JPH10305161A - Management system for game place - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize improvement of profit on the game place side and convenience on the game player side without the situation of increasing a game place worker's burden and inspiring a game player with distrust. SOLUTION: In a ball dispensing machine 9, when a proper password number is input through a ten-key switch 16 with a member card set, the own ball data and the stored ball data stored with correspondence to the card are read out from the management device side to be stored in a storage part, and the state of releasing pachinko balls within the range of the stored data is presented. When a reset switch 21 is operated, the member card is discharged, and the own ball number and the stored ball number stored in the storage part are stored as stored ball data on the management device side. However, when a cancel signal is given from a transmitter with the member card reset on the ball dispensing machine 9 after the reset switch 21 is operated, the management device conducts a cancel operation of again storing the part of the ball storing data that is equivalent to the above own ball number as own ball data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a counting means for counting the number of game media acquired by a player in a game arcade in which a number of game machines for releasing a predetermined number of game media in accordance with the game are installed. The present invention relates to a management system for a game arcade in which a lending unit capable of releasing a game medium within the range of the counting result is provided at a position corresponding to each gaming machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a pachinko hall, a ball counter that performs a counting operation of pachinko balls obtained by a player at a position corresponding to a pachinko game machine on a one-to-one basis and stores the counting data in a storage means. By installing a ball lending machine configured to be able to perform a pachinko ball lending operation based on the counting data, it is unnecessary to carry the acquired pachinko ball, and the pachinko ball once counted by the ball counting machine is used. A system designed to return the ball through the ball lending machine, thereby improving the convenience on the part of the player by enabling the player to play the game in the same state as when there is actually a pachinko ball at hand. A so-called stand-by-table replay system has been proposed.

[0003] In addition, in the above-mentioned system, when a player finishes playing a game with a pachinko gaming machine, a pachinko ball (acquired pachinko ball) counted by a ball counter corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine is used. The convenience of the player is further improved by adding a so-called ball storage function that allows the pachinko balls to be temporarily stored in the pachinko hall without being exchanged for prizes, and the pachinko balls can be used for games on the same day or the next day. A system to make it work is also being considered.

In order to realize such a ball saving function,
For example, a membership card storing data including an ID code assigned to the player is issued to a player who has been registered as a member in advance, and the member is registered in association with a pachinko machine and a ball rental machine. A card reader for reading data from the card is installed. Then, the counting function by the ball counter is operated only when the member card is set in the card reader, and the counting result by the ball counter is read from the member card.
It is configured to be stored in the storage means as ball storage data in a state associated with the D code.

Further, the ball lending machine reads ball storage data corresponding to the member card from the storage means only when the member card is set in the corresponding card reader,
The pachinko balls within the range of the read ball storage data can be released, and the ball storage data is reduced by the release amount. In addition, when ending the game with the pachinko gaming machine, it is necessary to release the set state of the member card with respect to the card reader, so that the set state of the member card is set at a position corresponding to the ball rental machine on a one-to-one basis. A settlement switch for canceling is provided.

However, if such a configuration is simply employed, the pachinko balls once stored as the ball storage data will be returned as they are, so that it is not possible to expect a profit on the pachinko hall side due to the exchange of prizes. The problem is that sales and profits of pachinko halls are reduced.

Therefore, a system as described below is actually employed. That is, the counting result of the ball counting machine is selectively stored in the storage means by being divided into first data (hereinafter, referred to as ball holding data) and second data (hereinafter, referred to as ball storage data). A configuration that can be used. When the ball lending machine performs the operation of returning (discharging) pachinko balls based on the ball data, an equivalent return process of reducing the ball data by a value corresponding to the number of returned pachinko balls is performed, and based on the ball storage data. When performing the operation of returning the pachinko balls, a discount return process of reducing the stored ball data by a predetermined ratio from the actual number of returned pachinko balls is performed.

When the settlement switch is operated in order to end the game in the pachinko gaming machine, a function is provided for restoring the ball holding data stored in the storage means as ball storage data. I have. This allows
After the pachinko gaming machine is once finished, all pachinko balls acquired by the pachinko gaming machine will be transferred to the ball storage data, which will reduce the sales and profits of the pachinko halls. To prevent it.

Whether the counting result of the ball counter is stored in the ball data or the ball storage data is determined according to the model of the pachinko game machine, the time zone in which the game is played, or other set conditions. Specifically, for example, counting results with pachinko gaming machines of a model that is not popular, counting results in a time zone where the number of visitors is small, counting results with a so-called lucky chance state set by the pachinko hall side Are stored as ball data to be provided for the equivalent return process.

[0010]

In the above-described system of the prior art, if the player accidentally operates the checkout switch, the ball data is forcibly changed to ball storage data, and the pachinko ball obtained on the player side is obtained. The value of
The player feels suspicious and may cause unnecessary trouble between the player and the pachinko hall side. In order to deal with such a problem, the payout switch must be operable only by pachinko hall employees, and when the patrons finish playing the game at the pachinko machine, they call the pachinko hall employees for payout. A configuration in which a switch is operated is conceivable. However, in this configuration, each time a pachinko machine ends a game with a pachinko gaming machine, a pachinko hall employee must go to the pachinko gaming machine, resulting in an increased burden on the pachinko hall employee. Not only comes out, but also the problem that the original purpose of the system, that is, the purpose of improving the convenience on the player's side, is hindered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve the profits on the game arcade side and the convenience on the game player side by increasing the burden on the game hall employees and increasing It is an object of the present invention to provide a management system for a game arcade that can be realized without causing a suspicious situation.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a management system provided in a game arcade provided with a plurality of game machines for discharging a predetermined number of game media in accordance with the game. A storage carrier issued to a customer, a counting means provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine in a one-to-one correspondence to count gaming media discharged from the gaming machine, and a counting result by the counting means Is stored in association with the storage carrier, and the count result can be stored by being divided into any of first data provided for equivalent return and second data provided for discount return. Storage means, and lending means provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine on a one-to-one basis, and capable of releasing a game medium based on first data and second data stored in the storage means. And this lending means When the releasing operation of the game medium is performed based on the first data stored in the storage means, an equivalent return process of reducing the first data by the number of the released game media is performed, and the lending is performed. A discount return process of reducing the second data by a predetermined increment from the number of released game media when the release operation by the means is performed based on the second data stored in the storage means. Performing the settlement operation by performing a settlement operation of re-storing the first data as the second data when a settlement instruction is given from the outside. Then, when a cancel signal is given from outside, the second data stored in the storage means by the settlement means is stored again as first data in the storage means. It is obtained by a configuration having a cancellation means for performing erasing operation (claim 1).

[0013] According to this configuration, the player can count the game media obtained by the game at the gaming machine by the counting means provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine on a one-to-one basis. When such counting is performed, the counting result by the counting means is stored in the storage means in a state of being divided into any of the first data and the second data associated with the storage carrier. become.

At a position corresponding to the gaming machine on a one-to-one basis, the game is performed based on the first data and the second data stored in the storage means in a set state of the storage carrier issued to the player. Since the lending unit is provided with a state in which the medium can be released, by setting the storage medium in the lending unit, the game medium once counted by the counting unit as described above is transmitted from the lending unit. The game medium thus released can be used for a game.

[0015] The calculating means, when the operation of releasing the game medium by the lending means as described above is performed, when the discharging operation is performed based on the first data stored in the storage means, The equivalent return process of reducing the data of No. 1 by the number of released game media is performed. Further, when the release operation is performed based on the two count data stored in the storage means, a discount return process of reducing the second data by an extra predetermined increment from the number of released game media. Will do.

In the above-described gaming machine, when a settlement instruction is given from outside, the settlement means performs a settlement operation of storing the first data again as the second data. Become. That is, when the settlement instruction is given, the first data that can be provided for the equivalent return is forcibly shifted to the second data that is provided for the discount return.

However, when a cancel signal is given from the outside after the above-described settlement operation is performed, the canceling means replaces the second data stored in the storage means by the settlement means with the stored data. The cancellation operation of re-storing the means as the first data is performed.

Therefore, even if the player incorrectly gives a settlement instruction to the settlement means, if a cancel signal is given from the outside, the first data is forcibly changed to the second data. As a result, the situation in which the value of the acquired game medium on the player's side is reduced can be resolved, and the possibility of giving the player a suspicious feeling can be eliminated.

Further, the counting means for counting the game media obtained by the player and the lending means for releasing the game media based on the count data are all provided corresponding to the gaming machines. Therefore, the player does not need to leave the gaming machine at the time of counting the acquired game media or when returning the game media corresponding to the counted data. As a result, the operation of counting the game media and receiving the returned media is not likely to be complicated for the player, so that the convenience of the player can be improved, and the attendant power of the game hall is expected to be improved accordingly. become able to.

