JPH09173622A - Game medium counter for game place - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily provide discriminated services from a game place side to playing customers by making only specified playing customers able to selectively perform utilization. SOLUTION: A control part provided on a pachinko ball counter executes a shutter plate opening processing only when an appropriate member's card is inserted through a card insertion port (A4) and releases the closed state of a feeding port by a shutter plate. Thereafter, when an end button is operated in a state where the counting operation of PACHINKO balls is ended ('YES' in step A8), a shutter closing processing for recovering and moving the shutter plate to the closing position of the feeding port is executed (A9) and the feeding of the pachinko balls through the feeding port is inhibited. Further, the member's card in the state of being inserted to the card insertion port is discharged thereafter (A10).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game medium counting device provided for counting a game medium acquired by a game player in a game hall such as a pachinko hall.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a pachinko hall, a counting device for counting pachinko balls, which is a game medium, is provided at the end or center of a so-called island where pachinko gaming machines are arranged in a row. The function of issuing a receipt-type recording medium in which the counting result is recorded is added, which is convenient for the player. Further, in recent years, a so-called accumulated ball is issued to a pachinko hall side, in which a membership card made up of a magnetic card or the like in which unique ID data is recorded is issued to the player, and the pachinko ball acquired by the player using this membership card is kept. Services and other services are provided, and in this case, a function of recording the counting result on the membership card is added to the counting device.

[0003]

On the pachinko hall side, the greater the number of issued membership cards, the higher the business advantage. Therefore, the pachinko halls and other players It is desirable to differentiate the services provided to them from the players. For this reason, it is desirable to differentiate the service for using the counting device, but since the conventional counting device is usually configured to be unconditionally available to all the players in the pachinko hall, There is a problem that it is difficult to provide the differentiated service as described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to make it possible to selectively use only a specific player, and to discriminate the player from the game hall side. Another object of the present invention is to provide a game medium counting device for a game arcade, which can easily provide an integrated service.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a loading slot into which a game medium is loaded, a counting means for counting the gaming media loaded in the loading slot, and the loading at all times. Shutter means for holding the insertion prohibition state in which the insertion of the game medium through the mouth is held, data input means for reading the record data of the record carrier when the record carrier recording the ID data is set, and this data input means Is provided with a control means for invalidating the closing prohibiting function of the shutter means and allowing the game medium to be inserted through the insertion opening only when the proper ID data is read.

According to such a configuration, since the shutter means prohibits the insertion of the game medium through the insertion slot at any time, the player can count the game medium through the counting means as it is. I can't. On the other hand, when the record carrier recording the proper ID data is set in the data input means, the data input means reads the proper ID data from the record carrier, so that the control means causes the shutter means to operate. By disabling the input prohibiting function, the game medium is allowed to be input through the input port. Therefore, only the player who possesses the record carrier can count the game medium through the counting means, which facilitates the service differentiated from the game hall side to the particular player. It can be provided (Claim 1).

In this case, the control means may be configured to return the shutter means to the closing prohibition state when the counting of the game medium by the counting means is completed. When the counting of the game medium is finished, the shutter means will return the state of the game medium to the forbidden state, so that there is a risk that another game player may mistakenly insert the game medium into the slot. It disappears (claim 2).

In addition, when the counting operation by the counting means is interrupted continuously for a predetermined time or more,
The shutter means may be returned to the closing prohibition state. According to this structure, the state in which the counting of the game medium by the counting means is completed can be accurately and automatically determined, and the closing is performed based on the determination. Since the insertion of the game medium through the mouth is returned to the prohibited state, there is no fear that another game player accidentally inserts the game medium into the insertion slot (claim 3).

In the case of the configuration as claimed in claim 2 or 3, the control means is configured to release the set state of the record carrier in conjunction with the operation of returning the shutter means to the closing prohibited state. Well, according to this configuration,
Since the record carrier is automatically returned to the non-set state, it is possible to prevent the player from forgetting to set the record carrier (claim 4).

