JPH01110383A - Apparatus for indicating remainder in pinball rental machine of card type - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the checking of balance by providing a control section of a light emitting display body of a balance display part with a balance detection means and a lighting control means to turn on lights by the number according to balance of use. CONSTITUTION: A control section 50 performs a control to discharge balls when a ball rental card 5 is fed while flashing each light emitting display body 16 of a balance display part 15 according to a balance of use in the ball rental card. Control signals are outputted respectively for motors 21 and 31 for conveying cards of readers 20 and 30, a thermal head, a display part 15 and a ball feeder 42. Also included are a balance detection means 51 to detect the balance of use in the ball rental card 5 fed based on the detection of a mark 8 attached to a balance recording part 7 of the ball rental card 5, a lighting control means 52 to turn on the light emitting display body 16 by the number according to the balance of the use and a balance updating means 53 which actuates a thermal head at each use of the ball rental card 5 to update the record of the balance of the use by attaching a mark 8 to the balance recording part 7.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is a card-type ball lending machine in which playing media such as pachinko balls can be rented using a card, which displays the used balance of the ball lending card. The present invention relates to a balance display device.

(Prior Art) In order to facilitate cash management in pachinko parlors, etc., card-type ball lending machines have already been developed in which pachinko balls and other game media are lent using cards.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 143085/1985 discloses a ball lending system including such a ball lending machine and a card issuing machine. This system consists of a ticket issuing machine that issues ball rental cards with predetermined information recorded, a ball rental machine that discharges a predetermined number of game media when a valid ball rental card is inserted, and a computer that comprehensively manages these. It consists of

In such a ball lending system, the ball lending card can be used only a predetermined number of times according to the issued amount, and the balance used is recorded on the ball lending card or stored in a separate storage means for each ball lending card. is stored in the memory. Then, when a ball lending card is inserted into the ball lending machine from its slot, if the ball lending card is a proper one and the balance used is not 0, the ball lending machine will be able to A predetermined number of game media are ejected, and when the ball rental card is used in this way, the record of the ball rental card or the memory contents of the storage means regarding the used balance is updated.

By the way, in such a ball lending machine, it is desirable to display the used balance when the ball lending card is inserted so that the player can easily check the used balance of the ball lending card. Even if the balance is visually recorded on the ball rental card, it is more convenient to display the balance on the ball rental machine. In particular, such a display is required to be simple and extremely clear, but in conventional ball lending machines, such a display is not provided, or even if such a display is provided, it is The above requirements were not fully satisfied because the information was unclear and the W1 control for display was sloppy.

(Purpose of the Invention) In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is to easily and clearly display the used balance when a ball lending card is inserted into a ball lending machine, thereby making it easy to confirm the used balance. The present invention provides a balance display device for a card-type ball lending machine that can perform the following functions.

(Structure of the Invention) The present invention provides a card-type ball lending machine that discharges a predetermined number of game media when a valid ball lending card on which predetermined information is recorded is inserted. A balance display section in which a plurality of light emitting displays are arranged is provided on the front side, and a control section is provided to control the blinking of each light emitting display section of this display section. balance detection means for detecting the used balance of the inserted ball rental card based on information about the balance stored in the storage means; A lighting control means for lighting the display body is provided.

With this configuration, the used balance of the ball lending card can be confirmed by the number of light-emitting indicators lit in the balance display section.

(Example) An example in which the present invention is applied to pachinko ball rental at a pachinko parlor will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a ball lending system including a card-type ball lending machine 1 to which the device of the present invention is applied, and in this figure, the ball lending machine 1 is arranged between each pachinko game machine 2 in a store. has been done. Each of the above ball lending machines 1 has an internal control circuit that is connected to the transfer machine 3.
It is electrically connected to the tally machine 114 via the tally machine 4, and various information is exchanged with the tally machine 4. In addition, although not shown, there are ball lending machines installed at appropriate locations other than between the machines, ticket issuing machines that issue ball lending cards according to the insertion of coins, payment machines for producing balances of ball lending cards, etc. is,
Communication also takes place between these and the collection Kt 114.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the ball rental card 5. The ball rental card 5 shown in this figure is formed using thermal paper, and predetermined information for card verification, such as the month, day, hour, minute, and second of issue of the ball rental card, ticket issuing machine number, etc., is contained in a bar code 6. A balance recording section 7 is provided to record the used balance (remaining number of used points).
Patterns 7a such as stripes are attached at a plurality of locations corresponding to the frequency of use. The barcode 6 and the pattern 7a of the balance recording section 7 are thermally printed by a thermal printing means provided in the ticket issuing machine. Then, at the stage of ticket issuance, the above-mentioned predetermined information is stored in the tabulation machine 4 as registered data. In addition, the pattern 7a of the balance recording section 7 is marked 8 in black at 1!
It is designed to be erased.

