JPH05212148A - Recycle card management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate maintenance and management of recycle cards by updating the record of the frequency of each card being used which is stored in a card file each time the recycle card concerned is used. CONSTITUTION:When a card is inserted in the insert hole 9a of a card handling machine 9, a sensor S1 issues a card insertion sensing signal to a control part 91, which actuates a card take-in mechanism 93, make a card reading mechanism 94 to read the data recorded on the card, allows a RAM to take in the data, and transfers the contents of recording to a managing machine 13. A data erasing mechanism 95, etc., is actuated to delete the recorded data except retention data such as card No., etc., of the card to be reused so as to enable reusage. The managing machine 13 extracts the card No. of the inserted card from the contents of recording, makes reference to the frequency of card No. concerned being used which is stored in a card file, judges whether the frequency exceeds the tolerable frequency level, and if exceeding, gives a command to the card handling machine 9 for collecting it to a reject box 9e.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card management device in a card system using a recycling card, and particularly to easy maintenance and management of a recycling card which has a limited number of times that it can be used repeatedly and which must be replaced. The present invention relates to a recycling card management device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a system using a recycle card, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-538 previously filed by the present applicant.
There is a prize exchange system disclosed in No. 27. In this system, a counter for counting prize balls at a game arcade is connected to a card issuing machine, and a card in which a counting result counted by the counter is recorded is issued to both by a card issuing machine. When issuing a gift, the card is inserted into a card reading / dispensing machine provided separately, and the gift is exchanged based on the read contents. The card used in this system is a recycling card,
Cards that have been exchanged for gifts and collected will be refilled and used again in the card issuing machine.

[0003]

However, the recording and reproducing ability of such a recycled card gradually decreases with use, and if it is repeatedly used, for example, about 300 times, the reliability of recording and reproducing decreases, so that It will need to be replaced. Conventionally, when a defective card is generated, or when the number of times the card has been used reaches a predetermined number of times of repeated use of the card, it is removed as an abnormal card and replaced with a new card. For this reason, it is necessary to stock a new card, but it takes time from ordering the card to delivering it, which may cause a shortage of cards. In addition, stocking a large number of cards in preparation for such a situation requires time and effort for securing a card storage space and safety management.
It also costs money.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recycling card management device which facilitates maintenance and management of recycling cards.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a recycling card management device for managing a card which can be re-used by rewriting the displayed contents, a card number for identifying oneself and others is provided. Card issuing means that issues specified items on the attached card, storage means that holds a file that records at least the card number attached to each card and the number of times each card has been used, and the issue or collection of the card Corresponding to, the number-of-uses updating means for updating the number-of-uses of each card in the file is compared with the number-of-uses of each card recorded in the file in response to the extraction command and a predetermined card exchange reference value. However, the card exchange number detecting means for extracting the data of the used card exceeding the above card exchange reference value, and at least the number of the extracted cards Characterized in that it comprises a display means for displaying.

Further, a card issuing means for issuing a card whose display content can be rewritten and reused, a card processing means for reading the recorded content of the issued card and collecting the card, the card issuing means or In a recycling card management device including a card management unit that holds a file that records the number of times each of the cards has been used, which is updated by the output of the card processing unit, the card processing unit reads the record of the collected card. The card management means includes at least means for transmitting the card number of the recovery card to the card management means, and card transportation means for transporting the recovery card to one of at least two card recovery containers in response to an exchange command. If the number of times the collected card has been used exceeds the standard value for card replacement, Characterized in that it comprises an interchangeable discriminating means for outputting to said card processing means.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the file recording the number of times each card is used is updated every time the card is used.
By referring to this file and the card exchange reference value, it becomes possible to know in advance the number of cards that will need to be exchanged in the near future.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, cards which have been used a predetermined number of times or more are successively collected in the reject box. Therefore, the cards can be collectively replaced without taking out the individual cards, selecting them, and replacing them.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the system of the game arcade will be described. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the inside of the game arcade, and FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a prize exchange system in the game arcade.

In FIG. 1, currency exchange machines CEN1 and CEN2 are arranged near the entrance on the front of the game arcade. As types of gaming machines, for example, there are a medal gaming machine 1, a pachinko gaming machine 2, and the like, and an island is formed by a gaming machine group arranged in a line. In the vicinity of each gaming machine, a medal lending machine or a stand ball lending machine that provides medals or the like as a game medium in exchange for coins is provided. The medal lending machine and the ball lending machine are controlled by the controller CTR provided for each island. The medal counting machine 3 is arranged at the end of the island of the medal gaming machine 1,
The number of inserted medals is counted, and the counted value is transmitted to the card issuing machine 4 arranged adjacent to the medal counting machine 3. A ball counting machine 5 is arranged at the end of the island of the pachinko gaming machine 2, counts the number of thrown prize balls, and counts the counted value.
Is transmitted to the card issuing machine 4 arranged adjacent to. The card issuing machine 4 issues a card or a receipt in which the number of medals or small balls inserted in the counting machine is recorded. Although not shown, it is possible to connect the card issuing machine 4 and the management machine 13 via a local area network. In such a case, the card issuing information including the record information such as the issued card number and the issued receipt Receipt issuance information including the recorded contents of can be transmitted to the management device 13. As will be described later, the parent management machine 13 can update the card file and grasp the number of times of use of each card by the transmitted card number of the issued card.

