JPH0519107Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Technical Field of the Invention) This invention relates to a prize ball counting machine used when a customer exchanges pachinko balls, etc., won by a customer at a pachinko game hall or the like for a desired prize.

(Technical background of the invention and its problems) Conventionally, at amusement facilities such as pachinko parlors and mahjong parlors, customers bring the prize balls they have won to the prize exchange area, where the staff counts the balls using a prize ball counter. Count and display the number, take out the prize the customer wants from the shelf, etc.
Prizes were provided to customers until the number of pitches reached the above number, or until the number closest to this number was reached. During this time, the staff will convert the number of prize balls and prizes.
This was done using mental arithmetic or a calculator, and its poor workability was a problem.

To solve this problem, a selection key corresponding to the prize stored on a shelf, etc. is provided, and the type of prize can be entered using the selection key and the quantity can be entered using the numeric keys, and the number of pitches corresponding to this prize can be calculated. Recently, prize exchange management machines have been provided in which a numerical value is subtracted from the number of prize balls. However, even with the above-mentioned prize exchange management machine, as mentioned above, it is necessary to provide a number of selection keys corresponding to the types of prizes, making the device large and expensive, and when a large number of them are installed in a store. This places a heavy burden on the user in terms of installation space and purchasing funds. Furthermore, even if selection keys corresponding to the types of prizes are provided in this way, the types of prizes to be exchanged tend to be uneven, and some selection keys are rarely used in practice, so it is wasteful.

In addition, when a customer exchanges the prize balls he/she has won for a prize, the prize ball counting machine or prize exchange management machine as described above will Surplus balls are not counted, and tallied data such as the cumulative number of prize balls handled each day and the number of prizes exchanged do not match, making it impossible to manage whether surplus balls have been returned to customers.

(Purpose of the invention) This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to exchange prize balls (metals, tokens, etc.) such as pachinko balls won by customers only for specific prizes. By allowing the customer to set the number of prize balls for this prize, all the steps from counting the prize balls won by the customer, to calculations for exchanging them for prizes, and returning surplus balls can be done in a single simple operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a prize ball counting machine capable of counting the prize balls and compiling data such as the number of remaining balls that have not been returned.

(Summary of the invention) This invention consists of a prize ball counting section that counts the prize balls etc. thrown in, a prize ball number setting section that sets the number of prize balls corresponding to a specific prize, and the prize ball counting section. a counting memory section that stores the counted value; and a prize number memory that stores the value of the quotient obtained by dividing the counted value by the prize ball counting section by the number of prize balls set in the prize ball number setting section. a surplus ball temporary memory unit that stores a remainder value obtained by dividing the count counted by the prize ball counting unit by the number of prize balls set in the prize ball number setting unit, and a surplus ball temporary memory unit that stores information regarding the prize ball count. The present invention relates to a prize ball counting machine having a display section for displaying, a surplus ball return section for returning surplus balls of the prize balls; and at least a prize ball counting section for counting the prize balls, a mode setting section for selecting and specifying either a counting 1 mode in which the prize balls are not returned and a counting 2 mode in which the prize balls are counted in the prize ball counting section and the remaining balls of the surplus value are returned; a counting 1 mode control means for displaying at least the contents of the prize number memory section and the surplus balls temporary memory section on the display section when the counting 1 mode is selected and specified; the counting 2 mode is selected by the mode setting section; When specified, at least the contents of the prize number memory section and the surplus ball temporary memory section are displayed on the display section, and the prize balls with the surplus value are returned in the surplus ball return section, and the returned balls are returned. 2-mode control means for subtracting the number from the contents of the counting memory section and the surplus ball temporary memory section.

