JP6573426B2 - Amusement system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are amusement halls that employ so-called counter counters or so-called enclosed game machines in amusement halls such as pachinko parlors. In such amusement halls, the acquired value is digitized and managed to reduce the need to store the acquired value such as balls and medals in a storage box such as a so-called ball box, and to carry the ball box. As a result, it is trying to improve the convenience of the player and reduce the work load of the game hall employee.

  Now, when each of the counters is adopted as described above, the convenience of the player is increased, but unlike the conventional case, the ball box is not stacked on the floor, so that it is possible to produce a sense of appearance. It becomes difficult. Thus, for example, Patent Document 1 below proposes the use of a pseudo ball box for producing a feeling of appearance.

JP 2010-172671 A

  However, in the case of the above-described conventional pseudo ball box, there is a need for the game hall employee to carry and install the dummy ball box according to the number of balls, which may increase the burden on the game hall employee. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a player with a sense of appearance while simultaneously improving the convenience of the player and reducing the work burden of the game hall employee. An object of the present invention is to provide a game system that can be effectively provided.

  The system for a game hall according to the present invention is capable of accepting an acquired value that is a game value acquired by a player through a game, and a value specifying means for specifying the acquired value, and a value notifying means for notifying the acquired value by a pseudo storage box And a system comprising: The value notification means including the pseudo storage box moves from the standby position to the notification position according to the acquired value specified by the value specifying means, and notifies the acquired value.

  The system for a game hall according to the present invention is capable of effectively giving a player a sense of play while simultaneously improving the convenience of the player and reducing the work burden of a game hall employee. It is a system with special characteristics.

Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the system for game halls. The front view which shows the combination of a gaming machine and a gaming device. The perspective view which shows a box robot. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the cross section along the longitudinal direction of a box robot. Explanatory drawing which illustrates the 3 aspect of the box robot in the holding ball production. Sectional drawing which illustrates three aspects of the box robot in the time of directing a ball. Sectional drawing which shows the electrical structure of a box robot. Explanatory drawing which shows the box robot of the state accommodated in the chair. Explanatory drawing which shows the setting information regarding control of a box robot. Explanatory drawing which shows the other setting information regarding control of a box robot. Explanatory drawing of a structure of a movement explanatory drawing. Movement explanation diagram of box robot part 1 Movement explanatory drawing 2 of a box robot.

The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the following examples.
Example 1
The present example relates to a game hall system 1 that enables the production of a game appearance in a game hall where the game value of each machine can be counted. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the amusement hall, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of gaming machines 5 such as pachinko gaming machines and slot machines (not shown) are installed. Each gaming machine 5 is individually provided with a game device 3 having a game medium grant function (lending function, payout function, payout function) and a counting function, an information display device 16 having an employee calling function, and the like. Yes. Although omitted in FIG. 1, several hundreds of gaming machines and dozens of gaming machines (gaming machine groups) can be exemplified as the target gaming machines 5.

  A POS terminal 7 used for prize exchange is installed in a prize counter provided in the game hall. In the management space packed by the manager of the game hall, a management device 10 for managing the operation status of various devices in the game hall is installed. In addition, a balance settlement apparatus (not shown) is installed at the island edge of the gaming island where the gaming machines 5 are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the game system 1 of this example includes a POS terminal 7, a management device 10, a gaming machine 5 such as a pachinko gaming machine, a gaming device 3 and an information display device 16 for each gaming machine 5, and a balance not shown. A payment apparatus, a wireless access point (AP) 13 and the like are connected to the on-site network 11. The POS terminal 7 is a terminal that supports prize exchange using a ball (acquired value) recorded on a game card 100 such as a general card that can be issued from the game apparatus 3. A balance settlement apparatus (not shown) is an apparatus for paying back the money corresponding to the balance recorded on the game card 100 to the player.

  The gaming machine 5 is connected to the on-site network 11 via the relay device 111 together with the corresponding gaming device 3 and the information display device 16, and the gaming machine 5, the gaming device 3, etc. are connected to the management device 10 etc. via this relay device 111. It is connected. The gaming machine 5 and the gaming device 3 can communicate with each other via the relay device 111.

  In particular, the game hall system 1 of this example is a system including a box robot 2 that forms a pseudo storage box for producing a sense of appearance. The box robot 2 is connected to the on-site network 11 via a predetermined number of APs 13 installed on the game island, and can be wirelessly controlled remotely by the game device 3, the management device 10, and the like.

Hereinafter, after outline of the configuration of the gaming machine 5, constituent devices necessary for the appearance of the ball appearance (mochitama effect) will be described.
(Game machine)
The gaming machine 5 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a pachinko gaming machine in which a ball is driven into a gaming area 53 in which a liquid crystal display unit (community) 51, a start opening 52, and the like are arranged. In this gaming machine 5, a ball as a gaming medium is used as a gaming value. Below the game area 53, an upper plate 57 for supplying balls to an internal launching device and a lower plate 58 for storing balls overflowing from the upper plate 57 are provided. A slide lever 585 is provided at the front side edge of the lower plate 58 so that the bottom of the lower plate 58 comes out in accordance with the operation of the slide lever 585.

  A display unit 513, a rental button 514, and a return button 515 are disposed on the upper surface of the edge of the upper plate 57. The display unit 513 is a display unit including a 7-segment display that displays the frequency of the deposit balance of money inserted into the gaming apparatus 3. The lending button 514 is an operation button for paying out gaming balls to the upper plate 57 using the amount of the deposit balance as a price. The return button 515 issues a game card 100 such as a general card in which a balance or a possession is recorded when the game is terminated with a deposit balance or when a game is terminated with a possession. This is an operation button.

  The gaming machine 5 is a pachinko gaming machine called a “seven machine”. When a ball wins a start opening 52 (start winning prize), a big hit lottery is executed. As the start port 52, there are a navel type first start port 52A in which the winning rate does not change and an electric tulip type second start port 52B in which the win rate changes. When the electric tulip opens, it functions like a ball tray and achieves a high winning rate.

  The opening condition of the second start port 52B by the operation of the electric tulip is a win in the general drawing lottery (a normal win). When the ball passes through the passing gate 54 which is a general prize winning opening, a lottery random number is extracted and a general figure lottery is executed, and a corresponding symbol variation is executed by a general figure display unit (not shown). The normal time fluctuation time is 30 seconds in the normal state and 3 seconds in the short time state (short time). In addition, the opening time of the second start port 52B at the time of normal winning is 0.3 seconds in the normal state and 5 seconds in the short time state. In the short time state (short time), the normal fluctuation time becomes shorter than in the normal state, and the opening time of the second start port 52B becomes longer, so that the start winning rate becomes higher.

  When a ball is won at the start port 52 and the start condition is satisfied, a lottery random number for jackpot determination is extracted internally, and the jackpot lottery is executed, and the liquid crystal display unit 51 starts symbol variation. When a big win is generated, a matching symbol such as “777” is stopped and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 51 to notify the big win. After notifying of the big win, a big hit state (hit) is started in which a round game called an attacker, in which the big winning opening 55 is opened, is repeated 15 rounds. The maximum number of winnings per round is set to 10 balls, and the upper limit opening time is set to 30 seconds. When the upper limit winning number is reached or the upper limit opening time elapses, one round ends.

  When a start winning is generated during the symbol variation of the big hit lottery / ordinary symbol lottery, the symbol variation corresponding to the extracted lottery random number is accumulated. The reserved symbol variation is started in order from the oldest after the symbol variation ends. In addition, a predetermined holding upper limit value (for example, four each) is set as the number of symbols to be held, and if a start winning occurs in a state where the holding upper limit value has been reached, no lottery random number is extracted, or The extracted lottery random numbers are erased as they are without being reserved as symbol variations.

