JPH09290063A - Ball dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the handling and storage of recording mediums and reduce the load of the service work by providing a card reader/writer reading or writing an inserted point card and a point indicator. SOLUTION: A card reader/writer 1 is constituted of a card insertion/ discharge port 11, a card detector provided on its inside, a card conveying mechanism conveying an inserted point card to the prescribed position, and a reading/writing head provided in the middle of a conveyance path. The card reader/writer 1 displays the point read from the inserted point card on a point indicator 2, adds the predetermined point each time the amount of money of dispensed balls received by a ball fee reception section reaches the prescribed amount, and displays the added result on the point indicator 2. When a return request key 6 is pushed, the added result is written on the point card by the card reader/writer 1, and the point card is returned.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball lending machine individually connected to a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a ball lending machine for recording information corresponding to a ball lending amount on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ball lending machine that issues a receipt printed with information corresponding to a ball lending amount each time a ball (pachinko ball) corresponding to a predetermined ball lending amount is discharged to a pachinko machine , JP-A-7-155458.

In order to issue such a receipt,
In the ball lending machine, in addition to the ball lending mechanism unit, a receipt paper storage unit, a paper transport mechanism, a print head, a print information storage unit for storing print information corresponding to the ball lending amount, and a ball lending mechanism. There must be a reading means for reading the print information from the print information storage means on the basis of the amount data output by the unit, and a print head driving means for sending a print command signal to the print head based on the read of the print information.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional ball lending machine issues a receipt every time a predetermined number of balls are discharged based on the customer's ball rental fee input, so that the store side Since the consumption amount of receipt paper is large, the cost is high, and if the customer lends a large amount of balls, the number of receipts held is large and the storage is complicated.

[0005] In order to immobilize customers at the pachinko game hall,
When introducing a service business that gives benefits such as free gifts when the total amount of ball lending exceeds a certain amount, it is not easy for customers to store receipts until the number of receipts reaches a certain number, and the store Since it takes time and effort to count the number of receipts received from customers, collect the ball lending amount and store receipts, the burden of service work increases, and there is a risk that both customers and stores may lose receipts. , The use of this type of ball rental machine was shunned.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a ball lending machine for giving a player a recording medium recording privilege information corresponding to a ball lending amount, handling and storage of the customer's recording medium. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a ball lending machine that facilitates the use of this type of ball lending machine and reduces the burden of service work on the shop side.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, a ball lending machine according to the present invention comprises a card reader / writer for reading and writing on a point card to be inserted,
A card return request key, a point display unit, and a point calculation unit are provided, and the points read from the point card in which the card reader / writer is inserted are displayed on the point display unit. Each time the amount of ball lending received reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined point is added to the point read from the point card, the addition result is displayed on the point display, and the return request key is pressed. Based on this, the addition result is written in a point card by a card reader / writer, and the point card is returned. With the above configuration, when the customer inserts the point card, the points recorded on the card are displayed on the point display. Every time the ball lending amount reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined point corresponding to the ball lending amount is added to the points read from the point card and displayed. When the customer presses the card return request key, the point card is returned to the customer after the addition result is recorded.

In the ball lending machine according to the invention described above, the card reader / writer is provided with a card insertion / ejection opening opened in front of the ball lending machine, a card detector provided at the card insertion / ejection opening, and the card insertion / ejection. The point card inserted in the outlet is conveyed to a predetermined position and is again ejected to the card insertion / ejection port. It is composed of a card / read / write head provided in the conveyance path of the card conveyance mechanism, and is controlled. To the department
In order to convey the point card to a predetermined position based on the detection signal from the card detector of the card reader / writer, and to convey the point card to the card insertion / ejection port based on the depression of the card return request key, respectively. The point recorded on the inserted point card is read through the transfer control means for controlling the card transfer mechanism and the read / write head, and the point calculation means described later based on the depression of the card return request key. The read / write control means for writing the addition result by the point card to the point card, the display control means for displaying the point read first from the point card and the addition result by the point calculation means described later on the point display, and the ball rental fee collection Whenever the ball loan amount received by the department reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined point is paid. Was added to the point read from Tokado can be configured to include a point calculation means for outputting the addition result.

