JP6515234B2 - Gaming media lending machine - Google Patents

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a gaming medium lending machine provided side by side with a gaming machine.

Conventionally, a plurality of gaming machines such as slot machines are arranged side by side in a game arcade.
And, adjacent to each game machine, a game medium lending machine for paying out medals (game media) is juxtaposed.
The gaming medium lending machine has a housing, and the player inserts money into the coin insertion slot, or inserts a predetermined card medium into the card insertion slot, whereby the payout hopper of the inside of the housing is made of medals. Pay out.
There is disclosed a technology in which a camera is provided on the front of the housing of such a gaming medium lending machine to perform face authentication of the player (see Patent Document 1).

JP, 2014-23770, A

By the way, in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine, the positional relationship between the housing front of the gaming medium lending machine and the front of the gaming machine is not constant, but differs depending on the specification of the gaming machine.
When the front of the gaming machine is largely exposed to the player with respect to the front of the housing of the gaming medium lending machine, the imaging range of the camera installed in the gaming medium lending machine is partially set by the protruding portion of the gaming machine. The camera installed in the gaming medium lending machine can only capture a part of the face of the player, and there is a concern that it will be disadvantageous for performing face authentication correctly.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming medium lending machine which is advantageous for performing face authentication accurately regardless of the specification of the gaming machine.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a gaming medium lending machine having a camera for imaging a face of a player for face authentication, the gaming medium lending machine being annexed to a gaming machine, the gaming medium lending machine being a player A support mechanism slidably supporting the camera between a first mounting position and a second mounting position spaced apart in a width direction of the front surface of the housing; The camera is provided so as to be fixable at the first attachment position and the second attachment position.
Further, according to the present invention, the camera is accommodated in a camera case and disposed in the front of the housing, and the first attachment position is a contour of the front of the housing when the camera case is viewed from the front of the front of the housing The second attachment position is a position where the camera case protrudes from the front of the housing in a direction away from the gaming machine in the width direction of the housing. .

According to the present invention, the camera for capturing the face of the player for face authentication is provided attachably to the first attachment position and the second attachment position, regardless of the specification of the gaming machine. The camera can capture most of the player's face, which is advantageous for accurate face recognition.
Also, according to the present invention, it is advantageous to minimize the imaging range of the camera blocked by the gaming machine.
Further, according to the present invention, it is easy to change the mounting position of the camera, which is advantageous in improving the efficiency of the changing operation of the mounting position of the camera.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to instantly judge whether the camera case is at the first attachment position or the second attachment position, and it is possible to prevent an operation error such as incorrect attachment position of the camera case. which is advantageous for increasing the efficiency of the mounting operation.
Further, according to the present invention, it is advantageous in minimizing the imaging range of the camera blocked by the gaming machine while minimizing the size of the camera case.
Further, according to the present invention, when the face of the player faces the direction of the gaming status display section, the frequency of the face of the player facing the camera increases more often, and the camera's face is more accurately determined. This is advantageous for imaging and for performing face recognition accurately.

(A) is a front view of a gaming media lending machine according to an embodiment, and (B) is a side view of the gaming media lending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 16 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the gaming medium lending machine showing the state where the camera case is in the first attachment position. FIG. 16 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the gaming medium lending machine showing the state where the camera case is in the second attachment position. (A) is an explanatory view showing a state where the camera case is at the first attachment position and the imaging range of the camera is blocked by the gaming machine, (B) is an image at which the camera case is at the second attachment position It is an explanatory view showing the state where the range was secured. It is a perspective view showing a frame. (A) is a perspective view of the camera case, (B) is a perspective view of the guide bracket, (C) shows a state where the guide bracket, the front plate side slide fixing piece, the slide piece and the camera case side slide fixing piece are assembled. (D) is a perspective view which shows the state with which the camera case was assembled | attached to (C). It is a perspective view which shows the state in which a camera case exists in a 1st attachment position. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which a camera case exists in a 2nd attachment position. (A) is the perspective view which looked at the state in which a camera case is in a 1st attachment position from the back side, (B) is the rear view which abbreviate | omitted the flame | frame from (A). (A) is the perspective view which looked at the state in which a camera case is in a 2nd attachment position from the back side, (B) is the rear view which abbreviate | omitted the flame | frame from (A).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the gaming medium lending machine 10 is a device juxtaposed to a gaming machine that plays a game using gaming media, such as a slot machine or the like. In the present embodiment, the case of using a medal as a game medium will be described.
The gaming medium lending machine 10 includes a case 12, a case body 14, a bill burr unit 16, a control unit 18, a payout hopper 20, a nozzle chute 22, a nozzle 24, a counting game medium tray 26, and a tray. The cover 28 and the counting hopper 21 are configured.

