Prize payout device and prize payout method using the prize payout device

Abstract

To provide a prize put-out device and a prize put-out method capable of putting out a larger number of prizes from a put-out port at one time.SOLUTION: A prize put-out device 1 includes: a device body 3 having a put-out port 13B; a plurality of storage parts 12 disposed in the device body 3 for storing prizes P; and a moving part 54 which is shared by the plurality of storage parts 12, the moving part 54 receiving the prizes P from the storage parts 12 and moving them to the put-out port 13B. A maximum descending amount from a start position P2 of the moving part 54 in reception processing of a middle storage part 12B is larger than a maximum descending amount of the moving part 54 of a lower storage part 12A in the reception processing of the lower storage part 12A. Therefore, the upper limit number of the prizes P that the moving part 54 receives from the middle storage part 12B in the reception processing is larger than the upper limit number of the prizes P that the moving part 54 receives from the lower storage part 12A in the reception processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a prize payout device and a prize payout method in the prize payout device. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of a prize dispensing device, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a prize dispensing machine installed in gaming parlors such as pachinko parlors. The prize dispensing machine includes multiple storage compartments arranged in a left-right direction and a box-shaped main body that houses these storage compartments. Each storage compartment stores prizes that can be exchanged for gaming media such as pachinko balls. The top plate of the main body has the same number of openings arranged in a left-right direction as the number of storage compartments, and a corresponding storage compartment is located directly below each opening. Each storage compartment includes two storage main compartments and two payout compartments that pay out prizes from the storage main compartments. Each storage compartment further includes a payout compartment located between the two storage main compartments. In the payout process performed by the prize dispensing machine, prizes paid out by the payout compartments are stacked in the payout compartment. After the prizes are stacked in the payout compartment, the payout compartments of all storage compartments, including this payout compartment, rise together, and the prizes on the payout compartments are exposed through the openings corresponding to the storage compartments. This allows users such as store staff and players to remove prizes from the opening. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-25822 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is desirable for a prize dispensing machine to have a large upper limit on the number of prizes that can be dispensed from the dispenser in one payout process. If the number of prizes that can be dispensed at one time is small, a transaction in which many prizes are to be dispensed will require multiple payouts. In this case, it will take a long time to dispense the prizes.

[0005] In order to increase the upper limit of the number of prizes that can be paid out in one payout process, it is possible to increase the upper limit of the number of prizes that the moving unit (payout unit) receives from each storage unit (main storage unit). In order to uniformly increase the upper limit of the number of prizes that the moving unit (payout unit) receives, for example, it is necessary to physically increase the size of the device in the height direction. However, it is not desirable for the prize payout device to be large, and there is a need to increase the number of prizes that can be paid out from the payout opening at one time while keeping the size of the device from increasing.

[0006] The present invention One embodiment of To provide a prize dispensing device and a prize dispensing method that can dispense a larger number of prizes from a dispensing outlet at one time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention One embodiment of a prize payout device including: a device main body provided with a prize payout outlet; a plurality of storage units arranged within the device main body for storing prizes; a moving unit common to the plurality of storage units, which receives prizes from the storage units and moves them to the payout outlet; and a control unit which causes a first storage unit among the plurality of storage units to have different contents of a receiving process relating to the receipt of prizes by the moving unit than a second storage unit different from the first storage unit. Provide do.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention In one embodiment of The control unit makes the upper limit number of prizes that the transfer unit receives from the storage unit during the receiving process different between the first storage unit and the second storage unit. do.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention In one embodiment of The plurality of storage units are arranged in a vertical direction, and the moving unit moves up and down to receive prizes from the storage units and move them to the payout outlet. And Within the movement range of the moving unit, a start position for starting to receive the prize from the storage unit is set for each storage unit. AndThe moving unit descends from the starting position as the number of prizes received from the storage unit and stacked on the moving unit increases during the receiving process. And The control unit makes the maximum amount of descent of the moving unit from the start position different between the first storage unit and the second storage unit. do.

[0010] In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit may make the maximum amount of descent of the moving part from the starting position when receiving a prize for the second storage part greater than the maximum amount of descent of the moving part from the starting position when receiving a prize for the first storage part. Furthermore, the present invention In one embodiment of The lowest storage section among the plurality of storage sections is the first storage section. And The storage section located above the first storage section (hereinafter referred to as the "upper storage section") is the second storage section. And The control unit sets a maximum amount of descent of the moving unit from the start position in the receiving process for the second storage unit to be greater than a maximum amount of descent of the moving unit from the start position in the receiving process for the first storage unit. do.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention In one embodiment of The dispensing outlet is disposed above the plurality of storage sections. do.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention In one embodiment of In the case where only one outlet is provided, do.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention One embodiment of A prize dispensing method for a prize dispensing device including a device main body provided with a prize dispensing outlet, a plurality of storage sections arranged within the device main body for storing prizes, and a moving section common to the plurality of storage sections. provide . The prize payout method is The method includes a receiving step of receiving the prize from the storage unit by the moving unit, and a moving step of moving the moving unit that has received the prize from the storage unit to the payout outlet, so that the contents of the receiving process related to the receipt of the prize by the moving unit differ between a first storage unit and a second storage unit different from the first storage unit among the plurality of storage units. 。 [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The present invention One embodiment of According to the invention, a moving unit receives a prize from at least one of the multiple storage units. The moving unit receives the prize and moves to the payout outlet, where the prize is paid out. The multiple storage units include a first storage unit and a second storage unit. The first storage unit and the second storage unit have different receiving processes for receiving prizes by the moving unit. Therefore, it is possible to selectively increase the upper limit of the number of prizes that the moving unit receives from the second storage unit without physically increasing the size of the device. In this case, a larger number of prizes are paid out from the payout outlet at one time. This makes it possible to pay out a larger number of prizes from the payout outlet at one time.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention One embodiment of According to the above, the upper limit of the number of prizes that the moving unit can receive from the storage unit differs between the first storage unit and the second storage unit. Therefore, the upper limit of the number of prizes that can be paid out at one time from the payout opening differs when the moving unit receives prizes from the first storage unit and when the moving unit receives prizes from the second storage unit.

[0016] For example, suppose the upper limit of the number of prizes that the transfer unit can receive from the second storage unit is greater than the upper limit of the number of prizes that the transfer unit can receive from the first storage unit. In this case, when the transfer unit receives prizes from the second storage unit, it can receive a greater number of prizes from the storage unit than when the transfer unit receives prizes from the first storage unit. This makes it possible to pay out a greater number of prizes from the payout opening at one time.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention One embodiment ofAccording to the invention, in the receiving process, prizes received from the storage unit are stacked on the moving unit. Then, in the receiving process, the moving unit descends from the starting position as the number of prizes stacked on the moving unit increases. The maximum amount of descent of the moving unit from the starting position differs between the first storage unit and the second storage unit. Therefore, the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit will receive differs between the first storage unit and the second storage unit. This makes it possible to make the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit will receive in the receiving process different between the first storage unit and the second storage unit.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention One embodiment of According to the method, the maximum amount of descent of the moving unit from the starting position differs between the lowest storage unit and the upper storage unit. Therefore, the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit can receive from the storage unit differs between the lowest storage unit and the upper storage unit. This makes it possible to make the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit can receive from the storage unit in the receiving process different between the lowest storage unit and the upper storage unit.

[0019] Furthermore, the present invention One embodiment of According to the invention, the payout opening is positioned above the plurality of storage sections, so that after the prize collection process, the prize received from the storage section can be paid out from the payout opening by raising the moving section on which the prizes are stacked.

[0020] Furthermore, the present invention One embodiment of According to this, since only one payout outlet is provided, the prize payout device can be made smaller than when multiple payout outlets are provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a prize payout device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] An oblique view of a returnable container used in the prize dispensing device. [Figure 3] A schematic right side view of the inside of the main body of the prize payout device. [Figure 4] A block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the prize payout device. [Figure 5] A schematic oblique view of the prize payout device with the door open. [Figure 6] A schematic oblique view of the prize payout device with the storage section pulled out for replenishment processing. [Figure 7] 10 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the apparatus main body with the storage unit pulled out for a refilling process. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the device main body during the counting and identification process. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 10 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the device body during the payout process. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the device body during the payout process. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the device body during the payout process. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the device body during the payout process. [Figure 14] 10 is an enlarged view for explaining the maximum lowering amount of the moving part for the lower storage part. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is an enlarged view for explaining the maximum lowering amount of the moving part for the middle storage part. FIG. [Figure 16] A diagram showing the stacking pattern of prizes stacked on the moving part. [Figure 17] A figure showing the stacking pattern of the prizes after Figure 16. [Figure 18] A figure showing an example of a payout pattern of prizes paid out by the payout process. [Figure 19] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a transaction process in the prize payout device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a prize payout device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The prize payout device 1 is a device that pays out prizes P, which are called special prizes. Note that amusement parlors handle not only special prizes but also general prizes such as sweets. The prize payout device 1 includes a POS unit 2 that forms its upper part, and a device main body 3 that is arranged below the POS unit 2.

