JP6435721B2 - Dispensing state determination device for ball dispenser - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a payout state determination device for a ball dispenser, for example, and relates to a payout state determination device for a ball dispenser that determines a payout state when a game ball is paid out from a ball dispenser in accordance with the insertion of a bill or a coin. It is.

  Conventionally, a pachinko parlor game machine is composed of a pachinko machine and a machine between the pachinko machine and the pachinko machine. It is common for a player to insert banknotes and coins into a pedestal machine and to receive a game ball from the pachinko machine (lending out).

  In recent years, with the increase in the consumption tax rate, there has been a movement to pass the consumption tax that has been borne by the store side up to the player side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). At present, with the introduction of the consumption tax rate of 8%, game balls that have been paid out for 4 yen per ball are now paid out for 4.32 yen per ball.

  However, since the player pays out the game balls in units of 500 yen, if one ball is 4 yen, the player receives a payout of 125 balls (25 balls × 5), so there is no surplus.

  However, in the case of 4.32 yen per ball, about 115 balls (25 balls × 4 + 15 balls) are required to receive payout in units of 500 yen. Therefore, the remaining 15 game balls (hereinafter referred to as “end balls”) (This is called “Hadama”).

  There are two countermeasures, a prepaid subtraction method and a medal number adjustment method. In the prepaid subtraction method, a consumption tax is collected at the time of payment (lending), and the remaining fraction is settled. Therefore, the surplus amount is returned to the player, and a special machine and a large amount of small change are prepared. It was not a realistic method.

  In the method of adjusting the number of balls and medals, for example, in response to the introduction of the consumption tax rate of 8%, the payout from the pachinko machine that had been paid in units of 25 balls until then, such as paying out 24 balls for 100 yen, A mechanism that enables payout even with less than 25 balls is required.

  However, it is difficult from the viewpoint of fraud prevention to control the number of pachinko machines to be paid out from the machine, and it is necessary to pay out the end ball from the machine, not from the pachinko machine (for example, Patent Literature 2).

JP 2011-67438 A JP 2013-138695 A

  By the way, as a method of paying out the game balls from the inter-vehicle machine, there are two methods, a self-weight method and a lifting method. Normally, a game ball hit by a player with a pachinko machine passes through the back of the pachinko machine, circulates in the store, and is paid out again from the inter-machine or pachinko machine.

  At that time, the game balls are transported from the transport path provided at the upper part of the pachinko machine to each inter-machine, but since they are transported from the upper part of the pachinko machine, the self-weight system ball utilizing the weight of the game ball is used. A dispenser is often used.

  However, due to problems such as the space of the hall where pachinko machines and pachinko machines are installed, instead of the usual dead weight system, a lifting system ball dispenser that uses a screw to lift the game ball from below to above is used. There is also.

  In this lifting-type ball dispenser, even if some trouble occurs when paying out a game ball, it is not structured or configured to detect it, and the game ball payout state cannot be determined. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a payout state determination device for a ball dispenser that can reliably determine the payout state of a game ball.

In order to achieve this object, in the present invention, an entrance-side transfer path (31b) that sequentially transfers the game balls (P1) supplied from the entrance (31a) and a transfer on the entrance-side transfer path (31b) are transferred. A screw (35) for lifting the played game ball (P1) from below to above, a motor (65) for rotating the screw (35), and the game being lifted by the screw (35) An exit-side transfer path (32b) for transferring the ball (P1) to the exit (32a), a communication unit (90a) for receiving a payout instruction for the game ball (P1) from a predetermined host device (3), a power source ( 93) and a current monitoring unit (90c) that monitors the drive current of the motor (65) supplied from the communication unit (90a), and the current monitoring unit (90c). ) Before When detecting the drive current, unauthorized dispensing of the game balls (P1), or to such and a determination unit that a failure has occurred (90d) for said screw (35) or the motor (65) .

In the present invention, it further comprises a ball count sensor (92) for detecting that the game ball (P1) lifted by the screw (35) has been transferred on the outlet side transfer path (32b), Even if the unit (90d) does not receive the payout instruction and the current monitoring unit (90c) does not detect the drive current, the ball count sensor (92) When the gaming ball (P1) is detected by the above, it is determined that the gaming ball (P1) has been illegally paid out or that the ball count sensor (92) has failed .

In the present invention, a rotation sensor (91) for detecting a rotation state of the screw (35) is further provided, and the determination unit (90d) is a case where the dispensing instruction is not received, and the current monitoring unit ( Even if the driving current is not detected by 90c), when the rotation state of the screw (35) is detected by the rotation sensor (91), the game ball (P1) is illegally discharged or the rotation sensor It is determined that a failure with respect to (91) has occurred.

In the present invention, it further comprises a ball count sensor (92) for detecting that the game ball (P1) lifted by the screw (35) has been transferred on the outlet side transfer path (32b), The unit (90d) does not receive the payout instruction, the current monitoring unit (90c) does not detect the driving current, and the ball count sensor (92) detects the game ball (P1). ), When the rotational state of the screw (35) is detected by the rotation sensor (91), the gaming ball (P1) is illegally discharged or the ball count sensor (92) is detected. ) Or the rotation sensor (91) is determined to have failed .

  In the present invention, the determination unit (90d) is configured so that the motor (65) is rotated in response to the rotation of the screw (35) or the motor (65) without being supplied with the driving current from the power source (93). Even when a back electromotive force is generated in 65), it is determined that the drive current is detected by the current monitoring unit (90c).

