JP2948274B2 - Game media rental equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention provides a game medium lending device for releasing a game medium in response to the insertion of money, and in particular, is installed corresponding to a game machine. Related to a game medium lending device.

(Prior Art) For example, a tama ball lending machine installed between pachinko game machines basically determines the authenticity and value of inserted coins by a check mechanism and passes the check mechanism. The number of pachinko balls corresponding to the value of the coin is released through the release mechanism. In this case, the release mechanism is
A pachinko ball for supplying to the pachinko game machine is communicated through a bellows tube to a circulation pipe through which the pachinko ball is supplied, and the pachinko ball supplied through the bellows tube is discharged as described above.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the above-described lending machine, a situation often occurs in which the operation of releasing the pachinko ball is not performed despite the insertion of coins. The main causes of such failures are clogging of pachinko balls in the bellows tube and failure of the release mechanism itself.

Of these failure causes, it is often possible to eliminate them by vibrating the tama ball machine or directly vibrating the bellows tube, but it is difficult to eliminate them easily. In each case, repairing a malfunctioning part one by one often causes trouble for a player who is playing a game with a pachinko game machine. For this reason, conventionally, when the above-described failure occurs, the entire tama ball rental machine is replaced with a new one.

However, when such exchange is performed, there are many unclear points in handling the difference between the inserted coin and the released pachinko ball. In other words, in this case, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the difference (the number of unreleased pachinko balls) may be forcibly released from the exchanged lending machine, but the player declares. The coin input value is incorrectly confirmed and the player wins, and the confirmation requires a lot of trouble, which increases the burden on pachinko hall employees. In addition, there is a possibility that the pachinko hall employee may perform the above-mentioned forced release operation of the pachinko ball illegally, and this has been an unsolved problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to be able to promptly respond to an abnormality in the operation of discharging game media in response to the insertion of money, and to perform post-processing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game medium lending device that can greatly reduce labor, reduce the burden on game room employees, and can prevent fraudulent acts utilizing the abnormal state.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, in a lending apparatus main body installed corresponding to a gaming machine, a detecting means for detecting a value of inserted money, And a game medium lending device provided with game medium release control means for releasing a predetermined number of game media through a release mechanism within the range of the detection value by the detection means, wherein the lending device body is configured to be detachable. ,
An external auxiliary device is provided which calculates the unreleased game medium value based on the detected value by the detection means and the released game medium value by the release mechanism and stores the value as unreleased game medium number data, the ball release control means comprising: When the data on the number of undischarged game media is received, a discharging operation of the number of game media according to the data is performed.

Further, the external auxiliary device is configured to include a denomination determining means for determining a denomination of the inserted money based on a detection value by the detecting means, and the content of the determination by the denomination determining means is denominated. The data is stored in association with the game medium number data, and when the game medium release control means receives the denomination data together with the unreleased game medium number data, the money indicated by the denomination data is On condition that the game media is inserted, a configuration may be adopted in which the number of game media is released in accordance with the number of game media data.

(Operation) When a bill is inserted into the lending apparatus main body, the inserted value is detected by the detecting means, and the ball release control means releases a predetermined number of game media through the releasing mechanism within the range of the detected value. Become like At this time, in the external auxiliary device, the unreleased game medium value is calculated based on the detection value by the detection means (that is, the value of the inserted bill) and the released game medium value by the release mechanism, and the number of unreleased game media is calculated. Although the data is stored as data, when the operation of discharging the game medium is normally performed, the data on the number of undischarged game media gradually becomes zero.

However, if a failure occurs in which the above-described ejection operation is not performed properly despite the insertion of money, the unreleased game medium number data includes the value of the inserted bill and the value of the released game medium. And the difference between the two. in this case,
If the above failure state cannot be easily resolved,
Replace the rental device with a new one.

In response to such exchange, when the lending device main body is re-installed at a predetermined position, the external auxiliary device gives the above-described unreleased game medium number data to the game medium release control means of the lending device main body. Then, the game medium release control means performs the releasing operation of the number of game media according to the unreleased game medium number data. In other words, the number of game media that have remained in the unreleased state due to the occurrence of a failure is automatically released in accordance with the replacement of the lending device body.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the denomination determining means determines the denomination of the inserted banknote, and the determination content is determined as denomination data in a state associated with the number of game media data. It is stored in the external auxiliary device.
In such a case, when the above-described failure occurs and the lending device main body is replaced with a new one, the game medium release control means sets the unreleased game medium number data and denomination from the external auxiliary device. Upon receiving the data, a release operation of the number of game media according to the game medium number data is performed on condition that the money indicated by the denomination data is inserted. Therefore, for example, even in a configuration in which the inserted money can be easily taken out from the lending device main body before the exchange,
It is necessary to insert a currency of the same denomination as the currency into a new lending apparatus body after the exchange, thereby preventing a situation in which the bill is concealed by urging beforehand.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko ball lending apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 1, the lending apparatus main body 1 is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, and is detachably installed between pachinko game machines (not shown) as game machines. However, for the removal, for example, a key is required. On the front panel 1a of the lending device body 1, a coin slot 2, a display unit 3,
An error indicator light 4, a return switch 5 pressed to return the inserted coin, a tray 6 for returned coins, and a ball payout port 7 having a function of receiving a released pachinko ball are provided. When the return switch 5 is turned on, a pulse-like return signal Pf is output from these switches.

A pachinko ball release mechanism 8 provided as a game medium provided in the lending apparatus main body 1 is provided with a pachinko ball distribution pipe (not shown) provided on the back side of the pachinko game machine and an upper discharge pipe.
Pachinko balls are supplied through 9a,
Each time it is operated by a command from the control unit 10 which is a game medium release control means described later, a unit number (equivalent to 100 yen) of, for example, 25 pachinko balls is discharged to the ball payout port 7 through the lower discharge pipe 9b. It has a configuration. At this time, in the release mechanism 8, when the release operation of the pachinko ball is normally performed in response to the operation command from the control unit 10, the release completion pulse Pa is generated and fed back to the control unit 10. It has become.

