Prize dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a miniaturized prize put-out device.SOLUTION: The prize put-out device 1 includes a device body 3 provided with a put-out port 13B for prizes P, a storage part 33 provided in the device body 3 for storing the prizes P, a plurality of delivery parts 42 provided in the device body 3 for delivering the prizes P from the storage part, and a moving part 54 common to the plurality of delivery parts 42. The moving part 54 receives the prize P fed by each of the plurality of feeding parts 42 and moves to the dispensing port 13B. While the moving part 54 moves to the feeding part 42 of one of the feeding units 12 and finishes receiving the prize P from the feeding part 42, in the other feeding unit 12, the feeding part 42 moves between the feeding position and the retreat position, and the plurality of storage parts 33 circulate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a prize payout device.

Background Art

[0002] As an example of a prize payout device, Patent Document 1 below discloses a prize payout machine installed in a gaming store such as a pachinko parlor. The prize payout machine includes a plurality of storage units arranged in the left - right direction and a box - shaped main body that houses these storage units. Each storage unit stores prizes that are exchanged with gaming media such as pachinko balls. Each storage unit includes a payout section that pays out the prize and a dispensing section on which the prize paid out by the payout section is placed. On the top plate of the main body, a plurality of openings are provided side - by - side in the left - right direction, and directly below each opening, one corresponding storage unit is arranged. In the storage unit, when the prize paid out by the payout section is placed on the dispensing section, the dispensing section rises, and the prize on the dispensing section is exposed from the opening corresponding to this storage unit, so that the store clerk or the gamer in the gaming store can take out the prize from the opening.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Miniaturization of the prize payout device has always been desired, and measures for miniaturization have also been taken in the article payout machine of Patent Document 1. However, in this article payout machine, there are a plurality of openings on the top surface of the main body where prizes are paid out according to each storage unit, and a dispensing section for transporting the paid - out prize to the opening is provided for each storage unit, so there is a limit to miniaturization.

[0005] This invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a prize payout device capable of achieving miniaturization. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention provides a prize dispensing device comprising: a device body provided with a prize dispensing opening; a storage section for storing prizes; a plurality of dispensing sections for dispensing prizes from the storage section; a plurality of units arranged vertically within the device body; and a movable section that is vertically movable and common to the plurality of units, which receives prizes dispensed by each of the units included in the plurality of units and rises to the dispensing opening. While the movable section rises to the unit to be dispensed from among the plurality of units and receives the prize from that unit, the other units of the plurality of units perform dispensing preparation operations for the dispensing section to dispense prizes. After receiving the prize from the dispensing section of the other units, the movable section rises to the dispensing opening.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing preparation operation of the other unit may be performed in parallel with the dispensing of the prize from the unit from which the prize is to be dispensed.

[0008] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of storage units in each unit may be capable of circumferential movement. The dispensing preparation operation may include the plurality of storage units included in the other unit circumferential movement.

[0009] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, in each unit, the dispensing unit may be movable between a dispensing position in which a prize is dispensed from one of the storage units and a retracted position in which it is moved away from the dispensing position. The dispensing preparation operation may include the dispensing unit included in the other unit moving between the retracted position and the dispensing position.

[0010] The plurality of storage compartments may be arranged on an annular circular track within each of the units. Each of the storage compartments may be capable of storing multiple of the prizes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the prize dispensing device can be miniaturized. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of a prize dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a returnable container used in a prize dispensing device. [Figure 3] This is a schematic right-side view of the inside of the prize dispensing device. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a prize dispensing device. [Figure 5] This is a schematic perspective view of the prize dispensing device with the door open. [Figure 6] This is a schematic perspective view of a prize dispensing device with the storage unit pulled out for replenishment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic right-side view of the inside of the device body with the storage unit pulled out for replenishment. [Figure 8] This is a schematic right-side view of the inside of the device during the counting and identification process. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 8. [Figure 10] This is an enlarged view of region B enclosed by the dashed line in Figure 8. [Figure 11] This is a schematic right-side view of the inside of the device during the dispensing and unpacking process. [Figure 12] This is a schematic right-side view of the dispensing section within the device body during the dispensing process. [Figure 13] This is a schematic right-side view of the feeding mechanism. [Figure 14] This is a schematic right-side view of the feeding mechanism. [Figure 15] This is a schematic right-side view of the inside of the device during the dispensing and unpacking process. [Figure 16] It is a schematic right side view of the interior of the apparatus main body during the payout process. [Figure 17] It is a schematic right side view of the interior of the apparatus main body during the payout process. [Figure 18] It is a diagram showing a first example of the payout pattern of prizes paid out by the payout process. [Figure 19] It is a diagram showing a second example of the payout pattern of prizes. [Figure 20] It is a diagram showing a third example of the payout pattern of prizes. [Figure 21] It is a diagram showing a fourth example of the payout pattern of prizes. [Figure 22] It is a diagram showing a fifth example of the payout pattern of prizes. [Figure 23] It is a diagram showing a sixth example of the payout pattern of prizes. [Figure 24] It is a diagram showing a seventh example of the payout pattern of prizes. [Figure 25] It is a diagram showing an eighth example of the payout pattern of prizes. [Figure 26] It is a diagram showing a ninth example of the payout pattern of prizes. [Figure 27] It is a conceptual diagram of a gaming system including a prize payout device. [Figure 28] It is a flowchart showing the processing in the gaming system when a prize is forgotten to be taken.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a prize payout device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The prize payout device 1 is installed in a gaming establishment such as a pachinko parlour, for example. The prize payout device 1 includes a terminal unit 2 forming its upper part and an apparatus main body 3 arranged below the terminal unit 2.

[0014] Terminal unit 2 is a POS terminal primarily responsible for managing inventory data of prizes P, which are referred to as special prizes. The front area of ​​terminal unit 2 is provided with a display and operation unit 4, which is, for example, an LCD touch panel. The display and operation unit 4 may be divided into a display unit and an operation unit. The front area of ​​terminal unit 2 has a card slot 2A through which cards issued by the amusement parlor to the player are inserted and removed, and a receipt issuing slot 2B through which receipts are issued. The number of game media, such as pachinko balls, acquired by the player through gameplay is associated with the card. The card may also be associated with a prepaid value exchanged for game media to start or continue playing.

[0015] An example of a prize P is a card with a thickness of several millimeters. In this embodiment, there are three types of prizes P corresponding to their monetary value: a grand prize, a medium prize, and a small prize. However, there may also be an extra-large prize with a higher monetary value than the grand prize. The surface color of each type of prize P is different. 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 to the market in a reusable container 5.

[0016] In this embodiment, the prize dispensing device 1 is a self-service type located in an unmanned prize exchange corner of a gaming parlor, where the procedure for exchanging prizes P is performed by the players themselves. In this case, the player inputs a prize dispensing instruction to the prize dispensing device 1 by inserting their card into the card slot 2A of the terminal unit 2 and then operating the display operation unit 4. As a result, the device body 3 dispenses the type and quantity (in this embodiment, "number of items") of prizes P according to the dispensing instruction, and the terminal unit 2 updates the inventory data of prizes P. The player receives the card returned from the card slot 2A and the prizes P dispensed from the device body 3. In the following description, it is assumed that the prize dispensing device 1 is a self-service type, but it is also possible that a gaming parlor employee is present near the prize dispensing device 1 and receives the prizes P from the device 1 before handing them to the player.

[0017] The main body of the device 3 is both a prize dispensing machine that dispenses prizes P and a prize storage machine that has the function of storing prizes P. The main body of the device 3 includes a box-shaped housing 11 that forms its outer shell, a plurality of dispensing units (units) 12 provided inside the housing 11, and a door 13 supported by the housing 11.

[0018] Note that the left-right direction of the paper in Figure 1 coincides with the left-right direction X of the device body 3, the direction approximately perpendicular to the paper in Figure 1 coincides with the front-to-back direction Y of the device body 3, and the up-down direction of the paper in Figure 1 coincides with the up-to-down direction Z of the device body 3. The left-right direction X and the front-to-back direction Y are included in the lateral direction. The left-right direction X includes the left side X1 and the right side X2, the front-to-back direction Y includes the front side Y1 which coincides with the front side of the paper in Figure 1 and the rear side Y2 which coincides with the back side of the paper in Figure 1, and the up-to-down direction Z includes the upper side Z1 and the lower side Z2. Note that in Figures 2 and later, where the left-right direction X and the up-to-down direction Z are not shown, the left-right direction of the figure is the same as the left-right direction X, and the up-to-down direction of the figure is the same as the up-to-down direction Z (see Figure 27, etc.).

[0019] The enclosure 11 is formed in a vertically elongated box shape. The enclosure 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 each rectangular plate-shaped. Each of the pair of side walls 16 is a rectangular plate-shaped object that is long in the vertical direction Z. The left side wall 16 X1 is installed between the left ends of the top wall 14 and the bottom wall 15, and the right side wall 16 X2 is installed between the right ends of the top wall 14 and the bottom wall 15. The rear wall 17 is a rectangular plate-shaped object that is long in the vertical direction Z and is installed 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 on the front of the enclosure 11, bordered by the front ends of the top wall 14, the bottom wall 15, and the pair of side walls 16 (see also Figure 5). The opening 11A communicates with the internal space 11B of the housing 11.

[0020] The dispensing unit 12 stores the prize P along with the conduit box 5. In this embodiment, three dispensing units 12 are arranged vertically Z in the internal space 11B of the housing 11. Each dispensing unit 12 is supported by each side wall 16 of the housing 11 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction Y. As shown in Figure 1, when each dispensing unit 12 is fully housed within the housing 11, it is in the housed position in the front-rear direction Y. Each dispensing unit 12 can be pulled out through the opening 11A of the housing 11 to a pull-out position (see Figure 6) that is forward Y1 from the housed position. The housing 11 is provided with an electric unit locking mechanism 18 (see Figure 4) for locking and unlocking each dispensing unit 12 in the housed position. An electromagnetic lock or the like can be used as the unit locking mechanism 18.

