JPH05137842A - Playing medium exchanging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a system for exchanging the playing media which a player gains after playing, directly with cash. CONSTITUTION:When a playing medium which a player gains is fed into a gained playing medium counting machine 1, a receipt on which the counting result is memorized is issued. This receipt is read out by an accurate accounting machine 2, and a card issuing machine 4 issues a prize card 3 on which the data corresponding to the read-out value is memorized. When the prize card 3 is inserted into a money exchange machine 5, cash is delivered from the cash exchange machine 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention records the number of game media that a player has won as a prize on a card, and by using the card, it can be redeemed for cash within the range of the number of game media stored on the card. Game medium exchange system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a game medium that a player has obtained as a prize as a result of a game at a pachinko game store or the like is exchanged for a prize at the game store.

[0003]

However, in the conventional prize exchange system described above, the player can only exchange the game medium with the prize at the game shop where the prize game medium is acquired, and the player can directly exchange the money. Cannot be exchanged for.
Moreover, since the prizes to be exchanged are placed in a limited space such as a game shop, the types are limited, and it is not always possible to exchange the prizes that the player desires.

On the other hand, in the amusement store, since the prizes corresponding to the number of the prize game media are exchanged in the store, it is necessary to display a wide variety of prizes although the space is limited. You also need employees to
It is a burden in terms of space and labor costs.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and is to issue a card in which the number of game media is stored so that the card can be directly exchanged for money by using the card. Counts the game media acquired as a prize, reads the data stored in the prize game medium counter that issues a storage medium storing the count value, and the data stored in the storage medium, and performs settlement based on the read data The payment machine, a premium card that stores data such as the number of game media, a premium card issuing machine that issues a premium card that stores the payment result in the payment machine, and the payment result stored in the prize card is read and read. In addition to cashing based on the data, the cashing machine that collects the gift card that has been cashed is electrically connected to the above cashing machine and cashing machine, and the cashing machine and cashing are performed. With storing processing data in, and wherein the management device to manage these data, in that it consists of.

[0006]

When a game medium, for example, a pachinko ball, which a player has won as a prize, is loaded into a prize game medium counting machine, the prize game medium counting machine counts the number of loaded game media and also stores a storage medium such as a receipt. The counting result is printed on and issued. Then, the settlement machine reads the counting result printed on the receipt and exchanges it for a prize.
If the player does not wish to exchange for a prize, the card issuing machine stores the reading result in the prize card and issues it. When the gift card is inserted into the cash machine, the money is redeemed within the range of the data stored in the gift card.
The management device is in electrical communication with the settlement machine and the cash machine, and comprehensively manages the data handled by these.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a system conceptual diagram of the present invention. The gaming machine in this embodiment will be described as a pachinko machine that uses a pachinko ball as a game medium. The game machine may be another game machine that uses medals or coins as a game medium, for example, a so-called pachi-slot machine.

[0008] The prize ball counting machine 1 as a prize game medium counter installed in a game store, a settlement machine 2 for performing settlement by throwing the obtained balls, and a settlement result provided together with the settlement machine 2 are stored. By issuing a premium card 3, a card issuing machine 4, a cash exchange machine 5 for cashing by inserting the premium card 3, a ball lending machine 6 as a game medium lending machine, and insertion of a premium card 3 or cash insertion. An automatic vending machine 7 that sells juice, cigarettes, etc. is electrically connected to a management device 8 installed at an appropriate position in a game shop via an in-store transmission line 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the acquired sphere counter 1 is provided with a sphere receiving portion 11 on the upper surface of a box body 10, a receipt issuing opening 12 and an upper display portion 13 standing on the rear side of the upper surface. The upper display section 13 is provided with a sphere counting indicator 14 and a sphere counting stop indicator 15 side by side, and the lower display section 16 is formed with the front side of the upper surface as an inclined surface. Premium segment sphere number indicator 1 consisting of 7-segment indicator
7, a converted amount display 18, and a half-end sphere number display 19 are arranged in parallel.

Sphere counting indicator 1 provided on the upper display 13
4 indicates that the acquired sphere counter 1 is usable, and the sphere counting stop display 15 indicates that the acquired sphere counter 1 is unusable. In addition, the number of prize balls entered is displayed in the prize ball number display 17 provided in the lower display unit 16, and the converted amount display 18 displays a numerical value obtained by converting the number of prize balls into a monetary amount at a predetermined constant rate. Is displayed, and the number of half-spheres is displayed 19
Indicates the number of semi-spheres that cannot be converted into a monetary amount.

