Coin handling mechanism for supplying coins to coin game machines and collecting coins therefrom and gaming facility having the same

• US 5,913,399 A
• Filed: 03/21/1997
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ace Denken
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ace Denken
• Inventors: Kadomatsu, Hideyuki, Manzaki, Yukio, Takemoto, Takatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): BARTUSKA, FRANCIS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/809,541
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 194/200, 194/202, 453/17, 453/32, 453/56, 453/57, 453/63, 221/21
• US Class Current: 194/200
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A gaming facility having a plurality of coin game machines (100) and a coin handling mechanism (200) for supplying coins to the coin game machines and collecting coins therefrom is disclosed. The coin handling mechanism comprises a coin collection transporter (210) for collecting coins input for playing games, a coin replenishment transporter (230) for transporting coins with which the coin game machines are replenished, a replenishment coin supply unit (240) for supplying coins to the coin replenishment transporter, coin branch units (250) for making coins transported by the coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the corresponding coin game machines, and a controller (300) for at least controlling coin replenishment. The controller comprises elements that cooperate to control a coin supply for dispensing coins to the coin replenishment transporter from the replenishment coin supply unit and elements that cooperate to control coin branching for making coins transported by the coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the corresponding coin game machines.

Claims

1. A coin handling mechanism being placed in a gaming house having at least one coin game machine group containing a plurality of coin game machines for supplying coins to the coin game machines belonging to the coin game machine group, said coin handling mechanism comprising:

a coin replenishment transporter for transporting coins with which the coin game machines belonging to the coin game machine group are replenished;

a replenishment coin supply unit for storing replenishment coins and supplying coins to said coin replenishment transporter;

coin branch units being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the coin game machines for making coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the corresponding coin game machines; and

a controller for at least controlling coin replenishment,

said controller comprising;

coin supply control means, upon acceptance of a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins, for dispensing coins to said coin replenishment transporter from said replenishment coin supply unit;

coin branch control means for accepting a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins and causing said coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine to make coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the coin game machine; and

duplicate replenishment process inhibition means for inhibiting a duplicate replenishment process of other coin game machines with coins, when said coin branch control means accepts a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins, until completion of replenishing the coin game machine with coins.

2. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coin supply control means performs control so as to dispense coins to said coin replenishment transporter from said replenishment coin supply unit until acceptance of a coin replenishment stop request.

3. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coin branch control means comprises coin replenishment stop process means for stopping the coin branch operation of the coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine making a replenishment request after expiration of at least the time equivalent to the time required until the last coin dispensed just before stopping of supply from said replenishment coin supply unit arrives at the coin branch unit and is made to branch by the coin branch unit after coin supply from said replenishment coin supply unit is stopped under the control of said coin supply control means.

4. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said duplicate replenishment process inhibition means releases inhibition of the duplicate replenishment process with coins after the coin branch operation of said coin branch unit is stopped.

5. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coin branch control means stops the coin branch operation of the coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine at a position most distant from said replenishment coin supply unit after expiration of at least the time equivalent to the time required until the last coin dispensed before stopping of supply from said replenishment coin supply unit arrives at the coin branch unit and is made to branch by the coin branch unit, after coin supply from said replenishment coin supply unit is stopped under the control of said coin supply control means.

6. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein said duplicate replenishment process inhibition means releases inhibition of the duplicate replenishment process with coins after the coin branch operation of the coin branch unit is stopped.

7. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 3 further including a transporter for transporting coins made to branch by the coin branch unit to an inside of the coin game machine.

