JP2015131397A - Card formation medium, printer, card issuance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card formation medium which is supplied to a card issuance device, forms a card to be issued by performing printing based on identification information recorded at a part, and by which relevance between the identification information and a print pattern cannot be decrypted on a user's side.SOLUTION: A card formation medium C1 integrally comprises: a card body part C3 to be an issuance object; and an identification information recording part at least having identification information which is information specifying the content to be printed to the card body part C3, in which the identification information recording part is separated from the card body part C3, and collected in a card issuance device by the time when the card body part C3 to which printing based on the identification information is performed by a printing part is issued as a card after the card body part C3 and the identification information recording part are integrally supplied to the card issuance device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a card forming medium that forms a card that is supplied to a card issuing device including a printer and is issued after printing by the printer, a printer that issues a card by supplying the card forming medium, and further issues a card. It relates to the device.

  Conventionally, various cards (for example, a game card, a certificate, a lottery, a cash voucher, etc.) issued after printing is performed on at least the surface of the card in response to a request issued by a user are known. The card issuing device selects / prints the printed contents of the issued card (also referred to as a print pattern or a print pattern, which will be referred to as “print pattern” in the following description). If it is configured so that it can be designated, identification information for designating a print pattern is recorded electrically or optically in advance on a part of the card, the recorded identification information is read, and the read information is It is issued after printing a print pattern designated on the basis of a card (for example, see Patent Document 1 relating to a game machine such as a slot machine or a video poker machine). In Patent Document 1, specific examples of identification information include magnetic data such as a magnetic tape in which five-digit alphanumeric characters are recorded, or optically readable data such as a bar code and a two-dimensional code. A mode is disclosed in which such identification information is magnetically or optically recorded in advance on the back side of the card.

JP 2008-093169 A

  By the way, if it is the conventional structure mentioned above, the card of the state in which the above-mentioned identification information was recorded on a part (for example, back surface) will be issued, and it will be provided to a user. Here, when the recorded identification information is data (for example, a magnetic tape on which the above-mentioned five-digit alphanumeric characters are recorded) that can be grasped only by visual observation, the recorded content is used. The relevance between the identification information and the print pattern may be specified and analyzed (decoded) on the user side. Even if the identification information is not visible to the user, such as barcodes and two-dimensional data, or if the recorded contents cannot be seen by the user such as invisible barcodes, a dedicated reader If there is a possibility, the relationship between the identification information and the print pattern can be specified and analyzed (decoded) on the user side.

  Furthermore, with the above-described configuration, an area in which identification information is recorded on a part of the card must be secured, and the print target area is reduced by that amount or recorded on the issued card. If the identified identification information appears as an unnatural pattern or mark, there may be a problem that the design of the card is impaired.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such points, and the main purpose is to form a card that is supplied to a card issuing device and printed based on identification information recorded in part. Providing a card forming medium in which the relationship between the identification information and the print pattern cannot be deciphered on the user side, and issuing a printer or game for printing such a card forming medium To provide an apparatus.

  That is, the present invention relates to a card forming medium that forms a card that is supplied to a card issuing device including a printing unit and issued after printing by the printing unit. Here, the card forming medium may be a paper product or a synthetic resin product, and the material is not particularly limited as long as printing by the printing unit is possible. In addition, examples of the card formed by the card forming medium include a game card, a certificate, a lottery, and a cash voucher. However, the card is not limited thereto, and any card that is issued after printing by the printing unit may be used. It may be a type of card.

  The card forming medium according to the present invention is integrally provided with a card body portion to be issued and an identification information recording portion having at least identification information that is information for specifying the contents printed on the card body portion. After the information recording unit is supplied to the card issuing device in a state of being integrated with the card main unit, the card main unit is subjected to printing based on the identification information by the printing unit until the card main unit is issued as a card. It is characterized by being separated from the part.

  The “identification information” in the present invention is information recorded by printing, information magnetically recorded using an IC chip (RFID or the like) or a magnetic tape, information physically recorded (holes or notches), etc. There is no particular limitation as long as the information is recorded by any appropriate means, and information combining two or more pieces of information with different recording methods (for example, information recorded by printing and physical recording such as holes) (In combination with information). In the present invention, the “identification information that is information specifying the content printed on the card body” includes the information actually recorded in the identification information recording unit by the appropriate means / method described above. In addition to the card forming medium provided with the “information recording section”, the identification information may be included even in the card forming medium in which the identification information is not recorded in the “identification information recording section” by an appropriate means / method. Is not recorded in itself, if it can be distinguished in relation to other card forming media having identification information actually recorded by an appropriate means / method in the identification information recording unit, the information, In other words, information that identification information is not recorded by appropriate means / methods can be handled as “identification information that is information for specifying the contents printed on the card body”. Such cards forming medium with the identification information recording unit having identification information are also included. The card forming medium of the present invention may be a cut paper cut to a predetermined size or a continuous roll paper.

  If it is such a card forming medium according to the present invention, the identification information recording part formed integrally with the card body part has identification information that is information specifying the content printed on the card body part, Since this identification information recording unit is configured to be separated from the card body issued as a card, the identification information recording unit is not issued as a card together with the card body, and the user who receives the issued card It is possible to avoid the situation where the identification information recording section crosses over. Accordingly, the user side who receives the card consisting only of the issued card main body, determines the relationship between the identification information of the identification information recording unit and the contents printed on the card main body (hereinafter referred to as “print pattern”). It is impossible to decipher with, and security can be improved.

  Further, in the case of the card forming medium according to the present invention, it is not necessary to secure a recording area for identifying information in a part of the card body issued as a card, and the area that can be processed by the printing unit in the entire card body Can be secured as much as possible, and problems such as deterioration of the design of the card due to the appearance of the identification information appearing on the issued card as an unnatural pattern or mark can be solved. The present invention also encompasses a card forming medium in which a part of the identification information recorded in the identification information recording unit is recorded across the card body. Even in such a card forming medium, since the card body portion in which only a part of the identification information is recorded is issued as a card, the identification information and the print pattern are determined on the user side based on the identification information. It is extremely difficult to decipher the relevance of the card, and it is possible to improve the security as compared to the mode in which all of the identification information is recorded as a card in a state where it is recorded on the card body, and the card It is also possible to use a part of the identification information recorded in the main body so as to constitute a part of the contents printed on the card main body.

  The identification information recording part separated from the card body part of the card forming medium according to the present invention is collected in an appropriate collection part (such as a collection box) provided outside the card issuing apparatus, or outside the card issuing apparatus. It may be discarded by an appropriate disposal unit provided, but if it is collected in the card issuing device, the situation where the identification information recording unit crosses over to the user receiving the issued card. This can be surely prevented, and the security can be further improved. In the present invention, the timing at which the identification information recording unit is separated from the card body and collected in the card issuing device is after the card body and the identification information recording unit are supplied to the card issuing device as a unit. In addition, any timing may be used as long as the card body portion that has been printed based on the identification information is issued as a card. As a specific example, the printing process based on the identification information may be printed. Timing after being applied to the card main unit by the card unit, or after the card main unit and the identification information recording unit are supplied to the card issuing device as a whole, and the printing process based on the identification information is performed by the printing unit. Before or after the card body and the identification information recording unit are supplied to the card issuing device as a unit, and After detecting the identification information recorded, or can be given timing before detecting the identification information. When the identification information recording unit is separated from the card body and collected in the card issuing device before the identification information is detected, the timing for detecting the identification information is separated from the card body and collected in the card issuing device. It may be an appropriate point in time from when the card is released or when it is separated from the card body and is collected in the card issuing device.

  Depending on the method of recording the identification information, a relatively large uneven shape appears in the identification information recording unit, and the printing process by the printing unit on the portion of the card body that is continuous with the identification information recording unit cannot be appropriately performed due to the influence of the unevenness. It is conceivable that printing defects such as so-called white spots (white turbidity) may occur. Therefore, in order to minimize the unevenness of the portion where the identification information is recorded and to solve the above-described problems, the identification information in the present invention is previously stored in the card body portion before being supplied to the card issuing device. It is preferable that the information be identifiable by the recording pattern of the special print portion printed on the identification information recording unit by the same special print processing method as that applied. The “special printing” in the present invention is meant to include hologram processing, special color printing such as gold, silver or fluorescent color, invisible ink printing, and the like. Note that there are, for example, rainbow holograms and Lippmann holograms as types of holograms, but they are not limited to specific ones. Such a special printing process is a process in which unevenness does not appear in the special printing part which is the part to which the process is applied and its periphery, or even if it appears, it can be suppressed to the minimum unevenness. Therefore, if it is a card forming medium in which identification information is recorded by such a special color printing process, a printing process by the printing unit can be appropriately performed on a portion of the card body unit that is continuous with the identification information recording unit. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects such as white spots, etc., and printing by the printing unit is performed on the portion excluding the special printing portion previously applied to the card body, or special processing applied to the card body in advance. By performing printing by the printing unit on a part of the printing part, it can be issued as a special card in which the special printing part appears in the card body. The “recording pattern of the special print portion printed on the identification information recording portion” includes the presence or absence of the special print portion, the position and size of the special print portion in the identification information recording portion, the pattern, or the type of special printing (color And shades).