[0021] Before describing the dispensing unit 12 in detail, the returnable container 5 will be described first. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the returnable container 5. The returnable container 5 is formed in a box shape with a length in a predetermined direction and is made of, for example, resin. The returnable container 5 integrally includes a pair of opposing side walls 21, a plurality of partition walls 22 installed between the pair of side walls 21, and a bottom wall 23.

[0022] The pair of side walls 21 are formed as roughly rectangular plates along the longitudinal direction L of the returnable container 5, and are arranged parallel to each other along the thickness direction of each plate. The direction in which the pair of side walls 21 face each other is the transverse direction S, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the returnable container 5. In addition, the depth direction D of the returnable container 5 is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction S.

[0023] 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 installed one at a time between one end edge and the other end edge in the longitudinal direction L of a pair of side walls 21, and the remaining four partition walls 22 are installed between the middle sections of the pair of side walls 21, arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction L. As a result, the returnable container 5 has five substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped storage spaces 24 of equal size, arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction L.

[0024] The bottom wall 23 has a thickness direction that coincides with the depth direction D, and is formed in a roughly rectangular plate shape along its longitudinal direction L. The bottom wall 23 is connected to each side wall 21 and each compartment wall 22 from one side in the depth direction D (the bottom side in Figure 2), and closes each storage space 24 from that side. In each storage space 24, the other end in the depth direction D (the top side in Figure 2) is open to the other side as a roughly rectangular entrance / exit 25.

[0025] The returnable container 5 includes openings 26 provided separately from the entrance / exit 25. In this embodiment, there are five pairs of openings 26, one pair at each location in the longitudinal direction L, corresponding to the storage space 24. In other words, five openings 26 are provided on each side of the returnable container 5 in the short direction S, spaced equally apart in the longitudinal direction L. The two openings 26 in each pair are in the same location in the longitudinal direction L and are configured to be symmetrical with respect to the center of the returnable container 5 in the short direction S. Each opening 26 is slit-shaped, exposing the storage space 24 to the outside, and extends linearly to just before the entrance / exit 25, cutting out the end of the bottom wall 23 in the short direction S and cutting out the side wall 21 on the same side as that end in the short direction S along the depth direction D.

[0026] When the returnable container 5 is in circulation with the prizes P inside, it is in a basic position with each entrance / exit 25 facing upwards, as shown in Figure 2. The prizes P are placed in each storage space 24 via the entrance / exit 25. Since each storage space 24 is of equal size, a predetermined number of prizes P, 20 in this embodiment, are placed in each storage space 24. Therefore, the returnable container 5 as a whole can hold a maximum of 100 prizes P. Multiple prizes P are placed in each storage space 24 in a stacked state, with their respective plate thickness directions coinciding with the short-side direction S and standing upright from the bottom wall 23. In this state, the portion of each prize P on the entrance / exit 25 side protrudes from the entrance / exit 25. In addition, in the storage space 24 containing the predetermined number of prizes P (see the storage space 24 on the far right in Figure 2), parts of the prizes P located at both ends of the short-side direction S are exposed from the opening 26 on the same side of the short-side direction S. In this embodiment, the type of prize P stored in one returnable box 5 is one of the following: a grand prize, a medium prize, or a small prize. However, the type of prize P may differ for each storage space 24.

[0027] Next, the dispensing unit 12 will be explained in detail. Figure 3 is a schematic right side view of the inside of the main body 3 of the device. Hereafter, of the three dispensing units 12 arranged in the vertical direction Z, the lowest dispensing unit 12 will be called the "lower unit 12A", the middle dispensing unit 12 will be called the "middle unit 12B", and the highest dispensing unit 12 will be called the "upper unit 12C".

[0028] Referring to the lower unit 12A, each dispensing unit 12 includes a box-shaped housing 31 that forms its outer shell. The upper surface of the housing 31 is provided with a substantially rectangular loading opening 31A and a substantially rectangular plate-shaped door 31B that opens and closes the loading opening 31A. 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 around the hinge 31C. An opening 31D is formed over almost the entire front surface of the housing 31, exposing the internal space 31F of the housing 31 to the front side Y1. A handle 31E is provided in the area Z1 above the opening 31D on the front surface of the housing 31 (see Figure 5).

[0029] The internal space 31F of the housing 31 of each dispensing unit 12 is provided with a pair of left and right conveying bodies 32 and a number (four in this case) of storage compartments 33. Each conveying body 32 is made up of an endless chain or belt and, when viewed from the left-right direction X, forms, for example, a roughly rectangular ring. The conveying bodies 32 move in a circular motion in clockwise and counterclockwise directions when viewed from the left-right direction X, by receiving the driving force of a drive unit such as a motor (not shown). This drive unit and the conveying bodies 32 constitute a moving mechanism 34.

[0030] Each storage compartment 33 is tray-shaped and elongated in the left-right direction X. The internal space of each storage compartment 33 is sized to accommodate a returnable container 5 that is elongated in the left-right direction X. An upward-facing storage compartment 33 (see, for example, the upper storage compartment 33 on the upper Z1 side in the lower unit 12A in Figure 3) has an entrance / exit 33A that is open across its entire top surface, and slit-shaped openings (not shown) formed by cutting out the front and rear side walls. The same number of these openings are formed in the front and rear walls of the storage compartment 33 at positions that match the opening 26 of the returnable container 5 (see Figure 2), and are arranged side by side in the left-right direction X.

[0031] Each storage unit 33 is loaded with one returnable box 5. As a result, the prizes P inside the returnable boxes 5 are stored in the storage units 33 and also in the dispensing units 12. In the storage units 33 loaded with returnable boxes 5, the aforementioned openings and the openings 26 of the returnable boxes 5 are aligned one by one. In this embodiment, since the same type of prize P is stored in each returnable box 5, the same type of prize P is loaded into each storage unit 33 and the same type of prize P is stored in each dispensing unit 12. For example, only the grand prize is stored in the lower unit 12A, only the medium prize is stored in the middle unit 12B, and only the small prize is stored in the upper unit 12C. Of course, the type of prize P may differ in each storage unit 33 within each dispensing unit 12.

[0032] These storage units 33 are arranged in a ring shape along the circumferential direction R of the pair of left and right transport bodies 32, and are installed between these transport bodies 32. Therefore, when the left and right transport bodies 32 move in a circular motion due to the operation of the moving mechanism 34, these storage units 33 also move in a circular motion together with the transport bodies 32. The circular motion of the transport bodies 32 and storage units 33 is sometimes called "rotary motion". In addition, each storage unit 33 is rotatable around a pivot axis (not shown) extending in the left-right direction X at the connection point with the transport body 32.

[0033] Each dispensing unit 12 is provided with a first posture changing mechanism 35 that temporarily tilts the storage section 33 located near the rear lower corner of the circumferential region of the transporter 32 to a rearward position, and a second posture changing mechanism 36 that temporarily tilts the storage section 33 located near the front lower corner of the circumferential region of the transporter 32 to a forward position. The first posture changing mechanism 35 and the second posture changing mechanism 36 are each composed of guide rails or the like. Each storage section 33 moves in a circular motion like a gondola, rotating while maintaining an upward position in principle, although it may switch between a rearward and forward position along the way.

[0034] A detection unit 37 is positioned at the rear end of the internal space 31F of the housing 31 of each dispensing unit 12. The detection unit 37 includes a detection unit 38 and a holder 39 that supports the detection unit 38. The detection unit 38 is a so-called color sensor and is located on the front 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 unit (not shown), such as a stepping motor. At that time, the detection unit 38 detects the type and number of prizes P in the returnable box 5 stored in the nearest storage unit 33. More details will be described later.

[0035] In the internal space 31F of the housing 31 of each dispensing unit 12, a dispensing mechanism 41 is provided in the area Z2 below the transport body 32 and the storage section 33. The dispensing mechanism 41 includes a dispensing section 42 that dispenses prizes P from the storage section 33. Since there are multiple dispensing units 12 (three in this embodiment), there are also multiple dispensing sections 42 in the prize dispensing device 1 as a whole. Since these dispensing units 12 are arranged in the vertical direction Z, the multiple dispensing sections 42 are also arranged in the vertical direction Z. With this configuration, the prize dispensing device 1 can be miniaturized in the horizontal direction. In addition, in each dispensing unit 12, there are multiple storage sections 33 for each dispensing section 42 (four in this embodiment), and the dispensing section 42 and the four corresponding storage sections 33 constitute one dispensing unit 12. In this embodiment, there is only one feeding section 42 in each feeding unit 12, but multiple feeding sections 42 may be arranged in a left-right direction X.

[0036] The dispensing unit 42 includes an endless dispensing belt 43 that forms a roughly triangular ring when viewed from the left-right direction X, rollers 44 arranged one at each vertex of the roughly triangular shape inside the dispensing belt 43, a dispensing roller 45 having an outer surface made of, for example, urethane, and a counter roller 46 facing the dispensing roller 45. These rollers are rollers having a central axis extending in the left-right direction X. Claw-shaped extrusion pieces 43A are provided protruding from the outer surface of the dispensing belt 43. In this embodiment, only one extrusion piece 43A is provided, but multiple extrusion pieces 43A may be provided arranged at equal intervals. The dispensing 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 first drive unit 83 described later, see Figure 12). The dispensing roller 45 is driven and rotated by the same drive unit. In other words, the dispensing belt 43 and the dispensing roller 45 are linked by the driving force of the same drive unit.

[0037] The entire feeding mechanism 41 is rotatable around a pivot axis (not shown) located directly above the feeding roller 45 between the feeding position and the retracted position by receiving driving force from a drive unit (not shown), such as a motor. When the feeding mechanism 41 is in the feeding position, the feeding section 42 is also in the feeding position, and when the feeding mechanism 41 is in the retracted position, the feeding section 42 is also in the retracted position. In other words, the feeding section 42 is movable between the feeding position and the retracted position in accordance with the rotation of the feeding mechanism 41. In the feeding section 42 in the feeding position, as shown in Figure 3, the feeding belt 43 is located Y2 behind the feeding roller 45 and the opposing roller 46, two rollers 44 are aligned in the front-rear direction Y, and the remaining roller 44 is located Z2 below the two rollers 44, so that the flat section 43B between the two rollers 44 in the feeding belt 43 is horizontal along the front-rear direction Y. Furthermore, the opposing roller 46 faces the feed roller 45 from above Z1, and the flat portion 43B is at the same height as the space between the feed roller 45 and the opposing roller 46. The feed portion 42 in the feed position is slidable in the left-right direction X by receiving a driving force from a drive unit (not shown), such as a motor.

[0038] In the standby state, the feeding mechanism 41 is in the feeding position. When the feeding mechanism 41 rotates approximately 30 degrees or more clockwise from the feeding position in a right-side view, it is positioned in a retracted position (see Figure 7) that avoids the circular trajectory of each storage section 33 in which the returnable containers 5 are loaded. When the feeding mechanism 41 is in the retracted position, the feeding section 42 is also in the retracted position. The retracted position is a position that has been moved forward Y1 or downward Z2 from the feeding position. In the retracted position of the feeding section 42, the feeding belt 43 is located Z2 below the feeding roller 45 and the opposing roller 46, the flat portion 43B of the feeding belt 43 is aligned in the vertical direction Z (specifically diagonally downward), and the opposing roller 46 faces the feeding roller 45 from the rear Y2.

[0039] The door 13 is a vertically elongated box shape large enough to close the opening 11A of the housing 11, and is flattened in the front-to-back direction Y when in the closed position with the opening 11A closed (see also Figure 1), as shown in Figure 3. The left end of the door 13 is connected to the housing 11 via a hinge 50 (see Figure 5), and is rotatable around the hinge 50. When the door 13, which is in the closed position, is rotated clockwise in a plan view, it is positioned in the open position, exposing the entire area of ​​the opening 11A to the front side Y1 (see Figure 5). In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, it will be assumed that the door 13 is in the closed position. The housing 11 is provided with an electric door lock mechanism 51 (see Figure 4) for locking and unlocking the door 13 in the closed position. An electromagnetic lock or the like can be used as the door lock mechanism 51.

[0040] The top surface 13A of the door 13 is at approximately the same height as the top surface of the housing 11, that is, the top surface of the top wall 14. The top surface 13A has only one long dispensing opening 13B in the left-right direction X (see also Figure 5). Therefore, the prize dispensing device 1 can be made smaller compared to the case where multiple dispensing openings 13B are provided. The dispensing opening 13B communicates with the internal space 13C of the door 13. The door 13 further includes a single shutter 52 that opens and closes the dispensing opening 13B. The shutter 52 is formed in a long plate shape in the left-right direction X. The shutter 52 is slidable in the front-back direction Y between a closed position with the dispensing opening 13B closed (see also Figure 1) and an open position where it has retracted to the space directly below the top wall 14 and opened the dispensing opening 13B (see Figure 17). 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 drive unit (not shown), such as a motor, provided in the housing 11 or door 13.

[0041] Almost the entire rear surface of door 13 is open. Therefore, the internal space 13C of door 13 is in communication with the internal space 31F of the housing 31 of each dispensing unit 12 located in its storage position, via the opening 31D on the front of the housing 31. The internal space 13C is equipped with a dispensing mechanism 53 that dispenses the prizes P from each dispensing unit 12 to the dispensing opening 13B. In other words, the dispensing mechanism 53 is integrated into the door 13 that opens and closes the opening 11A of the housing 11. This makes it possible to further miniaturize the prize dispensing device 1.

[0042] The dispensing mechanism 53 includes a movable section 54. The movable section 54 is a rectangular plate-shaped elevator with a plate thickness direction coinciding with the vertical direction Z and elongated in the left-right direction X. The movable section 54 is divided into a plurality of receiving sections 55 arranged in the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the movable section 54 is a single unit, and the boundaries between adjacent receiving sections 55 are indicated by dotted lines (see Figure 5). The number of receiving sections 55 is the same as the number of storage spaces 24 of the returnable container 5 (five in this case). The movable section 54 moves up and down between a standby position set near the lower end of the internal space 13C of the door 13 and a dispensing position set at the upper end of the internal space 13C by receiving a driving force from a drive unit (not shown), such as a motor.

[0043] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the prize dispensing device 1. The prize dispensing device 1 includes a control unit 61 as an example of a determination unit and a dispensing unit. The control unit 61 is composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and has a built-in timer, etc. The same applies to other control units described later. The control unit 61 is built into, for example, a terminal unit 2. The terminal unit 2 further includes a card processing unit 62 that processes cards and a receipt issuing unit 63. The card processing unit 62 takes in a card inserted into the card slot 2A (see Figure 1), reads the necessary information from the card, and ejects the read card from the card slot 2A. The receipt issuing unit 63 is composed of a printer and prints a receipt and issues it to the receipt issuing slot 2B.

[0044] The control unit 61 is electrically connected to the display operation unit 4, card processing unit 62, and receipt issuing unit 63 of the terminal unit 2. The control unit 61 is also electrically connected to the electrical components (the aforementioned drive unit) related to the shutter 52 of the terminal unit 2. The control unit 61 is also electrically connected to the electrical components (the aforementioned drive unit, sensors, etc.) related to the movement mechanism 34, detection unit 38, and feeding mechanism 41 of each feeding unit 12. The control unit 61 is also electrically connected to the electrical components related to the unit lock mechanism 18 and the door lock mechanism 51.

[0045] The control unit 61 controls the operation of these electrical components to perform a replenishment process to replenish the prizes P, a counting and identification process to count and identify the prizes P in each dispensing unit 12 of the main body 3, and a dispensing and dispensing process to dispense the prizes P from each dispensing unit 12 and pay them out outside the machine (i.e., outside the housing 11). In connection with these processes, the control unit 61 displays necessary information on the display operation unit 4, receives instructions in response to operations on the display operation unit 4 by store staff or players, processes players' cards with the card processing unit 62, and issues receipts with the receipt issuing unit 63.

[0046] The main body of the device 3 is further equipped with a storage unit 64. The storage unit 64 is composed of storage devices such as non-volatile memory and hard disk drives. The storage unit 64 is electrically connected to the control unit 61. The storage unit 64 stores the type and number of prizes P stored (also called the inventory) in the returnable boxes 5 loaded into each storage compartment 33 of each dispensing unit 12 for each storage space 24. The storage unit 64 also stores various information such as past abnormal history and prize P dispensing history.

[0047] The following will explain the replenishment process, counting and identification process, and dispensing process in this order. In the case of the replenishment process, the store clerk selects one dispensing unit 12 to be replenished by operating the display operation unit 4. The control unit 61 then releases the lock on the selected dispensing unit 12 by the unit lock mechanism 18, thereby allowing the dispensing unit 12 to be pulled out to its pull-out position, and also releases the lock on the door 13 by the door lock mechanism 51.

[0048] Next, the store clerk opens the door 13 to the open position as shown in Figure 5, grasps the handle 31E of the unlocked dispensing unit 12, and pulls it forward Y1, causing the dispensing unit 12 to be pulled out to the extended position shown in Figure 6 (see the lower unit 12A in Figure 6). Thus, only one dispensing unit 12 is pulled out at a time.

[0049] When the dispensing unit 12 is pulled out to its extended position, the door 31B on the top surface of the housing 31 is positioned in front of the housing 11 of the main body of the device 3, Y1, that is, outside the housing 11. In this state, the store clerk opens the door 31B of the dispensing unit 12 and opens the loading port 31A upward Z1. Prior to the door 31B opening, the control unit 61 moves the transport body 32 in a circular motion, thereby positioning one empty storage unit 33 directly below the loading port 31A, as shown in Figure 7. An empty storage unit 33 refers to a storage unit 33 in which no returnable containers 5 are loaded, or a storage unit 33 in which returnable containers 5 are loaded in an empty or near-empty state. The storage unit 33 positioned directly below the loading port 31A is in a loading position with its entrance / exit 33A facing upward Z1. In the dispensing unit 12, where the transporter 32 is moving in a circular motion, the dispensing mechanism 41 is positioned in a retracted position so as not to come into contact with the transporter 32 or the storage unit 33 while they are moving in a circular motion (see lower unit 12A).

[0050] The store clerk lowers the returnable box 5, which is in its basic position containing the prize P, as shown by the thick arrow in Figure 7, passing it through the loading opening 31A and inserting it from above Z1 into the entrance 33A of the storage section 33 at the loading position. As a result, the returnable box 5 is loaded into the storage section 33 at the loading position, and the prize P inside the returnable box 5 is loaded into the dispensing unit 12. Positioning ribs (not shown) provided on one of the returnable box 5 and the storage section 33 are positioned relative to each other by fitting into positioning grooves (not shown) provided on the other. After the returnable box 5 is loaded into the storage section 33 at the loading position and the door 31B is closed, the control unit 61 may move the transporter 32 in a circular motion so that another empty storage section 33 is positioned at the loading position.

[0051] After the store clerk loads the reusable box 5 into the storage compartment 33, closes the door 31B, grasps the handle 31E of the dispensing unit 12 in the drawer position and returns it to the storage position, at which point the control unit 61 locks the dispensing unit 12 in the storage position using the unit lock mechanism 18. This completes the replenishment process for the dispensing unit 12.

[0052] The store clerk can pull out the dispensing unit 12 to the pull-out position or push it back into the storage position by operating the handle 31E provided on the front of each dispensing unit 12. The movement of the dispensing unit 12 may be performed manually by the store clerk, or it may be performed automatically by a drive device such as a DC motor or a stepping motor provided inside the housing 11.

[0053] In the case of counting and identification processing, the control unit 61 moves the transporter 32 in a circular motion, referring to the lower unit 12A in Figure 8. Then, in the dispensing unit 12, when the storage section 33 that is the target of counting and identification processing approaches the detection unit 37, the first posture changing mechanism 35 tilts the entrance / exit 33A to a rearward-facing position with the rear side Y2 facing forward. Note that in the rearward-facing storage section 33, the entrance / exit 33A is not directly to the side, but slightly diagonally upward, in order to prevent the prize P from falling out of the entrance / exit 25 of the set returnable box 5.

[0054] In the lower unit 12A of Figure 8, the storage compartment 33 at the rear lower end is in a rearward orientation, and the entrance 33A of this storage compartment 33 faces the rear Y2. The returnable container 5 loaded into this storage compartment 33 is also in a rearward orientation with its entrance 25 facing the rear Y2, and the prizes P inside the returnable container 5 are stacked in the vertical Z direction, protruding from the entrance 25 to the rear Y2, with the rear end faces of the prizes P facing the detection unit 37 side (more precisely, diagonally upward).

[0055] As the storage unit 33 changes from an upward-facing position to a sideways-facing position and approaches the detection unit 37, the control unit 61 stops the circular movement of the transporter 32. At this time, in the dispensing unit 12, the detection units 38 in the detection unit 37 are all in the same position in the left-right direction X for each storage space 24 of the returnable container 5 loaded into the rearward-facing storage unit 33 (see Figure 9). In this state, the control unit 61 raises the detection unit 37, for example, from its lower standby position. At this time, each detection unit 38 rises facing the storage space 24 located in the same position in the left-right direction X of the returnable container 5 from the rear side Y2. The detection units 38 count and identify the prizes P, which are stored in the storage spaces 24 located in the same position in the left-right direction X and stacked in the vertical direction Z, one by one from the bottom Z2 without contact.

[0056] Referring to Figure 10, an example of the detection unit 38 is the aforementioned color sensor, which includes a light-emitting unit 71 made of LEDs, a light-receiving unit 72 that receives reflected white light emitted by the light-emitting unit 71, and an analysis unit 73 that analyzes the light received by the light-receiving unit 72. In this case, the light-emitting unit 71 irradiates the prize P, which is the object to be detected, with light H1, and the light-receiving unit 72 receives the reflected light H2. The analysis unit 73 converts the reflected light received by the light-receiving unit 72 into RGB values ​​and analyzes them, and based on the analysis results, it counts the prize P or identifies the authenticity and type of the prize P.

[0057] Specifically, the analysis unit 73 includes an analysis unit 73R that detects R data representing the red component in the RGB values ​​of reflected light, an analysis unit 73G that detects G data representing the green component in the RGB values, and an analysis unit 73B that detects B data representing the blue component in the RGB values. In Figure 10, the prize P and the detection unit 38 are shown on the left, and the detection results of the detection unit 38 are shown on the right. As the detection unit 38 rises, the detection unit 38 outputs waveforms W1 of the R data, G data, and B data, respectively, as shown on the right side of Figure 10.

[0058] Each waveform W1 corresponds to tracing the convex shape of the rear end of the prizes P stacked vertically Z-axis in the returnable container 5 using light H1, and therefore closely matches the contours of multiple consecutive convex shapes. As a result, in each waveform W1, a relatively large valley V1 appears due to a sudden change in data at the boundary (gap) between adjacent prizes P. The detection unit 38 selects the waveform W1 in which a significantly large valley V appears and counts the number of prizes P by counting the number of valleys V1 in this waveform W1. The number of prizes P is obtained by adding 1 to the count value of the valleys V1.

[0059] If the valley V1 is small in any of the waveforms W1, the detection unit 38 generates a waveform W2 that corresponds to the sum of the R data, G data, and B data. In waveform W2, a valley V2 larger than the valley V1 of each waveform W1 appears in the part corresponding to the boundary between adjacent prizes P, so the detection unit 38 can accurately count the prizes P by counting the number of valleys V2. The number of prizes P is the count value of valley V2 plus 1.

[0060] The detection unit 38 acquires the RGB values ​​for one pulse of the prize P each time it rises by 0.1 mm. Therefore, if the prize P is 3 mm thick, the detection unit 38 acquires the RGB values ​​for 30 pulses of a single prize P, performs color discrimination based on the RGB values ​​of each pulse, and identifies the authenticity and type of a single prize P based on these color discrimination results. Specifically, if the color discrimination result for a specified number or more of the 30 pulses for a single prize P is a predetermined color (for example, red), the detection unit 38 identifies the type of prize P as a red grand prize. With such high resolution, the detection unit 38 can accurately identify the type of prize P even if it is relatively thin, for example, 1.5 mm thick, or if it is a prize P with many transparent parts.

[0061] When the rising detection unit 38 has finished counting and identifying all the prizes P in each storage space 24 of the returnable container 5 loaded into the rear-facing storage unit 33, and has descended to the standby position, the counting and identification process is completed. In this way, both counting and identification of prizes P can be performed by a single detection unit 38. Therefore, it is possible to save space related to the detection unit 38 and improve the processing speed of the counting and identification process.

[0062] The counting and identification process may be performed simultaneously on all dispensing units 12, or it may be performed individually on predetermined dispensing units 12 selected by the store clerk using the display operation unit 4. Furthermore, the counting and identification process may be performed on all returnable boxes 5 loaded in all storage units 33 in each dispensing unit 12, or only on the returnable boxes 5 loaded in the storage unit 33 designated by the store clerk. In any case, the control unit 61 updates the inventory count of prizes P in each storage unit 33 within the main body 3 each time the counting and identification process is performed.

[0063] The inventory data of prizes P in each storage compartment 33 within each dispensing unit 12 (type and quantity of prizes P) is compiled into a table (not shown) associated with the identification information assigned to each storage compartment 33 and stored in the memory unit 64. In particular, the inventory data of prizes P in each of the storage spaces 24 arranged in the left-right direction X in the returnable box 5 set in the storage compartment 33 is stored in the memory unit 64 as a breakdown of the inventory data of prizes P in each storage compartment 33. Alternatively, an IC chip containing identification information may be embedded in the prizes P, and the detection unit 38 may identify the authenticity and type of prizes P by reading the identification information from the IC chip without contact.

[0064] The dispensing and payout process will be explained with reference to Figure 11. The dispensing and payout process includes a dispensing process in which prizes P are dispensed one by one from the returnable box 5 onto the receiving section 55 of the moving section 54, and a payout process in which the prizes P dispensed from the moving section 54 by the dispensing process are paid out of the machine from the payout opening 13B. When a player is positioned at the front Y1 of the prize payout device 1 and inputs a payout instruction by operating the display operation section 4 of the terminal unit 2, the control unit 61 first performs the dispensing process. Specifically, with reference to the lower unit 12A, the control unit 61 moves the transport body 32 in a circular motion. As a result, when the storage section 33 that is the target of the dispensing process approaches the moving section 54 of the payout mechanism 53, the second posture changing mechanism 36 tilts the entrance / exit 33A to a forward-facing posture facing the front Y1. In the forward-facing storage section 33, the entrance 33A is angled slightly upward rather than directly to the side in order to prevent the prize P from falling out of the entrance 25 of the set returnable box 5.

[0065] In the lower unit 12A of Figure 11, the storage compartment 33 at the front upper end is in a forward-facing position, and the entrance 33A of this storage compartment 33 faces the front Y1. The returnable container 5 loaded into this storage compartment 33 is also in a forward-facing position with its entrance 25 facing the front Y1, and the prizes P inside the returnable container 5 are stacked in the vertical Z direction, protruding from the entrance 25 to the front Y1, with the front end surfaces of the prizes P facing the door 13 side (more precisely, diagonally upward).

[0066] As shown in Figure 11, when the lowest prize P in the returnable container 5 loaded in the forward-facing storage section 33 is at approximately the same height as the flat section 43B of the dispensing belt 43 of the dispensing section 42 of the dispensing mechanism 41 in the dispensing position, the control unit 61 stops the circumferential movement of the transporter 32. At this time, the dispensing section 42 in the dispensing position is positioned directly below the returnable container 5.

[0067] Next, the control unit 61 raises the moving unit 54 from its standby position, positioning the upper surface of the moving unit 54 at approximately the same height as the flat portion 43B of the dispensing belt 43. Then, it moves the dispensing belt 43 in the dispensing unit 42 in a circular motion, causing the dispensing roller 45 to rotate. At this time, in the dispensing mechanism 41, the dispensing belt 43 moves in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from the right side, causing the dispensing roller 45 to rotate counterclockwise. The extrusion piece 43A provided on the circulating dispensing belt 43 moves horizontally toward the front Y1 on the flat portion 43B of the dispensing belt 43. At this time, the extrusion piece 43A enters the opening 26 (see Figure 2) of the returnable container 5 loaded in the forward-facing storage unit 33, hooks the lowest prize P in the storage space 24 of the returnable container 5, and pushes it toward the front Y1. In this manner, the dispensing unit 42, which is in the dispensing position, dispenses the prize P from one storage unit 33 that is facing forward.

[0068] The prize P dispensed to the front Y1 comes into contact with the driven and rotating dispense roller 45, pushing it through the gap between the dispense roller 45 and the opposing roller 46 towards the moving section 54, where it lands on a single receiving section 55 located at the same position in the left-right direction X on the moving section 54. Then, as the circumferential movement of the dispense belt 43 and the rotation of the dispense roller 45 are repeated, the prizes P in the storage space 24 located directly above each dispense section 42 in the returnable box 5 loaded in the forward-facing storage section 33 are dispensed one by one from the prize P on the lower Z2 and accumulated on the receiving section 55.

[0069] Furthermore, each time a prize P is dispensed, the control unit 61 gradually lowers the moving unit 54 from its standby position so that the dispensed prize P is accumulated on the upper side Z1 in the receiving unit 55. The control unit 61 also moves the transporter 32 in a slight circle to temporarily raise the forward-facing storage unit 33, and during this time moves the dispensing unit 42 in the left-right direction X. After that, the control unit 61 moves the transporter 32 in the reverse direction to lower the storage unit 33 back to its original position, so that the dispensing unit 42 can dispense a prize P from a different storage space 24 than the original storage space 24 from which the prize P was dispensed earlier. In this case, the prize P dispensed from this different storage space 24 is accumulated in a different receiving unit 55 in the moving unit 54 than the previous receiving unit 55.

[0070] The feeding unit 42 will be explained in detail. Figure 12 is a schematic right side view of the feeding unit 42 during the feeding process. Assuming that the feeding unit 42 is in the feeding position, of the three rollers 44 arranged inside the feeding belt 43 of the feeding unit 42, the roller 44 closest to the feeding roller 45 is called the first roller 44A, the roller 44 located Y2 behind the first roller 44A is called the second roller 44B, and the roller 44 located Z2 below the first roller 44A and the second roller 44B is called the third roller 44C. The feeding belt 43 and these three rollers 44 constitute a belt unit 80. The second roller 44B and the feeding roller 45 are connected by an annular transmission belt 81.

[0071] The feeding unit 42 further includes a frame 82, a first drive unit 83, a count lever 84, a first sensor 85, a second sensor 86, and a second drive unit 87 attached to the frame 82, and a rack and pinion mechanism 88. The frame 82 supports the feeding roller 45, the opposing roller 46, and the belt unit 80. The belt unit 80, while supported by the frame 82, is rotatable up and down around a pivot axis (not shown) located on the feeding roller 45 side of the first roller 44A. The driving force generated by the first drive unit 83 is transmitted to the feeding roller 45, causing it to rotate, and is also transmitted to the second roller 44B via the transmission belt 81, causing the feeding belt 43 to move in a circular motion. As a result, the feeding belt 43 and the feeding roller 45 are linked together as described above.

[0072] The count lever 84 is pivotable in the front-rear direction Y around an axis extending in the left-right direction X. The tip portion 84A, which forms the upper end of the count lever 84, is located in the gate space G between the feed roller 45 and the opposing roller 46. The first sensor 85 is a light-shielding sensor in which the detection light is blocked by the base portion (not shown) on the opposite side of the count lever 84 from the tip portion 84A. The second sensor 86 is a light-shielding sensor in which the detection light is blocked by the extrusion piece 43A when it is in the standby position shown by the dotted line.

[0073] The second drive unit 87 is configured, for example, by a stepping motor. The rack and pinion mechanism 88 includes a rack 88A that extends downward Z2 while curving along the rotational direction of the belt unit 80 as part of the belt unit 80, and a pinion 88B supported by a frame 82. The rack 88A and the pinion 88B mesh together. The driving force of the second drive unit 87 is transmitted to the pinion 88B via a reduction gear (not shown), causing the pinion 88B to rotate, and the belt unit 80 rotates up and down in conjunction with the rotation of the pinion 88B. The control unit 61 can change the position of the belt unit 80 by adjusting the number of pulses input to the second drive unit 87. By changing the position of the belt unit 80, the height position of the extruded piece 43A of the feed belt 43 is adjusted. Note that the belt unit 80 may be slid linearly instead of rotating around the first roller 44A.

[0074] In the dispensing process, as described above, the control unit 61 moves the dispensing belt 43 in a circular motion to rotate the dispensing roller 45. As a result, the extruded piece 43A of the dispensing belt 43 starts from its standby position and enters the opening 26 of the return box 5, hooking the lowest prize P and pushing it forward to Y1. This allows the prize P to pass through the gate space G between the dispensing roller 45 and the opposing roller 46 to be received by the receiving unit 55 of the moving unit 54.

[0075] As the prize P passes through the gate space G, it pushes down the tip 84A of the count lever 84, causing the count lever 84 to swing, and the base of the count lever 84 blocks the detection light of the first sensor 85. As a result, the first sensor 85 detects that one prize P is present in the gate space G. Once the prize P has passed through the gate space G, the tip 84A is no longer pushed down, causing the count lever 84 to swing in the opposite direction, and the base of the count lever 84 no longer blocks the detection light of the first sensor 85. As a result, the first sensor 85 detects that one prize P has passed through the gate space G. Subsequently, when the extruded piece 43A returns to its standby position and blocks the detection light of the second sensor 86, the control unit 61 determines that the one prize P that was at the bottom of the return box 5 has been successfully dispensed and handed over to the receiving unit 55.

[0076] As shown in Figure 12, when the prize P inside the returnable container 5 is horizontal, the belt unit 80 is in the normal position where the flat portion 43B of the feed belt 43 is horizontal. Therefore, the extruded piece 43A that enters the opening 26 of the returnable container 5, the front and rear ends of the lowest prize P inside the returnable container 5, and the gate space G are at the same height. As a result, the extruded piece 43A reliably contacts the rear end of the prize P and pushes the prize P into the gate space G, and the feed roller 45 can reliably hand over the prize P to the receiving section 55.

[0077] As shown in Figure 13, a jamming error is anticipated in which the lowest prize P1 gets stuck in the gate space G, causing the remaining prizes P in the return box 5 to tilt downwards. When a jamming error occurs, even if the extruded piece 43A returns to the standby position due to the rotational movement of the feed belt 43 and blocks the detection light of the second sensor 86, the detection light of the first sensor 85 remains blocked because prize P1 remains stuck in the gate space G. When the detection light of both the first sensor 85 and the second sensor 86 is blocked, the control unit 61 determines that a jamming error has occurred.

[0078] To resolve the jamming error, the dispensing roller 45 needs to rotate to allow the prize P1 in the gate space G to escape to the front side Y1. However, since the rotation of the dispensing roller 45 and the rotational movement of the dispensing belt 43 are synchronized, if the extrusion piece 43A of the dispensing belt 43 pushes the subsequent prize P2 to the front side Y1 before the prize P1 escapes from the gate space G, there is a risk that multiple prizes P will jam in the gate space G.

[0079] Therefore, the control unit 61 activates the second drive unit 87 to lower the belt unit 80 to the retracted position shown in Figure 13. As a result, even if the feed belt 43 moves in a circular motion in conjunction with the rotation of the feed roller 45, the extruded piece 43A does not reach the subsequent prize P2, and therefore the prize P2 cannot be pushed forward to Y1. By making the feed belt 43 idle in this way, the drive of the feed roller 45 and the drive of the feed belt 43 are effectively separated, and priority can be given to the escape of the prize P1 from the gate space G by the feed roller 45.

[0080] If the lowest prize P (see Figure 12) inside the returnable container 5 is curved upwards at its rear end, the extruded piece 43A that enters the opening 26 of the returnable container 5 will be lower than the rear end of the prize P and will not be able to contact the rear end of the prize P, resulting in no engagement and a missed shot error. When a missed shot error occurs, the extruded piece 43A returns to its standby position due to the circular movement of the feed belt 43 without the lowest prize P reaching the gate space G, and blocks the detection light of the second sensor 86. If the detection light of the second sensor 86 is blocked without the detection light of the first sensor 85 being blocked, the control unit 61 determines that a missed shot error has occurred.

[0081] To eliminate missed shots, it is necessary to position the extruded piece 43A at the same height as the rear end of the lowest prize P to ensure proper engagement. Therefore, the control unit 61 operates the second drive unit 87 to raise the belt unit 80 to the retry position shown in Figure 14. Then, when the feed belt 43 moves in a circular motion, the extruded piece 43A can come into contact with the lowest prize P3 and push it forward to Y1.

[0082] As described above, the control unit 61 dispenses the prize P from the returnable box 5 onto the moving unit 54 while resolving jamming errors and missed errors as needed. When all the storage space 24 in the returnable box 5, which was set in the storage unit 33 (see lower unit 12A in Figure 11) which was previously in a sideways position, is empty, the control unit 61 raises the moving unit 54 to the dispensing section 42 of the dispensing mechanism 41 of another dispensing unit 12 (middle unit 12B in Figure 15), as shown in Figure 15. In the middle unit 12B, the dispensing mechanism 41 is in the dispensing position, one storage unit 33 is in a forward position on the dispensing section 42, and it is possible to dispense the prize P from the returnable box 5 set in this storage unit 33. Therefore, the control unit 61 dispenses the prize P from the returnable box 5 set in this storage unit 33 onto the moving unit 54.

[0083] When the control unit 61 moves the moving unit 54 from the lower unit 12A to dispense the prize P from the middle unit 12B, as preparation for dispensing in the lower unit 12A, it first rotates the dispensing mechanism 41 of the lower unit 12A to the retracted position, then moves the transport body 32 in a circular motion so that the storage unit 33, which is loaded with another returnable box 5, faces forward. After that, as shown in Figure 16, the control unit 61 returns the dispensing mechanism 41 of the lower unit 12A to the dispensing position and lowers the moving unit 54 from which the prize P has been dispensed from the middle unit 12B. Then, the control unit 61 dispenses the prize P from the returnable box 5 set in the storage unit 33, which is facing forward in the lower unit 12A, onto the moving unit 54. Dispensing prize P from multiple storage units 33 in a single dispensing unit 12 (lower unit 12A in this explanation) with the transport body 32 moving in a circular motion in between is called "rotary crossing".

[0084] If it is necessary to cross the rotary, as described above, while the moving unit 54 moves to the dispensing section 42 of one of the dispensing units 12 (the unit to be dispensed) and finishes receiving the prize P from that dispensing section 42, the dispensing section 42 of the other dispensing unit 12 moves between the dispensing position and the retracted position, and the multiple storage sections 33 move in a circular motion (dispensing preparation operation). After that, the moving unit 54 receives the prize P from the dispensing section 42 of the other dispensing unit 12. In this way, when dispensing prize P from multiple dispensing units 12 at once, the control unit 61 makes effective use of the time while the moving unit 54 moves to the dispensing section 42 of the dispensing unit 12 (in this explanation, the middle unit 12B) and finishes receiving the prize P from that dispensing section 42, the other dispensing unit 12 (in this explanation, the lower unit 12A) prepares to dispense the prize P (dispensing preparation operation).