[0023] The POS unit 2 is a so-called POS terminal, and its front surface, i.e., the front area, is provided with a display / operation unit 4 configured, for example, by a liquid crystal touch panel. The display / operation unit 4 may be separated into a display unit and an operation unit. The front surface of the POS unit 2 is formed with a card slot 2A through which cards issued to players by gaming establishments are inserted and removed, and a receipt issuing slot 2B through which receipts are issued. The number of gaming media, such as pachinko balls, that a player has acquired through play is associated with the card. A card of a player who has registered as a member of a gaming establishment (a so-called member customer) is called a member card, and a card of another player (a so-called general customer) is sometimes called a general card. The card may also be associated with prepaid value that can be exchanged for gaming media to start or continue play.

[0024] An example of a prize P is a card having a thickness of a few millimeters (1.5 mm, 3 mm, etc., in this embodiment, 3 mm). In this embodiment, three types of prize P are available according to monetary value: a grand prize, a medium prize, and a small prize, but there may also be an extra large prize with a monetary value higher than the grand prize. The surface color of the prize P varies depending on the type of prize P. For example, the surface of the grand prize is red, the surface of the medium prize is blue, and the surface of the small prize is green. The prizes P are distributed in the market stored in returnable boxes 5.

[0025] In this embodiment, the prize payout device 1 is a self-service device located in an unmanned prize exchange corner in an amusement facility, where the player himself or herself completes the procedures for exchanging the prize P. In this case, the player inserts a card into the card slot 2A of the POS unit 2 and then operates the display / operation unit 4 to send a payout request for the prize P to the prize payout device 1. The device main body 3 then pays out the type and number of prizes P according to the payout request, and the POS unit 2 updates the inventory data for the prizes P. The player then receives the card returned through the card slot 2A and the prize P dispensed from the device main body 3. Note that the following description assumes that the prize payout device 1 is a self-service device. However, a store clerk may be present near the prize payout device 1 and hand the prize P to the player after receiving it from the prize payout device 1.

[0026] The device main body 3 is a prize payout machine that pays out prizes P, and also a prize storage machine that has the function of storing prizes P. In this embodiment, the POS unit 2 and the device main body 3 are integrated, but the device main body 3 may exist as a standalone prize payout device 1, and the POS unit 2 may be configured as a standalone POS terminal separate from the device main body 3. The device main body 3 includes a box-shaped housing 11 that forms its outer shell, one or more storage sections 12 provided within the housing 11, and a door 13 supported by the housing 11.

[0027] The left-right direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1 coincides with the left-right direction X of the device body 3. The direction approximately perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 coincides with the front-rear direction Y of the device body 3. The up-down direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1 coincides with the up-down direction Z of the device body 3. The left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y are included in the horizontal direction. The left-right direction X includes the left side X1 and the right side X2. The front-rear direction Y includes the front side Y1 that coincides with the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 and the rear side Y2 that coincides with the rear side of the paper surface of FIG. 1. The up-down direction Z includes the upper side Z1 and the lower side Z2.

[0028] The housing 11 has a vertically elongated box shape. The housing 11 has a top wall 14, a bottom wall 15, a pair of left and right side walls 16, and a rear wall 17. The top wall 14 and the bottom wall 15 are rectangular plate-like. Each of the pair of side walls 16 is a rectangular plate-like shape that is long in the vertical direction Z. The left side wall 16 on the left side X1 is provided between the left ends of the top wall 14 and the bottom wall 15, and the right side wall 16 on the right side X2 is provided between the right ends of the top wall 14 and the bottom wall 15. The rear wall 17 is a rectangular plate-like shape that is long in the vertical direction Z, and is provided between the rear ends of the top wall 14 and the bottom wall 15 and also between the rear ends of the pair of side walls 16. An opening 11A is formed in the front surface of the housing 11 and is bordered by the front ends of the top wall 14, the bottom wall 15, and the pair of side walls 16 (see also FIG. 5 ). The opening 11A communicates with the internal space 11B of the housing 11.

[0029] The storage section 12 stores the prize P together with the returnable box 5. In this embodiment, three storage sections 12 are lined up in the vertical direction Z in the internal space 11B of the housing 11. Each storage section 12 is supported by each side wall 16 of the housing 11 so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction Y. As shown in FIG. 1, each storage section 12 is in a storage position in the front-to-rear direction Y when completely housed within the housing 11. Each storage section 12 can be drawn through an opening 11A of the housing 11 to a drawer position Y1 forward of the storage position (see FIG. 6). The housing 11 is provided with an electric drawer lock mechanism 18 (see FIG. 4). The drawer lock mechanism 18 locks and unlocks each storage section 12 in the storage position. An electromagnetic lock or the like can be used as the drawer lock mechanism 18.

[0030] Before describing the storage section 12 in detail, the returnable container 5 will be described. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the returnable container 5. The returnable container 5 is formed in a box shape that is elongated in a predetermined direction and is made of, for example, resin. The returnable container 5 integrally includes a pair of side walls 21 arranged opposite each other, a plurality of partition walls 22 installed between the pair of side walls 21, and a bottom wall 23.

[0031] The pair of side walls 21 are formed in the shape of approximately rectangular plates extending in the longitudinal direction L of the returnable box 5, and are arranged parallel to each other so as to face each other along their respective plate thickness directions. The direction in which the pair of side walls 21 face each other is the short side direction S of the returnable box 5, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the depth direction D of the returnable box 5 is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction L and the short side direction S.

[0032] In this embodiment, six partition walls 22 are provided, and each partition wall 22 is formed in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate with a plate thickness direction that coincides with the longitudinal direction L. Two partition walls 22 are erected between one end edge and the other end edge of the pair of side walls 21 in the longitudinal direction L, and the remaining four partition walls 22 are erected between the middle parts of the pair of side walls 21, lined up at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction L. Therefore, five storage spaces 24, each of which is substantially rectangular and of equal size, are formed in the returnable box 5 and lined up at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction L.

[0033] The bottom wall 23 has a plate thickness direction that coincides with the depth direction D, and is formed in the shape of a generally rectangular plate that is long in the longitudinal direction L. The bottom wall 23 is connected to each of the side walls 21 and each of the partition walls 22 from one side in the depth direction D (the lower side in FIG. 2), and closes each storage space 24 from that one side. An end of each storage space 24 on the other side in the depth direction D (the upper side in FIG. 2) is opened to that other side as a generally rectangular entrance / exit 25.

[0034] The returnable box 5 includes openings 26 provided separately from the entrance / exit 25. The openings 26 are provided in pairs at the same positions as each storage space 24 in the longitudinal direction L (five pairs in this embodiment). That is, five openings 26 are provided on each side of the returnable box 5 in the short direction S, lined up at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction L. The two openings 26 in each pair are at the same position in the longitudinal direction L and configured to be symmetrical with respect to the center of the returnable box 5 in the short direction S. Each opening 26 is slit-shaped, exposing the storage space 24 to the outside. Each opening 26 cuts out an end of the bottom wall 23 in the short direction S and cuts out the side wall 21 on the same side as the end in the short direction S along the depth direction D, extending linearly up to just before the entrance / exit 25.

[0035] When the returnable container 5 is circulating and containing prizes P, it is in a basic position with each entrance / exit 25 facing upward, as shown in FIG. 2 . The prizes P are stored in each storage space 24 through the entrance / exit 25. Because each storage space 24 is the same size, a predetermined number of prizes P—20 in this embodiment—are stored in each storage space 24. Therefore, the returnable container 5 as a whole can store a maximum of 100 prizes P. Multiple prizes P are stored in a stacked state in each storage space 24, with their thickness direction aligned with the short-side direction S and standing upright from the bottom wall 23. In this state, the portion of each prize P facing the entrance / exit 25 protrudes beyond the entrance / exit 25. In addition, in a storage space 24 (see the right-most storage space 24 in FIG. 2 ) containing the predetermined number of prizes P, portions of the prizes P located at both ends of the short-side direction S are exposed from the openings 26 on the same side in the short-side direction S. In this embodiment, the type of multiple prizes P stored in one returnable box 5 is one of the following: a grand prize, a medium prize, and a small prize, but the type of prize P may be different for each storage space 24.