  In addition, if a card forming medium according to the present invention is used which has a special print part recorded in the identification information recording unit as the identification information, the card body in the process of recording the special print part in the identification information recording unit Since the special printing process is also applied to the printing unit, the card issuing unit is supplied with the special printing process applied to both the card body and the identification information recording unit. Even when special printing cannot be performed, it is possible to issue a special card in which a special printing portion applied to the card body portion appears. That is, the card forming medium having the special print portion recorded in the identification information recording unit as identification information can be used for a special card.

  The card forming medium having the special print portion recorded in the identification information recording unit as the identification information is distinguished from the identification information attached to other card forming media due to the absence of the special print portion in the identification information recording unit. When used in combination with a card-forming medium having possible identification information, the former card-forming medium (one having a special print portion in the identification information recording part) can be used for special cards, while the latter Card formation media (one that does not have a special printing part in the identification information recording part) is supplied to the card issuing device without the special printing process being applied to the card main part. It can be used for a normal card where no part appears.

  In addition, the printer according to the present invention includes a paper feed unit that supplies the card forming medium described above, and identification information that can detect the identification information included in the identification information recording unit among the card forming media supplied from the paper feed unit. A detection unit, a printing unit that prints on the card body based on the detection information by the identification information detection unit, a cut unit that cuts the identification information recording unit from the card body that has been printed by the printing unit, and a cut unit A card issuing unit that discharges and issues the cut card body, and functions as a card issuing device. Here, the “identification information” included in the identification information recording unit is synonymous with the “identification information” described in the above card forming medium.

  If it is such a printer, since only the card body part is ejected and issued by the card issuing part among the cut identification information recording part and the card body part mutually cut by the cut part, the card body based on the detection information In the card printed by the printing unit and issued by the card issuing unit, the identification information does not appear at all or only a part of the identification information appears, and the user who receives the issued card identifies it. The relevance between the information and the print pattern printed on the card cannot be deciphered, and the security can be improved. In particular, in the case of a printer having a collection unit that collects the identification information recording unit cut by the cut unit, the card body unit is ejected and issued as a card, while the identification information record cut by the card issuing unit cut unit. Can be collected by the collection unit, and the situation where the identification information recording unit crosses over to the user who receives the issued card can be reliably prevented, and the security can be further improved.

  Further, the card issuing device according to the present invention includes a paper feeding unit that supplies the above-described card forming medium, and identification information that can detect the identification information included in the identification information recording unit among the card forming media supplied from the paper feeding unit. A detection unit, a printing unit that prints on the card body based on the detection information by the identification information detection unit, a cut unit that cuts the identification information recording unit from the card body that has been printed by the printing unit, and a cut unit And a card issuing unit for discharging and issuing the cut card body. The “detection information” in the card issuing device of the present invention is synonymous with the “identification information” described in the above card forming medium.

  Therefore, with such a card issuing device, the same effect as that of the printer described above, that is, the card body cut by the cutting unit is discharged and issued by the card issuing unit. The user who receives the issued card because the identification information is not recorded at all or only a part of the identification information is not recorded on the card printed by the printing unit and issued by the card issuing unit. Thus, the relationship between the identification information and the print pattern cannot be deciphered on the side, and it is possible to obtain an effect that security can be improved. In particular, in the case of a card issuing device provided with a collection unit that collects the identification information recording unit cut by the cut unit, the card body unit is ejected and issued as a card, while the card is cut by the card issue unit cut unit. The information recording unit can be collected by the collecting unit, the situation where the identification information recording unit crosses over to the user receiving the issued card can be surely prevented, and the security can be further improved. it can.

  Further, in both the printer and the card issuing device according to the present invention, the card forming medium supplied to the supply unit is applied to the card main body in advance before being supplied to the printer or the card issuing device. When the special print portion printed by the same special print processing method as the special print processing method is applied to the identification information recording unit, the above-described problem, that is, the identification information of the card body portion is not It is possible to prevent or suppress the problem that printing defects are likely to occur after printing processing by the printing unit in the part that continues to the recorded part, and it is possible to improve the printing quality and to apply to the card body part. Premium cards with special print parts appearing can be issued. In any of the printer and the card issuing device according to the present invention, the timing at which the identification information recording unit is separated from the card body by the cutting unit is after the card forming medium is supplied to the supply unit. Moreover, any timing may be used as long as it is a time point until the card body is discharged and issued by the card issuing unit.

  By the way, if a card issuing device or printer with a special printing section for executing special printing processing such as hologram processing or special color printing is applied, it is possible to issue a card in which a special printing portion appears. However, in this case, a dedicated special processing unit must be provided, which increases the cost and can lead to an increase in the size of the card issuing device or printer. However, a card having a special print portion printed in the same special print processing method as the special print processing method applied to the card main body in advance before being supplied to the printer or card issuing device in the identification information recording portion If the formation medium is applied, even if it is not a card issuing device or printer with a special printing section dedicated to executing special printing processing such as hologram processing and special color printing, a card (special card, Premium card) can be issued, and cost reduction and downsizing of the card issuing device or printer can be achieved.

  According to the present invention, the card main body unit is integrally provided with the identification information recording unit having at least the identification information that is information specifying the content printed on the card main body unit, and the card main body unit and the identification information recording unit are integrated into the card. After being supplied to the issuing device, the card body that has been printed based on the identification information is used as a card forming medium that is separated from the card body before being issued as a card. The card forming medium in which the user who receives the issued card cannot decipher the relationship between the identification information being printed and the print pattern printed by the printing unit on the card main body to be issued can be provided. A printer that issues a card by printing on the card body of such a card forming medium, or a card issuance It is possible to provide a location.

The front schematic diagram of the game device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. The side surface schematic diagram of the game card issuing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. The side surface schematic diagram of the game card printer in the embodiment. The schematic diagram of the normal game card formation medium which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which shows the recording pattern of the special printing part in the game card formation medium which concerns on the same embodiment. The figure which shows typically an example of the special game card formation medium which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which shows typically another example of the special game card formation medium which concerns on the embodiment. The functional block diagram of the game machine control part and game card printer control part in the embodiment. The figure which shows the normal game card formation medium at the time of finishing the printing process by the printing part in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. The figure which shows the state which performed the printing process in the printing part to the special game card formation medium shown in FIG. The figure which shows the state which performed the printing process in the printing part to the special game card formation medium shown in FIG. The flowchart at the time of the game card issue process by the game card issue apparatus which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the normal game card issued by the game card issuing apparatus which concerns on the embodiment corresponding to FIG. The figure which shows an example of the special game card which the game device concerning the embodiment issued corresponding to FIG. The figure which shows another example of the special game card which the game device concerning the embodiment issued corresponding to FIG. The figure which shows the modification of the game card formation medium which concerns on the embodiment corresponding to FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The card forming medium C1 according to the present embodiment forms a game card C that is supplied to a game card issuing device X as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, and is issued after printing by the printing unit 4, It can be used as a card forming medium. Here, the game card issuing device X corresponds to the card issuing device of the present invention.

  The game card issuing device X is capable of visually recognizing at least the display G2, the operation input device G3, the coin insertion slot G4, and the game card issuing unit 5 from a person playing the game (hereinafter referred to as a player) in the game machine housing G1. Arranged at an appropriate position, and after coins are inserted into the coin insertion slot G4, game data (game program, production data, etc.) stored in a storage device (not shown) such as ROM or HDD is read and displayed on the display G2. Based on the operation of the player using the operation input device G3, the game is executed while changing the image displayed on the display G2, and one game card C is ejected from the game card issuing unit 5 after the game ends. Is issued. In the present embodiment, the game card issuing unit 5 is configured by a game card outlet. In addition, a speaker (not shown) is provided at an appropriate position of the game machine housing G1, and sound such as sound effects during the game and operation explanations can be output from the speaker.

  A well-known device can be applied to the display G2 and the operation input device G3, and the size, shape, number, type, whether or not it is a touch panel type, whether or not data can be read (scan function), and the like should be set as appropriate. Is possible.