  As the big hits, there are a probabilistic big hit that occurs after the probability variation state in which the winning probability (big hit lottery probability) of the big hit lottery increases, and a normal big hit that does not follow the probability variation state. The probability variation rate, which is the ratio of the probability variation big hit in the jackpot winning, is 66.6% regardless of whether it is the normal state or the probability variation state. In other words, if the winning probability of the big hit lottery is the same, two out of the three big hit wins are probable big hits, and the remaining one is a normal big hit.

  While the winning probability (hit probability) of the big hit lottery under the normal state is set to 1/360, the big hit probability is improved to 1/36 in the probability variation state. Furthermore, in the probability variation state, as described above, a short time state occurs in which the winning rate of the second start port 52B is increased. The end condition of the probability change state is the occurrence of a big hit, and if the big hit is the probability change big hit, the probability change state is continuously generated again after the end of the big hit state. The probability variation state continues until the normal big hit is generated after the big hit state is finished, and after the big hit state corresponding to the normal big hit is finished, the symbol variation returns to the normal state after a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times). .

  The gaming machine 5 externally outputs various game signals according to the progress of the game. Examples of game signals that are externally output to the gaming device 3, the information display device 16, the management device 10 and the like via the relay device 111 include the following signals. Note that each game signal transmitted to the management device 10 is associated by the relay device 111 with a machine number ID that is identification information of the gaming machine 5. On the management device 10 side, it is possible to specify the game machine 5 that is the transmission source by using the machine ID associated with the game signal.

(1) Out signal: A signal (operation signal) that can specify a consumption value (out) output from an out BOX (not shown) that collects consumed balls. Since one pulse is output for 10 consumed (used, driven, and collected) balls, “out signal number × 10” can be specified as out. An out signal output from the gaming machine 5 may be used.
(2) Safe signal: A signal that can specify the prize-giving value (safe) output from the gaming machine 5. Since one pulse is output for 10 payout balls, “safe signal number × 10” can be specified as safe. In addition, it is good also considering the replenishment signal output from the replenishment apparatus (not shown) which replenishes a ball as a safe signal.
(3) Start signal: A signal that can specify start processing (design variation, accessory operation, unit game) in the liquid crystal display unit (combination) 51 that changes (actuates) in response to a start winning that is output from the gaming machine 5. Since the symbol variation is specified in accordance with the signal input that is output when the symbol variation is determined, it is possible to specify “the number of start signals × 1” as the number of start times. It is also possible to use a signal indicating that the start opening 52 has been won.
(4) Big hit signal: A signal that can be specified from the big hit period output from the gaming machine 5. Since it is a state signal that is output at a level during a big hit, it is possible to specify that a big hit signal is being input as a big hit.
(5) Special state signal: A signal that can specify a special state (Akanaka) output from the gaming machine 5. Since the level signal is output during a special state (during a short time) in which the winning rate of the second start port 52B is improved, the special state signal being input can be specified as being in the special state. Of course, it may be a signal output during probability change. Further, it is possible to specify a period in which neither the big hit signal nor the special state signal is input as the normal state.

(Information display device)
The information display device 16 in FIG. 1 is a calling device having a display screen with a large liquid crystal display. Various operation buttons such as a data switching button, a menu button, a call button, and an erase button are arranged on the lower side of the display screen. On the outer periphery of the information display device 16 except for the lower part, a lamp part is disposed so as to surround the display screen. On the display screen of the information display device 16, in addition to game information such as the number of jackpots, the number of consecutive games and the number of start-ups, a bar graph indicating the history of the number of jackpot games is displayed.

(Game equipment)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gaming device 3 is a device installed in a space between the adjacent gaming machines 5 so as to individually correspond to the gaming machines 5. The gaming device 3 has a function of giving (lending, paying out, and refunding) balls that are game media, a function of counting acquired balls, and a recording medium issuing function for issuing a game card 100 such as a general card. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a touch screen sheet is stacked on the front surface of the gaming apparatus 3 on the state display lamp 31 for displaying the operating state, the money insertion slot 32 for inputting the money to be used as the money for lending, and the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel. The touch panel 33, the payout button 34 that is operated for paying out the balls in consideration of the possession balls (acquired value), the payout nozzle 37 that supplies the balls to the upper plate 57 of the gaming machine 5, and the game card 100 are inserted or discharged. A card insertion slot 36 is provided. A hollow duct 371 in which a counting arm 372 for receiving a ball that has flowed down from the lower plate 58 of the gaming machine 5 extends to the front end side is attached to the lowermost part of the front surface.

  A game card 100 such as a general card on which an IC chip for recording a card ID (identification information), a deposit balance, a holding ball, and the like is mounted can be inserted into the card insertion slot 36. Here, the deposit balance is a monetary value that is the remaining monetary value such as money inserted through the money insertion slot 32 and can be used as consideration for the lending process. The possessed ball is a counted ball acquired by the player, and is a game value that can be used as a price for a game ball payout process.

  In addition, the management device 10 manages the valuable value such as the balance (payment balance) and the holding ball in association with the card ID, and inquires the management device 10 in response to the reception of the card ID, and adopts a configuration for specifying the valuable value You may do it. With this configuration, it is possible to specify the valuable value even with only the configuration in which the card ID is recorded on the game card 100. Thus, the structure which records the information which shows valuable value in game card 100 itself may be employ | adopted, and the structure which specifies valuable value may be what kind of structure.

  The gaming device 3 adds the deposit amount to the balance displayed on the touch panel 33 in accordance with the execution of the money acceptance process for accepting money. The frequency of the balance is also displayed on the display unit 513 of the gaming machine 5. When a depressing operation (lending operation, giving operation) of the lending button 514 (gaming machine 5) is specified in a state where there is a balance, a lending ball (value to be given) for 1 unit of lending such as 500 yen, for example, is used. The compensation giving process (lending process) to be paid out to the bank 5 is executed and the consideration is deducted from the balance. The gaming apparatus 3 can accept money corresponding to a plurality of payment processing, for example, up to 10,000 yen. Note that the communication on the lending process as described above may be performed directly between the gaming machine 5 and the gaming apparatus 3 without using the relay device 111.

  When the gaming device 3 receives the counting ball, the gaming device 3 identifies the counting ball as a holding ball. In a state where there is a holding ball, a payout process for paying back the holding ball in response to pressing of the payout button 34 is possible. When the gaming device 3 pays out the possessed ball, the gaming device 3 subtracts the retained ball corresponding to the consideration (for example, the same number as the paid-out ball). The payout process may be performed by paying out the dispensing nozzle 37, and the lending process may be performed by paying out the balls from the gaming machine 5. However, the payout nozzle 37 does not necessarily have to be paid out by the exemplified configuration during the lending process.

  The gaming device 3 issues a general card that can specify the balance and the holding ball when the pressing operation (issuing operation) of the return button 515 of the gaming machine 5 is specified while the balance or the holding ball remains. In addition, it may be possible to perform split issuance in which a balance or a part of the ball is targeted for issuance of a general card. In this case, the ball for the divided issue is subtracted. Moreover, when accepting a general card, the gaming apparatus 3 takes over the balance and the possession ball.

  The gaming apparatus 3 can accept a member card in addition to a general card, and can associate a ball and a balance with the member card in the same manner as the general card. However, the balance is written on the membership card in the same manner as a general card, but the possession information indicating the possession is not written on the membership card. The possessed ball information is managed in association with the member ID, which is identification information of the member card, by the management device 10, and the retained ball associated with the member ID is specified as a stored ball. That is, the acquired value associated with the member ID as the acquired value of the player is a stored ball, and the unsupported one is a possessed ball. The difference between a stored ball and a held ball is that, for example, the stored ball can be refunded or exchanged after the next day, while the held ball is valid only for the day, and the expiration date is different.