8. A coin handling mechanism being placed in a gaming house having at least one coin game machine group containing a plurality of coin game machines for supplying coins to the coin game machine group and collecting coins therefrom, said coin handling mechanism comprising:

a coin replenishment transporter for transporting coins with which the coin game machines belonging to the coin game machine group are replenished;

a replenishment coin supply unit that comprises a coin holding vessel for storing replenishment coins therein and supplies coins stored in said coin holding vessel to said coin replenishment transporter;

a coin collection transporter for receiving coins from the coin game machines belonging to the coin game machine group, transporting and collecting the coins;

a coin lifter that receives the coins transported by said coin collection transporter and transports the coins while lifting up the coins to said coin holding vessel;

a controller for at least controlling coin replenishment;

a spare tank for storing coins not used for replenishment; and

a discharge direction switch for switching coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit into said coin replenishment transporter or said spare tank,

said controller comprising;

coin supply control means, upon acceptance of a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins, for dispensing coins to said coin replenishment transporter from said replenishment coin supply unit; and

switch control means, when sending coins to said spare tank, for controlling said discharge direction switch so as to send coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit into said spare tank and controlling operation of said replenishment coin supply unit so as to send coins to said spare tank.

9. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 8 further including coin branch units being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the coin game machines for making coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the corresponding coin game machines, wherein

said controller further includes coin branch control means for accepting a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins and causing said coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine to make coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the coin game machine.

10. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 8 further including:

a number-of-supplied-coins counter for counting the number of coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit; and

a number-of-collected-coins counter for counting the number of coins collected at said coin collection transporter,

said controller further including number-of-coins management means for managing the number of handled coins,

said number-of-coins management means comprising;

number-of-coins-in-spare-tank management means, when coins are sent to said spare tank by switching of said switch, for calculating the number of coins stored in said spare tank from a count just before the coins are sent and a count when the coins have been sent to said spare tank, in said number-of-supplied-coins counter and storing the calculated number of coins;

number-of-collected-coins management means for taking in a count of said number-of-collected-coins counter and storing the count as the number of collected coins; and

balance-number-of-collected-coins management means for subtracting the number of coins in said spare tank stored in said number-of-coins-in-spare-tank management means from the number of collected coins stored in said number-of-collected-coins management means for calculating the balance number of collected coins and storing the result.

11. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein said replenishment coin supply unit comprises a sensor for detecting excessive storage of coins, and wherein

said switch control means comprises means being started when said sensor for detecting excessive storage of coins detects excessive storage of coins for instructing said switch to send coins to said spare tank based on an excessive storage detection signal and when said sensor does not detect excessive storage of coins, for instructing said switch to send coins to said coin replenishment transporter, and means for instructing said replenishment coin supply unit to discharge coins until the excessive storage detection signal disappears when said sensor detects the excessive storage of coins.

12. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 11 further including:

a number-of-supplied-coins counter for counting the number of coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit; and

a number-of-collected-coins counter for counting the number of coins collected at said coin collection transporter,

said controller further including number-of-coins management means for managing the number of handled coins,

said number-of-coins management means further comprising;

number-of-coins-in-spare-tank management means, when coins are sent to said spare tank by switching of said switch, for calculating the number of coins stored in said spare tank from a count just before the coins are sent and a count when the coins have been sent to said spare tank, in said number-of-supplied-coins counter and storing the calculated number of coins;

number-of-collected-coins management means for taking in a count of said number-of-collected-coins counter and storing the count as the number of collected coins; and

balance-number-of-collected-coins management means for subtracting the number of coins in said spare tank stored in said number-of-coins-in-spare-tank management means from the number of collected coins stored in said number-of-collected-coins management means for calculating the balance number of collected coins and storing the result.

13. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 12 wherein said switch control means is also started when said controller receives a discharge command for discharging sales coins from outside, and is responsive to the command for instructing said switch to send coins to said spare tank and instructing said replenishment coin supply unit to discharge as many coins as the balance number of collected coins stored in said balance-number-of-collected-coins management means.

14. A coin handling mechanism being placed in a gaming house having at least one coin game machine group containing a plurality of coin game machines for supplying coins to the coin game machine group and collecting coins therefrom, said coin handling mechanism comprising:

a replenishment conveyor being placed along the coin game machine group for transporting coins;

a coin holding vessel for storing replenishment coins and discharging coins;

a supply hopper for receiving and temporarily storing the coins discharged from said coin holding vessel and supplying coins to said coin replenishment transporter;

coin branch units being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the coin game machines and placed along said replenishment conveyor;

a collection conveyor for transporting coins received from the coin game machines;

a coin lifter for further transporting the coins transported on said collection conveyor to said coin holding vessel and storing the coins therein;

a collection passage being placed between a termination of said replenishment conveyor and said collection conveyor for collecting coins not made to branch by said coin branch units and remaining on said replenishment conveyor and guiding the remaining coins to said collection conveyor;

a controller for controlling operation of said components; and

a plurality of jam detection sensors being placed at a position where coins shift from said supply hopper to said replenishment conveyor, a position where coins shift from said replenishment conveyor to each coin branch unit, a position where coins shift from said collection passage to said collection conveyor, and a position where coins shift from a termination of said collection conveyor to said coin lifter for detecting a coin jam and sending a coin jam detection signal to said controller;

said controller including jam countermeasure process means for controlling operation of the parts of said coin handling mechanism upon receipt of a coin jam detection signal from any of said jam detection sensors, wherein

said jam countermeasure process means previously stores a list of information specifying an equipment whose operation is to be stopped in relation to said jam detection sensors and upon receipt of a jam detection signal from any of said jam detection sensors, reads the information specifying the equipment whose operation is to be stopped corresponding to said jam detection sensor from the stored list and outputs an instruction for stopping the operation to the specified equipment.

15. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said jam detection sensors continues to send a coin jam detection signal while detecting a coin jam, and wherein

when the coin jam detection signal output from any of said jam detection sensors continues for a first predetermined time, said jam countermeasure process means determines that a jam has occurred, and outputs an operation stop instruction to the specified equipment and after that, when duration of the coin jam detection signal does not reach a second predetermined time, determines that the jam has cleared and releases the operation stop instruction.

16. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said replenishment conveyor, said collection conveyor, and said coin lifter comprises a drive motor and a motor monitor sensor for monitoring a rotation state of said motor, wherein

said controller further includes motor error countermeasure process means for controlling operation of the parts of said coin handling mechanism upon receipt of a signal indicating a motor rotation error from any of said motor monitor sensors, and wherein

said motor error countermeasure process means previously stores a list of information specifying an equipment whose operation is to be stopped in relation to said motor monitor sensors and upon receipt of a signal indicating a motor rotation error from any of said motor monitor sensors, reads the information specifying the equipment whose operation is to be stopped corresponding to said motor monitor sensor from the stored list and outputs an instruction for stopping the operation to the specified equipment.

17. The equipment as claimed in claim 16 whose operation is to be stopped, previously stored in said motor error countermeasure process means, are the equipment previously specified by each motor monitor sensors from among said supply hopper, said replenishment conveyor, said collection conveyor, and said coin lifter, wherein

the equipment specified by each motor monitor sensors are:

one of the equipment provided with said motor monitor sensors and the equipment preceding said equipment when sequential arrangement of the equipment is in the order of said supply hopper, said replenishment conveyor, said collection conveyor, and said coin lifter.

18. A gaming facility having a coin game machine group to which a plurality of coin game machines belong and a coin handling mechanism for supplying coins to said coin game machines, characterized in that

each of said coin game machines comprises:

a coin acceptor for accepting coin input;

a game execution section for executing a predetermined game provided that coin input is accepted by said coin acceptor and outputting a winning signal instructing a predetermined number of coins to be paid out if a player wins a game play; and

a coin dispenser for dispensing a predetermined number of coins in response to the winning signal,

said coin dispenser having a dispensing hopper for storing at least as many coins as required for one dispensing operation and upon acceptance of winning information, dispensing as many coins as the number specified by the winning information, and that

said coin handling mechanism comprises;

a coin replenishment transporter for transporting coins with which said coin game machines are replenished;

a replenishment coin supply unit for storing replenishment coins and supplying coins to said coin replenishment transporter;

coin branch units being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with said coin game machines for making coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the corresponding coin dispensers; and

a controller for at least controlling coin replenishment,

each of said dispensing hoppers having a coin quantity detection sensor for detecting a stored coin quantity, upon detection of the stored coin quantity falling below a predetermined lower limit reference quantity, said coin quantity detection sensor for outputting a coin quantity shortage signal to said controller, upon detection of the stored coin quantity reaching a predetermined upper limit reference quantity, said coin quantity detection sensor for outputting a coin quantity sufficiency signal to said controller,

