JPH07178228A - Premium medium, automatic payout machine, and survey machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a premium medium, an automatic payout machine, and a survey machine by which durability can be improved and also, a cost can be reduced. CONSTITUTION:The communication part 20 of the automatic payout machine or survey machine transmits a control signal from a transmits sion antenna 30 in an electromagnetic wave. The inside circuit 35 of the premium medium receives the electromagnetic wave by a reception antenna 36, and an electric power and a clock can be generated at a power supplier 37 and a clock generating part 38 by a received wave. Also, the read/write of data is performed on memory 41 according to the control signal demodulated by a demodulator 39. Read out data is transmitted to the automatic payout machine or survey machine in the electromagnetic wave from a transmission antenna 43. Also, an equivalent value material is connected to the reception antenna 36, and the premium medium becomes inoperable when the equivalent value material is eliminated by an illegal action.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a card prize medium exchanged with a game medium such as a ball or a medal in a pachinko hall or the like, an automatic payout machine for automatically exchanging the card reward medium, and a prize medium and cash. It relates to an appraiser that is automatically replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional prize exchange system. In this figure, 1 is a counter, which collects game media such as balls and medals to be inserted, counts the number, and outputs the counting result.
Reference numeral 2 denotes an automatic payout machine for paying out a gift, which outputs a card-shaped gift medium 5 as shown in FIG. 9 corresponding to the counting result supplied from the counter 1. 3 is an appraiser,
The cash equivalent in value to the prize medium 5 to be inserted is paid out. Reference numeral 4 is a POS (Point Of Sales) system, which manages the prize and cash information.

In FIG. 9, 5a, 5b, and 5c are different objects to be identified. For example, contact / contact of a magnetic head or the like (identifying means (not shown)) records or reproduces valid / invalid data. 5d is an equivalent value object made of, for example, a precious metal (gold, silver, ...),
It is embedded in the free gift medium 5. This equivalent value object 5
d is the same value (price) as cash in which the prize medium 5 is converted into cash
With. For example, a pachinko ball for 1,000 yen is a gift medium 5 in which a precious metal having a value of 1,000 yen is embedded as an equivalent value object 5d by the automatic dispenser 2.
The prize medium 5 is exchanged with the appraiser 3, and the appraisal is performed by passing it through the appraiser 3 and the cash is exchanged for 1,000 yen.

First, when a user inserts a game medium into the counter 1, a number of prize mediums 5 corresponding to the game medium are paid out from the automatic payout machine 2. At this time, data indicating that the prize is valid is written in the identification targets 5a, 5b, and 5c of the prize medium 5.

Next, the user places the premium medium 5 on the appraiser 3 installed at another place at a predetermined position (front and back,
Insert according to the direction). The appraisal machine 3 identifies objects 5a, 5b, and 5 of the prize medium 5 by the built-in identification means.
Identify c and check if the free gift media 5 is valid. If it is valid, the free gift medium is exchanged for cash. At this time, data indicating that the prize medium 5 is invalid is written in the identification targets 5a, 5b, and 5c of the prize medium 5.

The prize medium 5 collected by the appraiser 3 is returned to the automatic dispenser 2 and is repeatedly used.

[0007]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional automatic dispenser and appraiser, a plurality of prize identifying means are provided in order to maintain the identifying performance of the prize medium that is repeatedly used. Identification means (e.g., a magnetic head) for contacting the free gift medium is included. Therefore, there is a drawback that the operation cost of adjustment / repair and the manufacturing cost of the device are increased.

Further, since the prize medium is provided with an object to be identified on its surface, there is a problem that it is easily affected by physical influences such as warpage, scratches, and unevenness, and the product life is short. Further, since the position of the card is limited when identifying the premium medium in the appraiser, there is a problem in that the way of loading the premium medium is limited. Further, there is a possibility that fraudulent acts may occur with respect to the equivalent value object in the premium medium.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and it is a free gift medium which can be repeatedly used without being physically affected and which can prevent fraud, and an inexpensive and highly reliable automatic dispensing machine. And to provide an appraiser.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a free gift medium which is paid out in exchange for a game medium by an automatic paying machine and is cashed by an appraiser.
Storage means, communication means for communicating with the automatic dispensing machine in a non-contact state, an equivalent value object having a value equivalent to the cash, and information indicating whether or not the prize medium is valid, the automatic dispensing machine From the communication means to write to the storage means, the control means for transmitting the information stored in the storage means to the appraiser via the communication means, the storage means, the The communication means, the equivalent value object, and the control means are embedded inside.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the communication means is a wireless communication device, and the equivalent value object constitutes a part of the antenna circuit of the wireless communication device. It is characterized by that.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in an automatic dispenser for paying out a reward medium exchanged for cash in exchange for a play medium, a communication means for communicating in a non-contact state with the reward medium, and the prize. And a control means for transmitting information indicating whether or not the medium is valid to the premium medium via the communication means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in an appraiser for paying out cash in exchange for a free gift medium, communication means for communicating in a non-contact state with the free gift medium and information that the free gift medium is effective are provided. It is characterized by comprising control means for paying out cash by receiving via the communication means.