Further, the ball lending machine according to the present invention is a card reader / writer for reading and writing on a point card inserted by a customer, a card return request key, a point indicator, a printer, and point calculation. Means and point management means are provided, the points read from the point card into which the card reader / writer is inserted are displayed on the point display device, and the ball lending amount received by the ball lending and receiving section by the point calculation means reaches a predetermined amount. Each time, a predetermined point is added to the points read from the point card, the result of the addition is displayed on the point display, and the point management means confirms whether the point as the addition result has reached the upper limit value. Based on the result of judgment, the result of addition has reached the upper limit or the return request key has been pressed With written by the card reader and writer, and printing by the print unit the number of points the mark corresponding to the added points, is characterized in that it has to return the point card. With the above configuration, when the customer inserts the point card, the points recorded on the card are displayed on the point display.
If the point is at the upper limit, that fact is displayed on the point indicator and the card is returned. If it is not the upper limit, each time the ball lending amount paid by the customer reaches the predetermined amount,
Predetermined points are added to the points read from the point card, and the addition result is displayed on the point display. When the upper limit is reached, or when the card return key is pressed, the point mark corresponding to the added points is printed on the card by the printer, and
After the added result is recorded, the point card is returned.

In the ball lending machine according to the above invention, the card reader / writer has a card insertion / ejection opening opened in front of the ball lending machine, a card detector provided at the card insertion / ejection opening, and the card insertion / ejection opening. The point card inserted in the card is conveyed to a predetermined position and is again ejected to the card insertion / ejection port, and a read / write head provided in a conveyance path of the card conveyance mechanism is provided. To
In order to convey the point card to a predetermined position based on the detection signal from the card detector of the card reader / writer, to convey the point card to the card insertion / ejection port based on the depression of the card return request key, and In order to convey the point card to the card insertion / ejection port based on the upper limit judgment signal from the point management means, it is inserted through the conveyance control means for controlling the card conveyance mechanism and the read / write head. While reading the points recorded on the point card, based on the pressing of the card return request key, or based on the return command signal from the point management means described later, the addition result by the point calculation means described later to the point card Card reading / writing control means for writing and pressing of the card return request key On the basis of or based on the upper limit judgment signal from the point management means described later, the print control means for printing the number of point marks corresponding to the added points on the point card by the printer and the first read from the point card. Points, a result of addition by the point calculation means described later, and a character indicating the upper limit value based on the upper limit judgment signal output by the point management means described later when the points or the addition result are upper limit values,
Display control means for displaying symbols and the like on the point display unit, and every time the ball lending amount received by the ball rental collection unit reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined point is added to the point read from the point card, and the addition The point calculation means for outputting the result, the point read from the point card, or the addition result by the point calculation means is determined whether or not a predetermined upper limit value, and if it is the upper limit value, an upper limit value determination signal And a point management means for outputting

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a ball lending machine embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the ball lending machine, and FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a main part of the control system. A block diagram and FIG. 4 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the same ball lending machine.

The ball lending machine A in the illustrated example is called an inter-mountain ball lending machine, and is used by being individually connected to the side portions of each pachinko machine B. A card reader / writer 1 is provided below the ball lending machine A. The card reader / writer 1 includes a card insertion / ejection port 11 which is open at the lower front of the ball lending machine A, and a card detector 12 provided inside thereof as shown in FIG.
A known card transport mechanism 13 that transports the inserted point card to a predetermined position based on a control signal from the transport control means 51 of the control unit 5, which will be described later, and again to the card insertion / ejection port 11, and a transport path. And a read / write head 14 provided midway. reading·
As will be described later, the writing head 14 reads the points recorded on the inserted point card based on a control signal from the card reading / writing control means 52 of the control section 5 and adds the points. The later points are newly recorded.

A point indicator 2 is provided above the card insertion / ejection port 11. This point display 2
As will be described later, indicates the points read from the point card inserted by the display control means 54 of the control unit 5 or the points after addition.

Next, on the upper part of the ball lending machine A, a ball lending collection unit 3 is provided as in the conventional inter-mountain ball lending machine. The ball rental fee collection unit 3 includes a banknote insertion slot 31 and a coin slot 32 that are open at the front of the top of the ball rental machine, a coin return request key 33 that is provided below the coin slot, and as shown in FIG. A known banknote validator 34 provided inside the banknote insertion slot 21
And a known coin discriminator 35 provided inside the coin slot 32.

The bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 31 is verified by the bill validator 34, and the counterfeit bill is a bill insertion slot 31.
The true bill is returned to the end of the game island by the known bill transfer mechanism (not shown) provided on the back of this ball lending machine and pachinko machine, and the bill storage installed there. It is designed to be housed in a box. The coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 22 is authentically discriminated by the coin discriminator 35, the false coin is held inside, and the coin is returned to the coin return slot 36 by pressing the coin return request key 33. Like coins, true coins are transported to the end of the game island by a known coin transport mechanism (not shown) provided on the back of this ball lending machine and pachinko machine, and placed there. It is designed to be stored in a coin storage box.

A ball pot 41 and a nozzle 42 are provided in front of the ball lending machine A, and inside the ball lending machine, a predetermined value is set based on a control signal from a ball lending discharge control means 55 of the controller 5. Ball rental dispenser 43 that discharges a certain number of balls to the ball pot 41 or the nozzle 42
And a ball lending mechanism 4 including a discharge detector 44 that detects a discharged ball and outputs a detection signal.

The ball rental dispenser 43 normally stops the balls dropped from the ball transport pipe communicating with the known ball replenishment mechanism provided at the end of the game island to the replenishment pipe of each pachinko machine, Based on the discharge command from the ball rental discharge control means 55 of the control section 5, the ball is discharged to the ball pot 41 or the nozzle 42. The discharge detector 44 detects the discharged balls and gives a detection signal to the ball rental discharge control means 55 of the controller 5.

In this way, when the balls are discharged one by one in response to the discharge command, the ball rental discharge control means 55 of the control unit 5 counts the detection signal of the discharge detector 44 to determine the predetermined number of balls corresponding to the received amount. When it coincides with, the output of the discharge command is stopped and the discharge operation of the ball rental dispenser 43 is stopped.

Since the present invention is not limited to the method of collecting the ball rental fee, the currency that can be used may be only one of banknotes and coins, and a ball rental that allows the use of a prepaid card together with or in place of the currency. In the case of a ball lending machine that can be used as a prepaid card, a prepaid card reader / writer 37 is provided and connected to the control unit 5 to have a control / processing function. The ball lending machine can be used with either a prepaid card or cash. In the ball lending machine that can use the prepaid card, the control unit 5 has a function of determining whether or not the remaining amount of the prepaid card is equal to or more than the minimum ball lending (for example, 500 yen).

The ball lending mechanism section 4 is provided with a ball rental request key 45 and a balance display (not shown). When the remaining amount of the prepaid card is 500 yen or more, for example, by pressing the ball lending request key 45, a ball lending request signal is given to the ball lending discharge control means 55 of the control unit 5, and control from the control unit is performed. According to the signal, the ball rental dispenser 43 is configured to discharge the number of balls corresponding to the ball lending amount of 500 yen.

When a prepaid card is inserted, the balance of the card is displayed on the balance display for the customer. When the remaining amount after the last ball rental request is 500 yen or more, the ball rental request signal is again given to the control unit 5 based on the depression of the ball lending request key 45, and the prepaid card after the ball rental request is made. The balance is displayed on the balance display.

Thus, when genuine bills, coins, or prepaid cards with a remaining amount of more than a predetermined amount are used in the ball rental fee collection unit 3, the collection amount of money, that is, 10
An amount signal of 00 yen, 500 yen or 100 yen is given to the point calculation means 53a, the ball rental discharge control means 55 and the sales totaling means 56 of the control unit 5.

Further, on the front side of the ball lending machine A, below the point display 2, there is a card return request key 6 for the customer to forcibly eject the point card inserted in the ball lending machine. It is provided.

The control section 5 includes a conveyance control means 51, a card reading / writing control means 52, a point calculation means 53a,
The point management unit 53b, the display control unit 54, the ball rental discharge control unit 55, the sales totaling unit 56, and the communication control unit 57 are included. The mutual relationship between them is as described later. In addition, the storage unit 7 stores a system program for the control unit 5 to perform a required operation, which will be described later, and a working program for performing ball rental discharge control during play, and as shown in FIG. , A unit ball lending amount (100 yen, 500 yen, 100
0 yen), the maximum number of points that can be recorded on one point card (Y), the points to be paid to the player when the ball lending amount reaches a predetermined amount (point pay salary standard), etc. Is preset and stored.
When the prepaid card can be used, the ball rental amount when the ball rental request key 45 is pressed once is set and stored. Further, display information such as characters displayed on the point display device 2 is stored. The second storage means 7b temporarily stores the points read from the inserted point card and the points after the predetermined points are added each time the ball lending amount exceeds a certain amount.