The case body 14 has a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is configured in a hollow shape including a bottom plate 1402, a pair of side plates 1404 standing from both sides of the bottom plate 1402, and a top plate 1406 connecting upper ends of the side plates 1404. .
A front opening 1410 which is an opening on the front side of the housing body 14 is closed by a plurality of front plates, and the housing front 14A is configured of a plurality of front plates.
The rear side opening, which is the rear side opening, is closed by a plurality of rear plates, whereby the housing 12 is configured.
In the inside of the housing 12, a buildup unit 16, a control unit 18, a delivery hopper 20, and a counting hopper 21 are housed in order from the top.
The plurality of front plates constituting the housing front surface 14A are configured to include the front panel 16A for a building burr unit, the control unit-side front plate 18A, the replenishment door 30, and the lower front plate 32.

The billari unit 16 is used to identify the money inserted by the player, and the front side of the billuri unit 16 in the front opening 1410 is closed by the billarier unit front plate 16A, and the billarier unit front plate 16A A money insertion slot 1602 is provided for inserting money.
The control unit 18 performs various controls of the gaming medium lending machine 10.
The control unit 18 is closed by the control unit-side front plate 18A integrally formed with the control unit 18 in the front opening 1410 of the front opening 1410, and the card insertion slot 1802 is formed in the control unit-side front plate 18A. A touch panel monitor 1804 is provided.
A card in which information identifying a player or identification information unique to a card is recorded is inserted into the card insertion slot 1802, and the control unit 18 reads and writes information of the card.
On the touch panel monitor 1804, the control unit 18 displays the gaming situation of the player, such as the number of medals paid out and the number of medals acquired. In the present embodiment, the touch panel monitor 1804 constitutes a gaming status display unit for displaying the gaming status of the player.

The nozzle chute 22 is a portion for receiving the medals dispensed from the dispensing hopper 20 and guiding the medals to the nozzles 24, and the nozzle chute 22 is integrally formed on the lower front plate 32.
The nozzle 24 guides the medal led from the nozzle chute 22 to the lower plate (not shown) of the gaming machine, and is provided at the tip of the nozzle body 2402 swingably connected to the nozzle chute 22 and the tip of the nozzle body 2402 And a nozzle top 2404 provided.

The lower front plate 32 is detachably attached to the lower part of the front opening 1410, and the portion from the lower part of the front opening 1410 closed by the supply door 30 to the lower end of the front opening 1410 is the lower front plate 32. It is closed by
The counting hopper 21 counts the number of medals inserted into the counting gaming medium receiver 26. The counting result of the medals is transmitted to the control unit 18.
The lower front plate 32 has a front face 3202 opposite to the inside of the housing 12, and the front face 3202 constitutes the front of the housing 12.
A counting gaming media receptacle 26 is provided on the nozzle chute 22 at the front 3202 of the lower front plate 32.

Below the control unit 18, an opening 34 for supplying medals (disk-shaped game media) is provided, and the opening 34 is opened and closed by a supply door 30.
In the front opening 1410 below the control unit-side front plate 18A, an opening 34 having a vertically-long rectangular shape is opened. The opening 34 is a portion for replenishing the payout hopper 20 with medals.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, on the case front 14A, a camera 36 for imaging the face of the player to perform face authentication for authenticating whether or not the player is a member of the game arcade. Is arranged.
In the present embodiment, the camera 36 is accommodated in the camera case 38 and disposed above the control unit-side front plate 18A. Specifically, the camera 36 is provided above the touch panel monitor 1804.
The camera case 38 has a width extending along the width direction of the case front 14A and a height in the vertical direction, and the camera case 38 has a side farther from the gaming machine than the gaming machine as viewed from above. An inclined camera case front 3802 is projected from the housing front 14A.
The imaging optical system 3602 of the camera 36 is disposed on the front surface 3802 of the camera case 38 inside the camera case 38, and the optical axis of the imaging optical system 3602 is inclined toward the gaming machine.
The camera case 38 is formed of a material having light transmittance that allows imaging by the camera 36, for example, a synthetic resin material. In the present embodiment, the camera case 38 is formed in a smoked color that makes it difficult for the camera 36 to be visually recognized from the outside, so that the player does not feel the presence of the camera 36 bothersome.

