hitting signal may be output from an interface (not shown) provided in the gaming machine 100.

<Configuration of inter-machine 200>
The inter-machine 200 installed corresponding to each gaming machine 100 is a ball lending machine. This intermediary machine 200 accepts a player recording medium (not shown) in which cash information by a player is recorded and information on the balance as a value that can be used for the game, and pays out a predetermined amount of the game medium. A game on the gaming machine 100 is made possible.

It should be noted that the inter-machine 200 may be a so-called CR unit that can instruct the gaming machine 100 to pay out gaming media when lending balls.

<Configuration of repeater 350>
In this embodiment, the repeater 350 is arranged corresponding to each gaming machine 100 and displays various information related to the corresponding gaming machine 100 and calls from the player. That is, the repeater 350 indicates that when a trouble or the like occurs in the game and the player presses a call button (not shown) or a big hit occurs in the corresponding gaming machine 100, or the like. It informs employees and surrounding players. Further, the repeater 350 displays information related to the gaming machine 100 such as the number of jackpots and the number of start times of the corresponding gaming machine 100 such as today, the previous day, and the day before two days ago. Further, the repeater 350 includes a relay board (not shown) in order to receive signals output from the gaming machine 100 and the inter-table machine 200 and send them to the stand management device 400 or the like.

<Configuration of stand management device 400>
The stand management device 400 is an information processing device that mediates connection between the gaming machine 100 or the inter-table machine 200 and the management device 600. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, two sets of gaming machines 100 and inter-machines 200 are connected to one unit management device 400. However, in another embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which more gaming machines 100 are connected to one unit management device 400 may be used. It is good also as a structure connected by.

<Configuration of Island Management Device 500>
The island management device 500 is an information processing device that mediates the connection between the platform management device 400 and the management device 600. In the management system of this embodiment, the island management device 500 manages a plurality of table management devices 400. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the island management device 500 is configured to be connected to a plurality of table management devices 400. However, it goes without saying that in other embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this.

<Configuration of game media circulation system>
In addition, on the gaming machine island 10, a gaming medium circulation system for collecting gaming media discharged from the gaming machine 100 and replenishing the gaming media to the gaming machine 100 and the inter-machine 200 is installed. As shown in FIG. 2, this circulation system is mainly composed of a gaming machine 100, a table machine 200, a discharge rod 20, a lower tank 30, a lifting device 40, an upper tank 50, a replenishment rod 60, and a game medium reservoir 90. , And a counter 700. Since the gaming machine 100 and the inter-vehicle machine 200 have already been described, description thereof will be omitted below.

<Composition of discharge basket 20 and supply basket 60>
The discharge rod 20 and the replenishment rod 60 are, for example, an upper surface composed of a flat bottom surface having a rectangular shape in plan view where the game medium rolls down and side surfaces that prevent the game medium from falling and stand on the left and right of the bottom surface. Is an open aluminum square box with a U-shaped cross section (not shown). Normally, in order to prevent dust and debris from adhering to the bottom surface of the discharge basket 20 and the supply basket 60, and to prevent external access to the rolling game medium, the discharge basket 20 and the supply basket The open upper surface of 60 is covered with a lid or the like. The discharge rod 20 and the replenishment rod 60 are given a predetermined gradient in the longitudinal direction on the bottom surface so that the game medium can roll down. Such a gradient may be uniform in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface or may vary depending on the location.

In addition, a rectangular side opening having a height dimension slightly larger than the diameter of the game medium and a width that allows a plurality of game media to flow out in parallel is provided on the side surface of the replenishing bowl 60. Opened corresponding to the inter-machine 200 (not shown). Accordingly, by providing a supply chute 80 so as to face each side opening, game media can be simultaneously supplied from one supply basket 60 to the gaming machines 100 and the inter-machines 200 arranged in the gaming machine island 10. can do.

<Configuration of lower tank 30>
The lower tank 30 is provided at a lower position of the gaming machine island 10 in order to collect and store gaming media discharged from each gaming machine 100. The upper tank 50 and the lower tank 30 are connected by an overflow hose 51 that guides excess game media to the lower tank 30 when the inside of the upper tank 50 is sufficiently filled with game media.