The ball lending machine A has a sales totaling means 56 for totaling the amount of ball rental fee received and collected by the ball lending machine. At the end of business, it is necessary to collect this sales total amount at the total center of the amusement park. The gathering method is not particularly limited. Sales data may be collected in a wireless data collector by using the communication control means 57, or transferred from the ball lending machine A to a central management device provided on a game island or a total center of a game hall by wire. You may do it.

Next, the operation of the main lens lending machine based on the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Customers who come to the amusement arcade first use a prize exchange counter, etc.
Receive the point card designated by the store. Then, before the player starts the game on the pachinko machine, the point card is inserted into the card insertion slot 11. Based on the detection signal from the card detector 12 (Y in S1), the control unit 5
The transfer control means 51 supplies a control signal to the card transfer mechanism 13 to transfer the point card to a predetermined position, during which the read / write control means 52 reads the point (X) recorded on the point card. (S2), which is stored in the second storage means 7b.

The point management means 53b judges whether or not the read point (X) has reached the upper limit value (Y) stored in the first storage means 7a, for example 100 (S).
3) If it is determined that the upper limit value is reached (X = Y), the upper limit value determination signal is output to the read control means (not shown) and the conveyance control means 51. Based on this, the read control means, from the display information stored in the storage unit 7, a character or a symbol indicating that the upper limit value has been reached,
For example, since "FUL" is read out and given to the display control means 54, the display control means causes the point display 2 to display "FUL".
Display (S4). Further, the read control means reads the point just read, which is stored in the second storage means 7b, and gives it to the card read / write control means 52 for recording (S5). On the other hand, the transfer control means 51 causes the card transfer mechanism 13 to insert the point card into the card insertion / ejection port 11
To return (S6). Therefore, the original points are recorded on the point card and returned. When the card is returned, the accumulated points stored in the second storage means 7b are erased (S7). Then, it returns to step S1 again. When the number of points on the card reaches the upper limit, the player can return by receiving a new point card at a prize exchange counter or the like, and insert the card into the card insertion / ejection port 11 of the same ball lending machine to continue the game. .

The points recorded in the point card by the point management means 53b have not reached the upper limit (X
When it is determined to be <Y (N in S3), the points recorded on the point card are displayed on the point display device 2 based on the determination signal (S8), and the customer pays by the point calculation means 53a. The amount of ball rental fee (ball rental amount) is the minimum amount for point benefits, for example 500
Whether or not it has become a yen is judged based on the sum of the amount signals output by the ball rental collection unit 3 (S9), and when it reaches 500 yen, a predetermined point, for example, one point read from the point card It is added to (X) (S10).

Subsequent to the addition processing, the ball lending amount (500 yen) received and accumulated from the ball lending collection unit 3 until then is cleared (S11). In step S12, it is checked whether or not the card return request key 6 has been pressed. If the return request key has not been pressed, the process returns to step S3. Thus
Until the point management means 53b determines that the points have reached the upper limit value, the point calculation means 53a clears the ball rental amount received until then when one point is added,
After that, the ball rental amount received by the ball rental fee collection unit 3 is newly added, and one point is added each time the amount reaches 500 yen.

If the card return request key 6 is pressed before the point accumulated in the point card reaches the upper limit value (Y in S12), the process jumps to step S5 and the addition result up to that point is reached. After recording on the card,
The card control mechanism 51 drives the card transfer mechanism 13 to return the point card to the card insertion / ejection port 11 (S6). Also in this case, the accumulated points in the second storage means 7b are deleted.

As described above, the point card returned when the points reach the upper limit value or the point card returned by the operation of the return request key at the end of the game or during the game, the customer can use the point card of the prize exchange counter. It is possible to submit to a staff member and receive gifts (for example, food and drinks consumed during play, cigarettes, etc.) corresponding to the points recorded on the point card. The clerk inserts the point card received from the customer into a point settlement machine equipped with a card reader, which is provided at the prize exchange counter, displays the recorded points on the display section of the point settlement machine, and confirms You can donate the prizes you request.

