JPH04329987A - Controller for pinball machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a plurality of pinball machines from being occupied by a single player and the working ratio of the pinball machines from degrading by detecting the condition of pinballs left on a ball receiving tray of the pinball machine. CONSTITUTION:While a timer circuit 47 starts a timing operation when a sales signal Pm is given according to the lending of pinballs, it is initialized by a signal Pb of the number of out-balls given repetitively when a game is played in a pinball machine 1. On the contrary when the pinball machine 1 is not played after the sales signal Pm is given, i.e., when the lent pinballs are left on a ball receiving tray, a timing operation time of the timer circuit 47 reaches a set time to output an alarming signal St from a comparing circuit.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a management device for a pachinko game machine, which manages the pachinko game machine based on a signal for the number of out balls output from the machine.

0002

[Prior Art] In pachinko halls, visitors place lighters, cigarette boxes, etc. on the ball trays of pachinko game machines to prevent third parties from playing on the pachinko game machines. pachinko game machines are often occupied. Such acts of blocking are particularly common when pachinko halls are newly opened, but they are also frequently carried out during normal business hours.

However, as described above, when a plurality of pachinko game machines are occupied by one player, there is a risk that the operating rate of the pachinko game machines will decrease, and the sales of the pachinko hall as a whole will decrease. For this reason, in pachinko halls, it is prohibited for one person to occupy more than one pachinko game machine, and lighters, cigarette boxes, etc. placed in the ball tray of pachinko game machines are prohibited by pachinko hall employees. Staff will collect the items as soon as they are found.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in reality, a pachinko game machine may be illegally occupied by placing a certain amount of pachinko balls in the ball tray of the machine, and such possession is prohibited. Determining whether something is illegal requires a lot of human resources, such as continuous monitoring by employees. For this reason, it is actually extremely difficult to prevent the illegal possession of pachinko game machines using pachinko balls as described above, and as a result, in the past, one player occupied two or more pachinko game machines. There is a problem in that it is not possible to reliably prevent such situations.

[0005] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent a situation where a pachinko game machine is illegally occupied by placing pachinko balls in the ball tray of a pachinko game machine. To provide a management device for a pachinko game machine that can reliably prevent pachinko game machines from being required, thereby improving the operating rate of the pachinko game machine and simplifying equipment in a pachinko hall. be.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention releases pachinko balls as prize balls in response to the pachinko balls entering a winning hole, and lends out balls in response to payment of consideration. a first signal generating means for outputting a sales signal in response to the payment of the consideration; a second signal generating means for outputting a number-of-out-balls signal indicating the number of pachinko balls, which starts a timing operation from the time the sales signal is output, and initializes the timing operation every time the number-of-out-balls signal is output; The present invention has a configuration in which a timer means is provided, and a third signal generating means is provided for outputting an alarm signal when the clocking operation time of the timer means exceeds a set time.

[0007] Furthermore, after providing the pachinko game machine as described above, the first signal generating means, and the second signal generating means,
A timer means for counting the number of out balls signal only during the time counting operation period of the timer means, a timer means for counting the number of out balls signal only during the time counting operation period of the timer means, and a timer means for counting the number of out balls signal when the time counting operation of the timer means is completed. It is also possible to provide a third signal generating means that outputs an alarm signal when the count of the counting means is less than a set value.

[0008]

[Operation] In the invention as set forth in claim 1, when playing a game on a pachinko game machine, pachinko balls are lent out through the release mechanism of the pachinko game machine by paying a price through the pachinko game machine. can be,
At this time, a sales signal is output from the first signal generating circuit, and in response to this, the timer means starts timing operation. At this time, when a game is played with the pachinko game machine, the number-of-out-balls signal is repeatedly output from the second signal generating means, so the timing operation of the timer means is started each time the second signal generating means outputs the number-of-out-balls signal. Initialized. Therefore, while a game is being played on the pachinko game machine, the clocking operation time of the timer means does not reach the set time, and no alarm signal is output from the third signal generating means.

On the other hand, if the pachinko balls lent out through the release mechanism are left in the ball tray of the pachinko game machine and no game is played, that is, if the pachinko game machine is illegally occupied, Since the pachinko game machine does not output the number-of-out-balls signal, the time counting operation of the timer means, which is started in the same manner as described above, is not initialized. As a result, the clocking operation time of the timer means reaches the set time and an alarm signal is output from the third signal generating means, so that the alarm signal is used to illegally occupy a pachinko game machine using pachinko balls. This makes it possible to reliably find the information without requiring a lot of manpower.