<Configuration of lifting device 40>
The lifting device 40 includes a lifting belt that moves in the lifting direction and a polishing belt that is disposed at a lifting position opposite to the lifting belt (not shown), and between the lifting belt and the polishing belt. Is a device that holds the game medium between the two and lifts it while polishing and carries the game medium to an upper tank 50 described later. At this time, the polishing belt that polishes the game medium becomes conspicuous with time, so if it is left as it is, the ability to polish the game medium will be reduced. Therefore, in the game hall, the polishing ability is maintained by appropriately replacing the polishing belt with a new polishing belt, and the condition of the game medium is maintained. The lifting device 40 includes not only an abrasive belt method but also a method of lifting and polishing granular abrasives and game media while rubbing each other. In the case of a method using a granular abrasive, a powdery antistatic agent may be introduced so that static electricity is not charged to the game medium when the game medium and the abrasive are agitated. Specifically, when the antistatic agent adheres to the game medium, it has an action of slipping and reducing friction to suppress generation of static electricity, or forming a film that easily absorbs water on the surface to release static electricity. Moreover, as an antistatic agent, what processed glycerin fatty acid ester into white bead-like powder as surfactant can be used, for example.

<Configuration of upper tank 50>
The upper tank 50 is a tank that stores game media to be supplied to the gaming machine 100 and the platform machine 200, and is provided on the upper part of the lifting device 40.

<Configuration of game medium reservoir 90>
The game medium reservoir 90 is a box that temporarily holds a game medium that has not been supplied to the game machine 100 and the inter-machine 200 and that has flowed down from the supply basket 60. Further, a shutter is provided at the outlet of the game medium reservoir 90 (not shown), and the shutter can be opened and closed in accordance with a command from the management device 600. That is, when the game medium storage device 90 receives the exit opening signal from the management device 600, it opens the shutter. When the shutter is opened, the outlet of the game medium reservoir 90 is opened, and the game medium retained in the game medium reservoir 90 flows toward the discharge basket 20.

<Configuration of counting machine 700>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the counter 700 is a counter that is installed at one end of the gaming machine island 10 and counts the inserted gaming media. That is, when a user such as a player inserts the acquired game medium into the game medium insertion slot 710, the number of inserted game media is counted and the count result is displayed on the display means 720 such as a liquid crystal display. Also, the counting result is printed on a receipt or the like and output. A user such as a player can exchange for a prize by bringing the receipt or the like to the prize counter. Further, the game medium insertion port 710 of the counter 700 is electrically connected to the discharge basket 20 inside. Therefore, when a user such as a player inserts a game medium into the game medium input port 710, it flows into the discharge basket 20.

Further, a detection means 95 such as an optical sensor is provided in the vicinity of the game medium insertion port 710 of the counter 700. Note that the installation location of the detection means 95 is not limited to the vicinity of the game medium insertion port 710, and may be any configuration as long as it is installed at an appropriate location of the counter 700 that can detect the input game media. Further, as described above, the counter 700 is electrically connected to the discharge basket 20 inside. Therefore, it is good also as a structure which installs the detection means 95 in the appropriate place of the discharge rod 20 which receives the game medium discharged | emitted from the counter 700. FIG.

Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the detection unit 95 for measuring the flow velocity is separately installed in the counter 700 is shown, but the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the detection unit 95 is separately installed. In order to count the inserted game media, the counting means originally provided in the counter 700 may be used for flow velocity measurement. That is, when the counting means originally provided in the counter 700 counts the inserted gaming media, for example, every time 10 gaming media are counted, the counting signal is managed together with counting means identification information for identifying the counting means. Output to device 600. And the management apparatus 600 calculates the flow rate of the game medium thrown into the counter 700 based on the received count signal similarly to the case where the detection signal is received.

<Flow of game media in the game media circulation system>
Next, the flow of game media circulating in the game media circulation system will be described. When supplying the game medium stored in the upper tank 50 to the gaming machine 100 or the like, first, the game medium is supplied from the upper tank 50 to the supply basket 60. The game media discharged from the replenishment basket 60 to the replenishment chute 80 is supplied to the gaming machine 100 and the like via the lead-out path 70. The game medium supplied to the gaming machine 100 or supplied to the player via the inter-table machine 200 and used for the game is discharged from the game medium discharge port 125 on the back of the gaming machine 100. The discharged game media are collected in the lower tank 30 via the discharge basket 20. The game medium stored in the lower tank 30 is polished by the transporting device 40 and is transported to the upper tank 50 and supplied again to the gaming machine 100 and the like through the replenishment basket 60. If the game medium is lifted by the lifting device 40 and the upper tank 50 is already fully filled with the game medium, the excess game medium is returned to the lower tank 30 through the overflow hose 51.