In this case, the upper discharge pipe 9a has a broken-out detection switch
The ball-break detection switch 11 generates a ball detection signal Sb in a state where a pachinko ball is present in the upper discharge pipe 9a and supplies the ball detection signal Sb to the control unit 10.

Checking mechanism as detection means provided in the lending device body 1
Numeral 12 receives a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 2 via a guide member 13. At this time, the check mechanism 12 has a function of checking, for example, a 100-yen coin and a 500-yen coin, and when receiving a genuine 100-yen coin, generates one amount counting pulse Pz and generates a genuine 500-yen coin. When a coin is received, an amount counting pulse Pz is generated continuously for 5 pulses, and the counting pulse Pz is generated by the control unit.
Given to 10. Therefore, when coins other than the 100-yen coin and the 500-yen coin or imitation coins are inserted, the check mechanism 12
Does not output the amount counting pulse Pz.

In this case, a shutter 14 driven by an electromagnetic solenoid 14a is provided on the coin entrance side of the check mechanism 12,
In a state where the shutter 14 is driven, the guide of the inserted coin to the check mechanism 12 is blocked. A coin detection switch 15 is provided on the coin entrance side of the check mechanism 12, and the coin detection switch 15 is
When a coin is guided to 12, a coin detection signal Sc is generated and provided to the control unit 10.

The coins checked by the check mechanism 12 fall in the passage member 16 whose lower end is bifurcated. The passage member 16 is provided with shutters 17 and 18 that are driven in accordance with the energization of the electromagnetic solenoids 17a and 18a, respectively.
Is passed through a coin transport mechanism (not shown) and the shutters 17 and 18 are both driven,
The coin that has passed through the check mechanism 12 is guided to the tray 6.

The reset switch 19 provided in the lending device main body 1 is of a momentary type, and generates a pulse-shaped reset signal Ps when the switch is turned on to supply the reset signal Ps to the control unit 10.

The external auxiliary device 20, which is electrically connected to the lending device main body 1 via the connector 21, is provided in a well-known call lamp unit (not shown) provided above the pachinko game machine, for example. This includes the return signal Pf from the return switch 5 and the release completion pulse P from the release mechanism 8.
a, An amount counting pulse Pz from the check mechanism 12 is provided, and has a configuration as schematically shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 2, the first counting circuit 22 for counting a release completion pulse Pa is adapted to output the counting result as a numeric signals S _1, therefore numerical signals S _1, due release mechanism 8 It corresponds to the value of the released pachinko ball. Second counting circuit for counting the amount counting pulse Pz
23 is adapted to output the counting result as a numeric signal S _2, therefore numerical signal S ₂ is such as to correspond to the value of the coin inserted from the coin slot 2. The first and second counting circuits 22 and 23 are configured to be initialized when a pulse signal is received at the reset terminal R, and a pulse-like return from the return switch 5 is applied to the reset terminal R. The signal Pf is provided.

The arithmetic circuit 24, arithmetic subtracting the numerical signals S ₁ from the value signal S _2, i.e. performs an operation for obtaining a difference between the value and the discharge pachinko balls value of the inserted coins, with sequentially updates stores the calculation results, It has a configuration which gives to the control unit 10 outputs a such memory contents as the non-emission pachinko ball number data serving numerical signal S _3. Incidentally, the numerical signal S ₃ is adapted to be also applied to the comparison circuit 25, the comparator circuit 25, first and outputs a payout completion pulse Px when numerical signal S ₃ becomes zero The second counting circuits 22 and 23 are initialized.

The control unit 10 is configured to include a microcomputer, and the ejection completion pulse Pa, the ball detection signal Sb, the amount counting pulse Pz, the coin detection signal Sc, the reset signal Ps, and the external other numerical signal S ₃ from the auxiliary device 20, the being adapted to return a signal Pf to be output is provided from the return switch 5, based on their input signals and pre-stored control program, the display unit 3 ,
The error indicator 4, the release mechanism 8, and the shutters 14, 17, 18 are controlled.

FIG. 3 shows the contents of control by the control unit 10, which will be described below together with related operations.

That is, the control unit 10, at the beginning the power is turned on, when a reset signal Ps is determined whether or not the input (Step A1), the reset signal Ps even after the lapse of whether a predetermined time T ₀ is not inputted, the coin detection It waits until the signal Sc is input, in other words, until a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 2 (steps A2 and A3). When the coin detection signal Sc is input,
The control unit 10 operates the shutter 14 by the electromagnetic solenoid 14a, thereby preventing new coins from being guided to the check mechanism 12 (step A4).

Next, the control unit 10 continuously determines whether or not the amount counting pulse Pz from the check mechanism 12 has been input for a certain period of time t (steps A5 and A6). When Pz is not input, that is, when a genuine 100 yen coin or 500 yen coin is not inserted, the shutters 17 and 18 are driven only for a short time by the electromagnetic solenoids 17a and 18a, and the electromagnetic solenoid 14a The operation of the shutter 14 is stopped and restored (steps A7 and A8), and thereafter, the process returns to step A3. As a result, the coins checked by the check mechanism 12 are returned to the tray 6, and the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 2 return to the original state where they are guided to the check mechanism 12.