  The game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment determines a print pattern that is the print content of the game card C according to the content and result of the game played by the player, and according to the print pattern in the game machine housing G1. The print content is printed on demand, and the game card C that has completed the printing process is paid out from the game card issuing unit 5. Further, in the game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment, a special game card CP (premium card) having a special print portion C6 at least partially subjected to special print, or special print through one game by the player. One of the game cards C of the normal game card CC (common card) having no part C6 is set to be discharged from the game card issuing unit 5 and issued.

  Here, the special printing is meant to include hologram processing, special color printing such as gold, silver or fluorescent color, and invisible ink. In the present embodiment, the special game card CP having the special print portion C6 subjected to both the hologram processing process and the special color printing process is set to be issued.

  In the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment, a game card printer P is disposed inside the game machine housing G1. As shown in FIG. 3, the game card printer P applied in the present embodiment is fed from a paper feeding unit 1 that can supply a game card forming medium C <b> 1 that is a medium for forming the game card C, and the paper feeding unit 1. A transport unit 3 that transports the game card forming medium C1 along the transport path 30 extending in the front-rear direction of the printer housing 2, and a printing unit that performs printing on the game card forming medium C1 transported along the transport path 30. 4 and a game card issuing unit 5 that discharges and issues a game card C that has been subjected to a printing process and becomes a finished product. In the present embodiment, the paper feeding unit 1, the transport unit 3, and the printing unit 4 are arranged in the internal space of the printer housing 2, and the game card issuing unit 5 is opened on the front surface 21 </ b> A of the printer housing 2. The game card printer P of the present embodiment is a double-sided game card printer P that prints on both the front side and the back side of the game card forming medium C1, and the game card forming medium is installed in the internal space of the printer housing 2. A reversing unit 6 for reversing the front and back surfaces of C1 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the game card forming medium C1 according to the present embodiment includes a game card main body C3 (a “card main body” of the present invention) in which a print area C2 that is a printing target surface by the printing unit 4 is set. Equivalent) and a grip allowance portion C4 formed integrally with the game card main body C3. In the present embodiment, the print area C2 is set on the front and back surfaces of the substantially rectangular game card main body C3. From the viewpoint of safety, the corners (four corners) of the game card main body C3 are cut into partial arcs so that the corners (four corners) of the game card C issued by the game card issuing device X are rounded. Further, in the game card forming medium C1 of the present embodiment, the grip margin C4 is set to a non-axisymmetric shape with the width direction center line C31 of the card body C3 as the target axis. In this embodiment, it is set to the shape which has the side protrusion part C5 in one edge part among the width direction both ends of the grip margin part C4. And it is possible to specify the front side and the back side of the game card forming medium C1 by utilizing the difference in the shape of both end portions of the grip allowance portion C4. That is, according to the present embodiment, the front and back surfaces of the game card forming medium C1 can be aligned by overlapping the game card forming medium C1 so that the directions of the side protrusions C5 are aligned. In FIG. 4, the boundary between the game card main body C3 and the grip allowance C4 is indicated by a dotted line. The material of the game card forming medium C1 is not limited to paper, and an appropriate material can be applied.

  And the game card formation medium C1 which concerns on this embodiment functions as an identification information recording part which has at least the identification information which is the information which designates the content (print pattern) printed on the card | curd main-body part C3 for the grip margin part C4. I am letting. In the present embodiment, a plurality of identification information recording areas (in the illustrated example, a first identification information recording area Cw, a second identification information recording area Cx, a third identification information recording area Cy, a fourth identification information recording are recorded in the gripping margin C4. A total of four identification information recording areas of the area Cz), and whether or not special printing is applied to each of the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz, specifically, a plurality of identification information recording areas As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the recording pattern indicating which identification information recording area is recorded in Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz is different for each game card forming medium C1. It is In the grip allowance portion C4 of the game card forming medium C1 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, at least one of the plurality of identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz is recorded with special printing. A pattern is added, and a grip pattern C4 of the game card forming medium C1 shown in FIG. 4 has a recording pattern in which special printing is not performed on all of the plurality of identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz. Has been. Based on such a recording pattern of the special printing portion C6 attached to the grip allowance portion C4 (including a recording pattern in which there is no special printing portion C6), identification information of each game card forming medium C1 can be specified. It is set.

The game card issuing device X of the present embodiment is set so that the print pattern for the game card main body C3 can be specified by detecting such identification information.
Here, the recording pattern of the special print portion C6 in the case where the game card forming medium C1 having a total of four identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz is applied to the grip margin C4 functioning as the identification information recording unit is illustrated. As shown in FIG. In the figure, for each of the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, and Cz, the identification information recording area that has been subjected to special printing is marked with a filled circle (black circle), and the identification information recording that has not been subjected to special printing. The areas are marked with unfilled circles (white circles), and each combination is given a serial number of the recording pattern to make a list. As can be understood from this figure, the recording pattern of the special print portion C6 is one pattern in which the identification information is not recorded in all the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz (the recording pattern indicated by the serial number 1 in the figure). ) And 15 patterns in which identification information is recorded in at least one identification information recording area among the four identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz (recording patterns indicated by serial numbers 2 to 16 in the figure). A total of 16 patterns are added, and the identification information that can be specified for each recording pattern is associated with the contents (print pattern) printed by the printing unit 4 with respect to the game card main body C3 different from each other.

  In the game card forming medium C1 of the present embodiment, the identification information included in the gripping allowance portion C4 functioning as the identification information recording unit is applied to the card body C3 in advance before being supplied to the game card issuing device X. This can be specified by the recording pattern of the special print portion C6 recorded (printed) by the same special print processing method as the special print processing method. The special printing portion C6 that appears in the gripping margin C4 is a portion that has been subjected to the same processing as the special printing portion C6 that appears in the game card main body C3. In this embodiment, both hologram processing and special color printing processing are performed. It is the part which was done.

  Here, the game card forming medium C1 shown in FIG. 6 is a card forming medium in which only the first identification information recording area Cw is set in the special print portion C6, and the recording pattern of the serial number 2 in FIG. 5 is recorded. is there. Further, the game card forming medium C1 shown in FIG. 7 has the first identification information recording area Cw and the second identification information recording area Cx set in the special print portion C6, and the recording pattern of serial number 3 in FIG. 5 is recorded. Game card forming medium C1. As illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 and the like, in the drawings referred to in the present embodiment, a specific pattern is formed in the special printing portion C6 that is a portion where the special printing is performed in the card body portion C3 and the grip margin portion C4. Is attached schematically.

  As can be understood from FIGS. 6 and 7, in this embodiment, the position, shape, number, etc. of the special print portion C6 applied to the game card main body C3 is different if the recording pattern attached to the grip allowance portion C4 is different. The patterns (hereinafter referred to as “main body special printing patterns”) are also set differently. Therefore, the game card forming medium C1 in which the recording patterns indicated by the serial numbers 2 to 16 in FIG. 5 are recorded in the gripping allowance portion C4 is special in all or at least one of the plurality of identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz. When the print portion C6 is set and the recording pattern is different, the main body special print pattern is also set differently. In addition, the print pattern associated with each recording pattern is the portion of the card body C3 that is not specially printed (the portion excluding the special printing portion C6) according to the identification information that can be specified from the recording pattern. The contents to be printed by the printing unit 4 to be described later are designated.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the game card forming medium C1 in which the recording patterns indicated by the serial numbers 2 to 16 in FIG. It is used as a special game card forming medium C1a described later.

  On the other hand, in the game card forming medium C1 in which the recording pattern of the serial number 1 shown in FIG. 5 is set, as shown in FIG. 4, all the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz are subjected to special printing processing. A game card forming medium having identification information specified by no recording pattern. In such a game card forming medium C1, the special print portion C6 is not set in the game card main body C3, and in this embodiment, such a game card forming medium C1 is used as a normal game card forming medium described later. It is used as C1b. Further, the print pattern associated with the identification information that can be specified from the recording pattern in which the special print portion C6 is not set in all the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, and Cz is the special print in the card body C3. The contents to be printed by the printing unit 4 (to be described later) are designated with respect to the part not subjected to the mark (the part excluding the special printing part C6), that is, the entire surface of the card main body part C3.

  Note that the game card forming medium C1 used as the normal game card forming medium C1b and the game card forming medium C1 used as the special game card forming medium C1a are preliminarily subjected to special printing processing for the game card main body C3 and the gripping margin C4. The only difference is whether or not it has been made, and the size and shape are the same.

