JPH10328393A - Game machine island - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable handling of a large number of held balls discharged from a plurality of game machines quickly and accurately along with lowered cost on a counter by a method wherein an island controller opens and controls a shutter when the counter is moved to a position below a storage tank moved to a settling position. SOLUTION: A position detection signal as given when a storage tank 40 is moved to a settling position is inputted into an island controller and when a draw lever is operated to let pachinko balls drop from a spare tray, the balls are received by a ball box 6 to be stored up to a fixed amount. When a settling switch 31 is depressed, a shutter 6c of the ball box 6 is opened to deliver the balls to a storage tank 40. A counter 20 automatically moves to a counting position below the storage tank 40 and with the movement thereof, a winder works to send out or in a cable. Thereafter, a shutter 42 of the storage tank 40 is opened to deliver the balls to the calculator 20. Thus, the counter 20 can counts the balls held in three pachinko machines and sends counting information to the island controller 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine island comprising a number of gaming machines arranged side by side, wherein the lower portion of the gaming machine island is constituted by a lower unit, and the lower unit supports the gaming machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At a gaming machine island, balls held by each pachinko machine are counted by a counter for each pachinko machine, the counted value of the balls is printed on a receipt, and the printed receipt is exchanged for a prize. A system has been constructed in which the prize is taken to a place and exchanged for a prize or the like corresponding to the counted value of the balls.
With such a system, it is not necessary to actually carry the ball to the prize exchange, which is easy for the player, and for the game arcade, the ball is taken out of the machine island to the prize exchange, and the prize exchange is performed. There is no need to return to the gaming machine island from the place again, and the game balls will circulate on the gaming machine island, so it is not necessary to replenish the ball, and the ball does not touch human hands and dust and oil There is an advantage that the ball can be easily managed from this point.

[0003]

However, in the conventional gaming machine island as described above, the management of gaming balls is easy, but the counting machine is arranged for each pachinko machine. Counting machines increase in accordance with the number, the price of gaming machine islands composed of many gaming machines increases, and in large gaming arcades where thousands to thousands of gaming machines are arranged,
There is also a problem that the initial cost and the maintenance and inspection cost for the counter are increased. Also, one counter may be provided for each of the plurality of gaming machines, and the number of balls discharged from each of the gaming machines may be counted by one counter. Also, it is necessary to accurately determine which of the plurality of gaming machines is the ball discharged from the gaming machine, and to quickly process a large amount of the ball discharged from the plurality of gaming machines. There are many challenges to be addressed. The present invention has been made in view of the conventional problems as described above, and reduces the cost of a counter in a gaming machine island and quickly and reliably discharges a large number of balls discharged from a plurality of gaming machines. It is intended to provide a gaming machine island that can be processed.

[0004]

The gist of the present invention to achieve the above object lies in the following inventions. [1] A gaming machine island (1) formed by arranging a large number of gaming machines (2), wherein a lower portion of the gaming machine island (1) is a lower unit (1).
A), and the gaming machine (2) is attached to the lower unit (1A).
The lower unit (1A) of the gaming machine island (1) includes one or more counters (20), and the counting machine (20) is provided in the gaming machine island (1). The gaming machine (2) is configured to be able to move to each counting position where it can count the possessed balls, and the lower unit (1A) of the gaming machine island (1) is constituted by a waist plate (11). A moving space (8) for moving the counter (20) in the waistboard (11) and a storage tank (40) for storing the ball in correspondence with each gaming machine (2). ), And the storage tank (40) is movably supported between a game position on the near side and a settlement position on the back side, and the counting position is below each of the storage tanks (40). The storage tank (40) communicates with the counter (20). The gaming machine island (1) includes an island controller (50), and the island controller (50) includes a shutter (42) that opens and closes an outlet of the retaining tank (40). Opening and controlling the shutter (42) when the counter (20) moves from the gaming position to the settlement position and moves to a position below the storage tank (40) moved to the settlement position. Gaming machine island (1).