  According to the present invention, when the driving current is detected by the current monitoring unit (90c) although the payout instruction has not been received from the host device (3), the screw (35) rotates and the game ball (P1) The determination unit (90d) determines that the game ball (P1) is unintentionally paid out due to illegally paying out or the screw (35) or the motor (65) operating without permission due to a failure or the like. Thus, it is possible to realize a payout state determination device for a ball dispenser that can reliably determine the payout state of the game ball (P1).

  According to the present invention, even when the payout instruction is not received from the host device (3) and the drive current is not detected by the current monitoring unit (90c), the ball count sensor (92 When the game ball (P1) is detected by the determination unit (90d), the determination unit (90d) reliably determines that the game ball (P1) has been illegally paid out or that a malfunction such as a failure with respect to the ball count sensor (92) has occurred. Can do.

  According to the present invention, even when the payout instruction is not received from the host device (3) and the drive current is not detected by the current monitoring unit (90c), the screw is detected by the rotation sensor (91). When the rotation state of (35) is detected, it can be reliably determined by the determination unit (90d) that there is a malfunction such as an illegal payout of the game ball (P1) or a failure with respect to the rotation sensor (91).

  According to the present invention, when no payout instruction is received from the host device (3), the driving current is not detected by the current monitoring unit (90c), and the game ball (P1) is detected by the ball count sensor (92). ), When the rotation state of the screw (35) is detected by the rotation sensor (91), the game ball (P1) is illegally discharged, or the ball count sensor (92) or the rotation sensor The determination unit (90d) can reliably determine that a problem such as a failure with respect to (91) has occurred.

  According to the present invention, the determination unit (90d) reverses to the motor (65) in response to the rotation of the screw (35) or the motor (65) without being supplied with the drive current from the power source (93). Even when an electromotive force is generated, it is determined that the drive current is detected by the current monitoring unit (90c), so that the game ball (P1) is illegally discharged, or the screw (35) or the motor (65) is malfunctioning. Can be reliably detected by the determination unit (90d).

1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a ball payout system according to the present embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the ball dispenser which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the open state in which the cover was opened from the main body in the ball dispenser according to the present embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the surface side of the cover of the ball dispenser which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface side of the cover of the ball dispenser which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the side view structure of the main body of the ball dispenser which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the screw of the main body of the ball dispenser which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the payment state determination apparatus of the ball dispenser which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the payment state determination processing procedure when there is no payment instruction | indication by the payment state determination apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the payment state determination processing procedure when there exists a payment instruction | indication by the payment state determination apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

<Overall configuration of ball payout system>
As shown in FIG. 1, a ball payout system 1 for paying out game balls is installed under a game machine 2, a machine 3 provided between the game machine 2 and the game machine 2, and below the machine 3. The ball dispenser 20, the pedestal machine 3, and the ball dispenser 20 are connected to the host server 4 connected to the network.

  The inter-machine 3 functions as a host device of the ball dispenser 20, and pays out the number of game balls according to the amount of bills and coins inserted from the game table 2 to the player, while the end balls of the game balls are dispensed into the ball dispenser. Let 20 pay out to the player.

  Further, the ball dispenser 20 is provided with a payout state determination device 100 (FIG. 8) for determining a payout state of the game ball. As will be described in detail later, the payout state determination device 100 determines the payout state of the game balls by the ball payer 20, and notifies the determination result to the upper server 4 via the network.

<Overall configuration of ball dispenser>
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the ball dispenser 20 includes a main body 30 and a cover 80 that covers a part of the upper side of the side surface 30 b of the main body 30.

  The ball dispenser 20 is expandable between a closed state (FIG. 2) in which the cover 80 is closed with respect to the main body 30 and an open state (FIG. 3) in which the cover 80 is opened with respect to the main body 30. . The ball dispenser 20 can dispense the game ball P1 (FIG. 6) when the cover 80 is closed, and can clean the inside of the main body 30 when the cover 80 is open.

  In the ball dispenser 20, a plurality of game balls P <b> 1 that are supplied from the inside of the inter-vehicle machine 3 to the entrance-side transfer space 31 having a U-shaped cross section of the main body 30 through the inlet 31 a are provided. It pays out to the user from the exit 32a of the front panel 30a via the side transfer space 32.

<Configuration of cover 80>
The cover 80 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is supported to be openable and closable with respect to the side surface 30b of the main body 30, and is detachably attached to the side surface 30b of the main body 30.

  The cover 80 includes a front surface 80a and a back surface 80b. The front surface 80 a of the cover 80 protects the inside of the main body 30 from the outside, and the back surface 80 b closes the inside of the main body 30. The back surface 80 b functions as a wall surface for configuring the entrance side transfer space 31 and the exit side transfer space 32.

  Engaging convex portions 81 to 83 that engage with the engaging concave portions 21 to 23 of the main body 30 are formed at positions corresponding to the engaging concave portions 21 to 23 at the upper end portion in the arrow C direction of the cover 80 (FIG. 4). Has been.

  At the lower end of the cover 80 in the direction of arrow D (FIG. 4), arm-shaped engagement claws 85 and 86 that engage with the engagement holes 25 and 26 of the main body 30 are connected to the engagement holes 25 and 26. It is formed in a state projecting downward in the direction of arrow D at the corresponding position.

<Main body configuration>
Next, the configuration of the main body 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6. On the side surface 30b of the main body 30, an entrance-side transfer space 31 having a U-shaped cross section that is slightly inclined downward in the direction of the arrow D from the direction of the arrow A to the direction of the arrow B, and from the direction of the arrow A An exit-side transfer space 32 having a U-shaped cross section that is slightly inclined downward in the direction of arrow D as it goes in the direction of arrow B is formed.