[0036] Next, the storage section 12 will be described in detail. Fig. 3 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the device main body 3. Hereinafter, of the three storage sections 12 lined up in the vertical direction Z, the lowest storage section 12 will be referred to as the "lower storage section 12A," the middle storage section 12 will be referred to as the "middle storage section 12B," and the top storage section 12 will be referred to as the "upper storage section 12C."

[0037] Each storage section 12 includes a box-shaped housing 31 that forms its outer shell. The configuration of each storage section 12 will be described with reference to the lower storage section 12A shown in FIG. 3. A substantially rectangular loading opening 31A and a substantially rectangular plate-shaped door 31B that opens and closes the loading opening 31A are provided on the top surface of the housing 31. The door 31B is connected to the housing 31 via a hinge 31C provided at its front end, and is opened and closed by rotating about the hinge 31C. An opening 31D is formed over almost the entire front surface of the housing 31. A handle 31E (see FIG. 5) is provided on the front surface of the housing 31 in an area Z1 above the opening 31D.

[0038] The internal space 31F of the housing 31 of each storage unit 12 is provided with a pair of left and right conveyance bodies 32 and a plurality of (here, four) storage bodies 33. Each conveyance body 32 is configured with an endless chain or belt. Each conveyance body 32 has, for example, a substantially rectangular ring shape when viewed from the left-right direction X. The conveyance body 32 moves in a circular movement in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions when viewed from the left-right direction X by receiving a driving force from a driving unit such as a motor (not shown). The driving unit and the conveyance body 32 are included in a movement mechanism 34.

[0039] Each storage body 33 is tray-shaped and extends in the left-right direction X. The internal space of each storage body 33 is large enough to accommodate a returnable container 5 extending in the left-right direction X. An upwardly facing storage body 33 (see, for example, the storage body 33 on the upper side Z1 of the lower storage section 12A in FIG. 3 ) has an entrance 33A that opens across the entire top surface, and slit-shaped openings (not shown) cut out in both the front and rear side walls. The same number of openings are formed in the front and rear walls of the storage body 33 at positions that coincide with the openings 26 (see FIG. 2) of the returnable container 5, and are arranged side by side in the left-right direction X.

[0040] One returnable box 5 is loaded into each storage body 33. As a result, the prize P in the returnable box 5 is stored in the storage body 33 and also in the storage section 12. In the storage body 33 loaded with the returnable box 5, the openings described above are aligned with the openings 26 of the returnable box 5. In this embodiment, the same type of prize P is stored in one returnable box 5, so one storage body 33 is loaded with the same type of prize P, and one storage section 12 stores the same type of prize P. As an example, only the grand prize is stored in the lower storage section 12A, only the medium prize is stored in the middle storage section 12B, and only the small prize is stored in the upper storage section 12C. Of course, the type of prize P may differ for each storage body 33 in each storage section 12.

[0041] These storage bodies 33 are arranged in a ring shape along the rotation direction R of the pair of left and right conveying bodies 32 and are installed between these conveying bodies 32. Therefore, when the left and right conveying bodies 32 move in a circular motion by operation of the movement mechanism 34, these storage bodies 33 move in a circular motion together with the conveying bodies 32. The circular motion of the conveying bodies 32 and the storage bodies 33 is sometimes referred to as a "rotary operation." Furthermore, each storage body 33 is rotatable around a rotation axis (not shown) extending in the left-right direction X at the connection portion with the conveying body 32.

[0042] Each storage section 12 is provided with a first position change mechanism 35 and a second position change mechanism 36. The first position change mechanism 35 temporarily tilts a storage body 33 located near a lower front corner in the rotation area of ​​the transport body 32 to a forward-facing position. The second position change mechanism 36 temporarily tilts a storage body 33 located near a lower rear corner in the rotation area of ​​the transport body 32 to a backward-facing position. Both the first position change mechanism 35 and the second position change mechanism 36 are configured with guide rails or the like. Each storage body 33 moves around like a gondola, rotating to maintain an upward position in principle, although it sometimes changes to a backward-facing position and sometimes to a forward-facing position along the way.

[0043] A detection unit 37 is disposed at the rear end of the internal space 31F of the housing 31 of each storage section 12. The detection unit 37 includes a detection section 38 and a holder 39 that supports the detection section 38. The detection section 38 is a so-called color sensor, and is provided on the front surface of the holder 39. The detection unit 37 is supported by the rear wall 31G of the housing 31, and moves up and down by receiving a driving force from a drive section (not shown) such as a stepping motor. At that time, the detection section 38 detects the type and number of prizes P in the returnable box 5 stored in the nearest storage body 33. Details will be described later.

[0044] A payout mechanism 41 is provided in the internal space 31F of the housing 31 of each storage section 12 in the region Z2 below the transport body 32 and storage body 33. The payout mechanism 41 includes a payout section 42 that pays out prizes P from the storage body 33. Since there are multiple storage sections 12 (three in this embodiment), there are also multiple payout sections 42 throughout the prize payout device 1. Since these storage sections 12 are lined up in the vertical direction Z, the multiple payout sections 42 are also lined up in the vertical direction Z. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the size of the prize payout device 1 in the horizontal direction, particularly in the front-to-back direction Y. In this embodiment, only one payout section 42 is provided in the payout mechanism 41 in each storage section 12, but multiple payout sections 42 may be lined up in the left-to-right direction X.

[0045] The payout unit 42 includes a payout belt 43, three rollers 44, a payout roller 45, and an opposing roller 46. These rollers have central axes extending in the left-right direction X. The payout belt 43 is endless and has a substantially triangular ring shape when viewed in the left-right direction X. The three rollers 44 are arranged inside the payout belt 43, one at each vertex of the substantially triangle. The payout roller 45 has an outer circumferential surface made of, for example, urethane. The opposing roller 46 faces the payout roller 45. A claw-shaped push-out piece 43A protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the payout belt 43. In this embodiment, only one push-out piece 43A is provided, but multiple push-out pieces 43A may be provided at equal intervals. The payout belt 43 moves in a circular motion when at least one of the rollers 44 is driven and rotated by a drive unit such as a motor. The pay-out roller 45 is driven and rotated by the drive unit.

[0046] The entire payout mechanism 41 can rotate about a rotation axis (not shown) located directly above payout roller 45 between a payout position and a retracted position by receiving a driving force from a drive unit (not shown) such as a motor. When payout mechanism 41 is in the payout position, payout section 42 is also in the payout position, and when payout mechanism 41 is in the retracted position, payout section 42 is also in the retracted position. In other words, payout section 42 can move between the payout position and the retracted position in accordance with the rotation of payout mechanism 41.

[0047] 3, in the payout position, the payout belt 43 is located rearward Y2 from the payout roller 45 and the opposing roller 46, two rollers 44 are lined up in the front-to-rear direction Y, the remaining roller 44 is located below the two rollers 44 at Z2, and the flat portion 43B between the two rollers 44 of the payout belt 43 is horizontal along the front-to-rear direction Y. In addition, the opposing roller 46 faces the payout roller 45 from above Z1, and the flat portion 43B is at the same height as the space between the payout roller 45 and the opposing roller 46. In the payout position, the payout unit 42 is slidable in the left-to-right direction X by receiving a driving force from a driving unit (not shown), such as a motor.

[0048] In the standby state, the payout mechanism 41 is in the payout position. When the payout mechanism 41 rotates clockwise from the payout position by approximately 30 degrees or more in a right side view, it is disposed in a retracted position (for example, see the payout mechanism 41 in the lower storage section 12A in FIG. 8 ) that avoids the circumferential trajectory of each storage body 33 in which returnable boxes 5 are loaded. When the payout mechanism 41 is in the retracted position, the payout unit 42 is also in the retracted position. The retracted position is a position retracted to the front side Y1 or the lower side Z2 from the payout position. In the payout unit 42 in the retracted position, the payout belt 43 is located on the lower side Z2 than the payout roller 45 and the counter roller 46, the flat portion 43B of the payout belt 43 is aligned in the up-down direction Z (specifically, diagonally downward), and the counter roller 46 faces the payout roller 45 from the rear side Y2.