  The game card issuing device X of the present embodiment is a normal game card forming medium C1b (see FIG. 4) in which neither the front side nor the back side of the game card main body C3 is specially processed as the game card forming medium C1. 6) and a special game card having a special print portion C6 in which special print processing is applied in advance to at least one of the front side and the back side of the game card main body C3 as shown in FIGS. Using the formation medium C1a, the supplied game card formation medium C1 is issued as a game card C after printing by the printing unit 4 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printer housing 2 arranged inside the game card issuing device X includes a housing main body 21 in which a game card issuing unit 5 is formed on the front surface 21 </ b> A, and an upper opening of the housing main body 21. And a lid 22 that can be sealed. The lid 22 has a covering position where the internal space of the housing body 21 can be sealed with a pivot point set on the rear (back) side of the housing body 21 as a fulcrum, and the internal space of the housing body 21 as an external space. Can be tilted to an open position (indicated by a one-dot chain line in the figure). In this embodiment, “front” means the direction of arrow D1 shown in FIG. 3, and “rear (back)” means the direction opposite to the direction of arrow D1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet feeding unit 1 includes a cassette 11 that can stack a large number of cut sheet-like (card-like) game card forming media C 1 in the thickness direction and store (set) them vertically. And a longitudinal delivery portion 12 that delivers the game card forming medium C1 one by one in the vertical orientation (standing posture) from one end side. In the present embodiment, the cassette 11 is set so that it can be pulled out to the front surface 21A side (in the direction of arrow D1 in the figure) of the printer housing 2, and the replenishment work of the game card forming medium C1 by hand is performed on the front surface of the printer housing 2. It is configured so that it can be performed from the 21A side. The game card forming medium C1 is accommodated (set) in the cassette 11 in an upright posture with the gripping margin C4 facing downward and with the front and back surfaces aligned. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the planar shape of the grip allowance portion C4 of the game card forming medium C1 is set to be non-axisymmetric with the center line C31 in the width direction of the card main body C3 as the symmetry axis, By using this shape, the orientation of the front and back surfaces of the game card forming medium C1 can be aligned accurately and easily. Note that the game card forming medium C1 accommodated in the cassette 11 is set to move to the back side of the cassette 11 by a spring provided in the cassette 11, for example.

  The vertical feeding portion 12 has a feeding claw 13 for feeding the game card forming medium C1 located on the innermost side out of the game card forming media C1 stored in the cassette 11 upward (in the direction of arrow D2 in the figure), and a feeding claw 13 is provided with a sheet feeding roller 14 that holds the game card forming medium C1 fed upward by 13 and conveys it toward a conveyance path 30 (specifically, a card posture changing unit 8 described later). When a game card forming medium C1 having a fitting portion that fits into the side protrusion C5 set as the gripping margin C4 is applied as the payout claw 13, the game card forming medium C1 The stability of the game card forming medium C1 when paying out C1 upward can be improved.

  In the game card printer P according to the present embodiment, the paper feeding unit 1 is arranged in a region below a substantially horizontal conveyance path 30 extending in the front-rear direction of the printer housing 2, and the longitudinal direction fed from the paper feeding roller 14. A card posture changing unit 8 is disposed between the paper feeding unit 1 and the conveyance path 30 to change the posture to the horizontal direction (recumbent posture) when supplying the oriented game card forming medium C1 to the conveyance path 30.

  The card posture changing unit 8 unitizes a holding conveyance roller 81 that holds the game card forming medium C1 in the thickness direction, and guide plates 82 and 83 provided at positions that are continuous with the holding conveyance roller 81. By turning the posture changing unit 84 rotated 90 degrees in the direction of arrow D3 shown in FIG. 3, the game card forming medium C1 sent out from the paper feeding unit 1 and in the vertical orientation (standing posture) is turned sideways (recumbent posture). The posture is changed. In the figure, a state in which the posture changing unit 84 is turned 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow D3 is indicated by a dotted line. The game card forming medium C1 changed from the vertical orientation to the horizontal orientation by such an attitude changing section is conveyed toward the printing section 4 by the conveying section 3 described below with the gripping margin section C4 facing forward. .

  The transport unit 3 includes a game card issuing unit 5 between a first transport roller 31 and a second transport roller 32 disposed between the card posture changing unit 8 and the printing unit 4, and between the printing unit 4 and the game card issuing unit 5. The third transport roller 33 (feed roller), the fourth transport roller 34, and the fifth transport roller 35 are arranged in this order. Further, in the game card printer P of the present embodiment, a cut portion 9 that cuts the gripping portion C4 of the game card C is disposed between the fourth transport roller 34 and the fifth transport roller 35. Note that the feeding roller 14 and the holding conveyance roller 81 of the card posture changing unit 8 also have a function of conveying the game card forming medium C1, and can be regarded as a part of the conveyance unit 3. In the present embodiment, these rollers (the feed roller 14, the nipping conveyance roller 81, the first conveyance roller 31, the second conveyance roller 32, the third conveyance roller 33, the fourth conveyance roller 34, the fifth conveyance roller 35, and the like) A sixth conveyance roller 64), which will be described later, includes a driving roller driven by a stepping motor and a pinch roller that rotates following the driving roller.

  In the conveyance path 30 extending in the front-rear direction in the printer housing 2, a first conveyance roller 31, a cleaning roller 36, a positioning unit 37, and a second conveyance roller are directed from the card attitude changing unit 8 toward the game card issuing unit 5. 32, the printing part 4, the 3rd conveyance roller 33, the 4th conveyance roller 34, the cut part 9, and the 5th conveyance roller 35 are arrange | positioned in this order.

  The positioning part 37 moves between an exposure position where a part of the positioning part 37 is exposed on the transport path 30 and a retreat position where the entire positioning part 37 is retracted below the transport path 30. 3 shows a positioning portion 37 at the exposure position, and an arrow D4 indicates a moving direction of a positioning claw 37a to be described later when the exposure position is switched to the retracted position. The positioning portion 37 of the present embodiment is configured such that the positioning claw 37a, the cam 37b that contacts the lower end portion of the positioning claw 37a, and the lower end portion of the positioning claw 37a are urged in the direction of contacting the cam 37b. And a spring (not shown) that is held in the standing posture shown in FIG. Such a positioning part 37 is set so that the positioning claw 37a can rotate around a horizontal axis provided at a position lower than the conveyance path 30, and the positioning claw 37a takes an upright posture by the biasing force of the spring. The upper end portion of 37a becomes an “exposed position” where the upper end portion is exposed on the conveying path 30, and the positioning claw 37a takes a lying posture in a space below the conveying path 30 against the urging force of the spring, thereby the “retracted position”. It will be. In the present embodiment, the game card forming medium C1 conveyed from the card posture changing unit 8 toward the printing unit 4 moves the positioning claw 37a in the standing posture against the biasing force of the spring in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG. By pushing down, the positioning portion 37 switches from the exposed position to the retracted position, and the positioning claw 37a automatically returns from the lying posture to the standing posture by the biasing force (returning force) of the spring after passing the game card forming medium C1, The positioning unit is configured to switch from the retracted position to the exposed position. In the present embodiment, the game card forming medium C1 conveyed from the card posture changing unit 8 toward the printing unit 4 passes through the positioning unit 37, and then the positioning claw 37a automatically returns from the lying posture to the standing posture. Then, the game card forming medium C1 is fed back from the printing unit 4 toward the card posture changing unit 8, and the rear end of the game card forming medium C1 is positioned at the exposed position 37 (specifically, the positioning claw 37a in the standing posture). ) To position the rear end of the game card forming medium C1. Further, as will be described later, the game card printer P of the present embodiment performs double-sided printing by inverting the game card forming medium C1 by the reversing unit 6, and after the print processing on the front side is completed, the cam 37b The positioning claw 37a in the upright posture is actuated to rotate in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG. 3 against the urging force of the spring to change to the lying posture, and the positioning portion 37 is switched from the exposure position to the retracted position. doing. In this state (the positioning unit 37 is switched from the exposure position to the retracted position), the game card forming medium C1 is conveyed toward the reversing unit 6, and after passing the game card forming medium C1, the cam 37b is operated to position the positioning claw 37a. Is set so that the positioning portion 37 is switched from the retracted position to the exposed position.

  The printing unit 4 is of a thermal transfer type in which the ink on the ink ribbon 41 is heated by the thermal head 42 and transferred to the game card forming medium C1. In the present embodiment, the print area C2 of the game card forming medium C1 that passes between the thermal head 42 and the platen roller 43 in a state where the grip margin C4 of the game card forming medium C1 is sandwiched between the third transport rollers 33. Printing is started, and the game card forming medium C <b> 1 is sent out toward the game card issuing unit 5 by the third transport roller 33. By such a printing unit 4, printing can be performed from the front end (tip) of the printing area C2 in the game card forming medium C1, that is, the boundary between the printing area C2 and the gripping margin part C4.