[2] The waist plate (11) of the gaming machine island (1)
A ball box (6) for temporarily storing balls held in each of the gaming machines (2) is placed on the upper surface of the game machine (2), and the storage tank (4) is placed.
0) is disposed below each of the carton boxes (6) for each carton box (6), and the carton box (6) holds the stored balls in the carton box (6). The gaming machine island (1) according to [1], further comprising a carton shutter (6c) for opening and closing a discharge port discharged to the tank (40).

[3] The gaming machine island (1) has two gaming machine (2) rows extending parallel to each other in a back-to-back state, and a gap between the two gaming machine (2) rows is provided. A conveying means (60) for conveying the balls counted by the counter (20) is disposed at a lower position [1].
Or the gaming machine island (1) according to [2].

[4] A gaming machine island (1) comprising a number of gaming machines (2) arranged side by side, wherein the lower part of the gaming machine island (1) is constituted by a lower unit (1A), and the lower unit (1A) The lower unit (1A) of the gaming machine island (1) is constituted by a waistboard (11), and each gaming machine (2) is provided in the waistboard (11). And a storage tank (40) for storing the ball in correspondence with each of the gaming machines (2), and the storage tank ( 40)
Is movably supported between a game position on the near side and a settlement position on the back side, and the storage tank (40) opens and closes an outlet of a storage tank (40) communicating with the counter (20). A gaming machine island (1),
Has an island controller (50). When the storage tank (40) moves from the gaming position to the settlement position, the island controller (50) controls the shutter (4).
2) A gaming machine island (1) characterized by opening and controlling.

Next, the operation based on the above-mentioned solution will be described. In the gaming machine island (1) according to the item [1], the counter (20)
Is in the lower unit (1A) of the gaming machine island (1),
One or more gaming machine islands (1) are provided. Accordingly, the counter (20) does not have to be provided for each gaming machine (2), and when the gaming machine island (1) is installed in the game arcade, the initial cost etc. of the counting machine (20) is reduced. Can be. When counting the balls possessed by each gaming machine (2), the counting machine (2) is placed at the counting position of each gaming machine (2).
0) is moved, and counting is performed after the counter (20) moves to each counting position. The movement of the counter (20) to each counting position is performed when the storage tank (40) moves from the game position on the near side to the counting position on the back side. Island controller (5
0) indicates that the counter (20) has moved to the counting position,
The shutter (42) of the storage tank (40) is opened and controlled. Generally, in the gaming machine island (1), it is extremely rare that it is necessary to simultaneously count the balls possessed by all the gaming machines (2), and even if it is necessary to simultaneously count the balls. Since the other counting machine (20) in the standby state moves to the counting position and counts the number of possessed balls, the counting of the possessed balls is not delayed, and no trouble occurs in the gaming machine island (1). Balls are discharged from the storage tank (40) to the counter (20) stopped at the counting position, and the balls are counted. The counted number of balls is printed on a receipt, for example.

Since the storage tank (40) and the counter (20) are accommodated in the waist plate (11), there is no need to increase the island width of the gaming machine island (1), and the counter (20) is provided with the waist plate (10). 1
In order to move the moving space (8) in 1), the counter (2)
0) cannot be touched, and fraud can be prevented.

[0010] In the gaming machine island (1) according to the item [2], the possessed balls in each gaming machine (2) are temporarily stored in a ball box (6). The discharge of the balls in the ball box (6) to the storage tank (40) is performed manually or automatically by the ball box shutter (6).
This is performed by opening and closing c). Tama box shutter (6
By providing c), the counter (20) need only count the balls currently in the storage tank (40), and the balls are discharged from the ball box (6) to the storage tank (40) during counting. Can be prevented.

That is, when balls are being discharged from the carton box (6) to the storage tank (40) during counting, the counting is interrupted, and the counting position for the next priority gaming machine (2) is stopped. If you need to move to
The shutter (42) of the storage tank (40) must be closed, and the opening / closing control of the shutter (42) is complicated, and since the balls are continuously discharged, the shutter (42) of the storage tank (40) is closed. There is a possibility that a trouble may occur in which the shutter (42) cannot be closed due to the ball being caught in (42), and in the present invention in which the ball is not discharged to the storage tank (40) during counting, the cause of such trouble is considered It can be eliminated, and the counting control of possessed balls can be simplified.