On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 2,
When the sales signal is output from the first signal generating circuit, that is, when pachinko balls are lent out through the release mechanism of the pachinko game machine, the timer means starts to measure a certain period of time, and the counting means The out ball number signal outputted during the game is counted only during the time counting operation period of the timer means. At this time, if the game is played continuously on the pachinko game machine, the count content of the counting means exceeds the set value at the end of the time counting operation of the timer means, and therefore the third signal generating means No alarm signal is output.

On the other hand, if the pachinko balls lent out through the ejecting mechanism are left in the ball tray of the pachinko game machine and the game is not played, or if the pachinko game machine is not used for a so-called trial play (the pachinko game machine's If pachinko balls are left in the ball tray after playing a game with a small number of pachinko balls to check the condition of the board, the condition of the ball firing mechanism, etc., in other words, if the pachinko game machine is illegally occupied In this case, at the end of the time counting operation of the timer means as described above, the count of the counting means becomes less than the set value, so that the third signal generating means outputs an alarm signal. Therefore, using the alarm signal, it becomes possible to reliably detect illegal possession of a pachinko game machine using pachinko balls without requiring much manpower.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and will be described below.

In FIG. 2, a pachinko game machine 1 is configured to fire pachinko balls in an upper tray 2, which serves as a ball receiving tray, onto a board 4 through an electric firing mechanism 3. In addition to the out hole 4a, the board surface 4 is provided with a roulette 5 with a 3-digit number string, a normal winning hole 6, a special prize winning hole 7 with an electric accessory 7a, and a starting winning hole 8. ing. In this case, the roulette 5 starts operating when a pachinko ball enters the start winning hole 8, and
After this, the operation is stopped when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and when the number of each digit at the time of stopping becomes a specific combination, a special prize state is presented, and in such a special prize state, electricity is The special prize winning hole 7 is opened for a predetermined time by the accessory 7a, and the winning rate of the pachinko game machine 1 becomes extremely high. The prize balls corresponding to pachinko balls entering the regular prize hole 6 and the special prize prize hole 7 are set to, for example, 13, and the prize balls corresponding to the pachinko balls entering the start prize hole 8 are set to, for example, 13 balls. It is set to 7.

A storage tank 9 provided at the upper part of the back side of the pachinko game machine 1 temporarily stores pachinko balls supplied from a ball supply path (not shown) through a supply ball counter 10, and also stores the stored pachinko balls. Pachinko game machine 1
The discharge mechanism 11 is provided on the back side of the camera.

The release mechanism 11 is provided to release the pachinko balls in the storage tank 9 into the upper tray 2, and uses, for example, a step motor (not shown) as a drive source, and the step motor (not shown) is used as a drive source. By controlling the amount of rotation of the motor, the number of pachinko balls released can be arbitrarily controlled. Incidentally, the supply ball counter 10 is connected to the storage tank 9.
It counts the number of pachinko balls supplied to the player, and is configured to output a pulsed ball number signal Pa every time the counting result reaches "10". Therefore, by counting the output number of the released ball number signal Pa, the number of pachinko balls released by the release mechanism 11 can be determined.

Pachinko balls hit on the board surface 4 flow into an out ball tank 12 provided at the lower part of the back side of the pachinko game machine 1, and the pachinko balls are sent to the second signal generating means. The balls are collected through a barrel out ball counter 13. The out ball counter 13 counts the number of recovered pachinko balls as described above, and is configured to output a pulsed out ball number signal Pb every time the counting result reaches "10". There is. Therefore,
By counting the output number of the out ball number signal Pb, the number of pachinko balls driven in can be determined.

A card unit 14 is provided at the lower front side of the pachinko game machine 1. This card unit 14 has a prepaid card (not shown) on its front side.
an insertion slot 15 into which the prepaid card is inserted, an eject switch 16 that is operated when taking out the prepaid card inserted into the insertion slot 15, and a balance display section 17 for displaying amount information M stored in the prepaid card. , is equipped with a ball lending switch 18 for discharging pachinko balls within the range of amount information M displayed on the balance display section 17 through the discharging mechanism 11, and has a card reader/writer (numeral 19 in FIG. 3) inside. ). The prepaid card is a magnetic card, and in addition to a predetermined security code CX, monetary information M corresponding to the sales price is stored, for example, in units of 100 yen.