  The gaming device 3 outputs various types of information to the management device 10 through serial communication via the relay device 111. In the management apparatus 10, the serial communication is used for money reception processing, consideration giving processing, balance and holding balls, number of borrowed balls, number of payout balls, deposit amount, number of counting balls, number of borrowed balls, and consideration for loaned balls. , And various information and processes such as reception and issuance processing of a game card 100 such as a general card can be specified. For example, by transmitting a pulse signal such as 1 pulse for every 1000 yen received and 1 pulse for every 100 yen sales to the management apparatus 10, it may be possible to specify each of the above information and processing.

The gaming device 3 has at least functions as the following means.
(1) Value specifying means: means for making it possible to accept an acquired value, which is a game value acquired by a player through a game, and specifying the acquired value as a ball. When the ball is counted or when the game card 100 is received, the value specifying means adds or specifies the ball or the like associated with the ball or the game card as a ball. Note that the possession ball specified by the gaming apparatus 3 is transmitted to the management apparatus 10 in association with the machine ID.
(2) Setting information storage means: means for storing various setting information (described later with reference to FIG. 9). The setting information storage means of the gaming device 3 acquires and stores the setting information set by the management device 10.
(3) Effect mode specifying means: means for specifying an effect mode such as the required number of boxes for the holding ball effect for the corresponding gaming machine. The effect mode specifying means specifies the effect mode based on the setting information.
(4) Control means: means for outputting various control information. The control means of the gaming apparatus 3 mainly controls the rendering operation of the box robot 2 that represents the holding ball.
(5) Number change information output means: When it is necessary to increase or decrease the number of box robots according to the specification of the number of boxes or the like by the production mode specifying means, information indicating the fact to the management device 10 Means to output.

(Management device)
The management device 10 (FIG. 1) is a device that manages the operating status of each device installed in the game hall, such as the gaming machine 5, the gaming device 3, the information display device 16, the POS terminal 7, and the balance settlement device.
The management apparatus 10 includes an output unit including a PC monitor such as a liquid crystal display and a printer (not shown), an apparatus main body that executes various arithmetic processes, and an input unit including a keyboard and a mouse (not shown). The main body of the apparatus has a control function centered on a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes arithmetic processing, a storage function that uses a hard disk drive, ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and various signals or information The communication function etc. which transmit / receive are received.

  The management device 10 realizes various functions by, for example, the CPU executing a software program read from the hard disk drive. In particular, in the game hall system 1 of this example that can produce a game appearance feeling using the box robot 2 serving as a value notification means, the management device 10 controls the box robot 2 in accordance with the game output for each player. Have a role.

The management apparatus 10 has at least functions as the following means.
(1) Game information specifying means: means for specifying the operating state of the gaming machine 5 by inputting a game signal capable of specifying whether the gaming machine 5 is in an operating state or a non-operating state. Here, for example, the operating state is determined as a non-operating state when the above-described out signal or start signal is not input for a predetermined period (for example, 1 minute), and if it is input, the operating state is determined for the predetermined period, What is necessary is just to determine by a known operation determination method, such as determining operation when a sensor is provided in the chair 12 provided in front of 5 and a player or the like is detected by a signal from the sensor. Further, other game information is specified by inputting a game signal output from the gaming machine 5 or the gaming apparatus 3 described above. It is also possible to specify the operating state of each gaming machine 5 in the game hall by acquiring the operating state specified by the gaming device 3.
(2) Individual player information specifying means: means for specifying various pieces of game information such as balls for each gaming machine specified by each gaming device 3 or relay device 111 as individual information for each player. The player individual information specifying means specifies the possessed ball received from each gaming machine 5 side as individual information of each player.
(3) Setting information storage means: means for storing various setting information (to be described later with reference to FIG. 9).
(4) Standby means: means for waiting the box robot 2 as the value notification means at a standby position different from the notification position.
(5) Moving means: means for moving the box robot 2 as the value notification means from the standby position to the notification position according to the acquired value specified by the value specifying means.
(6) Control means: means for outputting various control information. The control means of the management apparatus 10 mainly controls the movement of the box robot 2.

(Box robot)
The box robot 2 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has box portions 21 and 23 that are examples of pseudo storage boxes that simulate storage boxes for storing game values when the game values are physically given. The value notification means for notifying the acquired value at the notification position corresponding to the floor of the game hall.

  As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3 and the cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of FIG. 4, the box robot 2 includes a base portion 25 in which wheels 27 constituting a moving mechanism are provided on the lower surface side, and pseudo storage for two boxes. The first box part 21 forming the box, the base part 25 and the first box part 21 are connected to each other in a telescopic manner, and the second box part 23 forming the third pseudo storage box, and the upper stage of the first box part 21 And a value sheet 26 representing balls stored in the box (upper portion 211).

  The value sheet 26, which is an example of the pseudo value, is a plate-like member in which uneven surfaces such as balls are formed on the surface side. On the back surface side of the value sheet 26, a rod-shaped rack bar 263 having a rack gear on the side surface is erected. Two rack bars 263 are erected on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and constitute a second lifting mechanism 262 to be described later.

  The moving mechanism including the wheel 27 includes a drive mechanism that rotationally drives the wheel 27 and a steering mechanism that changes the direction of the wheel 27. The drive mechanism and the steering mechanism are provided corresponding to the four wheels 27 respectively arranged at the corners of the rectangular bottom surface of the base portion 25. According to this moving mechanism, various movements such as forward / backward / left / right rotation and on-site rotation are possible.

  The first box portion 21 represents a storage box for two boxes, and has a two-stage structure of an upper step portion 211 on the upper side and a lower step portion 213 on the lower side. The upper step portion 211 and the lower step portion 213 are each 1 It represents a storage box for a box. A display portion 217 is provided on the side surface of the upper stage portion 211 and can display a holding ball or the like. Note that the display portion 217 may be provided on another side surface, an upper surface, or the like, instead of the illustrated side surface, or a plurality of display portions.

  A partition plate 210 is provided between the upper step portion 211 and the lower step portion 213. The partition plate 210 is provided with a through hole 212 for penetrating and arranging a rack bar 263 standing on the back side of the value sheet 26. Further, an engaging portion 218 that is folded back to the inner peripheral side is formed at the lower end of the lower step portion 213. The engaging portion 218 is configured to prevent the lower step portion 213 from falling off the base portion 25 due to the engagement with the second box portion 23.

  On the back surface of the partition plate 210, a flat support plate 274 is fixed so as to be positioned in a gap between two through holes 212 on both sides in the longitudinal direction. At both ends of the support plate 274, a pinion gear 265 that is rotationally driven by a lifting motor (reference numeral 260 in FIG. 7) is pivotally supported. The pinion gear 265 is a gear that is gear-engaged with the rack gear of the rack bar 263 that passes through the through hole 212. When the pinion gear 265 rotates, the second elevating mechanism 262 including a rack and pinion gear mechanism is operated, and the height of the value sheet 26 can be raised and lowered by the advance and retreat of the rack bar 263 in the axial direction.

  An upper end of a pantograph 276 constituting the first elevating mechanism 271 is fixed to the support plate 274 fixed to the back surface of the partition plate 210. The lower end of the pantograph 276 is fixed to the base part 25, and the first box part 21 can be raised by the extension of the pantograph 276.

  While the second lifting mechanism 262 is a gear type, the first lifting mechanism 271 adopts a pantograph type and illustrates different lifting mechanisms, but the same or the same kind of lifting mechanism is adopted for each lifting mechanism. Alternatively, a lifting mechanism other than those exemplified may be employed. As long as the first box portion 21 and the value sheet 26 can be lifted and lowered independently, one lifting mechanism may be shared by the lifting mechanisms.