Further, as in the second aspect of the present invention, a settlement switch for giving a settlement instruction to the settlement means when operated may be provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine. According to this configuration, when the settlement instruction is given to the settlement means, the player only needs to operate the settlement switch himself / herself, so that each time the player finishes the game on the gaming machine as in the conventional configuration, It is no longer necessary for field employees to go to the gaming machine, and the burden on employees can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the settlement means may be configured to perform the settlement operation only when the storage medium is set in the lending means. When performing the operation, it is a precondition that the storage carrier is set in the lending means, so that it is possible to prevent a situation in which the settlement operation is performed carelessly.

According to the present invention, in the case where a storage carrier whose setting state for the lending unit has been released is set to a lending unit different from the lending unit, the storage unit is set by the canceling unit. The configuration may be such that the canceling operation is prohibited. In this configuration, if a player once changes the gaming machine to be played,
It is assumed that the operation of the settlement switch corresponding to the gaming machine before the change is not caused by an erroneous operation of the player, and in such a case, the canceling operation by the canceling means is prohibited. Therefore, there is no possibility that the above-described cancellation operation is performed indiscriminately, and it is possible to prevent an increase in loss on the game arcade side.

Further, the invention may be configured such that when a preset upper limit time elapses after the settlement operation is performed, the canceling operation by the canceling means is prohibited. good. Even in such a configuration, there is no possibility that the above-described cancellation operation is performed indiscriminately, and it is possible to prevent an increase in loss on the game arcade side.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a front view of a membership card 1 as a storage carrier used in the system of the present embodiment. The membership card 1 is issued to a player who has become a gaming member of a pachinko hall, for example, and has a tape-shaped magnetic recording unit 2 on its surface.
Is provided, the pachinko hall name 1a is formed by printing, furthermore, a numerical string 1b corresponding to the pachinko hall and data unique to the member, a character string 1c indicating the name of the member, a card validity date Is formed by embossing.

In this case, the magnetic recording unit 2 includes, for example, an ID code for specifying a pachinko hall, a card number which is an ID code assigned to the member (player), and a validity indicating a card validity date. Time limit data and the like are recorded.

In FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 3 fires a pachinko ball (game medium) in its upper plate 4 onto a board 6 through an electric ball firing mechanism (only the operation dial is indicated by the reference numeral 5). It has a configuration. In this case, although not specifically illustrated, the board 6 is provided with a start winning hole, a movable winning hole, and an electric accessory associated therewith, in addition to a normal winning hole, in addition to a normal winning hole. A special prize state in which the winning rate of the pachinko gaming machine 3 is greatly increased, and a known probability fluctuation state are selectively presented.

In the pachinko gaming machine 3, pachinko balls as prize balls are released to the upper plate 4. When the upper plate 4 is full, the overflowed pachinko balls flow into the lower plate 7. It is supposed to. still,
The pachinko balls in the upper plate 4 can be dropped into the lower plate 7 by sliding the knob 4a.

On the other hand, the lower plate 7 is also provided with a knob 7a, and when the knob 7a is slid, a shutter provided at a drop opening formed at the bottom of the lower plate 7 (neither is shown). ) Is opened to allow the pachinko balls inside to flow into the guide tube 8. However, the knob 7a
Is provided with a lock mechanism 7b having an electric drive unit.
Operation can be selectively prohibited.

The ball lending machine 9 as a lending means is installed adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 3 on the left side of the pachinko gaming machine 3 in a one-to-one correspondence with the pachinko gaming machine 3.
The ball lending machine 9 will be described.

That is, the ball lending machine 9 is formed in a vertically long rectangular box shape, and, for example, five ball display lamps 10 are provided on the uppermost front surface thereof. In this case, the ball display lamp 10 can be lit in, for example, one of red and green, and based on the number of lit and the lit color,
The approximate number of balls (indicating the number of pachinko balls used for equivalent return described later) can be visually displayed.

Specifically, for example, a state in which only one ball display lamp 10 at the bottom is lit in red corresponds to a state in which the number of balls held is 1000 to 1999, and two balls from the bottom. When the number is lit red, the number of balls
2999 pieces, the state where three pieces from the bottom are lit in red has the number of possessed balls of 3000 to 3999, and the state where four pieces from the bottom are lit in red has the number of possessed balls of 4000 to 4999 pieces and all five pieces are red. The state lit by means that the number of balls held is 5,000 or more.

The state in which all the ball indication lamps 10 are turned off corresponds to a state in which the number of held balls is less than 200.
The state in which only one ball display lamp 10 at the bottom is lit in green is equivalent to a state in which the number of balls is 200 to 399, and the state in which the two balls from the bottom are lit green is a state in which the ball is lit. When the number of balls is 400 to 599, the bottom three are lit green, the number of balls is 600 to 799, and when the bottom four are lit green, the number of balls is 800 to 999. Equivalent to. Note that the state in which all the five ball display lamps 10 are lit in green corresponds to a state in which the number of ball balls is 1000 or more. The state is switched to a state in which only one ball display lamp 10 is lit in red.

The ball lending machine 9 includes a remote control receiver 11a for receiving a signal from a portable transmitter (indicated by reference numeral 11 in FIG. 2), a coin slot 12, and a coin return button 1.
3. The number-of-balls display unit 14 for digitally displaying the number of balls to be stored (indicating the number of pachinko balls to be provided for discount return, which will be described later)
Ball number display section 1 for digitally displaying the ball number
5. Ten-key switch 16, return switch 17, used for inputting a password, etc., nozzle 1 for discharging pachinko balls
8, coin return slot 19, interruption switch 20, settlement switch 21, card insertion slot 22 for inserting the membership card 1 or prize ball card 2, and ball counter 23 (book) to which the base of the guide tube 8 is connected. (Corresponding to the counting means in the invention). In the present embodiment, for example, a function capable of displaying that the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is in a game interrupted state (a state in which a player temporarily leaves his or her seat) is displayed on the number-of-ball-stored display unit 14. Has been granted. However, a configuration may be adopted in which a dedicated display unit is provided for such an interruption display function.

The transmitter 11 is carried by a pachinko hall employee, and transmits a cancel signal using, for example, infrared rays as a medium in response to the operation. The nozzle 13 is for discharging a pachinko ball from a release mechanism (indicated by reference numeral 24 in FIG. 2) provided in the ball lending machine 9, and has a tip located above the pachinko gaming machine 3. It is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between a normal position facing the plate 4 from above and a retracted position turned forward, and is normally urged to a normal position by a spring means (not shown).

The ball counter 23 counts pachinko balls flowing through the guide tube 8 and generates a counting pulse indicating the counting result. The guide tube 8 is provided so as to be reciprocally rotatable between a normal position in which a tip thereof faces a falling port (not shown) formed in the lower plate 7 of the pachinko gaming machine 3 and a retracted position which is rotated forward. It is normally urged to a normal position by spring means (not shown).

A check mechanism 25 provided in the ball lending machine 9 so as to communicate with the coin slot 12 is provided with the coin slot 1.
2 has a function of judging the authenticity of a coin inserted into the coin 2 and sends a judgment signal indicating the judgment result to a control unit (shown by reference numeral 26 in FIG. 2) described later. Has become.

A card reader 27 provided in the ball lending machine 9 so as to correspond to the card insertion slot 22 takes in the card inserted into the card insertion slot 22 and stores the data recorded on the card. , And the operation of ejecting the card taken in is performed by a command from the control unit 26.

In FIG. 2 showing the electrical configuration of the ball lending machine 9, the control unit 26 has the functions of the calculating means, the adjusting means and the canceling means according to the present invention, and has a CPU (not shown). And a storage unit 26a.

In this case, the storage unit 26a includes a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and the nonvolatile memory stores a set value table for each model as shown in FIG. That is, in the pachinko gaming machine 2, the total amount of pachinko balls to be released during the special prize period (however, the value when the game is played in a standard state) is different for each model,
The pachinko ball release amount (standard value) during the special prize period, which differs for each model, is stored as a set value for each model of pachinko gaming machine 3 (for example, indicated by symbols A, B, C). It is a value table.

