JPH11114209A - Wireless coin-counting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically sum up sales conditions per hour, day, week, and month of each kind of machine without requiring workers and accurately grasp the operation conditions of each kind of machine and obtain information to examine the most effective application way. SOLUTION: This wireless coin-counting system is provided with a wireless coin-counting unit 20 counting correct coin signals from coin selectors 21 of each kind of machine and transmitting the number of accumulated coins or call signals for operators or the like through radio, a center unit 30 summing up, indicating, and printing the information data transmitted from the wireless coin-counting unit 20 and calling operators, and a wireless unit 40 repeating the information exchange between the wireless coin-counting unit 20 and the center unit 30 through radio signals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless coin counting system for confirming the number of coins inserted into various game machines installed in amusement facilities and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various game machines installed in amusement facilities and the like (hereinafter, referred to as machines).
Then, it is necessary to confirm which machines are sold and how much sales, and such information is a big factor especially for grasping popular models of machines, selecting installation locations, deciding the replacement of models, etc. Things.

Conventionally, in order to check the number of coins inserted when using such a machine, a method of counting manually by each machine is generally performed. However, in practice, a coin selector and a coin selector are used. Either reading the value of the integrated counter or counting all coins collected from each machine into a separately prepared coin counter device.

[0004] In addition, in the coin collecting operation, since information on the amount of coins stored in each machine cannot be obtained in advance, all the machines are periodically checked in accordance with the machine which is full of coins soonest. The collection work is being carried out.

[0005]

However, if counted for each machine, it can be used to analyze the operating status of the machine, etc., but the coins collected from each machine are collected in one place and then sent to the coin counter device. If they are counted in a lump, it is impossible to analyze the operation status of each individual machine.

In addition, according to the periodic collection operation in conjunction with the machine that is full of coins at the earliest, the collection operation is performed simultaneously on the machines that do not need to be collected yet. It takes a long time for the work and requires human labor, which causes a decrease in efficiency in management and operation.

Furthermore, if the number of coins inserted into the machine is left unnoticed without being noticed, it often happens that misses are missed. In this way, from the standpoint of store owners who have installed machines, we realize that despite the urgent need to accurately understand the operating status of each machine and to operate it efficiently. In order to do so, on the contrary, a lot of manpower and labor costs were required at present.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems that have existed in the past, and has been developed in consideration of the time,
The daily, weekly, and monthly sales status can be automatically tabulated without using humans, so that the operating status of each machine can be accurately grasped, and information for studying the most efficient operation method can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless coin counting system capable of confirming whether or not the collected money amount is correct.

[0009]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the genuine signals from the coin selectors of various machines are counted, and the number of stored coins, the call signal to the attendant, etc. are wirelessly transmitted. A wireless coin counting unit 20 for transmitting and transmitting information, a center unit 30 for performing totaling, displaying, printing, and calling operations to a staff member of information transmitted from the wireless coin counting unit 20;
The above-described problem is solved by providing the wireless unit 40 that relays information exchange between the wireless coin counting unit 20 and the center unit 30 by a wireless signal.

The wireless coin counting unit 20 controls coin acceptance or prohibition by the coin selectors of various machines, and stores the total number of coins inserted into various machines. At the same time, in accordance with an inquiry from the center unit 30 or a handy type tallying machine other than the center unit 30, a coin tally sending unit for sending the stored information to the center unit 30 side, and a clerk calling signal via the wireless unit 40. The above-mentioned problem was also solved by providing a call signal transmitting unit that transmits the signal to the center unit 30 and notifies the staff member via the center unit 30.

[0011] The above-mentioned problem has also been solved by the fact that the communication by the coin summation notifying means or the call signal transmitting means is repeated by bidirectional radio until data is reliably transferred to the receiving side.

Further, the wireless coin counting unit 20 is provided with an authentication number setting means for inputting a self-identification number when a plurality of the wireless coin counting units 20 are used at the same time. .

The center unit 30 is provided for a predetermined period or for an arbitrary time operated by an operator.
A coin tally storage unit for acquiring data by polling 0 and storing the acquired data; and a tally result display unit for constantly displaying data acquired by polling for each wireless coin count unit 20, date and time, and the like. A printing means for printing out the data content stored in the coin counting storage means, and a display, sound, vibration, etc., to notify a staff in response to a staff call signal from a call signal transmitting means of the wireless coin counting unit 20. The above-described problem is also solved by providing the notification unit for causing the notification.