A prize exchange counter is provided in the back of the game arcade. The prize exchange counter is divided into an unmanned counter 6 and a manned counter 7.
The prize dispenser 8, the card processing machine 9, the ball returning machine 10 and the child management machine 12 are used. In addition, manned counter 7
Is composed of a prize dispensing machine 8, a card processing machine 9, a ball returning machine 10, a bar code scanner 11 and a parent management machine 13.

At the unmanned counter 6, the prize exchanger inserts a card into the card processor 9 and commands the exchange of the prize, and the prize dispenser 8 throws out the prize corresponding to the count value, and the surplus balls are dispensed. Are returned from the ball return machine 10. The manned counter 7 is provided with a bar code scanner 11 in addition to the card processor 9, and the recorded data of the issued receipt is read. At the manned counter 7, the prize dispenser 8
In addition to the prizes stored in, various kinds of prizes are available on the display shelves, and various prizes are exchanged. The contents of the entire prize exchange are totaled by the parent management machine 13 and used for inventory management, delivery control, and the like.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the flow of the game, and the player purchases the game medium by the ball lending machine or the medal lending machine (step S1). The player selects an appropriate gaming machine. For example, the number of game media is increased by the pachinko gaming machine 2 (step S2). Then, the game is stopped and the increased game media are exchanged for prizes. Counter 5 with no players
When a prize ball is thrown in (step S3), a card or receipt in which the number of prize balls is recorded is issued from the card issuing machine 4 (step S4). Bring this card or receipt to the prize exchange counter. When the player inserts the card into the card processing machine 9, or when the employee reads the receipt by the bar code scanner 11, the management machine 12 or 1
The number of prize balls is stored in 3 (step S5), and the prize can be exchanged. The player can select a desired prize, receive the remaining prize balls, and enjoy the game again (step S6). The cards collected by the card processor 9 are reused.

Next, the counting of game media and the issuing of cards and the like will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the ball counter 5, and when a prize ball is put into the upper hopper 5a,
Due to the inclination of the hopper 5a, prize balls flow into a counting sensor (not shown) and counting is started. The counting result is displayed on the upper display 5b. Further, the counting result is transmitted to the card issuing machine 4 via a connection code (not shown).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the medal counter 3. When a medal is loaded into the upper hopper 3a, the medal flows into a counting sensor (not shown) due to the inclination of the hopper 3a and the medal transport mechanism provided at the bottom of the hopper 3a, and counting is started. The counting result is displayed on the upper display 3b. Further, the counting result is transmitted to the card issuing machine 4 via a connection code (not shown).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the card issuing machine 4. A display unit 4a is provided on the upper front portion of the card issuing machine 4, and displays the number of game media loaded in the counting machine and the like. A receipt issuing port 4b for ejecting a receipt is provided below the display unit 4a, and for example, a receipt on which predetermined items are printed by a journal printer is ejected. Below the receipt issuing port 4b, an end button 4g for notifying the player that the game medium has been inserted is provided.
Further, a card issuing port 4d for ejecting a card in which the number of counted game media is recorded is provided in the lower front portion of the card issuing machine 4.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the card issuing machine 4. In the figure, a cassette box 4e accommodates a large number of recycle cards whose print portions as shown in FIG. 8 can be rewritten. A thermal print head, which will be described later, visibly prints predetermined items in a print display field at the upper part in the longitudinal direction of the card. A magnetic stripe on which information including the above-mentioned predetermined items is to be recorded electro-magnetically is formed on the back of this card.

The card is sent out from the lower part of the cassette box 4e by the pickup roller PR. Roller pairs R1 to R5 are arranged from the pickup roller PR toward the card issuing port 4d to form a card transport path. A thermal print head S is provided between the roller pair R2 and R3.
R and a platen roller PL that presses the print column portion of the card against the thermal print head SR by the operation of a solenoid (not shown) are provided. This thermal print head S
Depending on R, the above-mentioned predetermined items in the print display column of the card, namely, the issue date a, the card number b, the total number of balls c, the divisor d,
The extra sphere e and the like are visually recorded and displayed. The thermal-printed card is conveyed to the magnetic card unit MC. Information is recorded on the magnetic stripe of the card by the magnetic stripe reproducing / recording head RW. After recording, move the card in the opposite direction, return it, and convey it again. Check that the information such as the total number of balls is correctly recorded on the magnetic stripe, and then issue the card.
send to d. Therefore, the magnetic card unit MC is driven by the motor MT capable of forward and reverse rotations. The other transport path is driven by a motor STMT that rotates in the forward and reverse directions. When it is determined that the card is abnormal in reading the card or the like, the card is fed back and stored in the reject box 4f via the roller pair R6. Detection switches S1 to S4 are arranged on the card transport path to detect the position of the card. The card ejecting mechanism 43 is configured by the above-mentioned roller pair for card feeding, the drive motor, and the like, and the card recording mechanism 44 is configured by the thermal print head SR, the magnetic stripe reproducing / recording head RW, and the like.