The ball receiving portion 11 has a ball inlet 21 formed on the bottom surface 20 and a side wall 22 which is inclined downward from the opening on the top surface of the box 10 toward the bottom surface 20. Further, the bottom surface 20 is at the lower end of the side wall 22 and is inclined downward toward the sphere entrance 21, and a plurality of introduction grooves 23 for guiding the sphere are provided on the surface of the bottom surface 20, and the sphere entrance 21 receives the sphere. There is provided a shutter device 24 for blocking the above. The shutter device 24 is a shutter drive mechanism (not shown) including a solenoid or the like.
To open and close. The spheres introduced from the sphere entrance 21 are counted by the sphere counter 26 provided in the sphere passage 25.

A printer 27 is provided inside the box 10 at a position communicating with the receipt issuing port 12, and
In front of the receipt issuing port 12 on the top of the
A prize ball number print switch 28 for instructing the printing of the prize ball number by 7 is provided. The prize ball number printing switch 28 is provided with an effective indicator 29 including a lamp for indicating that the switch 28 is effective. Further, a hemisphere returning port 30 is provided on the front surface of the box body 10 or the like, and the hemisphere is returned to the player. The hemisphere may be processed as so-called donation based on an instruction from the player, instead of returning all hemispheres.

FIG. 3 shows a settlement machine 2 installed in a game shop or the like. The settlement machine 2 is a device for reading a receipt issued by the acquired ball counter 1, exchanging the receipt with a prize, and exchanging money for the prize, and an operation unit 31 provided on the upper surface. The display unit 32 is provided upright on the rear of the operation unit 31, and the receipt reading device 33 for reading the data stored in the receipt.

The operation unit 31 is provided with a numerical value input switch 34 consisting of a numeric keypad and four arithmetic operation keys on the right side, and below the numerical value input switch 34 is a confirmation for instructing an electric control unit 35 to be described later to finish inputting a numerical value. A switch 36 is provided, and above the numerical value input switch 34, a prize exchange switch 37 for instructing the issuance of the prize card 3 and a currency exchange switch 38 for instructing the exchange of the prize balls are provided. An electric control device 35 is provided inside the settlement machine 2.

The display unit 32 includes a plurality of 7-segment displays, and a sphere number display 39 for displaying the number of prize spheres read by the receipt reading device 33.
And a half-end sphere number display 40 for displaying the number of spheres less than the minimum number of redeemed spheres, and the number of spheres of the prize sphere based on the set value set by a conversion rate setting device (not shown) or the like. A converted amount display 41 for converting and displaying, and an input display 4 for displaying the numerical value input by the numerical value input switch 34.
2 is provided, and the acceptable display 43 for displaying that the settlement machine 2 is in a receivable state, and the settlement machine 2
An alarm indicator 44 is provided to indicate that an abnormality has occurred. The receipt reading device 33 in the present embodiment is a bar code reader that reads the bar code stored in the receipt, and the read value is read by the electrical control device 3.
A read switch 45 is provided for sending to the No.

The premium card 3 issued by the card issuing machine 4 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, the premium card 3 has a thin plate shape made of paper, synthetic resin, or the like, and has a magnetic data storage section 46 provided on the upper surface in the longitudinal direction.
A print area portion 47 is provided below the magnetic data storage portion 46,
A security storage unit 48 for storing security data is provided between the magnetic data storage unit 46 and the print area unit 47.

Security data is stored in the above-mentioned security storage section 48 in an optically or magnetically readable state. This security data is stored when the premium card 3 is manufactured. The print area section 47 prints the store code, the card code, or the like stored in the magnetic data storage section 46. In addition, an arrow is displayed on the surface of the premium card 3 to indicate the insertion direction and the premium card 3
In order to make it easier to understand the insertion direction of the item and to prevent a mistake in the insertion direction, one corner of the tip of the prize card 3 may be cut obliquely in advance.

In the magnetic data storage unit 46, as shown in FIG. 4B, the number of balls obtained as a prize, the date of issue of the prize card 3, the code of the amusement store that issued the prize card 3,
A card code set for each prize card 3, security data for preventing forgery of the prize card 3, and the like are magnetically stored.