On the other hand, game media that have not been discharged from the supply basket 60 to the supply chute 80 and that have not been supplied to the gaming machine 100 or the like flow down from the supply basket 60 into the game medium reservoir 90. When the outlet of the game medium reservoir 90 is opened, the game medium flows toward the discharge basket 20 and is collected in the lower tank 30 via the discharge basket 20. Specifically, when the game medium is not consumed by the gaming machine 100 and the replenishment basket 60 is filled with the game medium, the lifting device 40 automatically stops. In this state, when the outlet of the game medium reservoir 90 is opened, the game media stored in the game medium reservoir 90 are collected in the lower tank 30 through the discharge rod 20, and the game media in the supply rod 60 is also played. It passes through the medium reservoir 90 and is collected in the lower tank 30 through the discharge basket 20. When the game medium of the replenishment basket 60 is reduced, the lifting device 40 starts operation, starts to lift the game medium, and the game medium circulates.

<Configuration of Management Device 600>
The management device 600 is an information processing device that manages the entire management system and totals / manages detection signals output from the detection means 95. The management device 600 is realized by, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a workstation (WS).

Next, the hardware configuration of the management apparatus 600 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the hardware configuration of the management apparatus 600.

The time measuring means 602 includes a real time clock for measuring the current time and a timer for measuring the elapsed time. This time measuring means 602 operates based on, for example, a crystal resonator.

The external recording medium connection unit 603 is for realizing access to the medium, and can load a program or the like stored in the medium (recording medium) 604 into the management apparatus 600.

The storage unit 605 has, for example, an HDD (hard disk drive) that functions as a large-capacity memory, and the storage unit 605 stores application programs, OS, control programs, related programs, and the like.

Further, the storage means 605 is provided with a detection signal reception history storage area 651, a flow velocity information storage area 652, a state determination value storage area 653, and a correspondence identification information storage area 654. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the detection signal reception history storage area 651, the flow velocity information storage area 652, the state determination value storage area 653, and the correspondence identification information storage area 654 may be provided in the medium 604. .

<Configuration of Detection Signal Reception History Storage Area 651>
As shown in FIG. 7, the detection signal reception history storage area 651 is installed in the counter 700 of the gaming machine island 10 in association with the gaming machine island identification information (gaming machine island ID) for identifying the gaming machine island 10. The reception history of the detection signal output from the detection means 95 is stored. Specifically, the reception date and time of the detection signal is stored in time series for each gaming machine island identification information. Therefore, when the control unit 610 receives the detection signal from the detection unit 95, the control unit 610 refers to the current time from the time measuring unit 602 and stores the detection time in the detection signal reception history storage area 651 as the reception time of the detection signal. I do.

<Configuration of flow velocity information storage area 652>
In the flow velocity information storage area 652, as shown in FIG. 8, the game medium calculated based on the reception history of the detection signal in association with the gaming machine island identification information (gaming machine island ID) for identifying the gaming machine island 10 Is stored. Specifically, for each gaming machine island identification information, the calculated flow speed of the game medium and the calculation date and time of the flow speed are stored. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the flow speed (as of November 5) of the game medium input to the counter 700 of the gaming machine island 10 having the gaming machine island identification information “10 0 ” is “14.2. Pieces / second ". Therefore, the control means 610 calculates the flow velocity of the game medium input to the counter 700 based on the detection history of the detection signal stored in the detection signal reception history storage area 651, and calculates the calculated flow velocity of the game medium. , Control to store in the flow velocity information storage area 652 is performed.

In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the flow speed of the game medium is stored in the flow speed information storage area 652 as an index indicating the condition of the game medium is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. As an index indicating the condition of the game medium, the number of game media detected within a preset time is stored in the storage area, or the elapsed time until the preset number of game media is detected is stored. It is good also as a structure memorize | stored in an area | region.

<Configuration of State Determination Value Storage Area 653>
The state determination value storage area 653 stores a value (state determination value) of the flow speed of the game medium that serves as a reference for determining the condition of the game medium input to the counter 700. Therefore, the control means 610 determines the condition of the inserted game medium by determining which state determination value includes the calculated flow velocity. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the value of the flow speed of the game medium (state determination value) is “14.3 pieces / second or more”, the condition of the game medium is determined as “good”. In the case of “11.7 pieces / second to 14.2 pieces / second”, the condition of the game medium is determined as “attention”. In the case of “11.6 pieces / second or less”, it is determined that the condition of the game medium is “abnormal”. The “state determination value” includes both a specific value and a specific range.