[0049] The door 13 has a vertically long box shape large enough to cover the opening 11A of the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the door 13 is flat in the front-to-rear direction Y when in the closed position (see also FIG. 1) in which the opening 11A is closed. The left end of the door 13 is connected to the housing 11 via a hinge 50 (see FIG. 5) and is rotatable about the hinge 50. When the door 13 in the closed position is rotated clockwise in a plan view, it is positioned in the open position, exposing the entire opening 11A to the front side Y1 (see FIG. 5). The following description will be given assuming that the door 13 is in the closed position unless otherwise specified. The housing 11 is provided with an electric door lock mechanism 51 (see FIG. 4) that locks and unlocks the door 13 in the closed position. An electromagnetic lock or the like can be used as the door lock mechanism 51.

[0050] The top surface 13A of the door 13 is at approximately the same height as the top surface of the cabinet 11, i.e., the top surface of the top wall 14. Only one payout opening 13B is provided on the top surface 13A, which is elongated in the left-right direction X (see also Figure 5). Because only one payout opening 13B is provided, the prize payout device 1 can be made more compact than when multiple payout openings 13B are provided. The payout opening 13B is connected to the internal space 13C of the door 13. The door 13 further includes a shutter 52 that opens and closes the payout opening 13B.

[0051] The shutter 52 is formed in the shape of a plate elongated in the left-right direction X. The shutter 52 is slidable in the front-rear direction Y between a closed position (see also FIG. 1) in which the dispensing opening 13B is closed, and an open position (see FIG. 13) in which the shutter 52 retreats to the space directly below the top wall 14 and opens the dispensing opening 13B. The space directly below the top wall 14 is the upper end of the internal space 11B of the housing 11. The shutter 52 is opened and closed by the driving force of a driving unit (not shown), such as a motor, provided in the housing 11 or the door 13.

[0052] Almost the entire rear surface of the door 13 is open. Therefore, the internal space 13C of the door 13 is connected to the internal space 31F of the housing 31 through the opening 31D on the front surface of the housing 31 of each storage section 12 in the storage position. A payout mechanism 53 is provided in the internal space 13C, which pays out prizes P in each storage section 12 to the payout opening 13B. In other words, the payout mechanism 53 is integrated into the door 13, which opens and closes the opening 11A of the housing 11. This allows the prize payout device 1 to be made even more compact.

[0053] The dispensing mechanism 53 includes a moving section 54 and a plurality of partition walls 56 (see FIG. 5) that divide the space above the moving section 54 into a plurality of sections in the left-right direction X. The moving section 54 is a rectangular plate-shaped elevator that has a plate thickness direction that coincides with the up-down direction Z and is long in the left-right direction X. The moving section 54 is divided by the plurality of partition walls 56 into a plurality of receiving sections 55 (see FIG. 5) that are aligned in the left-right direction X. The plurality of receiving sections 55 have the same length in the left-right direction X. The number of receiving sections 55 provided is the same as the number of storage spaces 24 for the returnable containers 5 (here, five).

[0054] In this embodiment, six partition walls 56 are provided, and each partition wall 56 is formed as a substantially rectangular plate with a plate thickness direction aligned with the left-right direction X. Therefore, five substantially rectangular storage spaces of equal size are formed above each receiving section 55, aligned at equal intervals in the left-right direction X. The partition walls 56 rise and fall in the internal space 13C of the door 13 as the moving section 54 rises and falls. However, the partition walls 56 can rise and fall relative to the moving section 54 and do not move outside the internal space 13C. As will be described later, during the dispensing process in the payout dispensing process, the moving section 54 moves through the internal space 13C to the dispensing outlet 13B, which is open to the upper side Z1, but the partition walls 56 remain in the internal space 13C. That is, they retreat downward relative to the moving section 54.

[0055] A movement drive unit 68 (see Figure 4) including a motor, ball screw, etc. is connected to the movement unit 54. By receiving the driving force of the movement drive unit 68, the movement unit 54 moves up and down between a waiting position (position shown in Figure 8) set near the lower end of the internal space 13C of the door 13 and a payout position set at the upper end of the internal space 13C. The movement unit 54 is a movement unit common to multiple storage units 12. The movement unit 54 receives prizes P from each storage unit 12 and moves to the payout outlet 13B.

[0056] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the prize payout device 1. The prize payout device 1 includes a control unit 61. The control unit 61 is composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and has a built-in timer, etc. The same applies to the other control units described below. The POS control unit 61A and the payout control unit 61B are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other.

[0057] The POS unit 2 further includes a card processing unit 62 that processes cards, and a receipt issuing unit 63. The display operation unit 4, card processing unit 62, and receipt issuing unit 63 are electrically connected to the POS control unit 61A. The card stores information such as the number of gaming media won by playing on a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine. The card processing unit 62 takes in a card inserted into the card slot 2A (see Figure 1), reads necessary information from the card, and ejects the card from the card slot 2A after reading it. The receipt issuing unit 63 is composed of a printer and prints receipts and issues them from the receipt issuing slot 2B.

[0058] The POS unit 2 further includes a memory unit 67. The memory unit 67 is configured with a storage device such as a non-volatile memory or a hard disk drive. The memory unit 67 is electrically connected to the POS control unit 61A. The memory unit 67 stores various information such as a history of past abnormalities and a history of prize P exchanges.

[0059] The payout control unit 61B is electrically connected to the electrical components (such as the drive units and sensors described above) associated with the movement mechanism 34, detection unit 38, and payout mechanism 41 in each storage unit 12. The payout control unit 61B is also electrically connected to the electrical components associated with the drawer lock mechanism 18, door lock mechanism 51, and shutter 52. The payout control unit 61B is also electrically connected to the movement drive unit 68. By controlling the operation of the electrical components and movement drive unit 68 described above, the payout control unit 61B executes a replenishment process for replenishing prizes P, a counting and identification process for counting and identifying the prizes P in each storage unit 12 of the device main body 3, and a payout process for dispensing the prizes P in each storage unit 12 and paying them out of the machine (i.e., outside the cabinet 11). In connection with these processes, the POS control unit 61A displays necessary information on the display operation unit 4, accepts instructions in response to operations of the display operation unit 4 by store staff or customers, processes the customer's card using the card processing unit 62, and issues receipts using the receipt issuing unit 63.

[0060] The device main body 3 further includes a memory unit 65. The memory unit 65 is composed of a memory device such as a non-volatile memory or a hard disk drive. The memory unit 65 is electrically connected to the payout control unit 61B. The memory unit 65 stores, for each storage space 24, the type and number of prizes P stored (also called inventory quantity) in the returnable containers 5 loaded in each storage body 33 of each storage unit 12. The memory unit 65 also stores various information such as past abnormality history and payout history of prizes P.

[0061] The replenishment process, counting and identification process, and payout process will be explained below in this order. Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the prize payout device 1 with the door 13 open. Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the prize payout device 1 with the storage section 12 pulled out for the replenishment process. Figure 7 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the device main body 3 with the storage section 12 pulled out for the replenishment process. The replenishment process will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

[0062] When replenishing, the store clerk operates the display operation unit 4 to select one of the storage units 12 to be replenished. Then, in response to an instruction from the POS control unit 61A, the dispensing control unit 61B of the control unit 61 releases the lock set by the drawer lock mechanism 18 for the selected storage unit 12, thereby allowing the storage unit 12 to be drawn out to the drawer position, and also releases the lock set by the door lock mechanism 51 on the door 13.

[0063] Next, the store clerk opens the door 13 to the open position as shown in FIG. 5 and grabs the handle 31E of the unlocked storage unit 12 and pulls it toward the front side Y1. This storage unit 12 is then pulled out to the pull-out position shown in FIG. 6 (see the lower storage unit 12A in FIG. 6). Only one storage unit 12 is pulled out at a time. When the storage unit 12 is pulled out to the pull-out position, the door 31B on the top surface of the housing 31 is positioned further forward Y1 than the housing 11 of the device main body 3, i.e., outside the housing 11. In this state, the store clerk opens the door 31B of this storage unit 12 to open the loading opening 31A toward the upper side Z1. Before the door 31B opens, the dispensing control unit 61B moves the conveyor 32 in a circular motion. As a result, one empty storage unit 33 is positioned directly below the loading opening 31A, as shown in FIG. 7. The storage body 33 disposed directly below the loading opening 31A is in a loading position with the entrance 33A facing upward Z1. In the storage section 12 in which the conveying body 32 is moving in a circular motion, the feeding mechanism 41 is disposed in a retracted position so as not to come into contact with the moving conveying body 32 or the storage body 33 (see the lower storage section 12A in FIG. 7).