In the gaming machine island (1) according to the item [3], the balls counted by the counter (20) are transported at a position below the gap between the two rows of gaming machines (2). It is collected by the means (60) and transported. The conveyed ball is, for example, lifted by a lifting device to the upper unit of the gaming machine island (1), and is supplied to each gaming machine (2) and a ball rental machine as a new gaming ball. You.

In the gaming machine island (1) according to the item [4], the counter (20) according to this item is not particularly limited to a moving one, but the counter (20) and the storage tank (40). Are accommodated in the waist plate (11), there is no need to increase the island width of the gaming machine island (1), and the counter (2)
Since the counter (0) is housed in the waist plate (11), the counter (20) cannot be touched by hand and fraud can be prevented.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 17 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention, and a lower unit shows an internal structure. FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing a configuration of ball management in the gaming machine island. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the gaming machine island. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a pachinko machine constituting the gaming machine island. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the gaming machine island 1 has a lower unit 1A, a middle unit 1B, and an upper unit 1C as supporting frameworks, and a plurality of pachinko machines 2 and balls are provided in the middle unit 1B. The lending machines 30 are arranged side by side so as to be alternately arranged. The gaming machine islands 1 in two rows are arranged so that the gaming machines 2 extend in parallel with each other in a back-to-back state.

At the center of the gaming machine island 1, a lifting device 47 is provided upright. With the lifting device 47 as a boundary, a row of gaming machines is extended to the left and right of the paper of FIG. 6 gaming machines
It consists of gaming machines 2 for each unit. Gaming machine island lower unit 1
A ball box 6 is provided on the upper surface of the waist plate 11 constituting A, corresponding to each gaming machine 2. Gaming machine island lower unit 1
Inside A, a storage tank 40, a counter 20, and a moving space 8 for the counter 20 are provided. In the gap between the gaming machine islands 1, there is a conveying means 60 which is a conveying belt for collecting the balls counted by the counter 20 and conveying the balls to the lifting device 47.
Are arranged.

The ball box 6 has a capacity to accommodate about 2000 pachinko balls. In addition, the counter 20 is 36
It has a processing capacity of 00 pieces. In addition, storage tank 4
0 has a capacity of about 3000 pachinko balls. The bin 6 is provided with a bin full sensor 6a at a position corresponding to the full reference line of the bin 6, and a bin empty sensor 6b at a position corresponding to the discharge port of the bin 6. A ball-box shutter 6c for opening and closing the discharge port of the ball-box 6 is provided. The ball-box shutter 6c opens the discharge port when the ball-box 6 is full, and sends a certain number of balls to the storage tank 40. It is possible to discharge.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage tank 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 shows a counter 20 and a storage tank 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is the rear view seen from the gap side between the game machine islands of the row. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 17, the lower opening of the carton 6 communicates with the upper receiving port of the storage tank 40. A discharge port 41 is formed at the bottom of the storage tank 40, and the bottom is inclined downward toward the discharge port 41. A shutter (not shown) is provided adjacent to the discharge port 41. The shutter opens and closes the discharge port 41 to limit discharge of the sphere in the storage tank 40, and drives the discharge port 41 to open and close. As an example, a solenoid (not shown) is provided. Note that the shutter is not provided on the back side of the discharge port 41 but can be opened and closed at an intermediate position of a communication passage communicating with the counter 20 between an open position through which a ball passes and a closed position at which the ball is prevented from passing. It may be provided.