[0014]

According to the invention described in claim 1, when the control means in the prize medium is paid out from the automatic payout machine, the control means communicates with the payout machine using the communication means in a non-contact manner, and based on the communication. The storage means stores information as to whether or not the free gift medium is valid. Here, since all the constituent elements of the premium medium are embedded in the premium medium, these constituent elements are less likely to be physically affected by warpage and scratches, and the product life can be extended.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communication means of the premium medium is a wireless communication device, and the equivalent value object is connected to the antenna of the wireless communication device as its constituent element. If it is removed or replaced with another electric material, communication becomes impossible and cash cannot be converted in the appraisal machine, and thus fraudulent acts can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the control means of the automatic payout machine sends the valid / invalid information of the premium medium to the premium medium by using the communication means, and then dispenses the premium medium. Since only one communication means is required and information is transmitted in a contactless manner, manufacturing costs and operating costs such as repairs can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the control device of the appraiser obtains the valid / invalid information from the prize medium in a non-contact manner by the communication means. When the validity of the premium medium is confirmed, cash is paid out. The communication means is 1
Since it is sufficient that the information is transmitted in a non-contact manner, in addition to the effect equivalent to that of the invention described in claim 3, the effect that the position (front and back, direction, etc.) at the time of inserting the prize medium is eliminated is obtained. To be

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A free gift medium, an automatic payout machine and an appraisal machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a partial structure of an automatic paying machine (identifier) and a prize medium. In this figure, 20 is a reader / writer unit of the automatic paying machine and the appraiser, and 35 is a prize. It is an internal circuit of the medium.

In the reader / writer section 20, 21 is C
It is a PU and controls various processes. 22 is a ROM, 23
Is a RAM, which stores control programs of the CPU 21 and data necessary for processing. 24 is communication I /
It is an F circuit and communicates with the outside according to the standard of RS232C. Reference numeral 25 is a power supply that supplies electric power to each unit.

Reference numeral 26 is a communication I / F circuit having the same structure as the communication I / F circuit 24. 27 is a modulator, and a transmitter 28
From the communication I / F circuit 26 is modulated by the control signal supplied from the communication I / F circuit 26 and output. Reference numeral 29 is a driver, which amplifies the output signal of the modulator 27 by power and outputs it. The output signal of the driver 29 is transmitted by the transmission antenna 30.
Is output as an electromagnetic wave.

Reference numeral 33 is a receiving antenna, and 32 is a filter. The filter 32 removes unnecessary frequency components of the electromagnetic wave received by the receiving antenna 33. A demodulator 31 demodulates the output signal of the filter 32. The demodulated signal is sent to the CPU 21 via the communication I / F circuit 26.

In the internal circuit 35 of the premium medium,
36 is a receiving antenna and 43 is a transmitting antenna. Further, 37 is a power supply, and the receiving antenna 36
The AC signal supplied from is rectified and a DC voltage is supplied to each part. The power supplier 37 allows the free gift medium to operate without a power source. 38 is a clock generator, from the electric signal supplied from the receiving antenna 36,
Extract the clock for synchronization. A demodulator 39 demodulates and outputs the electric signal supplied from the receiving antenna 36. Reference numeral 41 denotes a rewritable nonvolatile memory, which stores data indicating validity / invalidity of the premium medium. 40 is I /
An O circuit, which writes / reads data to / from the memory 41 in accordance with a control signal output from the demodulator 39, converts the read data into a signal, and outputs the signal. A modulator 42 modulates the output signal of the I / O circuit 40 and outputs it to the transmission antenna 43.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the premium medium 45. In this figure, 46 is, for example, a noble metal (gold, silver, ...).
And the like, which is embedded in the premium medium 45 and forms a part of the receiving antenna 36 (FIG. 1). FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the receiving antenna 36. The equivalent value object 46 becomes an inductance component of the receiving antenna 36, and this and another inductance 47.
And the capacitance 48 determines the characteristics of the receiving antenna 36. Then, only electromagnetic waves in a specific frequency range determined based on this characteristic, that is, electromagnetic waves in the communication frequency band of the automatic dispenser and the appraiser are received through the antenna 36. Therefore, if the equivalent value object 46 is removed, even if it is replaced with a lead wire or the like, the above characteristics change, so that it becomes impossible to normally receive the electromagnetic waves of the automatic dispenser and the appraiser, and the prize medium 45 operates. It becomes impossible. This prevents fraud.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of an automatic payout machine 60 for paying out the premium medium 45. In this figure,
Reference numeral 50 is a CPU and 51 is a memory, and the CPU 50 controls the processing in the automatic dispensing machine 60. An operation unit 52 is operated by an administrator. 53 is a customer service section, which displays the counting result of the game media to be inserted. Reference numeral 54 is the reader / writer unit (reference numeral 35 in FIG. 1) described above. Reference numeral 55 denotes a feeding unit, which pays out the premium medium 45 to the user.
Further, reference numerals 56, 57 and 58 denote I / F circuits, which are an operation unit 52, a customer service unit 53, a delivery unit 55 and a CP, respectively.
Interface with U50. Reference numeral 54 is a POS I / F circuit, which outputs the number of payouts of the free gift medium 45 to a POS system (not shown).