The control unit 26 includes a remote control receiving unit 11a
Received signals, the respective operation signals from the ten-key switch 16, return switch 17, interruption switch 20, and settlement switch 21, counting pulses from the ball counter 23, the check mechanism 2,
5, a signal read by the card reader 27, various signals provided from the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 through the terminal device 28, and provided from the management device 29 (corresponding to storage means in the present invention) through the terminal device 28. Based on various signals and data, and a program stored in advance, a ball display lamp 10, a remote control receiving unit 11a, a ball storage number display unit 14, a ball number display unit 15, a release mechanism 24, a lock mechanism 7b, and a card reader 27 In addition to performing control, transmission / reception control of signals with the management device 29 is performed through the terminal device 28. still,
The operation signal from the settlement switch 21 corresponds to the settlement instruction in the present invention.

In this case, the pachinko gaming machine 3 has an out-ball number signal Sa indicating the number of driven pachinko balls associated with the game, a safe ball number signal Sb indicating the number of pachinko balls released as prize balls associated with the game, and the above-mentioned special prize. The special prize signal Sf which continuously rises during the period in which the state occurs, and the probable change signal Sk which continuously rises only during the period when the pachinko gaming machine 3 is in the probability fluctuation state are output. And these signals Sa, Sb, Sf, Sk are transmitted to the terminal device 2
8 to the control unit 26 and the management device 29.

The management device 29 also manages the management data (the difference between the number of out balls and the number of safe balls, It has a well-known configuration provided with a calculation function of a ball rate, the number of occurrences of a special prize, and the like, and a hit control function based on the calculation result. The management device 29 has a format as shown in FIGS. Counter file and card file are stored.

That is, the counter file shown in FIG. 12 is set for each ball counter 23,
In correspondence with the counter number unique to the card 3, the counter state (“uninserted state”, “inserted state” of the member card 1 with respect to the corresponding card insertion slot 22, “game stop state” of the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3) ), Corresponding card slot 2
2 is a format in which ball holding data indicating the number of balls held for the member card 1 inserted in 2, card number of the member card 1, and sales data indicating the sales amount of the corresponding ball lending machine 9 are stored. .

The card file shown in FIG. 13 is created for each member card 1 when the member card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 22, and is deleted when the pachinko hall is closed. Has become. In particular,
The card file corresponds to the card number of the member card 1 and has a password set in advance in the member card 1, a card state (“uninserted state”, “inserted state” in the card insertion slot 22, pachinko game) Any one of the “game interrupted state” in the machine 3), ball holding data and ball storage data indicating the number of ball holdings and the number of ball storages (corresponding to the first data and the second data respectively in the present invention), the membership card 1 Has a format in which the counter number of the ball counter 23 corresponding to the card insertion slot 22 into which the card is inserted, and adjustment ball data indicating the number of adjustment balls to be described later are stored.

The control contents of the control unit 26 of the ball rental machine 9 will be described below. However,
Although the control unit 26 actually performs the sequential processing, here, for convenience of explanation, the card processing program shown in FIG. 5, the counting processing program shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the replay processing program shown in FIG. It is assumed that the ball lending processing program shown in FIG. 9 is executed by parallel processing.

In FIG. 5 showing the card processing program, the control unit 26 first determines whether or not a card has been inserted into the card insertion slot 22 (step A1), and “NO”.
In this state, it is sequentially determined whether an interruption release signal output from the management device 29 has been received as described below, whether an interruption timer described later has expired, and whether a cancel signal has been received from the transmitter 11. (Steps A2, A3,
A4) If all of these steps A2 to A4 determine "NO", the process returns to step A1.

When a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 22 ("YES" in step A1), a card insertion signal Sa is created and transmitted to the management device 29 (step A).
5) After that, it waits until either the confirmation signal or the rejection signal is answered back from the management device 29 (steps A6 and A7). The card insertion signal Sa is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), a signal code for specifying the signal, an ID code and a card number read from the inserted card, and a unique counter number preset for each corresponding ball counter 23 The format is a combination of

At this time, in the management device 29 that has received the card insertion signal Sa, the card inserted into the card insertion slot 22 is not an appropriate member card 1, as will be apparent from the description below. Answer back the rejection signal in the case. Also, even if the proper member card 1 is inserted, the card insertion slot 22
In the case where the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to (1) is in a game interrupted state and the inserted member card 1 is different from the previously inserted member card 1 (a member card 1 different from that of the player whose game was interrupted is inserted) In this case, the rejection signal is answered back.

Also, when the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the card insertion slot 22 is in a state where anyone can play a game, when a proper member card 1 is inserted, and when the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the card insertion slot 22 is inserted. When the gaming machine 3 is in the game suspended state, the inserted membership card 1
Is the same as the member card 1 inserted last time (when the member card 1 of the player who has interrupted the game is inserted), the confirmation signal is answered back.

When the rejection signal is answered back,
After performing step A8 of discharging the card inserted into the card insertion slot 22, the process proceeds to step A2.
When the confirmation signal is answered back, the lock mechanism 7b
Is operated, the knob 7a provided on the lower plate 7 is operated.
Switch to an operable unlock state (step A
9).

That is, when the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the card insertion slot 22 is in a state where anyone can play a game, when the appropriate member card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 22, When the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the insertion slot 22 is in a game interrupted state and the membership card 1 of the player whose game has been interrupted is inserted into the card insertion slot 22, the operation of the knob 7a is stopped. Accordingly, the pachinko balls in the lower plate 7 can be caused to flow into the ball counter 23 through the guide tube 8, and in such a state where the pachinko balls flow, the counting result from the ball counter 23 is shown. A counting pulse will be output.

After the execution of the step A9, a step A10 for validating the operation of the numeric key switch 16, a return switch 17, an interruption switch 20, and a settlement switch 21
After sequentially executing step A11 of validating the operation, it is determined whether or not the number-of-pay-ball display unit 14 is performing the interruption display (display indicating that the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is in the game interruption state) (step S11). A12).

If the interruption display has not been performed,
A loop is formed to wait until one of the interruption switch 20 and the settlement switch 21 is turned on or until a cancel signal is received from the transmitter 11 (steps A14, A15, A16). If the display is in the interrupted state, the interrupted state is erased (initialized), and an interrupted state releasing step A13 of resetting the interrupted timer, which will be described later, is executed.

When the interruption switch 20 is turned on in the state where the standby loop is formed (step A1).
If "YES" in step 4), an interruption signal Sc is transmitted to the management device 29 (step A17). In this case, the interruption signal Sc is, as shown in FIG. 14C, a signal code for identifying the signal, a card number read from the inserted card, and a corresponding ball counter 23 in advance. The format is a combination of the set unique counter number.

After the execution of the transmission step A17 of the interruption signal Sc, a step A18 for displaying an interruption on the number-of-storage display section 14, a step A19 for starting the operation of an interruption timer whose timer time is set to, for example, about 10 minutes, an insertion. Step A20 of ejecting the membership card 1 that has been set, Step A21 of operating the lock mechanism 7b to switch to a locked state in which operation of the knob 7a is prohibited, and the numeric key switch 1
6. After sequentially executing step A22 of invalidating all operations of the return switch 17, the interruption switch 20, and the settlement switch 21, the process returns to the step A1.

When the settlement switch 21 is turned on while the standby loop is formed ("Y" in step A15).
ES ”), the settlement signal Sd (corresponding to the settlement instruction in the present invention) is transmitted to the management device 29 (step A23).
In this case, the settlement signal Sd is, as shown in FIG. 14D, a signal code for specifying the signal, a card number read from the inserted card, and a corresponding ball counter 23 in advance. The format is a combination of the set unique counter number and data indicating the number of possessed balls, which will be described later and stored in the storage unit 26a at that time.

After execution of the transmission step A23 of the settlement signal Sd, a step A24 for initializing the display state of the number-of-balls display section 14 and the number-of-possessing-balls display section 15 and the lighting state of the possession-ball display lamp 10 is executed. Thereafter, steps A20 to A22 are executed, and the process returns to step A1.

The state in which the standby loop is formed (that is,
When the cancel signal is received from the transmitter 11 in a state where the membership card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 22 (“YES” in step A16), the return confirmation signal Se is transmitted to the management device 29 ( Step A25),
Thereafter, the control unit 29 waits until one of the ball holding / ball storage data and the rejection signal is answered back (steps A26 and A27). The return confirmation signal Se is, as shown in FIG. 14E, a signal code for identifying the signal, a card number read from the inserted card, and a corresponding ball counter 23 in advance. The format is combined with the set unique counter number.