A control circuit 20 serving as a first signal generating means is provided on the back side of the pachinko game machine 1. The control circuit 20 is configured by a microcomputer, and the general function and peripheral circuit configuration of the control circuit 20 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

That is, in FIG. 3, a group of winning detection switches 21 provided corresponding to the winning hole 6, a winning detecting switch 22 provided corresponding to the special prize winning hole 7, and the starting winning hole 8 are shown. The winning detection switch 23 provided correspondingly is configured to generate detection pulses P1, P2, and P3, respectively, in response to a winning of a pachinko ball, and these detection pulses P1, P2, and P3 are sent to the input circuit 24. The signal is applied to the control circuit 20 via.

At this time, the control circuit 20 detects the detection pulse P
1, P2, and P3 are inputted, the ejection mechanism 11 is driven through the output circuit 25, thereby ejecting pachinko balls as prize balls onto the upper tray 2. In this case, 13 pachinko balls are released when each of the detection pulses P1 and P2 is input, and 7 pachinko balls are released when the detection pulse P3 is input.

The slot machine 5 is configured to supply numerical signals S1 to S3 indicating the numbers of each digit when the slot machine 5 is stopped to the control circuit 20 via the input circuit 24. In the control circuit 20, the numerical signals S1 to S3 are
When the numbers indicated by become a specific combination, the electric accessory 7a is operated through the output circuit 25, thereby switching the pachinko game machine 1 to the above-mentioned special prize state,
A special prize signal Sf (
high level signal).

The eject switch 16 and the ball lending switch 18 apply each on signal to the control circuit 20 via the input circuit 24, and the card reader is provided to exchange data with the control circuit 20. The writer 19 is configured to generate an insertion detection signal when a prepaid card is inserted into the insertion slot 15.

The control circuit 20 is configured to perform control as shown in FIG. 4 based on the above-mentioned ON signal, insertion detection signal, and read information from the prepaid card. Explain the outline of the content.

■...When a prepaid card is inserted, the card is held in the inserted state, and the stored information of the prepaid card is read and latched (steps A1 to A3).

[0025] ■...The security code CX in the readout information is checked to determine whether the prepaid card inserted into the insertion slot 15 is proper or not. If it is incorrect, the prepaid card is Card reader writer 1
9 and initializes the latch information (steps A4 to A6).

■...If the inserted prepaid card is a valid one, 100 points will be added to the prepaid card.
The amount information M stored in yen units is displayed on the balance display section 17 (step A7).

■...If the displayed amount information M is less than 100 yen (actually, this corresponds to the case where the displayed amount information M is zero), or in response to the release of pachinko balls as described below, the displayed amount information is changed. If M becomes less than 100 yen, the prepaid card is returned through the card reader/writer 19, and the latch information is initialized (steps A8 and A5).
, A6).

■...When the ball rental switch 18 is turned on with the amount information M of 100 yen or more being displayed, a number of pachinko balls equivalent to 100 yen are released as rental balls into the upper tray 2 through the discharge mechanism 11, The stored amount information M of the prepaid card is sent to 100 through the card reader/writer 19.
The amount is rewritten to be reduced by 100 yen, and the display on the balance display section 17 is accordingly reduced by 100 yen (steps A9 to A12).

■...Each time a number of pachinko balls worth 100 yen are released in this way, a pulsed sales signal Pm is outputted through the transmitting circuit 26 (step A13). Therefore, by counting the sales signal Pm, the amount of consideration paid via the prepaid card can be determined.

■...When the eject switch 16 is turned on, the prepaid card is inserted into the card reader/writer 19.
At the same time, the latch information is initialized (steps A14, A16, A17). However, if the rewriting of the amount information M in (2) has not been completed when the eject switch 16 is turned on, the above card return and initialization operation is performed after the rewriting is completed (step A1).
5).

The control circuit 20 also receives a stop signal Sz from a management device 27 (see FIG. 1), which will be described later. When the stop signal Sz is input, the control circuit 20 sends the firing mechanism 3 The pachinko game machine 1 is configured to be switched to a non-playable state by cutting off the power supply.

Now, in FIG. 1, of the electrical configuration of the management device 27, only the portions related to the gist of the present invention are shown by combinations of functional blocks. However, although the management device 27 is actually composed of a computer and centrally manages a large number of pachinko game machines 1, in FIG. Only relevant functional blocks are shown.