  The ink ribbon 41 has a supply side core 44 and a take-up side core 45. For example, a yellow, magenta, and cyan ink application region and a transparent overcoat material application region that protects the printing surface are repeatedly provided. It has been. The printing unit 4 of the present embodiment can sequentially send these application areas to the position of the thermal head 42 and perform color printing on the surface (upward surface) facing the thermal head 42 of the game card forming medium C1. . In addition to the yellow, magenta, and cyan ink application areas, an ink ribbon provided with a black ink application area can be applied, or the yellow, magenta, and cyan ink application areas are not black. It is also possible to apply an ink ribbon having an ink application area.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the reversing unit 6 is disposed behind the card posture changing unit 8 in the internal space of the printer housing 2, and is around a horizontal axis parallel to the extending direction of the conveyance path 30 (in FIG. 3). A rotating part (rotating drum 61) that can rotate in the direction of arrow D5 and a receiving plate 62 provided on the front side of the rotating drum 61 are provided, and are sent from the conveying path 30 to the rotating drum 61 through the receiving plate 62. In the state where the game card forming medium C1 is held by the holding portion 63 provided inside the rotating drum 61, the rotating drum 61 is rotated 180 degrees to invert the front and back surfaces of the game card forming medium C1. . Inside the rotating drum 61, a sixth transport roller 64 that feeds the interior of the rotating drum 61 is provided. In the present embodiment, the distance between the sixth transport roller 64 and the sandwiching transport roller 81 of the card posture changing unit 8 is set to be shorter than the total length of the game card forming medium C1 including the grip margin C4. .

  A procedure for creating a game card C printed on both sides of the game card main body C3 of the game card forming medium C1 by the game card printer P having such a configuration and discharging it from the game card issuing unit 5 will be described.

  First, the game card printer P of the present embodiment forms the last game card among the game card forming media C1 accommodated in the cassette 11 in a state of being stacked vertically (standing posture) in the thickness direction. The medium 1 </ b> C is fed upward by the feeding claw 13 of the vertical feeding unit 12 and fed toward the card posture changing unit 8 while being pinched by the paper feed roller 14. Subsequently, the game card printer P of the present embodiment detects the passage of the game card forming medium C1 by the first sensor S1 disposed between the paper feed roller 14 of the paper feed unit 1 and the card posture changing unit 8, Based on the detection signal, the game card formation in which the attitude changing unit 84 of the card attitude changing unit 8 is turned 90 degrees counterclockwise (arrow D3 direction) in FIG. The medium C <b> 1 is changed to a recumbent posture in which the grip margin C <b> 4 faces the printing unit 4, and the game card forming medium C <b> 1 in a recumbent posture is conveyed toward the printing unit 4 by the holding conveyance roller 81. At this time, the positioning portion 37 is in the exposed position.

  And the game card printer P of this embodiment arrange | positions the 2nd sensor S2 between the positioning part 37 and the printing part 4, and when the passage of the game card formation medium C1 is detected by the 2nd sensor S2, the detection Based on the signal, after the positioning unit 37 is moved from the retracted position to the exposed position, the game card forming medium C1 is slightly retracted (sent back), and the rear end is brought into contact with the positioning unit 37 to thereby make the game card. The formation medium C <b> 1 is positioned, and the positioned game card C is sent to the printing unit 4 by the second transport roller 32 of the transport unit 3. In addition, when the positioning claw 37a takes an upright posture by the urging force of the spring, the positioning portion 37 in the exposed position where the upper end portion of the positioning claw 37a is exposed on the transport path 30 passes through the game card forming medium C1. Further, when the positioning claw 37a is pushed by the game card forming medium C1 and rotates in the direction of the arrow D4 in FIG. 3, the positioning portion 37 is switched from the exposed position to the retracted position. The game card printer P according to the present embodiment cleans the game card forming medium C1 before reaching the printing unit 4 by the cleaning roller 36 in the process of transporting the game card forming medium C1 toward the printing unit 4. A cleaning process is performed on the surface (upward surface) facing the roller 36.

  And the game card printer P of this embodiment arrange | positions 3rd sensor S3 and 4th sensor S4 in the position which pinches | interposes the printing part 4 in a conveyance direction, and detected passage of the game card formation medium C1 by 3rd sensor S3. In this case, based on the detection signal, the printing unit 4 is set in a standby state, and when the fourth sensor S4 detects passage of the game card forming medium C1, printing processing by the printing unit 4 is started based on the detection signal. As a result, it is possible to perform a printing process on the upward face of the game card forming medium C1 facing the thermal head 42. At this time, the upward surface of the game card forming medium C1 facing the thermal head 42 is the front surface. The fourth sensor S4 detects passage of the game card forming medium C1 before execution of the printing process.

  Next, the game card printer P of the present embodiment conveys (sends back) the game card forming medium C <b> 1 toward the reversal unit 6 by the conveyance unit 3. At this time, the passage of the game card forming medium C1 is detected by the fifth sensor S5 disposed between the printing unit 4 and the card posture changing unit 8, and the direction indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 3 is directed based on the detection signal. The holding conveyance roller 81 in the posture changing unit 84 is rotated toward the reversing unit 6 in a direction in which the game card forming medium C1 can be conveyed. Thereby, the game card printer P of the present embodiment can send the game card forming medium C1 to the reversing unit 6 via the card posture changing unit 8. In the present embodiment, when the game card forming medium C1 is sent to the reversing unit 6, the positioning unit 37 is set to be switched from the exposure position to the retracted position before the game card forming medium C1 passes. Specifically, the positioning portion 37 is switched from the exposed position to the retracted position by operating the cam 37b and rotating the positioning claw 37a in the standing posture against the biasing force of the spring in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG. be able to. In the game card printer P of the present embodiment, the game card forming medium C1 sent to the reversing unit 6 is reversed by the reversing unit 6 so that the back surface faces upward, and the conveying unit 3 maintains the orientation. Is conveyed toward the printing unit 4. At this time, the game card C having the upward surface as the back surface is sent to the conveyance path 30 via the holding conveyance roller 81 of the card posture changing unit 8 with the gripping portion C4 facing forward, and the above-mentioned front card The printing unit 4 prints the back side of the game card forming medium C1 by the same procedure as that for printing the side.

  The game card printer P of the present embodiment conveys the game card forming medium C1 that has undergone the printing process on both the front side and the back side through such a procedure to the cut unit 9 by the fourth conveyance roller 34, and The passage of the game card forming medium C1 is detected by the sixth sensor S6 disposed between the four transport rollers 34 and the cutting unit 9, and the grip margin part C4 of the game card forming medium C1 and the game card are detected based on the detection signal. A game card C, which has a predetermined card size and is subjected to printing processing on the front side and the back side, is cut by the cutting unit 9 at the boundary portion with the main body C3, and the printer housing 2 is passed through the game card issuing unit 5. It is discharged and issued to the front surface 21A side.

  In addition, the game card printer P of the present embodiment includes a collection unit 11a that collects the grip margin C4 that is separated from the game card main body C3 by the cutting process by the cut unit 9. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a collection unit is configured by a collection box 11 a provided in a portion corresponding to the lower region of the cut unit 9 in the cassette 11 and opening in a direction facing the cut unit 9. Yes. The space in the collection box 11a is not communicated with the internal space for setting the game card forming medium C1 in the cassette 11 and is partitioned. The gripping margins C4 collected in the collection box 11a are not neatly arranged and are in a cluttered state, and the collection order of the gripping margins C4 (the order separated by the cut portion 9) cannot be specified from the collection state. Is set to

  Note that each of the sensors S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6 in the present embodiment is a non-contact optical sensor composed of a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion. In FIG. A line is schematically shown by a dotted line. In addition, it can also comprise so that passage of the game card formation medium C1 can be detected with sensors other than an optical sensor.