FIG. 5 shows an appraisal machine 7 for cashing the prize medium 45.
4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.
Is a CPU, and 63 is a memory. CPU 62 is an appraiser 7
The processing control in 4 is performed. Reference numeral 64 denotes an operation unit operated by an administrator. Reference numeral 65 denotes a customer service section, which displays the amount of cash to be exchanged and detects ON / OFF of a cancel button (described later). 66 is the reader / writer unit 54 (FIG. 4) described above.
This is a reader / writer unit having the same configuration as. 67 is a transport unit that takes in the prize medium 45 input by the user and transports it inside. Reference numeral 68 denotes a money section, which discharges money to the user. Also, 69, 70, 71, 72 are I
/ F circuit, which performs an interface between the CPU 55 and the operation unit 64, the customer service unit 65, the transport unit 67, and the currency unit 68. A POS I / F circuit 73 outputs the amount of cash paid out to a POS system (not shown).

FIG. 6 is an external view of the automatic dispensing machine 60 described above. Further, FIG. 7 is an external view of the appraiser 74, in which reference numeral 80 is a guide display, 81 is a display for displaying counts and cash, 82 is a cash outlet, and 83 is a gift medium input port. Reference numeral 84 is a cancel button for canceling the cashing operation.

First, when a user inserts a game medium into a counter (not shown), a corresponding number of prize mediums 45 are paid out from the automatic payout machine 60. At the time of this payout, the prize medium 4 is stored in the memory 41 (FIG. 1) of the prize medium 45.
Data indicating that 5 is valid is written.

Next, the user inserts the prize medium 45 into the insertion port 83 (FIG. 7) of the appraisal device 74 installed at another place. At this time, the premium medium 45 may be loaded in any direction. The appraisal device 74 takes in the premium medium 45 inside, and checks whether or not the premium medium 45 is valid by the reader / writer unit 66 (FIG. 5) described above. When the result is valid, the count and the amount of money corresponding to the premium medium 45 are displayed on the display 81, and cash equivalent to the amount is paid out to the payout outlet 82.
At this time, data indicating invalidity is written in the memory 41 (FIG. 1) of the premium medium 45. If the above result is invalid, the exchange with cash is not performed.

The prize medium 4 collected by the appraiser 75
5 is returned to the automatic dispenser 70 and used repeatedly.

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since all the moving parts of the premium medium are embedded in the premium medium,
It is less susceptible to physical influences such as warpage and scratches, and has the effect of extending the product life.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the equivalent value object is connected to the antenna of the wireless communication device of the premium medium as a component, the equivalent value object is extracted and then converted into money by the appraiser. The effect of being able to prevent cheating is obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since only one communication means is required to identify the validity / invalidity of the prize medium, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the communication means transmits information in a non-contact manner, there is no need to adjust / repair the contact portion, and the operation cost can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the means for identifying the validity / invalidity of the prize medium is only one communication means, and the communication means transmits information in a non-contact manner.
In addition to the effects equivalent to those of the described invention, the effect of eliminating the limitation of the position (front and back, direction, etc.) at the time of loading the premium medium can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic payout machine (identification machine) and a communication unit of a gift medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a prize medium.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a receiving antenna in the prize medium.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic dispensing machine. .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an appraiser. .

6 is an external view of the automatic dispensing machine of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an external view of the appraiser of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a general prize exchange system.

FIG. 9 is an external view of a conventional premium medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Transmitter of Automatic Dispenser 21 CPU 26 Communication Interface 27, 42 Modulator 31, 39 Demodulator 30, 43 Transmit Antenna 33 Receive Antenna 36 Receive Antenna (Equivalent Value Object 46 is Connected) 37 Power Supply 38 Clock Generator 40 I / O circuit 41 Non-volatile memory (rewritable)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location G07F 7/12

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A premium medium that is paid out in exchange for a game medium by an automatic payout machine and is converted into cash by an appraisal machine, a storage means, and a communication means that communicates with the automatic payout machine in a non-contact state. An equivalent value object having a value equivalent to the cash and information indicating whether or not the prize medium is valid are received from the automatic dispensing machine via the communication means, written in the storage means, and stored in the storage means. And a control means for transmitting the stored information to the appraiser via the communication means, wherein the storage means, the communication means, the equivalent value object and the control means are embedded inside. Characteristic free gift media. 2. The premium medium according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is a wireless communication device, and the equivalent value object constitutes an antenna of the wireless communication device. 3. An automatic payout machine for paying out a gift medium exchanged for cash in exchange for a game medium, a communication means for communicating in a non-contact state with the prize medium, and whether the gift medium is valid or not. An automatic dispensing machine, comprising: a control unit that transmits the indicated information to the prize medium via the communication unit. 4. An appraiser for paying cash in exchange for a gift medium, wherein communication means for communicating in a non-contact state with the gift medium, and information on the validity of the gift medium are received via the communication means. Therefore, an appraiser characterized by comprising control means for paying out cash.