When the amount counting pulse Pz is input (“YES” in step A5), the control unit 10 outputs a genuine 100 yen coin or
When a 500-yen coin is inserted, the number of input count pulses Pz is counted (step A9), and it is determined whether the inserted coin is a 100-yen coin or a 500-yen coin based on the counting result (step A10). ). If the inserted coin is a 100-yen coin, after displaying “1” on the display unit 3, it is determined whether or not the ball detection signal Sb is input, that is, a pachinko ball is inserted into the upper discharge pipe 9 a. It is to judge whether or not the pachinko ball is present (steps A11 and A12). When the pachinko ball is present in the upper discharge pipe 9a, an operation command is given to the discharge mechanism 8 to operate it (step A13). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the release completion pulse Pa has been input (step A14).

At this time, when the release mechanism 8 functions normally, a unit number of pachinko balls are released from this and supplied to the ball payout port 7, and the release mechanism 8 outputs a release completion pulse Pa. The unit 10 determines “YES” in step A14. Then, in the control unit 10, the shutter 17 is driven for a short time by the electromagnetic solenoid 17a (step A15).
Yen coins are collected through a coin transport mechanism (not shown). Thereafter, the control unit 10 initializes the display on the display unit 3 (step A16), and determines whether or not the return signal Pf has been input.
That is, it is determined whether the return switch 5 has been turned on (step A17).

When the control unit 10 determines “YES” in step A17,
That is, when the return switch 5 has been turned on,
The shutter 14 is returned, and the shutters 17 and 18 are driven for a short time, and then the process returns to step A3 (steps A18 and A1).
9). As a result, the return switch 5
Is turned on, the second and subsequent inserted coins are returned to the tray 6. When the controller 10 determines “NO” in step A17, that is, when the return switch 5 has not been turned on,
Is returned to step A3 (step A20).

On the other hand, when an abnormality such as clogging of a pachinko ball occurs in the release mechanism 8 and the release mechanism 8 does not perform the release operation of the pachinko ball despite receiving the operation command, the release completion pulse Pa is not output. In step A14, select `` N
O ". In this case, the control unit 10
A loop is formed in which step A14 is repeatedly executed until a predetermined time ΔT elapses (step A21).
When the release completion pulse Pa is not input into the controller, the error indicator lamp 4 is turned on (step A22).

After this, the control unit 10 performs steps A14, A21,
A loop for repeatedly executing A22 is formed until either the return signal Pf or the reset signal Ps is input (steps A23 and A24). Therefore, until the return switch 5 is turned on and the return signal Pf is output, or until the reset switch 19 is turned on and the reset signal Ps is output, the abnormal state in the release mechanism 8 is resolved. When the pachinko ball release operation is performed, that is, the control unit 10
When the release completion pulse Pa is input to the CPU, the operation after the step A15 is executed.

When the reset switch 19 is turned on with the error indicator 4 turned on ("YES" in step A24), the control unit 10 turns off the error indicator 4 and then proceeds to step A12.
Return to (Step A25). As a result, when the pachinko hall worker turns on the reset switch 19 after repairing the abnormal state of the release mechanism 8, the control unit 10 starts the operation of step A12 and thereafter again. 8, the pachinko ball releasing operation is performed, and at this time, the process finally returns to step A3 via one of steps A19 and A20.

On the other hand, when the return switch 5 is turned on with the error indicator light 4 turned on (“YES” in step A23), the control unit 10 drives the shutters 17, 18 for a short time to remove the inserted coin. It is returned to the tray 6 (step A26), and then waits until the reset signal Ps is input (step A27).

When coins are returned to the tray 6 with the error indicator 4 kept turned on, the pachinko hall employee turns on the reset switch 19. Then, the control unit 10 determines “YES” in step A27. At this time, after performing the display initialization of the display unit 3, the turning off of the error indicator lamp 4, and the returning operation of the shutter 14 sequentially, the control unit 10 executes step A3. (Steps A28, A29, A30), thereby allowing coins to be re-inserted.

When the control unit 10 determines “NO” in step A12, that is, prior to the operation of the discharge mechanism 8, the upper discharge pipe
When the pachinko balls in 9a are gone (the ball detection signal Sb has been output stopped), it is determined whether or not the display unit 3 displays "stop lending" (step A31). When the display of "lending stop" is not performed, the control unit 10 forms a loop that repeatedly executes steps A12, A13 until the elapse of the set time T ₁ (step A
32), is to perform a display of "lending stop" on the display unit 3 when the set time T ₁ is elapsed (step A33).

Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the return signal Pf has been input (step A34). If the return signal Pf has been input, that is, if the return switch 5 has been turned on (actually, the display unit 3 displays “Lending stopped”). In the case where the return switch 5 is continuously turned on before the display is performed, the coins are returned by short-time driving of the shutters 17 and 18, the display of the display unit 3 is initialized,
After the return operation of the shutter 14 is sequentially performed, the process returns to Step A3 (Steps A35, A36, A37). This allows the coin to be re-inserted. Also, the control unit 10
In each case where "YES" is determined in A31 and "NO" is determined in step A34, the process returns to step A12. Therefore, the return switch 5 is not turned on until the display unit 3 displays "stop lending". In this case, steps A12 and A31 are repeatedly executed, so that the operation of the return switch 5 is invalidated. This state is resolved when the pachinko balls are replenished into the discharge pipe 9a and the ball detection signal Sb is output again, and the operations after step A13 are executed accordingly.

On the other hand, if the control unit 10 determines in step A10 that the inserted coin is a 500 yen coin, the control unit 10 shown in FIG.
As shown in (5), "5" is displayed on the display unit 3, and "5" is stored in the internal memory as frequency data D (steps A38 and A39). Next, it is determined whether or not the ball detection signal Sb has been input (step A40). In the input state, that is, in the state where the pachinko ball is present in the upper discharge pipe 9a, an operation command is given to the discharge mechanism 8 and Is operated (step A41), and thereafter, it is determined whether or not the ejection completion pulse Pa has been input (step A42).