  And the game card issuing apparatus X of this embodiment can detect the identification information currently recorded on the grip margin part C4 which functions as an identification information recording part among the game card formation media C1 supplied from the paper supply part 1. An identification information detection unit S7 is provided, and the printing unit 4 performs a printing process on the game card body C3 based on detection information from the identification information detection unit S7. The identification information detection unit S7 is located between the paper feeding unit 1 and the game card issuing unit 5 (game card discharge port) in the printer housing 2 and through which the game card forming medium C1 passes (paper feeding unit 1). 3, the path from the cassette 11 to the card attitude changing unit 8, and the conveyance path 30) extending in the front-rear direction of the printer housing 2, can be arranged at an appropriate position. FIG. The identification information detection unit S7 is disposed between the positioning unit 37 and the positioning unit 37. In the present embodiment, the identification information detection unit S7 is configured by a reflection sensor. In particular, in this embodiment that employs an arrangement in which a plurality of identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, and Cz formed in the gripping margin C4 are arranged apart from each other in the width direction of the game card forming medium C1, The same number of reflection sensors as the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz are arranged at a predetermined distance in the width direction of the game card forming medium C1, and are arranged in the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz aligned in the width direction. It is set so that the recorded special printing process can be detected simultaneously or substantially simultaneously.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the grip margin C <b> 4 is the leading end along the conveyance direction H of the game card forming medium C <b> 1 during the printing process by the printing unit 4. Identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, and Cz are formed at positions spaced apart from the portion C41 (the tip C41 of the gripping margin C4) by a predetermined distance, and are identified from the tip C41 of the gripping margin C4 in the transport direction H described above. A predetermined blank portion is formed between the information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, and Cz. In the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment, the identification information detection unit S7 first detects the passage of the tip C41 of the gripping margin C4, and the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz from the tip C41. The sensor constituting the identification information detection unit S7 is calibrated in the blank part until the time, and the sensing process for the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz is performed following the calibration process. The calibration process is a process that is performed in consideration of variations such as variations in the game card forming medium C1 and sensor aging. Of the first to sixth sensors S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6 described above, the sensor is disposed between the paper feeding unit 1 and the game card issuing unit 5 (game card discharge port). Can also be used as a sensor constituting the identification information detection unit. When the identification information detection unit is arranged at a position closer to the game card issuing unit 5 (game card discharge port) side than the printing unit 4 in the route through which the game card forming medium C1 passes, the printing process by the printing unit 4 is executed. The game card forming medium C1 is transported to a position where the detection processing by the identification information detection unit can be performed at a point before the time, and the game card forming medium C1 is sent back after the detection processing to execute the printing processing by the printing unit 4. What should I do?

  In the game card printer P of the present embodiment, the operation of the game card printer P described above is controlled by the game card printer control unit PC. The game card printer control unit PC is communicably connected to a game machine control unit GC that controls the operation of parts other than the game card printer P in the game card issuing device X. This communication may be wired or wireless. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the game card printer control unit PC is built in the game card printer P casing, but is outside the game card printer P casing and appropriately in the game machine casing G1. It is also possible to arrange in places. The game card printer control unit PC and the game machine control unit GC cooperate to control the operation of the game card issuing device X. Therefore, in this embodiment, it can be understood that the control unit that controls the operation of the game card issuing device X is configured by the game card printer control unit PC and the game machine control unit GC.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment has at least a front side of the game card main body C3 as the game card forming medium C1 stored in the cassette 11 of the storage unit. Alternatively, a special game card forming medium C1a (see FIGS. 6 and 7) having a special print portion C6 that has been subjected to special print processing in advance on one of the back surfaces, and the front and back surfaces of the game card main body C3. A normal game card forming medium C1b (see FIG. 4) in which no special processing is applied to any of the surfaces is prepared, and both games are made so that the special game card forming medium C1a is smaller than the normal game card forming medium C1b. Card formation medium C1 (special game card formation medium C1a, normal game card formation medium C1b) is randomly or at a fixed rate (for example, 100 cards 99 game card formation media C1b, one special game card formation medium C1a, or 19 game game formation media C1b out of 20 game card formation media, special game card formation media C1a is housed in the cassette 11 in a mixed state (such as one sheet at an appropriate ratio). Further, the identification information (information that can be specified by the recording pattern) of the special game card forming medium C1a accommodated in the cassette 11 is set not to be the same. Note that the type of special game card formation medium C1a (the number of recording patterns) in the total number of special game card formation media C1a accommodated in the cassette 11 can be set as appropriate, and different types of special game card formation media C1a ( The ratio between the special game card forming media C1a) having different recording patterns may be equal or unequal.

  The game card forming medium C1 of this embodiment supplied to the game card issuing device X that can issue the game card C that has been printed on demand on the front side and the back side is the front side of the game card main body C3, While the special printing portion C6 exists on the back surface, identification information is given only to the front surface of the gripping allowance portion C4. Even if the game card C is printed on demand on the front side and the back side on demand, either the front side or the back side of the game card main body C3 is used as the special game card forming medium C1a. It is possible to apply one having the special print portion C6 only on one side. It is set so that the special print portion C6 appears only on either the front side or the back side of the special game card main body C3 can be specified by the recording pattern recorded in the gripping margin C4. It is also possible.

  In the game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment, the game card forming medium C1 is the special game card forming medium C1a, and the game card forming medium C1 is the normal game card forming medium C1b. However, the operation of the game card printer P for the game card forming medium C1 is set in common, and any game card forming medium C1 (special game card forming medium C1a, normal game card forming medium C1b) is printed on both sides by the printing unit 4. A print process is performed (see FIGS. 9 to 11), and the game card C is cut into a predetermined size (see FIGS. 13 to 15) and discharged from the game card issuing unit 5 to be issued. The game card C issued from the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment is based on the special game card CP (premium card) based on the special game card forming medium C1a and the normal game card forming medium C1b. Usually, it is roughly divided into two types of game cards CC (common cards).

  The operation of the game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment is controlled by a game card printer control unit PC and a game machine control unit GC that can communicate with each other. The game card printer control unit PC and the game machine control unit GC are The following means are provided.

  As shown in the figure, the game machine control unit GC includes a coin determination unit M1, an instruction signal output unit M2, a specified game card forming medium information receiving unit M3, a display display content determination unit M4, and a display display execution unit. M5, print pattern determination means M6, print pattern output means M7, and normal discharge detection means M8.

  The coin discriminating means M1 can be used in the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment when the coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot G4 (see FIG. 1) provided in the front surface of the game machine housing G1 and accommodated in the coin stacker G5. It is discriminated whether or not it is a regular coin and whether or not it is a predetermined number. As the detection means for detecting whether or not the coin is a regular coin and a predetermined number of coins, a known means can be applied.

  The instruction signal output means M2 forms the next game card C to be issued from the paper supply unit 1 of the game card printer P when the coin determination means M1 determines that it is a regular coin and a predetermined number of coins. Specifying the type of the game card forming medium C1 fed out from the paper feeding unit 1 based on the game card forming medium feeding instruction signal for instructing to feed one game card forming medium C1 and the game card forming medium feeding instruction signal Is output to the game card printer control unit PC.

  The specified game card forming medium information receiving unit M3 receives information on the specified game card forming medium output from the specified game card forming medium information output unit M14 of the game card printer control unit PC described later.

  The display display content determination means M4 determines at least the content to be displayed on the display G2 of the game machine housing G1 based on the information regarding the specified game card formation medium received by the specified game card formation medium information reception means M3. The display display execution means M5 displays the content determined by the display display content determination means M4 on the display G2. In the present embodiment, when the type of the specified game card formation medium is the normal game card formation medium C1b based on the information related to the specified game card formation medium, the game content for the game is started by starting the normal game card game. ("Game content" means content corresponding to the development of the game, and does not indicate only the text itself describing the content of the game. The game content below is also displayed on the display G2.) When the type of the specified game card forming medium is the special game card forming medium C1a, the special game card game is started and the game content is displayed on the display G2. Note that the normal game card game and the special game card game can be distinguished from each other by different contents displayed on the display G2, the progress of the game, or the difficulty level of the game itself. Furthermore, the game for special game cards can change the content displayed on the display G2, the progress of the game, the difficulty level of the game itself, etc. for each identification information that can be specified from the recording pattern. Programs for normal game card games and special game card games are stored in an appropriate storage device (storage unit) such as an HDD. Programs related to a plurality of types of normal game card games and programs related to a plurality of types of special game card games are stored in an appropriate storage unit, and information relating to a specified game card forming medium is displayed as display display content determination means M4. That is, based on the identification information attached to the game card forming medium C1 that forms the game card C to be issued next, a game corresponding to one game program selected from the plurality of game programs is started, It is also possible to apply what is configured to display the game content on the display G2.