  In the main body 30, an entrance 31a for the game ball P1 (FIG. 6) is formed on the back surface 30g on the back side of the front panel 30, and an entrance-side transfer path having a predetermined length constituting the entrance-side transfer space 31 from the entrance 31a. 31b is formed. The main body 30 is formed with a wall surface portion 31c that is orthogonal to the transfer surface of the entrance-side transfer path 31b and determines the course of the game ball P1.

  The height in the direction of the arrow CD defined by the wall surface portion 31c of the entrance-side transfer space 31 is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball P1. Further, the width in the direction of the arrow EF defined by the transfer surface of the entrance side transfer path 31b in the entrance side transfer space 31 is formed slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball P1.

  On the other hand, the exit-side transfer space 32 is parallel to the entrance-side transfer path 31b of the entrance-side transfer space 31, and has the same angle as that of the entrance-side transfer path 31b, from the direction of arrow A to the direction of arrow B, and in the direction of arrow D An outlet-side transfer air passage 32b having a predetermined length shorter than the inlet-side transfer passage 31b inclined downward is formed toward the outlet 32a.

  Similarly to the entrance-side transfer space 31, the height of the exit-side transfer space 32 in the direction of the arrow CD is formed slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball P1, and the width of the exit-side transfer path 32b in the direction of the arrow EF As with the entrance-side transfer space 31, the diameter of the game ball P <b> 1 is slightly larger.

  In the outlet-side transfer space 32 having a U-shaped cross section, when the cover 80 attached to the side surface 30b of the main body 30 is in the closed state, the release surface of the outlet-side transfer space 32 is blocked by the back surface 80b of the cover 80. Thereby, the game ball P1 transferred on the exit side transfer path 32b is paid out from the exit 32a without falling.

  Between the entrance-side transfer space 31 and the exit-side transfer space 32 of the main body 30, that is, between the terminal end in the arrow B direction in the entrance-side transfer path 31b and the base end in the arrow A direction in the exit-side transfer path 32b. Is attached with a screw 35 as a lifting portion for lifting the game ball P1 from the lower side in the arrow D direction to the upper side in the arrow C direction.

  In the vicinity of the base end portion of the exit side transfer path 32b, a ball count sensor 92 is provided which is a high-frequency oscillation type proximity switch that detects the game ball P1 in a non-contact manner by a detection head that is a combination of a reed switch and a permanent magnet. ing. The ball count sensor 92 counts each time a game ball P1 lifted by a screw 35, which will be described later, is transferred on the outlet side transfer path 32b.

  A rotation sensor 91 described later is provided in the vicinity of the screw 35. The main body 30 includes a main board 93 therein. The main board 93 includes a control unit 90 (FIG. 8) having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) configuration, which will be described later, a power supply 93, and a buzzer 94. Has been implemented.

<Configuration of screw>
As shown in FIG. 7, the upper end and lower end of the central shaft 35j of the screw 35 are rotatably supported by the screw 35 with respect to the upper end piece 55a and the lower end piece 55b of the screw holding plate 55 having a U-shaped cross section. The

  For example, a stepping motor (hereinafter simply referred to as “motor”) 65 is attached to the lower surface of the lower end piece 55b of the screw holding plate 55, and a gear 66 is attached to the motor shaft of the motor 65 protruding from the upper surface of the lower end piece 55b. It is fixed. A gear 67 that is rotatably supported on the lower end piece 55 b of the screw holding plate 55 is engaged with the gear 66.

  A screw base 69 is integrally fixed below the screw 35, and the central axis 35 j of the screw 35 is integrated in a state of passing through the center of the screw base 69. A gear 68 is integrally fixed to the lower surface of the screw base 69 and meshes with the gear 67 on the lower end piece 55b.

  That is, the gear 68 of the screw base 69 is drivingly connected to the gear 66 fixed to the motor shaft of the motor 65 via the gear 67. Therefore, the rotation of the motor 65 is transmitted to the screw base 69 via the gears 66, 67 and 68. As a result, the screw 35 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (CCW) in FIG. 6 as the screw base 69 rotates.

  The screw base 69 is provided with a shielding plate 69a projecting in the direction of arrow C in parallel with the shaft 35a at the outer peripheral end thereof. A rotation sensor 91 (FIG. 6) made of a transmissive photo interrupter in which a light emitting portion of a light emitting diode and a light receiving portion of a phototransistor are arranged so as to face the shielding plate 69a is provided. Note that the rotation sensor is not limited to the transmissive photo interrupter, and a rotation sensor including a reflective photo interrupter may be used.

  Further, the screw 35 has a shaft portion 35a integrated with the central shaft 35j along the arrow CD direction, and gradually rotates while rotating from the arrow D direction to the arrow C direction with respect to the periphery of the shaft portion 35a. A spiral blade 35h formed in a rising spiral shape is integrally formed.

  The screw holding plate 55 (FIG. 7) in which the screw 35, the motor 65, and the like configured as described above are integrated, has a terminal portion in the direction of arrow B in the inlet side transfer path 31b of the main body 30 and an arrow A in the outlet side transfer path 32b. It is attached to the space between the base end of the direction.

<Ball dispensing operation of ball dispenser>
The ball dispensing operation of the ball dispensing machine 20 having such a configuration will be described. In FIG. 6, when a plurality of game balls P1 are supplied to the entrance-side transfer space 31 from the entrance 31a of the ball dispenser 20, the plurality of game balls P1 are transferred in the direction of arrow B while rolling on the entrance-side transfer path 31b. The

  The first game ball P1 transferred on the entrance-side transfer path 31b is lifted from the lower side in the arrow D direction to the upper side in the arrow C direction by the spiral blade 35h as the screw 35 is rotated by the motor 65. At this time, the screw 35 lifts the game balls P1 one by one per rotation.