(Example of the invention) Figure 1 shows the appearance of a prize ball counting machine 1 showing an example of this invention, and its front A (store side)
includes a mode setting section 2, a division setting section 3, a clear switch 4, a shop side display 5 and a shutter switch 7.
2, and behind it B (customer side) is a prize ball inputting section 71 for inputting prize balls such as pachinko balls,
A prize ball counting section 10 automatically counts the prize balls, and a surplus ball return section (7 in Figure 4) returns the surplus balls to the customer.
4) and a customer-side display 6 are provided, and a prize ball collection chute 73 is provided below.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the mode setting section 2 is manually operated by the staff to select "Count 1 (prize ball count and surplus ball collection)" and "Count 2 (prize ball coefficient and surplus ball return)". A mode changeover switch 21 is provided for switching the operations of ``,'' and ``aggregation (data aggregation).'' The prize prize ball number setting section 3 is provided with, for example, a digital switch (not shown) for a staff member to manually set the prize ball number corresponding to a particular prize. Figure 3 shows the store side display 5.
This shop side display 5 includes a prize number display 52, a prize ball number display 51, and a remaining ball number display 53.
The customer side display 6 also has the same configuration. The prize ball inputting section 71 has a hopper shape so as to receive the prize balls won by the customer from above, and the inserted prize balls are collected by a prize ball counting section 10 provided below the prize ball inputting section 71, for example, by an optical system. A sensor is used to pass one ball between a light emitting source and a light receiving section, and the number of balls is automatically counted by detecting whether or not the optical path is blocked. During this time, until the series of operations of counting the prize balls won by one customer, exchanging them with prizes, and returning the surplus, the prize ball counting section 10 A shutter (not shown) is provided above the shutter, and the shutter is opened and closed by an attendant manually operating a shutter switch 72. The prize balls that have been exchanged for prizes are collected from the prize ball collection chute 73, and the remaining balls to be returned are returned to the customer from the remaining ball return port (not shown) by the remaining ball return unit 74. It's getting old.

The internal configuration of this prize ball counting machine 1 is as shown in Fig. 4, and it has a CPU (microcomputer system, etc.) 100 that controls the entire system, and this CPU 100 has a memory in which programs are stored. (ROM) 8 via a bus line, and also connects via the bus line to the prize ball counting section 10, mode setting section 2, prize ball number setting section 3, clear switch 4, necessary data and calculation results. A surplus ball return unit 74 is connected to a memory (RAM) 9 for storing the data, store side display 5, and customer side display 6 for displaying this data, and similarly returns surplus balls to the customer via the bus line. Furthermore, an external interface for connection to a center computer (not shown) is also connected via a bus line.

Note that the CPU is equipped with the functions of a counting 1 mode control means, a counting 2 mode control means, a data aggregation mode control means, and other control means, and is adapted to execute the control described later.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the internal configuration of the memory (RAM) 9, which includes a counting memory section 91 in which the counted value of prize balls won by one customer is stored, and a "prize" corresponding to a preset specific prize. The integer value of the quotient divided by the number of prize balls (divided number)" is stored as the number of prizes in a prize memory section 92; the remainder of the division is stored as the number of remaining balls in a temporary memory section 93 for remaining balls; Each time one customer completes a gift exchange, "1" is added to the memory unit 94 to store the cumulative number of customers.
It is composed of a total memory section 95 in which the counting data of the counting memory section 91 is accumulated and stored, and a remaining ball memory section 96 in which the data on the number of remaining balls in the temporary surplus ball memory section 93 is accumulated and stored.