[0064] The store clerk lowers the returnable container 5 in the basic position containing the prize P as shown by the thick arrow in Figure 7, passes through the loading opening 31A, and inserts it from the upper side Z1 into the entrance 33A of the storage body 33 in the loading position. As a result, the returnable container 5 is loaded into the storage body 33 in the loading position, and the prize P inside the returnable container 5 is loaded into the storage section 12.

[0065] After the returnable container 5 is loaded into the storage body 33, the store clerk closes the door 31B and grasps the handle 31E of the storage section 12 in the drawn-out position to return it to the storage position. The dispensing control section 61B then locks the storage section 12 in the storage position using the drawer lock mechanism 18. This completes the replenishment process for the storage section 12.

[0066] Fig. 8 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the device main body 3 during the counting and recognition process. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 8. The counting and recognition process will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, 8 and 9.

[0067] During the counting and identification process, as shown in the lower storage section 12A in Figure 8, the payout control section 61B moves the conveying body 32 in a circular motion. Then, when the storage body 33 to be counted and identified in the storage section 12 approaches the detection unit 37, the first position change mechanism 35 tilts the storage body 33 to a rearward position with the entrance / exit 33A facing the rear side Y2 (see the lower storage section 12A in Figure 8). The returnable box 5 loaded in this storage body 33 is also in a rearward position with the entrance / exit 25 facing the rear side Y2. In this state, the prizes P in the returnable box 5 are stacked in the vertical direction Z and protrude from the entrance / exit 25 to the rear side Y2, with the rear end faces of the prizes P facing the detection unit 37 (strictly speaking, diagonally upward).

[0068] When the storage body 33 changes from an upward position to a sideways position and approaches the detection unit 37, the dispensing control unit 61B stops the circular movement of the conveying body 32. At this time, in the storage section 12, the detection units 38 of the detection unit 37 are located at the same position in the left-right direction X, one for each storage space 24 of the returnable container 5 loaded in the storage body 33 in the backward position (see Figure 9). In this state, the dispensing control unit 61B raises the detection unit 37, for example, from a standby position at the bottom end. At this time, each detection unit 38 rises while facing from the rear side Y2 to the storage space 24 located at the same position in the left-right direction X in the returnable container 5. The detection units 38 non-contactly count and identify the prizes P stored in the storage spaces 24 located at the same position in the left-right direction X and stacked in the up-down direction Z, one by one, starting from the bottom side Z2.

[0069] In the case of a color sensor, the detection unit 38 shines light onto the prize P, receives the reflected light, converts it into RGB values, and analyzes it, and counts the prizes P and identifies the authenticity and type of the prizes P based on the analysis results. Note that an IC chip storing identification information may be built into the prize P, and the detection unit 38 may identify the authenticity and type of the prize P by reading the identification information from the IC chip in a non-contact manner. Then, when the detection unit 38 rises from its standby position and completes counting and identification of all the prizes P in each storage space 24 of the returnable container 5 loaded in the storage body 33 in the backward-facing position, it descends to its standby position, and the counting and identification process ends.

[0070] Inventory data of prizes P (type and number of prizes P in stock) in each storage body 33 in each storage section 12 is compiled in a table (not shown) in association with identification information assigned to each storage body 33 and stored in the memory unit 65. In particular, inventory data of prizes P in each of the storage spaces 24 arranged in the left-right direction X in the returnable container 5 set in the storage body 33 is stored in the memory unit 65 as a breakdown of the inventory data of prizes P in each storage body 33.

[0071] 10 to 13 are schematic right side views of the inside of the device main body 3 during the feeding and dispensing process. The feeding and dispensing process will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0072] The payout process includes a payout process in which prizes P are paid out one by one from the return box 5, a receiving process in which the prizes P paid out by the payout process are received by the moving unit 54, and a payout process in which the prizes P on the moving unit 54 received by the receiving process are paid out of the machine from the payout opening 13B.

[0073] As described above, the moving unit 54 moves up and down between a standby position (position shown in FIG. 8) set near the bottom end of the internal space 13C and a payout position set at the top end of the internal space 13C. Within the movement range of the moving unit 54, i.e., between the standby position and the payout position in the internal space 13C, start positions (start positions P1, P2, and P3) at which the moving unit 54 starts receiving the prize P from the storage unit 12 are set for each storage unit 12. The start positions P1, P2, and P3 correspond to the lower storage unit 12A, the middle storage unit 12B, and the upper storage unit 12C, respectively. When the moving unit 54 is positioned at the start positions P1, P2, and P3, the height position of the upper surface of the moving unit 54 is approximately the same as the height position of the flat portion 43B of the payout belt 43 of the corresponding storage unit 12 (lower storage unit 12A, middle storage unit 12B, and upper storage unit 12C).

[0074] The player inserts the card into the card slot 2A. The POS control unit 61A then reads the number of gaming media associated with the card using the card processing unit 62. The player can then operate the display operation unit 4 to select the type and number of each type of prize P that can be exchanged within the number of gaming media associated with the card. The POS control unit 61A generates payout information for the prize P to be paid out based on the player's selection of the type and number of each type of prize P to be exchanged. The payout information includes identification information that identifies the type of prize P to be paid out and quantity information about the number of prizes P to be paid out.

[0075] When the POS control unit 61A sends a payout request including payout information to the payout control unit 61B, the payout control unit 61B determines a payout pattern for the prize P to be paid out from the payout outlet 13B by the payout process based on the payout information and inventory data stored in the memory unit 65. Then, the payout control unit 61B determines the storage unit 12 from which the prize P will be paid out in the payout process based on the payout information. In the payout process, the prize P may be paid out from one storage unit 12, or may be paid out from multiple storage units 12.

[0076] The payout control unit 61B moves the conveying body 32 of the storage unit 12 to be paid out in a circular movement during a payout process included in the payout process. Figure 10 shows a case in which a prize P is paid out from the lower storage unit 12A. The circular movement of the conveying body 32 brings the storage unit 33 to be paid out in a payout process closer to the moving unit 54 of the payout mechanism 53. When the storage unit 33 approaches the moving unit 54, the second position change mechanism 36 tilts the storage unit 33 to a forward-facing position with the entrance 33A facing the front side Y1. In the forward-facing storage unit 33, the entrance 33A faces slightly upward rather than straight to the side to prevent the prize P from falling out of the entrance 25 of the returnable box 5. The returnable box 5 loaded in this storage unit 33 also has the entrance 25 facing the front side Y1. The prizes P in this returnable box 5 are stacked in the vertical direction Z and extend beyond the entrance / exit 25 to the front side Y1, with the front end faces of the prizes P facing the door 13 (strictly speaking, diagonally upward).

[0077] When the lowest prize P in the returnable box 5 loaded in the forward-facing storage body 33 reaches a height position approximately the same as the flat portion 43B of the payout belt 43 of the payout unit 42 in the payout mechanism 41 at the payout position, the payout control unit 61B stops the circular movement of the conveyor 32. In this state, the payout unit 42 at the payout position is positioned directly below this returnable box 5.

[0078] Next, the payout control unit 61B controls the movement drive unit 68 to raise the moving unit 54 from the standby position and place it at the start position P1. After the moving unit 54 is placed at the start position P1, the payout control unit 61B causes the payout belt 43 in the payout unit 42 to move in a circular motion, rotating the payout roller 45. At this time, in the payout mechanism 41, the payout belt 43 moves in a counterclockwise motion in a right side view, and the payout roller 45 rotates counterclockwise. The push-out piece 43A provided on the circulating payout belt 43 moves horizontally to the front side Y1 on the flat portion 43B of the pay-out belt 43. At that time, the push-out piece 43A enters the opening 26 (see FIG. 2) of the returnable box 5 loaded in the storage body 33 in a forward position, hooks the lowest prize P in the storage space 24 of the returnable box 5, and pushes it out to the front side Y1. As a result, a prize P is dispensed to the front side Y1 from one storage body 33. The prize P dispensed to the front side Y1 comes into contact with the dispense roller 45 that is driven to rotate, and passes between the dispense roller 45 and the opposing roller 46, and is pushed out toward the moving section 54 (dispensing process).

[0079] The prize P pushed towards the moving section 54 is placed on the receiving section 55 of the moving section 54. As a result, the prize P is received by the receiving section 55 of the moving section 54. After the moving section 54 receives the prize P, the payout control section 61B controls the movement drive section 68 to lower the moving section 54 from the start position P1 by an amount equivalent to the thickness of one prize P. Thereafter, when the next prize P is paid out from the returnable box 5, the next prize P is placed on top of the previously received prize P on the receiving section 55. As a result, the next prize P is also received by the receiving section 55 (receiving process (receiving step)).