  The first game ball P1 lifted up to the transfer surface at the base end portion of the outlet side transfer path 32b by the spiral blade 35h of the screw 35 rolls off the transfer surface of the outlet side transfer path 32b and is paid out from the outlet 32a.

<Configuration of payout state determination device>
As shown in FIG. 8, the payout state determination device 100 provided in the ball dispenser 20 includes a control unit 90, a power supply 93, a buzzer 94, and a screw base 69 of the screw 35 mounted on the main board 93 (FIG. 6). And a ball count sensor 92 provided in the vicinity of the outlet-side transfer path 32b.

  In the rotation sensor 91, since the light from the light emitting unit is blocked by the shielding plate 69a of the rotating screw base 69, when the light does not reach the light receiving unit, the screw 35 is rotated once and the predetermined reference position is reached. , And the detection result is output to the control unit 90.

  Therefore, the rotation sensor 91 can obtain the detection result and output it to the control unit 90 only when the screw 35 makes one revolution, but does not obtain the detection result until the screw 35 makes one revolution and does not obtain the detection result. The detection result is not notified to.

  The ball count sensor 92 is played when the game ball P1 lifted by the screw 35 starts to roll from the base end portion of the exit side transfer path 32b and passes through a position on the exit side transfer path 32b facing the ball count sensor 92. The sphere P1 is detected, and the detection result is output to the control unit 90. Therefore, the ball count sensor 92 does not obtain a detection result until the game ball P1 passes on the exit-side transfer path 32b, and does not notify the control unit 90 of the detection result.

  The control unit 90 is a computer (hardware) including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, an interface, and the like. A program is installed in the computer (software), and the hardware and the software cooperate with each other. A communication unit 90a, a motor drive unit 90b, a current monitoring unit 90c, and a determination unit 90d are configured.

  The communication unit 90a receives a payout instruction for paying out the game ball P1 for the end ball from the intermediary machine 3 which is a higher-level device, or notifies the higher-level server 4 via the network of the determination result of the payout state by the determination unit 90d. It is possible.

  When the motor driving unit 90b receives an instruction for paying out the game balls P1 for the end ball from the intermediary machine 3 via the communication unit 90a, the motor driving unit 90b supplies a driving current from the power source 93 to the motor 65, Through which the screw 35 is rotated.

  The current monitoring unit 90a monitors the drive current of the motor 65, and delivers the monitoring result to the determination unit 90b. This monitoring result is the current level of the drive current of the motor 65.

  The determination unit 90d determines the payout state of the game ball P1 by the screw 35 by comparing the drive current flowing through the motor 65 with a predetermined threshold (TH1 or TH2).

  Here, the threshold value is a threshold value TH1 corresponding to a standby current level that is insufficient for rotationally driving the motor 65, and a current level sufficient to drive the motor 65. A threshold TH2 corresponding to the current level of the overcurrent is set. That is, threshold value TH1 <threshold value TH2.

  The determination unit 90d determines defects such as the payout state of the game ball P1 and sensor failure based on the detection result of the rotation sensor 91 and the detection result of the ball count sensor 92. Hereinafter, the payout state determination operation in the payout state determination apparatus 100 will be described in detail.

<Payment state determination operation>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the payout state determination operation performed by the payout state determination device 100 provided in the ball dispenser 20 is performed when there is no payout instruction from the intermediary machine 3 that is the host device. The state determination operation and the payout state determination operation when there is a payout instruction from the intermediary machine 3 which is the host device will be described respectively.

<Payment state determination operation when there is no payout instruction from the pedestal machine as the host device>
In step SP1, the control unit 90 of the payout state determination device 100 determines whether or not the communication unit 90a has received a payout instruction for paying out the game ball P1 for the end ball from the intermediary machine 3 which is the host device.

  If a negative result is obtained here (step SP1: NO), this means that no payout instruction has been received, so that the motor drive unit 90b rotates the screw 35 via the motor 65 and pays out the game ball P1. This means that the control unit 90 has not yet shifted to the state and is still in the standby state. At this time, the control unit 90 proceeds to the next step SP2.

  In step SP2, the determination unit 90d determines whether or not the driving current of the motor 65 monitored by the current monitoring unit 90b is equal to or less than the threshold value TH1. In this case, since the payout instruction is not received and the motor 65 is in a standby state, if the drive current of the motor 65 is about the standby current, the threshold value TH1 or less is obtained, and an affirmative result (step SP2: YES) is obtained. Move on.

  On the other hand, if a negative result (step SP2: NO) is obtained, this means that the drive current of the motor 65 is at a current level that greatly exceeds the standby current despite the standby state. Then, the control unit 90 moves to the next step SP3.

  In this case, if the screw 35 or the motor 65 is forcibly rotated by some means, it is possible that a counter electromotive force is generated in the motor 65. At this time, the determination unit 90d can determine that a large drive current exceeding the threshold value TH1 is detected by the current monitoring unit 90c when a back electromotive force is generated.

  In step SP3, since the driving current of the motor 65 exceeds the threshold value TH1, the determination unit 90d generates a driving current having a current level that is large enough to rotate the screw 35 despite being in a standby state. 65, that is, it is determined that the drive current is abnormal. Then, the determination result by the determination unit 90d is notified to the upper server 4 by the communication unit 90a, and an alarm sound is generated by the buzzer 94, and then the process returns to step SP1 again.