A journal printer 4c is provided on the upper part of the housing. The journal printer 4c is composed of a receipt ejecting mechanism 45 that sends the recording roll paper to the receipt issuing port 4b through a printing unit, and a receipt printing mechanism 46 that prints the total number of balls or the like on the receipt by numbers or barcodes. .. Whether the data recording such as the total number of counted balls is recorded on the card or is printed on the receipt by the journal printer 4c can be performed by, for example, setting the card / receipt mode setting switch 47 or by a software command from the outside. it can. When the switch S7 detects that the journal printer 4c is out of receipts, it is possible to send out the card from the cassette box. On the contrary, when the switch S5 detects that the card is out of stock in the cassette box, it is possible to output the receipt from the journal printer 4c.

FIG. 9 shows the counting machines 3 and 5 and the card issuing machine 4.
3 is a functional block diagram of the control circuit of FIG. The counting means 51 of the medal counting machine 3 or the ball counting machine 5 is composed of a sensor that detects passage of the game medium and a counter that integrates the number of passages. The count value of the counter is sent to the control unit 52 which controls the counter. The control unit 52 is composed of a microprocessor, displays the count value on a display unit (not shown), and transfers the count value to the card issuing machine 4 via the interface 53.

The control system of the card issuing machine 4 includes a control unit 41,
Interface 42, card ejection mechanism 43, card recording mechanism 44, receipt ejection mechanism 45, receipt printing mechanism 4
6, card / receipt mode setting switch 47, time elapsed detection unit 48, all switch 4g, remainder return switch 4
It is composed of h and the like.

The control unit 41 is composed of a microprocessor, and a control program is stored in a built-in ROM 41a. Information such as the count value supplied from the counter 3 or 4 is stored in the built-in RAM 41b via the interface 42. A card / receipt issue switching control means 41c and a fraction deletion means 41d are formed on the control program. The card / receipt issue switching control means records the count value or the like on the card and ejects it when the card / receipt mode setting switch 47 provided near the cassette box 4e is selected as the card. Select a program. When the card / receipt mode setting switch 47 is selected as a receipt, the program is selected so that the count value or the like is recorded on the receipt and is ejected. When the card / receipt mode setting switch 47 is selected for automatic selection, a receipt is issued when the count value is less than or equal to a predetermined number, and a card is issued when the count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. Further, when the remaining one of the recording medium of the card and the receipt is exhausted, it is switched to the issue of the other recording medium in stock.

The fraction deleting means 41d can be selectively operated by turning on a dip switch (not shown). When the time lapse detection unit 48 configured by the timer function provided in the microprocessor detects the lapse of a predetermined time, for example, the time just before the closing of the store, and generates a time-out signal, the fraction deletion means 41d is activated. The function of the fraction deleting means 41d is to correct the total count value stored in the RAM 41b to a preset count value, excluding a preset prize exchange unit number, for example, a fraction number less than 20 pachinko balls. For example, the above-mentioned fraction is obtained as the remainder when the total count value is divided by the minimum number of exchange units for exchange of premiums.

When the player presses all the buttons on the card / receipt issuing panel, all the numbers of balls to be recorded and issued on the card without returning the inserted small balls from the counter 5 The control unit 41 is instructed from the switch 4g. When the surplus ball return button is pressed, the surplus ball return switch 4h instructs the control unit 41 to return the surplus ball that is less than the minimum exchange unit of the prize exchange.

The control section 41 executes the card feeding control program (not shown) to cause the cassette box 4
It controls the above-mentioned card ejection mechanism 43 that conveys the card from e to the card issuing port 4d. The control unit 41 controls the card recording mechanism 44 by executing a card recording control program (not shown) to write the data to be recorded such as the count value stored in the RAM 41b to the card or write the data on the card. Erase the contents.

The receipt recording mechanism 44 and the receipt printing mechanism 46 are also controlled by the control unit 41 executing a receipt recording mechanism control program and a receipt printing mechanism control program (not shown).