The operation of the prize ball counting machine 1 having such a configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the exchange operation between prize balls and prizes starts, it is first determined whether the mode changeover switch 21 is designated as "counting mode" (step S1), and the mode changeover switch 21 is activated by the operator's hand. Therefore, if "Count 1" or "Count 2" is specified, it is determined whether or not a prize ball has been thrown into the prize ball counting section 10 (step S2), and it is determined whether or not a prize ball has been thrown into the prize ball counting section 10. If so, the process returns to step S1 and waits. If prize balls have been thrown in, the prize ball counting section 10 counts the prize balls one by one as described above, and counts the prize balls one by one as described above.
After counting the number of balls, "1" is added and stored in the counting memory section 91 (step S3). Next, the staff member manually operates the number of prize balls setting unit 3 to set the "number of prize balls (percentage)" corresponding to the specific prize.
The above counted value is divided by the CPU 100 (step S4), and the integer value of this quotient is written as the "number of prizes" in the prize memory section 92, and the remainder is written as the "number of remaining balls" in the temporary memory section 93 of remaining balls (step S4). S5).
In this case, when new data is written in the prize memory section 92 and the surplus ball temporary memory section 93, the data that has already been written is automatically erased.
The "count value" written in the counting memory section 91, the "number of prizes" written in the number of prizes memory section 92, and the "number of remaining balls" written in the surplus ball temporary memory section 93 are then processed via the CPU 100. The information is displayed on the store display 5 and the customer display 6 (step S6). After this, the prize ball counting section 10 waits for a predetermined period of time, and if there are still more prize balls in the prize ball counting section 10 during that time, the process returns to the above-mentioned step S2 (step S7), and all of the inserted prize balls are counted. , repeat the above operations until no more are added.
Here, if the staff member is looking at the display on the prize ball number display 51 of the shop side display 5, if there are prize balls to be counted in the prize ball counting section 10, the displayed "number of prize balls" will increase. Continuing, when there are no more prize balls in the prize ball counting section 10, this can be determined by the "number of prize balls" displayed stopping. Visually confirm that there are no more prize balls in the prize ball counting section 10 using the method described above, and check the "number of prizes" and "number of prizes" displayed on the number of prizes display 52 and number of remaining balls display 53 of the shop side display 5. The staff will check the "number of remaining balls" and exchange them for the displayed "number of prizes". Here, the prize ball counter 1 waits while maintaining its state until the clear switch 4 is operated (step S8), and when the clear switch 4 is operated, the mode changeover switch 21 is set to "counting 1". (step)
S9), mode changeover switch 21 is set to “Counting 2”
(Prize ball counting and remaining ball return mode), the CPU 100 determines whether there are any remaining balls by determining whether or not the value of the remaining ball temporary memory is "0" (step S20), and If there are any balls, instruct the surplus ball return unit 74 to return the surplus balls (step
S21), each time one ball is returned, the counting memory section 91 and the remaining ball temporary memory section 93 each store a value subtracted by "1" (step S22). Then, the value of the remaining ball temporary memory section 93 is displayed on the remaining ball number display 53 of the shop side display 5 and the customer side display 6 (step S23), and the process returns to the above step S20, and all of the remaining balls are displayed. The above operation is repeated until the balls are returned and there are no balls left. In the above-mentioned step S20, if there are no remaining balls, and if all the remaining balls have been returned as described above, "1" is added to the number of customers memory section 94 via the CPU 100, and the cumulative memory section 95 stores the above-mentioned counting memory. The value in section 91 is added and stored (step S10). Here, the value of the surplus ball temporary memory section 93 is added to the surplus ball memory section 96 and stored, but in this case, all the surplus balls are returned and the value of the surplus ball temporary memory section 93 is "0". ”, so it will be omitted as a result. As mentioned above, the number of customers memory section 9
4. After writing to the cumulative memory section 95,
The values in the counting memory section 91, prize number memory section 92, and surplus ball temporary memory section 93 are erased via the CPU 100 (step S11), and the values in the above-mentioned step S1 are erased.
Returning to , such counting operation is repeated.
Here, if the mode changeover switch 21 is switched to "Count 1" (prize ball counting and surplus ball collection mode) in step 9 above, even if there are surplus balls, the surplus balls are not returned and the surplus balls are not returned. If the store also collects the balls, the above steps are not followed.
The process returns to step S2 via S10 and S11. in this case,
The value stored in the surplus ball temporary memory section 93 is added to and stored in the surplus ball memory section 96, and the number of collected surplus balls is confirmed at the time of "totalization" to be described later.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned step S1, if the mode changeover switch 21 is switched to "totalization" (data aggregation mode) by the manual operation of the staff (step S30), the above-mentioned store side display 5 is A value obtained by dividing the value stored in the cumulative memory section 95 by 10 is displayed on the prize number display 51.
The value stored in the number of customers memory section 94 is
Each value divided by 100 is displayed (step
S31). At this time, "0" is displayed on the customer side display 6. After confirming the display data, the display continues until the staff operates the clear switch 4 (step S32).
The data stored in the cumulative total memory section 95 and the remaining ball memory section 96 are erased (step S33), and all operations of the prize ball counting machine 1 are stopped.