FIGS. 3 to 8 show specific examples of the structure of the ball loan 111 installed between the machines and the balance display device applied thereto.

In the embodiments shown in these figures, in order to provide convenience for players on the game machines on both sides of the ball lending machine 1, there are two play machines on the front of the ball lending machine main body 10, one for one side and one for the other side. Two ball lending card slots 11 and 12 are provided vertically at a predetermined interval. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, on each different side of each card slot 11.12,
Projecting walls 13 and 14 projecting forward are respectively provided, and in the figure, the first card slot 1 located above
Projecting walls 13 and 14 are provided on the right side of the first card slot 1 and on the left side of the second card slot 12 located below. The first card slot 11 is formed by these protrusions v13.14.

The second card slot 12 is hidden from the players on the right side play table and used by the players on the left side.
However, the cards are hidden from the players at the left game machine and are made available for cards to be used by the players at the right game machine.

Both card slots 11 on the front of the ball lending machine main body 10.
A balance display section 15 is provided between 12 (third
(See Figure 4). As shown in detail in FIG.
It is equipped with 6. The light-emitting display bodies 16 are provided in a predetermined manner according to the number of times the ball rental card is used. For example, if the issued amount of the ball rental card is 1000 yen, balls can be rented for 200 yen each time the ball rental card is used. In this case, six light-emitting displays 16 are provided, and these are arranged vertically so that the balance can be shown in units of 200 yen from 1000 yen to 0. A numerical value 17 corresponding to the balance displayed by each light-emitting display body 16 is attached to the side portion thereof. Also,
On both upper and lower sides of the part where the light-emitting display body 16 is arranged, there are LE
Indicators 18a and 18b using D and the like are provided, and depending on which of the F indicators 18a and 18b is lit, it is possible to confirm whether the slot 11 or 12 is used for cards. The light-emitting display bodies 16 and the indicators 1Ba and 18b are arranged on a panel 19 attached to the front surface of the ball lending machine main body 10.

Inside the ball rental machine main body 10, as shown in FIG. 4, a first reader 20 and a second reader 30, which perform processing such as reading the ball rental card, are installed corresponding to each card slot 11 and 12, respectively. Each reader 20.30 is provided with a transport roller 22.32 driven by a motor 21.31, and a card slot 11.1 in which the ball rental card 5 is inserted.
Start sensor 2 detects this when it is inserted into 2.
3.33, a barcode sensor 24.34 that reads the barcode 6 of the ball lending card 5, a mark sensor 25.35 that detects the mark 8, and a thermal head (not shown) for attaching the mark 8 to the ball lending card 5. ) is provided.

Furthermore, the pachinko ball P discharging mechanism 40 is provided in the ball lending machine main body 10.
is provided. This ejection mechanism 40 includes a ball passage 41 that guides pachinko balls P supplied from a supply section (not shown), and a ball passage 41 that is provided in this ball passage 41 and allows the pachinko balls P to pass through while counting them in response to an ejection command signal. It includes a feeding device 42, a ball tank 43 communicating below the ball passage 41, and a ball take-out part 44 provided in front of the ball tank 43. In the ball passage 41 above the first feeding device 42, a ball passage 41 is provided.
A ball path sensor 45 is provided to check whether or not the pachinko balls P are being supplied correctly. Also,
The ball tank 43 is equipped with a ball tank sensor 46 that detects when the pachinko balls P are staying in the ball tank 43.