FIG. 10 shows a procedure for issuing cards and receipts by the counters 3, 5 and the card issuing machine 4 described above. When the game medium acquired by the player is put into the hopper of the counter 5 (step S101). ), The counter 5 starts counting (step S102). The counting is repeated until the player presses all the buttons 4g or the remaining return button 4h. When the player presses any button, the card /
The receipt issuing machine 4 confirms that the output of the counter 5 does not change at the end of counting, and then the received count value is R
It is taken into the AM 41b (step S103). It is determined whether the all button 4g, which means a command to record all the count values of the game medium, has been pressed or the remainder return button 4h has been pressed (step S104). When all the buttons 4g are pressed, "0" is stored in the area B of the RAM 41b (step S105). When the remainder return button 4h is pressed, it is determined whether or not the time for issuing a card or the like exceeds the reference time preset at 48 in the time lapse detector (step S106). This reference time is set, for example, at the time just before the closing of the game hall. I have no time to play,
After all, this is to save the trouble of returning it to the counter. If it exceeds the reference time, "0" is stored in the area B of the RAM 41b (step S105). If it has not exceeded the reference time, "1" is stored in the area b of the RAM 41b (step S107). When "1" is set in the area B of the RAM 41b, the surplus ball is returned in a later step.

Card / receipt mode setting switch 47
However, when the receipt is set in advance by the staff member (step S108), the control unit 41 does not issue the card, and the receipt ejection mechanism 45 and the receipt printing mechanism 4 are not issued.
6 is controlled to issue a receipt (step S10).
9).

Card / receipt mode setting switch 47
Is set to automatic selection (step S10
8) It is determined whether the count value exceeds a preset predetermined number (step S110). When the number is less than the predetermined number, a receipt is issued (step S109), and when the number is more than the predetermined number, a card is issued (step S111). When issuing a card, the card number of the card issued to the management device 13 is transmitted to the management device 13, and the number of times of use of a card file described later is updated. This corresponds to the usage number updating means. The use of receipts and cards is more expensive than receipts because the unit cost of issuing cards is higher, so the recording media to be ejected are distinguished by the number of game media acquired, the cost required for issuance is suppressed, and a kind of premium card is used. It has value.

Card / receipt mode setting switch 47
Is set on the card (step S108),
Only the card is issued and the receipt is not issued (step S111). Steps S108 and S described above
Reference numeral 110 corresponds to the card / receipt issue switching control means 41c. When the card / receipt issuance or the card data is updated, the value of the area B is determined (step S112). When the value of B is "1", the surplus sphere is returned because it is before the set time. That is, when there is a remaining number obtained by executing the above-described fraction deletion program (step S113), the return instruction is transferred to the control unit 52 of the counter 5 via the interface 42. The control unit 52 commands the return means 54 to return the surplus balls of the surplus number (step S114). When the value of the area B is "0" (step S112), the player does not want to return the surplus ball or the surplus ball is not returned because the reference time has elapsed. Step S11
2 has a function of stopping the return of the surplus balls in the ball counting machine 5, and corresponds to the return stopping means 52a.

As a result, before the lapse of a predetermined time, for example, the data written on the card is as shown in FIG. 8, the date of issue a, the card number b, the total number of balls c,
The divisor d and the surplus sphere e are described as they are, but after the elapse of a predetermined time, the total number of balls c is described by the number without the surplus sphere, and the surplus sphere e is described as “0”. Similarly, the printed contents of the receipt will be partially different before and after the predetermined time depending on the presence / absence of the fractional deletion process. This is done in order to prevent a fraction of the game medium from being generated when the prize is exchanged just before the store is closed.