That is, the management device 27 receives the released ball number signal Pa and the out ball number signal P output from the pachinko game machine 1.
b, a sales signal Pm, and a special prize signal Sf are received via an input circuit 28.

The ball number counter 30, which receives an out ball number signal Pb indicating the number of pachinko balls inserted during a game via the input circuit 28 and transfer gate 29, is initialized through a reset terminal R. , the input number-of-out-balls signal Pb is sequentially added, and the addition result is converted into a numerical signal N indicating the number of pachinko balls entered after the above-mentioned initialization.
Output as 1. In addition, the transfer gate 29 is
Passage of a signal is allowed only when a high level signal is applied to the gate terminal.

The ball number counter 31, which receives a released ball number signal Pa indicating the number of pachinko balls released by the releasing mechanism 11 via the input circuit 28, is initialized through the reset terminal R, and The ball number signal Pa is added sequentially and the addition result is output as a numerical signal N2 indicating the number of pachinko balls to be replenished after the above-mentioned initialization (and thus the total number of pachinko balls released by the release mechanism 11).

The amount counter 32 receives, via the input circuit 28, the sales signal Pm that is output every time a pachinko ball worth 100 yen is lent through the card unit 14 and the discharging mechanism 11, and is initialized via the reset terminal R. The input sales signal Pm is sequentially added and the addition result is output as a numerical signal N3 indicating the rental amount (sales amount) of pachinko balls after the above-mentioned initialization. The storage unit 33 also stores a numerical signal N4 corresponding to the number of pachinko balls (for example, 25) rented out for 100 yen.

The conversion circuit 34 is configured to multiply the lending amount indicated by the numerical signal N3 and the unit number of pachinko balls indicated by the numerical signal N4, and converts the multiplication result into a numerical signal N5 indicating the number of pachinko balls to be rented. Output as .

The auxiliary subtraction circuit 35 as a second signal generating means subtracts the total number of rental pachinko balls indicated by the numerical signal N5 from the total number of pachinko balls released by the discharging mechanism 11 indicated by the numerical signal N2, and calculates the result. The subtraction result is used as a numerical signal N which is a safe ball number signal indicating the number of pachinko balls released as prize balls after initialization of each counter 30 to 32.
Output as 6.

The subtraction circuit 36 serving as subtraction means receives the numerical signal N
Numerical signal N6 from the number of pachinko balls driven in indicated by 1
The number of pachinko balls released as prize balls indicated by is subtracted, and the subtraction result is converted into a numerical signal N7 indicating the difference in the number of balls of the pachinko game machine 1 after initializing each counter 30 to 32.
Output as .

The storage unit 37 stores a stop setting value Nz (negative value) that can be changed arbitrarily. A comparator circuit 38 serving as a stopping means compares the stopping set value Nz with the subtracting circuit 36.
When the relation Nz≧N7 is established, that is, when the difference in the number of balls of the pachinko game machine 1 reaches the stop setting value Nz, a pulse stop signal Sz is output. It looks like this.

The signal holding unit 39 receives the stop signal Sz via the transfer gate 40, and holds the stop signal Sz for a period from when the stop signal Sz is output until it is initialized through the reset terminal R. It is configured to maintain the output state of the stop signal Sz. The stop signal Sz outputted from the signal holding section 39 is given to the control circuit 20 of the pachinko game machine 1 through the output circuit 41, thereby causing the pachinko game machine 1 to stop playing. Switched to a possible stop state.

The transfer gate 40 allows a signal to pass only when a high level signal is applied to its gate terminal, and the special prize signal Sf( high level signal)
is applied via the input circuit 28 and the inverter 42. Therefore, during the period when the pachinko game machine 1 is in the special prize state, the transfer gate 40 prevents the stop signal Sf from passing, and the pachinko game machine 1
The switching to the discontinued state is postponed until the end of the special prize state.

The memory unit 43 stores a driving setting value Ny that can be changed arbitrarily, and in this embodiment, the driving setting value Ny is set to zero. A comparison circuit 44 for detecting the driving state compares the driving setting value Ny with the numerical signal N7 from the subtracting circuit 36, and when N7 ≧Ny (=0), that is, the pachinko game machine 1 is in a driving state (a state in which the number of pachinko balls driven in is greater than the number of pachinko balls released as prize balls) and the difference in the number of balls is greater than zero, outputs a driving signal Sy consisting of a high level signal. exhibiting a condition,
In other states, a low level signal is output. The output of the comparison circuit 44 is
After being inverted by an inverter 45, it is applied to the gate terminal of the transfer gate 29.