<Configuration of Corresponding Identification Information Storage Area 654>
In the correspondence identification information storage area 654, as shown in FIG. 10, detection means identification information (detection means ID) for identifying each detection means 95 installed in the counter 700 and each gaming machine island 10 are identified. Game machine island identification information (game machine island ID) and game medium reservoir identification information (game medium reservoir ID) for identifying each game medium reservoir 90 are stored correspondingly. Therefore, the control unit 610 refers to the correspondence identification information storage area 654, based on the detection unit identification information received from the detection unit 95, the gaming machine island 10 related to the counter 700 in which the detection unit 95 is installed. Can be specified. Further, the control means 610 can specify the game medium reservoir 90 installed on the gaming machine island 10 based on the gaming machine island identification information by referring to the correspondence identification information storage area 654. .

The storage unit 605 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs such as a basic I / O program and various types of information used in basic processing. The storage unit 605 may include a RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the control unit 610 for temporarily storing various types of information.

The input unit 606 is, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device (such as a mouse), or a touch panel. Using this input means 606, a user such as a game hall employee instructs the management apparatus 600 to input a command or the like for controlling the management apparatus 600. In particular, a user such as a game hall employee uses the input unit 606 to perform an operation for storing the state determination value in the state determination value storage area 653.

The display unit 607 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or a CRT, and displays a command input from the input unit 606, a response output of the management apparatus 600 for the command, and the like.

The bus 609 controls the flow of information in the management apparatus 600, and is a signal line that connects each device such as the control unit 610 and the storage unit 605 in the management apparatus 600. Reference numeral 608 denotes a communication unit, and exchanges information with an external device via the communication unit 608.

The control unit 610 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes an application program, an operating system (OS), a control program, and the like stored in the storage unit 605, and is necessary for the storage unit 605 to execute the program. Control to temporarily store information, files, etc.

Further, when receiving the detection signal and the detection means identification information from the detection means 95, the control means 610 refers to the corresponding identification information storage area 654 and the current time from the time measurement means 602, and determines the reception time of the detection signal. In association with the gaming machine island identification information corresponding to the detection means identification information received as control, the control signal is stored in the detection signal reception history storage area 651.

<Calculation of flow velocity of game media>
In addition, the control means 610 calculates the flow velocity of the game medium input to the counter 700 based on the detection signal reception history stored in the detection signal reception history storage area 651, and calculates the calculated flow velocity of the game medium. Is stored in the flow velocity information storage area 652.

Specifically, the above-described control for calculating the flow velocity of the game medium calculates an elapsed time from when the first detection signal is received until the detection signal corresponding to the preset number of game media is received. And it is good also as a structure which divides the preset number of game media by elapsed time, and calculates the flow velocity of a game media.
Pre-set number of game media / elapsed time = flow velocity of game media For example, when it takes 60 seconds from receiving the first detection signal to receiving detection signals for 1000 game media, the flow velocity of the game media is It is calculated as 16.7 pieces / second.
1000 pieces / 60 seconds = 16.7 pieces / second

In addition, the control for calculating the flow velocity of the game medium is specifically based on the detection signal based on the number of game media detected from when the first detection signal is received until a preset time elapses. To calculate. Then, the flow rate of the game medium may be calculated by dividing the detected number of game media by a preset time.
Number of detected game media / preset time = flow velocity of game media For example, when 900 game media are detected in 60 seconds, the flow velocity of game media is calculated as 15 / sec.
900/60 seconds = 15 / second

<Use of calculated flow velocity>
Further, the control means 610 determines the state of the game medium input to the counter 700 by determining which state determination value stored in the state determination value storage area 653 includes the calculated flow velocity. Control to determine.

For example, when the calculated flow velocity is “16.7 pieces / second”, the condition of the game medium is determined as “good”. On the other hand, for example, when the calculated flow velocity is “10.0 pieces / second”, the condition of the game medium is determined as “abnormal”.

And according to the result of determination, control which adjusts the condition of the game medium which circulates through the game machine island 10 in which the counter 700 is installed is performed. For example, when it is determined as “attention” or “abnormal”, control for adjusting the condition of the game medium is performed. Or when it determines with "abnormal", control which adjusts the condition of a game medium is performed.