Next, the prize exchange system in the prize exchange counter will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, the left side of the prize exchange counter is the unmanned counter 6, and the right side is the manned counter 7. The unattended counter 6
The prize dispenser 8, the card processing machine 9, the ball returning machine 10 and the child management machine 12 are used. When the prize exchanger uses the unattended counter 6, the card is inserted into the card processor 9. Then, after the card insertion end button is pressed, the information recorded on the card is given from the card processing machine 9 to the child management machine 12, and the prize corresponding to the count value or the divisor recorded from the prize throwing machine 8 is thrown out. Be done. Further, the surplus balls are returned from the ball returning machine 10 before the predetermined time has elapsed. The manned counter 7 is composed of a prize dispensing machine 8, a card processing machine 9, a ball returning machine 10, a bar code scanner 11 and a parent management machine 13. At the manned counter 7, in addition to the prizes stored in the prize dispenser 8, various kinds of prizes prepared on the display shelf can be exchanged. When the prize exchanger uses the manned counter 7, the card is inserted into the card processing machine 9 or the receipt is given to a person in charge so that the bar code scanner 11 reads the recorded data.
The number of recorded game media is taken into the management machine 13. Then, the staff member listens to the customer's wishes and operates the keyboard of the management machine 13 to dispense the prize from the prize dispenser 8 or to take out the prize from the display shelf and exchange the prize by hand. The management machine 13 has a function of managing inventory of premiums. In the prize exchange, the surplus game media is returned from the ball returning machine before the predetermined time has passed, but the surplus balls are not returned after the predetermined time has passed, as will be described later.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a card processing machine 9 which is a card processing means for reading recorded data such as the number of game media recorded on a card. A card insertion slot 9a for taking in a card is provided in the lower front portion of the card processing machine 9. A card insertion end button 9b is provided on the upper portion. The player can successively insert a plurality of cards into the card insertion slot 9a. In this case, the record data read from each card is sequentially transferred to the management device. The count value read from the card is displayed on the display 9c arranged on the upper front of the card processor 9.
When the player finishes inserting the card, the player presses the card insertion end button 9b. As a result, the termination of card insertion is instructed to the management machine via the control unit of the card processing machine 9.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the card processor 9. In the figure, when the customer inserts the card into the card insertion slot 9a, the magnetic card unit M
The C sensor S1 detects the card. When the insertion of the card is detected, the motor MT drives the card taking-in mechanism of the magnetic card unit MC including the roller pairs R1 and R2. In the roller pair R1 part,
A recording / reproducing head RW for recording / reproducing information on / from a magnetic stripe is provided, and recorded data such as a card number, an issue date, and the number of game media recorded on a card can be read. This record data is sent to the management machines 12 and 13.
The data sent to the management machine 12 is further sent to the management machine 13. The magnetic stripe recording / reproducing head RW and the like constitute a card reading mechanism 94. When the card passes the roller pair R2, the arrival of the card at the print degaussing unit is detected by the sensor S2. As a result, the motor STMT operates to drive the card transport mechanism including the roller pairs R3 to R5 and the like. When the card passes between the pair of rollers R3 and R4, the thermal print head SR and the platen roller PL1 arranged between the pair of rollers R3 and R4 are used to make the erasing in the post process even in the print field of the card. Is written. When the card passes the roller pair R4, the sensor S3 detects this. The position of the print field of the card is determined by the passage timer and the like, and the erasing head IH
Is commanded to generate heat. The card is brought into close contact with the erasing head IH by the platen roller PL2. Erasing head I
Due to the heat generated by H, all the numerical values and the like printed in the print field of the card are erased. When the card passes the erasing head IH and the sensor S4 detects that the card is carried into the cassette box 9d for collecting the card, the pickup roller PR is driven and the card is taken into the cassette box 9d. When the card is put in place, this is the sensor S
6, the driving of the card take-in mechanism is stopped. Sensors S8 and S9 are arranged above the cassette box 9d to detect when the collection of cards into the cassette is full. In this case, the staff is informed and the card loading is stopped until the empty cassette box is replaced. The mechanism for transporting the card inserted into the card insertion slot 4d into the cassette box 9d constitutes a main transport path for the card. The cassette box 9d containing the card is set in the card issuing machine 4 as it is,
The card is used repeatedly. When there is an abnormality in the taken-in card or when the number of times the card has been used is exceeded, a signal notifying the abnormality is supplied from the management machine 12 or the management machine 13 to the card processing machine 9. When this signal is supplied, the control unit 91 activates a transfer path switch (not shown) provided immediately after the roller pair R4,
The card is conveyed toward the roller pair R5. As a result, the card is stored in the reject box 9e. The switching device can be configured by, for example, a solenoid and a paper guide. The card transport mechanism from the roller pair R4 to the reject box 9e constitutes a sub-transport path for the card. This sub-transport path forms a card loading mechanism 93 together with the main transport path.

Inside the prize dispenser 8 shown in FIG. 11, for example, a plurality of cylindrical article discharge units carrying a plurality of cassettes storing prizes are arranged. A 100-yen gift, a 500-yen gift, a 1000-yen gift, etc. are set in the cassette, and a dispensing mechanism (not shown) responds to an instruction from the management machine, for example, a division number or a prize, and the corresponding prize. A predetermined number of is discharged from the outlet. The structure of such a gift dispenser is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-1652.
Since it is explained in detail in No. 96, it will not be explained in detail.

Examples of the management machines 12 and 13 are shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Although the same management machines 12 and 13 are used, one of them operates as a master machine and the other operates as a slave machine by switching programs. The prize exchange information of the child machine is collected in the parent machine. In FIG. 14, by selecting the position of the key switch 13a of the management machine, the mode can be switched between automatic and manual. Also, select the key switch 13a to the management mode setting position for obtaining various management information,
Operate the keyboard to display the keyboard 1 shown in FIG.
By operating the function keys 131, 132, 133 of 3c to set, for example, the card exchange prediction mode 1, the card exchange prediction mode 2, the card batch exchange mode, etc. It becomes possible to specify the execution of the program of the corresponding predetermined operation. The unmanned counter 6 automatically selects the position of the key switch 13a. When set to automatic, when the record data read by the card processing machine 9 is transferred to the management machine 12, the management machine 12 throws out a prize corresponding to the count value or the divisor while giving priority to an expensive prize. The prize dispenser 8 is instructed to do so. The management machine 12 will instruct the ball returning machine 10 to return the surplus balls when a fraction less than the minimum unit of the prize exchange occurs. The record information of the card used in the management machine 12 is collected in the management machine 13.