[0080] In the payout process, the payout control unit 61B repeatedly causes the payout belt 43 to move around and the payout roller 45 to rotate. As a result, the prizes P in the storage space 24 located directly above each payout unit 42 in the returnable box 5 loaded in the storage body 33 in the forward position are paid out one by one in order starting from the prize P on the lower side Z2.

[0081] In the receiving process, each time a prize P is dispensed from the storage space 24, the payout control unit 61B lowers the moving unit 54 by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the prize P. As a result, the dispensed prize P is stacked on the upper side Z1 in the receiving unit 55 of the moving unit 54.

[0082] To stack N prizes P (N is a natural number) on each receiving section 55, the moving section 54 must be lowered from the starting position P1 by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the N-1 number of prizes P. In other words, as the number of prizes P stacked on the moving section 54 increases, the amount of descent of the moving section 54 from the starting position P1 increases.

[0083] In the receiving process, maximum descent amounts (maximum descent amount L1, maximum descent amount L2, and maximum descent amount L3) are set from the start positions (start position P1, start position P2, and start position P3) of moving unit 54. In the receiving process, dispensing control unit 61B does not lower moving unit 54 beyond the set maximum descent amount.

[0084] Furthermore, the payout control unit 61B moves the transport body 32 slightly in a circular motion, temporarily raising the storage body 33, which is in a forward-facing position, and moves the payout unit 42 in the left-right direction X during this time. The payout control unit 61B then moves the transport body 32 in a circular motion in the opposite direction, lowering the storage body 33 to its original position, allowing the payout unit 42 to pay out a prize P from a storage space 24 other than the original storage space 24 from which the prize P was previously paid out. In this case, the prize P paid out from the other storage space 24 is accumulated in a receiving unit 55 in the moving unit 54 that is different from the previous receiving unit 55. When the required number of prizes P have been paid out onto the moving unit 54, the payout process is completed.

[0085] The moving unit 54 can receive prizes P from multiple storage units 12 in one payout process. After receiving a prize P from one storage unit 12, the moving unit 54 moves up and down, allowing the moving unit 54 to receive a prize P from another storage unit 12. For example, FIG. 11 shows a case in which the moving unit 54 receives a prize P from the lower storage unit 12A and then receives a prize P from the middle storage unit 12B. In this case, the payout control unit 61B raises the moving unit 54 from the position shown in FIG. 10 to the position shown in FIG. 11. After being raised, the moving unit 54 is positioned lower than the starting position P2 by a distance equivalent to the total thickness of the prizes P already stacked on the moving unit 54. The prize P is then paid out from the payout unit 42 of the middle storage unit 12B.

[0086] Also, for example, Figure 12 shows a case where the moving section 54 receives a prize P from the middle storage section 12B and then receives a prize P from the upper storage section 12C. In this case, the payout control section 61B raises the moving section 54 to the position shown in Figure 12. The position of the moving section 54 after raising is a position that is lower than the start position P3 by a length equivalent to the total thickness of the prizes P already stacked on the moving section 54. The prize P is then dispensed from the dispensing section 42 of the upper storage section 12C.

[0087] In the payout process, when the payout process in all storage sections 12 is completed, the payout control section 61B starts the payout process. Specifically, the payout control section 61B slides the shutter 52 to the open position shown in FIG. 13. This opens the payout outlet 13B on the top surface 13A of the door 13 to the upper side Z1. Then, the payout control section 61B raises the moving section 54 to the payout position shown in FIG. 13 (movement step). The moving section 54 moves to the payout outlet 13B by raising to the payout position. As a result, the prize P paid out onto each moving section 54 of the moving section 54 is paid out to the payout outlet 13B and exposed to the outside of the machine from the payout outlet 13B.

[0088] When the player directly receives the prize P on the moving part 54 at the payout opening 13B, the payout control part 61B lowers the moving part 54 to the standby position and slides the shutter 52, which was in the open position until then, to the closed position. This ends the payout process, and the series of payout processes is completed.

[0089] When the moving section 54 is raised to the dispensing position, a plurality of (five in this embodiment) receiving sections 55 of the moving section 54 are aligned in the left-right direction X at the dispensing outlet 13B. As shown in FIG. 9, the five receiving sections 55 are, from the left end, referred to as receiving section 55A, receiving section 55B, receiving section 55C, receiving section 55D, and receiving section 55E. The receiving sections 55 divide the dispensing outlet 13B into a plurality of (five in this embodiment) dispensing sections 13D aligned in the left-right direction X. As shown in FIG. 1, the five dispensing sections 13D may be referred to as dispensing section 13DA, dispensing section 13DB, ​​dispensing section 13DC, dispensing section 13DD, and dispensing section 13DE, from the left end. These dispensing sections 13D correspond to receiving section 55A, receiving section 55B, receiving section 55C, receiving section 55D, and receiving section 55E, respectively. Each pair of corresponding dispensing section 13D and receiving section 55 corresponds to one of the five storage spaces 24 (see Figure 2) in the returnable box 5 set in the storage body 33 of each storage section 12, which is located at the same position in the left-right direction X.

[0090] The payout pattern for prizes P determined by the payout control unit 61B is information about the payout destinations that result in the fewest number of payout sections 13D to which prizes P are paid out among the five payout sections 13D, and the types and numbers of prizes P to be paid out to those payout destinations. When the payout destinations are made up of the fewest payout sections 13D, players are less likely to miss prizes P paid out to those payout destinations, and can receive the prizes P without any hassle.

[0091] Fig. 14 is an enlarged view for explaining the maximum amount of descent L1 of the moving section 54 from the start position P1 during the receiving process for the lower storage section 12A (hereinafter simply referred to as "the maximum amount of descent L1 of the moving section 54 for the lower storage section 12A"). Fig. 15 is an enlarged view for explaining the maximum amount of descent L2 of the moving section 54 from the start position P2 during the receiving process for the middle storage section 12B (hereinafter simply referred to as "the maximum amount of descent L2 of the moving section 54 for the middle storage section 12B").

[0092] The maximum descending amount L1 of the moving section 54 for the lower storage section 12A is different from the maximum descending amount L2 of the moving section 54 for the middle storage section 12B. Also, the maximum descending amount L1 of the moving section 54 for the lower storage section 12A is different from the maximum descending amount L3 of the moving section 54 from the start position P3 in the receiving process for the upper storage section 12C (hereinafter simply referred to as the "maximum descending amount L3 of the moving section 54 for the upper storage section 12C"). In this embodiment, the maximum descending amount L2 of the moving section 54 for the middle storage section 12B is the same as the maximum descending amount L3 of the moving section 54 for the upper storage section 12C.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 14, the maximum descent amount L1 of the moving section 54 for the lower storage section 12A is an amount equivalent to the thickness of nine prizes P. The thickness of the prizes P at this time is, for example, 3 mm. The position of the moving section 54 that is lowered by the maximum descent amount L1 from the starting position P1 is defined as the maximum descent position MP1. In this case, when the moving section 54 is positioned at the maximum descent position MP1, the number of prizes P stacked on the receiving section 55 of the moving section 54 is 10. Therefore, in the receiving process for the lower storage section 12A, the upper limit number of prizes P that each receiving section 55 can receive from the lower storage section 12A (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "first upper limit number") is 10, and the upper limit number of prizes P that the moving section 54 can receive from the lower storage section 12A is 50, which is the product of the first upper limit number and the number of receiving sections 55 in the moving section 54. This 50 is a value that is generally set as the upper limit number of prizes P that can be received by the moving unit 54 in the storage unit (corresponding to storage unit 12) of a prize payout device of the same type as prize payout device 1.

[0094] The lower storage section 12A is the lowest storage section among the multiple storage sections 12 and is located at the bottom of the internal space 13C. Due to the presence of a bottom wall 13E that defines the bottom end of the internal space 13C, the maximum lowering amount L1 of the moving section 54 for the lower storage section 12A cannot be set very large. The maximum lowering position MP1 may be at approximately the same height as the standby position (the position of the moving section 54 shown in FIG. 8).