Specifically, the control for adjusting the condition of the game medium refers to the game related to the counter 700 that refers to the correspondence identification information storage area 654 and determines the condition of the inserted game medium as “attention” or “abnormal”. An exit opening signal for opening the shutter and opening the exit is output to the game medium reservoir 90 installed on the machine island 10.

In addition, as a control for adjusting the condition of the game medium related to the gaming machine island 10, for example, a heater (not shown) for heating the basket is installed in the discharge basket 20 or the supply basket 60 of each gaming machine island 10. For example, as the heater, a heating wire type installed along the ridge is used. Then, the control means 610 starts heating the heater installed on the gaming machine island 10 related to the counting machine 700 that has determined that the condition of the inserted gaming medium is “caution” or “abnormal”. It is good also as a structure which outputs a start signal. In addition, although the structure which provided the heater in the cage | basket in order to warm the game medium circulated in the game media circulation system was shown here, the place which installs a heater is not necessarily limited to a cage | basket. In short, any place where the circulating game media can be heated is acceptable.

It can also be configured as an alternative to a hardware device by software that realizes functions equivalent to those of the above means.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the program according to the present embodiment and related information are directly loaded from the medium 604 to the RAM or the like of the storage unit 605 and executed. However, in addition to this, the program according to the present embodiment is also illustrated. May be loaded into the RAM or the like of the storage means 605 from the HDD or the like of the storage means 605 where the program is already installed. In addition, the program according to the present embodiment can be stored in the ROM or the like of the storage unit 605, configured so as to form a part of the memory map, and directly executed by the control unit 610.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a configuration in which the management device 600 is realized by one device is described, but it may be realized by a configuration in which resources are distributed to a plurality of devices. For example, storage and calculation resources may be distributed in a plurality of devices. Alternatively, resources may be distributed for each component virtually realized on the management apparatus 600 and parallel processing may be performed.

<Configuration of network 801>
The network 801 is typically a LAN (Local Area Network), but may have any configuration as long as it can transmit and receive information regardless of wired / wireless. For example, a public line (analog line, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network, etc.)), WAN (Wide Area Network), wireless LAN, etc. may be used. Note that, for example, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) or the like can be adopted as a communication protocol on the network 801.

<Flow of processing executed by the management system>
Next, the flow of processing executed by the management system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The following processing is executed independently for each gaming machine island 10.

As shown in FIG. 11, a user such as a player in the game hall throws the acquired game media into the counter 700 installed at one end of the gaming machine island 10 at the end of the game. A detection signal or the like is output from the detection means 95 that detects the inserted game medium. When receiving the detection signal, the management device 600 refers to the current time from the time measuring means 602 and stores the time as the reception time of the detection signal in the detection signal reception history storage area 651 (step S1101). The management device 600 calculates the flow rate of the game medium input to the counter 700 based on the detection signal reception history stored in the detection signal reception history storage area 651 (step S1102). The management device 600 determines the condition of the game medium by determining which state determination value stored in the state determination value storage area 653 includes the calculated flow velocity (step S1103). Then, the management device 600 adjusts the condition of the game medium circulating in the gaming machine island 10 where the counter 700 is installed according to the determination result (step S1104).

By adopting such a configuration, by measuring the flow velocity of the game medium, the condition of the game medium (dirt condition, temperature, degree of moisture adhesion, etc.) is quantified, and the condition adjustment is recognized when a decrease in the condition is recognized. By adopting a configuration for performing the above, it is possible to effectively adjust the condition of the game medium. As a result, the condition of the game medium can be appropriately managed, and the occurrence of the game medium clogging occurring in the game medium circulation system can be reduced. In addition, when adjusting the condition of the game medium, when the game medium is warmed by a heater installed in the reed bowl 60 or the like, the flow of the game medium whose flow has deteriorated due to the temperature and humidity conditions of the game hall It can be returned to an easy state.

That is, the management system shown in the present embodiment calculates the flow speed of the game medium input to the counting machine 700 installed on the gaming machine island 10, so that the inside of the gaming medium circulation system of the gaming machine island 10 is calculated. When the condition of the circulating game medium is quantified and a decrease in the condition is recognized, the condition of the game medium related to the gaming machine island 10 is adjusted.