Further, the radio unit 40 converts the digital signal from the center unit 30 into a radio signal and transmits the radio signal to the wireless coin counting unit 20, while converting the radio signal from the wireless coin counting unit 20 into a digital signal. By transmitting the data to the center unit 30, the above-described problem has been solved.

In the wireless coin counting system according to the present invention, the wireless coin counting unit 2
0 counts genuine signals from coin selectors of various machines, and causes the number of accumulated coins, a call signal to a clerk, and the like to be transmitted wirelessly.

Further, the center unit 30 causes the information sent from the wireless coin counting unit 20 to be totaled, displayed, printed, and called by a staff member. At this time, the center unit 30 waits by inquiring the wireless coin counting unit 20 in advance in a predetermined order for the presence or absence of information to be communicated to the wireless coin counting unit 20 over a preset cycle or an arbitrary time operated by the operator. Data is acquired by so-called polling to reduce the time and the like, and the acquired data is stored by the coin counting and storing means. In addition, the user is asked to confirm that the collected amount is correct.

Further, the wireless unit 40 includes the wireless coin counting unit 20 and the center unit 3.
The information exchange of 0 is relayed by a communication signal by two-way radio,
In addition, the communication is repeated in both directions until data is surely transferred, thereby ensuring more complete information transmission.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Is a wireless coin counting system for various machines such as a game machine installed in an amusement facility, for example. The wireless coin counting system 1 counts genuine signals from coin selectors of various machines and accumulates the signals. The number of coins
A wireless coin counting unit 20 for wirelessly transmitting a call signal or the like to a clerk, and a personal computer for counting, displaying, printing, and calling the clerk the information sent from the wireless coin count unit 20 A center unit 30 in which terminal devices are installed,
The wireless coin counting unit 20 is provided with a wireless unit 40 for relaying information exchange between the center unit 30 by wireless signals.

Wireless coin counting unit 20
For example, when the unusable coin is inserted into the machine by the coin selector unit 21 of various machines or when the coin is full, a control input signal such as prohibition of coin acceptance is transmitted to the CPU, the memory, A coin selector control output unit 23 for outputting by a control circuit 22 having a built-in I / O function, and a control for storing a genuine signal from the coin selector unit 21 which counts and totals the number of coins inserted into various machines. A coin count input unit 24 to be transmitted to the circuit 22;
Two-way wireless communication that transmits stored information stored in the control circuit 22 to the center unit 30 via the two-way antenna 25A in response to an inquiry from the center unit 30 or a handy type tallying machine other than the center unit 30. The RF module 25 constitutes a coin sum transmission unit.

The wireless coin counting unit 20 transmits a staff call signal to the center unit 30 via the wireless unit 40,
A call signal transmitting means is provided by including a general-purpose input / output unit 26 such as a call button and a display device for notifying a staff member via the "0". Then, the communication by the coin totalizing notifying means or the calling signal transmitting means is repeated by bidirectional wireless until data is surely transferred to the receiving side, thereby ensuring a complete transmitting function.

Further, the wireless coin counting unit 20 includes
In order to enable the simultaneous use of a plurality of IDs, an ID number input unit 27 for inputting a number for self-recognition to the control circuit 22 is provided to constitute an authentication number setting unit.

The wireless coin counting unit 2
0 indicates that the control circuit 22 is operated by the power supply unit 28 connected to, for example, an AC 100 V power supply during normal use. However, even when a power failure occurs, the power supply unit 28 is constantly operated to hold the coin number information stored in the control circuit 22. A battery 29 for operation is built in.

The center unit 30 has a constant period, for example, a sequential type or a roll type type, for a preset period for the wireless coin counting unit 20 or for an arbitrary time operated by the operator using the numeric keypad 31. Has a coin counting function of acquiring data by so-called polling for inquiring the presence or absence of a service request according to the above rule and storing the acquired data in a recording medium such as a hard disk (HD) by the built-in storage device 32. A coin tally storage unit is provided.

The center unit 30 displays the data, date and time (day, time, second) and the like obtained by polling each wireless coin counting unit 20 by the coin total storage means on the display device 33 at all times. Means, printing means such as a printer for printing out data contents recorded in the storage device 32, and display, sound, vibration, etc. corresponding to a clerk's calling signal from the calling signal transmitting means of the wireless coin counting unit 20. And a notifying means for notifying a staff member via the wireless unit 40.