At this time, when the release completion pulse Pa is input, that is, when the release mechanism 8 functions normally and a unit number of pachinko balls are supplied to the ball payout port 7, the control unit 10 displays the display on the display unit 3. The frequency data D in the internal memory is decremented by one at the same time as decrementing by "1" (steps A43 and A44). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the frequency data D is zero (step A45), and if not, returns to step A40. Therefore, until the frequency data D becomes zero, the pachinko ball releasing operation by the release mechanism 8 is repeatedly performed, and the display on the display unit 3 and the frequency data D are sequentially decremented. 50
Pachinko balls for 0 yen are supplied to the ball payout exit 7,
The display on the display unit 3 and the frequency data D are returned to zero.

Then, when the frequency data D becomes zero (“YES” in step A45), the control unit 10 proceeds to step A15 described above.
After executing steps A46 to A51 similar to steps A20 to A20, the process returns to step A3.

In the control section 10, when the release operation of the pachinko ball is not performed in spite of giving the operation command to the release mechanism 8, that is, when the release completion pulse Pa is not output, in the step A42, It is determined to be “NO”, and in this case, a loop is formed in which step A42 is repeatedly executed until the predetermined time ΔT has elapsed (step A52), and the release completion pulse Pa has not been input within the predetermined time ΔT. At times, the error indicator 4 is turned on (step A53).

Thereafter, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the frequency data D is “5”, that is, whether or not the pachinko ball discharging operation is performed at all (the display on the display unit 3 is “5”). A determination is made (step A54), and if "YES", it is determined whether or not a return signal Pf has been input (step A55). When the return switch 5 is turned on while the error indicator lamp 4 is lit and the frequency data D is "5"("YES" in step A55), the control unit 10 proceeds to step A26.
After executing steps A56 to A60 similar to steps A30 to A30, the process returns to step A3.
At the same time, the display initialization of the display unit 3, the turning off of the error indicator lamp 4, and the returning operation of the shutter 14 are sequentially executed.

In addition, the control unit 10 determines in each of steps A54 and A55 "NO", that is, when the pachinko ball discharging operation is performed one or more times when the error indicator lamp 4 is turned on, and the return switch 5 If is not turned on, it is determined whether the reset signal Ps has been input (step
A61). When the reset signal Ps is input, the control unit 10 turns off the error indicator lamp 4 (step A62), and then returns to step A40. When the reset signal Ps is not input, the control unit 10 returns to step A42. As a result, if the pachinko hall employee turns on the reset switch 19 after repairing the abnormal state of the release mechanism 8, the control unit 10 executes the operation after step A40 again,
The pachinko ball discharging operation by the discharging mechanism 8 is performed. If the reset switch 19 is not turned on, the abnormal state in the release mechanism 8 is resolved and the step
It waits until it determines "YES" in A42, or when the display of the display unit 3 is "5", the return switch 5 is turned on and the return signal Pf is output.

When the control unit 10 determines “NO” in step A40, that is, prior to the operation of the discharge mechanism 8, the upper discharge pipe
When the pachinko balls in 9a are in a state of disappearance,
After executing steps A63 to A65 similar to steps A31 to A33 described above, it is determined whether or not the frequency data D is "5" (step A66). At this time, if the frequency data D is other than "5", the control unit 10 returns to step A40. At this time, the control unit 10 determines "YES" in step A63. Is performed, the pachinko balls are replenished into the discharge pipe 9a and the step A4 is performed.
It is held until the operation after 1 is executed (until it is judged YES in step A42). Also, the control unit 10
If "YES" is determined in the step A66, that is, if the frequency data D is "5", the above-described step A34
After executing Steps A67 to A70 similar to Steps A37 to A37, the process returns to Step A3.

The control contents of the control unit 10 described above are summarized as follows. That is, when a 100-yen coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 2,
The release mechanism 8 is operated only once to release a pachinko ball equivalent to 100 yen to the ball payout port 7 and the 100 yen coin is collected. When a 500 yen coin is inserted, the release mechanism 8 is continuously operated 5 times. By operating it, the pachinko ball equivalent to 500 yen is discharged to the ball payout exit 7 and the 500 yen coin is collected. In addition, 1
When a 00 yen coin is inserted, "1" is displayed on the display unit 3, and the display is initialized after the release of the pachinko ball. When a 500 yen coin is inserted, the display 3
Is displayed, and the display is decremented for each operation of the release mechanism 8 and finally initialized.

When coins other than the 100-yen coin and the 500-yen coin or imitation coins are inserted into the coin slot 2, the coins are returned to the tray 6.

… When 100 yen coins or 500 yen coins are inserted, the state where the pachinko balls in the upper discharge pipe 9a have disappeared, that is, the state where the pachinko ball discharging operation by the discharging mechanism 8 is impossible is performed. but to perform a display of "loan stop" on the display unit 3 when the setting was time T ₁ continues.
In this case, when the pachinko balls are replenished in the upper discharge pipe 9a, the pachinko ball discharging operation and the coin collection are performed, and the display on the display unit 3 is initialized. Also,
Before the set time T ₁ is passed, will return the deposited coin when that is the return switch 5 before the display of "lending stop" is performed is turned on.

… When the return switch 5 is turned on after the continuous insertion of 100 yen coins or 500 yen coins, after performing the pachinko ball payout operation and collection for the first inserted coin,
The second and subsequent coins are returned to the tray 6.

… Ejection mechanism 8 according to the insertion of 100 yen coin or 500 yen coin
If the release operation of the pachinko ball is not performed in spite of the fact that the operation command has been given to the pachinko ball, that is, if the release mechanism 8 has an abnormality, the error indicator light 4 Lights up. At this time, the fixed time Δ
When the abnormal state of the release mechanism 8 is resolved before the elapse of T and the pachinko ball release operation is performed, the above operation is performed.