  In step SP4, the determination unit 90d determines whether or not a detection result has been obtained from the ball count sensor 92 in a standby state in which a payout instruction has not been received from the interstage machine 3 of the host device.

  If an affirmative result (step SP4: YES) is obtained here, this is a standby state, so that the game ball P1 for the end ball by the screw 35 is not in a payout state, but on the exit side transfer path 32b. This means that the ball count sensor 92 may have detected the game ball P1, and at this time, the process proceeds to the next step SP5.

  In step SP5, the game ball P1 detected on the exit-side transfer path 32b by the ball count sensor 92 is due to unauthorized payout, or the detection result obtained by the ball count sensor 92 is due to a malfunction such as a sensor failure. Is determined by the determination unit 90d. And the determination part 90d notifies this determination result to the high-order server 4 by the communication part 90a, and after generating an alarm sound by the buzzer 94, it returns to step SP1 again.

  On the other hand, if a negative result (step SP4: NO) is obtained, this is a standby state in which a payout instruction has not been received from the interstage machine 3 of the host device, and the ball count sensor 92 transfers to the exit side. This means that the game ball P1 is not detected on the road 32b, and at this time, the process proceeds to the next step SP6.

  In step SP6, when the payout instruction has not been received from the interstage machine 3 of the host device and the detection result has not been obtained from the ball count sensor 92, the screw 35 has made one rotation from the rotation sensor 91. Whether or not the detection result is obtained is determined by the determination unit 90d.

  If an affirmative result (step SP6: YES) is obtained here, this is a standby state and the detection result is not obtained from the ball count sensor 92, but the rotation sensor 91 indicates that the screw 35 has made one rotation. This means that there is a high possibility that a detection result has been obtained. At this time, the control unit 90 proceeds to the next step SP7.

  In step SP7, since the screw 35 is rotating in spite of being in a standby state, the game ball P1 has been illegally paid out, or the detection result of the rotation sensor 91 is due to a malfunction such as a sensor failure. Is determined by the determination unit 90d. Then, the determination unit 90d notifies the determination result to the upper server 4 by the communication unit 90a and generates a warning sound by the buzzer 94, and then returns to step SP1 again.

  On the other hand, if a negative result (step SP6: NO) is obtained, this is a standby state in which no payout instruction has been received from the interstage machine 3 of the host device, and the detection result can be obtained from the ball count sensor 92. This means that the detection result that the screw 35 has made one rotation is not obtained from the rotation sensor 91 either.

  That is, in this case, it means that there is no illegal payout state of the game ball P1 in the standby state, and there is no trouble such as sensor failure of the ball count sensor 92 and the rotation sensor 91. 90 returns to step SP1 and repeats the above-described processing.

  By the way, if a positive result is obtained in step SP1 (step SP1: YES), this is because the payout instruction is received from the intercom machine 3 of the host device by the communication unit 90a, and the process proceeds to the next subroutine SRT1.

<Payment state determination operation when there is a payout instruction from a pedestal machine as a host device>
As shown in FIG. 10, in the control unit 90, the process proceeds from the subroutine SRT1 to the next step SP11, and since the communication unit 90a receives a payout instruction from the intermediary machine 3 which is the host device, the motor drive unit 90b The screw 35 is rotated by supplying a drive current to 65, and the process proceeds to the next step SP12.

  In step SP12, the determination unit 90d determines whether or not the drive current of the motor 65 monitored by the current monitoring unit 90c is equal to or less than the threshold value TH2. Here, when a negative result (step SP12: NO) is obtained, this means that the drive current of the motor 65 is larger than the threshold value TH2 corresponding to the current level of the overcurrent that causes the failure. The controller 90 moves to next step SP13.

  In step SP13, the supply of drive current to the motor 65 is stopped by the motor drive unit 90b to stop the rotation of the motor 65, thereby stopping the rotation of the screw 35, and the process proceeds to the next step SP14.

  In step SP14, since the drive current of the motor 65 is larger than the threshold value TH2, the determination unit 90d determines that a current abnormality has occurred in the motor 65 or that the motor 65 may be damaged due to an overcurrent. And the determination part 90d notifies the determination result to the high-order server 4 by the communication part 90a, and after generating a warning sound with the buzzer 94, the payout state determination process of the game ball P1 is complete | finished.

  On the other hand, if a positive result (step SP12: YES) is obtained, this means that the drive current of the motor 65 is smaller than the threshold value TH2, and thus the motor 65 is normally rotating the screw 35, At this time, the control unit 90 proceeds to the next step SP15.

  In step SP15, the determination unit 90d determines whether a detection result is obtained from the ball count sensor 92 while the screw 35 is rotating normally. Here, if a positive result (step SP15: YES) is obtained, this means that the game ball P1 lifted by the screw 35 has been transferred and paid out on the exit-side transfer path 32b. Accordingly, the determination unit 90d adds “1” to the number of game balls P1 for the end ball, temporarily stores it in the internal memory, and proceeds to the next step SP17.

  In step SP17, the determination unit 90d determines whether a detection result is obtained from the rotation sensor 91. Here, the reason for determining whether or not the detection result is obtained from the rotation sensor 91 in step SP17 after determining whether or not the detection result is obtained from the ball count sensor 92 in step SP15 will be briefly described below. .

  When the screw 35 lifts the game ball P1 from the entrance-side transfer path 31b to the exit-side transfer path 32b by the spiral blade 35h, the screw 35 is moved from the transfer surface of the entrance-side transfer path 31b by the spiral blade 35h before the screw 35 rotates once. The game ball P1 is lifted to the transfer surface of the exit side transfer path 32b.