[0095] As shown in FIG. 15, the maximum lowering amount L2 of the moving section 54 for the middle storage section 12B is an amount equivalent to the thickness of 11 prizes P. The position of the moving section 54 that is lowered by the maximum lowering amount L2 from the starting position P2 is defined as the maximum lowering position MP2. In this case, when the moving section 54 is positioned at the maximum lowering position MP2, the number of prizes P stacked on the receiving section 55 of the moving section 54 is 12. Therefore, in the receiving process for the middle storage section 12B, the upper limit number of prizes P that each receiving section 55 can receive from the middle storage section 12B (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "second upper limit number") is 12. The upper limit number of prizes P that the moving section 54 can receive from the middle storage section 12B is 60, which is the product of the second upper limit number and the number of receiving sections 55 in the moving section 54. In the receiving process for the middle storage section 12B, the upper limit number of prizes P that can be received by the moving section 54 can be increased by 20% compared to the receiving process for the lower storage section 12A.

[0096] As shown in parentheses in FIG. 15, the maximum lowering amount L3 of the moving section 54 for the upper storage section 12C is an amount equivalent to the thickness of 11 prizes P. The position of the moving section 54 lowered by the maximum lowering amount L3 from the starting position P3 is defined as the maximum lowering position MP3. In this case, when the moving section 54 is positioned at the maximum lowering position MP3, the number of prizes P stacked on the receiving section 55 of the moving section 54 is 12. Therefore, in the receiving process for the upper storage section 12C, the upper limit number (second upper limit number) of prizes P that each receiving section 55 can receive from the upper storage section 12C is 12. The upper limit number of prizes P that the moving section 54 can receive from the upper storage section 12C is 60, which is the product of the second upper limit number and the number of receiving sections 55 in the moving section 54. In the receiving process for the upper storage section 12C, the upper limit number of prizes P that can be received by the moving section 54 can be increased by 20% compared to the receiving process for the lower storage section 12A.

[0097] In the receiving process for the middle storage section 12B and the upper storage section 12C, the position of the moving section 54 is retracted significantly upward from the lower end of the internal space 13C. Therefore, even if the maximum amount of descent L2 from the start position P2 and the maximum amount of descent L3 from the start position P3 are each set large, there is no risk of the moving section 54 interfering with the lower wall 13E.

[0098] Since the five receiving sections 55 correspond to the payout sections 13DA to 13DE (see FIG. 1), it is undesirable for the prizes P stacked on the receiving sections 55 of the moving section 54 to move over the partition wall 56 to the adjacent receiving section 55. If the number of prizes P stacked on the receiving sections 55 reaches 13 or more, there is a risk that the top prize P will move over the partition wall 56 to the area above the adjacent receiving section 55. Therefore, in this embodiment, in the receiving process for the middle storage section 12B and the upper storage section 12C, the upper limit number (second upper limit number) of the prizes P stacked on the receiving sections 55 is set to 12.

[0099] Figures 16 and 17 are diagrams showing stacking patterns of prizes P stacked on the moving section 54. Figure 18 is a diagram showing an example of a payout pattern of prizes P paid out by the payout process. In Figures 16 to 18, prizes P marked "large" refer to grand prizes, prizes P marked "medium" refer to medium prizes, and prizes P marked "small" refer to small prizes.

[0100] For example, the payout process will be described using an example in which the payout request sent to the payout control unit 61B specifies 50 grand prizes, 4 medium prizes, and 1 small prize, respectively. In this case, an example of a payout pattern determined by the payout control unit 61B is shown in FIG. 18. In this payout pattern, 10 grand prizes are stacked in payout sections 13DA and 13DB, ​​with 2 medium prizes stacked on top of the grand prizes, and 10 grand prizes are stacked in payout section 13DC, with 1 small prize placed on top of the grand prize. Furthermore, in payout sections 13DD and 13DE, only 10 grand prizes are stacked, with no medium prizes or small prizes placed on top of the grand prizes.

[0101] In the payout process corresponding to the payout pattern shown in FIG. 18, the transfer unit 54 receives the prizes P from the lower storage unit 12A, the middle storage unit 12B, and the upper storage unit 12C in that order, and then rises to the payout outlet 13B. First, the transfer unit 54 receives the prize P (grand prize) from the lower storage unit 12A. As described above, the upper limit of the number of prizes P that each receiving unit 55 can receive from the lower storage unit 12A is 10, and the upper limit of the number of prizes P that the transfer unit 54 can receive from the lower storage unit 12A is 50. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, a total of 50 prizes P (grand prizes), 10 each to the five receiving units 55, are received by the transfer unit 54.

[0102] Next, the prize P (medium prize) is received from the middle storage section 12B by the moving section 54. As described above, the payout control section 61B sets the maximum lowering amount L2 of the moving section 54 for the middle storage section 12B to be greater than the maximum lowering amount L1 of the moving section 54 for the lower storage section 12A. In this case, the upper limit number of prizes P that each receiving section 55 can receive from the middle storage section 12B is 12, and each of the five receiving sections 55 of the moving section 54 can receive two prizes P. The payout control section 61B causes the feeding section 42 of the middle storage section 12B to pay out four prizes P (medium prizes), and then lowers the moving section 54 so that receiving sections 55A and 55B each receive two prizes P (medium prizes). As a result, as shown in FIG. 17, two more prizes P (medium prizes) are stacked on top of the ten prizes P stacked on receiving sections 55A and 55B.

[0103] Next, the payout control unit 61B receives the prize P (small prize) from the upper storage unit 12C using the moving unit 54. As described above, the payout control unit 61B sets the maximum lowering amount L3 of the moving unit 54 for the upper storage unit 12C to be greater than the maximum lowering amount L1 of the moving unit 54 for the lower storage unit 12A. In this case, the upper limit number of prizes P that each receiving unit 55 can receive from the upper storage unit 12C is 12, and each of the three receiving units 55C, 55D, and 55E of the moving unit 54 can receive two prizes P each. The payout control unit 61B then causes the feeding unit 42 of the upper storage unit 12C to pay out one prize P (small prize), and then lowers the moving unit 54 to receive one prize P (small prize) using the receiving unit 55C. As a result, one more prize P (small prize) is placed on top of the ten prizes P stacked on the receiving unit 55C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, a total of 55 prizes P (50 grand prizes, 4 medium prizes, and 1 small prize) can be paid out from the payout opening 13B at one time.

[0104] If the upper limit of the number of prizes P that each receiving section 55 can receive from the middle storage section 12B and the upper storage section 12C is set to 10, the same as when receiving from the lower storage section 12A, then only 50 prizes P can be paid out to the payout outlet 13B in one payout / dispatch process. In this case, in response to the above payout request, the prizes must be paid out in two separate payout processes: one payout process that pays out 50 prizes P (grand prizes), and one payout process that pays out 5 prizes P (medium prizes and small prizes).

[0105] As described above, in this embodiment, the maximum descending amount L2 of the moving unit 54 for the middle storage unit 12B is greater than the maximum descending amount L1 of the moving unit 54 for the lower storage unit 12A. Furthermore, the maximum descending amount L3 of the moving unit 54 for the upper storage unit 12C is greater than the maximum descending amount L1 of the moving unit 54 for the lower storage unit 12A. Therefore, the upper limit number (e.g., 60) of prizes P that the moving unit 54 receives from the storage unit 12 during the receiving process for the middle storage unit 12B and the upper storage unit 12C is greater than the upper limit number (e.g., 50) of prizes P that the moving unit 54 receives from the storage unit 12 during the receiving process for the lower storage unit 12A. When the moving unit 54 receives prizes P from the middle storage unit 12B and the upper storage unit 12C, the moving unit 54 can receive a greater number of prizes P from the storage unit 12 in a single payout process. This allows a greater number of prizes P to be paid out at one time from the payout opening 13B.

[0106] Furthermore, in order to set the maximum lowering amount L2 of the moving section 54 for the middle storage section 12B and the maximum lowering amount L3 of the moving section 54 for the lower storage section 12C large, it is not necessary to use a special configuration for the moving section 54 or to ensure a large vertical height for the internal space 13C. Therefore, a larger number of prizes P can be paid out at one time from the payout opening 13B without making major changes to the configuration of each part of the prize payout device 1.

[0107] Furthermore, by increasing the number of prizes P that can be paid out at one time from the payout outlet 13B, the probability that the transaction can be completed in one payout process increases. As a result, in a transaction that requires the payout of a large number of prizes P, the prizes P can be paid out without increasing the number of payout processes.