... When the return switch 5 is turned on in a state where the abnormality of the discharge mechanism 8 is notified by the lighting of the error indicator lamp 4, if the inserted coin is a 100 yen coin, the coin is returned as it is, and the inserted coin is returned. If the coin is a 500-yen coin, the 500-yen coin is returned on condition that no pachinko ball release operation has been performed.

When the coins are returned as described above, the wait for the reset switch 19 to be turned on by the pachinko hall employee is waited. When the reset switch 19 is turned on, the display unit 3 is initialized, The error indicator 4 is turned off.

When the reset switch 19 is turned on without the return switch 5 being turned on while the error indicator 4 is on, the pachinko ball is in the upper discharge pipe 9a after the error indicator 4 is turned off. On the condition, an operation command is given to the release mechanism 8.

Now, the control unit 10, when the reset switch 19 at the timing before the predetermined time has elapsed T ₀ after power is turned on, that is, when it is determined "YES" in the step A1, a number from external auxiliary device 20 inputting a signal S ₃ (step A71). Then, the control unit 10, and displays the numerical value indicated by the numerical signal S ₃ to the display unit 3, and stores in the internal memory that number as frequency data D (step A7
2, A73), and thereafter, the process proceeds to step A40.

Here, the external auxiliary device 20 performs the following operation in parallel with the above-described pachinko ball discharging operation.

That is, when the amount counted pulses Pz from coin detecting mechanism 12 is output, so that the second counting circuit 23 which counts them outputs a numeric signal S ₂ indicating the value of the inserted coins from a coin slot 2 become. Further, when the ejection completion pulse Pa is output from the detection mechanism 8, the first counting circuit 22 that has counted the ejection completion pulse Pa outputs a numerical signal S ₁ indicating the value of the pachinko ball ejected by the ejection mechanism 8. Become. Then, the arithmetic circuit 24, based on the numerical signals S _1, S _2, mainly when sequentially updated and stored numerical signal S ₃ indicating the difference between the value and the value of the release pachinko balls of the inserted coins, the number It will provide a signal S ₃ to the control unit 10.

This numerical signal S ₃ gradually becomes zero when the release operation of the pachinko ball by the release mechanism 8 is performed normally,
If the operation of releasing the pachinko ball is not performed normally despite the insertion of the coin into the coin insertion slot 2, the difference between the value of the inserted coin and the value of the released pachinko ball is indicated. In this case, if the abnormal state as described above cannot be easily resolved, for example, if the release mechanism 8 itself has failed, or if a failure such as a program runaway has occurred in the control unit 10, the lending apparatus main body 1 is renewed. Replace with a new one.

In response to such replacement, when lending the device body 1 is re-installed at a predetermined position, as a numerical signal S ₃ as external auxiliary device 20 is described above to the control unit 10 of the renting machine main body 1 Become. At this time, the control unit 10, a reset switch before the timing of the elapse of the predetermined time T ₀ after power-on
When 19 is turned on, steps A71, A72,
After sequentially executing A73, the process proceeds to Step A40. As a result, the control unit 10, the numerical signal frequency data D corresponding to S ₃ is to perform between steps A40~A45 until zero, numeric signals release of pachinko balls in the value corresponding to S ₃ The operation is performed. In other words, the pachinko ball of the value which has not been released due to the occurrence of the failure is automatically released in response to turning on the reset switch 19 at the time of replacement of the lending device body 1.

As a result, when the lending apparatus main body 1 does not recover from the failure state in which the pachinko ball is not released in spite of the insertion of coins, the lending apparatus body 1 is replaced by the entire lending apparatus body to quickly return to the failure state. It is possible to automatically release the pachinko balls of the value which has not been released due to the occurrence of the failure from the lending apparatus body 1 after the exchange, and it is possible to automatically release the pachinko balls with the inserted coins as in the related art. This eliminates the need for extra work in handling the difference from pachinko balls, thereby reducing the burden on pachinko hall employees. In addition, as a result of the automatic release of the pachinko balls of the value that has not been released due to the occurrence of the failure, the pachinko hall employee can use the lending device main body 1.
There is no room for fraudulent use of the name.

In the first embodiment, when the reset switch 19 is turned on after the lending device body 1 is replaced with a new one, the releasing operation of the unreleased pachinko balls is automatically performed. In the case where the coin inserted in the previous lending apparatus main body 1 is configured to be easily taken out, the unreleased pachinko ball is used on condition that the coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot of the replaced lending apparatus main body 1. The discharge operation may be automatically performed, and a second embodiment of the present invention having such a structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 26 denotes an external auxiliary device provided in place of the external auxiliary device 20 in the first embodiment, which is provided in the external auxiliary device 20 with a denomination determining circuit 27 (a denomination determining means in the present invention). Equivalent).

That is, the denomination determination circuit 27 determines the denomination (100 yen or 500 yen) of the inserted coin based on the continuous state of the amount counting pulse Pz input from the check mechanism 12, and indicates the denomination indicating the content of the determination. A seed signal Sm is generated, and the denomination signal Sm is provided to the control unit 10.

FIG. 5 shows only the main parts of the second embodiment of the control contents of the control unit 10.

That is, the control unit 10, when the reset signal Ps is input before the elapse of the predetermined time T ₀ to the initial power-on (step A1
To in "YES"), type a number signal S ₃ and the denomination signal Sm from the external auxiliary unit 26 (step A74), the numerical signal S ₃
Is displayed on the display unit 3 (step A7).
5) The numerical value is stored in the internal memory as frequency data D and the denomination signal Sm is stored (step A76). Thereafter, the control unit 10 continues until the coin detection signal Sc is input.
In other words, it waits until a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 2 (step A77), and when the coin detection signal Sc is input, the shutter 14 is operated and a new coin is supplied to the check mechanism 12.
(Step A78).