  The second box portion 23 has a long rectangular tube shape simulating a third storage box, and has a height corresponding to one storage box. Engaging portions 238 and 232 that are folded back to the outer peripheral side are provided at the upper and lower ends of the second box portion 23 that has a function of preventing the first box portion 21 from coming off. The engaging portion 238 on the upper end side is configured to engage with the engaging portion 218 that is folded back to the inner peripheral side of the lower end of the first box portion 21. The engaging portion 232 on the lower end side is configured to engage with an engaging portion 252 described later provided on the base portion 25.

  The base portion 25 of the box robot 2 has a long rectangular box shape, and a battery charging terminal 289P (FIG. 4) is provided on the front surface forming one end face in the longitudinal direction. On the upper surface of the base portion 25, a rectangular opening that opens leaving the outer peripheral edge is provided. The opening can be inserted into the lower step 213 of the first box portion 21 with a small gap and is formed slightly smaller than the upper step 211. The outer peripheral edge portion that is folded back to the inner peripheral side so as to surround the opening portion forms an engaging portion 252 that engages with the engaging portion 232 at the lower end of the second box portion 23.

The box robot 2 serving as the value notification means can notify the holding ball (acquired value) by performing the first lifting process by the first lifting mechanism 271 and the second lifting process by the second lifting mechanism 262. It is.
The first raising / lowering process by the first raising / lowering mechanism 271 is a process of changing the number of stacked pseudo storage boxes that are stacked in a pseudo manner by raising and lowering the first and second box portions 21 and 23 that are pseudo storage boxes. It is.
The second lifting process by the second lifting mechanism 262 is stored in the pseudo storage box by lifting and lowering the value sheet 26 which is a pseudo value imitating the ball in the first box portion 21 which is a pseudo storage box. This is a process to increase or decrease the holding ball in a pseudo manner.

When the first elevating mechanism 271 is most contracted, the lower step portion 213 of the first box portion 21 is completely stored in the base portion 25, and the upper step portion 211 of the first box portion 21 is placed on the base portion 25 as shown in FIG. a) and the state shown in FIG.
When the pantograph 276 of the first elevating mechanism 271 is extended, first, only the first box portion 21 can be lifted without being driven by the second box portion 23, and the second box portion 23 is lifted as shown in FIGS. 5 (b) and 6 (b). The lower stage 213 of the one box portion 21 appears, and a state in which two ball boxes are stacked can be produced.

  5B and 6B, the engagement portion 218 at the lower end of the lower step portion 213 of the first box portion 21 is engaged with the engagement portion 238 at the upper end of the second box portion 23. It has become. Further, if the pantograph 276 is extended, the second box portion 23 can be driven so as to be pulled out from the base portion 25 as the first box portion 21 rises, and the lower end engaging portion 232 is connected to the engaging portion 252 of the base portion 25. The pantograph 276 can be extended until it is engaged (the state shown in FIGS. 5C and 6C). At this time, the entire first box portion 21 is pulled out from the base portion 25, and the second box portion 23 appears in a gap in the height direction between the two. The two boxes of the first box portion 21 and the second box portion 23 are brought into the state. It will be in the state where three storage boxes were piled up together with one box.

  Further, according to the second lifting / lowering process by the second lifting / lowering mechanism 262, the value sheet 26 simulating the storage balls of the upper stage portion 211 of the first box portion 21 can be lifted / lowered. The value sheet 26 is driven up and down by a pinion gear 265 pivotally supported by a support plate 274 fixed to the back surface of the partition plate 210 of the first box portion 21, and the first box portion 21 is lifted and lowered by the first lifting mechanism 271. It can be moved up and down independently regardless.

  In this example, as the raising / lowering position of the value sheet 26, “stage 1” having a height of ¼ with respect to the height of one box, “stage 2” having a height of 2/4, and height of 3/4. “Stage 3” and “stage 4” having a height of 4/4 are set. Each stage is a position that represents a quasi ball corresponding to 1/4 box, 2/4 box, 3/4 box, and 4/4 boxes. In FIGS. 5 and 6, (a), (b), and (c), the pseudo sheet has three stages (3/4 height), two stages (2/4 height), one stage (1 / 4 height) is illustrated as an example.

  For example, when a ball for one box (“box unit” in FIG. 9 described later) is 2000 balls and a ball represented by one stage of the value sheet 26 (the “unit in box”) is 500 balls, FIG. FIG. 6 (a) is a three-stage × 500 ball, representing 1500 balls in a pseudo manner, and FIG. 6 (b) is a pseudo-display of 3000 balls, which is a box × 2000 balls plus two steps × 500 balls. (C) is a pseudo display of 4500 balls obtained by adding 1 step × 500 balls to 2 boxes × 2000 balls.

  As described above, the box robot 2 is provided with the display unit 217 and can display the value of the holding ball in the holding ball effect illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Although omitted in FIG. 5, it is desirable to display the machine number (gaming machine ID) of the target machine at the time of the holding effect. When a plurality of box robots 2 are to be produced, the display object may be the total number of possessions (the possession balls of the gaming machine 5), or the possession balls that each of the box robots 2 is a production object alone.

  In this example, the box robot 2 in which the first box portion 21 is configured as two boxes and the second box portion 23 is configured as one box is illustrated. However, the first box portion 21 may be configured as one box, Of course, the number of boxes other than the three boxes illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. Moreover, although the base part 25 is provided, it is not an essential structure and can be omitted.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the box robot 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The box robot 2 is electrically configured around a control unit 28 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an I / F that execute various arithmetic processes. The control unit 28 includes a drive motor 272 and a steering motor 273 for each wheel 27 constituting the moving mechanism, a lifting motor 270 constituting the first lifting mechanism 271, a lifting motor 260 constituting the second lifting mechanism 262, and detection means. Are connected to a line sensor 281 and a marker reader 283, a wireless communication unit 285 and an antenna for realizing wireless communication with the AP 13, the display unit 217, an obstacle sensor 287 for detecting an obstacle, a battery 289, and the like.

  The drive motor 272 and the steering motor 273 for each wheel 27 are stepping motors that rotate step by step in response to an input of a control pulse. The rotational distance of each wheel 27 can be calculated based on the number of steps that the drive motor 272 has rotated, and the steering angle that is the rotational direction of each wheel 27 can be detected based on the rotational position of the steering motor 273. The control unit 28 can two-dimensionally calculate the displacement amount of the box robot 2 based on the rotation distance and the steering angle of each wheel 27.

  The lifting motors 260 and 270 are also stepping motors. The control unit 28 controls the height of the value sheet 26 (step 1 to step 4) using the number of steps rotated by the lift motor 260 that constitutes the second lift mechanism 262. Further, the height of the box robot 2, that is, the number of pseudo boxes at the time of holding ball effect, is controlled using the number of steps rotated by the lifting motor 270 constituting the first lifting mechanism 271.

  The line sensor 281 is a sensor for detecting a line (reference numerals 191 and 192 in FIG. 11) laid on the floor surface of the game hall. In this example, a magnetic tape is used as the line, and the line sensor 281 is a magnetic sensor such as a Hall element arranged in the horizontal direction. As the line, in addition to the magnetic tape, for example, a colored line painted with yellow or the like can be adopted. In the case of a colored line, an optical line sensor using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) element or the like can be used, but it may be invisible by being embedded in the floor.