At this time, in the management device 29 that has received the card insertion signal Sa, the combination of the card number and the counter number in the received return confirmation signal Se is, as will be apparent from the following description, the combination. If the combination of the card number and the counter number in the card file does not match, the combination of the card number and the counter number in the return confirmation signal Se also matches the combination of the counter number and the card number in the counter file. If not,
If the settlement ball data in the record corresponding to the card number in the return confirmation signal Se in the card file is zero, the rejection signal is answered back. In addition, when each of the above-mentioned matching conditions is satisfied and the settlement ball data in the record corresponding to the card number in the return confirmation signal Se in the card file is "1" or more, the ball holding / ball storage data is answered back. Has become.

When the rejection signal is answered back,
For example, after executing an error output step A28 of displaying an error on the number-of-storage display section 14, step A1 is executed.
Returning to step 4, when the ball holding / ball storage data is answered back, a step of displaying the ball holding number and the ball storage number indicated by the ball holding / ball storage data on the ball holding number display unit 15 and the ball storage number display unit 14, respectively. After sequentially executing A29 and A30, the process returns to step A14. In the ball holding / ball storage data, the data indicating the ball holding number may be zero.

On the other hand, if "YES" is determined in step A2 (if the interruption release signal is received from the management device 29), the settlement signal Sd (FIG. 14) is sent to the management device 29.
(See (d)), step A31a for transmitting the number of balls stored, and the display state of the number-of-balls display unit 14 and the number-of-possessing-balls display unit 15 and the step A31 of initializing the lighting state of the possession-ball indicator lamp 10.
After sequentially executing b, the process proceeds to step A3.

If "YES" is determined in the step A3, that is, after the timer operation of the interruption timer is started in response to the ON operation of the interruption switch 20, the operation time (for example, 10 minutes) set in the interruption timer is changed. If the time has elapsed, the alarm output routine A32 is executed and then the step A is executed.
Move to 4. At this time, the alarm output routine A32
For example, a warning signal is generated by blinking the ball display lamp 10 or a warning signal is directly transmitted to a pachinko hall employee by using an in-store broadcast or a portable terminal, so that the corresponding pachinko machine can be used. It notifies that the game interruption state in the game machine 3 became unnecessarily long. In the actual operation, the pachinko hall employee performs a predetermined action (for example, execution of an in-store broadcast for calling a pachinko game machine with the pachinko game machine 3 suspended, and, if necessary, based on such notification. (For example, an operation of forcibly canceling the game interruption state in the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3).

If "YES" is determined in the step A4 (when the cancel signal is received from the transmitter 11 when the member card 1 is not inserted into the card insertion slot 22), the alarm signal is being output. It is determined whether or not this is the case (step A33). At this time, if the alarm signal has not been output, the process returns to step A1 as it is, but if the alarm signal has been output, step A34 of transmitting the settlement signal Sd to the management device 29, After sequentially executing step A35 for initializing the display state of the possessed ball display unit 15 and the lighting state of the possessed ball display lamp 10, the process returns to step A1.

On the other hand, in FIGS. 6 and 7 showing the counting processing program, the control unit 26 first determines whether or not a counting pulse is input from the ball counting machine 23, that is, whether the ball counting machine 23 is performing a counting operation. It is determined whether or not it is (step B1).
If the determination is "NO" here, step B to be described later
6, but if it is determined to be “YES”, after executing step B2 for invalidating the operations of the interruption switch 20 and the settlement switch 21, the ball display update routine B is executed.
3 and the ball display lamp lighting routine B4 are sequentially executed.

In the ball holding display updating routine B3, the number of pachinko balls indicated by the counting pulse from the ball counter 23 is added to the ball holding number storage area in the storage unit 26a, and the ball number after the addition is added. The updated number is displayed on the possessed ball number display section 15. In addition, the above-described ball display lamp lighting routine B4
Then, the approximate value of the stored ball count is visually displayed by controlling the lighting state of the ball display lamp group 10 based on the latest ball count in the ball count storage area.

After the execution of the above-described ball display lamp lighting routine B4, after executing the step B5 for starting the timer operation of the counting end compensation timer whose timer time is set to, for example, about 1 to 2 seconds from the initial state, the step B6 is executed. Move to. The counting end compensation timer is a retrigger type that starts the timer operation from the initial state even when step B5 is executed during the timer operation period.

In step B6, it is determined whether or not the input of the special prize signal Sf from the pachinko gaming machine 3 (a signal indicating a state of continuously rising during the special prize state in the pachinko gaming machine 3) is started. Judge. Here, "N
If it is determined to be “O”, the process proceeds to step B13 described later, but if it is determined to be “YES”, the ball counter 23
Is determined to be the one-time exchange mode (mode in which all the pachinko balls counted by the ball counter 23 are shifted to the ball storage) (step B).
7).

If "NO" is determined in step B7, the process proceeds to step B13, but if "YES" is determined, the number of difference balls (the number of driven pachinko balls and the released pachinko balls as prize balls) is determined. It is determined whether or not the operation of calculating the difference in the number of balls is being performed (step B8). Here "YES"
If it is determined that the difference ball number calculation is to be started, the process proceeds to step B10 after executing step B9 for determining the number of difference balls, and “NO”
If the judgment is made, the process jumps the step B9 and shifts to the step B10.

In step B9, the pachinko gaming machine 3
The difference ball number calculation operation of subtracting the number of released pachinko balls as award balls also indicated by the safe ball number signal from the pachinko gaming machine 3 is started from the number of driven pachinko balls indicated by the out ball number signal from the game machine. The operation for calculating the number of difference balls is performed in parallel with the processing operation of the counting processing program.

In step B10, the special prize flag indicating that the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is in the special prize state is set to "1". After that, the timer time is set to, for example, about 30 seconds. It is determined whether or not the timer operation of the pending ball compensation timer is being performed (step B11). If “NO” is determined here, the process directly proceeds to step B13, but if “YES” is determined, step B12 for stopping (resetting) the operation of the reserved ball compensation timer is executed, and then to step B13. I do. The reserved ball compensation timer is for compensating a special prize generating function by a pachinko ball that has won a winning prize hole for a special prize operation in the pachinko gaming machine 3.

In step B13, it is determined whether or not the input of the special prize signal Sf from the pachinko gaming machine 3 has been stopped. If “NO” is determined here, the process proceeds to step B17 described later. If “YES” is determined, whether the counting mode set in the ball counter 23 is the one-time exchange mode is determined. Is determined (step B14).

If "NO" is determined in the step B14, the process proceeds to a step B17. If "YES" is determined, the positive change signal S from the pachinko gaming machine 3 is determined.
It is determined whether or not k (a signal indicating a state in which the pachinko gaming machine 3 continuously rises during the period of the probability fluctuation state) is being input (step B15). Here "YES"
If the answer is "NO", the process proceeds to step B17. If the answer is "NO", the timer operation of the hold ball compensation timer is started from the initial state.
After executing step 6, the process moves to step B17.

At step B17, it is determined whether or not the hold ball compensation timer has timed out. If "NO" is determined here, the process directly proceeds to step B19 shown in FIG. If "YES" is determined, the step B18 for stopping the difference ball number calculation started in the step B9 is executed, and then the step B18 is executed.
Move to 19.

At step B19 shown in FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not the timer of the pending ball compensation timer has expired. If “NO” is determined here, the process directly returns to step B1 shown in FIG. 6, but if “YES” is determined,
It is determined whether or not the probability change signal Sk from the pachinko gaming machine 3 is being input (step B20). If "YES" is determined here, the process returns to step B1, but if "NO" is determined, the counting end compensation timer (a timer that performs a timer operation from the initial state every time step B5 is executed) is timed. It is determined whether or not it has been raised (step B21).

If "NO" is determined in the step B21, the process returns to the step B1, but if "YES" is determined, it is determined whether or not the special prize signal Sf is inputted from the pachinko gaming machine 3 (step). B23). This step B
If "YES" is determined in step 23, the process returns to step B21. If "NO" is determined, it is determined whether or not the special prize flag is set to "1" (step B23).

If the special prize flag has been reset, the process returns to step B1 after executing step B24 for validating the operations of the interruption switch 20 and the settlement switch 21. On the other hand, if the special prize flag is set, the timer operation of the detection timer whose timer operation time is set to about 1 to 2 minutes is started (step B2).
5) After that, the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is read from the model-specific setting table (see FIG. 4) stored in the storage unit 26a.
Read the set value for each model corresponding to the model (step B
26).

In the meantime, during the period in which the pachinko gaming machine 3 is in the special prize state, the detection timer is used for a so-called puncture (that the special prize state ends earlier than the normal end time) or a jam of pachinko balls for prize balls. This is for detecting a state in which the amount of pachinko balls actually released is smaller than a standard release amount (this is indicated by the above-mentioned set value for each model) due to the occurrence of the above. , Ball counter 23
Is set to a time slightly longer than the time required to count the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the standard release amount.