Next, the control unit 10 receives the amount counting pulse from the check mechanism 12.
Whether or not Pz has been input is continued for a fixed time t (steps A79 and A80), and during the time t, the amount counting pulse Pz
Is not entered, that is, a genuine 100 yen coin or 5
If a 00 yen coin is not inserted, shutters 17, 18
Is driven for a short time, and the shutter 14 is returned (steps A81 and A82), and thereafter, the process returns to step A77. As a result, the coins checked by the check mechanism 12 are returned to the tray 6, and the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 2 return to the original state where they are guided to the check mechanism 12.

When the amount counting pulse Pz is input (“YES” in step A79), that is, when a genuine 100 yen coin or a 500 yen coin is inserted, the control unit 10 counts the number of input counting pulses Pz (step A79). A83) Based on the counting result, it is determined whether or not the inserted coin matches the denomination indicated by the denomination signal Sm (step A84). If the inserted coin does not match the denomination indicated by the denomination signal Sm, the process returns to step A77 after executing steps A81 and A82, and if the coin does coincide with step A4 shown in FIG. 3 (2).
Execute the operation after 0.

Therefore, in this embodiment configured as described above, when the lending device main body 1 is replaced with a new one in response to the occurrence of a failure, the reset switch 19 is turned on, and the denomination from the external auxiliary device 26 is performed. Only when a coin coinciding with the denomination indicated by the signal Sm is inserted from the coin insertion slot 2, a pachinko ball of a value which remains unreleased due to the occurrence of a failure is automatically released. As a result, even if the coin inserted into the lending apparatus body 1 before the exchange is configured to be easily taken out, it is necessary to insert the coin into the lending apparatus body 1 after the exchange. It is possible to reliably prevent a situation in which the coin is illegally concealed.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. Only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described below.

That is, in the first embodiment, the release mechanism 8 outputs the release completion pulse.
Although Pa is output, in this embodiment, the counting pulse Pc corresponding to the number of released pachinko balls in a one-to-one correspondence is generated. It is provided to an external auxiliary device 28 as shown in the figure.

This external auxiliary device 28 is also provided in the same manner as the external auxiliary device 20 in the first embodiment, and has a configuration substantially described below.

That is, in FIG. 6, the first counting of the counting pulse Pc is performed.
The counting circuit 29 is adapted to output the counting result as a numeric signal S _4, the numerical signal S ₄ therefore becomes to correspond to the pachinko ball number released by the release mechanism 8. Second to count the amount counting pulse Pz from the check mechanism 12
The counting circuit 30 is adapted to output the counting result as a numeric signal S ₅ indicating the value of the deposited coin. Multiplication circuit
31, pachinko balls number released by one operation of the release mechanism 8 (25 = 100 yen equivalent number) by multiplying the above figures signal _5, and outputs the multiplication result as a numeric signal S _6. Therefore, the numerical signal S ₆ is such as to correspond to the number of emission pachinko ball commensurate to the value of the deposited coin from coin slot 2. The first and second counting circuits 29 and 30 are configured to be initialized when receiving a pulse signal at the reset terminal R, and the reset terminal R is supplied with a pulse-like return signal from the return switch 5. The signal Pf is provided.

The arithmetic circuit 32 performs an operation of subtracting the numerical signal S ₄ from the numerical signal S ₆ , that is, an operation of calculating a difference between the number of pachinko balls to be released by the inserted coin and the number of pachinko balls actually released, together sequentially updates the result of computation is stored, numerical serving unreleased pachinko balls number data such stored contents signal S ₇
Is output to the control unit 10.
Incidentally, the numerical signal S ₇ is adapted to be also applied to the comparison circuit 33, the comparator circuit 33, first and outputs a payout completion pulse Px when numerical signal S ₇ becomes zero The second counting circuits 29 and 30 are initialized.

FIG. 7 shows the contents of control by the control unit 10, which will be described below together with related operations.

That is, the control unit 10, at the beginning the power is turned on, when it is determined whether the reset signal Ps is input (Step B1), the reset signal Ps in a certain time period T ₀ is not inputted, the coin detection Wait until the signal Sc is input (until a coin is inserted from the coin slot 2) (steps B2 and B
3). The control unit 10 operates the shutter 14 when the coin detection signal Sc is input, so that a new coin is
(Step B4).

Next, the control unit 10 continuously determines whether or not the amount counting pulse Pz from the check mechanism 12 has been input for a certain period of time t (steps B5 and B6). If Pz is not input, that is, if a genuine 100 yen coin or 500 yen coin is not inserted, the shutters 17 and 18 are driven for a short time and the shutter 14 is returned (steps B7 and B8). ), And then return to step B3. As a result, the coins checked by the check mechanism 12 are returned to the tray 6, and the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 2 return to the original state where they are guided to the check mechanism 12.

When the amount counting pulse Pz is input in response to the insertion of a genuine 100 yen coin or 500 yen coin ("YES" in step B5), the control unit 10 counts the number of input counting pulses Pz (step S5). B9), based on the counting result,
It is determined whether the coin is a 100 yen coin or a 500 yen coin (step B10). If the input coin is a 100 yen coin,
The control unit 10 indicates the number of pachinko balls released for 100 yen by "2
"5" is displayed on the display unit 3 (step B11), and "25" is stored in the internal memory as the number-of-balls data N, and denomination data M indicating that the inserted coin is a 100-yen coin.
D is stored (steps B12 and B13). Also, if the input coin is 50
If the coin is a zero-yen coin, the control unit 10 displays “125” indicating the number of pachinko balls released for 500 yen on the display unit 3 (step B14), and stores the ball number data N in the internal memory. Is stored as "125" (step B15).

After storing the ball number data N or the denomination data MD as described above, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the ball detection signal Sb has been input, that is, the pachinko ball exists in the upper discharge pipe 9a. (Step B16), and when the pachinko ball is present in the upper discharge pipe 9a, an operation command is given to the discharge mechanism 8 to operate it (step B16).
B17) Then, the counting pulse Pc is counted, and it is determined whether or not the counted value ΔN has reached “25” (steps B18 and B19).