Further, the control means may be configured to release the set state of the record carrier after executing the operation of returning the shutter means to the closing prohibited state,
With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent another player from mistakenly inserting the game medium at a point before the closing prohibiting function of the shutter means is restored (claim 5).

Further, the control means is provided with an externally operable operation means, and when the operation means is externally operated, the shutter means is returned to the closing prohibited state and the record carrier is set. The configuration may be released. According to this configuration, when the operation means is externally operated after the counting operation by the counting means is completed, the shutter means prohibits the insertion of the game medium through the insertion opening, and the record carrier is set. The state will be released. In this case, when the player returns the record carrier to the non-set state and receives the return, the operation means needs to be operated externally, so that the operation means is surely operated at the end of the counting operation by the counting means. Thus, the shutter means returns to the state in which the insertion of the game medium through the slot is prohibited, so that there is no possibility that the game medium is erroneously inserted into the slot by another player (claim Item 6).

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko ball counting device will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 2, a body case 2 of a pachinko counting device 1 as a game medium counting device is provided with a hopper-shaped ball receiver 3 into which a pachinko ball that is a game medium is loaded, and at the bottom of the ball receiving device 3. A mouth 4 is formed. The input port 4 is provided with, for example, a slide type shutter plate 5 (corresponding to shutter means), and the shutter plate 5 is configured to always exist at a position where the input port 4 is closed. That is, the shutter plate 5 is configured to hold the insertion prohibited state in which the insertion of the pachinko balls through the insertion port 4 is always prohibited.

The shutter plate 5 is moved by a shutter driving device (shown by reference numeral 6 in FIG. 3) using a motor, for example, and is moved to a position where the insertion port 4 is opened. In the state, the pachinko balls thrown into the ball receiver 3 are discharged to the outside of the main body case 2 via the discharging port (not shown) after passing through the charging port 4 and the internal counting device 7 (corresponding to counting means). It is supposed to be done. The counter 7 is configured to generate in real time a number of counting pulses corresponding to the number of pachinko balls that have passed.

An indicator 8 is provided at the rear of the ball receiver 3 on the main body case 2. The indicator 8 has a count value by the counter 7, that is, a pachinko machine inserted through the insertion port 4. A well-known display function of digitally displaying the number of balls, the number of exchanged specific prizes that can be exchanged by the inserted pachinko balls, and the number of surplus pachinko balls when the input pachinko balls are exchanged for specific prizes are provided.

An end button 9 is provided at the front of the body case 2.
(Corresponding to an operating means) is provided, and a card insertion port 11 for inserting a membership card 10 (corresponding to a record carrier) is provided. In addition, in the main body case 2,
A card reader (indicated by reference numeral 12 in FIG. 3) as data input means for taking in the member card 10 inserted (set) from the card insertion port 11 and reading the recorded data of the member card 10 is provided. Has been.

Here, the membership card 10 is issued to, for example, a player who has become a gaming member of a pachinko hall, and although not specifically shown, the surface thereof has a tape-shaped magnetic field. A recording unit is provided, and a number string corresponding to the member store name and data unique to the member, a character string indicating the member's name, a number string indicating the card effective date, etc. are formed by embossing or holes. . Further, in the magnetic recording unit, for example, a member store code for identifying a pachinko hall, an ID assigned to a member (game player)
In FIG. 3 in which ID data including a number and a card valid date are recorded, an electric configuration of the pachinko ball counting device 1 is shown by a combination of functional blocks.
In FIG. 3, the control unit 13 as the control means is
It is configured as a microcomputer together with the OM 14, the RAM 15, the clock unit 16, etc., and is based on the control program in the ROM 14, the counting pulse from the counter 7, the operation signal from the end button 9, the data read by the card reader 12, etc. , Shutter drive device 6 and display 8 control, and centralized management device 17 for pachinko halls
It is configured to perform data transmission / reception control between and.