Therefore, when the numerical signal N7 output from the subtraction circuit 36 is greater than or equal to zero, that is, when the pachinko game machine 1 is in the input state, the comparison circuit 44 outputs the input signal Sy (high level signal). The input signal Sy is inverted to a low level signal by the inverter 45 and applied to the gate terminal of the transfer gate 29.

In such a case, the transfer gate 29
starts to block the passage of the out ball number signal Pb, and therefore, during the period when the pachinko game machine 1 is in the playing state, the addition operation of the out ball number signal Pb from the pachinko game machine 1 is stopped. Regarding the number of pachinko balls entered into the driving state by the player on the pachinko game machine 1,
This is no longer reflected in the calculation result of the difference in the number of balls in the subtraction circuit 36. As a result, when the pachinko game machine 1 is discontinued after being played by two or more players, a situation in which the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player becomes greater than the discontinuation setting value Nz is prevented. This eliminates the possibility that losses on the pachinko hall side will increase inadvertently.

The open key 46 is configured to output a reset pulse RP, which is an open command signal, when operated externally, and by the reset pulse RP,
Ball number counters 30, 31, amount counter 32, and signal holding section 39 are initialized via each reset terminal R. Therefore, the pachinko game machine 1 can be released from the stopped state by operating the release key 46.

Now, the timer circuit 47 as timer means
is designed to receive the sales signal Pm from the pachinko game machine 1 as a trigger signal, and its reset terminal R
The out ball number signal Pb from the pachinko game machine 1 and the reset pulse RP from the release key 47 are connected to an OR circuit 48.
It is now possible to receive it through. This timer circuit 47
is configured to start the timekeeping operation from the time when the sales signal Pm is input, and to initialize the timekeeping operation every time the out ball number signal Pb is received at the reset terminal R, and the timekeeping operation time is The time value signal Ts shown is output in real time.

The time value storage section 49 stores a preset time Ta (for example, a value equivalent to 3 minutes). The comparator circuit 50, which is the third signal generating means, compares the set time Ta and the time value signal Ts from the timer circuit 47, and determines that Ta≦T.
When the state of s is reached, that is, when the timer circuit 47's clocking operation time exceeds the set time Ta, the alarm signal St
It is configured to output.

The signal holding unit 51 holds the alarm signal St for a period from when the alarm signal St is output until it is initialized via the reset terminal R by the reset pulse RP.
is configured to hold the output state of. In addition, in a state where the alarm signal St is output from the signal holding unit 51, it is possible to determine whether the pachinko game machine 1 has been illegally occupied by, for example, displaying the machine number of the pachinko game machine 1 and generating a notification sound. Pachinko hall employees are now notified of this.

[0050] According to the configuration of this embodiment described above, when playing a game on the pachinko game machine 1, the player receives pachinko balls lent out through the release mechanism 11 of the pachinko game machine 1. When the machine is rented out, the control circuit 20 on the pachinko game machine 1 side starts outputting a sales signal Pm, and in response to this, the timer circuit 47 on the management device 27 side starts a timing operation.

[0051] At this time, when a game is played on the pachinko game machine 1, the number of out balls signal Pb indicating the number of out balls is repeatedly output from the pachinko game machine 1. The time counting operation of the timer circuit 47 is initialized for each output. Therefore, when a game is being played on the pachinko game machine 1, the time measurement time indicated by the time value signal Ts from the timer circuit 47 does not reach the set time Ta, and the comparison circuit 50 outputs the alarm signal St. It will not be done.

On the other hand, if the pachinko balls lent out through the release mechanism 11 remain on the upper tray 2 of the pachinko game machine 1 and no game is played, that is, the pachinko game machine 1 is illegally occupied. In this case, the number of out balls signal Pb is not outputted from the pachinko game machine 1 side, so the time counting operation of the timer circuit 47 is not initialized.

As a result, the timer circuit 47
When the clock operation time reaches the set time Ta, the comparison circuit 50 outputs the alarm signal St, and the signal holding section 5
1 starts to maintain the output state of the alarm signal St, and in response to this, the display of the machine number of the pachinko game machine 1 and the operation of generating the notification sound are performed, and thus the pachinko game machine 1
Pachinko hall employees are informed that the pachinko hall has been illegally occupied. This makes it possible to reliably detect illegal possession of a pachinko game machine using pachinko balls without requiring much manpower.