The storage tank 40 is provided with a tank full sensor 44 at a position corresponding to the tank full reference position and a tank empty sensor 45 at a position corresponding to the discharge port 41. A signal indicating that the storage tank 40 is full or empty is input to an island controller 50 described later. An accommodation portion for accommodating the storage tank 40 is formed in the lower unit 1A. The accommodation portion is provided with a guide rail (not shown) having a convex cross-sectional shape.
The fitting recesses at the top and bottom of the fitting 0 are fitted. The storage tank 40 is movably guided and supported by a guide rail between a game position on the near side (see FIG. 16) and a settlement position on the back side (see FIG. 3). The tank wall 46 on the near side of the storage tank 40 is inclined downward toward the back side, and the knees and the like of the player sitting toward the gaming machine 2 hold the tank wall 4.
6 is considered.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a counter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cable winding device extended to the counter. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the counter. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the counter. FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the counter 20 includes an alignment path 21, a counting unit 22, and a moving unit 23. The alignment path 21 has four paths divided in the width direction by three alignment rails 24. Alignment path 21
Is formed with a discharge stage 25 which communicates with the conveying means 60. The starting end of the alignment path 21 is a take-in stage. The passage of the alignment path 21 is inclined so as to become lower from the start end to the end, so that the sphere flows down naturally. A restricting member 26 for preventing the balls from overlapping is provided above the upstream side of the passage of the alignment path 21, and a counting means which is an optical sensor corresponding to the six paths above the downstream side of the passage of the alignment path 21. 22 are provided. The counting means 22 is for the light emitting element to project light onto a sphere passing through the passage, and for the light receiving element to detect the reflected light. Counting means 2
The ball detection signal of No. 2 is input to an island controller 50 described later.

A drive motor 27 is provided below the alignment path 21. The bottom of the alignment path 21 has a pair of support shafts 28 projecting downward.
Are rotatably supported. There are various types of drive transmission means for transmitting the output of the drive motor 27 to the drive pulley 29, but in this embodiment, the transmission shaft in the support shaft 28 is rotated by engaging the gears. The pinion fixed to the shaft is engaged with the drive pulley 29.
A drive transmission cable may be passed through the support shaft 28, one end of an inner wire of the drive transmission cable may be connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 27 via a speed reduction mechanism, and the other end of the inner wire may be connected to the pinion. .

The moving space 8 of the counter 20 is a space having a substantially rectangular cross section that opens rearward (toward the gap between the two rows of gaming machine islands 1), and a rail member is provided at the bottom of the moving space 8. 14 is extended. The rail member 14 has a rectangular cross section and a length substantially corresponding to the width of the three gaming machines 2, and has rail grooves on both sides thereof into which the drive pulleys 29 rollably fit. 15 are formed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the upper unit 1C has a counter 20 mounted thereon.
A cable winding device 70 is built in corresponding to (two gaming machines 20 for a gaming machine row composed of six gaming machines 2). The take-up device 70 includes a take-up motor 71 that can rotate forward and reverse, a take-up reel 72, a guide member 73, a guide ring 74, and a coil member 75. Guide member 7
When the guide ring 74 is movably fitted into the guide groove 3 and the take-up motor 72 rotates the take-up reel 72 forward and backward,
The cable is wound, and the coil member 75 rotates forward and reverse in accordance with the winding operation of the cable, and the guide ring 74 engaged with the coil member 75 moves along the guide groove and passes through the guide ring 74. The cable is neatly fed into and taken out of the take-up reel 72.

The end of the cable extends from the upper unit 1C through the middle unit 1B to the counter 20 on the lower unit 1A side, and is connected to a control unit of a drive motor 27 of the counter 20. In addition, a signal line extends from the winding device 70 to the island controller 50. Island controller 5
In the gaming machine row composed of six gaming machines 2, when two counters 20 are both on standby, each counter 20 is assigned to each of three adjacent gaming machines 2. ,
When the storage tank 40 is pushed into the settlement position and there is a ball in the storage tank 40, the movement of the counter 20 is controlled to the counting position related to the storage tank, and the two counters 20 are controlled.
Is counting, and one of the three gaming machines 2 to which one of the counting machines 20 is assigned has a counting request, and the other gaming machine 2 has a counting position at the counting position related to the other gaming machine 2. When the counter 20 is movable, the other counter 20 is controlled to the counting position.