FIG. 16 shows a control system of the prize dispenser 8, the card processor 9, the bar code scanner 11 and the parent management machine 13 in the manned counter 7. The ball returning machine 10 is not shown because it is not the gist of the present invention.

The card take-in mechanism 93, the card reading mechanism 94 and the data erasing mechanism 95 of the card processor 9 are controlled by the control section 91 which is composed of a microprocessor. This microprocessor controls each mechanism according to a control program stored in a ROM (not shown), temporarily stores read data of the card in a RAM (not shown),
After error correction, it is sent to the management machine 13. Further, when the card insertion or the insertion end switch 9b is operated by the prize exchange person, a signal indicating the insertion of the card and an insertion end command are transferred to the management machine 13 via the interface 92.

The management machine 13 is a control section 13d including a microprocessor, a ROM storing a control program, a RAM storing prize exchange information and the like, a large keyboard 13c for inputting a prize name and the number of pieces, and a keyboard. 1
Large display 13b for displaying operation contents of 3c, information regarding prize exchange, card management information, etc., interface 13f for signal conversion of data, large-capacity storage device 13g.
And so on. The controller 13d temporarily stores the recording data transferred from the card processor 9 via the interface 13f in the RAM of the controller 13d. For example, the control unit 13d of the management machine 13 divides the count value of the game medium by the one having the largest exchange unit, and divides the remainder number by the one having the next largest exchange unit to obtain the type and number of prizes. .. This is a prize dispenser 8 through the interface 13f.
Transfer to. Information on the exchange of prizes performed by the child management machine 12 is transferred to the parent management machine 13 and used for inventory management of prizes. Storage device 13g connected to control unit 13d
Is a non-volatile memory that is relatively fast to access, and for example, a hard disk is used. The file held in the storage device 13g includes a card file that records information about the issued card and an application related to card management.

FIG. 17 shows an example of the structure of a card file. In the column A, the card number attached to each issued card as an identification code, in the column B the number of times the card has been used, and C
The use history is recorded in the column.

The prize throwing machine 8 controls the operation of the prize throwing mechanism 83 for throwing a prize and the operation of the prize throwing mechanism 83.
1 and an interface 82 that mediates data transfer with the management device 12. The control unit 81 is composed of a microprocessor, determines the type and number of prizes designated by the management machine 12, and controls the prize dispensing mechanism 83 to dispense a designated number of prizes of the designated number.

Next, the card exchange prediction mode 1 and the card exchange prediction mode 2 for obtaining the card management information will be described. When the operator selects the key switch 13a at the management mode setting position for obtaining various management information, the interrupt flag is set, the program being executed is saved, and the program shown in FIG. 18 is called. First, when the function key 131 is pressed in the input waiting state, a date-specified card exchange prediction program for estimating the number of exchange cards in a predetermined number of days is executed (step S21). First, the control unit 13d displays a message prompting the user to input the number of days to be predicted on the display 13b. When the operator inputs the number of days D, for example, 10 days from the keyboard 13c, this is taken in and stored (step S22). The column C of the card file is searched and the number of cards in use is totaled to obtain the card circulation number n and stored. The card processing count C ₀ per day stored in a separate file is read. (C ₀ /
n) is calculated and the average number of times of use C per card per day C
Is stored and stored (step S23). The number of times a card is used on the Dth day is calculated by (the number of days D × the average number of times of use C per day C), and the number of times the card is used in advance is subtracted (the number of days D × the average number of times of use C per day) Then, the reference value m of the number of times of use in the number of days D is obtained (step S24). The column B of the card file is searched to total the number x ₁ of cards that exceed the number-of-uses reference value m (step S25).

Further, the number x ₂ of card abnormality occurrences in the number of days D is predicted. First, the column C of the card file is searched to total the card abnormalities, and the number of card abnormal occurrences Q is totaled. The column B is integrated to obtain the total number of times R of use of all cards, and the abnormality occurrence rate S per card processing is obtained by (number of times of abnormality Q / total number of uses R). The number of abnormal occurrences x ₂ in the number of days D is obtained by (abnormality occurrence rate S × number of days D × average number of times C × number of cards distributed n) (step S26). The estimated number x of exchanges is calculated by (the number of cards exceeding the reference number m of times of use x ₁ + the number of abnormalities x ₂ )
Required (step S27). The predicted replacement number x is displayed on the display unit 13b, for example, as shown in FIG. 21A, the predicted replacement number within 10 days, the replacement number due to the usage limit, and the replacement number due to an abnormality (step S28). When the end button of the keyboard 13c is pushed down, this mode ends (step S32).

The end button of the keyboard 13c and the function switch 31 are not pushed down (steps S32 and S2).
1) When the function switch 132 representing the replacement prediction mode 2 is pressed (step S29), the card file B
The column is searched, and the predetermined number of times of use, for example, the reference value m
Cards that have been used more than the above are totaled and the totaled result is displayed on the display unit 1
3b is displayed as shown in FIG. 21 (b) (step S
32).