Furthermore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the release mechanism 11 of the pachinko game machine 1 is used both for renting out pachinko balls and for releasing pachinko balls as prize balls. This eliminates the need for a lot of equipment, unlike when a ball rental machine is provided separately.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the pachinko game machine 1
From the side to the management device 27, a released ball number signal Pa indicating the total number of pachinko balls released by the discharging mechanism 11, an out ball number signal Pb indicating the number of pachinko balls driven in during the game, and a sales signal Pm indicating the loan amount. is given, and no signal indicating the number of pachinko balls released as prize balls is given.However, the number of released pachinko balls indicated by the number of released balls signal Pa and the rental pachinko ball indicated by the sales signal Pm are given. Since the auxiliary subtraction circuit 35 that calculates the difference between the number of balls and the number of balls is used to obtain a numerical signal N6 indicating the number of pachinko balls released as prize balls, the calculation of the difference in the number of balls in the pachinko game machine 1 and the result of this calculation are Therefore, it becomes possible to reliably control the termination of the pachinko game machine 1 based on the above.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, and only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described below.

In FIG. 6, the pachinko game machine 1' is
It has a storage tank 9, a discharge mechanism 11, an out ball tank 12, etc. similar to the pachinko game machine 1 in the first embodiment, and also generates a released ball number signal Pa in a state corresponding to the pachinko game machine 1'. A supply ball counter 10 and an out ball counter 13 for generating an out ball number signal Pb are provided.

A control circuit 52 is provided on the back side of the pachinko game machine 1', and this control circuit 52 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the ejection operation of pachinko balls as prize balls is based on the detection pulses P1, P2, and P3 from the winning detection switches 21, 22, and 23 groups, and the electric discharge operation is based on the numerical signals S1 to S3 from the slot machine 5. Control of the operation of the accessory 7a and the output of the special prize signal Sf, a management device 2 to be described later
The control circuit 7' (see FIG. 5) performs each control of the stopping operation based on the stopping signal Sz from the control circuit 7' (see FIG. 5) in the same manner as the control circuit 20 in the first embodiment.

Particularly in this case, the control circuit 52
The control device 27' receives the rental stop command signal Sy output at the same time as the stop signal Sz, and when the lending stop command signal Sy is input, for example, by cutting off the power to the ejecting mechanism 11, pachinko balls are stopped through the ejecting mechanism 11. The configuration is such that the lending function is switched to a disabled state. Furthermore, when a release command signal Sj is given from a control unit 53, which will be described later, the control circuit 52 controls the
Pachinko balls equivalent to 0.00 yen are released into the upper tray 2 as rental balls, and when the release is completed, a release completion signal Sk is fed back to the control unit 53.

Now, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 53 is installed above the pachinko game machine 1' in one-to-one correspondence. An insertion slot 54 into which a security code CX and amount information M (which has the same configuration as in the example and stores a security code CX and amount information M) is inserted, and an eject operated when taking out a prepaid card inserted into this insertion slot 54. A switch 55, a balance display section 56 for displaying the amount information M stored in the prepaid card, and a balance display section 56 for displaying pachinko balls within the range of the amount information M displayed on the balance display section 56 in the pachinko game machine 1'. Release mechanism 11
It is provided with a ball lending switch 57 for discharging the ball through the card, and a card reader/writer (shown with reference numeral 58 in FIG. 8) inside.

As shown in FIG. 8, the eject switch 55 and the ball rental switch 57 send their ON signals to a control circuit 60 as a first signal generating means consisting of a microcomputer via an input circuit 59. It is designed to give. The card reader/writer 58, which is provided to exchange data with the control circuit 60, generates an insertion detection signal when a prepaid card is inserted into the insertion slot 54. In addition, the control circuit 6
0 indicates the release completion signal S from the pachinko game machine 1' side.
k is provided through an input circuit 59. Further, the control circuit 60 controls the balance display section 56 and the transmission circuit 61 via the output circuit 62, and outputs the release command signal Sj via the output circuit 62.

[0062] In the control circuit 60, the above-mentioned ON signal, insertion detection signal, discharge completion signal Sk,
Based on the read information from the prepaid card, Figure 9
The configuration is such that control is performed as shown in the following, and an outline of the control details will be explained below.