The island controller 50 includes a counter 20
Is compared with the current counting position and the new counting position to control the cable retraction and extension. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the pachinko machine 2 constituting the middle unit 1B launches a ball on the gauge board by rotating a handle 3 provided at the lower right end of the machine body, and enjoys winning of the hit ball. In the lower part of the pachinko machine 2, there is provided a receiving tray 4 for holding balls and prize balls to be used for games, and a spare plate (ball storage plate) 5 for receiving balls overflowing from the receiving tray 4. The spare plate 5 is provided with a ball-pulling lever (not shown) for dropping the stored pachinko balls downward.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a ball rental machine on a gaming machine island. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 10, a supply / distribution gutter 80 is obliquely provided inside the upper unit 1C so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the island from the upper discharge port of the lifting device 47. In the middle of the supply / distribution gutter 80, although not shown, each pachinko machine 2
A ball supply member called a distribution chute corresponding to each ball lending machine 30 is attached. A ball rental machine 30 is provided between the pachinko machines 2. On the front surface of the ball lending machine 30, a bill insertion slot 33, a balance adjustment switch 31 for a possessed ball, a return switch 32 for a possessed ball, and a ticket issuing port 36 for a receipt are provided. A ball counter for counting balls one by one by rotating a sprocket is provided on the back side of the ball lending machine 30, and a discharge port of the ball count communicates with a ball supply path in the ball lending machine 30. The ball supply path in the ball rental machine 30 is a three-way junction, and communicates with the payout port and the carton 6, respectively. The three-way junction is provided with a shutter that can swing between a state in which the passage to the payout port is closed by a solenoid and a state in which the passage to the ball case 6 is closed.

The ball lending machine 30 has a small printer for recording the number of balls, which is the counted result of the balls counted by the pachinko machine 2 by the counter 20 for each pachinko machine 2 and is an accumulated value, on a receipt (recording medium). (Recording means). The settlement switch 31 is also a switch for instructing the printer to pay out a receipt. The settlement signal is input to an island controller 50 described later. That is, when the settlement switch 31 is pressed and turned on, the number of balls held at that time is printed on a receipt by a printer based on a command from the island controller 50, and the receipt is paid out from the ticket issuing port 36.

On the front surface of the lower unit 1A, a display unit is provided corresponding to the gaming machine 2. The display unit comprises a number-of-balls display section 35, a call lamp 38, and a continuous / discontinuous display section 39. I have. The return switch 32
Within the range of the number of possessed balls displayed on the possessed ball number display section 35, the ball rental machine 30 juxtaposed with the pachinko machine 2 instructs the ball box 6 to actually pay out the balls through the ball return path. Switch. For example, every time the return switch 32 is pressed once, the number of balls held by the number-of-balls display means 35 is reduced by a predetermined number. Is set to be paid out.

The continuous / discontinuous display section 39 displays a continuous game (a continuous special prize state can be generated and a continuous special prize state can be generated when a special winning opening on the game board is opened and a special prize state is established). This indicates whether the game has been completed after the special prize state ends or the game has been exchanged once (the game cannot be continued after the special exchange state has ended: discontinuity). A signal for displaying continuous / discontinuous on the continuous / discontinuous display section 39 is transmitted by the hall employee by remote control operation at the start of the special prize state. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the transporting means 60 transports the gaming machine island 1 from the island end toward the center, and the lifting device 47 transports the ball transported by the transporting means 60 to the upper unit 1C. This is a device for transporting while polishing.

The transport device 60 is a transport conveyor 61 disposed in the longitudinal direction of the island so that the terminal end faces the receptacle of the large tank 65. The bottom 66 of the large tank 65 is inclined downward toward the center of the gaming machine island 1, and the bottom 6
The end discharge port 6 communicates with the carry-in port of the lifting device 47. An out-ball collecting tank 18 is provided at the lower back side of each pachinko machine 2.
From 8, a ball discharge path 19 extends downward. Ball discharge path 1
The out ball discharged from 9 falls on the transporting means 60.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of ball management in a gaming machine island. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, each pachinko machine 2, carton box 6, counter 20, ball lending machine 30, storage tank 40, and display unit are connected to the island controller 50 via the table controller. I have. The counter 20 is connected to the island controller 50 via a counter controller. Further, each island controller 50 is connected to a concentrator (HUB) by a communication line, and the concentrator is connected to a hall terminal by a LAN (local area network). The island controller 50 is specifically composed of a microcomputer, and includes a CPU (central processing unit), a RAM (random access memory), a ROM (read only memory), and an interface.