  Therefore, the detection of the game ball P1 by the ball count sensor 92 precedes the detection of the rotation of the screw 35 by the rotation sensor 91. For this reason, after determining whether or not a detection result is obtained from the ball count sensor 92 in step SP15, it is determined whether or not a detection result is obtained from the rotation sensor 91 in step SP17.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this. After determining whether or not the detection result is obtained from the rotation sensor 91 in step SP17, it is determined whether or not the detection result is obtained from the ball count sensor 92 in step SP15. The order may be changed.

  If an affirmative result (step SP17: YES) is obtained in step SP17, this means that the rotation sensor 91 has detected that the screw 35 has rotated once after the game ball P1 has been detected by the ball count sensor 92. .

  In this case, the determination unit 90d can determine that the screw 35 is also rotating normally and there is no sensor failure of the ball count sensor 92 and the rotation sensor 91. At this time, the control unit 90 proceeds to the next step SP18. Move.

  In step SP18, when the game ball P1 is completely lifted from the entrance side transfer path 31b to the exit side transfer path 32b by one rotation of the screw 35, the drive current is supplied to the motor 65 through the motor drive unit 90b. After stopping the rotation of the screw 35 for a moment by stopping, the process proceeds to the next step SP19.

  In step SP19, the determination unit 90d determines whether or not the current payout ball number in the game balls P1 for the end balls is smaller than the total payout ball number (payout ball number <total payout ball number). In this case, the total number of payout balls is the total number of game balls P1 for the end balls that need to be paid out by the ball dispenser 20.

  If a positive result (step SP19: YES) is obtained here, this is because the current number of payout balls in the game balls P1 for the end balls is smaller than the total number of payout balls, and the game balls for the end balls to be paid out yet. This means that P1 remains. At this time, the control unit 90 returns to step SP11 again, and repeats the processing after step SP11.

  On the other hand, if a negative result (step SP19: NO) is obtained, this means that the current payout ball number in the game ball P1 for the end ball reaches the total payout ball number, and the game for the end ball to be paid out. This means that the ball P1 does not remain. At this time, the control unit 90 returns to step SP1 (FIG. 9) and waits for an instruction to pay out the game ball P1 for the next end ball from the intermediary machine 3 which is the host device.

  On the other hand, if a negative result (step SP17: NO) is obtained in step SP17, this is because the detection result from the rotation sensor 91 is still obtained even though the game ball P1 is detected by the ball count sensor 92 in step SP15. In this case, the control unit 90 proceeds to the next step SP20.

  In step SP20, the control unit 90 determines whether or not the time required for one rotation of the screw 35 has already elapsed before the detection result from the rotation sensor 91 is obtained.

  If a negative result (step SP20: NO) is obtained here, this means that the time required for one rotation of the screw 35 has not yet elapsed, and at this time, the control unit 90 returns to step SP17, The processing of SP17 and step SP20 is repeated.

  In this case, the case where it is determined whether or not the time necessary for one rotation of the motor 65 has elapsed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the motor 65 is a stepping motor. You may make it determine whether the total number of steps required for the motor 65 to carry out 1 rotation has passed.

  On the other hand, if a positive result (step SP20: YES) is obtained, this means that the game ball P1 is detected by the ball count sensor 92, but the detection result from the rotation sensor 91 is obtained even if the screw 35 rotates once. In this case, the control unit 90 proceeds to the next step SP21.

  In step SP21, the detection result is not obtained from the rotation sensor 91 even though the screw 35 is normally rotated and the game ball P1 is detected by the ball count sensor 92. Therefore, the motor drive unit 90b supplies the motor 65 to the motor 65. After the supply of the drive current is stopped and the rotation of the screw 35 is stopped, the process proceeds to the next step SP22.

  In step SP22, as described above, the screw 35 is normally rotated and the detection result is not obtained from the rotation sensor 91 even though the game ball P1 is detected by the ball count sensor 92. It is determined by the determination unit 90d that a failure such as a failure occurs.

  The determination unit 90d notifies the determination result to the higher-level server 4 through the communication unit 90a, and after the alarm sound is generated by the buzzer 94, the payout state determination process for the game ball P1 ends.

  By the way, if a negative result (step SP15: NO) is obtained in step SP15, this is detected by the ball count sensor 92 on the outlet side transfer path 32b even though the screw 35 is rotating normally. In this case, the control unit 90 moves to the next step SP23.

  In step SP23, the determination unit 90d determines whether a detection result is obtained from the rotation sensor 91. Here, if a negative result (step SP23: NO) is obtained, this means that the game ball P1 is not detected by the ball count sensor 92, and the detection result from the rotation sensor 91 is not yet obtained. At this time, the controller 90 moves to the next step SP24.

  In step SP24, as in step SP20, it is determined whether or not the time required for one rotation of the screw 35 has already elapsed before the detection result from the rotation sensor 91 is obtained.

  If a negative result (step SP24: NO) is obtained here, this means that the time required for one rotation of the screw 35 has not yet elapsed, and at this time, the control unit 90 returns to step SP15, and Waiting for the detection result from the count sensor 92, the processing after step SP15 is repeated.

  On the other hand, if a positive result (step SP24: YES) is obtained, this means that the time required for the screw 35 to make one revolution has already passed, that is, the detection result from the rotation sensor 91 is not obtained. This means that the screw 35 has already made one revolution.

  That is, although the screw 35 is normally rotated by the motor 65, the detection result from the ball count sensor 92 is not obtained, and the detection result from the rotation sensor 91 is not obtained. Then, the control unit 90 moves to step SP21.