  The marker reader 283 is a sensor that reads an address marker laid at a predetermined position along a line laid on the floor surface of the game hall, for example, a parking position or a position corresponding to the front of each gaming machine 5. For example, address information indicating the position is magnetically recorded in the address marker, and the control unit 28 can specify the position of the box robot 2 based on the address information read from the address marker by the marker reader 283. is there.

  The obstacle sensor 287 is an ultrasonic sensor for avoiding contact with other box robots 2 and collisions with players. The sensor signal output from the obstacle sensor 287 is taken into the control unit 28, and control for avoiding contact with or collision with the obstacle is executed.

  Note that the line read by the line sensor 281 or the like and the laying of the address marker are not essential. For example, absolute position information such as the position of the game island in the game arcade, the notification position for performing the holding effect, the parking position as the standby position, etc. is converted into map data and stored as map information. So-called autonomous navigation in which movement control is performed while estimating the movement position can also be employed. The movement position of the box robot 2 can be calculated, for example, by adding the displacement amount of the box robot 2 calculated by the control unit 28 as described above to a reference position such as a parking position.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the box robot 2 can be stored in a storage unit 120 provided on the lower side of the seat surface 121 of the chair 12 installed in the front of the gaming machine 5. The storage unit 120 is formed like a garage dug from the back of the chair 12, and this storage position is one of the standby positions of the box robot 2. A power supply unit 125 is disposed on the inner wall surface of the storage unit 120. In a state where the box robot 2 is stored in the storage unit 120, the battery charging terminal 289P of the box robot 2 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 125, and thus the battery 289 mounted on the box robot 2 can be charged. It has become.

In the game hall, a parking space provided with a parking lot for the box robot 2 is provided on the island edge of the game island. A power supply means may be provided in the parking space so that the box robot 2 can be charged. At this time, only some of the box robots 2 that are parked may be charged.
Although FIG. 8 illustrates a chair 12 that can store one box robot 2, a chair that can store a plurality of box robots 2 may be used. When the box robot 2 is stored corresponding to the gaming machine 5, a storage space can be provided in addition to the chair 12, and for example, a storage space may be provided in the heel part of the gaming island hitting the lower side of the gaming machine 5. The storage unit 120 that is a storage space corresponding to the gaming machine 5 may be abolished, and only the parking position of the parking space on the island edge of the game island may be set as the standby position of the box robot 2.

  In the game hall system 1, a robot ID that is identification information is assigned to each box robot 2. The management device 10 controls each box robot 2 individually using the robot ID, checks whether it is in use, the production mode (the number of boxes, the position of the value sheet 26, etc.), the position, etc. individually. Is possible. The gaming device 3 can identify the robot ID of the box robot 2 that is presenting the ball on the corresponding gaming machine 5, the production mode, etc. by referring to the management device 10 for the machine ID of the corresponding gaming machine 5. is there.

  Next, the system operation, the control of the box robot 2 and the like will be described in detail for the game hall system 1 having the above-described configuration. In the following description, first, after outline | summary of operation | movement of the system 1 for game halls, the setting information regarding the box robot 2, control, etc. are demonstrated in detail.

  In the game hall system 1, various types of information are transmitted and received between devices such as the gaming machine 5, the gaming apparatus 3, and the management apparatus 10 connected via the in-place network 11. The gaming device 3 can issue a general card that can identify the player's balance and possession balls, and can accept a membership card. The information display device 16 can play a game such as a possession ball that is identified by a game signal. Display information for players.

  In the game hall system 1, for example, setting information (described later with reference to FIG. 9) for controlling the box robot 2 can be set by receiving a predetermined setting operation in the management device 10. In the game hall system 1, the box robot 2 is controlled based on the setting information set by the management device 10, and a predetermined ball effect according to the player's ball specified by the game device 3 is executed.

  The box robot 2 waits in a chargeable state at a position corresponding to the gaming machine 5 such as being stored in a chair 12 in front of the gaming machine 5 as shown in FIG. Wait in a chargeable state at a parking lot provided on the island edge of the amusement island. When the box robot 2 performs the holding ball effect, the box robot 2 moves from the standby position such as the storage position of the chair 12 or the parking position on the island edge to the notification position near the gaming machine 5 of the player who is the target of the holding ball effect. Moved ball effect is performed by moving.

  On the amusement island, a first line and a second line (reference numerals 191 and 192 in FIGS. 11 to 13) on which a magnetic tape is laid are provided, and the box robot 2 performs a ball effect on the first line. When a new box robot 2 is required, the box robot 2 to be added is identified based on the priority order set in advance and the above-described setting information (described later with reference to FIG. 9). It moves toward the notification position for performing the effect. The movement control of the box robot 2 will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS.

  In the game hall system 1, setting information exemplified in FIGS. 9 and 10 can be set for the box robot 2. Here, the setting information of FIG. 9 is adopted in this example, and FIG. 10 is a reference example of other setting information. A box robot 2 that is a device for producing a possession ball of the gaming machine 5 and can indicate a possession ball specified in units of gaming machines by the counting function of the gaming apparatus 3 is, for example, in the setting information of FIG. Controlled based on.

  “Box unit” in FIG. 9 is a set value of the number of balls assumed to be accommodated in one box. The “in-box unit” is a set value of the number of balls corresponding to one of the above-described stages 1 to 4 of the value sheet 26. For example, if the “unit in box” is 500 balls, the stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the value sheet 26 represent 500 balls, 1000 balls, 1500 balls, and 2000 balls, respectively.

  When the gaming device 3 identifies the possession ball, the gaming device 3 compares the possession ball with the setting information in FIG. 9 and identifies the number of boxes corresponding to the possession ball and the stage of the value sheet 26. As an example of a method of comparing the holding ball and setting information, for example, by adding one box to the quotient (natural number) obtained by dividing the holding ball by the number of balls in “box unit”, the number of boxes to be directed is specified, There is a method of setting the quotient (natural number) obtained by further dividing the remainder of the quotient by the number of balls of “unit in box” as the above-described stages 1 to 4 of the value sheet 26. Instead of this method, as shown in FIG. 10, a method of setting the number of boxes and the stage of the value sheet 26 for each range of holding balls and comparing the holding ball with the setting information may be adopted. good.

  For example, in the case of 1500 balls, the number of boxes is one box, and the unit in the box is a stage 3 ball effect (see FIGS. 5A and 6A). For example, when there are 3000 balls, the number of boxes is 2 and the unit in the box is a stage 2 ball effect (see FIGS. 5B and 6B). For example, in the case of 4500 balls, the number of boxes is 3, and the unit in the box is a stage 1 ball effect (see FIGS. 5C and 6C). As described above, the holding balls for “box unit” are indicated as “box unit” by raising and lowering the first and second box portions 21 and 23 by driving the first elevating mechanism 271, and “box unit”. The holding balls that are less than 3 are indicated by the “unit in the box” by the raising and lowering of the value sheet 26 driven by the second lifting mechanism 262.

The “start value” in FIG. 9 is a set value of a holding ball for the box robot 2 to start a holding effect such as movement of the box robot 2 to a position corresponding to the gaming machine 5. In the system 1 for amusement hall, when the starting condition is satisfied when the holding ball reaches the “starting value”, the holding ball effect in the box robot 2 is started.
The “end value” in the figure is a set value of the holding ball for ending the holding ball effect. In the system 1 for amusement hall, the endurance effect in the box robot 2 is ended when the end condition is satisfied when the endurance reaches the “end value” or when the end point is not reached. The Of course, when the player performs a general card issuance process in order to end the game, the end condition is satisfied, and the control for storing all the box robots 2 in use is executed.