  The print pattern determining means M6 is information relating to the identified game card forming medium, that is, identification information attached to the game card forming medium C1 that forms the game card C to be issued next, and display display content determining means M4. In response to the player's operation after the time when the content determined in step S5 is displayed on the display G2 by the display display execution means M5, printing on the specified game card forming medium (special game card forming medium C1a or normal game card forming medium C1b) The pattern is determined. Here, the print pattern defines the print contents to be printed on the game card main body C2 of the game card forming medium C1, and the print pattern determining means M6 includes not only the identification information that each game card forming medium C1 has. The game card issuing device X selects from a large number of pre-prepared print patterns according to a plurality of types of normal game card games, special game card games, and game results (wins and losses, etc.) by player operations. It is set to determine an arbitrary print pattern. A large number of print patterns are stored in an appropriate storage unit. In addition, a large number of print patterns can be stored in a state of being classified in advance for each type of game corresponding to the type of identified game card forming medium (content of identification information). As the print pattern determination means M6, a plurality of print patterns prepared (stored) is selected on the game card issuing device X side according to the game result (win / loss etc.) by the operation of the player, It is also possible to apply one that determines one print pattern selected by the player from the plurality of print patterns as a print pattern for the specified game card forming medium (the special game card forming medium C1a or the normal game card forming medium C1b). Is possible. In the present embodiment, the print area determined when the identified game card forming medium is the normal game card forming medium C1b is set to the print area set in the game card main body C3 of the normal game card forming medium C1b. While the print pattern of the content to be printed on the entire C2 is set, the print pattern determined when the specified game card forming medium is the special game card forming medium C1a is set as the game pattern main body of the special game card forming medium C1a. In the print area C2 set in C3, the print pattern has a content for performing print processing on a portion excluding the special print portion C6. Note that the print pattern determined by the print pattern determination unit M6 may be a print pattern in which a plurality of print patterns are combined (for example, a print pattern in which a character-related print pattern and a background-related print pattern are combined).

  The print pattern output means M7 outputs the print pattern determined by the print pattern determination means M6 to the game card printer control unit PC, and the normal discharge detection means M8 issues a game card issued by the game card printer control unit PC described later. It detects that the game card C issued by the means M17 has been normally discharged from the game card issuing unit 5. The normal discharge detecting means M8 can be configured using a well-known device such as a game card issuing unit 5 or a sensor provided in the vicinity of the game card issuing unit 5.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the game card printer control unit PC outputs an instruction signal receiving means M11, a game card forming medium feeding means M12, a game card forming medium specifying means M13, and a specified game card forming medium information output. A section M14, a print pattern receiving means M15, an on-demand printing means M16, and a game card issuing means M17.

  The instruction signal receiving means M11 is for receiving the game card forming medium feeding instruction signal and the game card forming medium specifying instruction signal output from the instruction signal outputting means M2 of the game machine controller GC, and the game card forming medium feeding means. M12 is one game card forming medium from a large number of game card forming media C1 accommodated in the cassette 11 of the sheet feeding unit 1 based on the game card forming medium feeding instruction signal received by the instruction signal receiving means M11. C1 is fed out toward the printing unit 4. In the present embodiment, the game card C accommodated in the innermost part of the game card forming medium C1 accommodated in the cassette 11 is fed out toward the printing part 4 by the vertical delivery part 12 of the paper supply part 1. It is configured.

  The game card forming medium specifying unit M13 specifies the identification information of the game card forming medium C1 fed out by the game card forming medium feeding unit M12 based on the game card forming medium specifying instruction signal received by the instruction signal receiving unit M11. Is. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the grip margin C4 that is cut and removed from the game card forming medium C1 before being ejected from the game card issuing unit 5 Focusing on the fact that the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz are subjected to special printing processing, the reflection of each identification information recording area Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz is performed by a plurality of reflection sensors S7. If the detected value is greater than or equal to the specified value (when the reflectance is high), the identification information recording area is identified as having undergone special printing, and special printing is performed. The identification information recorded on the game card forming medium C1 can be specified based on the “recording pattern of the special print portion” which is a combination of the identification information recording areas. When the detection values of all the reflection sensors S7 are less than a predetermined value (when the reflectance is low), recording in which no special print portion C6 is set in all the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz. The game card forming medium C1 having a pattern, that is, the normal game card forming medium C1b can be specified. Thus, in the case of special printing such as a hologram, the change in reflectance is read by the sensor, and the identification information recorded on the game card forming medium C1 is read based on the read information (reflectance change information). It can be configured to be specific. In the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment, the sensor S7 used for such a game card forming medium specifying unit M13 is used as described above, in the direction in which the game card forming medium C1 is conveyed (conveyed during printing processing by the printing unit 4). In the direction) in the upstream side of the printing unit 4 (between the card posture changing unit 8 and the positioning unit 37 in FIG. 3).

  Further, the specified game card formation medium information output unit M14 is information relating to the specified game card formation medium that is the game card formation medium C1 specified by the game card formation medium specification means M13, that is, the identification that the game card formation medium C1 has. Information identifying what kind of identification information is output is output to the game machine controller GC.

  The print pattern receiving means M15 receives the print pattern output from the print pattern output means M7 of the game machine controller GC, and the on-demand printing means M16 is based on the print pattern received by the print pattern receiving means M15. And printing on demand on part or all of the specified game card forming medium. Since the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment incorporates the game card printer P described above, printing can be performed on demand on the front and back surfaces of the game card main body C3 in the specified game card forming medium. it can. In the present embodiment, when the specified game card forming medium is the normal game card forming medium C1b, the entire print area C2 of the normal game card forming medium C1b is printed as the print pattern determined by the print pattern determining unit M6. Is set so as to select the print pattern of the content to be subjected to the printing, the printing process is performed on the entire print area C2 set in the game card main body C3 of the normal game card forming medium C1b by the on-demand printing means M16. . Here, FIG. 9 shows the base game card forming medium C1b immediately after the on-demand printing process is performed by the on-demand printing means M16. In the same figure, in the printing area C2 set for the entire game card main body C3 of the normal game card forming medium C1b, the portion C7 subjected to the printing process by the printing unit 4 is shown in the special area shown in FIGS. A pattern different from the pattern attached to the special print portion C6 printed on the game card main body C3 of the game card forming medium C1a is shown. Note that this figure is a drawing for the purpose of easily grasping the portion subjected to the printing process in the printing area C2 of the normal game card forming medium C1b, and is not a drawing showing the printing content itself. As can be understood from FIG. 9, the entire print area C2 is set in the print area C2 set in the game card main body C3 of the normal game card forming medium C1b.

  On the other hand, when the specified game card forming medium is any of the special game card forming medium C1, the print formed on the game card main body C3 of the special game card forming medium C1a as the print pattern determined by the print pattern determining means M6. Since it is set to select a print pattern having a content to be printed on a part of the area C2 (a part excluding the special print part C6), the print area C2 of the special game card forming medium C1a by the on-demand printing means M16. A part of the print processing is performed. Here, FIG. 10 shows the special game card formation medium C1a immediately after the on-demand printing process is performed by the on-demand printing means M16 on the game card main body C3 of the special game card formation medium C1a shown in FIG. This figure is a drawing for the purpose of easily grasping the printed part C7 that appears in the print area C2 of the special game card forming medium C1a and the part where the special printed part C6 appears without being subjected to the printing process. Like FIG. 9, it is not a drawing showing the printing content itself. As can be understood from FIG. 10, the print area C2 of the special game card forming medium C1a is subjected to the part C7 subjected to the printing process by the printing unit 4 and the printing process by the printing unit 4 in advance. Special printing portion C6 appears. By exposing such a special print portion C6, it is possible to impart a premium property with a high design property to the special game card forming medium C1a. In some cases, the on-demand printing unit M16 performs a full-color printing process with a light color.

  The game card issuing means M17 discharges and issues the specified game card forming medium subjected to the printing process by the on-demand printing means M16 as the game card C from the game card issuing unit 5. In this embodiment, after printing on the front side and the back side of the specified game card forming medium on demand, the cutting portion 9 cuts the boundary portion between the print area C2 and the gripping margin portion C4 to thereby obtain the grip margin portion C4. By removing the game card C, the game card C has a predetermined size, and the game card C is discharged from the game card issuing unit 5 and issued.

  Next, a method for using the game card issuing apparatus X having the above-described configuration, a procedure and an operation until the game card C is issued will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when the player inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot G4, the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment is inserted into the coin insertion slot G4 provided on the front surface of the game machine casing G1 by the coin discriminating means M1. When it is determined whether or not the coins stored in the stacker G5 are regular coins and a predetermined number of coins (coin determination step St1), and it is determined that the coins are regular coins and a predetermined number In addition, the instruction signal output means M2 outputs a game card formation medium feeding instruction signal and a game card formation medium specifying instruction signal to the game card printer controller PC (instruction signal output step St2). In the coin determination step St1, if it is determined that the coin is not a regular coin or does not satisfy the predetermined number of coins, the fact is displayed on the display G2, or voice guidance is given through a speaker, etc. The player may be prompted to input

  Subsequent to the instruction signal output step St2, the game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment includes the game card forming medium feeding instruction signal output from the instruction signal output means M2 of the game machine controller GC by the instruction signal receiving means M11. A game card forming medium specifying instruction signal is received (instruction signal receiving step St3), and then from the cassette 11 of the paper feeding unit 1 based on the received game card forming medium feeding instruction signal by the game card forming medium feeding means M12. One game card forming medium C1 is fed out toward the printing unit 4 (game card forming medium feeding step St4), and based on the game card forming medium specifying instruction signal, the identification information of the fed out game card forming medium C1 is stored in the game. It is specified by card forming medium specifying means M13 (game card type Medium specification step St5). Specifically, identification information is specified from the recording pattern of the special print portion C6 recorded in the grip allowance portion C3 of the game card forming medium C1.