  In step SP21, the screw 35 is normally rotated, but no detection result is obtained from both the ball count sensor 92 and the rotation sensor 91, so the supply of drive current to the motor 65 is stopped by the motor drive unit 90b. Then, the rotation of the screw 35 is stopped, and the process proceeds to the next step SP22.

  In step SP22, as described above, the screw 35 is normally rotated, but no detection result is obtained from both the ball count sensor 92 and the rotation sensor 91. Therefore, the sensor of the ball count sensor 92 or the rotation sensor 91 is used. The determination unit 90d determines that there is a high possibility of a malfunction such as abnormality or failure.

  Then, the determining unit 90d notifies the determination result to the upper server 4 by the communication unit 90a and generates an alarm sound by the buzzer 94, and then ends the payout state determination process of the game ball P1.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result (step SP23: YES) is obtained in step SP23, this is because the screw 35 is normally rotated and the detection result from the ball count sensor 92 is not obtained, but the detection from the rotation sensor 91 is performed. The result means that it was obtained.

That is, the screw 35 is normally rotated once by the detection result of the rotation sensor 91, but the gaming ball P1 is not transferred on the outlet transfer path 32b by the detection result of the ball count sensor 92. When this happens, the control unit 90 proceeds to the next step SP25.

  In step SP25, supply of drive current to the motor 65 is stopped by the motor drive unit 90b to stop the rotation of the screw 35, and then the process proceeds to the next step SP26.

  In step SP26, since the screw 35 is normally rotated once, the game ball P1 lifted by the screw 35 is transferred on the outlet-side transfer path 32b and paid out from the outlet 32a. Since the game ball P1 cannot be detected by the count sensor 92, the determination unit 90d determines that the game ball P1 is not lifted by the screw 35.

  As a result, the determination unit 90d adds “1” to the number of idle swings of the game ball P1 lifted by the screw 35, temporarily stores the count result of the number of free swings in the internal memory, and then proceeds to the next step SP27. .

  In step SP27, the determination unit 90d determines whether or not the current idling number is larger than a prescribed idling number (for example, the prescribed idling number “3”). If a negative result (step SP27: NO) is obtained here, it is determined that there is a high possibility of accidental idling because the current idling number is smaller than the specified idling number, and the process returns to step SP11 again. The above-described processing after step SP11 is repeated.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result (step SP27: YES) is obtained, this means that the current number of idle swings is greater than a predefined number of predefined swings (for example, the specified number of idle swings “3”) ( At this time, the control unit 90 proceeds to the next step SP28.

  In step SP28, the current number of idle swings has become larger than the pre-specified number of idle swings. It is determined that the determination unit 90d determines that there is a high possibility that the flying of the game ball P1 will frequently occur in the future.

  Then, the determination unit 90d notifies the higher level server 4 of such a determination result through the communication unit 90a, and ends the payout state determination process of the game ball P1 after the alarm sound is generated by the buzzer 94.

<Effect of payout state determination device>
Thus, in the payout state determination device 100, the communication unit 90a is in a standby state in which a payout instruction for the game ball P1 is not received from the intermediary machine 3 which is the host device, and the drive current of the motor 65 is detected by the current monitoring unit 90c. When it is detected that the threshold value TH1 is exceeded (step SP2: YES), the determination unit 90d can reliably determine that a malfunction such as an illegal payout of the game ball P1 or a failure with respect to the screw 35 or the motor 65 has occurred. it can.

  Further, the payout state determination device 100 includes the ball count sensor 92 that detects that the game ball P1 lifted by the screw 35 has been transferred on the exit-side transfer path 32b. Is a standby state in which a payout instruction for the game ball P1 is not received from the inter-vehicle machine 3, and the driving current of the motor 65 monitored by the current monitoring unit 90c does not exceed the threshold value TH1. In addition, when the game ball P1 is detected by the ball count sensor 92, the determination unit 90d can reliably determine that there is a malfunction such as an illegal payout of the game ball P1 or a sensor failure with respect to the ball count sensor 92.

  Furthermore, since the payout state determination device 100 further includes a rotation sensor 91 that detects the rotation state of the screw 35, the communication unit 90a does not receive a payout instruction for the game ball P1 from the intermediary machine 3 that is the host device. Even in the standby state and when the driving current of the motor 65 is not detected by the current monitoring unit 90c, when the rotation state of the screw 35 is detected by the rotation sensor 91, the game ball P1 is illegally paid out or The determination unit 90d can reliably determine that a malfunction such as a sensor failure has occurred with respect to the rotation sensor 91.

  Furthermore, since the payout state determination apparatus 100 includes the rotation sensor 91 that detects the rotation state of the screw 35, the standby state where the payout instruction for the game ball P1 is not received from the intermediary machine 3 which is the host device by the communication unit 90a. Even when the driving current of the motor 65 is not detected by the current monitoring unit 90c and the game ball P1 is not detected by the ball count sensor 92, the rotation sensor 91 detects the screw 35. When the rotation state is detected, the determination unit 90d can reliably determine that the gaming ball P1 has been illegally discharged or that a malfunction such as a failure with respect to the ball count sensor 92 or the rotation sensor 91 has occurred.

  Further, in the payout state determination device 100, the back electromotive force is applied to the motor 65 in response to the screw 35 or the motor 65 being rotated by some unauthorized means without the drive current from the power source 93 being supplied to the motor 65. Even if it occurs, it is determined that the drive current is detected by the current monitoring unit 90c. For this reason, it is possible to reliably detect a malfunction such as an illegal payout of the game ball P1 or a failure of the screw 35 or the motor 65 by the determination unit 90d.