  “New robot” in FIG. 9 is a control setting when an additional box robot 2 after the second unit is required. The box robot 2 is stored one by one in correspondence with the gaming machine 5 (the chair 12) as shown in FIG. 8, but if the second and subsequent box robots 2 are required for the ball holding effect, Only the box robot 2 housed in the corresponding gaming machine 5 (hereinafter referred to as a target machine) is not enough. “New robot” is a control setting in such a case, and the setting contents include “parking lot”, “operation consideration”, and “operation non-consideration”. The “parking lot” is a control setting in which the box robot 2 of the parking lot provided on the island edge is used with the highest priority without borrowing the box robot 2 stored in the nearby gaming machine 5 (hereinafter referred to as “neighboring machine”). “Consideration of operation” is a control setting for borrowing and using the box robot 2 stored in the neighboring machine, on condition that the gaming machine 5 is not in operation. “Non-operational consideration” is a control setting that is borrowed and used even when the neighboring machine is in operation when the box robot 2 is stored in the neighboring machine.

  When the box robot 2 is used, the highest priority is the box robot 2 stored in the target machine. If there is no box robot 2, the management device 10 or the like sets the “new robot” in FIG. The box robot 2 to be used is specified based on the above. When using the box robot 2 stored in the neighboring machine, the priority is first the neighboring machine on the back of the target machine (facing amusement island), then the neighboring machine next to the target machine, and then the next gaming machine. The priority order is the neighboring machine on the back of 5, the neighboring machine next to the next neighboring machine, and so on. The priority order may be set in any way, and the priority order may not be set.

  When a plurality of box robots 2 are used, the following control is preferable in view of the fact that the box robot 2 is easier to lift and lower than movement. For example, after the situation where the number of holding balls has reached 6500 balls and two box robots 2 are required, the holding ball cuts in 6500 balls by a refund process or split issue processing etc., and only one box robot 2 Suppose the situation has changed to a state where it is possible to perform the holding effect. In this case, the production target is all 3 boxes, so if you distribute the number of boxes to the two box robots 2 in use and set 2 boxes and 1 box as production targets respectively. good. If the setting is made in this way, it is not necessary to move the box robot 2 to reduce the number of the two box robots 2 when shifting from the state in which the holding balls have reached 6500 balls to the state in which the 6500 balls are interrupted. Can be used to continue the directing effect.

  After that, in the situation where the number of holding balls has further decreased and the necessity of raising and lowering the value sheet 26 has arisen, the value sheet 26 of the box robot 2 with the larger number of boxes to be produced is targeted for production (change), and another box robot The second value sheet 26 is preferably left in the above-mentioned stage 4, which is the uppermost stage. After that, if it becomes a holding ball that can not produce a holding ball with two box robots 2 in use (a holding ball that does not reach 2500 balls), it can be reduced by reducing the box robot 2 and in this case Similarly, it is desirable to determine the priority order of storage destinations, such as target machine → neighboring machine → parking lot, in the same manner as the above priority order.

  Similarly, in the case where the number of box robots 2 to be used is increased, for example, in the case of 6700 balls having more than 6500 balls that require two box robots 2, the effects of holding ball effects are all 4 boxes. . In this case, all the 4 boxes are apportioned in the box robot 2 to be used including the added box robot 2, and 2 boxes are targeted for production in each box robot 2, and the value sheet 26 of one box robot 2 is the highest. While controlling to stage 4 which is the upper stage, it is preferable to use the value sheet 26 of the other box robot 2 as a production target for a fraction (less than one box). By applying such control, the necessity of moving the box robot 2 can be reduced, and the risk of falling can be reduced without setting the box robot 2 higher than necessary. Here, if the box robot 2 to be lifted / lowered is a box robot 2 that meets a preset condition, for example, the box robot 2 with a small number of boxes is targeted, even though the box robot 2 with a large number of boxes is not necessarily targeted. You may do it. Also, the holding ball effect means indicating the number of holding balls by moving the box robot 2 in the vicinity of the gaming machine, and it is not always necessary to perform an effect by light or sound.

  The box robot 2 has a wireless communication function, and wireless remote control from the gaming device 3 and the management device 10 is possible via the AP 13 installed on the gaming island. As described above, the production mode such as the number of boxes necessary for the ball production of each gaming machine 5 is specified by the corresponding gaming device 3. When there is no addition or reduction of the box robot 2 and it is possible to respond to the change of the holding ball only by the raising and lowering operation of the box robot 2 during the holding effect, control information for raising and lowering is sent from the gaming device 3 via the AP 13. Sent.

  On the other hand, when the specified production mode requires addition or reduction of the box robot 2, information to that effect is transmitted from the gaming device 3 to the management device 10. In this management apparatus 10, information necessary for controlling each box robot 2 (whether or not the box robot 2 is used in units of robot IDs, the number of the target machine, standby in a parking lot, The presence or absence of operation etc. is managed. The management device 10 when receiving information such as addition or reduction of the box robot 2 stores the location of the additional box robot 2 or the storage location of the box robot 2 to be reduced or the target based on the information managed by itself. The machine number ID of the machine, the number of parking of the target machine, and the number of the box robot 2 to be added are specified. And control information is transmitted via AP13 with respect to the target box robot 2 so that the movement control mentioned later with reference to FIG.12 and FIG.13 can be performed, The box robot 2 is based on the received control information. Moving.

  In the game hall system 1, the notification position of the box robot 2 with respect to the target machine is set in advance. In order to be able to cope with fluctuations in the number of box robots 2 used with respect to the target machine, the notification position is set for each number of cases, such as one case, two cases, and three cases. Further, a notification position in box robot units is also set in advance according to the number of box robots 2 in the number of used units.

  The box robot 2 moves by specifying its own notification position in accordance with the control information received from the management device 10. The box robot 2 is provided with various sensors, and can be stopped so that the box robots 2 do not contact each other during movement. Further, when a player or the like who is not sitting on the chair 12 is detected in the vicinity of the movement route, the movement is temporarily interrupted so as not to hit the player. It is desirable to notify the player that the movement is interrupted, for example, asking the player to secure a movement route during the movement interruption. It is also possible to move while warning with a buzzer or light so as not to contact the player. It is preferable to control to stop immediately when an obstacle is touched, and to be configured to notify an amusement hall employee with an intercom when it becomes unable to move for some reason.

  When the box robot 2 being stored in the chair 12 of the target machine is applied as the box robot 2 to be added, or when the box robot 2 to be reduced is stored in the target machine, the gaming machine is not via the management apparatus 10. Control information for moving from 3 to the box robot 2 may be transmitted. In addition, during the movement, the box robot 2 is moved with the first box portion 21 lowered most as shown in FIG. It is also possible to transmit control information. Note that the box robot 2 to be reduced may be specified by the gaming device 3.

  In the above, the movement of the box robot 2 is exemplified by the management device 10 and the movement of the box robot 2 is exemplified by the gaming device 3, but the gaming device 3 transmits and receives information to control the movement of the box robot 2, Any control of the box robot 2 may be performed by any device, such as controlling the lifting and lowering, etc., or necessary information may be transmitted to the box robot 2 to enable control by the box robot 2 good.