At this time, if the release mechanism 8 functions normally, a unit number (25) of pachinko balls will be released and supplied to the ball payout port 7, and the count value Δ in step B18 will be described.
Since N reaches “25”, the control unit 10 sets “Y” in step B19.
ES ". In such a case, the control unit 10
Decrements the display on the display unit 3 by "25" and also decrements the ball number data N in the internal memory by "25" (steps B20 and B21). Next, the control section 10 determines whether or not the ball number data N is zero (step B22), and if not, returns to step B16. Therefore, the ball number data N
Until is zero, the pachinko ball release mechanism by the release mechanism 8 is repeatedly performed, and the display on the display unit 3 and the ball number data N are decremented by "25", whereby 100 The pachinko balls of yen or 500 yen are supplied to the ball payout exit 7, and the display on the display unit 3 and the ball number data N are returned to zero.

Then, when the ball number data N becomes zero (“YES” in step B22), the control unit 10 drives the shutter 17 for a short time (step B23), thereby passing the check mechanism 12. A 100-yen coin or a 500-yen coin is collected through a coin transport mechanism (not shown). Thereafter, the control unit 10
Initializes the display on the display unit 3 and the denomination data MD (step B24), and determines whether or not the return signal Pf has been input, that is, whether or not the return switch 5 has been turned on (step B25).

When the control unit 10 determines “YES” in step B25,
That is, when the return switch 5 has been turned on,
The shutter 14 is returned, and after the shutters 17 and 18 are driven for a short time, the process returns to step B3 (steps B26 and B2
7). As a result, the return switch 5
Is turned on, the second and subsequent inserted coins are returned to the tray 6. If the control unit 10 determines “NO” in step B25, that is, if the return switch 5 has not been turned on, the control unit 10 returns the shutter 14 and then returns to step B3 (step B2).
8).

On the other hand, when an abnormality such as clogging of the pachinko ball occurs in the release mechanism 8 and the release operation of the pachinko ball is not performed normally despite the operation command of the release mechanism 8, the count value ΔN is set to “ Since "25" is not reached, "NO" is determined in step B19. In this case, the control unit 10 forms a loop that repeatedly executes Step B19 until a certain time ΔT has elapsed (Step B).
29), when the count value ΔN has not reached “25” within the fixed time ΔT, the error indicator lamp 4 is turned on (step B3).
0).

Thereafter, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the ball number data N is “125”, that is, whether or not the pachinko ball discharging operation is performed at all despite the insertion of the 500 yen coin. (Step B31) If “YES”, it is determined whether or not the return signal Pf has been input (step B32). When the control unit 10 determines “NO” in step B31, the control unit 10 determines whether the ball number data N is “25” (step B33).
If "YES", it is determined whether or not the denomination data MD is stored (step B34). If the determination is "YES" here, that is, if the pachinko ball release operation is not performed at all despite the insertion of the 100 yen coin, the control unit 10
The step B32 is executed.

Then, when the error indicator lamp 4 is turned on, the control unit 10 stores the ball number data N in the state of “125” or the ball number data N of “25” and the denomination data MD. When the return switch 5 is turned on in the state (“YES” in step B32), the control unit 10
The coins 17 and 18 are driven only for a short time to return the inserted coins to the tray 6 (step B35), and thereafter, the apparatus stands by until the reset signal Ps is input (step B36).

When coins are returned to the tray 6 with the error indicator 4 kept turned on, the pachinko hall employee turns on the reset switch 19. Then, the control unit 10 determines “YES” in step B36. At this time, the display on the display unit 3 and the denomination data
After the initialization of the MD, the turning off of the error indicator 4 and the returning operation of the shutter 14 are sequentially performed, the process returns to step B3 (step B3).
7, B38, B39), which allows the coin to be re-inserted.

When the controller 10 determines “NO” in steps B32, B33, and B34, that is, when at least one or more pachinko balls have been released when the error indicator lamp 4 is turned on,
If the denomination data MD is stored in a state where the pachinko ball is not released and if the return switch 5 is not turned on, it is determined whether or not the reset signal Ps is input (step B40). At this time, when the reset signal Ps is input, the control unit 10 turns off the error indicator lamp 4 (Step B41) and then returns to Step B16, and returns to Step B18 when the reset signal Ps is not input.

As a result, when the pachinko hall employee turns on the reset switch 19 after repairing the abnormal state of the release mechanism 8, the control unit 10 executes the operation after step B16 again. 8, the pachinko ball releasing operation is performed. If the reset switch 19 is not turned on, the abnormal state in the release mechanism 8 is resolved and the answer is YES in step B19, or the return switch 5 is turned on and the step
It will wait until it determines "YES" in B32.

When the controller 10 determines “NO” in step B16, that is, prior to the operation of the discharge mechanism 8, the upper discharge pipe
When the pachinko balls in 9a are gone (the ball detection signal Sb) is in a stopped state), it is determined whether or not the display unit 3 displays "Lending stopped" (step B42). . When the display of "lending stop" is not performed, the control unit 10 forms a loop that repeatedly executes steps B16, B42 until the elapse of the set time T ₁ (step B43), the set time T ₁ When the time has elapsed, the display unit 3 displays "Lending stopped" (step B44).

Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the ball number data N is "125" (step B45).
It is determined whether Pf has been input (step B46). When the control unit 10 determines “NO” in step B45, it determines whether the ball number data N is “25” (step S45).
B47) If "YES", it is determined whether or not the denomination data MD is stored (step B48). If the determination is "YES" here, the control section 10 executes the step B46.