■...When a prepaid card is inserted, the card is held in the inserted state, and the stored information of the prepaid card is read and latched (steps B1 to B3).

[0064]...The security code CX in the readout information is checked to determine whether the prepaid card inserted into the insertion slot 54 is appropriate, and if it is incorrect, the prepaid card is Card reader writer 5
8 and initializes the latch information (steps B4 to B6).

■...If the inserted prepaid card is valid, 100% will be added to the prepaid card.
The amount information M stored in yen units is displayed on the balance display section 56 (step B7).

■...If the displayed amount information M is less than 100 yen (actually, this corresponds to the case where the displayed amount information M is zero), or in response to the release of pachinko balls as described below, the displayed amount information is changed. If M becomes less than 100 yen, the prepaid card is returned through the card reader/writer 58, and the latch information is initialized (steps B8 and B5).
, B6).

■...When the ball lending switch 57 is turned on while the amount information M of 100 yen or more is displayed, the release command signal Sj is outputted via the output circuit 62, and thereby the amount of 100 yen is transferred through the release mechanism 11. A considerable number of pachinko balls are released into the upper tray 2 as rental balls (step B
9, B10).

[0068] ■...Next, wait until the release completion signal Sk is fed back from the pachinko game machine 1' side,
When fed back, the stored amount information M of the prepaid card is sent to 100 through the card reader/writer 58.
The amount is rewritten to be reduced by 100 yen, and the display on the balance display section 56 is accordingly reduced by 100 yen (steps B11 to B13).

■...Each time a number of pachinko balls worth 100 yen are released in this way, a pulsed sales signal Pm is outputted through the transmitting circuit 61 (step B14).

■...When the eject switch 55 is turned on, the prepaid card is inserted into the card reader/writer 58.
At the same time, the latch information is initialized (steps B15, B17, and B18). However, if the rewriting of the amount information M in (2) has not been completed when the eject switch 55 is turned on, the above card return and initialization operation is performed after the rewriting is completed (step B1).
6).

Now, in FIG. 5, the timer circuit 63, which is a timer means included in the management device 27', is composed of a retrigger type monostable multivibrator, and the timer circuit 63 is composed of a retrigger type monostable multivibrator. Signal Pm
The circuit is configured to perform a timekeeping operation for a certain period of time (for example, 3 minutes) every time the timer is given, and output a high-level signal during the timekeeping operation period.

The transfer gate 64 is configured to pass the out ball number signal Pb from the pachinko game machine 1' side while receiving a high level signal at the gate terminal, and the timer circuit 63 is connected to the gate terminal. The output is now given.

The ball number counter 65, which is a counting means, is provided to count the out ball number signal Pb that has passed through the transfer gate 64, and converts the counted contents into a numerical signal N.
It is configured to output as 8. Further, the output of the timer circuit 63 is inverted by an inverter 66, and the inverted output is given to the reset terminal R of the ball counter 65 via a delay circuit 67, and also to the third signal generator. The signal is applied to a trigger terminal T of a comparator circuit 68 as a means.

Therefore, the ball number counter 65 receives the out ball number signal Pb only during the time counting operation period of the timer circuit 63.
is counted, and the counting contents are initialized when a relatively short time set in the delay circuit 67 has elapsed from the time when the time counting operation ended.

The set value storage section 69 stores a set value Nx indicating a predetermined number of pachinko balls (for example, a value equivalent to 20 balls). The comparison circuit 68 detects the timing at which the input to the trigger terminal T rises, that is, the timer circuit 6
At the timing when the timer operation in step 3 ends, the numerical signal N8
When the comparison result is N8 ≦Nx, that is, when the timer circuit 63 completes the timing operation, the counted contents of the out ball number counter 65 are calculated. The configuration is such that an alarm signal St is output when the value is equal to or less than a set value Nx. Incidentally, the alarm signal St outputted in this way is held by the signal holding section 51 as in the first embodiment.

Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment described above, when pachinko balls are rented out through the release mechanism 11 of the pachinko game machine 1', the control circuit 20 performs management in response to the output of the sales signal Pm. The timer circuit 63 on the side of the device 27 starts a time counting operation for a certain period of time, and the ball number counter 65 starts counting the out ball number signal Pb only during the time counting operation period of the timer circuit 63.