When the key switch 13a of the management machine 13 is selected to the management mode setting position and the function key 133 is operated to set the card batch exchange flag, the card can be automatically exchanged during the prize exchange process. Become. The operation mode will be described with reference to FIG. In the manned counter 7, the key switch 1 of the management machine 13 shown in FIG.
The position of 3a is manually selected. When the key switch 13a is set to the manual position, the prize name, the number of items, etc. can be input from the large keyboard 13c shown in FIG.
Information on the operation contents of the keyboard 13c and exchange of prizes is displayed on the large-sized display 13b. Read data such as a card number, a receipt number, and a read count value is transferred from the card processor 9 or the bar code scanner 11 to the parent management machine 13.

First, the clerk gives an instruction from the keyboard to select either the input from the card processor 9 or the input from the bar code scanner 11 (step S41). With the card processor 9 selected, a person who wishes to exchange the prize inserts the card into the insertion slot 9a of the card processor 9 (step S42). Then, a sensor S1 provided in the MC section of the card processor 9 issues a card insertion detection signal to the control section 91. Upon receiving the card insertion detection, the control unit 91 activates the card loading mechanism 93 and causes the card reading mechanism 94 to read the recorded data such as the count value of the game medium recorded on the card. The read recording data is stored in the control unit 91.
It is taken into the internal RAM. If there are no errors in the recording status,
This recorded content is transferred to the management device 13 (step S4).
3). The control unit 91 operates the data erasing mechanism 95 and the like to erase the recorded data excluding the stored data such as the card number of the card to be reused so that it can be reused. For this reason, the card conveyance path is controlled to erase the area other than the data storage area of the magnetic stripe portion of the card and the print display column. It is also possible to erase the recorded data entirely and then rewrite the predetermined stored data. on the other hand,
If there is an error in the recorded state of the read card, this card is collected in the reject box 9e by a routine (not shown), and the control unit 91 informs the management machine 13 that the abnormal card has been collected together with its card number. .. The management device 13 records the occurrence of an abnormality of the card in the card file and notifies the staff.

The management device 13 stores the transferred recorded contents, extracts the card number of the inserted card from the recorded contents, and collates the number of times of use of the corresponding card number of the card file. The number of times of use is increased by "1" when issued by the card issuing machine 4 or collected by the card processing machine 9. It is determined whether the number of times of use of the inserted card exceeds the number of times of durable use (step S43a). If the number exceeds the limit, there is a high probability that a recording error will occur when the card is issued, a reading error when reading the card, and so on. Therefore, the card processor 9 is instructed to collect it in the reject box. This command is sent via the control unit of the card processor 9 to the card loading mechanism 93.
And drives a switching device provided immediately after the roller pair R4. As a result, the card that has exceeded the number of times of durable use as the performance of the card is collected in the reject box 9e (step S43e).

When the number of times the inserted card is used is less than the number of times of durable use (step S43a), it is determined whether or not a flag for instructing collective replacement of cards is set (step S43b). If the instruction to collectively replace the cards is not issued, the cards are stored in the cassette box 9d. This is realized by not issuing a command to drive the switch by a predetermined timing (step S43d). On the other hand, when the batch replacement of cards is instructed (step S43b), it is determined whether or not the number of times the inserted card has been used exceeds the number-of-times reference value m (step S43c). Steps S43a and S43c correspond to the exchange discriminating means. The method of obtaining the reference number m of times of use has been described with reference to FIG. If the number of times the insert card has been used is less than the number-of-uses reference value m, the insert card is stored in the cassette box 9d (step S4).
3d). If the number of times the inserted card has been used is equal to or greater than the number-of-uses reference value m, the inserted card is rejected by the reject box 9e.
(Step S43d). In this way, cards to be reused and cards to be collected are sorted and collected. The card processor 9 transfers the read record data to the management machine 13 every time a card is inserted. When the prize exchanger finishes inserting the card, he / she presses the end button (step S44).

In the state where the input from the bar code scanner 11 is selected (step S41), when the clerk causes the scanner 11 to read the receipt received from the prize exchange person, the record data from the bar code scanner 11 is recorded in the management machine. It is transferred to 13 and recorded in a receipt file (not shown) (step S45).

If it is determined that a plurality of cards have been inserted from the number of read recording data (step S46), the divisor is corrected. For example, add up the remaining number of each card,
When the integrated value exceeds the divisor, a new divisor is obtained by adding the divisor generated by accumulating the remainder to the integrated value of the divisor for each card. The part where the integrated value of the remainder does not exceed the divisor is stored as a new remainder (step S47).