After the execution of the step B26, it is determined whether or not the count value of the ball counter 23 is equal to or greater than the count value for each model read in the step B26 (step B27). In the case of "count value <count value for each model", it is determined whether or not the detection timer has timed out (step B28), and if "NO", the process returns to step B1. If "YES" is determined, an error output step B29 is performed in which, for example, an error is displayed on the number-of-saved-balls display section 14 and an error is notified to the pachinko hall employee by blinking the ball display lamp 10 or the like. Is performed, and the process returns to step B1.

If "YES" is determined in the step B27 (when "count value≥count value for each model"), the difference ball calculation value obtained by the difference ball number calculation operation described above is read. (Step B30), it is determined whether or not the count value of the ball counter 23 is equal to or greater than the difference ball calculation value (Step B31).

If "NO" is determined in the step B31, the process proceeds to the step B28, but the "YE
If "S" is determined, the data transfer signal Sf is transmitted to the management device 29 (step B32). In this case, as shown in FIG. 14 (f), the data transfer signal Sf includes a signal code for specifying the signal, a card number read from the inserted card, and the corresponding ball counter 23.
A unique counter number set in advance for each ball counter 23
The format is a combination of the data indicating the count value according to.

After the execution of the step B32, a data transfer processing routine B33 for transferring the number of balls stored in the storage section 26a to the number of stored balls, and a step B34 for enabling the operation of the interruption switch 20 and the settlement switch 21. ,
After sequentially executing step B35 for resetting the special prize flag, the process returns to step B1.

In FIG. 8 showing the replay processing program, the control unit 26 waits until a predetermined number of passwords are inputted through the ten-key switch 16 or the return switch 17 is turned on (step C1, step C1).
C2).

When a password is inputted from the standby state, a password confirmation signal Sb is transmitted to the management device 29 (step C3), and thereafter, any one of the ball holding / ball storage data and the rejection signal is transmitted from the management device 29. It waits until the answer back is made (steps C4 and C5). As shown in FIG. 14B, the password confirmation signal Sb is obtained by combining a signal code for specifying the signal, a card number read from the inserted card, and the inputted password. It has a format.

At this time, in the management device 29 which has received the password confirmation signal Sb, the password (input password) in the password confirmation signal Sb is inserted as will be apparent from the following description. When the password matches the password set in advance for the registered member card 1, the stored ball / ball storage data stored in association with the member card 1 is answered back, and the password confirmation signal Sb is output. A configuration is such that a rejection signal is output when the password inside does not match the password preset in the inserted member card 1.

When the rejection signal is answered back,
For example, after executing an error output step C6 of displaying an error on the number-of-balls display unit 14, the process proceeds to step C2. After sequentially executing steps C7a and C7b for displaying the number of balls and the number of accumulated balls on the retained ball number display section 15 and the accumulated number of balls display section 14, respectively, the process proceeds to step C2. In the error output step C6, a message urging the re-input of the personal identification number may be displayed.

If it is determined "YES" in step C2 (when the return switch 17 is turned on),
It is determined whether or not the possessed ball number data stored in the storage unit 26a is equal to or more than "1" (step C8).

If "YES" is determined in the step C8, a held ball return processing routine C9 is executed. In this routine C9, the number of balls held in the storage unit 26a (which is displayed on the number-of-balls display unit 15) is changed to a predetermined reference value Nm (pachinko released by one operation of the return switch 17). It is determined whether or not the value is equal to or more than the reference amount of the ball, for example, “100”.
The release mechanism 24 releases (returns) Nm pachinko balls. When the number of balls held in the storage unit 26a is less than the reference value Nm, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the number of balls is released through the release mechanism 24.

After execution of the possession ball return processing routine C9,
The held ball display update routine C10 is executed. In this routine C10, the number of balls held in the storage unit 26a is subtracted by the number corresponding to the released pachinko balls (corresponding to the reference value Nm), and the display content of the held ball number display unit 15 is subtracted. Update to the one according to the number of possessed balls.

After the execution of the ball display update routine C10, a step C11 of transmitting the ball data signal Sh to the management device 29, and a step C of turning off the ball display lamp 10
Then, the process returns to step C1 after the execution of step S12. As shown in FIG. 14 (h), the ball data signal Sh includes a signal code for specifying the signal, a card number read from the inserted card, and the storage unit 26 at that time.
The format is a combination of data indicating the number of possessed balls stored in a.

On the other hand, when it is determined "NO" in the step C8 (when the number-of-possessing-ball data in the storage unit 26a is "0"), the number of accumulated balls stored in the storage unit 26a (this is the number of accumulated balls) It is determined whether or not the value displayed on the number display section 14 is equal to or greater than a preset specified value Nc (for example, “150”) (step C13). In step C13, "N
If it is determined to be "O", the process returns to step C1, but "YE
If it is determined to be "S", a stored ball return processing routine C14 is executed.

In this coin return processing routine C14, a number obtained by multiplying the prescribed value Nc (= 150) by a predetermined discount rate (for example, 100 when the discount rate is 2/3)
(Pachinko balls) released through the release mechanism 24 (return)
Perform the operation of When it is determined “NO” in the step C13, the stored ball return processing routine C14 is not executed, and therefore, when the number of held balls stored in the storage unit 26a is less than the specified value Nc. Does not perform the operation of releasing the pachinko ball through the release mechanism 24.

The above-described coin storage return routine C14
After the execution of (1), a stored coin display update routine C15 is executed. In this routine C15, the number of stored balls stored in the storage unit 26a is subtracted by a number corresponding to the above-mentioned specified value Nc, and the display content of the stored ball number display unit 14 is updated to a value corresponding to the number of stored balls after the subtraction. .

After the execution of the stored ball display updating routine C15, the process returns to the step C1 after executing the step C16 of transmitting the stored ball data signal Sf to the management device 29. still,
As shown in FIG. 14 (g), the ball storage data signal Sf is stored in the storage unit 26a at that time, a signal code for specifying the signal, a card number read from the inserted card. The format is a combination of data indicating the number of accumulated balls.

In FIG. 9 showing the ball lending processing program,
The control unit 26 waits until a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 12 based on the judgment signal from the check mechanism 25 (step D1). When it is determined that a coin has been inserted, step D2 of releasing pachinko balls in an amount corresponding to the value of the inserted coin through the release mechanism 24 and step D3 of transmitting the sales signal Si to the management device 29 are sequentially executed, and then step D1 is performed. Return to The sales signal Si is shown in FIG.
As shown in (i), a signal code for specifying the signal, a unique counter number preset for each corresponding ball counter 23, and the sales amount (the value of the inserted coin) are shown. It is a format that combines data.

[0095] Among the control contents of the control unit 26 described above, the contents related to the gist of the present invention are summarized as follows. (1) When a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 22 attached to the pachinko gaming machine 3, a card insertion signal Sa including an ID code and a card number recorded on the card (see FIG. 14A). ) Is transmitted to the management device 29.

(2) In response to the transmission of the card insertion signal Sa as described above, when the rejection signal is answered back from the management device 29, the inserted card is ejected. When the confirmation signal is answered back from the management device 29 in response to the proper membership card 1 being inserted into the card insertion slot 22, the knob 7a provided on the lower plate 7 can be operated. In addition to switching to the locked state, the operation of the numeric key switch 16, return switch 17, interrupt switch 20, and settlement switch 21 is validated.

(3) As described above, the ten-key switch 16
With the operation of the numeric keypad switch 1 enabled,
When a four-digit password is inputted by the user 6, a password confirmation signal Sb (see FIG. 14B) including the card number of the inserted membership card 1 and the input password is transmitted to the management device 29.

(4) When the rejection signal is answered back from the management device 29 in response to the transmission of the above-described password confirmation signal Sb, an error is displayed using the number-of-balls display unit 14. Also, when the ball holding / ball storage data is answered back from the management device 29 side, the ball holding number and the ball storage number indicated by the ball holding / ball storage data are displayed in the ball holding number display unit 15.
And the number of stored coins display section 14 respectively.

(5) The ball counter 2 according to the operation of the knob 7a
When the counting operation by No. 3 is started, the counted value by the ball counter 23 is added to the held ball count storage area in the storage unit 26a, and the added ball count is displayed by the held ball count display unit 15. At the same time, the approximate value of the held ball count stored as described above is visually displayed through the held ball display lamps 10. During the period in which the ball counter 23 is performing the counting operation, the interruption switch 20 and the settlement switch 21
Disable the operation of.

(6) When the return switch 17 is turned on while the operation of the return switch 17 is enabled as described above, the pachinko ball is returned (discharged) through the release mechanism 18. .