Next, the contents of the movement control of the box robot 2 will be described. First, the configuration of the movement explanatory diagram referred to in the description will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, on the gaming island where the gaming machine 5 is provided, the counting arm 372 and the like of the gaming apparatus 3 are provided on the counter or the like before the corresponding gaming machine 5. The gaming apparatus 3 can count the number of balls discharged from the lower plate 58 of the gaming machine 5 and specify the player's possession balls. Here, the display of “1 active”, “14 non-operating”, etc. in the frame of the gaming machine 5 is given for explanation, and shows the operating status of the machine number and whether or not it is operating. Yes. “1 operation” indicates that the first gaming machine 5 is in operation, and “14 non-operation” indicates that the 14th gaming machine 5 is not in operation. That is, the movement explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 11 to 13 are diagrams showing information of the gaming machines 5 managed by the management device 10 on the layout. Further, the determination of the operation may be specified by a known determination method such as non-input of a game signal such as an out signal for a predetermined period or absence of a ball. In FIG. 11 to FIG. 13, the player is not shown.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 8, the box robot 2 is housed in the chair 12, but in the movement explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 11 to 13, the box robot 2 in the standby position (housing position) housed in the chair 12. It is shown in the frame of the chair 12 (refer to the 14th series in FIG. 11). Each game island is provided with a first line 191, and the box robot 2 is arranged perpendicularly to the game island on the first line 191 (hereinafter referred to as parking). In addition, a second line 192 is set as a line that travels when the first line 191 cannot travel. The second line 192 is shared among a plurality of game islands, but may be provided on each of the game islands. In the illustration of FIG. 11, since the number of the corresponding holding balls in the first stand is one box robot, one box robot is parked at a position on the first line 191 corresponding to the first stand.

  The contents of the movement control of the box robot 2 will be specifically described with reference to the movement explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 12 and 13. In the situation illustrated in FIG. 12A, a ball effect using the box robot 2 stored in the target machine is performed in the 1st, 9th, 11th, and 14th series. In this carry-out appearance, the box robot 2 indicates a holding ball at the notification position on the first line 191 corresponding to each target machine.

  In the situation illustrated in FIG. 12 (a), when the second additional box robot 2 is required in the first stand, first, the box robot 2 in use in the first stand is finely adjusted and added. The notification position of the box robot 2 is secured (see FIG. 12B). Thereafter, the additional box robot 2 is specified based on the setting of “new robot” in FIG. 9 and the above-described priority order. In FIG. 12B, since the 14th box robot 2 is in use, the box robot 2 housed in the second stage that is not in operation is identified as the additional box robot 2, and the box robot 2 is in the standby position. The state which is moving from is illustrated.

  The identified box robot 2 moves along the first line 191 because there is no box robot 2 that may come into contact on the movement route to the destination notification position, and the notification secured as described above. Park at the position (see FIG. 12C). Subsequently, when an additional box robot 2 is required in the first stand, the box robot 2 already in use in the first stand performs position adjustment, and the notification position of the newly added box robot 2 is set. Secure. In FIG. 12C, since the 13th and 3rd units are in operation, the box robot 2 accommodated in the 12th inactive state is identified as the additional box robot 2 and travels on the first line 191. And move to the notification position.

  In FIG. 13 (a), the player further increases the number of balls from the situation illustrated in FIG. 12 (c), 4 in the 1st series, 1 in the 6th series, 2 in the 9th series, 11th and 14th series. Then, the situation where one box robot 2 is used as it is is illustrated. In the situation of this ball production effect, all the gaming machines 5 that house the box robot 2 in the chair 12 are in operation. Therefore, if an additional box robot 2 is required in the first stage in the situation of this holding effect, the box robot 2 of the parking lot on the island edge of the amusement island is used.

  In this case, first, in order to secure the notification position of the additional box robot 2, the position adjustment of the box robot 2 in use is executed as illustrated in FIG. On the other hand, on the path where the box robot 2 moves from the parking lot (not shown) located above in FIG. Is parked and there is a risk of contact. Therefore, the box robots 2 being used in the 6th, 9th, and 11th series rotate so as to be horizontal (in the direction along the first line 191) with respect to the gaming machine 5 so as to secure a movement path ( FIG. 13B). The additional box robot 2 heading for the first car moves to the notification position corresponding to the first car along the second line 192 that becomes the movement path secured by such rotation.

  Thereafter, after the additional box robot 2 moves, the box robot 2 rotated to secure the movement path sequentially rotates to return to the original posture (FIG. 13C). At the time of such rotation, for example, when a plurality of box robots 2 are used and the rotation space is not sufficiently secured as in the ninth series, the rotation is performed after adjusting the position so as to secure the rotation space. Such a movement route is secured also when the box robot 2 is reduced.

  In the above example, the first line 191 is preferentially used, but the first line 191 is used for parking for a ball effect, the second line 192 is used for movement, etc. It may not be given priority or may not be used for movement. Further, only the notification position may be set without providing the first line 191 and the second line 192 and moved to the notification position.

  As described above, in the game hall system 1 of the present example, the gaming device 3 having a counting function is provided for each gaming machine 5, and each player can be counted to improve the convenience of the player. In the case of such a game hall, it is not necessary to store the holding balls in a ball box or the like, and it is difficult to produce a ball appearance feeling by stacking ball boxes. Even if the information display device 16 or the like displays the ball or the number of boxes necessary for storing the ball, it is not sufficient for the effect of the ball appearance. Amusement halls that can count each vehicle are also required to produce the same ball feeling as before, but if the amusement hall employees carry fake ball boxes, the work burden will be excessive and labor costs will increase. Is triggered.

  Therefore, in the gaming hall system 1 of this example, when a gaming value is physically given, a pseudo storage box simulating a storage box for storing the gaming value is used to set the notification position corresponding to the floor of the gaming hall. The box robot 2 is used to notify the holding ball. The box robot 2 moves from the storage position (standby position) of the chair 12 to a predetermined notification position according to the holding ball that is the value acquired by the player, and executes the holding ball effect.

In this game hall system 1, as in the case of a conventional so-called ball box, it is possible to effectively give the player a sense of play by notifying the ball using a pseudo ball box at a notification position corresponding to the floor of the game hall. Is possible. In this game hall system 1, it is not necessary to actually store the assigned game value in the ball box, and the convenience of the player can be ensured. Furthermore, since the box robot 2 automatically moves toward the notification position, work such as carrying the box robot 2 is not burdened on the game hall employees.
As described above, according to the gaming system 1, the player can effectively have a sense of appearance while simultaneously improving the convenience of the player by counting the number of cars and reducing the work burden of the gaming hall employee. Can be given.

  The box robot 2 can execute a holding effect by two types of lifting processes, a first lifting process and a second lifting process. The first lifting process is a process of changing the number of pseudo storage boxes that are pseudo-boxed by raising and lowering the first and second box parts 21 and 23 that are pseudo storage boxes. This is a process of increasing or decreasing the number of balls stored by raising and lowering the value sheet 26 that is a pseudo value inside the first box portion 21 that is a pseudo storage box.

  Thus, in the game hall system 1, not only the number of pseudo ball boxes can be changed by changing the height of the box robot 2, but also the number of pseudo balls stored in the pseudo ball box can be increased or decreased. . According to such a holding ball effect, it is possible to represent a pseudo holding ball that is more approximate to an actual holding ball.

  The notification position at which the box robot 2 executes the holding ball effect corresponds to the gaming machine 5 in which the corresponding player plays, and the moving means provided in the management device 10 places the box robot 2 as value notification means in the standby position. When moving from the notification position to the notification position, another box robot 2 staying at the notification position is moved to execute control for securing a movement route.

  The game hall system 1 avoids the possibility that the moving box robot 2 comes into contact with another box robot 2 by executing such control. When the player increases the possession ball and thereby it is necessary to produce a possession ball with the additional box robot 2, the additional box robot 2 is secured after the movement path is secured by the avoidance operation of the other box robot 2. Move. If such an avoidance operation is executed, it becomes easier for other players to notice the addition of the box robot 2, and it is possible to give the target player a sense of superiority.