A card issuing machine 4 which is in communication with the above-mentioned settlement machine 2 is shown in FIGS. The card issuing machine 4 is a box-shaped device having a card tank 49 and a card reader / writer 50 inside, a card outlet 51 is opened on the front surface, and an instruction to remove the prize card 3 is provided below the card outlet 51. Card ejection indicator 52 for
A message display 53 including a dot matrix display and the like is provided above. Further, on the back side of the card issuing machine 4, there is provided a card supply indicator 54 for urging the supply of the premium card 3 at a position visible to a game shop clerk or the like.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inside of the card issuing machine 4 extends from the card issuing port 55 toward the inner side of the card conveying path 5.
6 is provided, and the card tank 4 is provided at the end of the card transport path 56.
9 is facing. Further, at the front end and the rear end of the card transport path 56, there are provided transport rollers 58 for driving a transport belt 57 for transporting cards, and the transport roller 5 on the rear end side is provided.
A conveyance motor 60 capable of forward and reverse rotations is connected to 8 via a drive belt 59. Therefore, when the carry motor 60 rotates, the carry roller 58 provided at the rear end of the card carry path 56 rotates, and the carry belt 57 accordingly rotates to carry the prize card 3.

A card removal sensor 61 for detecting one end of the prize card 3 is provided near the card issuing port 55 on the card transport path 56, and a prize card 3 is provided near the end of the card transport path 56. A card detection sensor 62 for detecting the other end of the prize card 3 is provided, and a read / write head 63 for reading and recording magnetic data on the prize card 3 and a memory for the prize card 3 are provided in the middle of the card transport path 56. A security read head 64 is provided for reading the stored security data. Further, an encoder 66 made of a slit disk or the like is attached to the rotary shaft 65 of the carry motor 60, and a positioning sensor 67 faces the encoder 66.

Therefore, when the issue of the premium card 3 is instructed and the premium card 3 is detected by the card detection sensor 62, the conveyance motor 60 rotates and the premium card 3 located below the card tank 49 is transferred to the card issuing port 55. Start to transport towards. The encoder 66 and the positioning sensor 67 determine the security data reading position and the data recording position on the prize card 3, the security reading head 64 reads the security data, and the read / write head 63 determines the number of prize balls. Data is recorded.

The security data is data hidden and recorded on the premium card 3, and when the security data is optically stored, the security reading head 64 is composed of an optical sensor. The read / write head 63 is a head for reading the data stored in the magnetic data storage unit 46 of the prize card 3 and updating the data, and includes a magnetic head.

When the tip of the prize card 3 is detected by the card removal sensor 61, the card removal indicator 52 is displayed.
Lights up and prompts you to remove the premium card 3. A card supply sensor 68 is provided below the card tank 49, and when the card supply sensor 68 detects that the prize cards 3 stored in the card tank 49 are running low, the card supply indicator 54 is displayed. It lights up and prompts the supply of the premium card 3.

The card issuing machine 4 may be used for further writing data to the already-issued premium card 3 or for initializing and reusing the already-used premium card 3. In this case, the card is issued. When the leading edge of the inserted premium card 3 is detected by the extraction sensor 61, the conveyance motor 60 drives to take in the premium card 3, and the encoder 66 and the positioning sensor 67 read the security data and the data to the premium card 3. The recording position is determined, and the security data is read by the security reading sensor. Then, when it is determined that the card is a proper card, and the card detection sensor 62 detects the tip of the prize card 3, the conveyance motor 60 starts reverse rotation, and the prize card 3 is conveyed toward the card discharge port 51. The read / write head 63 updates and records data such as the number of prize balls.

The relationship between the above-mentioned settlement machine 2 and card issuing machine 4 and the electric control device 35 will be described with reference to the schematic block diagram of FIG. The main arithmetic unit (CP
U) has a calculation control circuit 69, a ROM 70, a RAM 71, and the like. Then, via the receiver and driver 72,
Curdley writer 50, receipt reading device 33,
Message display 53, card removal display 52, currency exchange switch 38, prize exchange switch 37, numerical value input switch 34, confirmation switch 36, sphere count display 39, conversion amount display 41, half-end sphere count display 40, input display The device 42 and the alarm display 44 are in contact with each other to exchange data.