In this case, when the number of diving balls stored in the storage unit 26a is "1" or more, the operation of returning pachinko balls based on the number of diving balls is performed, and the diving balls in the storage unit 26a are performed. The number is reduced by the number corresponding to the number of returned pachinko balls. Further, the management device 2 outputs a ball data signal Sh including data indicating the ball number after such reduction.
Send to 9. In the operation of returning a pachinko ball based on the number of stored balls as described above, for example, 100 pieces corresponding to the reference value Nm (if the number of held balls is less than 100, the number corresponds to the data). Return each pachinko ball.

That is, during the pachinko ball returning operation based on the number of balls held in the storage unit 26, an equivalent return process of controlling the number of returned balls to be the same as the number of held balls is executed. .

When the number of balls held in the storage unit 26a becomes zero in accordance with the above-described equivalent return processing, and when the number of balls held is zero from the beginning, the number of balls held is stored in the storage unit 26a. The operation of returning pachinko balls based on the number of stored balls is performed.

The return operation in this case is performed only when the number of stored coins stored in the storage unit 26a is, for example, 150 or more corresponding to the preset specified value Nc, and the specified value Nc (= 150) is multiplied by a predetermined discount rate (= ／) to return 100 pachinko balls, and the number of stored balls in the storage unit 26a is reduced by a number (= 150) corresponding to the prescribed value Nc. . Then, a ball storage data signal Sf including data indicating the number of stored balls after the reduction is transmitted to the management device 29.

That is, during the pachinko ball returning operation based on the number of stored balls in the storage unit 26, the number of actually returned pachinko balls is determined by multiplying the number of stored balls by a predetermined discount rate (= 2/3). The discount return process of controlling so as to be performed is executed.

(7) When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 12, a pachinko ball in an amount corresponding to the value of the inserted coin is released through the release mechanism 18, and a unique counter is provided for each ball counter 23. The sales signal Si including data indicating the number and the sales amount (the value of the inserted coin) is transmitted to the management device 29.

(8) As described above, if the interruption switch 20 is turned on while the operation of the interruption switch 20 is enabled, the card number of the member card 1 in the inserted state and the ball counter An interruption signal Sc (see FIG. 14C) including a unique counter number for each 23 is transmitted to the management device 29, and an interruption display is performed on the number-of-storage display unit 14. Further, the timer operation of the interruption timer whose timer time is set to about 10 minutes is started, the member card 1 is ejected, and the operation is switched to the locked state in which the operation of the knob 7a provided on the lower plate 7 is prohibited. 16, all operations of the return switch 17, the suspend switch 20, and the settlement switch 21 are invalidated.

(9) When the interruption display state is continued for 10 minutes or more and the interruption timer times out, an alarm signal indicating that the game interruption state in the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 has become unnecessarily long ( (A warning signal by blinking the ball display lamp 10 or a warning signal using in-store broadcasting or a portable terminal). In addition, the interruption display state is
If the confirmation signal is answered back from the management device 29 in response to the insertion of the membership card 1, the cancellation is canceled. At this time, the interruption timer is reset.

(10) When the cancel signal is received from the transmitter 11 in the state where the alarm signal is generated as described above (that is, the pachinko hall employee determines whether the ball rental machine 9 that has generated the alarm signal has Toward the remote control receiver 11a of
When an operation of transmitting a cancel signal from the transmitter 11 is performed), the card number of the member card 1 in the inserted state, a counter number unique to each ball counter 23, and the memory number at that time are stored in the storage unit 26a. The settlement signal Sd (see FIG. 14D) including the data indicating the number of held balls is transmitted to the management device 29. In addition, the number-of-balls display unit 14 and the number-of-balls display unit 1
5 and the lighting state of the ball display lamp 10 are initialized.

(11) Even if the settlement switch 21 is turned on with the operation of the settlement switch 21 enabled as described above, the above-described settlement signal Sd is transmitted to the management device 29. At the same time, the display state of the number-of-balls display unit 14 and the number-of-possessing-balls display unit 15 and the display unit 1
The lighting state of 0 is initialized. Further, the member card 1 is ejected, and the operation is switched to the locked state in which the operation of the knob 7a provided on the lower plate 7 is prohibited.
The operations of the return switch 17, the interruption switch 20, and the settlement switch 21 are all invalidated.

(12) When a cancel signal is received from the transmitter 11 in a state where the operations of the return switch 17, the interruption switch 20 and the settlement switch 21 are enabled (that is, an appropriate membership card is inserted in the card insertion slot 22). 1 is inserted, the pachinko hall employee operates the remote control receiving unit 11 of the ball lending machine 9 having the card insertion slot 22.
a), the return confirmation signal Se including the card number of the inserted member card 1 and a unique counter number for each ball counter 23 is managed. Transmit to the device 29.

(13) When the rejection signal is answered back from the management device 29 in response to the transmission of the return confirmation signal Se as described above, an error is displayed on the number-of-storage display unit 14. In addition, when the ball holding / ball storage data is answered back from the management device 29 side, the ball holding number and the ball storage number indicated by the ball holding / ball storage data are displayed on the ball holding number display unit 15 and the ball storage number display unit 14, respectively. I do.

(14) Member card 1 in card slot 22
Is not inserted, and when the interruption release signal is received from the management device 29, the above-described settlement signal S
d to the management device 29,
In addition, the display state of the ball number display unit 15 and the lighting state of the ball number display lamp 10 are initialized.

(15) When the ball counter 23 performs the counting operation when the special prize state generated in the pachinko gaming machine 3 that is not in the probability variation state is completed, the counted value is set to the pachinko gaming machine 3. If the value is equal to or greater than the preset value for each model determined in accordance with the type of machine and is equal to or greater than the difference calculation value for the pachinko gaming machine 3, a unique number is assigned to the card number of the inserted member card 1 and the ball counter 23. The data transfer signal Sf including the counter number and the count value is transmitted to the management device 29, and the number of balls held in the storage unit 26a is shifted to the number of stored balls.

The management device 29 includes a CPU and an R
It is configured to include peripheral circuits such as OM and RAM,
In addition to the management data calculation and hitting control function for each pachinko gaming machine 3 described above, a control function relating to the operation of pachinko ball lending by the ball lending machine 9 and management of the counting result by the ball counter 23 is provided by a ball. The configuration is realized based on transmission data from the control unit 26 on the rental machine 9 side.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show portions related to the gist of the present invention in the contents of control by the management device 29. In the following, the contents of the control will be described in response to the control. The operation will be described together with the contents of the operation performed on the 9 side.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG.
Are the card insertion signal Sa, the password confirmation signal Sb, the possession ball data signal Sh, the ball storage data signal Sf, the sales signal Si, and the interruption signal S transmitted from the control unit 26 of the ball lending machine 9.
c, steps S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S to determine whether or not the settlement signal Sd, the data transfer signal Sf, and the return confirmation signal Se are input.
9 is formed.

Card insertion signal Sa (see FIG. 14A)
Is received (“YES” in step S1), that is, when a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 22 on the ball lending machine 9 side, the I in the received card insertion signal Sa is
It is determined whether or not the inserted card is the membership card 1 based on the D code (step S10).

If "NO" is determined here, the process proceeds to step S2 after executing step S11 of answering back the rejection signal to the ball lending machine 9 which has transmitted the card insertion signal Sa.

When the rejection signal is answered back in this way, the ball lending machine 9 executes step A8 shown in FIG. 5 and is thus inserted into the card insertion slot 22. An operation of ejecting the card is performed.

On the other hand, in step S10, "YE
If it is determined to be "S", the counter file (see FIG. 12) is accessed (step S12), and the counter state in the record corresponding to the counter number included in the received card insertion signal Sa is "interrupted". Is determined (step S13).

If "YES" is determined in the step S13, it is determined whether or not the card number in the received card insertion signal Sa matches the corresponding card number in the counter file (step S14). ). Here "NO"
(If the member card 1 other than the player who interrupted the game is inserted into the card insertion slot 22 attached to the pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the game is temporarily interrupted, In step S15, the process returns to step S2 after executing step S15 of answering back the rejection signal to the ball lending machine 9 that has transmitted the card insertion signal Sa. Therefore, even if the rejection signal is answered back in this manner, the ball lending machine 9 executes step A8 shown in FIG. 5 and the member card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 22. Is performed.

On the other hand, in step S14, "YE
S ”(when the membership card 1 of the player who interrupted the game is inserted into the card insertion slot 22 attached to the pachinko gaming machine 3 in a state where the game is temporarily interrupted. In step S16, the confirmation signal is answered back to the ball lending machine 9 that has transmitted the card insertion signal Sa, and the counter status in the corresponding record in the counter file is updated to "insert". Step S17
Are sequentially executed, and the process proceeds to step S2.