<Modification: Range for calculating flow velocity>
In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which a game medium acquired by a user such as a player at the end of the game is inserted into the counter 700. However, in order to calculate the flow speed of the game medium with higher accuracy, for example, a user such as a game hall employee who uses the same number of game media (for example, 1000) each time outside the game hall business hours, It is good also as a structure which adjusts the condition of a game medium if it inserts into the counter 700 installed in 10 in order, calculates the flow velocity of the game medium inserted, and recognizes the fall of the condition.

Also, in the above case, it is performed several times at predetermined times (for example, 11:00 am, 3 pm, 11:30 pm), the average of the flow speed of the game medium is calculated, and the decrease in the condition is recognized. It is good also as a structure which adjusts the condition of the game medium which concerns on the gaming machine island 10. FIG. By determining the condition of the game medium based on the average flow velocity, the condition can be adjusted more effectively, and the occurrence of the jam of the game medium can be reduced.

Further, the above processing executed by the management system may be performed several times at a predetermined time. By performing it a plurality of times, the condition of the game medium can be adjusted more effectively, and the occurrence of clogging of the game medium can be reduced.

Further, for example, out of the gaming machine islands 10 installed in the game hall, each island group classified by the type or model of the gaming machine 100 installed in the gaming machine island 10 is included in the island group. When the average of the flow speeds of the game media input to the counter 700 related to the gaming machine island 10 is calculated and the decrease in the condition is recognized, the adjustment of the condition of the game media related to the gaming machine island 10 included in the island group is adjusted. It is good also as a structure to perform.

Alternatively, the flow speed of the game medium input to each counter 700 is calculated for all the counters 700 related to all the gaming machine islands 10 in the game halls A to E. Then, an average value is calculated from the calculated values of the flow speeds of the game media input to each counter 700, and this is used as the average value of the flow speeds of the game media in the game halls A to E. To 1200. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the management center 1200 determines the condition of the game medium by comparing the average value of the flow speed of each game hall with the state determination value, and determines the game hall according to the determination result. It may be configured to adjust the condition of the game medium.

<Modification: About Opening and Closing of Game Medium Reservoir 90>
Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the shutter of the game medium storage device 90 is opened and closed in accordance with a command from the management device 600 is shown, but the configuration is not limited to this configuration. For example, the shutter of the game medium reservoir 90 may be configured to open and close by a user such as a game hall employee operating an open / close switch (not shown) provided in the game medium reservoir 90. That is, the opening / closing of the shutter may be automatic or manual.

Moreover, although the heater installed in reeds, such as the replenishment reed 60, mentioned above about the structure which starts a heating according to the command from the management apparatus 600, it is not limited to this structure. For example, the heater may be configured such that a user such as a game hall employee can start heating by operating a heating start switch (not shown) provided in each heater. That is, the heating of the heater may be automatic or manual.

In these cases, if the management device 600 determines that the condition of the game medium input to the counter 700 is, for example, “caution” or “abnormal”, the management device 600 will notify a user such as an employee of the game hall. The notification process is performed.

In this notification process, for example, the management device 600 causes the gaming machine island identification information related to the gaming machine island 10 on which the counter 700 is installed to blink on the display means 607, The output is output to the attached intercom (not shown). Alternatively, the game machine island 10 in which the counting machine 700 is installed may be caused to issue a warning sound or blink an indication indicating an abnormality, or may be recorded in a form at the time of closing processing of the game hall. good. As described above, various types of notification processing can be performed, but these notification processing is not limited to the above example.

Then, a user such as an employee of a game hall who knows that the condition of the game medium input to the counter 700 is determined to be “caution” or “abnormal” by the notification process, the counter 700 is installed. The opening / closing switch of the game medium reservoir 90 related to the gaming machine island 10 is operated, or the heating start switch of the heater is operated.

<Modification: About an index for judging the condition of a game medium>
Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the flow speed of the game medium is used as an index for determining the condition of the game medium is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the number of game media detected within a preset time may be used as an index. In that case, the detected number of game media is compared with a state determination value indicated by a preset number of game media as shown in FIG. For example, when the preset time is “60 seconds” and the number of game media detected within the time is “900”, the condition of the game media is determined as “good”. In other words, for the time being, the game medium is not easily jammed without cleaning or the like, and it can be used as a guideline for determining that it will not hinder the operation of the game hall.