The settlement by the settlement machine 2 will be described below. As described above, the prize ball that the player has won is a ball counting machine 1
When you put it in, a receipt that stores the number of prize balls that you put in is issued. To make a payment, use this receipt
Bring it to the prize exchange counter of the amusement store where is installed. The game store clerk reads the number of prize balls stored in the receipt by the receipt reading device 33, operates the reading switch 45, and the read value is transmitted to the electric control device 35 and displayed on the sphere number display 39 and the ball number. The number is converted into an amount by a preset conversion rate and displayed on the converted amount display 41, and the number of half-end spheres is displayed on the number of half-end sphere display 40.

Here, when the player desires to exchange a prize ball for a prize, the game store clerk operates the prize exchange switch 37, and at the same time, the amount of the prize selected by the player by the numerical value input switch 34. input. This input value is displayed on the input display 42. And the confirmation switch 3
6 is operated to confirm the exchange amount and exchange with the free gift. It should be noted that if the amount of the entered premium exceeds the amount displayed on the converted amount display 41, the alarm display 44
Prompts you to re-enter the prize amount.

On the other hand, when the player desires to exchange the money for cash, the game store clerk operates the currency exchange switch 38 so that the data corresponding to the amount of money displayed on the conversion amount display 41 is displayed on the card issuing machine. 4 is transmitted. In response to this, in the card issuing machine 4, one premium card 3 is taken out from the card tank 49, and the security reading head 6
4 reads the security data stored in the prize card 3 to check whether the card is a legitimate card. If the legitimate card is confirmed, the read / write head 63
Thus, data such as the number of prize balls is stored and ejected from the card ejection port 51. If there is a number of hemispheres, the hemispheres may be returned to the player, or they may be processed as a so-called donation.

FIG. 8 shows a cash dispenser 73 as the cash exchange machine 5. This cash dispenser 73 is a box-shaped device, and a bill outlet 74 is opened on the right side substantially at the center of the front face.
4, a coin outlet 76 having a coin receiving tray 75 is provided, a cash receipt indicator 77 is provided near each of the bill outlet 74 and the coin outlet 76, and an amount indicator 78 and the number of reading balls are provided above the bill outlet 74. A display 79 is provided, a card insertion port 80 is opened on the left side of the center of the front surface, and a card acceptable display 81 is provided near the card insertion port 80. An alarm indicator 82 and a message indicator 83 are provided on the upper part of the front surface.

Inside the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, the card reader / writer 84 is connected so as to communicate with the card insertion port 80.
, A card storage tank 85 is provided at the end of the card reader / writer 84, a bill dispensing device (not shown) is provided so as to communicate with the bill outlet 74, and a coin dispensing device is provided at a position communicating with the coin outlet 76 (see FIG. (Not shown).

The card reader / writer 84 is a prize card 3
This is a device for reproducing magnetic data stored in the card, reading security data, etc., and is provided with a card transport path 86 from the card insertion port 80 toward the inside, and is driven by a transport motor 87 on the card transport path 86. First transport roller 8
8. A second carrying roller 89 is provided, the first carrying roller 88 faces the card insertion port 80, and the insertion of the prize card 3 is detected on the card insertion port 80 side of the first carrying roller 88 to detect the carrying motor 87. An insertion detection sensor 90 for driving in the normal direction is provided, and a security reading sensor 91 for reading the security data hidden and stored in the prize card 3 in the middle of the first transport roller 88 and the second transport roller 89, the premium card 3 Is provided with a read head 92 for reading the magnetic data stored in the magnetic data storage unit 46, a transport motor 87 is provided near the end of the card transport path 86, and the stop position of the prize card 3 is provided at the end of the card transport path 86. A stop position detection sensor 93 for determining the reverse rotation position of the carry motor 87 is provided, and the carry motor 8 is attached to the shaft 94 of the carry motor 87.
The magnetic data storage unit 4 of the prize card 3 rotates at the same time as 7.
An encoder 95 for generating a positioning signal for determining the data reading position of 6, the security data reading position, etc. is mounted, the positioning sensor 96 is made to face this encoder 95, and a prize is provided at the end of the card transport path 86. An erasing head 97 for erasing the data stored in the magnetic data storage unit 46 of the card 3 is provided, and the transport motor 87, the insertion detecting sensor 90, the security reading sensor 91, the read head 92, and the erasing head 97 are electrically controlled. 98
(Fig. 10) electrically connected. A card storage tank 85 for confiscating and storing the used prize card 3 is provided at the end of the card transport path 86.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of the electric control device 98 of the cash dispenser 73. The main arithmetic unit (CPU) of this electric control unit 98 is an arithmetic control circuit 99, R
It has an OM 100, a RAM 101, and the like. Then, through the receiver and the driver 102, the card reader / writer 8
4, the bill dispensing device 103, the coin dispensing device 104, the alarm indicator 82, the message indicator 83, the amount indicator 78, the number of read balls indicator 79, the cash receipt indicator 77, and the card acceptance indicator 81. We are exchanging data.