When the confirmation signal is answered back in this manner, the ball lending machine 9 performs the control in step A9 and subsequent steps shown in FIG. 7a is switched to the unlocked state,
The operation of the numeric key switch 16, return switch 17, interruption switch 20, and settlement switch 21 is enabled.

On the other hand, if "NO" is determined in the step S13, after executing the step S18 of answering back the confirmation signal to the ball lending machine 9 which is the transmission source of the card insertion signal Sa, the card is executed. File (see Figure 13)
Is accessed (step S19), and it is determined whether or not there is a record corresponding to the card number included in the received card insertion signal Sa (step S20). Therefore, even if the confirmation signal is answered back in this way,
On the ball lending machine 9 side, the control after step A9 shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

If "NO" is determined in the step S20, a new record corresponding to the received card insertion signal Sa is created in the card file.
After that, the process moves to step S2. On the other hand, if “YES” is determined in step S20,
In the card file, the received card insertion signal S
It is determined whether or not the card status in the record corresponding to the card number included in “a” is “interrupted” (step S2)
2).

[0127] If "YES" is determined in the above step S22 (the member card 1 which caused the generation of the card insertion signal Sa has temporarily interrupted the game in another pachinko gaming machine 3). ), The ball lending machine 9 corresponding to the counter number in the corresponding record in the card file (the player possessing the membership card 1 temporarily plays the game in accordance with the operation of the interruption switch 20). After executing step S23 of transmitting the interruption release signal to the pachinko gaming machine 3 in the interrupted state), the process proceeds to step S24, and if determined to be “NO”, the step S23 is jumped. Then, control is passed to step S24.

On the side of the ball lending machine 9 that has received the interruption release signal transmitted as described above, the step A31 shown in FIG. And the lighting state of the ball display lamp 10 are initialized.

In step S24, the card status in the card file record accessed as described above is updated to "insert", and the counter number included in the received card insertion signal Sa is obtained from the counter number in the record. After such an updating process is completed, the process proceeds to step S2.

When password confirmation signal Sb (see FIG. 14B) is received ("YES" in step S2),
When a password is entered through the numeric key switch 16 with the appropriate member card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 22 on the ball lending machine 9 side, the card file is accessed (step S25), and the received password confirmation is performed. Signal Sb
It is determined whether or not the password in the record corresponding to the card number included in the password matches the password in the password confirmation signal Sb (step S26).

If "NO" is determined in step S26, the ball lending machine 9 that has transmitted the password confirmation signal Sb
After executing step S27 of answering back the rejection signal, the process proceeds to step S3. When the rejection signal is answered in this manner, the ball lending machine 9
Step C6 shown in FIG. 8 is executed, and the operation of displaying an error on the number-of-storage display unit 14 is performed.

On the other hand, in step S26, "YE
If "S" is determined, the process proceeds to step S3 after executing step S28 of answering back the stored ball data to the ball lending machine 9 that has transmitted the password confirmation signal Sb. In the step S28, ball holding data and ball storage data corresponding to the card number included in the password confirmation signal Sb are read from the card file and answerback is performed as ball holding / ball storage data.

When the ball holding / ball storage data is answered back in this manner, the ball lending machine 9 executes steps C7a and C7b shown in FIG. The retained ball count and the stored ball count indicated by the data are displayed on the retained ball count display section 15 and the stored ball count display section 14, respectively.

The ball data signal Sh (see FIG. 14 (h))
Is received ("YES" in step S3), step S29 of accessing the card file and step S30 of holding ball data updating are sequentially executed, and then step S4 is executed.
Move to. In the above-mentioned possessed ball data update step S30,
In the card file, the operation of updating the ball holding data in the record corresponding to the card number included in the received ball data signal Sh to the number of ball holdings in the ball data signal Sh is performed.

The ball storage data signal Sf (see FIG. 14 (g))
Is received ("YES" in step S4), step S31 of accessing the card file and step S32 of updating the stored ball data are sequentially executed, and then step S5 is executed.
Move to. In the above-mentioned ball storage data update step S32,
In the card file, the operation of updating the ball storage data in the record corresponding to the card number included in the received ball data signal Sf to the number of stored balls in the ball data signal Sf is performed.

When the sales signal Si (see FIG. 14 (i)) is received ("YES" in step S5), the counter file (see FIG. 12) is accessed in step S33.
After sequentially executing the sales data update step S34, the process proceeds to step S6 shown in FIG. In the sales data update step S34, the sales data corresponding to the counter number included in the received sales signal Si in the counter file is updated to the sales amount in the sales signal Si.

When the interruption signal Sc (see FIG. 14C) is received ("YES" in step S6), the counter file is accessed in step S35, the counter file updating step S36, and the card file is accessed. After the step S37 and the card file updating step S38 are sequentially executed, the process proceeds to the step S7.

In the counter file updating step S36, the data of the counter state in the record corresponding to the counter number included in the received interruption signal Sc in the counter file is updated to the "game interruption state". Perform the operation of
In the card file update step S38, an operation of updating the card state data in the record corresponding to the card number included in the received interruption signal Sc from the card file to the "game interruption state".

When the settlement signal Sd (see FIG. 14D) is received ("YES" in step S7), the counter file is accessed in step S39, the counter file updating step S40, and the card file is accessed. After the step S41 and the card file updating step S42 are sequentially executed, the process proceeds to step S8.

In the counter file updating step S40, the card number in the record corresponding to the counter number included in the received settlement signal Sd in the counter file is updated to the card number in the settlement signal Sd. Perform the operation. In the card file update step S42, the operation of updating the counter number in the record corresponding to the card number included in the received settlement signal Sd in the card file to the counter number in the settlement signal Sd is performed. At the same time, the operation of adding the number of balls held in the settlement signal Sd and the ball data in the record to the accumulated ball data and settlement ball data in the record, respectively (however, the initial value of the settlement ball data is always And the operation of initializing the ball data in the record.

That is, when the settlement signal Sd is received, the number of balls held in the settlement signal Sd is stored as ball storage data to be used for discount return processing, and at the same time, the ball holding data in the corresponding record is stored as ball storage data. In this case, a settlement operation for correcting the settlement signal S is performed.
The total of the number of balls held in d (that is, the amount added to the ball storage data) and the ball held data in the record are temporarily stored as settlement ball data in the card file.

Data transfer signal Sf (see FIG. 14 (f))
Is received ("YES" in step S8), step S43 for accessing the counter file, step S44 for updating the counter file, step S45 for accessing the card file, and step S4 for updating the card file.
6 are sequentially executed, and the process proceeds to step S9.

In the counter file updating step S44, the received data transfer signal S
The card number in the record corresponding to the counter number included in f is updated to the card number in the data transfer signal Sf. In the card file updating step S46, the counter number in the record corresponding to the card number included in the received data transfer signal Sf in the card file is updated to the counter number in the data transfer signal Sf. In addition to performing the operation, the operation of adding the count value in the data transition signal Sf to the coin storage data in the record is performed. That is, the count value in the data transition signal Sf is not stored as ball holding data in the card file, but is stored as ball storage data.

When the return confirmation signal Se (see FIG. 14 (e)) is received ("YES" in step S9), the card file is accessed (step S47), and the card included in the received return confirmation signal Se is received. It is determined whether or not the counter number in the record corresponding to the number matches the counter number in the return confirmation signal Se (step S4).
8).

If "NO" is determined in the step S48, the ball lending machine 9 that has transmitted the return confirmation signal Se
After executing step S52 of answering back the rejection signal, the process returns to step S1 shown in FIG. When the rejection signal is answered back in this manner, the ball lending machine 9 executes step A28 shown in FIG. Will be

In contrast, in step S48, "YE
If it is determined to be "S", it is determined whether or not the settlement ball data is "1" or more in the record corresponding to the card number included in the received return confirmation signal Se in the card file (step S49). . If "NO" is determined here, the process returns to step S1 after executing step S52. If "YES" is determined, the counter file is accessed (step S50), and the received return confirmation is received. It is determined whether or not the card number in the record corresponding to the counter number included in the signal Se matches the card number in the return confirmation signal Se (Step S51).