The wireless unit 40 includes the center unit 3
From 0, a digital signal is temporarily stored in a control circuit 41 having a built-in CPU, a memory, and an I / O function, and the digital signal is converted into a wireless signal. While the wireless signal is transmitted to the wireless coin counting unit 20, the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless coin counting unit 20 to the RF module 42 via the bidirectional antenna 43 is converted into a digital signal by the control circuit 41 and then passed to the center unit 30. It is configured as something. The wireless unit 40 is, for example, an AC
The control circuit 41 is operated by a power supply unit 44 connected to a 100 V power supply.

Next, an example of use of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, each time a coin is inserted into various machines, the number of coins is counted by the coin selector 21 and the genuine signal is stored by the control circuit 22 of the wireless coin counting unit 20 and stored. The number of coins, a call signal to the attendant, and the like are transmitted to the wireless unit 40 and passed to the center unit 30. Here, the center unit 30 collects and displays information sent from the wireless coin counting unit 20,
It performs printing and calling operations to attendants.

At this time, the center unit 30 operates the wireless coin counting unit 2 for a preset period or at an arbitrary time operated by an operator.
Data is acquired by so-called polling to reduce waiting time, etc., by inquiring in advance whether or not there is information to be communicated with 0 in a predetermined order, and the acquired data is stored by the coin counting and storing means. As a result, the operating status of various machines can be accurately grasped, and it is also possible to confirm whether the collected money is correct.

[0028]

The present invention is configured as described above.
In particular, the time, day, week, and monthly sales status of various machines, such as various game machines installed at amusement facilities, can be automatically tabulated without using humans, and the operating status of each machine can be accurately grasped. And the information for examining the most efficient operation method can be obtained. In addition, it is easy to check whether the collected amount is correct.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wireless coin count system 20 ... Wireless coin count unit 21 ... Coin selector unit 22 ... Control circuit 23 ... Coin selector control output unit 24 ... Coin count input unit 25 ... RF module 25A ... Bidirectional antenna 26 ... General purpose input / output unit 27 ... ID number input unit 28 ... power supply unit 29 ... battery 30 ... center unit 31 ... numeric keypad 32 ... storage device 33 ... display device 40 ... wireless unit 41 ... control circuit 42 ... RF module 43 ... bidirectional antenna 44 ... power supply unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A wireless coin counting unit that counts genuine signals from coin selectors of various machines and wirelessly transmits the number of stored coins, a call signal to a clerk, and the like, and the wireless coin counting unit. And a wireless unit for relaying information exchange between the wireless coin counting unit and the center unit by a wireless signal. Characterized wireless coin counting system. 2. The wireless coin counting unit includes a coin selector control unit that controls acceptance or prohibition of coins by a coin selector of various machines, counts the number of coins inserted into various machines, and stores the total number thereof. A coin counting and transmitting means for transmitting the stored information to the center unit in response to an inquiry from the center unit or a handy type counting device other than the center unit; and transmitting a staff call signal to the center unit via the wireless unit. 2. The wireless coin counting system according to claim 1, further comprising: a call signal transmitting means for notifying a staff member via the center unit. 3. The communication by the coin tallying notifying means or the calling signal transmitting means is repeated until data is securely transferred to a receiving side by two-way wireless communication.
The described wireless coin counting system. 4. The wireless coin according to claim 1, wherein said wireless coin counting unit includes an authentication number setting means for inputting a self-identification number when a plurality of said wireless coin counting units are used simultaneously. Counting system. 5. The center unit obtains data by polling the wireless coin counting unit for a preset period or at an arbitrary time operated by an operator, and stores the obtained data. Coin counting storage means, counting result display means for constantly displaying data acquired by polling for each wireless coin counting unit, date and time, and printing means for printing out data contents stored in the coin counting storage means. 5. The wireless coin counting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying unit that notifies a clerk by display, sound, vibration, or the like in response to a clerk calling signal from a calling signal transmitting unit of the wireless coin counting unit. system. 6. The wireless unit converts a digital signal from the center unit into a wireless signal and transmits it to the wireless coin counting unit, and converts a wireless signal from the wireless coin counting unit into a digital signal and transmits it to the center unit. The wireless coin counting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: