US20100029374A1 - Automatic dealing machine and automatic dealing system - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic dealing machine installed in a gaming facility and configured to be operated by a customer comprises a casing configured for storing therein a plurality of handling units, a chip handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling chips, and a banknote handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling banknotes. The chip handling unit includes a chip insertion port through which the chips can be inserted into the chip handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a chip determination portion adapted for determining the kind of each chip inserted through the chip insertion port, and a chip calculation portion adapted for calculating the number of the chips, for each kind, determined by the chip determination portion and total amount of money. A control unit provided in the automatic dealing machine performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of one or more chips calculated by the chip calculation portion of the chip handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the one or more chips are inserted through the chip insertion port of the chip handling unit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to an automatic dealing machine which is installed in a gaming facility and operated by a customer, as well as relates to an automatic dealing system provided with the automatic dealing machine.
BACKGROUND ART
• In the gaming facility, cash (such as banknotes, coins, etc.), bar-code tickets, on each of which bar-code information (e.g., a bar-code corresponding to a certain eighteen-digit number) is attached, checks, chips and the like, are used as media each having a value of a currency. In some cases, for example, the bar-code ticket or check is paid in place of the cash, such as banknotes, coins and the like, from an amusement machine, such as a slot machine and the like. Otherwise, chips are sometimes used in place of the cash, such as banknotes, coins and the like, in a table game, such as roulette, poker and the like. In regard to such media each having the value of a currency, exchange and/or cashing between different kinds of media, is carried out in the gaming facility. For the bar-code tickets and/or checks, an image is obtained by a cashier or the like person in the gaming facility.
• In JP7-505079T, a certain slot machine configured to be installed in the gaming facility is disclosed. In this slot machine, coins are not used. Instead, this slot machine is configured to receive banknotes, coupons printed in advance and/or bar-code tickets, and then work, corresponding to an amount of money of the received banknotes or the like. This slot machine includes a printer adapted for printing the barcode tickets, to each of which a bar code corresponding to the amount of money of a prize is attached, and is configured to disburse such bar-code tickets respectively printed by the printer.
• In US2006/0195567A1, a cash disbursement machine having a gaming facility handling kiosk is disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In a conventional gaming facility, each handling for the exchange and/or cashing of the cash, bar-code tickets, checks, chips and the like and/or obtainment of an image of each bar-code ticket and/or check was carried out by an individual handling machine. However, because each handling machine was configured to handle such media for each kind thereof, there was a need for providing respective deposit and disbursement portions, for the cash, bar-code tickets, checks, chips and the like, to each handling machine. Additionally, when attempting to perform one handling after another, a separate machine must be prepared for each handling, thus requiring much time and labor. Furthermore, the conventional handling machine cannot perform automatic discrimination for the chips used in the table game. Therefore, each cashier in the gaming facility must determine the kind of chips by hand.
• The present invention was made in light of such circumstances. Therefore, it is an object to provide a new automatic dealing machine and a new automatic dealing system provided with this automatic dealing machine, which can automatically determine each chip inserted through a chip insertion port of a chip handling unit, thus eliminating the time and labor required for determining the chip by hand, and which can automatically disburse banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the determined chips, into a banknote disbursement port of a banknote handling unit.
• Another object of this invention is to perform all or part of handling, including exchange and/or cashing for the cash, such as banknotes and/or coins, bar-code tickets, checks, chips and the like, obtainment of an image of each bar-code ticket and/or check and deposit and/or disbursement of money relative to a bank, by using a single automatic dealing machine.
• The automatic dealing machine according to the present invention is configured to be installed in a gaming facility and operated by a customer, the automatic dealing machine comprising: a casing configured for storing therein a plurality of handling units; a chip handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling chips, the chip handling unit including a chip insertion port through which the chips can be inserted into the chip handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a chip determination portion adapted for determining the kind of each chip inserted through the chip insertion port, a chip calculation portion adapted for calculating the number of the chips, for each kind, determined by the chip determination portion and total amount of money of the chips, and a chip storage portion configured for storing therein the chips determined by the chip determination portion; a banknote handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling banknotes, the banknote handling unit including a banknote disbursement port configured for releasing the banknotes such that they can be taken out to the exterior of the casing, a banknote storage portion configured for storing the banknotes therein, and a banknote disbursement portion adapted for disbursing necessary sheets of banknotes into the banknote disbursement port from the banknote storage portion; and a control unit adapted for controlling the chip handling unit and banknote handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the chips calculated by the chip calculation portion of the chip handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the chips are inserted through the chip insertion port of the chip handling unit.
• According to this automatic dealing machine, determination of each chip inserted through the chip insertion port of the chip handling unit can be automatically performed. Therefore, the time and labor required for determining each chip by hand can be eliminated. Besides, the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the determined chips can be automatically disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit.
• In the automatic dealing machine of this invention, it is preferred that the chip determination portion is configured to take an image of a surface of each chip and determine the chip, based on the taken image. In this case, it is preferred that the chip determination portion is configured to determine the chip, based on a color and/or design of the taken image. Alternatively, the chip determination portion may be configured to determine the chip, based on information about the interior of the chip, more specifically on an IC tag and/or a certain material provided in the chip.
• Preferably, the automatic dealing machine of this invention further comprises a coin handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling coins, the coin handling unit including a coin insertion port through which the coins can be inserted into the coin handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a coin discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the coins inserted through the coin insertion port, and a coin storage portion configured for storing therein the coins discriminated by the coin discrimination portion.
• In this case, it is preferred that the control unit is also configured to control the coin handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the coins in a result of discrimination by the coin discrimination portion of the coin handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the coins are inserted through the coin insertion port of the coin handling unit.
• Preferably, the automatic dealing machine of this invention further comprises a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion.
• In this case, the paper-sheets may include banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks, wherein the paper-sheet storage portion has at least one of a banknote storage part for storing the banknotes therein, a bar-code ticket storage part for storing the bar-code tickets therein and a check storage part for storing the checks therein, and wherein, in the case in which the paper-sheets are discriminated as banknotes by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, such banknotes are stored in the banknote storage part, or in the case in which the paper-sheets are discriminated as bar-code tickets by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, such bar-code tickets are stored in the bar-code ticket storage part, or in the case in which the paper-sheets are discriminated as checks by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, such checks are stored in the check storage part.
• It is preferred that the paper-sheet discrimination portion is configured to obtain an image of each bar-code ticket when the paper-sheet discrimination portion discriminates the paper-sheets as bar-code tickets.
• It is preferred that the paper-sheet discrimination portion is configured to obtain an image of each check when the paper-sheet discrimination portion discriminates the paper-sheets as checks.
• It is preferred that the control unit is also configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the inserted banknotes in a result of discrimination by the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit, while different in the denomination, can be disbursed to the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the banknotes are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit.
• It is preferred that the automatic dealing machine of this invention further comprises a coin handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling coins, the coin handling unit including a coin insertion port through which the coins can be inserted into the coin handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a coin discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the coins inserted through the coin insertion port, and a coin storage portion configured for storing therein the coins discriminated by the coin discrimination portion; and a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, wherein the control unit is also configured to control the coin handling unit and paper-sheet handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the inserted coins in a result of discrimination by the coin discrimination portion of the coin handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the coins are inserted through the coin insertion port of the coin handling unit, and wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the inserted banknotes in a result of discrimination by the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit, while different in the denomination, can be disbursed to the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the banknotes are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit.
• In the automatic dealing machine of this invention, it is preferred that the control unit disburses coins, as the remaining amount of money left undisbursed upon the disbursement in accordance with a designation of a customer, or as an amount of money that cannot be disbursed with banknotes. It is preferred that the control unit drives a storage memory, which can be controlled by a customer, to store therein the remaining amount of money left undisbursed upon the disbursement in accordance with a designation of the customer or amount of money that cannot be disbursed with banknotes.
• The automatic dealing system according to the present invention includes an automatic dealing machine installed in a gaming facility and configured to be operated by a customer and a host machine communicatively connected with the automatic dealing machine, wherein the automatic dealing machine comprises: a casing configured for storing therein a plurality of handling units; a chip handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling chips, the chip handling unit including a chip insertion port through which the chips can be inserted into the chip handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a chip determination portion adapted for determining the kind of each chip inserted through the chip insertion port, a chip calculation portion adapted for calculating the number of the chips, for each kind, determined by the chip determination portion and total amount of money of the chips, and a chip storage portion configured for storing therein the chips determined by the chip determination portion; a banknote handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling banknotes, the banknote handling unit including a banknote disbursement port configured for releasing the banknotes such that they can be taken out to the exterior of the casing, a banknote storage portion configured for storing the banknotes therein, and a banknote disbursement portion adapted for disbursing necessary sheets of banknotes into the banknote disbursement port from the banknote storage portion; and a control unit adapted for controlling the chip handling unit and banknote handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the chips calculated by the chip calculation portion of the chip handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the chips are inserted through the chip insertion port of the chip handling unit.
• According to this automatic dealing system, determination of each chip inserted through the chip insertion port in the chip handling unit of the automatic dealing machine can be automatically performed. Therefore, the time and labor required for determining each chip by hand can be eliminated. Additionally, the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the determined chips can be automatically disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit of the automatic dealing machine.
• In the automatic dealing system of this invention, it is preferred that the host machine includes a host controller, wherein the host controller is communicatively connected with the automatic dealing machine.
• In the automatic dealing system of this invention, it is preferred that the automatic dealing machine further comprises a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets including banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit, such that the control unit drives the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit to read bar-code information of each bar-code ticket when the bar-code tickets are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit, performs a check over the read information by communicating with the host machine, and then drives the paper-sheet storage portion to store the bar-code tickets therein when the check is normally performed, as well as disburses the banknotes of an amount of money, based on the read information about the bar code, into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit.
• In the automatic dealing system of this invention, it is preferred that the automatic dealing machine further comprises a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets including banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit, such that the control unit drives the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit to read data of the checks when the checks are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit, performs a check over the read information by communicating with the host machine, and then drives the paper-sheet storage portion to store the checks therein when the check is normally performed, as well as disburses the banknotes of an amount of money, based on the read information about the data of the checks, into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit.
• In the automatic dealing system of this invention, it is preferred that the automatic dealing machine further comprises an operation portion which can be controlled by a customer, wherein when a command for disbursing money on deposit is given by the customer via the operation portion and then the control unit receives the command for disbursing the money on deposit from the host machine by communicating with the host machine, the control unit of the automatic dealing machine disburses the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the command, into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit.
• In the automatic dealing system of this invention, it is preferred that the automatic dealing machine further comprises a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets including banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit, such that the control unit drives the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit to discriminate the banknotes inserted into the casing, when the banknotes are inserted through the banknote insertion port of the banknote handling unit, and then transmits information about an amount of deposited money of such discriminated banknotes to the host machine.
• In the automatic dealing system of this invention, it is preferred that the automatic dealing machine further comprises a coin handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling coins, the coin handling unit including a coin insertion port through which the coins can be inserted into the coin handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a coin discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the coins inserted through the coin insertion port, and a coin storage portion configured for storing therein the coins discriminated by the coin discrimination portion, wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the coin handling unit, such that the control unit drives the coin discrimination portion of the coin handling unit to discriminate the coins inserted into the casing, when the coins are inserted through the coin insertion port of the coin handling unit, and then transmits information about an amount of deposited money of such discriminated coins to the host machine.
• In the automatic dealing system of this invention, it is preferred that the automatic dealing machine further comprises: a coin handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling coins, the coin handling unit including a coin insertion port through which the coins can be inserted into the coin handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a coin discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the coins inserted through the coin insertion port, and a coin storage portion configured for storing therein the coins discriminated by the coin discrimination portion; and a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the coin handling unit and paper-sheet handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the coins in a result of discrimination by the coin discrimination portion of the coin handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the coins are inserted through the coin insertion port of the coin handling unit, and wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the inserted banknotes in a result of discrimination by the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit, while different in the denomination, can be disbursed to the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the banknotes are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing external appearance of the automatic dealing machine in one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing schematic construction of the automatic dealing machine shown inFIG. 1, in which construction of each handling unit stored in the casing is illustrated.
• FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the automatic dealing system provided with the automatic dealing machine shown inFIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 is a plan view showing details of construction of the chip determination portion of the automatic dealing machine illustrated inFIG. 2.
• FIG. 5 is a side view of the chip determination portion shown inFIG. 4.
• FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing schematic construction of another automatic dealing machine according to the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing schematic construction of still another automatic dealing machine according to the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing schematic construction of yet still another automatic dealing machine according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.FIGS. 1 through 5 are diagrams respectively showing the automatic dealing machine related to one embodiment of this invention. Of these drawings,FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing external appearance of the automatic dealing machine in this embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing schematic construction of the automatic dealing machine shown inFIG. 1, in which construction of each handling unit stored in the casing is illustrated, andFIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the automatic dealing system provided with the automatic dealing machine shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 4 is a plan view showing details of construction of the chip determination portion of the automatic dealing machine illustrated inFIG. 2, andFIG. 5 is a side view of the chip determination portion shown inFIG. 4. Generally, the automatic dealing machine according to this embodiment is installed in a gaming facility and is provided to be operated by a customer for himself or herself.
• As shown inFIG. 1, anautomatic dealing machine10 according to this embodiment includes acasing12 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In thecasing12, a paper-sheet handling unit20, acoin handling unit30, achip handling unit40 and abanknote handling unit50 are stored, respectively. It is noted that the detailed construction of eachunit20,30,40,50 will be detailed later. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, theautomatic dealing machine10 further includes acontrol unit60. Thecontrol unit60 is configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit20,coin handling unit30,chip handling unit40 andbanknote handling unit50, respectively. With thiscontrol unit60, cashing of bar-code tickets, obtainment of an image of each bar-code ticket, cashing of checks, obtainment of an image of each check, cashing of chips, exchange of cash, deposit and disbursement of money relative to a bank can be performed, respectively. Such handling will be detailed later.
• The paper-sheet handling unit20 is configured to perform insertion of the paper sheets, such as the banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks, into thecasing12. The paper-sheet handling unit20 includes abanknote insertion port22, through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit20 from the exterior of thecasing12, a paper-sheet transportation portion23 adapted for transporting the paper-sheets, one by one, after they are put in the paper-sheet insertion port22 and then fed into the paper-sheet handling unit20 through the paper-sheet insertion port22, and a paper-sheet discrimination portion24 provided in the paper-sheet transportation portion23 and adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets transported by the paper-sheet transportation portion23. In addition, a paper-sheet storage portion26 is provided in the paper-sheet handling unit20, such that the paper-sheets will be fed into this paper-sheet storage portion26 after they are transported by the paper-sheet transportation portion23 and then discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24.
• The paper-sheet insertion port22 is provided in afront face12aof thecasing12 of theautomatic dealing machine10, such that a customer can insert one or more paper-sheets, by hand, into the paper-sheet insertion port22. In the paper-sheet insertion port22, a paper-sheet feed-out mechanism (not shown) is provided for feeding out the paper-sheets to the paper-sheet transportation portion23, one by one, after they are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port22. For instance, this paper-sheet feed-out mechanism is composed of several rollers. The paper-sheet transportation portion23 is configured to transport the paper-sheets, one by one, after they are fed out by the paper-sheet feed-out mechanism provided in the paper-sheet insertion port22. During this transportation, the paper-sheets can be discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24. Namely, the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 is configured to discriminate each paper-sheet. More specifically, in the case in which the discriminated paper-sheets are banknotes, the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 discriminate the denomination, fitness, authenticity and the like of each banknote. Meanwhile, in the case in which the discriminated paper-sheets are bar-code tickets, the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 reads bar-code information (e.g., an eighteen-digit number) of each bar-code ticket while obtaining an image of the bar-code ticket. Otherwise, in the case in which the discriminated paper-sheets are checks, the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 reads data of each check while obtaining an image of the check.
• Discrimination information on each paper-sheet obtained by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 will be sent to thecontrol unit60 which will be described later. More specifically, information on the number of sheets of one or more the banknotes, for each denomination, discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/or total amount of money, bar-code information and images of the bar-code tickets obtained by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24, and data and images of the checks obtained by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 will be sent to thecontrol unit60 from the paper-sheet discrimination portion24, respectively.
• As shown inFIG. 2, the paper-sheet storage portion26 is composed of a plurality of (e.g., three) paper-sheet storage parts26a,26b,26c,acheck storage part26d,and a bar-codeticket storage part26e. When the paper-sheets are discriminated as banknotes by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24, such paper-sheets will be stored in the paper-sheet storage parts26a,26b,26c,for each denomination. Meanwhile, when the paper-sheets are discriminated as checks by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24, such checks will be stored in thecheck storage part26d. Otherwise, when the paper-sheets are discriminated as bar-code tickets by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24, such bar-code tickets will be stored in the bar-codeticket storage part26e.
• Thecoin handling unit30 is configured to perform insertion of the coins into thecasing12. Thecoin handling unit30 includes acoin insertion port32, through which the coins can be inserted into thecoin handling unit30 from the exterior of thecasing12, acoin transportation portion33 adapted for transporting the coins, one by one, after they are put in thecoin insertion port32 and then fed into thecoin handling unit30 through thecoin insertion port32, and acoin discrimination portion34 provided in thecoin transportation portion33 and adapted for discriminating the coins transported by thecoin transportation portion33. In addition, acoin storage portion36 is provided in thecoin handling unit30, such that the coins will be fed into thiscoin storage portion36 after they are transported by thecoin transportation portion33 and then discriminated by thecoin discrimination portion34.
• Thecoin insertion port32 is provided in thefront face12aof thecasing12 of theautomatic dealing machine10, such that a customer can put one or more coins, by hand, in thecoin insertion port32. In thecoin insertion port32, a coin feed-out mechanism (not shown) is provided for feeding out the coins to thecoin transportation portion33, one by one, after they are inserted through thecoin insertion port32. Thecoin transportation portion33 is configured to transport the coins, one by one, after they are fed out by the coin feed-out mechanism provided in thecoin insertion port32. During this transportation, the coins can be discriminated by thecoin discrimination portion34. Namely, thecoin discrimination portion34 is configured to discriminate the denomination, fitness, authenticity and the like of each coin.
• Discrimination information on each coin obtained by thecoin discrimination portion34 will be sent to thecontrol unit60 which will be described later. More specifically, information on the number of one or more coins, for each denomination, discriminated by thecoin discrimination portion34 and/or total amount of money will be sent to thecontrol unit60 from thecoin discrimination portion34, respectively.
• Thechip handling unit40 is configured to perform insertion of the chips into thecasing12. Thechip handling unit40 includes achip insertion port42, through which the chips can be inserted into thechip handling unit40 from the exterior of thecasing12, achip transportation portion43 adapted for transporting the chips, one by one, after they are put in thechip insertion port42 and then fed into thechip handling unit40 through thechip insertion port42, and achip determination portion44 provided in thechip transportation portion43 and adapted for determining the kind of each chip transported by thechip transportation portion43. As shown inFIG. 3, achip calculation portion45, adapted for calculating the number of the chips, for each kind, determined by thechip determination portion44 and total amount of money, is connected with thechip determination portion44. In addition, achip storage portion46 is provided in thechip handling unit40, such that the chips will be fed into thechip storage portion46 after they are transported by thechip transportation portion43 and determined in regard to the kind thereof by thechip determination portion44.
• Thechip insertion port42 is provided in thefront face12aof thecasing12 of theautomatic dealing machine10, such that a customer can put one or more chips, by hand, in thechip insertion port42. In thechip insertion port42, a chip feed-out mechanism (not shown) is provided for feeding out the chips to thechip transportation portion43, one by one, after they are inserted through thechip insertion port42. Thechip transportation portion43 is configured to transport the chips, one by one, after they are fed out by the chip feed-out mechanism provided in thechip insertion port42. During this transportation, the chips can be determined by thechip determination portion44.
• Next, the construction of thechip determination portion44 will be detailed with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5.FIG. 4 is a plan view showing details of the construction of thechip determination portion44, andFIG. 5 is a side view of thechip determination portion44 shown inFIG. 4.
• As shown inFIG. 4, in thechip determination portion44, a chip C is transported by atransportation belt43a,in a direction expressed by an arrow depicted inFIG. 4, along a pair ofguide rails43c,43d,while being pressed against a surface of achip passage43b. In a middle portion of thechip passage43b,atranslucent passage part43e,formed from a translucent material consisting of glass, an acryl resin or the like that is optically transparent, is provided.
• As shown inFIG. 5, alight irradiation part44ais provided below thetranslucent passage part43e,such that thisirradiation part44acan irradiate a surface of the chip C passing over thetranslucent passage part43e,with light, from below, via thetranslucent passage part43e. In addition, animage detection part44bis provided below thelight irradiation part44a,such that thisdetection part44bcan detect image data of the chip C by receiving light that is emitted from thelight irradiation part44aand then reflected by the chip C.
• Thelight irradiation part44a,as shown inFIG. 4, includes a plurality of (e.g., twenty four)emission elements44c,such as LEDs, arranged at an equal interval on an imaginary circle depicted about a central portion of thetranslucent passage part43e. Eachemission element44cis located and oriented, such that it faces a predetermined point on the central axis of the circle depicted about the central portion of thetranslucent passage part43e,with its optical axis defining a relatively small angle to the horizontal direction. Thus, eachemission element44cis adapted for emitting light in a relatively small angle to the surface (bottom face) of the chip C passing over thetranslucent passage part43e. Namely, thelight irradiation part44ais circularly arranged to surround the entire circumference of the chip C passing over thetranslucent passage part43e,in order to irradiate the surface (bottom face) of the chip C, with light, from below, while the chip C passes over thetranslucent passage part43e. The central axis of such a circularlight irradiation part44ais set to be parallel or coincident with the central axis of the chip C located over thetranslucent passage part43e.
• Theimage detection part44bincludes alens system part44dlocated such that an optical axis of thispart44dis coincident with the central axis of the circularlight irradiation part44aprovided around the central portion of thetranslucent passage part43e. Anarea sensor44eis provided under thelens system part44d,wherein a focus of thisarea sensor44eis set at a top face of thetranslucent passage part43e. In thearea sensor44e,a plurality of light-receiving elements, such as CCDs, are arranged in a plane, wherein each light-receiving element is adapted for photoelectrically detecting the light that is emitted from thelight irradiation part44aand then reflected by the surface (bottom face) of the chip C. Thechip determination portion44 further includes an A/D converter (not shown) adapted for converting the image data of the chip C optically detected by thearea sensor44einto a digital signal so as to produce digitized image data of the chip C.
• In thechip determination portion44 as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, when the chip C reaches thetranslucent passage part43eafter transported by thetransportation belt43aof thechip transportation portion43, the light emitted from eachemission element44cof thelight irradiation part44ais reflected by the surface (bottom face) of the chip C. The reflected light is then received by each light receiving element of thearea sensor44eof theimage detection part44bthrough thelens system part44d. Thereafter, the image data of the chip C optically detected by thearea sensor44eof theimage detection part44bis converted into the digital signal. In this way, the digitized image data of the chip C can be produced.
• Thus, thechip determination portion44 determines the kind of each chip C, based on a color (or colors) and/or design of the chip C that can be viewed in the image data produced as described above.
• Thereafter, information about the kind of each chip determined by thechip determination portion44 is sent to thechip calculation portion45. Thechip calculation portion45 calculates the number of the chips, for each kind, and/or total amount of money, based on the information about the kind of each chip sent from thechip determination portion44. Then, information figured out by thechip calculation portion45 is sent to thecontrol unit60 which will be described later.
• Thebanknote handling unit50 is configured to perform disbursement of the banknotes stored in thecasing12. Thebanknote handling unit50 includes abanknote disbursement port52 configured for releasing the banknotes such that they can be taken out to the exterior of thecasing12, abanknote storage portion56 provided in thecasing12 and configured for storing the banknotes therein, and abanknote transportation portion54 adapted for transporting the banknotes stored in thebanknote storage portion56 to thebanknote disbursement port52. In this case, thebanknote transportation portion54 constitutes a banknote disbursement portion adapted for disbursing necessary sheets of banknotes into thebanknote disbursement port52 from thebanknote storage portion56. Thisbanknote storage portion56 includes a plurality of (e.g., three)banknote storage parts56a,56b,56c,each configured for storing therein the banknotes for each denomination.
• Thebanknote disbursement port52 is provided in thefront face12aof thecasing12 of theautomatic dealing machine10, such that a customer can take out the banknotes, by hand, after the banknotes are sent to thisbanknote disbursement port52 from thebanknote transportation portion54. When a disbursement command is given to thebanknote storage portion56 from thecontrol unit60 which will be described later, necessary sheets of banknotes will be fed to thebanknote transportation portion54, one by one, from thebanknote storage parts56a,56b,56c,respectively, and then the banknotes fed to thebanknote transportation portion54 will be transported into thebanknote disbursement port52.
• As shown inFIG. 1, a display andoperation portion62 is provided in thefront face12aof thecasing12 of theautomatic dealing machine10. For example, the display andoperation portion62 is composed of a touch panel, and is adapted for displaying contents of handling performed by eachhandling unit20,30,40,50, during a normal operation, while adapted for displaying a total amount of money of the media, such as the banknotes or the like, stored in eachstorage portion26,36,46,56 in eachhandling unit20,30,40,50, during maintenance. With proper operation of this display andoperation portion62, the customer can give various commands to thecontrol unit60 of theautomatic dealing machine10.
• As shown inFIG. 3, thecontrol unit60 is provided in theautomatic dealing machine10, wherein thecontrol unit60 is adapted for controlling each component of eachhandling unit20,30,40,50. Additionally, thecontrol unit60 is configured to receive discrimination information sent from thebanknote discrimination portion24 andcoin discrimination portion34 as well as receive each calculation result sent from thechip calculation portion45.
• As shown inFIG. 3, anautomatic dealing system70 is composed of theautomatic dealing machine10 as shown inFIG. 1 and a host machine communicatively connected with theautomatic dealing machine10. For instance, the host machine in theautomatic dealing system70 includes acasino host controller72, abank host controller74 and the like. Additionally, acommunication portion64 composed of an interface is provided to thecontrol unit60, wherein thiscommunication portion64 serves to transmit and receive each signal relative to thecasino host controller72 orbank host controller74. Generally, thecasino host controller72 is installed in a control room of a casino. In thecasino host controller72, information about the bar-code tickets used in the casino as well as information about the amount of money corresponding to each bar-code ticket can be stored. Thebank host controller74 is generally installed in a control room of a bank. In thebank host controller74, information about a deposit in a bank of each customer, information about checks as well as information about the amount of money corresponding to each check can be stored.
• Next, operations of theautomatic dealing machine10 andautomatic dealing system70 including theautomatic dealing machine10, respectively constructed as described above, will be discussed. Each operation of theautomatic dealing machine10, which will be described below, is performed, while the components of eachhandling unit20,30,40,50 are respectively controlled by thecontrol unit60.
<Cashing of the Bar-Code Tickets>
• First of all, an operation related to the cashing of the bar-code tickets will be described.
• When a customer puts one or more bar-code tickets in the paper-sheet insertion port22 of the paper-sheet handling unit20, the bar-code tickets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port22 will be fed out to the paper-sheet transportation portion23, one by one, and then transported by the paper-sheet transportation portion23, one by one. Thereafter, each transported bar-code ticket will be discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24. Specifically, the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 detects each paper-sheet transported into this paper-sheet discrimination portion24 as bar-code ticket, and then reads the bar-code information attached to the bar-code ticket. Thereafter, this bar-code information will be sent to thecontrol unit60 from the paper-sheet discrimination portion24.
• Then, thecontrol unit60 performs a check over the read information about the bar code by communicating with thecasino host controller72. As a result, when the bar-code information of the bar-code ticket read by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 can be correctly verified by the information about the bar-code ticket stored in thecasino host controller72, information about the amount of money corresponding to the checked bar-code ticket will be transmitted to thecontrol unit60 from thecasino host controller72. Thereafter, the paper-sheet transportation portion23 transports the bar-code ticket to the bar-codeticket storage part26e,so as to allow this bar-code ticket to be stored in the bar-codeticket storage part26e. At the same time, thecontrol unit60 drives thebanknote handling unit50 to disburse the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the information about the bar-code ticket transmitted from thecasino host controller72, into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. In this way, the banknotes equivalent to the bar-code ticket (or tickets) inserted into the paper-sheet insertion port22 will be disbursed from thebanknote disbursement port52, thus completing the cashing of the bar-code ticket (or tickets) in theautomatic dealing machine10.
• On the other hand, when the bar-code information about the bar-code ticket read by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 is not verified by the information about the bar-code tickets stored in thecasino host controller72, upon the check, by thecontrol unit60, over the read information about the bar-code, by communicating with thecasino host controller72, such a bar-code ticket will be sent to a reject portion (not shown) provided in the paper-sheet handling unit20, and returned to the customer.
<Obtainment of the Image of the Bar-Code Ticket>
• Next, an operation related to the obtainment of the image of each bar-code ticket will be described.
• In the operation related to the cashing of the bar-code ticket as described above, when the bar-code information about the bar-code ticket is read by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24, the image of the bar-code ticket is also obtained by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24. This information about the image of the bar-code ticket obtained by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 is then sent to and stored in thecontrol unit60. Thereafter, the information about the image of the bar-code ticket stored in thecontrol unit60 will be transmitted to thecasino host controller72 via thecommunication portion64. In this manner, the obtainment of the image of each bar-code ticket in theautomatic dealing machine10 is completed.
<Cashing of the Checks>
• Next, an operation related to the cashing of the checks will be described.
• When a customer puts one or more checks in the paper-sheet insertion port22 of the paper-sheet handling unit20, the checks inserted into the paper-sheet insertion port22 will be fed out to the paper-sheet transportation portion23, one by one, and then transported by the paper-sheet transportation portion23, one by one. Thereafter, the so-transported checks will be discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24. Specifically, the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 detects each paper-sheet transported into this paper-sheet discrimination portion24 as check, and then reads the data on this check. Thereafter, the data of this check will be sent to thecontrol unit60 from the paper-sheet discrimination portion24.
• Then, thecontrol unit60 performs a check over the read data of the check by communicating with thebank host controller74, and receives a result of the check from thebank host controller74. As a result, when the data on the check read by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 can be correctly verified by the information about the check stored in thebank host controller74, the paper-sheet transportation portion23 transports this check to thecheck storage part26d,so as to allow the check to be stored in thecheck storage part26d. At the same time, thecontrol unit60 drives thebanknote handling unit50 to disburse the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the information about the check transmitted from thebank host controller74, into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. In this way, the banknote equivalent to the check (or checks) inserted into the paper-sheet insertion port22 will be disbursed from thebanknote disbursement port52, thus completing the cashing of the check or checks in theautomatic dealing machine10.
• On the other hand, when the data of the check read by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 is not verified by the information about the check stored in thebank host controller74, upon the check, by thecontrol unit60, over the read information about the data of the check, by communicating with thebank host controller74, such a check will be sent to the reject portion (not shown) provided in the paper-sheet handling unit20, and returned to the customer.
<Obtainment of the Image of Each Check>
• Next, an operation related to the obtainment of the image of each check will be described.
• In the operation related to the cashing of the check as described above, when the data of the check is read by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24, the image of the check is also obtained by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24. This information about the image of the check obtained by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 is then sent to and stored in thecontrol unit60. Thereafter, the information about the image of the check stored in thecontrol unit60 will be transmitted to thebank host controller74 via thecommunication portion64. In this manner, the obtainment of the image of each check in theautomatic dealing machine10 is completed.
<Cashing of the Chips>
• Next, an operation related to the cashing of the chips will be described.
• When a customer puts one or more chips in thechip insertion port42 of thechip handling unit40, the chips inserted into thechip insertion port42 will be fed to thechip transportation portion43, one by one, and then transported by thechip transportation portion43, one by one. Thereafter, the kind of each transported chip will be determined by thechip determination portion44. Subsequently, information about the determination of the chip obtained by thechip determination portion44 will be sent to thechip calculation portion45, and then the number of the chips, for each kind, and total amount of money will be calculated by thechip calculation portion45. In this way, information of calculation by thechip calculation portion45 is sent to thecontrol unit60.
• Each chip which can be determined by thechip determination portion44 is then transported to and stored in thechip storage portion46 due to thechip transportation portion43. At the same time, thecontrol unit60 drives thebanknote handling unit50 to disburse the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the one or more chips calculated by thechip calculation portion45, into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. As used herein, “the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the chips” means the banknotes of the same amount of money as the total amount of money of the chips, or otherwise means the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to an amount of money that is the maximum within a range smaller than the total amount of money of the chips in the case in which the total amount of money of such banknotes is not completely coincident with the total amount of money of the chips. In this way, the banknotes equivalent to the chip (or chips) inserted into thechip insertion port42 will be disbursed from thebanknote disbursement port52, thus completing the cashing of the chip or chips in theautomatic dealing machine10.
• On the other hand, each chip which cannot be determined by thechip determination portion44 will be sent to a reject portion (not shown) provided in thechip handling unit40, and returned to the customer.
<Exchange>
• Next, an operation related to the exchange of the banknotes and coins will be described.
• When a customer puts the banknotes in the paper-sheet insertion port22 of the paper-sheet handling unit20 and/or puts the coins in thecoin insertion port32 of thecoin handling unit30, such banknotes and/or coins will be discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34. Specifically, the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34 discriminates the banknotes and/or coins inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port22 and/orcoin insertion port32, about the denomination, authenticity, fitness and the like thereof. Then, information about a result of the discrimination for the banknotes and/or coins by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34 will be sent to thecontrol unit60.
• Each banknote and/or coin discriminated as a normal one by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34 will be sent to eachbanknote storage part26a,26b,26cof the paper-sheet storage portion26 and/orcoin storage portion36. On the other hand, each banknote and/or coin which cannot be discriminated and each banknote and/or coin which is discriminated as an abnormal one, by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34, will be sent to each reject portion (not shown) provided in the paper-sheet handling unit20 and/orcoin handling unit30, and returned to the customer.
• Thereafter, thecontrol unit60 drives thebanknote handling unit50 to disburse the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to total amount of money of the banknotes and/or coins in the result of discrimination by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34, into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. In the operation related to the exchange as described above, when the customer puts the banknotes in the paper-sheet insertion port22, the banknotes different in the denomination from those inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port22 will be disbursed from thebanknote disbursement port52. In this manner, the exchange of the banknotes and/or coins in theautomatic dealing machine10 is completed.
<Disbursement of Money on Deposit>
• Next, an operation related to disbursement of money on deposit will be described.
• When a customer gives a command for the disbursement of money on deposit to thecontrol unit60 via the display andoperation portion62, thecommunication portion64 connected with thecontrol unit60 will communicate with thebank host controller74. Specifically, when the customer designates customer information and amount of money of disbursement via the display andoperation portion62, deposit data of the customer stored in thebank host controller74 can be referred to via thecommunication portion64, so that whether or not the amount of money on deposit of the customer in the deposit data is greater than the amount of money of disbursement designated via the display andoperation portion62 can be determined.
• As a result, in the case in which the amount of money on deposit of the customer in the deposit data is greater than the amount of money of disbursement designated via the display andoperation portion62, thecontrol unit60 drives thebanknote handling unit50 to disburse the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the amount of money of disbursement designated via the display andoperation portion62, into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. At the same time, in thebank host controller74, the amount of money of disbursement is subtracted from the amount of money on deposit in the customer's deposit data.
• On the other hand, in the case in which the amount of money on deposit in the customer's deposit data is smaller than the amount of money of disbursement designated via the display andoperation portion62, shortage of the amount of money on deposit of the customer is displayed on the display andoperation portion62, and the disbursement of banknotes from thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50 will not be performed. In this manner, the disbursement of money on deposit via theautomatic dealing machine10 is completed.
<Deposit of Money>
• Next, an operation related to a deposit of money will be described.
• When a customer gives a command for depositing money to thecontrol unit60 and puts the banknotes in the paper-sheet insertion port22 of the paper-sheet handling unit20 and/or puts the coins in thecoin insertion port32 of thecoin handling unit30, such banknotes and/or coins will be discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34. Specifically, the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34 discriminates the banknotes and/or coins inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port22 and/orcoin insertion port32, about the denomination, authenticity, fitness and the like thereof. Thereafter, information about a result of the discrimination for the banknotes and/or coins by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34 will be sent to thecontrol unit60.
• Each banknote and/or coin discriminated as a normal one by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34 will be sent to eachbanknote storage part26a,26b,26cof the paper-sheet storage portion26 and/orcoin storage portion36. On the other hand, each banknote and/or coin which cannot be discriminated and each banknote and/or coin which is discriminated as an abnormal one, by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34, will be sent to each reject portion (not shown) provided in the paper-sheet handling unit20 and/orcoin handling unit30, and returned to the customer.
• Thereafter, thecommunication portion64 connected with thecontrol unit60 will communicate with thebank host controller74. Specifically, thecontrol unit60 sends customer information as well as information concerning the amount of money that is deposited, i.e., the total amount of money of the banknotes and/or coins in the discrimination result by the paper-sheet discrimination portion24 and/orcoin discrimination portion34, to thebank host controller74. Then, in thebank host controller74, the amount of money that is deposited is added to the amount of money on deposit in the customer's deposit data. In this manner, the deposit of money via theautomatic dealing machine10 is completed.
• It should be appreciated that in the operation related to the deposit of money, in addition to the banknotes and/or coins as described above, information concerning the amount of money that is deposited, i.e., the total amount of money of chips, bar-code tickets and/or checks sent to the paper-sheet storage portion26 and/orchip storage portion46 from the exterior of thecasing12 may also be sent to thebank host controller74 from thecontrol unit60. Then, in thebank host controller74, the amount of money that is deposited, as chips, bar-code tickets and/or checks, may be added to the amount of money on deposit in the customer's deposit data.
• As described above, according to theautomatic dealing machine10 andautomatic dealing system70 provided with theautomatic dealing machine10 of this embodiment, thechip handling unit40 located in thecasing12 and adapted for handling the chips includes thechip insertion port42 through which the chips can be inserted into thechip handling unit40 from the exterior of thecasing12,chip determination portion44 adapted for determining the kind of each chip inserted into thechip insertion port42 andchip calculation portion45 adapted for calculating the number of the chips, for each kind, determined by thechip determination portion44 and total amount of money. Thus, when one or more chips are inserted through thechip insertion port42 of thechip handling unit40, the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the one or more chips calculated by thechip calculation portion45 of thechip handling unit40 will be disbursed into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. In this manner, determination of each chip inserted through thechip insertion port42 can be automatically performed in thechip handling unit40. Therefore, the time and labor required for determining each chip by hand can be eliminated, as well as the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the determined chips can be automatically disbursed into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50.
• Additionally, according to theautomatic dealing machine10 andautomatic dealing system70 provided with theautomatic dealing machine10 of this embodiment, all or part of handling, such as the exchange and/or cashing of the cash, such as the banknotes and coins, bar-code tickets, checks, chips and the like, obtainment of the image of each bar-code ticket and/or check, or deposit of money and/or disbursement of money on deposit, can be performed by a single automatic dealing machine.
• It is noted that theautomatic dealing machine10 andautomatic dealing system70 according to the present invention are not limited to the aspects described above, and various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
• For instance, thechip determination portion44 adapted for determining the kind of each chip is not limited to the construction as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. As an alternative of this chip determination portion, any suitable means adapted for determining each chip, based on information about the interior of the chip, e.g., an IC tag and/or certain chip material provided or incorporated in the chip, can be used.
• In theautomatic dealing machine10, a coin disbursement handling unit adapted for disbursing coins stored in thecasing12 may be additionally provided. In this case, upon the cashing of the bar-code tickets, cashing of the checks, cashing of the chips, exchange of the cash and disbursement of money on deposit as described above, the coins may be disbursed from a coin disbursement port of the coin disbursement handling unit, rather than disbursing the banknotes from thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. Alternatively, the coins may be disbursed from the coin disbursement port of the coin disbursement handling unit, while the banknotes are disbursed from thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. More specifically, thecontrol unit60 may disburse coins from the coin disbursement port of the coin disbursement handling unit, as the remaining amount of money left undisbursed upon disbursement in accordance with a designation of a customer, or as an amount of money that cannot be disbursed with the banknotes.
• Alternatively, in theautomatic dealing machine10, a chip disbursement handling unit adapted for disbursing the chips stored in thecasing12 to the exterior thereof may be additionally provided. In this case, when a customer puts the banknotes and/or coins in the paper-sheet insertion port22 and/orcoin insertion port32, the chips equivalent to such inserted banknotes and/or coins can be disbursed from a chip disbursement port provided in the chip disbursement handling unit.
• Alternatively, in theautomatic dealing machine10, a bar-code ticket disbursement handling unit adapted for disbursing the bar-code tickets to the exterior of thecasing12 may be additionally provided. For instance, this bar-code ticket disbursement handling unit has a printer, such that the bar-code tickets can be respectively printed by the printer each time the bar-code tickets are disbursed to the exterior of thecasing12. In this case, when a customer puts the banknotes and/or coins in the paper-sheet insertion port22 and/orcoin insertion port32, the bar-code tickets equivalent to such inserted banknotes and/or coins can be disbursed from a bar-code ticket disbursement port provided in the bar-code ticket disbursement unit.
• Rather than providing the paper-sheet handling unit20 andbanknote handling unit50 in theautomatic dealing machine10, a recycling-type banknote handling unit adapted for recycling the banknotes may be provided in theautomatic dealing machine10. This recycling-type banknote handling unit is configured to store therein the banknotes fed into the recycling-type banknote handling unit from the exterior of thecasing12 of theautomatic dealing machine10 as well as configured to disburse the banknotes inserted from the exterior of thecasing12 and stored in this unit to the exterior of thecasing12. Also by using such a recycling-type banknote handling unit, the handling, such as cashing of the bar-code tickets, obtainment of the image of each bar-code ticket, cashing of the checks, obtainment of the image of each check, cashing of the chips, exchange of the cash, deposit of money and/or disbursement of money on deposit as described above, can be performed.
• The control unit may use a storage medium, such as a hard disk, CD-ROM or the like, which can be controlled by a customer, in order to store therein the remaining amount of money upon the disbursement in accordance with the designation of a customer or amount of money that cannot be disbursed with banknotes.
• The automatic dealing machine according to the present invention is not limited to an aspect that includes the paper-sheet handling unit20,coin handling unit30,chip handling unit40 andbanknote handling unit50.FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing schematic construction of another automatic dealing machine according to the present invention. As shown inFIG. 6, anotherautomatic dealing machine10aof this invention may include only thechip handling unit40 andbanknote handling unit50. Also in the case of such anautomatic dealing machine10aas shown inFIG. 6, as with theautomatic dealing machine10 as shown inFIG. 2, when one or more chips are inserted through thechip insertion port42 of thechip handling unit40, the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the one or more chips calculated by thechip calculation portion45 of thechip handling unit40 will be disbursed into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50. In this manner, also in the case of theautomatic dealing machine10aas shown inFIG. 6, the determination of the chips inserted through thechip insertion port42 can be automatically performed. Therefore, the time and labor required for the determination of the chips by hand can be eliminated. Besides, the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the determined chips can be automatically disbursed into thebanknote disbursement port52 of thebanknote handling unit50.
• Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 7, still anotherautomatic dealing machine10baccording to the present invention may have construction in which theautomatic dealing machine10aas shown inFIG. 6 further includes thecoin handling unit30. Namely, theautomatic dealing machine10bshown inFIG. 7 includes thecoin handling unit30,chip handling unit40 andbanknote handling unit50. With such anautomatic dealing machine10b,the exchange and/or deposit of money can be performed, in addition to the cashing of the chips.
• Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 8, a yet still anotherautomatic dealing machine10caccording to the present invention may have such construction that theautomatic dealing machine10aas shown inFIG. 6 further includes the paper-sheet handling unit20. Namely, theautomatic dealing machine10cshown inFIG. 8 includes the paper-sheet handling unit20,chip handling unit40 andbanknote handling unit50. With such anautomatic dealing machine10c,the cashing of the bar-code tickets, obtainment of the image of each bar-code ticket, cashing of the checks, obtainment of the image of each check, and exchange and/or deposit of money can be performed, in addition to the cashing of the chips.