(Modified example of the invention) In the above-mentioned embodiment, in the case of "count 1" (prize ball counting and surplus collection mode), the surplus balls are not returned to the customer but are collected by the store, so the customer side display is The display of the number of remaining balls in the container 6 can also be made not to be displayed. In addition, although the "summary" mode is designed to be used to check all data at the end of the day, it goes without saying that intermediate summary data can also be checked during the day. Furthermore, in the case of the "tally" mode, the prize ball number display 51 of the shop side display 5 shows a value obtained by dividing the value stored in the cumulative memory section 95 by 10.
is the value stored in the number of customers memory section 94.
Is the value divided by 100 now displayed?
It goes without saying that the above values can be displayed as real numbers.

(Effect of the invention) As mentioned above, according to the prize ball counting machine of this invention,
The number of prize balls corresponding to a specific prize can be set by manual operation by the staff member, and the customer It has excellent operability, as it can calculate and display the corresponding number of prizes and the number of remaining balls based on the number of prize balls won by the player, and return the remaining balls according to the number of remaining balls. Furthermore, by counting up the number of remaining balls that have not been returned, it can be confirmed whether the remaining balls have been returned to the customer without fail, and the number of prize balls can be managed reliably.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of the prize ball counting machine of this invention, Figure 2 is an external view showing the mode switching section of the prize ball counting machine, and Figure 3 is the shop side display of the prize ball counting machine. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the award ball counting machine of this invention, Figure 5 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the memory (RAM), and Figure 6 is the award ball counting machine of this invention. This is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machine. 1... Prize ball counting machine, 2... Mode setting section, 3...
...Primary prize pitch number setting section, 4...Clear switch,
5, 6... Display unit, 9... Memory, 10... Prize ball counting section, 91... Counting memory section, 92... Prize number memory section, 93... Surplus ball temporary memory section, 94...
...Number of customers memory section, 95...Cumulative memory section, 96...
...Remainder ball memory section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A prize ball counting section that counts the prize balls thrown in, a prize ball number setting section that sets the number of prize balls corresponding to a specific prize, and a counting memory that stores the counted value by the prize ball counting section. a prize number memory section that stores a value of the quotient obtained by dividing the count counted by the prize ball counting section by the number of prize balls set in the prize ball number setting section; A prize ball having a temporary memory section for storing a residual value obtained by dividing the counted value by the number of prize balls set by the number of prize balls setting section, and a display section for displaying information regarding the prize ball count. In the counting machine, a surplus ball return unit that returns surplus balls with respect to prize balls; a counting 1 mode in which at least the prize balls are counted in the prize ball counting unit and balls with the surplus value are not returned; and the prize ball counting unit a mode setting section for selecting and specifying one of the counting 2 mode in which the prize balls are counted and the remaining balls having the surplus value are returned; when the counting 1 mode is selected and specified in the mode setting section, at least the prize Counter 1 for displaying the contents of the number memory section and the remaining ball temporary memory section on the display section;
mode control means; when the mode setting section selects and specifies the counting 2 mode, displaying at least the contents of the prize number memory section and the surplus ball temporary memory section on the display section; A prize ball counting machine characterized by comprising a counting two-mode control means for returning balls in a surplus ball return section and subtracting the number of returned balls from the contents of the counting memory section and the surplus ball temporary memory section. .