The total amount of ball rental fee (ball rental amount) paid by the player in the ball lending / receiving section 3 is totaled by the sales totalizing means 56, and the total amount is calculated every time the point card is returned, The calculation result is stored in the storage unit 7.
The aggregated values of all the players of this ball lending machine are stored in the storage unit 7, and after the end of business, they are taken into a known data aggregator by remote control via the communication control means 57 and the communicator 8, or It is transferred to the aggregation center of the game hall via the communication line.

In the above embodiment, the number of points given to one point card is limited by the upper limit value. However, if the points are only recorded by magnetic data, it is not necessary to limit the number of points. In this case, the point management type unit 53b is unnecessary. The point card is returned to the card insertion / ejection port 11 only when the customer presses the card return request key 6. On the other hand, when the points are recorded as magnetic data on the point card and the point marks are printed, the printing range is limited, and thus the number of points needs to be limited as in the above example.

A ball lending machine that prints a point mark will be described. In the ball lending machine in this case, a printer 15 is provided in the card reader / writer 1, that is, in the middle of the card transport path, as shown by a chain line in FIG. Means 58 are provided. Then, when the point management means 53b outputs the upper limit value determination signal or when the card return request key is pressed,
The reading control means reads the points added after the card is inserted into the second storage means 7b, and prints out the points.
8, the number of point marks corresponding to the added points is printed on the printer.
In the flowchart of FIG. 4, in step S5, the point mark is printed before or after the point recording.

Regarding the points to be provided when the ball rental amount reaches the predetermined amount, the predetermined amount and the number of points can be arbitrarily set according to the needs of the amusement hall. Also,
For example, when a certain ball rental amount is reached, or on a particular anniversary, it is possible to provide points that are a multiple of those in other cases. In addition, the number of settlements is recorded and updated each time the settlement is performed by the point settlement machine while the points are "FUL", and the number of settlements read from the point card inserted in the ball lending machine reaches a predetermined number, for example, 10 times. In addition, it is also possible to configure so that a predetermined point is additionally provided.

[0036]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the points corresponding to the ball lending amount are recorded on one point card until the customer finishes the game, which is different from the conventional case. As a result, the number of recording media that the customer possesses during the game can be minimized. Therefore, it is convenient for the customer to store and handle the recording medium, so that the effect of attracting customers is obtained, and it is possible to confirm the points and give the gifts to the staff at the prize counter of the amusement hall quickly and surely. The burden on staff involved in the work is also small. In addition, since the point card can be reused, the cost increase due to the introduction of the point service business can be suppressed and the management can be rationalized.

Also, each time the player's ball lending amount reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined point corresponding to the ball lending amount is recorded and accumulated in the point card, so if the customer stops the game, the ball lending amount is allocated. Since it is expected to stop after reaching the fixed amount, the effect of promoting sales can be obtained.

Further, the points recorded on the point card inserted by the customer are read and displayed on the point display, and a predetermined point is added each time the ball lending amount paid by the customer reaches a predetermined amount. Since the added points are displayed on the point display, the credit level of the player's point service is enhanced, which contributes to the fixation of the customer.

According to the ball lending machine of claim 3, since the number of point marks corresponding to the points recorded on the point card is printed, the customer inserts the point card into the point reader or the point settlement machine. There is the convenience that you can recognize the acquisition point from the card itself without doing. Also, when the points recorded on the inserted point card are the upper limit value, or when the point reaches the upper limit due to the increase in the ball lending amount, that fact is displayed on the point display and the card is returned. Therefore, the customer can know the reason why the card has been returned, and when the limit of the printing range is reached, the point card is automatically returned to prevent invalid printing of the point mark.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a ball lending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing a control system.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a main operation of a control system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Card Reader / Writer 11 Card Inserting / Exiting Port 12 Card Detector 13 Card Conveying Mechanism 14 Reading / Writing Head 15 Printer 2 Point Display 3 Ball Rental Fee Collection Section 34 Banknote Validator 35 Coin Classifier 37 Prepaid Card Reader / Writer 4 Balls Lending mechanism 43 Ball rental dispenser 44 Emission detector 5 Control unit 51 Conveyance control means 52 Card reading / writing control means 53a Point calculation means 53b Point management means 54 Display control means 55 Ball rental discharge control means 56 Sales totaling means 58 Printing Control means 6 Card return request key 7 Storage section