The camera case 38 is configured to be movable between a first mounting position P1 (FIG. 2) and a second mounting position P2 (FIG. 3) separated from each other in the width direction of the housing front 14A.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the first attachment position P1 is a position where the camera case 38 is housed within the contour of the housing front 14A when viewed from the front of the housing front 14A.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the second attachment position P2 is a position where the camera case 38 protrudes from the housing front 14A in the direction away from the gaming machine in the width direction of the housing 12.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a support mechanism 40 is provided which slidably supports the camera case 38 between the first attachment position P1 and the second attachment position P2. .
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A to 6D, the support mechanism 40 includes a frame 42 housed inside the housing body 14, a guide bracket 44 attached to the frame 42, and a control unit. A front plate-side slide fixing piece 46 attached to the side front plate 18A, a slide piece 47 attached to the camera case 38, and a camera case-side slide fixing piece 48 are configured.
Describing in more detail, as shown in FIG. 5, a cable insertion extending in the width direction of the housing 12 is provided at the top of the frame front 4202 located in front of the housing front 14A (see FIG. 2) in the frame 42. Holes 4204 are formed.

The guide bracket 44 is attached to the top of the frame front 4202 by screws 50A and 50B as shown in FIG. 9A. As shown in FIG. 6B, the guide bracket 44 has a guide bracket front 4402 disposed between the frame front 4202 and the control unit side front plate 18A, and the guide bracket front 4402 has a slide guide 4404. It is formed.
The front plate side slide fixing piece 46 has a length along the width direction of the housing 12 as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and the middle of the front plate side slide fixing piece 46 in the longitudinal direction The unit is attached to the control unit side front plate 18A via a screw 50C.
As shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B, the camera case 38 is at the first attachment position P1 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the front plate side slide fixing piece 46. A first screw hole 4602 to be fixed and a second screw hole 4604 to be fixed to the second attachment position P2 are formed.

The camera case-side slide fixing piece 48 has a length along the width direction of the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 6C, FIG. 9A, and FIG. A longitudinal intermediate portion 48 is attached to the slide piece 47 by a screw 50D. The slide piece 47 is attached to the back of the camera case 38 via a screw 54. The screw 54 supports the slide collar 52 in a state where the slide collar 52 is inserted.
The slide collar 52 is inserted into the slide guide 4404 of the guide bracket 44 and slides. The back surface side of the camera case 38 and the slide piece 47 are fixed by forming a predetermined gap via the slide collar 52. The presence of the slide collar 52 forms a gap for slidably holding the guide bracket 44.
In the camera case-side slide fixing piece 48, a screw insertion hole 4802 for fixing to the first mounting position P1 and the second mounting position P2 is opened by using the mounting screw 50E.
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the camera case side slide fixing piece 48 is moved in the lateral direction, and the screw insertion holes 4802 and the front plate side slide fixing piece 46 The camera case 38 is fixed at the first mounting position P1 by inserting and screwing the mounting screw 50E in a state where the first screw hole 4602 is matched.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the camera case side slide fixing piece 48 is moved in the lateral direction, and the screw insertion hole 4802 and the second screw hole of the front plate side slide fixing piece 46 are moved. The camera case 38 is fixed at the second mounting position P2 by inserting and screwing the mounting screw 50E in a state of being matched with 4604.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, as described above, the slide piece 47 is inserted into the slide guide 4404 of the guide bracket 44, and the two slide collars move in the slide guide 4404. 52 (see FIG. 6C) are provided in a protruding manner. The two slide collars 52 move the camera case 38 from the first attachment position P1 to the second attachment position P2 and also from the second attachment position P2 to the first attachment position P1. In addition, by moving along the slide guide 4404 of the guide bracket 44, it functions as a guide member for guiding the slide of the camera case 38.
The support mechanism 40 is not limited to the structure of the embodiment, and various conventionally known structures may be employed.

Face recognition using the camera 36 is performed, for example, in the following procedure.
The camera 36 captures an image of the face of the player seated on the front of the game stand at a predetermined timing, and generates imaging data of the face.
The imaging data of the face is transmitted from the camera 36 to a server (not shown) provided in the game arcade via the control unit 18 and the communication line.
The server is provided with a member database that associates various registered data such as registered member's name and gender with the member's face imaging data, and the server is the member's face imaging data and members received via the communication line Face authentication is performed based on the database, and it is determined whether or not it is a member.
Then, the server transmits a control signal to the control unit 18 via the communication line and the control unit 18 based on whether or not it is a member, and performs various operations such as displaying various information on the touch panel monitor 1804.
In order to perform such face authentication correctly, it is preferable that the imaging data of the player's face be obtained by imaging the entire face as much as possible.