Then, when the control unit 10 determines “YES” in step B46, that is, when the return switch 5 is turned on (actually, the return switch 5 is turned on before the display unit 3 displays “stop lending”). If it was turned on continuously)
Return of inserted coins by short-time driving of shutters 17 and 18, display on display unit 3, initialization of stored denomination data MD, shutter
After sequentially executing the return operations of step 14, the process returns to step B3 (steps B49, B50, B51), thereby permitting re-insertion of coins. Further, the control unit 10 determines in step B42 that “Y
ES ", and in each of the cases where" NO "is determined in steps B43 and B46 to B48, the process returns to step B16. Therefore, the return switch 5 is turned on until the display unit 3 displays" stop lending ". If not, the switches B16 and B42 are repeatedly executed, so that the operation of the return switch 5 is invalidated. This state is resolved when the pachinko balls are replenished in the upper discharge pipe 9a and the ball detection signal Sb is output again, and the operation from step B17 is executed accordingly.

Thus, the control unit 10, when it is determined "YES" in the step B1, the words when the reset switch 19 at the timing before the predetermined time has elapsed T ₀ after power is turned on, the external auxiliary unit 28 input the numerical signal S ₇ (step B52). Then, the control unit 10, and displays on the display unit 3 a numerical value indicated by the numerical signal S _7,
The numerical value is stored in the internal memory as ball number data N (steps B53 and B54), and thereafter, the process proceeds to step B16.

Here, in the external auxiliary device 28, the following operation is performed in parallel with the above-described pachinko ball discharging operation.

That is, when the amount counted pulses Pz from coin detecting mechanism 12 is output, the second counting circuit 30 which counts them, together with the output of the numerical signal S ₅ indicating the price of the inserted coins from coin inlet 2, The multiplying circuit 31 outputs a numerical signal S _{6 obtained} by multiplying the numerical signal S ₅ by the number of pachinko balls (25 pieces) released by one operation of the detecting mechanism 8. Further, the first counting circuit 22 that has counted the counting pulse Pc from the discharging mechanism 8 is
So that outputs a numeric signal S ₄ indicating the number of emission pachinko balls due to the release mechanism 8. Then, based on the numerical signals S ₄ and S ₆ , the arithmetic circuit 32 sequentially generates a numerical signal S ₇ indicating a difference between the number of pachinko balls to be released by the inserted coin and the number of pachinko balls actually released. and updates stored, so give that number signal S ₇ to the control unit 10.

This numerical signal S7 gradually becomes zero when the release operation of the pachinko ball by the release mechanism 8 is performed normally,
If the operation of releasing the pachinko balls is not performed normally despite the insertion of the coin into the coin insertion slot 2, the value indicates the number corresponding to the number of unreleased pachinko balls. in this case,
When the abnormal state as described above cannot be easily resolved, for example, when the release mechanism 8 itself breaks down, or when the control unit 10
If a failure such as a program runaway occurs, the rental device body 1 is replaced with a new one.

In response to such replacement, when lending the device body 1 is re-installed at a predetermined position, as a numerical signal S ₇ as external auxiliary device 28 described above to the control unit 10 of the renting machine main body 1 Become. At this time, the control unit 10, a reset switch before the timing of the elapse of the predetermined time T ₀ after power-on
When 19 is turned on, steps B52, B53,
After sequentially executing B54, the process proceeds to Step B16. As a result, the control unit 10 is made to run between steps B16~B22 until balls number data N corresponding to the numerical signals S ₇ becomes zero, the number of which corresponds to the numerical signal S ₇ pachinko balls of The discharging operation is performed. That is, the number of pachinko balls that have not been released due to the occurrence of the failure are automatically released in response to the turning-on operation of the reset switch 19 when the lending device body 1 is replaced.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment having such a configuration, when the failure state is not recovered in spite of the insertion of coins and the pachinko ball is not released, the entire lending device body 1 is replaced. The number of pachinko balls remaining unreleased due to the occurrence of a failure can be automatically released one by one from the lending apparatus body 1 of the exchange.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, as apparent from the above description,
When an abnormality occurs in the operation of releasing the game medium in response to the insertion of money, the abnormality can be quickly dealt with by exchanging the lending device body with a new one, and furthermore, the unreleased game medium has been replaced after the lending device body has been replaced. Is released automatically, the trouble of post-processing in the event of a failure can be greatly reduced, the burden on game room employees can be reduced, and the abnormal state is utilized. It has excellent effects such as preventing fraud.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a main part, FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of an external auxiliary device, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing the control contents of the ball release control means. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 correspond to FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. 4 and FIG. 3. In the drawing, 1 is a lending device main body, 2 is a coin slot, 3 is a display unit, 5 is a return switch, 6 is a tray, 7 is a ball payout outlet, 8 is a release mechanism, and 10 is a control unit (game medium release control means). ), 12 is a check mechanism (detection means), 19 is a reset switch, 20, 26,
28 is an external auxiliary device, 27 is a denomination judgment circuit (denomination judgment means)
Is shown.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A lending device installed corresponding to a gaming machine, a detecting means for detecting a value of the inserted money, and a game for releasing a game medium through a release mechanism within a range of the value detected by the detecting means. In a game medium lending device provided with a medium release control unit, the lending device body is configured to be detachable, and based on a detection value by the detection unit and a release game medium value by the release mechanism, an unreleased game medium. An external auxiliary device that calculates a value and stores the data as unreleased game medium number data, wherein the game medium release control means releases the number of game media according to the data when receiving the unreleased game medium number data; A game medium lending device, which is configured to perform an operation. 2. The external auxiliary device further comprises denomination determining means for determining a denomination of the inserted money based on a value detected by the detecting means, and the content of the determination by the denomination determining means is used as denomination data. When the game medium release control unit receives the denomination data together with the unreleased game medium number data, the money indicated by the denomination data is inserted. Condition
2. The game medium lending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the game medium lending device is configured to perform an operation of releasing a number of game media according to the number of game medium data.