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Masahiko Kudo No. 4-3 Castle, Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture Shinko Seisakusho Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ball having a ball rental fee collection unit and a ball lending mechanism unit that discharges a predetermined number of ball rental balls corresponding to the amount of ball rental fee received by the ball rental fee collection unit to a ball pot or nozzle. The renting machine is provided with a card reader / writer for reading and writing to the inserted point card, a card return request key, a point indicator, and a point calculation means, and the card reader / writer reads from the point card. The points are displayed on the point display device, and each time the ball lending amount received by the ball rental fee collection unit by the point calculation means reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined point is added to the points read from the point card. At the same time, the addition result is displayed on the point display, and the addition result is displayed on the card reader / writer based on the fact that the return request key is pressed. It is written to the point card, the ball lending machine which is adapted to return the point card. 2. The ball lending machine according to claim 1, wherein the card reader / writer has a card insertion / ejection opening opened in front of the ball lending machine, and a card detector provided at the card insertion / ejection opening. From the card transport mechanism that transports the point card inserted in the card insertion / ejection port to a predetermined position and ejects it again to the card insertion / ejection port, and the read / write head provided in the transport path of the card transportation mechanism. The control unit of the ball lending machine conveys the point card to a predetermined position based on the detection signal from the card detector of the card reader / writer, and the point card based on the pressing of the card return request key. In order to convey the card to the card insertion / ejection port, it is inserted through the conveyance control means for controlling the card conveyance mechanism and the read / write head. The point recorded on the int card is read, and the reading / writing control means for writing the addition result by the point calculating means described below to the point card based on the pressing of the card return request key, the point read first from the point card, and Display control means for displaying the addition result by the point calculation means on the point display device, and each time the ball lending amount received by the ball lending collection unit reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined point is set as a point read from the point card. A ball lending machine, comprising: point calculation means for adding and outputting a result of the addition. 3. A ball having a ball rental fee collection unit and a ball lending mechanism unit for discharging a predetermined number of ball rental balls corresponding to the amount of ball rental fee received by the ball rental fee collection unit to a ball pot or a nozzle. The lending machine is provided with a card reader / writer for reading and writing to a point card to be inserted, a card return request key, a point indicator, a printer, a point calculating means and a point managing means, The point read by the reader / writer from the point card is displayed on the point display device, and a predetermined point is displayed each time the ball lending amount received by the ball lending receiving section by the point calculation means reaches a predetermined amount. The points read from the point card are added, the addition result is displayed on the point display, and the point management unit displays the addition result point. The card reader to determine whether the addition result has reached the upper limit value, or the addition result has reached the upper limit value or the return request key has been pressed, A ball lending machine, which writes in a writer, prints a number of point marks corresponding to the added points by the printer, and returns the point card. 4. The ball lending machine according to claim 3, wherein the card reader / writer has a card insertion / ejection opening opened in front of the ball lending machine, and a card detector provided in the card insertion / ejection opening. From the card transport mechanism that transports the point card inserted in the card insertion / ejection port to a predetermined position and ejects it again to the card insertion / ejection port, and the read / write head provided in the transport path of the card transportation mechanism. In order to convey the point card to a predetermined position based on the detection signal from the card detector of the card reader / writer, the control unit of the ball lending machine displays the point card based on the depression of the card return request key. In order to convey the point card to the card insertion / ejection port, and also to convey the point card to the card insertion / ejection port based on the upper limit judgment signal from the point management means described later In order to read the points recorded in the inserted point card through the read / write head and the transfer control means for controlling the card transfer mechanism, respectively, based on the depression of the card return request key, Card reading / writing control means for writing the addition result by the point calculation means described below to the point card based on a return command signal from the point management means described below, or based on pressing of the card return request key or the point described below. Based on the upper limit value judgment signal from the management means, print control means for causing the printer to print the number of point marks corresponding to the added points on the point card, the point read first from the point card, and the point calculation described later. When the addition result by means and the points or addition result is the upper limit value Display control means for displaying characters or symbols indicating the upper limit value on the point display unit based on the upper limit value determination signal output by the point management means, and the ball lending received by the ball lending collection unit. Every time the amount of money reaches a predetermined amount, a predetermined point is added to the point read from the point card, and the point calculation means for outputting the addition result, the point read from the point card, or the addition result by the point calculation means, A ball lending machine, comprising: a point managing unit that determines whether or not the value is a predetermined upper limit value, and outputs an upper limit value determination signal when the upper limit value is reached.