said controller comprising;

coin supply control means, upon receipt of the coin quantity shortage signal as to any coin game machine, for controlling the supply of coins by issuing a coin replenishment request to said replenishment coin supply unit supplying coins from said replenishment coin supply unit to said coin replenishment transporter until acceptance of a request to stop replenishing the coin game machine with coins;

coin branch control means, upon receipt of the coin quantity shortage signal as to any coin game machine, for causing said coin branch unit of said coin game machine provided with said coin quantity detection sensor outputting the coin quantity shortage signal to make coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom;

coin replenishment stop process means, upon receipt of the coin quantity sufficiency signal, for issuing a coin replenishment stop request to said coin supply control means for stopping coin replenishment and after expiration of a predetermined delay time from receiving the coin quantity sufficiency signal, for issuing a coin replenishment stop request to said coin branch control means for stopping the corresponding coin branch unit making coins branch; and

duplicate replenishment process inhibition means for inhibiting a duplicate replenishment process of other coin game machines with coins, when said coin branch control means accepts a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins, until completion of replenishing the coin game machine with coins.

19. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 18 wherein said duplicate replenishment process inhibition means releases inhibition of the duplicate replenishment process with coins after the coin branch operation of said coin branch unit is stopped.

20. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 19 wherein the delay time of said coin replenishment stop process means is set to the time equivalent to the time required until the last of coins dispensed from said replenishment coin supply unit to said coin replenishment transporter just before a replenishment stop instruction of said coin supply control means arrives at said coin branch unit of said coin game machine at a position most distant from said replenishment coin supply unit and is made to branch by said coin branch unit.

21. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 20 wherein said duplicate replenishment process inhibition means releases inhibition of the duplicate replenishment process with coins after the coin branch operation of said coin branch unit is stopped.

22. A gaming facility having a coin game machine group to which a plurality of coin game machines belong and a coin handling mechanism for supplying coins to said coin game machines, characterized in that

each of said coin game machines comprises:

a coin acceptor for accepting coin input;

a game execution section for executing a predetermined game provided that coin input is accepted by said coin acceptor and outputting a winning signal instructing a predetermined number of coins to be paid out if a player wins a game play; and

a coin dispenser for dispensing a predetermined number of coins in response to the winning signal, and that

said coin handling mechanism comprises;

a coin replenishment transporter for transporting coins with which said coin game machines are replenished;

a replenishment coin supply unit that comprises a coin holding vessel for storing replenishment coins therein and supplies coins stored in said coin holding vessel to said coin replenishment transporter;

a coin collection transporter for transporting and collecting coins that at least receives coins from said coin acceptor to transport and collect the coins;

a coin lifter that receives the coins transported by said coin collection transporter and transports the coins while lifting up the coins to said coin holding vessel;

coin branch units being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with said coin game machines for making coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the corresponding coin dispensers; and

a controller for at least controlling coin replenishment,

said coin handling mechanism further including;

a spare tank for storing coins; and

a discharge direction switch being located between said replenishment coin supply unit and said coin replenishment transporter for switching coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit into said coin replenishment transporter or said spare tank,

said controller comprising;

coin supply control means, upon acceptance of a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins, for dispensing coins to said coin replenishment transporter from said replenishment coin supply unit;

coin branch control means, upon acceptance of a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins, for causing said coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine outputting the replenishing request signal to make coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom; and

switch control means, when sending coins to said spare tank, for controlling said discharge direction switch so as to switch coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit into said spare tank and controlling operation of said replenishment coin supply unit so as to send coins to said spare tank.

23. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 22 wherein said replenishment coin supply unit comprises a sensor for detecting excessive storage of coins stored therein, and wherein

said switch control means comprises means being started when said sensor for detecting excessive storage of coins detects excessive storage of coins for instructing said switch to send coins to said spare tank based on an excessive storage detection signal and when said sensor does not detect excessive storage of coins, for instructing said switch to send coins to said coin replenishment transporter, and means for instructing said replenishment coin supply unit to discharge coins until the excessive storage detection signal disappears when said sensor detects the excessive storage of coins.

24. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 23 further including:

a number-of-supplied-coins counter for counting the number of coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit; and

a number-of-collected-coins counter for counting the number of coins collected at said coin collection transporter

said number-of-supplied-coins counter being placed at a position where coins are discharged from said supply hopper,

said controller further including number-of-coins management means for managing the number of handled coins,

said number-of-coins management means comprising;

number-of-coins-in-spare-tank management means, when coins are sent to said spare tank by switching of said switch, for calculating the number of coins stored in said spare tank from a count just before the coins are sent and a count when the coins have been sent to said spare tank, in said number-of-supplied-coins counter and storing the calculated number of coins;

number-of-collected-coins management means for taking in a count of said number-of-collected-coins counter and storing the count as the number of collected coins; and

balance-number-of-collected-coins management means for subtracting the number of coins in said spare tank stored in said number-of-coins-in-spare-tank management means from the number of collected coins stored in said number-of-collected-coins management means for calculating the balance number of collected coins and storing the result.

25. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 24 wherein said replenishment coin supply unit comprises a sensor for detecting excessive storage of coins stored therein, and wherein

said switch control means is also started when said controller receives a discharge command for discharging sales coins from an outside, and is responsive to the command for instructing said switch to send coins to said spare tank and instructing said replenishment coin supply unit to discharge as many coins as the balance number of collected coins stored in said balance-number-of-collected-coins management means.

26. A coin handling mechanism being placed in a gaming house having at least one coin game machine group containing a plurality of coin game machines for supplying coins to the coin game machines belonging to the coin game machine group, said coin handling mechanism comprising:

a coin replenishment transporter for transporting coins with which the coin game machines belonging to the coin game machine group are replenished;

a replenishment coin supply unit for storing replenishment coins and supplying coins to said coin replenishment transporter;

coin branch units being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the coin game machines for making coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the corresponding coin game machines;

a controller for at least controlling coin replenishment,

said controller comprising;

coin branch control means for accepting a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins and causing said coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine to make coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the coin game machine; and

duplicate replenishment process inhibition means for inhibiting a duplicate replenishment process of other coin game machines with coins, when said coin branch control means accepts a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins, until completion of replenishing the coin game machine with coins.

27. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 26 further including a number-of-supplied-coins counter for counting the number of coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit, wherein

said controller comprises coin supply control means for accepting a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins and dispensing a predetermined number of coins to said coin replenishment transporter from said replenishment coin supply unit by making reference to a count of said number-of-supplied-coins counter.

28. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 27 wherein said coin branch control means comprises means for stopping the coin branch operation of the coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine making a replenishment request after expiration of at least the time equivalent to the time required until the last coin dispensed arrives at the coin branch unit and is made to branch by the coin branch unit after a predetermined number of coins are dispensed from said replenishment coin supply unit to said coin replenishment transporter under the control of said coin supply control means.

29. A gaming facility having a coin game machine group to which a plurality of coin game machines belong and a coin handling mechanism for supplying coins to said coin game machines, characterized in that

each of said coin game machines comprises:

a coin acceptor for accepting coin input;

a game execution section for executing a predetermined game provided that coin input is accepted by said coin acceptor and outputting a winning signal instructing a predetermined number of coins to be paid out if a player wins a game play; and

a coin dispenser for dispensing a predetermined number of coins in response to the winning signal,

said coin dispenser having a dispensing hopper for storing at least as many coins as required for one dispensing operation, and upon acceptance of winning information, dispensing as many coins as the number specified by the winning information, and that

said coin handling mechanism comprises;

a coin replenishment transporter for transporting coins with which said coin game machines are replenished;

a replenishment coin supply unit for storing replenishment coins and supplying coins to said coin replenishment transporter;

coin branch units being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with said coin game machines for making coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the corresponding coin dispensers;

a number-of-supplied-coins counter for counting the number of coins discharged from said replenishment coin supply unit; and

a controller for at least controlling coin replenishment,

said controller comprising;

coin supply control means for accepting a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins and dispensing a predetermined number of coins to said coin replenishment transporter from said replenishment coin supply by making reference to a counter of said number-of-supplied-coins counter;

coin branch control means for accepting a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins and causing said coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine to make coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom into the coin game machine; and

duplicate replenishment process inhibition means for inhibiting a duplicate replenishment process of other coin game machines with coins, when said coin branch control means accepts a request for replenishing any coin game machine with coins, until completion of replenishing the coin game machine with coins.

30. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 29 wherein each of said dispensing hoppers has a coin quantity detection sensor for detecting a stored coin quantity, upon detection of the stored coin quantity falling below a predetermined lower limit reference quantity, said coin quantity detection sensor for outputting a coin quantity shortage signal to said controller, and wherein

when receiving the coin quantity shortage signal, said controller starts said coin supply control means and said coin branch control means and issues a coin replenishment request for dispensing coins from said replenishment coin supply unit to said coin replenishment transporter and causing said coin branch unit of said coin game machine provided with said coin quantity detection sensor outputting the coin quantity shortage signal to make coins transported by said coin replenishment transporter branch therefrom.

31. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 30 wherein said coin branch control means comprises means for stopping the coin branch operation of the coin branch unit corresponding to the coin game machine making a replenishment request after expiration of at least the time equivalent to the time required until the last coin dispensed arrives at the coin branch unit and is made to branch by the coin branch unit after a predetermined number of coins are dispensed from said replenishment coin supply unit to said coin replenishment transporter under the control of said coin supply control means.

32. The gaming facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said duplicate replenishment process inhibition means releases inhibition of the replenishment process with coins after the coin branch operation of said coin branch unit is stopped.

33. A coin handling mechanism being placed in a gaming house having at least one coin game machine group containing a plurality of coin game machines for at least replenishing the coin game machines belonging to the coin game machine group with coins, said coin handling mechanism comprising:

an equipment group containing a plurality of equipment for at least replenishing the coin game machines with coins;

a controller for controlling operation of said equipment group; and

a plurality of jam detection sensors being placed at a plurality of points of said equipment group each for detecting a coin jam and sending a coin jam detection signal to said controller,

said controller having jam countermeasure process means for controlling operation for said equipment group upon receipt of a coin jam detection signal from any of said jam detection sensors, said jam countermeasure process means having means for previously storing a list of information specifying the equipment in said equipment group whose operation is to be stopped in relation to said jam detection sensors and means, upon receipt of a jam detection signal from any of said jam detection sensors, for reading the information specifying the equipment whose operation is to be stopped corresponding to said jam detection sensor from the stored list and outputting an instruction for stopping the operation to the specified machines.

34. The coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 33 wherein each of said jam detection sensors continues to send a coin jam detection signal while detecting a coin jam, and wherein

when the coin jam detection signal output from any of said jam detection sensors continues for a first predetermined time, said jam countermeasure process means determines that a jam has occurred, and outputs an operation stop instruction to the specified equipment and after this, when duration of the coin jam detection signal does not reach a second predetermined time, determines that the jam has cleared and releases the operation stop instruction.

35. A coin handling mechanism being placed in a gaming house having at least one coin game machine group containing a plurality of coin game machines for at least replenishing the coin game machines belonging to the coin game machine group with coins, said coin handling mechanism comprising:

a machine group containing a plurality of equipment for at least replenishing the coin game machines with coins, at least some of the equipment in said equipment group having a motor;

a controller for controlling operation of said equipment group; and

motor monitor sensors for monitoring a rotation state for each motor contained in said equipment group,

said controller further including motor error countermeasure process means for controlling operation of said equipment group upon receipt of a signal indicating a motor rotation error from any of said motor monitor sensors,

said motor error countermeasure process means having means for previously storing a list of information specifying an equipment whose operation is to be stopped in relation to said motor monitor sensors and means, upon receipt of a signal indicating a motor rotation error from any of said motor monitor sensors, for reading the information specifying the equipment whose operation is to be stopped corresponding to said motor monitor sensor from the stored list and outputting an instruction for stopping the operation to the specified equipment.