FIG. 1 shows the control contents of the control unit 13, which will be described below. In FIG. 1, when the power is turned on (start), the card insertion slot 1
The process waits until the card is inserted (set) into the card 1, that is, until the card reader 12 is in the state of taking in the card (step A1).

When the card reader 12 takes in the card, it is judged whether or not the card is a proper member card 10 based on the data read from the card (step A2). It should be noted that this judgment is made based on whether or not there is proper ID data in the read data, and the collation of the ID data is made using, for example, the member data on the centralized management device 17 side. .

Member card 10 in which the inserted card is proper
If the card is other than the above, the card discharging step A3 for discharging (resetting) the card is executed, and then the processing returns to the waiting step A1. On the other hand, when the proper member card 10 is inserted, the shutter plate opening processing routine A4 is executed. In this processing routine A4, the shutter drive device 6 is operated to move the shutter plate 5 to the open position (the position where the insertion opening 4 is opened).

After the shutter plate opening processing routine A4 is executed, it is judged whether or not the counting operation by the counter 7 is continuing (step A5). During the counting operation is continued, the counting processing routine A6 is executed. And display processing routine A7
Is executed repeatedly.

In this case, in the counting routine A6, the operation of cyclically dividing the count value by the counter 7 (which increases with the progress of counting) by the unit price for exchanging a particular prize, and Display processing routine A7
Then, the count value by the counter 7 is displayed on the display unit 8 as the number of inserted pachinko balls, and the quotient and the remainder of the division result are exchanged by the input pachinko balls, respectively, and the number of inserted specific prizes. Performs an operation of displaying the number of remaining pachinko balls when the pachinko balls are exchanged for a specific prize.

When the counting operation by the counter 7 is completed ("NO" in step A5), it is determined whether or not the end button 9 is operated (step A8). In the non-operation state, the process returns to the judgment step A5. Further, when the end button 9 is operated in a state where the counting operation by the counter 7 is completed, the shutter drive device 6 is used to return the shutter plate 5 to the closed position (the position where the insertion opening 4 is closed). The processing routine A9 is executed.

After the shutter plate 5 returns to the closed position, the membership card 10 being taken into the card reader 12 is returned.
Card discharging step A10 for discharging the card, counting data transmitting step A11 for transmitting the counting data in a state in which the count value by the counter 7 and the ID number in the member card 10 are associated to the central management device 17, and the display 8 The process returns to the standby step A1 where the display initialization step A12 for initializing the display is sequentially executed.

Therefore, as a result of the above-described control being performed by the control unit 13, the following operation is obtained. That is, in a normal state, the insertion port 4 is closed by the shutter plate 5, that is, the insertion of the pachinko balls through the insertion port 4 is prohibited by the shutter plate 5, so that the game player can use the counter 7 as it is. It is not possible to count pachinko balls. From this state, when the player inserts a proper membership card 10 into the card insertion slot 11, the insertion slot 4 is opened, that is, the pachinko ball insertion prohibition function by the shutter plate 5 is disabled. Therefore, the insertion of the pachinko balls through the insertion port 4 is permitted.

As a result, only the player who possesses the membership card 10 can count the pachinko balls through the counter 7, so that the pachinko hall side can select a specific player, that is, a pachinko hall. It becomes possible to easily provide differentiated services only to the gamers who have become game players.