FIG. 8 shows the control system of the ball lending machine 1. In this figure, the control unit 50 included in the ball lending machine 1 controls a predetermined number of pachinko balls when a valid ball lending card 5 is inserted. In addition to controlling the ball lending to be discharged, blinking of each light emitting display body 16 of the balance display section 15 is controlled in accordance with the used balance of the ball lending card. In this control section 50, a first
Each start sensor 2 of the leader 20 and the second reader 30
3.33, while the signals from each barcode sensor 24.34 and each mark sensor 25.35, the signal from the ball path sensor 45, and the signal from the ball tank sensor 46 are input, the control unit 5o , a control signal for the card transport motor 21 31 of each reader 20.30, a control signal for the marking thermal head included in each reader 20.30, a III control signal for the display unit 15, and a control signal for the ball feeding device 42. are output respectively. The control section 50 includes a balance detecting means 51 for detecting the used balance of the inserted ball lending card 5 based on the detection of the mark 8 attached to the balance recording section 7 of the ball lending card 5; A lighting control means 52 that lights up the light-emitting display bodies 16 in a number corresponding to the used balance detected by the balance detection means 51, and a balance recording section of the ball lending card 5 that operates a thermal head each time the ball lending card 5 is used. 7
balance updating means 53 for updating the record of the used balance by adding a mark 8 to the balance.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of ball lending control by the control section 50. In this flowchart, when started, initial settings are first performed in step S1, and then it is checked in step S2 whether the ball path sensor 45 is ON or OFF. If the ball passage sensor 45 is ON (a state in which ball lending is possible), it is checked in step S3 whether the start sensor 23 of the first leader 20 is ON or OFF, and if it is OFF, the start sensor 23 of the first leader 20 is checked in step S4. start sensor 33 is O
Check whether it is N or OFF. When both start sensors 23.33 are OFF, that is, both card slots 11.12
If no ball rental card has been inserted in any of the above, the process returns to step S2.

When it is determined in step $3 that the start sensor 23 is turned on, the indicator 18a on the upper side of the display section 15 is lit and displayed in step S5, the flag F is set to 1 in step Ss, and the flag F is set to 1 in step S7. , loading the ball rental card 5 by driving the motor 21 using the first reader 20;
The barcode sensor 24 reads the barcode 6, the mark sensor 25 reads the mark 8, and when it is determined in step S4 that the start sensor 33 is turned on, the display unit 15 is turned on in step S8. The lower indicator 18b is lit and displayed, and the 7 lag F is set to O in step S9, and the same process as step S7 is performed using the second reader 30 in step S1o.

Next, in step S11, based on the reading of the barcode 6, the contents of the barcode 6 are analyzed and compared with the information stored in the tabulation machine 4, and in step Sη, based on the results of the above analysis and comparison, bar food Check whether there was an error in reading 6. Here, if the ball rental card is forged or tampered with, it will be determined as an error, and if there is an error, the card will be returned (
After performing step SU), the process returns to step S2.

If it is determined in step S12 that there is no error, in step Sm the remaining number of usage times of the ball loan card (used balance) is calculated based on the reading of the mark 8, and the balance detection means 51 is used. Do the la. Based on this calculated remaining number, in step Sm, the light emitting display 1 of the balance display section 15
6 according to the remaining number, and the lighting control means 52
Process as follows. Next, in step Sm, the flag F is checked, and if flag F is 1, in step Sv,
The first reader 20 performs processing as the balance updating means 53 by attaching a mark 8 to the next marking position in the balance recording section 7 of the ball lending card 5, and causes the ball lending card 5 to be returned; Also, the above flag Ftfi
If O, in step Sm, the second reader 30
Processing similar to step Sv is performed.

Next, in step 81g, the ball feeding device 42 of the ball discharging mechanism is activated to feed the pachinko balls P into the ball tank 43, and then in step 820, the ball tank sensor 46 is turned off (the pachinko balls P are taken out). ) and then
Furthermore, after waiting until it is determined in step 821 that the ball lending card 5 has been handled from the card slot, in step 822 the light-emitting display body 16 of the balance display section 15 and the indicator 1
All lights 8a and 18b are turned off. When the processing up to step 822 is completed, the process returns to step S2.1 According to the balance display device in the above example,
When a valid ball lending card 5 is inserted from the card slot 11 or 12 of the ball lending mi to perform ball lending, mark 8
According to the usage balance of the card 5 detected based on the reading, the light-emitting indicators 16 of the balance display section 15 are lit in the number corresponding to the usage balance, and the ball lending card user can confirm the usage balance at a glance. clearly displayed so that it can be displayed. Further, since it is only necessary to control the number of light-emitting display members 16 lit according to the usage balance, accurate display can be performed with relatively simple control.