Claims (22)

1. An automatic dealing machine installed in a gaming facility and configured to be operated by a customer, the automatic dealing machine comprising:

a casing configured for storing therein a plurality of handling units;

a chip handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling chips, the chip handling unit including a chip insertion port through which the chips can be inserted into the chip handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a chip determination portion adapted for determining the kind of each chip inserted through the chip insertion port, a chip calculation portion adapted for calculating the number of the chips, for each kind, determined by the chip determination portion and total amount of money of the chips, and a chip storage portion configured for storing therein the chips determined by the chip determination portion;

a banknote handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling banknotes, the banknote handling unit including a banknote disbursement port configured for releasing the banknotes such that they can be taken out to the exterior of the casing, a banknote storage portion configured for storing the banknotes therein, and a banknote disbursement portion adapted for disbursing necessary sheets of banknotes into the banknote disbursement port from the banknote storage portion; and

a control unit adapted for controlling the chip handling unit and banknote handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the chips calculated by the chip calculation portion of the chip handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the chips are inserted through the chip insertion port of the chip handling unit.

2. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 1, wherein the chip determination portion is configured to take an image of a surface of each chip and determine the chip, based on the taken image.

3. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 2, wherein the chip determination portion is configured to determine the chip, based on a color and/or design of the taken image.

4. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 1, wherein the chip determination portion is configured to determine the chip, based on information about the interior of the chip.

5. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 1, further comprising a coin handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling coins, the coin handling unit including a coin insertion port through which the coins can be inserted into the coin handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a coin discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the coins inserted through the coin insertion port, and a coin storage portion configured for storing therein the coins discriminated by the coin discrimination portion.

6. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 5, wherein the control unit is also configured to control the coin handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the coins in a result of discrimination by the coin discrimination portion of the coin handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the coins are inserted through the coin insertion port of the coin handling unit.

7. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 1, further comprising a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion.

8. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 7,

wherein the paper-sheets include banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks,

wherein the paper-sheet storage portion has at least one of a banknote storage part for storing the banknotes therein, a bar-code ticket storage part for storing the bar-code tickets therein and a check storage part for storing the checks therein, and

wherein, in the case in which the paper-sheets are discriminated as banknotes by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, such banknotes are stored in the banknote storage part, or in the case in which the paper-sheets are discriminated as bar-code tickets by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, such bar-code tickets are stored in the bar-code ticket storage part, or in the case in which the paper-sheets are discriminated as checks by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, such checks are stored in the check storage part.

9. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 7 or8, wherein the paper-sheet discrimination portion is configured to obtain an image of each bar-code ticket when the paper-sheet discrimination portion discriminates the paper-sheets as bar-code tickets.

10. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 7 or8, wherein the paper-sheet discrimination portion is configured to obtain an image of each check when the paper-sheet discrimination portion discriminates the paper-sheets as checks.

11. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 7 or8, wherein the control unit is also configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the inserted banknotes in a result of discrimination by the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit, while different in the denomination, can be disbursed to the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the banknotes are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit.

12. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 1, further comprising:

a coin handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling coins, the coin handling unit including a coin insertion port through which the coins can be inserted into the coin handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a coin discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the coins inserted through the coin insertion port, and a coin storage portion configured for storing therein the coins discriminated by the coin discrimination portion; and

a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion,

wherein the control unit is also configured to control the coin handling unit and paper-sheet handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the inserted coins in a result of discrimination by the coin discrimination portion of the coin handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the coins are inserted through the coin insertion port of the coin handling unit, and wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the inserted banknotes in a result of discrimination by the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit, while different in the denomination, can be disbursed to the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the banknotes are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit.

13. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit disburses coins, as the remaining amount of money left undisbursed upon the disbursement in accordance with a designation of a customer, or as an amount of money that cannot be disbursed with banknotes.

14. The automatic dealing machine according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit drives a storage memory, which can be controlled by a customer, to store therein the remaining amount of money upon the disbursement in accordance with a designation of the customer or amount of money that cannot be disbursed with banknotes.

15. An automatic dealing system including an automatic dealing machine installed in a gaming facility and configured to be operated by a customer and a host machine communicatively connected with the automatic dealing machine,

wherein the automatic dealing machine comprises:

a casing configured for storing therein a plurality of handling units;

a chip handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling chips, the chip handling unit including a chip insertion port through which the chips can be inserted into the chip handling unit from the exterior of the -casing, a chip determination portion adapted for determining the kind of each chip inserted through the chip insertion port, a chip calculation portion adapted for calculating the number of the chips, for each kind, determined by the chip determination portion and total amount of money of the chips, and a chip storage portion configured for storing therein the chips determined by the chip determination portion;

a banknote handling unit located in the casing and adapted for handling banknotes, the banknote handling unit including a banknote disbursement port configured for releasing the banknotes such that they can be taken out to the exterior of the casing, a banknote storage portion configured for storing the banknotes therein, and a banknote disbursement portion adapted for disbursing necessary sheets of banknotes into the banknote disbursement port from the banknote storage portion; and

a control unit adapted for controlling the chip handling unit and banknote handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the chips calculated by the chip calculation portion of the chip handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the chips are inserted through the chip insertion port of the chip handling unit.

16. The automatic dealing system according toclaim 15, wherein the host machine includes a host controller, and wherein the host controller is communicatively connected with the automatic dealing machine.

17. The automatic dealing system according toclaim 15,

wherein the automatic dealing machine further comprises a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets including banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, and

wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit, such that the control unit drives the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit to read bar-code information of each bar-code ticket when the bar-code tickets are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit, performs a check over the read information by communicating with the host machine, and then drives the paper-sheet storage portion to store the bar-code tickets therein when the check is normally performed, as well as disburses the banknotes of an amount of money, based on the read information about the bar code, into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit.

18. The automatic dealing system according toclaim 15,

wherein the automatic dealing machine further comprises a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets including banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, and

wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit, such that the control unit drives the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit to read data of the checks when the checks are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit, performs a check over the read information by communicating with the host machine, and then drives the paper-sheet storage portion to store the checks therein when the check is normally performed, as well as disburses the banknotes of an amount of money, based on the read information about the data of the checks, into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit.

19. The automatic dealing system according toclaim 15,

wherein the automatic dealing machine further comprises an operation portion which can be controlled by a customer, and

wherein when a command for disbursing money on deposit is given by the customer via the operation portion and then the control unit receives the command for disbursing the money on deposit from the host machine by communicating with the host machine, the control unit of the automatic dealing machine disburses the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the command, into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit.

20. The automatic dealing system according toclaim 15,

wherein the automatic dealing machine further comprises a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets including banknotes, bar-code tickets or checks, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion, and

wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the paper-sheet handling unit, such that the control unit drives the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit to discriminate the banknotes inserted into the casing, when the banknotes are inserted through the banknote insertion port of the banknote handling unit, and then transmits information about an amount of deposited money of such discriminated banknotes to the host machine.

21. The automatic dealing system according toclaim 15,

wherein the automatic dealing machine further comprises a coin handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling coins, the coin handling unit including a coin insertion port through which the coins can be inserted into the coin handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a coin discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the coins inserted through the coin insertion port, and a coin storage portion configured for storing therein the coins discriminated by the coin discrimination portion, and

wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the coin handling unit, such that the control unit drives the coin discrimination portion of the coin handling unit to discriminate the coins inserted into the casing, when the coins are inserted through the coin insertion port of the coin handling unit, and then transmits information about an amount of deposited money of such discriminated coins to the host machine.

22. The automatic dealing system according toclaim 15,

wherein the automatic dealing machine further comprises:

a coin handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling coins, the coin handling unit including a coin insertion port through which the coins can be inserted into the coin handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a coin discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the coins inserted through the coin insertion port, and a coin storage portion configured for storing therein the coins discriminated by the coin discrimination portion; and

a paper-sheet handling unit provided in the casing and adapted for handling paper-sheets, the paper-sheet handling unit including a paper-sheet insertion port through which the paper-sheets can be inserted into the paper-sheet handling unit from the exterior of the casing, a paper-sheet discrimination portion adapted for discriminating the paper-sheets inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port, and a paper-sheet storage portion configured for storing therein the paper-sheets discriminated by the paper-sheet discrimination portion,

wherein the control unit of the automatic dealing machine is also configured to control the coin handling unit and paper-sheet handling unit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of an amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the coins in a result of discrimination by the coin discrimination portion of the coin handling unit can be disbursed into the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the coins are inserted through the coin insertion port of the coin handling unit, and wherein the control unit performs control such that the banknotes of the amount of money corresponding to the total amount of money of the inserted banknotes in a result of discrimination by the paper-sheet discrimination portion of the paper-sheet handling unit, while different in the denomination, can be disbursed to the banknote disbursement port of the banknote handling unit, when the banknotes are inserted through the paper-sheet insertion port of the paper-sheet handling unit.

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