The ROM stores a control program related to ball lending by the ball lending machine 30 and a control program related to counting by the counter 20. The RAM temporarily stores the control program and the calculation results of the CPU. Things. FIG. 14 is a control block diagram of a counter in a gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a control block diagram of a ball rental machine in a gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the control block of the counter 20, when the movement information is sent from the island controller 50 to the CPU (central processing unit) via the counter controller and the information receiving unit which is an interface,
The CPU compares the current position of the counter 20 with the moving position,
The movement direction is calculated and a movement control signal is sent to the counter driving means. When the counter 20 reaches the counting position, the counting of the gaming machine 2 according to whether the counting number of the gaming machine 2 corresponding to the reaching counting position matches the number of the gaming machine 2 corresponding to the target counting position is determined.
It is determined whether 0 has reached the target counting position. If the machine numbers match, the counter 20 is stopped and controlled at the reached counting position. If the machine numbers do not match, the moving direction is calculated again, Until the machine numbers match, the movement of the counter 20 to the next counting position and the determination of the machine number match are repeated.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, when the counting information of the number of possessed balls from the counting means is input to the CPU,
The counting information is transmitted to the island controller 50 via the information transmitting unit which is an interface and the counter controller.
The island controller 50 controls the issuance of the receipt on which the number of balls is printed by the sheet issuing means when the settlement means outputs the settlement signal of the possessed ball, and when the ball returning means outputs the ball return signal, Within the range of the number of possessed balls, the ball is returned by the ball discharging means.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating counting of possessed balls in a gaming machine island. FIG.
Is a flowchart showing lending of a ball. FIG.
In, when the settlement button of the ball lending machine 30 is pressed (step S201), the presence or absence of a counting ball recorded in the table controller is determined (step S202), and if the storage tank 40 is not empty (step S203). , A receipt is issued (step S204).

In step S202, if there is no counting ball, the process proceeds to step S205, and it is determined whether or not the storage tank 40 is empty. If so, the process returns to step S201. If the storage tank 40 is not empty, the island controller 50 outputs a movement signal to the counter 20 (step S20).
6), the counter 20 moves toward the target counting position (step S207). If the counter 20 stops at each counting position and the counter 20 does not arrive at the target counting position, the process returns to step S207, and the counter 20 moves in the direction of the target counting position.

When the counter 20 arrives at the target counting position (step S207), the number of possessed balls is counted until the counting of the possessed balls in the storage tank 40 is completed (step S2).
09-S210). Before the counter 20 moves to the target counting position or after the counter 20 moves to the target counting position, the storage tank 40 is pushed from the gaming position to the settlement position, and the storage tank 40 is moved to the settlement position. Is input to the island controller 50. After completion of the counting, the process returns to step S203.

The lending of a game ball is performed as follows. In FIG. 13, when the coin is not inserted (step S301) and the ball return button is pressed (step S3).
03) If there is a counting ball recorded in the island controller (step S303), the ball is paid out (step S304).

In step S301, when money is inserted, the type of money (1000 yen, 500 yen, 100 yen)
Yen) is performed, and various money signals (1000 yen signal, 50
(0 yen signal, 100 yen signal) is input to the table controller, and if the money is not 1000 yen, 500 yen or 100 yen, the money is returned (step S305-3).
09). The payout of the ball is performed based on the money signal input to the table controller (step S304).