  In the payout state determination device 100, even when the payout instruction for the game ball P <b> 1 is received from the intermediary machine 3, which is the host device, by the communication unit 90 a and the screw 35 is normally rotated, By comparing the drive current with the threshold value TH2, the determination unit 90d can determine that there is a possibility of failure of the motor 65 or the screw 35 due to overcurrent or the like during the payout of the game ball P1.

  Further, in the payout state determination device 100, while the game ball P1 is being lifted by normally rotating the screw 35, a malfunction such as a sensor failure is detected based on the detection result of the ball count sensor 92 or the detection result of the rotation sensor 91. The determination unit 90d can accurately determine.

  In the payout state determination device 100, the screw 35 is normally rotated (step SP12: YES), and the detection result from the ball count sensor 92 is not obtained (step SP15: NO), but the detection from the rotation sensor 91 is performed. When a result is obtained (step SP23: YES), a payout state in which the game ball P1 is not lifted up even though the screw 35 has been rotated once, and the game ball P1 has been lifted from the screw 35. Can be accurately determined.

  Then, when this idling number becomes larger than the prescribed idling number, it is determined that the idling is not accidental, but is caused by the malfunction of the screw 35 and is likely to occur frequently in the future. An alarm sound can be generated. Thereby, it is possible to alert the user of the ball dispenser 20 in advance to the unwinding of the lifting by the screw 35 that will occur in the future.

<Other embodiments>
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the ball dispenser 20 pays out the end ball of the game ball P1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and not only the end ball but also the game ball P1 to be paid out from the gaming machine 2 other than the end ball may be paid out from the ball dispenser 20.

  In the embodiment described above, when the current idling number is larger than the prescribed idling number, this is not an accidental idling, but is caused by a malfunction such as an idling due to some malfunction or a failure of the screw 35. The case where the determination unit 90d determines that it is idling has been described.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the game balls P1 are lifted one by one by the screw 35, the determination is made based on the idle swing rate of the game balls P1 with respect to the total number of pumps and a preset threshold of the empty swing rate. The portion 90d may determine that the swing is caused by a failure of the screw 35 or the like.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which an alarm sound is generated by the buzzer 94 when a malfunction such as an illegal payout of the game ball P1 or a sensor failure occurs.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of the alarm sound by the buzzer 94 or in addition to the alarm sound by the buzzer 94, the game ball P1 is illegally paid out on a display panel (not shown) of the intermediary machine 3 or the ball dispenser 20. Or a malfunction such as a sensor failure may be displayed so that it can be visually recognized.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ball paying system, 2 ... Game machine, 3 ... Stand-alone machine (high-order apparatus), 4 ... High-order server, 20 ... Ball paying machine, 21-23 ... Engagement recessed part, 24 ... Through Hole 30... Main body 30 a. Front surface 30 b. Side surface 31. Entrance side transfer space 31 a. Inlet 31 b. Entrance side transfer path 31 c. Straight wall surface 32. Side transfer space, 32a ... exit, 32b ... exit side transfer path, 35 ... screw, 35a ... shaft, 35h ... spiral blade, 35j ... center shaft, 55 ... screw holding plate, 65 ... motor , 66, 67, 68... Gear, 69... Screw base, 69 a .. shielding plate, 80 .. cover, 80 a .. front surface, 80 b .. back surface, 81 to 83. ...... Engagement claw part, 90 ... Control part, 90a ... Communication part, 90b ... Drive unit, 90c... Current monitoring unit, 90d... Determination unit, 91... Rotation sensor, 92... Ball count sensor, 93 .. power supply, 94 .. buzzer, 100. … A game ball.

Claims (5)

An entrance-side transfer path for sequentially transferring game balls supplied from the entrance;
A screw that lifts the game ball transferred on the entrance-side transfer path from below to above;
A motor for rotating the screw;
An exit-side transfer path for transferring the game ball lifted by the screw to the exit;
A communication unit that receives a payout instruction for the game ball from a predetermined host device;
A current monitoring unit for monitoring the drive current of the motor supplied from a power source;
If the communication unit does not receive the payout instruction and the current monitoring unit detects the drive current, an illegal payout of the game ball or a failure with respect to the screw or the motor has occurred. A determination unit for determining whether or not a ball dispenser is in a payout state. A ball count sensor that detects that the game ball lifted by the screw has been transferred on the exit-side transfer path;
The determination unit detects the game ball by the ball count sensor even when the payout instruction is not received and the drive current is not detected by the current monitoring unit. 2. The payout state determination device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that an illegal payout of the game ball or a failure with respect to the ball count sensor has occurred. A rotation sensor for detecting a rotation state of the screw;
When the determination unit detects the rotation state of the screw by the rotation sensor even when the discharge instruction is not received and the drive current is not detected by the current monitoring unit. 2. The payout state determination device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that an illegal payout of the game ball or a failure with respect to the rotation sensor has occurred. A ball count sensor that detects that the game ball lifted by the screw has been transferred on the exit-side transfer path;
The determination unit
Even when the payout instruction has not been received, even when the driving current is not detected by the current monitoring unit and the game ball is not detected by the ball count sensor, the rotation sensor When the rotation state of the screw is detected by the above, it is determined that the gaming ball has been illegally paid out or that a failure has occurred in the ball count sensor or the rotation sensor. Judgment device. The determination unit
The drive current is detected by the current monitoring unit even when a counter electromotive force is generated in the motor in response to the rotation of the screw or the motor without being supplied with the drive current from the power source. The payout state determination device according to claim 1, wherein the payout state determination device is determined.

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