[0085] In other words, the control unit 61 performs the dispensing of prizes P from the middle unit 12B and the preparation for dispensing (dispensing preparation operation) in the lower unit 12A in parallel, so the dispensing process can be completed in the shortest possible time, thereby shortening the transaction time between the player and the prize dispensing device 1. Furthermore, since the dispensing process can be completed in the shortest possible time, instead of storing one fixed type of prize P in each dispensing unit 12, multiple types of prizes P can be stored together, so the types of prizes P in each dispensing unit 12 can be optimized according to the operation of the gaming store. This reduces the number of replenishment processes and alleviates the burden on store staff.

[0086] When the required number of prizes P are dispensed onto the moving unit 54, the dispensing process is completed. Then, the control unit 61 starts the dispensing process. Specifically, the control unit 61 slides the shutter 52 to the open position shown in Figure 17. This opens the dispensing opening 13B on the upper surface 13A of the door 13 to the upper side Z1. Then, the control unit 61 raises the moving unit 54 to the dispensing position shown in Figure 17. By rising to the dispensing position, the moving unit 54 moves to the dispensing opening 13B. In other words, the moving unit 54 receives the prizes P sequentially from each of the dispensing units 12 42 before rising to the dispensing opening 13B. As a result, the prizes P dispensed onto each of the moving units 54 are exposed to the upper side Z1 through the dispensing opening 13B and dispensed out of the machine.

[0087] Thus, the movable part 54 is a common movable part for the dispensing parts 42 of the multiple dispensing units 12 mounted vertically, and receives the prizes P dispensed by each of the dispensing parts 42 of the multiple dispensing units 12. Therefore, by providing a movable part 54 for each dispensing part 42, the prize dispensing device 1 can be made smaller compared to when there are many movable parts 54. Furthermore, if the movable part 54 is vertically movable, its movement trajectory can be made to follow the vertical direction Z. This makes it possible to further miniaturize the prize dispensing device 1 in the horizontal direction.

[0088] Then, when a player directly receives the prize P from the movable part 54 at the payout opening 13B, the control unit 61 lowers the movable part 54 to the standby position and slides the shutter 52, which was previously in the open position, to the closed position. This completes the payout process, and the series of dispensing processes is finished. Since there is only one payout opening 13B, it prevents players from forgetting to take their prize P and shortens the time it takes to receive the prize P. Also, since the payout opening 13B is located in the door 13, the payout opening 13B is close to players positioned in front of the prize dispensing device 1 Y1, so they can easily receive the prize P dispensed at the payout opening 13B. Furthermore, when a single moving unit 54 receives prizes P from each dispensing unit 12 and transports them to the dispensing port 13B, the number of joints between the multiple components can be reduced compared to when multiple components receive and transport prizes P from each dispensing unit 12, thereby suppressing errors such as prizes P getting stuck at these joints.

[0089] Figures 18 to 26 are diagrams showing examples of prize dispensing patterns when a prize is dispensed by the dispensing process. When the moving unit 54 rises to the dispensing position, in one dispensing opening 13B, the five receiving units 55 in the moving unit 54 are arranged in the left-right direction X, thereby dividing this dispensing opening 13B into multiple (five in this embodiment) dispensing sections 13D arranged in the left-right direction X.

[0090] In the following, the five dispensing compartments 13D may be referred to as dispensing compartment 13DA, dispensing compartment 13DB, ​​dispensing compartment 13DC, dispensing compartment 13DD, and dispensing compartment 13DE, in order from left to right. Each of these dispensing compartments 13D corresponds to one of the five receiving compartments 55 that are in the same position in the left-right direction X. Each corresponding pair of dispensing compartment 13D and receiving compartment 55 corresponds to one of the five storage spaces 24 (see Figure 2) in the returnable container 5 set in the storage compartment 33 of each dispensing unit 12 that are in the same position in the left-right direction X.

[0091] In Figures 18 to 26, the prize P labeled "Large" refers to a large prize, the prize P labeled "Medium" refers to a medium prize, and the prize P labeled "Small" refers to a small prize. In each dispensing section 13D, the maximum number of prizes P that can be stacked on the receiving section 55 is set considering the ease of removing the prizes P. For example, in the case of prizes P with a thickness of 3 mm, the maximum number is 10. Therefore, multiple prizes P can be stacked in each dispensing section 13D up to a predetermined maximum number.

[0092] Prior to the dispensing process, when a payout instruction is input from a player, the control unit 61 determines a payout pattern for the type and number of prizes P corresponding to this payout instruction from the inventory data stored in the storage unit 64. This payout pattern contains information about the payout destination that minimizes the number of payout sections 13D to which the prizes P will be dispensed, and the type and number of prizes P to be dispensed to that payout section. The control unit 61 executes the dispensing process based on the determined payout pattern. Therefore, in the dispensing process, the receiving unit 55 corresponding to the payout section 13D that has become the payout destination receives the prizes P from the storage unit 33 and transports them to the payout section 13D. Thus, the control unit 61 and the receiving unit 55 function as examples of a dispensing unit that dispenses prizes P from the storage unit 33 to the payout destination. In this way, when the payout destination is composed of the minimum number of payout sections 13D, players are less likely to overlook the prize P that has been paid out to the payout destination, and they can receive the prize P without any hassle. Therefore, the prize payout device 1 can prevent players from forgetting to take their prize P and improve ease of use. The following provides a specific example.

[0093] As shown in Figure 18, when dispensing up to or less than the upper limit number of a single type of prize P, the control unit 61 determines a dispensing pattern such that these prizes P are dispensed together in a stacked state into one of the dispensing sections 13D, and executes the dispensing process to realize this dispensing pattern. Multiple prizes P are dispensed in a stacked state into the dispensing section 13D that serves as the dispensing destination. As a result, the player can receive multiple prizes P dispensed into one dispensing section 13D all at once, thus further improving the usability of the prize dispensing device 1. In this embodiment, the leftmost dispensing section 13DA is preferentially selected as the dispensing destination, but other dispensing sections 13DA may be preferentially selected as the dispensing destination. The same applies to the following specific examples.

[0094] As shown in Figure 19, when more than the upper limit of one type of prize P is to be dispensed, the control unit 61 determines a dispensing pattern in which these prizes P are dispensed in multiple dispensing sections 13D, and executes the dispensing process to realize this dispensing pattern. In Figure 19, the upper limit number of prizes P are dispensed in a stacked state into one dispensing section 13DA, and the remaining fractional amount of prizes P is dispensed into the adjacent dispensing section 13DB. However, the prizes P may also be dispensed equally into dispensing sections 13DA and 13DB.

[0095] The multiple payout compartments 13D that serve as payout destinations are preferably adjacent to each other, as shown in Figure 19. In other words, if there are multiple payout compartments 13D that serve as payout destinations, the control unit 61 determines a payout pattern such that these payout compartments 13D are adjacent to each other. In this way, when the payout destination is composed of the minimum number of adjacent payout compartments 13D, players are less likely to overlook the prize P dispensed to the payout destination and can receive the prize P more easily. Therefore, the prize payout device 1 can prevent players from forgetting to take their prize P and further improve usability. Note that, depending on the situation, the multiple payout compartments 13D that serve as payout destinations may not be adjacent to each other and may be far apart. The same applies to the specific examples that follow.

[0096] As shown in Figure 20, when dispensing a total number of multiple types of prizes P that is less than or equal to the upper limit, the control unit 61 determines a dispensing pattern such that these prizes P are dispensed in one of the dispensing sections 13D in a separated and stacked state according to their type. At that time, the control unit 61 arranges the prizes P separated by type in order of value (grand prize, medium prize, small prize, or vice versa) from the bottom Z2. The control unit 61 then executes the dispensing process to realize this dispensing pattern. In this embodiment, since the grand prize is stored in the lower unit 12A, the medium prize is stored in the middle unit 12B, and the small prize is stored in the upper unit 12C, the prizes P are stacked in the dispensing section 13D in the order of grand prize, medium prize, and small prize from the bottom Z2. The player can easily grasp the breakdown of each type of prize P dispensed in a stacked state in the dispensing section 13D. Therefore, the prize dispensing device 1 can be made even easier to use.

[0097] As shown in Figure 21, when the total number of prizes P of multiple types exceeds the upper limit, there are multiple dispensing sections 13D to which the prizes will be dispensed. In this case, the control unit 61 determines a dispensing pattern such that these prizes P are dispensed in a separated and stacked state by type in each of the minimum number of dispensing sections 13D. At that time, the control unit 61 determines the dispensing pattern so that the same type of prize P is not dispensed in multiple dispensing sections 13D. If the number of prizes P of a majority type (grand prizes in Figure 21) is less than or equal to the upper limit, the control unit 61 arranges these prizes P in one dispensing section 13D, and the remaining types of prizes P (small and medium prizes in Figure 21) are arranged in order of value in another dispensing section 13D. The control unit 61 then executes the dispensing process to realize this dispensing pattern. In this case, players can easily understand the breakdown of prizes P by type that have been dispensed into multiple payout sections 13D. Therefore, the prize dispensing device 1 can be made even easier to use.

[0098] As shown in Figure 22, when the total number of multiple types of prizes P exceeds the upper limit, if the number of prizes P of the majority type (grand prizes in Figure 22) exceeds the upper limit, the control unit 61 determines a payout pattern in which prizes P of this type are distributed across multiple payout sections 13D. In this case, the control unit 61 arranges the upper limit number of prizes P of this type into one payout section 13D, and the remaining prizes P of this type and other types of prizes P (small prizes and medium prizes in Figure 22) are arranged in order of value in a separate payout section 13D. The control unit 61 then executes the payout process to realize this payout pattern.

[0099] When the inventory of prizes P decreases and the number and types of prizes in the payout instruction are large, it is expected that it will become difficult to realize the flexible payout patterns described above. Taking this into consideration, the control unit 61 determines the payout pattern in the following procedure based on the inventory data stored in the storage unit 64. First, the control unit 61 calculates whether the first payout pattern (see Figures 20 and 23), in which multiple types of prizes P are dispensed together into one payout section 13D, is good or bad. Regarding the goodness or badness of the payout pattern, a payout pattern is good (OK) if all prizes P can be dispensed by the movement unit 54 rising to the payout opening 13B only once during the payout process, and a payout pattern is bad (NG) if all prizes P cannot be dispensed by the movement unit 54 rising to the payout opening 13B only once during the payout process.