When finishing the input of the prize to be exchanged into the management machine 13, the clerk presses the end key of the keyboard 13c. If the end key is not pressed (step S48), the designation of the prize to be exchanged can be repeated until the divisor, which is the minimum unit of the prize exchange, becomes 0 (step S49). The clerk asks the customer for the type and number of desired prizes and inputs them from the keyboard 13c. The control unit 13d of the management machine refers to the divisor corresponding to (gift x number) every time the type and number of the gifts are input from the keyboard 13c, by referring to the divisor for each gift stored in the memory in advance. Calculate and subtract this from the divisor of the read data. The contents of such prize exchange are displayed on the display 13b by the controller 13d (step S50). The input operation is
It can be repeated until the remaining divisor becomes "0" (steps S48 to S50).

When the staff member presses the end key (step S48) or the remaining divisor becomes "0" (step S49), the input of the free gift is finished and the free gift is exchanged (step S51). ). When the designated prize is a prize stored in the prize dispenser 8 (step S52), the management machine 13 notifies the prize dispenser 8 of the prizes to be dispensed and the number thereof (step S53).
In accordance with this instruction, the prize dispenser 8 throws out a specified number of corresponding prizes (step S54). When the designated free gift is not stored in the free gift dispenser 8 (step S52), the free gift is exchanged by the staff.

In this way, each time a card is brought in for prize exchange, the card to be reused and the card to be exchanged are sorted and collected.

The present invention is applicable not only to pachinko balls, medals, etc., but also to a prize exchange system using a recycling card in which various numbers of game media are recorded.
When an IC card such as an IC card with a built-in battery is used as a recycle card, the number of times of use shown in FIG. 17 is used as a battery usage time, and this is compared with a reference time to remove a battery having a short battery life in advance. It is possible to prevent troubles.

[0055]

As described above, the recycling card management apparatus of the present invention updates the record of the number of times each card is used in the file each time the card is used, and refers to this file and the reference value for card exchange. We will provide the number of cards that will need to be replaced in the near future as required. In addition, cards that have been used a predetermined number of times or more are sequentially collected in the reject box. Therefore, it is not necessary to stock extra cards required for replacement, and the cards can be replaced in a lump without taking out individual cards, sorting and replacing them, so maintenance of recycled cards is easy. It will be easier.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining the inside of a game arcade.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a prize exchange system in a game arcade.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a game in the game hall.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a ball counter.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a medal counting machine.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a card issuing machine.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a card issuing machine.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a recycling card.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a control system of a counting machine and a card issuing machine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a card / receipt issuing procedure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a prize exchange counter.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of a card processing machine.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a card processing machine.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of a management machine.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a keyboard of a management machine.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a control system of a management machine and a card processing machine.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a card file.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a card exchange prediction mode.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a procedure for executing a batch exchange mode in prize exchange.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a procedure for executing a batch exchange mode in prize exchange.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example in the card exchange prediction mode.

[Explanation of code] 1 medal game machine 2 pachinko game machine 3 medal counting machine 4 card issuing machine 5 ball counting machine 8 prize dispensing machine 9 card processing machine 10 ball returning machine 11 bar code scanner 12 child management machine 13 parent management machine

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G07F 7/08 // B42D 15/10 501 501 Z 9111-2C

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recycling card management device that manages a card that can be re-used by rewriting the displayed contents, and issues a card with a card number to identify itself and others with prescribed items. Card issuing means, storage means for holding a file recording at least the card number attached to each card and the number of times each card has been used, and the number of times each card has been used in the file in response to issuing or collecting the card. The number-of-uses updating means for updating and the number of times of use of each card recorded in the file in response to the extraction command are compared with a predetermined card exchange reference value, and the card is used beyond the card exchange reference value. It is characterized by further comprising: a card exchange number detecting means for extracting card data; and a display means for displaying at least the number of extracted cards. Recycling card management device. 2. The card exchange reference value is the number of times of use obtained by subtracting the product of the number of times of daily use per card from the number of times of durable use of a card and the number of days until the scheduled date of card exchange from the present, 2. The recycled card management device according to claim 1, wherein the card exchange number detecting means further adds the abnormal card occurrence predicted number in the number of days to the extracted number of cards. 3. A card issuing means for issuing a card whose display content can be rewritten and reused, a card processing means for reading the recorded content of the issued card and collecting the card, the card issuing means or A recycling card management device comprising: a card management unit that holds a file that records the number of times each of the cards has been used, which is updated by the output of the card processing unit. The card management means for reading and transmitting at least the card number of the recovery card to the card management means; and the card transfer means for transferring the recovery card to one of at least two card recovery containers in response to a replacement command. When the number of times of use of the transmitted collection card exceeds the card exchange reference value, the management means Recycle card management device which comprises a replacement determination unit providing an exchange command to the card processing unit. 4. The card exchange reference value is obtained by subtracting the number of durable uses of the card, or the product of the number of durable uses of the card per day and the number of days until the expected date of card exchange. The recycling card management device according to claim 3, wherein the number of times of use is the number of times of use.