In step S303, if there is no counting ball, it is determined whether the inside of the storage tank 40 is empty, and if it is empty, the process returns to step S301. If the storage tank 40 is not empty, the island controller 50 outputs a movement signal to the counter 20 (step S313), and the counter 20 moves toward the target counting position (step S314). If the counter 20 stops at each counting position and the counter 20 does not arrive at the target counting position, the process returns to step S314, and the counter 20 moves in the direction of the target counting position.

When the counter 20 arrives at the target counting position (step S314), the number of possessed balls is counted until the counting of the possessed balls in the storage tank 40 is completed (step S3).
16-S317). Before the counter 20 moves to the target counting position or after the counter 20 moves to the target counting position, the storage tank 40 is pushed from the gaming position to the settlement position, and the storage tank 40 is moved to the settlement position. Is input to the island controller 50. After completion of the counting, the process returns to step S304.

In the game, when a prize is won, the winning ball is first discharged to the receiving tray 4, and the ball overflowing from the receiving tray 4 is supplied to the spare tray 5.
Accepted to. Player removes ball by lever (not shown)
By operating the and dropping the pachinko ball from the spare dish 5,
The ball is received in the ball box 6 as it is. The balls that have fallen from the spare plate 5 are stored in the bowl 6 to a certain amount. When the player presses the settlement switch 31, the shutter 6c of the ball case 6 is opened, and the ball in the ball case 6 is transferred to the storage tank 40. The counter 20 automatically moves to the counting position that is below the storage tank 40. Along with the movement of the counter 20, the winding device 70 is operated, and the cable is fed and fed. Then the shutter 4 of the storage tank 40
2 is opened and transferred to the counter 20. Counter 20
Can count balls possessed by three pachinko machines. The counting information of the counter 20 is sent to the island controller 50.

In the counter 20, the balls flow down in a state where the balls separated by the alignment rails 24 are aligned in a line. The spheres flowing down the passages are counted by counting means 22 provided for each passage.

The value thus counted is added to the counted value as the number of possessed balls under the control of the island controller 50. When the counter 20 is operating, the display unit notifies that the counting is in progress. The counter 2
If any abnormality occurs in 0, the display unit blinks to notify the abnormality. The counter 20
Is immediately displayed on the possessed ball number display section 35 under the control of the island controller 50. Note that the counted balls pass through the discharge stage 25 and are discharged onto the transfer means 60 located immediately below the discharge stage 25. Eventually, a large tank 65
It is thrown into. The ball of the large tank 65 is lifted to the upper unit 1C by the drive of the lifting device 47,
The pachinko machine 2 and the ball rental machine 30 are replenished at any time via the.

When ending the game, all the balls of the receiving tray 4 and the spare tray 5 are dropped from the ball box 6 into the storage tank 40, and after counting by the counter 20, the settlement switch 31 may be pressed. Then, a receipt on which the total number of balls possessed by the player is printed is issued from the ticket issuing port 36. In this embodiment, the gaming machine islands 1 are arranged in such a manner that the gaming machines 2 are arranged with the gaming machines 2 back to back, and the conveying means 60 is provided in the gap between the gaming machine islands 1 in the two rows. Yajima Controller 5
Although the example in which 0 is applied is shown, the invention may be applied to a single row of gaming machine islands supporting a plurality of gaming machines 2 to be managed by the island controller 50 on the lower unit 1A.

In addition, the possession ball is the ball box 6-the storage tank 40-
Although the flow down the counter 20 is shown, the ball box 6 can be omitted. In this case, the ball returned by the return button 32 may be returned to the saucer 4 or the like. In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other gaming machines.

In the game, one-time exchange in which the special winning opening on the game board is opened and the player cannot continue the game after the end of the special prize state in which the player easily obtains the ball, and further after the end of the special prize state, There are two cases of a continuous game that can be continued, but in the case of a continuous game, the return of the counting ball may be performed by a ball return dedicated sand shown in FIG. 18 instead of the ball rental machine 30. .