[0100] If the first dispensing pattern is NG, the control unit 61 calculates whether the second dispensing pattern (see Figure 21), which dispenses the prize P into multiple dispensing sections 13D without dividing the same type of prize P into multiple dispensing sections 13D, is good or bad.

[0101] If the second dispensing pattern is NG, the control unit 61 calculates whether a third dispensing pattern (see Figure 24) is good or bad, in which one type of prize P (for example, the grand prize) is divided and dispensed into one dispensing section 13D and another dispensing section 13D, and the other type of prize P is also dispensed into the other dispensing section 13D. In the third dispensing pattern, only the grand prize is stacked in one dispensing section 13D, and the remaining grand prize, all the medium prizes, and all the small prizes are stacked in the other dispensing section 13D in that order.

[0102] Thus, although there are multiple payout sections 13D to which the prizes are dispensed, if the number of these payout sections 13D is minimized, the control unit 61 determines a third payout pattern in which the same type of prize P is dispensed in multiple payout sections 13D. In this case, the small number of payout sections 13D to which the prizes are dispensed takes precedence over the ease of understanding the breakdown of each type of prize P dispensed. As a result, players are less likely to overlook the prize P dispensed to their payout destination and can receive the prize P without any hassle. Therefore, the prize dispensing device 1 can prevent players from forgetting to take their prizes and improve usability.

[0103] If the third dispensing pattern is NG, the control unit 61 calculates whether the fourth dispensing pattern (see Figure 25) is good or bad, in which each of the two types of prizes P (for example, a grand prize and a medium prize) is divided and dispensed into one dispensing section 13D and another dispensing section 13D, and the other type of prize P (small prize) is also dispensed into the other dispensing section 13D. In the fourth dispensing pattern, the grand prize and the medium prize are stacked in that order in one dispensing section 13D, and the remaining grand prize, the remaining medium prize, and all the small prizes are stacked in that order in the other dispensing section 13D.

[0104] If the fourth dispensing pattern is NG, the control unit 61 calculates whether the fifth dispensing pattern (see Figure 26), which divides each type of prize P into one dispensing section 13D and another dispensing section 13D for dispensing, is good or bad. In the fifth dispensing pattern, the grand prize, medium prize, and small prize are stacked in that order in each of the multiple dispensing sections 13D. If the fifth dispensing pattern is NG, the control unit 61 determines the optimal dispensing pattern by increasing the number of dispensing sections 13D to one and repeating the calculations for the second to fifth dispensing patterns. If, even after increasing the number of dispensing sections 13D to five (the maximum number), all prizes P cannot be dispensed by the moving unit 54 rising to the dispensing opening 13B only once, the control unit 61 determines the optimal dispensing pattern by repeating the calculations for the first to fifth dispensing patterns, taking into account the raising and lowering of the moving unit 54 multiple times. Then, the control unit 61 executes the dispensing process based on the finally determined dispensing pattern.

[0105] In this way, the control unit 61 determines a dispensing pattern that minimizes the number of times the dispensing section 13D and the moving section 54 are raised and lowered, thereby consolidating the prizes P into the fewest possible dispensing sections 13D and dispensing them with the fewest possible dispensing steps. In the case of a non-self-service prize dispensing device, it is common practice for a staff member to present the actual prizes P dispensed from the device to the player by type, and then stack these prizes P and hand them to the player. In the self-service type prize dispensing device 1, where the player handles the prize exchange process themselves, there is no need to present the actual prizes P to the player by type. Multiple types of prizes P are consolidated into the dispensing section 13D and dispensed in a stacked state, so the player can receive the prizes P with fewer steps. This minimizes the effort required to gather multiple types of prizes P and prevents players from forgetting to take their prizes. Furthermore, the control unit 61 may, as part of the dispensing process, notify the player of the information of the prize P to be dispensed by displaying it on the display operation unit 4, etc.

[0106] Furthermore, if the prizes P are preferentially dispensed starting from the leftmost or rightmost dispensing section 13D (in this embodiment, the leftmost dispensing section 13DA), the prizes P in each returnable container 5 within each dispensing unit 12 will decrease starting from the leftmost or rightmost storage space 24. This minimizes the amount of storage space 24 with a fractional number of prizes P, and allows store staff to easily visually check the inventory of prizes P in each returnable container 5.

[0107] Each storage compartment 33 of each dispensing unit 12 may have a predetermined type of prize P in the returnable box 5 to be set, which may be stored in the memory unit 64. During replenishment processing, if a returnable box 5 containing a different type of prize P than the specified type is set in the storage compartment 33, the control unit 61 will temporarily store in the memory unit 64 that the type of prize P in this storage compartment 33 is incorrect during the subsequent counting and identification processing. The control unit 61 may continue the dispensing and dispensing processing by performing a degraded operation in which the storage compartment 33 with the incorrect type of prize P is excluded from dispensing. In addition, the correctness of the type of prize P in each of the storage spaces 24 of the returnable box 5 may be temporarily stored in the memory unit 64. In that case, in each storage compartment 33, only the storage space 24 with the incorrect type of prize P may be excluded from dispensing, while the prize P in the other storage spaces 24 may be dispensed as normal prizes.

[0108] In addition to the storage space 24 where there was an error in the type of prize P, other storage spaces 24 that are not eligible for payout include those where the number of prize P stored is small (for example, less than 5), making counting and identification processing impossible due to accuracy limitations. Furthermore, storage spaces 24 where the counting result of prize P is unknown, and storage spaces 24 where the aforementioned jamming errors or missed errors occurred, are also included. Even if such storage spaces 24 that are not eligible for payout exist, the prize payout device 1 will operate in degraded mode without error shutdown, so transactions can continue without making players wait. Actions regarding storage spaces 24 that are not eligible for payout can be taken during idle periods when there are no player transactions.

[0109] Figure 27 is a conceptual diagram of a gaming system 90 including a prize dispensing device 1. The gaming system 90 further includes a server 91, which is a higher-level device for the prize dispensing device 1. There may be only one server 91, or it may consist of multiple servers. The gaming system 90 may further include a settlement machine 92 for settling the prepaid value associated with the player's card into cash. The settlement machine 92 is provided with a card slot 92A through which the player inserts and removes their card, a banknote slot 92B from which the settlement amount in banknotes is dispensed, and a coin slot 92C from which the settlement amount in coins is dispensed. The settlement machine 92 may be installed near the prize dispensing device 1. Both the prize dispensing device 1 and the settlement machine 92 are communicateable to the server 91 via a wireless or wired communication network N.

[0110] Since both the prize dispensing device 1 and the settlement machine 92 are devices that allow players to conduct transactions themselves, there is a risk that players may forget to take their prizes P or cards from the prize dispensing device 1, and a risk that players may forget to take their cards or settlement money from the settlement machine 92. Therefore, both the prize dispensing device 1 and the settlement machine 92 have a function that allows them to collect forgotten items and return them to their owners later if they are forgotten. This function reduces the burden on store staff who have to deal with forgotten items.

[0111] Regarding the loss of prize P, cards, or settlement money (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "objects"), the prize dispensing device 1 and the settlement machine 92 each include a residual sensor 93 for detecting the presence of objects and a human presence sensor 94 for detecting the presence of people nearby (see Figure 4). In the prize dispensing device 1, if a predetermined time has elapsed after the object has been dispensed without any operation by the player, and the residual sensor 93 detects the presence of an object (for example, prize P at the dispensing port 13B), the control unit 61 determines that an object has been lost. As another example, if the human presence sensor 94 does not detect any nearby players after the object has been dispensed, but the residual sensor 93 detects the presence of an object, the control unit 61 may also determine that an object has been lost.

[0112] Furthermore, if, after the prize P is dispensed, a new card is inserted into the card slot 2A in an unusually short time between the player taking out the prize P, the control unit 61 may determine that the prize P has been forgotten. In this case, it is assumed that the next player took the prize P that the previous player had forgotten and immediately inserted their own card into the card slot 2A. The control unit 95 in the settlement machine 92 may perform the same processing as the control unit 61 when determining whether a prize has been forgotten.

[0113] Figure 28 is a flowchart showing the process when a prize P is forgotten. When the control unit 61 of the prize dispensing device 1 determines that a prize P has been forgotten on the moving unit 54 during the dispensing process (step S1), it lowers the moving unit 54 to the standby position and slides the shutter 52 to the closed position, thereby recovering the prize P into the device body 3 and causing the prize dispensing device 1 to shut down due to an error (step S2). At this time, the control unit 61 notifies the store staff of the error shutdown through a display on the display operation unit 4 or a buzzer, and stores the forgotten prize information in the storage unit 64. The forgotten prize information is stored in the storage unit 64 linked to the history of the current dispensing process. Furthermore, the forgotten prize information is transmitted to the server 91 linked to the history of the current dispensing process and stored in the server 91 as well (step S3). The history of the current dispensing process also includes information to identify the player who forgot to take the prize P, such as the player's card identification information.

[0114] The prize P, which has been recovered into the main body of the device 3, remains on the moving part 54. If a player realizes they have forgotten to take their prize P and immediately returns and inserts their card into the card slot 2A, the control unit 61 terminates the error down and notification, slides the shutter 52 back to the open position, and raises the moving part 54 to the payout position, thereby quickly returning the prize P to the player from the payout opening 13B. In this case, the forgotten prize information will store that the prize P has already been returned to the player.

[0115] Upon receiving the notification, the store clerk rushed to the scene, operated the display control unit 4 to end the error shutdown and notification, opened the door 13 to the open position (see Figure 5), and took out the prize P that had been collected earlier from the moving unit 54. The clerk then pulled out the dispensing unit 12 that had been storing the prize P to the pull-out position (see Figure 6), returned the prize P to the return box 5 inside the dispensing unit 12, and returned the dispensing unit 12 to its storage position.