If “NO” is determined in the step S51, the step S52 is executed, and then the step S1 is executed.
Returning to step S53, if it is determined to be "YES", the stored ball data in the record corresponding to the card number included in the received return confirmation signal Se in the card file is subtracted by the value corresponding to the adjusted ball data (step S53). ), The settlement ball data in the record is transferred to possessed ball data (step S54). Then, the ball holding data based on the above-described settlement ball data and the ball storage data after the subtraction are answered as ball holding / ball storage data to the ball lending machine that has transmitted the return confirmation signal Se (step S55). ).

That is, when the return confirmation signal Se is received (on the ball lending machine 9 side, the member card inserted into the card slot 22 after the settlement switch 21 is operated and before the settlement switch 21 is operated). When a cancel signal is given from the transmitter 11 in a state where 1 is re-inserted)
, A cancellation operation is performed in which data forcibly stored in the card file as ball storage data (data stored as settlement ball data) is stored again as ball possession data.

When the ball holding / ball storage data is answered back as described above, the ball lending machine 9 executes steps A29 and A30 shown in FIG. The retained ball count and the stored ball count indicated by the stored ball data are displayed on the retained ball count display section 15 and the stored ball count display section 14, respectively.

After execution of step S55, step S56 for accessing the counter file and step S57 for updating the counter file are sequentially executed, and then step S1 is executed.
Return to In the counting machine file updating step S57,
In the counting machine file, the number of holding balls indicated by the holding ball / ball storage data answered back in step S55 is added to the holding ball data in the record corresponding to the counting machine number included in the received return confirmation signal Se. Perform the operation of

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the following operations and effects can be obtained. That is, the player can enter the coin slot 1 of the ball lending machine 9.
By inserting coins into 2 and renting new pachinko balls, it is possible to play a game with the pachinko gaming machine 3. In addition, if the member card 1 is used, a return of pachinko balls based on ball holding data and ball storage data stored in the management device 29 in association with the member card 1 can be received through the ball lending machine 9. Since it is possible, a game can be played using the pachinko balls.

When playing a game using the member card 1, the ball rental unit 9 sends the member card 1 to the card insertion slot 22 provided in the ball lending machine 9. To the machine 9
The stored ball data is transmitted and stored in the storage unit 26a in the ball lending machine 9, and the retained ball number display unit 15 and the stored ball number display unit 1
4 and the stored data is used for the operation of returning the pachinko balls. However, during the return operation of the pachinko balls based on the ball data, an equivalent return process in which the ball data is reduced by the number of returned pachinko balls is performed, but during the return operation of the pachinko balls based on the ball data, Discount return processing is performed in which the accumulated ball data is reduced extra by a predetermined percentage increment.

If the proper membership card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 22, the operation of the operation knob 7a is permitted. If the operation knob 7a is operated in this state, the inside of the lower plate 7 Can be counted by the ball counter 23 provided in association with the pachinko gaming machine 3, and the counting result is added to the possessed ball number storage area in the storage unit 26a, and The ball count after the addition is updated and displayed on the ball count display unit 15.

Pachinko gaming machine 1 using member card 1
When the game is ended, the settlement switch 21 provided on the corresponding ball lending machine 9 is operated. When the settlement switch 21 is operated, the number of balls stored in the storage unit 26a is stored as ball storage data in the management device 29 and the ball data stored in the management device 29. Is stored again as the ball storage data. That is, when the player changes the pachinko gaming machine 1 to be played, the ball data including the pachinko balls acquired by the game at the pachinko gaming machine 1 that has finished the game is forcibly changed to the ball saving data to be provided for the discount return. Will be migrated to.

However, after the settlement switch 21 is operated,
That is, after the above-described settlement operation is performed, the card insertion slot 22 of the ball lending machine 9 provided with the settlement switch 21 is set.
When a cancel signal is given from the transmitter 11 while the member card 1 is re-set (re-inserted),
As described above, the management device 29 performs a canceling operation of re-storing the data forcibly shifted to the ball storage data as the ball data to be returned for equivalent return.

Therefore, the player erroneously makes an adjustment switch 21
Even if is operated, if the pachinko hall employee performs an operation of transmitting a cancel signal from the transmitter 11 carried by the pachinko hall employee to the corresponding ball lending machine 9, the ball data is forcibly changed to ball storage data. As a result, the situation in which the value of the acquired pachinko balls on the player's side is reduced can be eliminated, and there is no possibility that the player will feel suspicious. Of course, when the player finishes the game on the pachinko gaming machine 1, the player only needs to operate the settlement switch 21 himself / herself, so that the player ends the game on the pachinko gaming machine as in the conventional configuration. This eliminates the need for pachinko hall employees to go to the pachinko gaming machines, thereby reducing the burden on employees.

Further, the ball counter 23 for counting the pachinko balls obtained by the player and the ball lending machine 9 for discharging the pachinko balls are both provided corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 1. Therefore, the player does not need to leave the pachinko gaming machine 1 at the time of counting the acquired pachinko balls or when returning the pachinko balls corresponding to the counted data. As a result, the operation of counting the pachinko balls and receiving the returned pachinko balls is not likely to be complicated for the player, so that the convenience for the player can be improved, and the attendant power of the pachinko hall is expected to be improved accordingly. become able to.

When performing the above-described settlement operation, the ball rental machine 9
Since the setting of the membership card 1 (the insertion of the membership card 1 into the card insertion slot 22) is a prerequisite, the careless operation of the settlement operation can be prevented.

In the ball lending machine 9, the settlement switch 21
Is inserted into the card slot 22 of the ball lending machine 9 different from the ball lending machine 9 in accordance with the above operation, the above-described cancellation operation of the member card is prohibited. Therefore, when the player once changes the pachinko gaming machine 1 to be played, it is regarded that the operation of the settlement switch 21 corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 1 before the change is not due to the erroneous operation of the player. As a result, the cancellation operation is prohibited. Therefore, there is no possibility that the cancel operation is performed indiscriminately, and an increase in the loss on the pachinko hall side can be prevented.

Furthermore, after the preset upper limit time (for example, 10 minutes) elapses after the settlement switch 21 is operated, the canceling operation is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the loss on the pachinko hall side from increasing from this aspect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine and a ball rental machine showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a ball rental machine and related parts.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a membership card.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of a model-specific set value table stored in the ball lending machine side;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control content of a control unit of the ball rental machine, part 1

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the control unit, part 2

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 3 showing the control contents of the control unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the control unit;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the control unit, part 5

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing control contents of a management device,

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing control contents of the management device, part 2

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a counter file stored in the management device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a card file stored in the management device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format example of a signal transmitted from the control unit of the ball lending machine to the management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a membership card (memory carrier), 3 is a pachinko machine, 9
Is a ball lending machine (lending means), 11 is a transmitter, 14 is a ball storage number display section, 15 is a retained ball number display section, 17 is a return switch, 20
Is a suspend switch, 21 is a settlement switch, 22 is a card slot, 23 is a ball counter (counting means), 26 is a control unit (calculation means, settlement means, cancellation means), 26a is a storage unit, 27
Denotes a card reader, and 29 denotes a management device (storage means).

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A management system provided in a game arcade in which a gaming machine that discharges a game medium in accordance with a game is provided, wherein a storage carrier issued to a player has a one-to-one correspondence with the gaming machine. Counting means provided to count the game media released from the gaming machine at the set position, and provided so as to store the counting result of the counting means in association with the storage carrier, and to make the counting result equivalent. A storage unit capable of storing the first data to be returned and the second data to be returned in a discounted manner, provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine on a one-to-one basis; Lending means for presenting a state in which game media can be released based on the first data and the second data stored in the storage means; 1 data Based on the second data stored in the storage means, an equivalent return process for reducing the first data by the number of released game media when performed based on the second data stored in the storage means is performed. Calculating means for performing a discount return process of extraly decreasing the second data by a predetermined percentage increment from the number of game media released when the operation is performed; and And a settlement unit for performing a settlement operation of storing the data as the second data again. When a cancel signal is externally provided after the settlement operation is performed, the settlement unit stores the data in the storage unit. A management system for a game arcade, comprising: a canceling means for performing a canceling operation of re-storing the second data in the storage means as the first data. 2. The management system for a game arcade according to claim 1, wherein a settlement switch for giving a settlement instruction to said settlement means when operated is provided at a position corresponding to said gaming machine. 3. The management for a game arcade according to claim 1, wherein the settlement means is configured to perform a settlement operation only when the storage medium is set in the lending means. system. 4. When a storage carrier whose set state with respect to the lending unit has been released is set in a lending unit different from the lending unit, a canceling operation of the storage unit by the revocation unit is prohibited. The management system for a game arcade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. The canceling device according to claim 1, wherein when the preset upper limit time elapses after the settlement operation is performed, the canceling operation by the canceling unit is prohibited. Playground management system.