[0046]

According to the gaming machine island according to the present invention, in the gaming machine island composed of a plurality of gaming machines, for example, it is possible to count balls possessed by a plurality of gaming machines with an integrated counter.
In the gaming machine island, the cost of the counting machine can be reduced, and a large number of balls discharged from a plurality of gaming machines can be promptly and reliably processed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gaming machine island according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a lower unit shows an internal structure.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing a configuration of ball management in the gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a pachinko machine constituting a gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a counter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cable winding device extended to the counter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a counter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the counter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a ball rental machine on a game machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of ball management in the gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an overall flowchart showing counting of possessed balls in a gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing ball lending in a gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a counter controller in the gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a control block diagram of a ball rental machine in the gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a rear view of a counter, a storage tank, and the like according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from a gap between two rows of gaming machine islands.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing the inside of the ball-returning sand according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine island 1A ... Lower unit 1B ... Middle unit 1C ... Upper unit 2 ... Game machine 4 ... Reception tray 6 ... Tray box 6a ... Tama box full sensor 6b ... Tama box empty sensor 6c ... Tama box shutter 8 ... Movement space 12 ... Positioning stopper 13 ... Cover 14 ... Rail member 15 ... Rail groove 18 ... Out ball collection tank 19 ... Ball discharge path 20 ... Counter 21 ... Alignment path 22 ... Counting means 23 ... Movement means 24 ... Alignment rail 25 ... Discharge stage 26 ... Limiting member 27 ... Drive motor 28 ... Support shaft 29 ... Drive pulley 30 ... Ball lending machine 31 ... Checkout switch 32 ... Return switch 33 ... Bill insertion slot 35 ... Number of balls to be displayed 36 ... Ticket opening 38 ... Call lamp 39 ... Continuous / discontinuous display section 40 ... Reservoir tank 41 ... Discharge port 42 ... Shutter 43 ... Solenoid 44 ... Tank full sensor 45 tank empty sensor 46 tank wall 47 lifting device 50 island controller 60 transport means 65 large tank 70 winding device 71 winding motor 72 winding reel 73 guide member 74 guide ring 75 ... Coil members

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine island comprising a plurality of gaming machines arranged in a row, wherein a lower portion of the gaming machine island is constituted by a lower unit, and the gaming machine is supported by the lower unit. Comprises one or more counters, wherein the counters are configured to be movable to respective counting positions where the balls obtained by each gaming machine in the gaming machine island can be counted. The lower unit of the island is constituted by a waist plate, and has a moving space for the counter to move in the waist plate, and a storage tank for storing the ball in correspondence with each gaming machine. The storage tank is movably supported at a game position on the near side and a settlement position on the back side, and the counting position corresponds to each lower position of each of the storage tanks. , Draining of the storage tank communicating with the counter The game machine island has an island controller, and the island controller moves the storage tank from the gaming position to the checkout position, and moves the storage tank to the checkout position. When the counter moves to the lower position,
A gaming machine island wherein the shutter is opened and controlled. 2. A ball box for temporarily storing balls held in each of the gaming machines is placed on an upper surface of a waist plate of the gaming machine island, and the storage tank is provided with each of the ball boxes for each of the ball boxes. The ball box is provided with a ball box shutter that opens and closes an outlet through which balls held in the box are discharged to the storage tank. The gaming machine island mentioned. 3. The gaming machine island has two gaming machine rows extending parallel to each other in a back-to-back state, and the counter counts a position below a gap between the two gaming machine rows. 3. The gaming machine island according to claim 1, further comprising a transporting means for transporting the ball. 4. A game machine island in which a number of game machines are arranged, wherein a lower unit of the game machine island is constituted by a lower unit, and the game machine is supported by the lower unit. It is constituted by a waistboard, In the waistboard, a counting machine for counting the balls held in each gaming machine, and a storage tank for storing the balls in correspondence with each gaming machine The storage tank is movably supported between a game position on the near side and a settlement position on the back side, and the storage tank has a shutter for opening and closing a discharge port of the storage tank communicating with the counter. The gaming machine island includes an island controller, wherein the island controller controls the opening of the shutter when the storage tank moves from the gaming position to the settlement position.