Further, for example, an elapsed time until a preset number of game media are detected may be used as an index. In that case, the elapsed time is compared with a state determination value indicated by a preset elapsed time as shown in FIG. For example, if the preset number of game media is “1000” and the elapsed time until the game media are detected is “80 seconds”, the condition of the game media is determined as “attention”. This makes it possible to systematically take measures against clogging of game media, such as cleaning the game media and peripheral devices if they are dirty on the closing day, and always maintaining the condition of the game media by prompting attention. It has the effect of being able to manage the amusement hall with peace of mind.

<Modification: Information Processing Device that Performs Control to Calculate the Flow Rate of a Game Medium>
In the above embodiment, the management device 600 receives the detection signal from each detection means 95, calculates the flow velocity of the game medium, and recognizes the decrease in the condition, adjusts the condition of the game medium related to the gaming machine island 10. However, the information processing apparatus that executes this control is not limited to the management apparatus 600. Another information processing apparatus (for example, the island management apparatus 500) installed in the game hall may be configured to execute this control.

In addition, each counter 700 has a detection signal output from the detection means 95 installed in itself or a count signal output from the counting means originally installed to count the inserted game media. A configuration may be adopted in which the flow velocity of the game medium input based on the above is calculated. And it is good also as a structure which outputs the calculated flow velocity to the management apparatus 600 or the island management apparatus 500. FIG. When the management device 600 or the island management device 500 recognizes a decrease in the condition of the game medium based on the received flow velocity, the management apparatus 600 or the island management apparatus 500 executes control to adjust the condition of the game medium related to the gaming machine island 10. Also good.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention can take an embodiment as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like.

Further, the present invention supplies a program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely to a system or apparatus. And the case where it is achieved by the computer of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code from the supplied program is included.

Therefore, in order to implement the functional processing of the present invention on a computer, the program itself installed in this computer is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. That is, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention. In this case, the program providing method includes a method of providing using a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and a DVD, a method of providing via a telecommunication line, and the like.

AE: Amusement hall,
10: gaming machine island, 20: discharge tank, 30: lower tank, 40: lifting device, 50: upper tank, 51: overflow hose, 60: supply tank, 63: prize ball tank, 64: supply means, 70: Lead-out path, 80: supply chute, 90: game medium reservoir, 95: detection means,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: Game machine, 111: Board surface, 113: Symbol display device, 114: Start winning opening, 115: Outlet winning opening, 116: Out opening, 117: Valley nail, 120: Game media payout opening, 121: Top plate, 122 : Lower plate, 123: handle, 125: game medium outlet, 130: out box, 131: saucer, 132: counting means,
200: stand machine,
350: Repeater,
400: stand management device,
500: Island management device,
600: management apparatus, 602: total time unit, 603: External Symbol recording medium connecting means 604: Media, 605: storage unit, 606: input means, 607: display unit, 608: communication unit, 609: bus, 610: Control means, 651: detection signal reception history storage area, 652: flow velocity information storage area, 653: state determination value storage area, 654: correspondence identification information storage area,
700: Counter, 710: Game medium slot, 720: Display means,
801: network,
1200: Management Center

Claims (3)

A management system in an amusement hall,
A detecting means installed in a counter for counting game media and detecting a game media;
Reserving game media and receiving an exit opening signal, a game media reservoir that opens its exit,
Based on the detection signal received from the detection means , the flow rate of the game medium is calculated,
The flow rate of the calculated game medium, determined using the state determination value as a criteria for determining the condition of the game media,
And a control means for outputting the exit opening signal to the game medium reservoir in accordance with the determined result. A management system in an amusement hall,
A detecting means installed in a counter for counting game media and detecting a game media;
Reserving game media and receiving an exit opening signal, a game media reservoir that opens its exit,
Based on the detection signal received from the detection means, the number of game media detected within a preset time,
The calculated number of game media, determined using the state determination value as a criteria for determining the condition of the game media,
And a control means for outputting the exit opening signal to the game medium reservoir in accordance with the determined result. A management system in an amusement hall,
A detecting means installed in a counter for counting game media and detecting a game media;
Reserving game media and receiving an exit opening signal, a game media reservoir that opens its exit,
Based on the detection signal received from the detection means, the elapsed time until a preset number of game media are detected,
The calculated elapsed time, determined using the state determination value as a criteria for determining the condition of the game media,
And a control means for outputting the exit opening signal to the game medium reservoir in accordance with the determined result.