After the counting operation of the pachinko balls by the counter 7 is completed, when the end button 9 is operated externally, the insertion port 4 is returned to the closed state by the shutter plate 5, and the membership card 10 is released. It will be automatically discharged. In this case, when the player receives the return of the membership card 10, it is necessary to operate the end button 9 externally. Therefore, when the counting operation by the counter 7 is completed, the operation of the end button 9 is surely performed. The insertion of the pachinko balls through the insertion port 4 is surely returned to the state in which the shutter plate 5 has prohibited the insertion, and thus the insertion port 4 by another player.
There is no risk that hessian balls will be thrown in incorrectly.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but the following modifications or expansions are possible. In the above embodiment, the time when the end button 9 is operated is determined to be the end time of the counting operation by the counter 7, but the control unit 13 determines the end time of the counting operation by the counter 7 in the ball receiver 3. It is possible to make a determination based on the presence or absence of a pachinko ball, and when the determination is made, move the shutter plate 5 back to the closed position. According to such a configuration, a series of pachinko balls can be counted. When is finished, the insertion of the pachinko balls through the insertion port 4 will be returned to the state in which the shutter plate 5 is prohibited,
There is no possibility that another player accidentally inserts a pachinko ball into the insertion slot 4.

In the control section 13, the counter 7
The shutter plate 5 may be returned and moved to the closed position when the counting operation is stopped for a predetermined time or longer. According to this structure, the counting of the pachinko balls by the counter 7 is completed. Can be accurately and automatically determined, and based on the determination, the pachinko ball insertion through the insertion slot 4 will be returned to the prohibited state, so that another player mistakenly inserts the pachinko ball. There is no risk of putting it in your mouth.

In the case of each of the above-mentioned structures, the member card 10 may be ejected in conjunction with the operation of returning the shutter plate 5 to the closed position.
According to this structure, since the membership card 10 is automatically ejected, the membership card 10 set by the player
You will be able to prevent the situation of forgetting to take it. Further, in this case, the member card 10 may be ejected after the operation of returning the shutter plate 5 to the closed position is executed. According to such a configuration,
Before the shutter plate 5 is returned to the closed position,
This eliminates the risk that other players will accidentally throw in pachinko balls.

The present invention can be applied not only to a pachinko ball counting device but also to a game metal counting device which is a game medium for a slot machine. Although a magnetic recording type member card is used as the member card 10, an IC card may be used.

[0031]

According to the present invention, as is clear from the above description, the game medium counting operation can be performed only when the record carrier recording the proper ID data is set. It is possible to selectively use only the above-mentioned game players, and this has an advantageous effect that it is possible to easily provide a differentiated service to the game players from the game hall side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the control contents of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawing, 1 is a pachinko ball counting device (game medium counting device), 4 is a slot, 5 is a shutter plate (shutter means),
7 is a counter (counting means), 9 is an end button (operation means), 10 is a membership card (record carrier), 11 is a card insertion slot, 12 is a card reader (data input means), 13 is a control section (control means). ) Is shown.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A loading slot into which a gaming medium is loaded, a counting means for counting the gaming media loaded into the loading slot, and a loading-prohibited state in which loading of the gaming medium through the loading slot is always prohibited is held. Shutter means, data input means for reading the record data of the record carrier when the record carrier recording the ID data is set, and the shutter means only when the data input means has read the proper ID data. A game medium counting device for a game arcade, comprising: a control means for disabling a throw-in prohibition function and permitting a game medium to be thrown in through the slot. 2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to return the shutter means to the closing prohibition state when the counting of the game medium by the counting means is completed. A game media counting device for the field. 3. The control means is configured to return the shutter means to the closing prohibition state when the counting operation by the counting means is interrupted continuously for a predetermined time or more. Item 1. A game medium counting device for a game arcade according to item 1. 4. The control means is configured to release the set state of the record carrier in conjunction with the operation of the shutter means returned to the closing prohibited state. 3. A game medium counting device for a game arcade according to 3. 5. The control means is configured to release the set state of the record carrier after performing an operation of returning the shutter means to the closing prohibited state. Game media counting device for amusement arcade. 6. An operating means capable of being operated externally, said control means returning said shutter means to said closing prohibition state and releasing the set state of said record carrier when said operating means is operated externally. The game medium counting device for a game arcade according to claim 1, wherein the game medium counting device is configured as follows.