[0116] The store clerk then operates the display operation unit 4 so that the data of the prize P returned this time is managed separately in the storage unit 64 from the inventory data of prize P. In response, the control unit 61 reflects the data of the forgotten prize P in the forgotten information and manages it separately from the inventory data in the storage unit 64 (step S4). At this time, the control unit 61 also notifies the server 91 to update the forgotten information, and the server 91, upon receiving the notification, updates the forgotten information (step S5). In the prize dispensing device 1, if the prize P that was forgotten and recovered into the main unit 3 is collected in a reject unit (not shown) separate from the movement unit 54, the transaction may continue without an error down.

[0117] If a player who has forgotten to claim their prize P inserts their card into the card slot 2A on the same day or the following day, the control unit 61 refers to the payout history associated with that card. Alternatively, the control unit 61 may refer to the payout history associated with the player's card when a store employee who has received a request from the player to return the forgotten prize P operates the display operation unit 4. If there is forgotten information associated with the history, the control unit 61 executes a payout process based on the data of the forgotten prize P in this forgotten information and returns the prize P to the player from the payout opening 13B (step S6). In this case, considering the possibility that the player is unaware of having forgotten the prize P, the control unit 61 may notify the player via the display operation unit 4 or the like that there was a previous instance of forgotten prize P. This notification may include data (type and number) of the forgotten prize P.

[0118] Instead of automatic return of prize P upon insertion of a card, a store employee who receives a return request may open the door 13, pull out the dispensing unit 12, and hand the prize P from the dispensing unit 12 to the player. Furthermore, the lost prize information may include an image of the player who forgot to take their prize P (data captured by a surveillance camera, etc.), and the prize P may be returned to the player only after identity verification using this image.

[0119] Once the return of the forgotten prize P is completed as described above, the control unit 61 reflects this fact in the forgotten prize P information in the storage unit 64 (step S7). At this time, the control unit 61 also notifies the server 91 to update the forgotten information, and the server 91, upon receiving the notification, updates the forgotten information to indicate that the prize P has been returned to the player (step S8).

[0120] If a card ejected into the card slot 2A is forgotten, the control unit 61 should perform the same processing as in the case of a forgotten prize P. However, the forgotten card should be collected in a reject unit (not shown) provided inside the main body 3 of the device. In the payment machine 92, if a card ejected into the card slot 92A is forgotten, or if the payment money ejected into the banknote slot 92B or coin slot 92C is forgotten, the control unit 95 should perform the same processing as in the case of a forgotten prize P in the prize dispensing device 1. However, the forgotten card or payment money should be collected in separate reject units (not shown) provided inside the payment machine 92 according to the card or payment money.

[0121] There is a wholesaler that delivers prize P to the amusement parlors. The wholesaler (or more precisely, the wholesaler's staff) brings the prize P to the amusement parlors packed in reusable boxes 5. When the wholesaler operates the display control unit 4 of the prize dispensing device 1, the lock on the dispensing unit 12, which is located in the storage position within the device body 3, is released. The wholesaler then opens the door 13, pulls out the dispensing unit 12 from its storage position, and replenishes the dispensing unit 12 with prize P. After the wholesaler has finished replenishing the prize P, they return the dispensing unit 12 to its pull-out position and close the door 13, completing the replenishment of prize P to the prize dispensing device 1 by the wholesaler.

[0122] As described above, in an operation where the wholesaler replenishes prize P in the prize dispensing device 1, the workload of store employees, who are suffering from labor shortages, can be reduced. If the wholesaler is also responsible for managing the inventory of prize P after replenishment, the workload of store employees can be reduced even further. In this case, the inventory of prize P in the prize dispensing device 1 remains the wholesaler's inventory (the wholesaler's property), and the prize P dispensed from the prize dispensing device 1 to the players is treated as prize P delivered to the gaming store, and payment is made from that to the wholesaler. On the other hand, the dispensing of prize P from the prize dispensing device 1 remains the responsibility of the store employees.

[0123] In cases where a wholesaler and a game store, which are separate organizations, handle the prizes P of the prize dispensing device 1, it is desirable that the prize dispensing device 1 grants each the wholesaler and the store staff authority over the operation of the display operation unit 4 of the prize dispensing device 1. Specifically, the wholesaler is authorized to perform the first operation of the display operation unit 4 for replenishment processing to replenish the prizes P in the prize dispensing device 1, the second operation of the display operation unit 4 for counting and identification processing to check the inventory of prizes P in the prize dispensing device 1, and the third operation of the display operation unit 4 for error clearing processing to clear errors such as jams in the prizes P that occur in the prize dispensing device 1.

[0124] On the other hand, store employees are, in principle, only permitted to perform the fourth operation of the display operation unit 4 for the dispensing process of dispensing prizes P from the prize dispensing device 1 to the players. Conversely, wholesalers are not permitted to perform the fourth operation, and store employees are not permitted to perform the first and second operations, while the third operation is permitted subject to the restrictions described below. The authority for these first to fourth operations, and the relationship between the wholesaler ID and the employee ID assigned to the employee, are stored in the memory unit 64 of the prize dispensing device 1. Therefore, the control unit 61 of the prize dispensing device 1 switches the operating mode according to the wholesaler ID or employee ID input by the display operation unit 4.

[0125] For example, when a wholesaler arrives to deliver prizes P to a gaming parlor before it opens for business, and enters the wholesaler ID via the display operation unit 4 of the prize dispensing device 1, the control unit 61 of the prize dispensing device 1 performs authentication using the wholesaler ID and then displays a guidance screen on the display operation unit 4 indicating that replenishment processing, counting identification processing, and error clearing processing are possible. When the wholesaler then performs the first operation on the display operation unit 4, the control unit 61 releases the lock on the dispensing unit 12 by the unit lock mechanism 18, allowing the wholesaler to pull out the dispensing unit 12 from its storage position and replenish the dispensing unit 12 with prizes P.

[0126] When the wholesaler returns the dispensing unit 12, which has been replenished with prize P, to its storage position and performs the second operation of the display operation unit 4, the control unit 61, as a count identification process, counts the number of prize P replenished to the dispensing unit 12 using the detection unit 38, prints the count result using the receipt issuing unit 63 to create an inventory list, and issues it to the receipt issuing slot 2B. The control unit 61 may also print an invoice based on this replenishment number using the receipt issuing unit 63 and issue it to the receipt issuing slot 2B. In this way, the invoice amount for prize P may be determined based on the replenishment number, or the invoice amount may be automatically added each time prize P is dispensed through subsequent dispensing processes. The invoice amount after automatic addition is the latest invoice amount determined at that time. The timing at which the invoice amount is determined in this way may be set by operation of the display operation unit 4 to either the time of replenishment (when it is received) or the time of dispensing (when it is shipped). The information of the determined invoice amount may be automatically notified to the wholesaler by the prize dispensing device 1.

[0127] If an error occurs in the prize dispensing device 1, the wholesaler performs a third operation on the display operation unit 4. This causes the control unit 61 to release the lock on the dispensing unit 12 by the unit lock mechanism 18, allowing the wholesaler to pull out the dispensing unit 12 and clear the error. A third operation by a store employee may also be permitted. The lock on the dispensing unit 12 may be released not by a third operation on the display operation unit 4 by a store employee, but by remote operation from the wholesaler after being notified by the amusement store. Alternatively, the lock on the dispensing unit 12 may be released by the store employee entering a time-limited one-time password notified by the wholesaler into the display operation unit 4. In any case, the store employee can pull out the unlocked dispensing unit 12 and remove and replenish the prize P to clear the error.

[0128] When a store clerk returns the dispensing unit 12, which has been refilled with prize P, to its storage position and operates the display operation unit 4, the control unit 61 counts the number of prize P in stock in the dispensing unit 12 by performing a count identification process. If the stock count matches before and after the error occurs, the prize dispensing device 1 returns to its normal state, and the prize dispensing process can then be executed. On the other hand, if the stock count does not match before and after the error occurs, the prize dispensing device 1 returns to its normal state, provided that this fact is stored in the storage unit 64 as history or, if necessary, notified to the wholesaler. If the stock count does not match before and after the error occurs, the prize dispensing device 1 does not need to return to its normal state until the wholesaler is present.

[0129] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the various features described above can be combined as appropriate.

[0130] For example, in this embodiment, the prize dispensing device 1 is configured by the terminal unit 2 and the main device body 3 being a set, but the terminal unit 2 may be a device provided independently of the main device body 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 1. Prize dispensing device 3. Main unit of the device 11A aperture 12 Dispensing Units (Units) 13 Doors 13B Discharge Outlet 33 Storage compartment 42. Dispensing section 54 Mobile section P Prize Z vertical direction

Claims

1. The main body of the device is equipped with a prize dispensing outlet, The device has a storage section for storing prizes and a plurality of dispensing sections for dispensing prizes from the storage section, and the plurality of units are arranged vertically within the main body of the device, It is movable up and down and includes a common movable part for the plurality of units, which receives the prize dispensed by each unit and rises up to the payout opening, While the moving unit rises to the unit from which the prize is to be dispensed among the plurality of units and receives the prize from that unit, the other units among the plurality of units perform a dispensing preparation operation for the dispensing unit to dispense the prize. The moving part is a prize dispensing device that rises to the dispensing opening after receiving a prize from the dispensing part of the other unit.

2. The prize dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing preparation operation of the other unit is performed in parallel with the dispensing of prizes from the unit from which the prizes are to be dispensed.

3. In each of the aforementioned units, the plurality of storage compartments are capable of circumferential movement. The prize dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing preparation operation includes the plurality of storage units included in the other unit moving in a circular motion.

4. In each of the aforementioned units, the dispensing unit is movable between a dispensing position in which a prize is dispensed from one of the storage units and a retracted position in which it is moved away from the dispensing position. The prize dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dispensing preparation operation includes the dispensing unit included in the other unit moving between the retracted position and the dispensing position.

5. The prize dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of storage units are provided on an annular circular track within each of the units.

6. A prize dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the storage compartments is capable of storing a plurality of the prizes.

Images