  In the gaming hall system 1, a first line 191 and a second line 192 different from the first line 191 are provided corresponding to the floor of the gaming hall. The notification position at which the box robot 2 executes the holding ball effect is a position specified by the first line 191. In this example, when moving the box robot 2 from the standby position to the notification position, the first line 191 is preferentially used, and other movements that are presenting on the moving path of the box robot 2 along the first line 191 are performed. When the box robot 2 is parked, the box robot 2 is moved along the second line 192. Instead of this, when the box robot 2 is moved from the standby position to the notification position, the second line 192 may be preferentially used instead of the first line 191. When the notification position is the floor, the movement route is also on the floor, but if the box robot 2 is moved along the second line 192 different from the first line 191 corresponding to the notification position, another box robot is moved during the movement. The possibility of contact with 2 can be reduced.

In the game hall system 1, the standby position of the box robot 2 is provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine 5. When specifying the box robot 2 to be moved from the standby position to the notification position, the management device 10 serving as a moving unit specifies the state according to the operating state of the gaming machine 5 corresponding to the standby position.
In the game hall system 1, since the standby position corresponds to the gaming machine 5, the movement distance of the box robot 2 can be shortened. On the other hand, if the box robot 2 that is in operation, that is, waits at a standby position corresponding to another gaming machine 5 on which the player plays, is specified as an additional box robot 2 and used for holding effect, the other game The player of the machine 5 may be offended.

  Therefore, when the additional box robot 2 is specified as described above, if the operating state of the corresponding gaming machine is taken into consideration, the box robot 2 corresponding to the gaming machine in which any player is playing is replaced with another gaming machine. It is possible to avoid the situation of being borrowed and used for directing the ball. If the box robo 2 of an operating gaming machine is avoided from borrowing in the holding ball production of another gaming machine, it will be compatible with that gaming machine when the gaming machine is in operation Then, the box robot 2 standing by can be used immediately. If the box robot 2 that stands by in correspondence with the gaming machine can be used in this way, it is efficient because the movement distance of the box robot 2 required for the holding ball effect can be reduced.

Instead of or in addition to the configuration of this example, the following configuration may be employed. Further, a configuration in which the following configurations are appropriately combined may be employed.
Although the configuration in which the box robot 2 is self-propelled has been illustrated, the employee may carry it without self-propelling and perform the ball effect by the lifting process of FIG. Moreover, you may employ | adopt the box robot which can perform only one of the raising / lowering process for changing the number of boxes, and the raising / lowering process of the value sheet 26. FIG.

Although the wheels 27 are exemplified as the moving mechanism for causing the box robot 2 to self-propel, any mechanism may be adopted as the moving mechanism, for example, the wheel 27 is lifted and moved by a magnetic force or a propeller.
Although the wireless communication by the AP 13 has been exemplified, the AP is not necessarily adopted, for example, the first line 191 or the second line 192 is connected to the in-field network 11 and information is transmitted from the first line 191 or the like.

  As an example of a configuration in which a box part that is not subject to boxing as a pseudo boxing is completely stored in the base part 25 and cannot be seen, if the number of boxes that are boxed can be grasped, it is not necessarily subject to boxing. It is not necessary to completely store the box portion that does not become in the base portion 25, and a configuration in which a part is exposed from the base portion 25 and is visible can be used.

  As a parking position in the case of carrying a ball, the game machine 5 (including the corresponding game device 3) may be used as a reference as well as a player reference, as illustrated, A member card may be provided with a tag, or the player's position may be specified separately by the GPS function of a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone owned by the player. Both may be used as a reference.

In the description, the expression “does not exceed” a specific value includes not only an excess but also a configuration for determining whether or not it exceeds the specific value. Similarly, the expression “reaching” a specific value includes not only less than but also a configuration for determining whether or not:
In this example, the acquisition value is associated with the recording medium, the recording medium is received, and the configuration in which the acquisition value is received by counting the game media is exemplified. However, only one of the receptions may be adopted. For example, the acquired value may be received by associating the acquired value with identification information other than the recording medium such as a fingerprint and receiving the identification information.

  The exemplified setting values may be set in advance, and the setting information may be set from an external management server such as the chain store headquarters, for example, by the game hall administrator or by the manufacturer of the management device 10. May be downloaded and set. Moreover, although the card | curd was illustrated as a recording medium, other recording media, such as a coin, may be sufficient as long as the information which can specify a valuable value can be recorded.

  As the gaming device 3, the gaming device 3 having the function of a so-called lending machine for money accepting processing and value-giving processing (lending processing) using the money is illustrated. It is not necessary to have a function. Moreover, all illustrated game information may be specified directly by an input signal or indirectly by using an arithmetic expression. In addition, numerical values, the number of digits, items, and the like are examples, and any numerical values may be adopted.

As the target gaming machine 5, a pachinko gaming machine or a slot machine other than the illustrated pachinko gaming machine such as a so-called enclosed type that manages gaming media only by data can be adopted. Note that a game medium is expressed as a game value as necessary in consideration of a so-called enclosed type or the like. In addition, in the case of an encapsulated type or the like, a state in which a valuable value can be consumed for a game is a value providing process for providing a game value usable for the game.
Further, the illustrated processing may be performed by any device including not only the gaming device 3 but also the relay device 111 and the information display device 16. Moreover, you may combine how the illustrated structure including a modification is combined.

  As described above, specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail as in the embodiments. However, these specific examples merely disclose an example of the technology included in the scope of claims. Needless to say, the scope of the claims should not be construed as limited by the configuration, numerical values, or the like of the specific examples. The scope of the claims includes techniques in which the specific examples are variously modified, changed, or appropriately combined using known techniques and knowledge of those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game hall system 10 Management apparatus (Game information identification means, player individual information identification means, setting information storage means, standby means, movement means, control means)
111 Relay Device 12 Chair 120 Storage Unit 121 Seat 13 Wireless Access Point (AP)
191 1st line 192 2nd line 2 Box robot (value notification means)
21 first box part 23 second box part 25 base part 26 value sheet 271 first elevating mechanism 262 second elevating mechanism 3 gaming device (value specifying means, setting information storage means, effect mode specifying means, control means, number change information Output means)
5 gaming machines

Claims (5)

A value specifying means for accepting an acquired value, which is a game value acquired by a player through a game, and specifying the acquired value;
Pseudo storage that mimics a storage box for storing a game value when the game value is physically given when it has a movement mechanism for enabling movement to a notification position corresponding to the floor of the game hall Value notification means for notifying the acquired value at a notification position by a box;
Standby means for waiting the value notification means at a standby position different from the notification position;
A moving means for performing movement control for moving the notified position the value notification means in accordance with the acquired value specified from the standby position by the moving mechanism by the value specifying unit,
A game system with The value notification means notifies the acquired value by performing a first lifting process and a second lifting process,
The first raising / lowering process is a process of changing the number of pseudo storage boxes that are pseudo-boxed by raising and lowering the pseudo storage box,
The second raising / lowering process is a process of increasing / decreasing a game value stored in the pseudo storage box in a pseudo manner by raising / lowering a pseudo value imitating the game value in the pseudo storage box. 1. A game system according to 1. The notification position corresponds to a gaming machine ,
The said moving means secures a movement path | route by moving the other value notification means which stays in a notification position, when moving the said value notification means from the said standby position to the said notification position . Game system. A first line corresponding to the floor of the amusement hall and a second line different from the first line are provided,
The notification position is a position specified by the first line,
It said moving means, game arcade for the system according to claim 1 for moving to the notification position the value notification unit from the standby position by the second line. A game information specifying means for specifying the operating state of the gaming machine by inputting a gaming signal capable of specifying whether the gaming machine is in an operating state or a non-operating state;
The standby position is provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine,
The moving means, the value notification unit configured to move from the standby position to the broadcast location, gaming field according to any one of claims 1 to 4, identified in accordance with the operating state of the gaming machine corresponding to the standby position system.

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