[0108] Furthermore, when the transfer unit 54 receives prizes P from the middle storage unit 12B and the upper storage unit 12C, a larger number of prizes P (e.g., 12) can be paid out to the payout section 13D than when the transfer unit 54 receives prizes P from the lower storage unit 12A (e.g., 10). Furthermore, when the payout destinations determined in the payout pattern are composed of the fewest payout sections 13D, the paid-out prizes P are concentrated in a specific payout section 13D. As a result, a larger number of prizes P (e.g., 12) are stacked in a specific payout section 13D. In this case, the player can easily receive the prizes P paid out to the payout destinations. Furthermore, specific storage spaces 24 of the returnable container 5 tend to empty first. Since it is possible to identify the storage spaces 24 that are most likely to empty, the returnable container 5 can be easily replenished with prizes P.

[0109] For example, in the case of a prize P with a thickness of 3 mm, as described above, the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number are 10 and 12, respectively, but if the thickness of the prize P is, for example, half that, 1.5 mm, the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number are, for example, 20 and 24, respectively. Other numerical values ​​may be set as the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number. The first upper limit number and the second upper limit number are set taking into consideration the height of the partition wall 56 as well as the ease of removing the prize P.

[0110] In the prize payout device 1, commercials may be displayed on the display operation unit 4 during the payout process. Figure 19 is a flowchart showing an example of transaction processing in the prize payout device 1. Data for multiple commercial videos is stored in the memory unit 67 of the POS unit 2. These multiple commercial videos are in commercial patterns with different playback lengths, such as a 10-second commercial, a 15-second commercial, a 20-second commercial, a 25-second commercial, and so on.

[0111] As described above, when the player inserts a card into the card slot 2A (see FIG. 1) of the POS unit 2 and the POS control unit 61A reads the number of gaming media, etc. (YES in step S1), the POS control unit 61A waits for the player to select a prize P (step S2). When the player selects a prize P by operating the display operation unit 4 (YES in step S2), the POS control unit 61A generates payout information and then transmits a payout request based on the generated payout information to the payout control unit 61B (step S3).

[0112] When the payout control unit 61B of the device main body 3 receives a payout request (YES in step S4), it refers to the memory unit 65 and checks the inventory data. The payout control unit 61B creates a payout pattern according to the inventory data. Furthermore, the payout control unit 61B calculates the processing time (hereinafter referred to as the "payout processing time") required for the payout payout process corresponding to this payout pattern (step S5). Specifically, the payout control unit 61B creates list information of the operations to be executed in the payout payout process corresponding to this payout pattern, and calculates the payout processing time based on this list information. Specifically, the list information describes how many prizes P will be paid out from which storage unit 12, how many will be paid out to which payout section 13D, the number of times the moving unit 54 will be raised and lowered, the order in which the moving unit 54 will receive the prizes from multiple storage units 12, etc.

[0113] Then, the dispensing control unit 61B notifies the POS unit 2 of the dispensing process time calculated by the calculation (step S6), and starts the dispensing / feeding process in the device main body 3 (step S7).

[0114] When the POS control unit 61A of the POS unit 2 receives the notification of the dispensing processing time (step S8), it selects data of one CM video (CM pattern) that is closest to this dispensing processing time from the CM video data stored in the storage unit 67 (step S9). Then, the POS control unit 61A plays and displays the CM video on the display operation unit 4 based on this CM video data (step S10). Because a CM image with a length close to the dispensing processing time is displayed on the display operation unit 4, the timing at which the display of the CM image displayed on the display operation unit 4 ends and the timing at which the payout dispensing process in the device main body 3 is completed are generally close to each other.

[0115] When the payout process is successfully completed in the device main body 3, the payout control unit 61B notifies the POS control unit 61A of a completion report (step S11). When the POS control unit 61A receives the completion report (step S12), the current transaction is completed and the prize payout device 1 returns to a standby state.

[0116] In the example shown in FIG. 19, a commercial image is displayed on the display operation unit 4 during the payout process, so that the waiting time for the prize P to be paid out can be effectively utilized. In addition, because the commercial is displayed on the display operation unit 4, it is possible to divert the player's attention from the waiting time for the prize P to be paid out. This improves the satisfaction of the player. In addition, because the display of the commercial image ends close to the timing when the prize P is paid out, it is possible to convey all the information that needs to be communicated to the player without missing anything.

[0117] It is desirable that a plurality of types of commercial videos are prepared for each length of playback time in the storage unit 67. In this case, commercial videos for a self-operated type and commercial videos for a store clerk type operated by a store clerk at the gaming parlor are stored in the storage unit 67, and the display content of the commercial video displayed by the POS control unit 61A may be switched based on which type the prize payout device 1 is used as. Also, the display content of the commercial video displayed by the POS control unit 61A may be switched depending on the time of day, such as morning, afternoon, or night.

[0118] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the various features described above can be combined as appropriate.

[0119] For example, regarding the maximum lowering amount, the maximum lowering amounts L2 and L3 of the upper storage portions 12B and 12C, which are upper storage portions, are set to be the same amount, but the maximum lowering amounts L2 and L3 may be different amounts.

[0120] In addition, the storage section (first storage section) with the smallest upper limit number of prizes P that the moving section 54 receives during the receiving process is the lower storage section 12A, which is the lowest storage section, but it may also be at least one of the upper storage sections, middle storage section 12B and upper storage section 12C. In this case, the storage sections other than this storage section (first storage section) are the storage sections (second storage sections) with the largest upper limit number of prizes P that the moving section 54 receives during the receiving process.

[0121] Furthermore, although the prize payout device 1 is described as containing three storage sections 12 inside the housing 11, the number of storage sections 12 contained inside each housing 11 may be two, or may be four or more.

[0122] Furthermore, the multiple storage sections 12 included in the prize payout device 1 are not limited to being arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z, but may also be arranged side by side in the horizontal direction X.

[0123] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 61 is divided into a POS control unit 61A included in the POS unit 2 and a payout control unit 61B included in the device main body 3, but one control unit 61 may serve as both the POS control unit 61A and the payout control unit 61B. Also, for example, in this embodiment, the POS unit 2 and the device main body 3 are combined to form the prize payout device 1, but the POS unit 2 may be a device located away from the device main body 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 1: Prize payout device 3: Device body 12: Storage area 12A: Lower storage section (first storage section, lowest storage section) 12B: Middle storage section (second storage section, upper storage section) 12C: Upper storage compartment (second storage compartment, upper storage compartment) 13B: Payment outlet 54: Moving part 61B: Dispense control unit (control unit) 62: Card processing unit L1,L2,L3: Maximum descending amount P: Prize P1,P2,P3:Start position Z: Vertical direction Z1: Upper side

Claims

1. a device body provided with a prize payout outlet; A plurality of storage sections arranged in a vertical direction within the device body for storing prizes; a moving unit common to the plurality of storage units, which moves up and down to receive prizes from the storage units and move them to the payout outlet; a control unit that controls the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit receives from a first storage unit among the plurality of storage units so that the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit receives from a second storage unit different from the first storage unit is greater than the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit receives from Within the movement range of the moving unit, a start position for starting to receive the prize from the storage unit is set for each storage unit; the moving unit descends from the starting position as the number of prizes received from the storage unit and stacked on the moving unit increases during the receiving of the prizes by the moving unit; The control unit of the prize payout device makes the maximum amount of descent of the moving part from the starting position when receiving a prize for the second storage part greater than the maximum amount of descent of the moving part from the starting position when receiving a prize for the first storage part.

2. A prize payout device as described in claim 1, wherein the lowest storage section among the plurality of storage sections is the first storage section, and the storage section located above the first storage section is the second storage section.

3. A prize dispensing device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the payout outlet is positioned above the plurality of storage sections.

4. A prize payout device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein only one payout outlet is provided.

5. A prize dispensing method for a prize dispensing device including a device main body provided with a prize dispensing outlet, a plurality of storage sections arranged in a vertical direction within the device main body to store prizes, and a moving section common to the plurality of storage sections, a receiving step of receiving prizes from the storage unit by the moving unit so that the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit will receive from a first storage unit among the plurality of storage units is greater than the upper limit number of prizes that the moving unit will receive from a second storage unit different from the first storage unit; a moving step of raising and lowering the moving unit that has received the prize from the storage unit to the payout outlet; Within the movement range of the moving unit, a start position for starting to receive the prize from the storage unit is set for each storage unit; In the receiving step, when the moving unit receives the prizes, the moving unit descends from the starting position as the number of prizes received from the storage unit and stacked on the moving unit increases; A prize payout method in a prize payout device, in which, in the receiving step, the maximum amount of descent of the moving part from the starting position when receiving a prize for the second storage part is made greater than the maximum amount of descent of the moving part from the starting position when receiving a prize for the first storage part.

Images