By the way, in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine, the positional relationship between the case front 14A of the gaming medium lending machine 10 and the front of the gaming machine is not constant but varies depending on the specification of the gaming machine.
As shown in FIG. 4 (A), when the position of the front 60A of the gaming machine 60 is greatly extended toward the player M with respect to the position of the housing front 14A of the gaming medium lending machine 10, the camera case 38 In the state of being attached to the first attachment position P1, the imaging range of the camera 36 is partially blocked due to the presence of the side portion 60B on the gaming medium lending machine 10 side of the gaming machine 60, and the player M Only part of the face can be imaged. Therefore, it is disadvantageous for performing face recognition correctly. In the figure, the widest area indicated by the broken line indicates the imageable range of the camera 36, the non-hatched portion indicates the non-imageable range blocked by the side 60B of the gaming machine 60, and the hatched portion can actually be imaged. Show the remaining imaging range.
In such a case, as shown in FIG. 4B, by attaching the camera case 38 to the second attachment position P2, the optical axis of the imaging optical system 3602 of the camera 36 is the game medium loan of the gaming machine 60. It moves away from the side 60B on the machine 10 side. In this way, the imaging range of the camera 36 blocked by the side 60B of the gaming machine 60 on the gaming medium lending machine 10 side decreases, and the imaging range that can actually be imaged by the camera 36 is expanded. Most of the face of the person M can be imaged. Therefore, it is advantageous to perform face recognition accurately.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the camera 36 for capturing the face of the player M for face authentication can move within the range of the first attachment position P1 and the second attachment position P2 Therefore, the camera 36 can capture most of the face of the player M regardless of the specification of the gaming machine 60, which is advantageous in accurately performing face authentication. Further, since the camera 36 is configured to be attachable to the first attachment position P1 and the second attachment position P2, the setting position of the camera 36 does not change.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the first attachment position P1 and the second attachment position P2 are portions separated in the width direction of the housing front 14A, the imaging range of the camera 36 blocked by the game machine 60 is It is advantageous to minimize.

Further, in the present embodiment, the camera 36 is accommodated in the camera case 38 and disposed on the housing front 14A, and the first attachment position P1 is the camera front as seen from the front of the housing front 14A. The second attachment position P2 is a position where the camera case 38 protrudes from the housing front surface 14A in the direction away from the gaming machine 60 in the width direction of the housing 12.
Therefore, it can be judged instantaneously whether the camera case 38 is in the first attachment position P1 or the second attachment position P2, and it is possible to prevent an operation error such as an incorrect attachment position of the camera case 38. It is advantageous in improving the efficiency of the installation work.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the support mechanism 40 slidably supporting the camera case 38 between the first attachment position P1 and the second attachment position P2 is provided, the attachment position of the camera case 38 is This is advantageous in facilitating the work of changing the mounting position of the camera case 38.

Further, in the present embodiment, the camera case 38 has a sloped camera case front surface 3802 that protrudes from the housing front surface 14A at a side farther from the gaming machine 60 than the game machine 60 side when viewed from above. Since the imaging optical system 3602 of the camera 36 is disposed on the front of the camera case 3802 inside the camera and the optical axis of the imaging optical system 3602 is inclined toward the gaming machine 60, the size of the camera case 38 is minimized. This is advantageous in minimizing the imaging range of the camera 36 blocked by the gaming machine 60.
The camera case front face 3802 may be parallel to the housing front face 14A. In this case, the size of the camera case 38 is larger than that of the present embodiment, and the designability of the gaming medium lending machine 10 is enhanced. Although this is disadvantageous, in the present embodiment, the size of the camera case 38 can be reduced, which is advantageous in enhancing the design of the gaming medium lending machine 10.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the touch panel monitor 1804 for displaying the gaming situation of the player M is provided on the case front 14A, and the camera 36 is provided above the touch panel monitor 1804, the player M's The frequency of the face facing in the direction of the touch panel monitor 1804 increases.
Therefore, when the face of the player M faces the touch panel monitor 1804, the face of the player M faces the camera 36 more frequently, and the camera 36 captures the face of the player M more accurately. It is advantageous in performing face recognition accurately.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the camera 36 is provided so as to be attachable to the first attachment position P1 and the second attachment position P2 has been described, but the camera 36 may be provided at three or more different positions. It is a matter of course that they may be provided so as to be attachable.

10 game media lending device 12 housing 14A housing front 1804 touch panel monitor (gaming status display section)
36 camera 3602 imaging optical system 38 camera case 3802 camera case front 40 support mechanism 60 gaming machine P1 first mounting position P2 second mounting position M player

Claims (2)

A gaming medium lending machine having a camera for capturing the face of a player for face recognition, and being attached to a gaming machine,
The gaming medium lending machine has a casing having a casing front facing a player,
A support mechanism is provided which slidably supports the camera between a first mounting position and a second mounting position spaced apart in the width direction of the front of the housing.
The camera is fixably provided at the first attachment position and the second attachment position.
A gaming medium lending machine characterized by The camera is housed in a camera case and disposed in front of the housing.
The first attachment position is a position where the camera case is housed within the outline of the housing front as viewed from the front of the housing front,
The second attachment position is a position where the camera case protrudes from the front of the housing in a direction away from the gaming machine in the width direction of the housing.
Game media lending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a.

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