[0077] At this time, if the game is played normally on the pachinko game machine 1', 20 or more times corresponding to the set value Nx are Since pachinko balls will be fired, the count content of the out ball number counter 65 will exceed the set value Nx at the end of the timing operation of the timer circuit 63, and the alarm signal St will be output from the comparison circuit 68. There isn't.

On the other hand, if the pachinko balls lent out through the release mechanism 11 remain on the upper tray 2 of the pachinko game machine 1' and no game is played, If the pachinko balls remain on the upper tray 2 after a so-called test shot in which a small number of pachinko balls are fired to check the state of the machine and the condition of the firing mechanism 3, that is, the pachinko game machine 1 ' is illegally occupied, the timer circuit 63 as described above is activated.
At the end of the timing operation, the count content of the ball number counter 65 becomes equal to or less than the set value Nx, so the comparison circuit 68 outputs the alarm signal St.

In summary, in this embodiment as well, by using the above-mentioned alarm signal St, it is possible to reliably detect illegal possession of a pachinko game machine using pachinko balls without requiring much manpower. In particular, according to this embodiment, even if pachinko balls are left on the upper tray 2 after a so-called trial run, it is possible to reliably detect this as illegal possession of the pachinko game machine 1'. There are advantages that can be achieved.

[0080]

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, pachinko balls are released as prize balls in response to the pachinko balls entering the winning hole, and in response to payment of consideration. A situation in which a pachinko game machine is illegally occupied by placing pachinko balls in the ball tray of the pachinko game machine, in a device for managing a pachinko game machine equipped with a release mechanism that releases pachinko balls as rental balls. This makes it possible to reliably prevent this without requiring much manpower, thereby achieving the excellent effects of improving the operating rate of the pachinko game machine and simplifying the equipment in the pachinko hall.

[0081] According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, it is also possible to reliably prevent illegal possession of a pachinko game machine in a state where a so-called trial game is being performed. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Front view of pachinko game machine

[Figure 3] Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a pachinko game machine

[Figure 4] Flowchart showing the main functions of a pachinko game machine

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of main parts in a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 6] Front view of pachinko game machine

[Figure 7] Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a pachinko game machine

[Figure 8] Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the control unit

[Figure 9] Flowchart showing the main functions of the control unit

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a pachinko game machine, 2 is an upper tray (ball tray), 3 is a firing mechanism, 6, 7, and 8 are winning holes, 10 is a supply ball counter, 11
13 is a discharge mechanism, 13 is an out ball counter (second signal generation means), 14 is a card unit, 15 is an insertion slot, 20 is a control circuit (first signal generation means), 27, 27' are a management device , 47 is a timer circuit (timer means), 50 is a comparison circuit (third signal generation means), 51 is a signal holding section, 53 is a control unit, 54 is an insertion slot, 60 is a control circuit (first signal generation means) ), 63 is a timer circuit (timer means), 6
Reference numeral 5 indicates an out ball number counter (counting means), and reference numeral 68 indicates a comparison circuit (third signal generation means).

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A pachinko game machine equipped with a release mechanism that releases pachinko balls as prize balls in response to the pachinko balls entering a prize hole and also releases pachinko balls as rental balls in response to payment of consideration. The first controller is for managing sales, and outputs a sales signal in response to the payment of the consideration.
a second signal generating means for outputting a number-of-out signal indicating the number of pachinko balls entered during play on the pachinko game machine; and a second signal generating means for outputting a number-of-out-balls signal indicating the number of pachinko balls played in the pachinko game machine, and starting a timing operation from the time when the sales signal is output. and a timer means configured to initialize its timing operation every time the out ball number signal is output, and output an alarm signal when the timer operation time of the timer means exceeds a set time. A management device for a pachinko game machine, comprising: third signal generating means. Claim 2: A pachinko game machine equipped with a release mechanism that releases pachinko balls as prize balls in response to the pachinko balls entering the winning hole and also releases pachinko balls as rental balls in response to payment of consideration. The first controller is for managing sales, and outputs a sales signal in response to the payment of the consideration.
a second signal generating means for outputting a number-of-out signal indicating the number of pachinko balls entered during play on the pachinko game machine; and a second signal generating means for timing a certain period of time from the time when the sales signal is output. a timer means configured to operate; a counting means for counting the number of out balls signal only during the time counting operation period of the timer means; and counting by the counting means at the time when the time counting operation of the timer means is completed. 1. A management device for a pachinko game machine, comprising: third signal generating means for outputting an alarm signal when the content is less than a set value.