In addition, in this embodiment, two card slots ii and 12 are provided in the ball lending machine 1 between the machines, and when the ball lending card 5 is inserted from either one of the slots, the corresponding ball lending process is performed. During this process, the reader corresponding to the other input port is not operated. By providing two card slots 11 and 12 in this way, it is possible to avoid troubles such as the players at the game machines on both sides fighting over the card slots, and it is also possible to avoid problems such as the players at the game machines on both sides handling the card slots. By identifying whether the pachinko balls are ejected from the ball lending machine, it can be determined whether the pachinko balls discharged from the ball lending machine are used for the left or right amusement machine, so the number of balls being dispensed from the ball lending machine can be counted according to the operation of the ball lending machine. In some cases, it is also possible to separately tally the left and right game machines. And like this, there are two card slots 1
1. In a ball lending machine equipped with 12, the balance display section 1
By providing indicators 18a and 18b in 5, it is also possible to clearly indicate which card slot is used for the ball rental card.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the ball lending card 5 is formed of thermal paper,
Since a mark 8 is applied to the balance recording section 7 by heating every time the card is used and the mark 8 is detected, the balance used can be easily detected and updated.

Note that the specific structure of the device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be modified in various ways.

For example, the light-emitting indicators 16 in the balance display section 15 may be formed of lamps or the like, and the number and arrangement of the light-emitting indicators 16 may be changed as appropriate as long as the balance can be distinguished by the number of light-emitting indicators. Further, in the above embodiment, the case is shown in which the application is applied to a ball lending machine between two card slots, but it can also be applied to a ball lending machine with only one card slot, and in this case, the above-mentioned index 18a , 18b are unnecessary.

The remaining balance of the Tama Rental Card is stored in a separate storage method (
For example, the balance may be stored in a tally 114, etc.); in this case, the balance may be detected based on information read from the storage means, and the stored balance may be rewritten each time it is used.

The ball rental card 5 is not limited to one formed of thermal paper.
It may be a conventionally known magnetic card. Further, the ball lending machine to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a ball lending machine for pachinko balls, but may be one that lends out other game media in response to card insertion.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the balance display device in the card-type ball lending machine of the present invention includes a balance display section in which a plurality of light-emitting displays are arranged on the front surface of the ball lending machine main body, and When a ball lending card is inserted into the machine, the control unit detects the used balance of the playing ball lending card and lights up the light-emitting display by the number of lights corresponding to the used balance. This can be done with simple control, and the card user can clearly check the usage balance at a glance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a ball rental system including a card-type ball rental machine to which the device of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a ball rental card, and FIG. Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the ball lending machine equipped with the device, Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the balance display section, Fig. 6 is an enlarged front view of the card slot, and Fig. 7 is the same schematic side view. An enlarged sectional view, Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of the control system,
FIG. 9 is a flow chart of control of ball lending and balance display. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ball lending machine, 5... Ball lending card, 10... Ball lending machine main body, 15... Balance display part, 16... Light emitting display, 50... Control part, 51.・Balance detection means, 52・
...Lighting control means. Figure 1 Figure 5 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 6 Figure 7
8 Figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a card-type ball lending machine that discharges a predetermined number of game media when a valid ball lending card on which predetermined information is recorded is inserted, the front surface of the main body of the ball lending machine is provided with a balance display section in which a plurality of light-emitting displays are arranged, and a control section for controlling the blinking of each light-emitting display section of this display section. balance detection means for detecting the used balance of the inserted ball lending card based on information about the balance stored in the means;
A balance display device for a card-type ball lending machine, characterized in that a lighting control means is provided for lighting the light-emitting display bodies in a number corresponding to the used balance detected by the balance detection means. 2. In the control section that controls the blinking of each light emitting display of the display section,
The card according to claim 1, characterized in that the card includes balance updating means for updating information about the balance recorded on the ball lending card or stored in the storage means each time the ball lending card is used. Balance display device for ball rental machines.