The payout of cash by the cash payout machine 73 will be described below. When the premium card 3 in which data such as the number of premium balls is stored is inserted from the card insertion slot 80, the tip of the premium card 3 is detected by the insertion detection sensor 9 of the card reader / writer 84.
0 is detected and is conveyed on the card conveying path 86,
The security reading sensor 91 reads the security data stored in the security storage unit 48,
The read head 92 reads the data stored in the magnetic data storage unit 46. Then, when it is determined that the card is a genuine prize card 3, the number of read prize balls is displayed on the read ball number display 79, and the amount of money corresponding to the number of prize balls is displayed on the amount display 78. Indicator 7
The cash displayed at 8 is paid out from the banknote payout machine 103 or the coin payout machine 104. When cash is paid out,
The cash receipt display 77 lights up to display that the cash has been paid out and call attention. When it is determined that the card is fraudulent, the alarm display 82 issues an alarm and the message display 83 indicates that the prize card 3 is confiscated. The gift card 3 that has been redeemed for cash is further transported on the card transport path 86, the data stored in the magnetic data storage unit 46 is erased by the erasing head 97, and the initialized premium card 3 is a card storage tank. It is stored in 85. The initialized free gift card 3 can be reused.

Data relating to the prize card 3 managed by the management device 8 will be described with reference to FIG. The data regarding the free gift card 3 is managed as a file for each free gift card 3. This file includes the number of times the card has been used, the number of written balls, the total amount of redeemed money, the number of unconverted balls, and the date and time of writing, the number of written balls, the date and time of redemption, and the amount of redemption for each redemption. The balance of the prize card 3 is managed based on the data stored in the above-mentioned file. However, when the prize card 3 is centrally managed by the prize card management center or the like, this data is stored in the prize card management center. It is also possible to send and receive payments to each amusement store through financial institutions.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to issue a free gift card that stores the number of free balls acquired by the player at each game store, and use the free gift card for cashing. Therefore, if there is no desired prize for the player who has won the prize ball, the player can be exchanged for cash in response to the issuance of the prize card, which can enhance the satisfaction of the player. On the other hand, at the amusement store, it is not necessary to prepare a wide variety of prizes to meet the wishes of the player, not only space saving can be achieved, but also the number of employees engaged in the prize exchange can be reduced, so that the labor cost can be reduced. It also saves

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a game medium exchange system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an acquired sphere counter.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a settlement machine.

FIG. 4A is a plan view of a premium card, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of magnetic data stored in the premium card.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the card issuing machine.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the inside of the card issuing machine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a control device that controls a settlement machine and a card issuing machine.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a cash dispenser which is an example of a cash exchange machine.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the inside of the cash dispenser.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an electric control device that controls a cash dispenser.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the structure of data managed by the management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 winning ball counter 2 settlement machine 3 free gift card 4 card issuing machine 5 cash machine 8 management device 73 cash dispenser

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A prize game medium counter that counts game media obtained by a player as a prize and issues a storage medium storing the count value, and reads and reads data stored in the storage medium. A settlement machine that performs settlement based on the data, a premium card that stores data such as the number of game media, a card issuing machine that issues a premium card that stores the settlement result of the settlement machine, and the settlement that is stored in the premium card The result is read, and the money is redeemed based on the read data, and the cash machine that collects the free gift card that has been redeemed is electrically connected to the cashier and the cashier to process data in the cashier and cashier. A game medium exchange system comprising: a management device that stores and manages these data.