  Subsequent to the game card forming medium specifying step St5, the game card issuing apparatus X of the present embodiment is information about the specified game card forming medium that is the game card forming medium C1 specified by the game card forming medium specifying means M13, that is, The identification information attached to the specified game card forming medium is output to the game machine control unit GC by the specified game card forming medium information output unit M14 (specified game card forming medium information output step St6).

  Next, the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment receives information (identification information) related to the specified game card forming medium by the specified game card forming medium information receiving unit M3 (specified game card forming medium information receiving step St7). ) Based on the received information regarding the specified game card forming medium, at least the content to be displayed on the display G2 of the game machine housing G1 is determined by the display display content determination means M4 (display display content determination step St8), and the determination The displayed contents are displayed on the display G2 by the display display execution means M5 (display display execution step St9). Specifically, based on the identification information attached to the specified game card forming medium, a game predetermined according to each identification information is started, and the game content is displayed on the display G2.

  Subsequent to the display display execution step St9, the game card issuing device X of the present embodiment attaches information relating to the identified game card forming medium, that is, the game card forming medium C1 that forms the game card C to be issued next. The print pattern determining means M6 determines the print pattern for the specified game card forming medium in accordance with the identification information being displayed and the player's operation after the display display execution step St9 (print pattern determining step St10). The print pattern is output to the game card printer controller PC by the print pattern output means M7 (print pattern output step St11). In the present embodiment, as the processing in the print pattern determination step St10, a number of prepared in advance are determined according to the identification information attached to the specified game card forming medium and the game result (win or loss) by the player's operation. A process for determining an arbitrary print pattern selected on the game card issuing apparatus X side from the print pattern is applied.

  Next, the game card issuing apparatus X of the present embodiment receives the print pattern output in the print pattern output step St11 by the print pattern receiving means M15 (print pattern reception step St12), and subsequently receives the received print pattern. On the basis of this, the on-demand printing means M16 prints on-demand on a part or the whole of the game card main body C3 in the specified game card forming medium (on-demand printing step St13). The game card issuing device X of the present embodiment can print on the front side and the back side of the specified game card forming medium on demand. Further, the game card printer P is operated to activate the game card both when the specified game card forming medium is the normal game card forming medium C1b and when the specified game card forming medium is the special game card forming medium C1a. The processing itself for executing on-demand printing on both sides of the forming medium C1 is common. In this embodiment, when the specified game card forming medium is the normal game card forming medium C1b, the print pattern determined in the print pattern determining step St10 is the game card main body C3 of the normal game card forming medium C1b. Since the print pattern of the content to be subjected to the printing process is selected in the entire print area C2, the print area of the normal game card forming medium C1b after the on-demand print step St13 as shown in FIG. C2 is subjected to a full surface printing process. On the other hand, when the specified game card forming medium is the special game card forming medium C1a, the print pattern determined in the print pattern determining step St10 is previously stored in the print area C2 of the game card main body C3 of the special game card forming medium C1a. Since it is set to select a print pattern with a content to be printed on a portion other than the specially processed portion C6 being printed, a special game card is formed after the on-demand printing step St13 as shown in FIG. In the printing area C2 of the medium C1a, a portion C7 subjected to the printing process and a special printing portion C6 appear, and the special printing portion C6 can be added as a premium.

  Subsequent to the on-demand printing step St13, the game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment uses the game card issuing means M17 as a game card C for the specified game card forming medium subjected to the printing process in the on-demand printing step St13. The card is issued from the card issuing unit 5 (game card issuing step St14). In this game card issuance step St14, the print area C2 among the specified game card forming media subjected to the on-demand printing process on all or part of the print areas C2 on the front side and the back side through the on-demand printing step St13. By cutting the boundary portion between the gripping allowance portion C4 with the cut portion 9 and removing the gripping allowance portion C4, a game card C of a predetermined size is formed, and the game card C is discharged from the game card issuing portion 5. It is configured to be issued. The game card C issued by the game card issuing device X is, as shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, a normal game card CC (FIG. 13) obtained by performing an on-demand printing process on the normal game card forming medium C1b. And a special game card CP (see FIGS. 14 and 15) obtained by subjecting the special game card forming medium C1a to an on-demand printing process.

  Subsequent to the game card issuing step St14, the game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment indicates that the game card C issued through the game card issuing step St14 has been normally discharged from the game card issuing unit 5 as normal discharge detecting means M8. (Normal discharge detection step St15), and the process related to one game by the player is ended. The player can directly access the normal game card CC or the special game card CP discharged and issued from the game card issuing unit 5 through such a processing procedure, and can acquire the game card C. . If the normal discharge detection step St15 cannot be performed within a predetermined time after the completion of the game card issuing step St14, that is, the game card is normally discharged from the game card issuing unit 5 within a predetermined time after the issuance processing of the game card C. If the normal discharge detection means M8 cannot detect this, a process of notifying the player that an abnormal situation such as a card jam has occurred through the display G2 or the speaker is executed.

  The game card C issued to the player through the above-described procedure is composed only of the game card main body C3 in the game card forming medium C1, and the gripping portion C4 is a collection unit provided in the game card issuing device C. 11a is collected. Therefore, it is impossible for the player to obtain the gripping portion C4, and it is impossible to know the contents recorded in the gripping portion C4. As described above, the game card forming medium C1 used in the present embodiment has a card body C3 to be issued and a grip attached with at least identification information that is information for specifying the contents printed on the game card body C3. A game card main body C3 printed with the printing unit 4 is issued as a game card C after being supplied to the game card issuing device X, with a proxy part C4 (identification information recording part) being integrated. Until the grip portion C4 (identification information recording portion) is separated from the game card main body portion C3 and collected in the game card issuing device X, the grip margin portion C4 (identification information recording portion) becomes the card main body. A situation in which the grip margin part C4 (identification information recording part) is not issued as a game card together with the part C3, and the player receives the issued game card C. It can be avoided. Therefore, it is impossible for the player to decipher the relationship between the identification information and the print pattern printed on the card body C3, and the security can be improved.

  In particular, the game card forming medium C1 according to the present embodiment has a card main body portion in advance before the identification information recorded in the grip allowance portion C4 (identification information recording portion) is supplied to the game card issuing device X. Since it can be specified based on the recording pattern of the special print portion C6 printed by the same special print processing method as that applied to C3, the region where the identification information is recorded and its peripheral portion Can be minimized. As a result, a problem that occurs when a large uneven shape appears in the area where the identification information is recorded and its peripheral portion due to the process of recording the identification information, that is, the part where the identification information is recorded in the game card main body C3. It is possible to prevent / suppress the problem that the printing process by the printing unit 4 for the part corresponding to the periphery of the image cannot be appropriately performed due to the influence of the unevenness and so-called white spots (white turbidity) occur. In addition, in this embodiment, the game card forming medium C1 in which the special print portion C6 is formed in the gripping portion C4 (identification information recording portion) by the special print processing before being supplied to the game card issuing device X is used as the special game. While the card forming medium C1a can be used, the game card forming medium C1 in which the special printing portion C6 is not formed in the gripping margin C4 (identification information recording portion), and the special printing portion C6 in the game card main body C3. Special printing processing can be used as the normal game card forming medium C1b that does not appear, and only in the special game card forming medium C1a that forms the special game card CC to which the premium property is imparted. Is sufficient, and the gripping portion C4 of the game card forming medium C1 that is normally used as the game card forming medium C1b It is possible to omit special printing process for identification information recording unit), which is preferable.

  Further, the game card forming medium C1 of the present embodiment has a pattern (main body part special print pattern) such as the position, shape and number of special print portions C6 applied to the game card main body C3 for each different identification information. It is possible to form a variety of game cards C (special game cards CC) having different main body special print patterns. In particular, in this embodiment, since the printing unit 4 performs a printing process on the game card body C3 except for the specially processed portion C6, the game card body C3 is subjected to a special printing process. Compared with the aspect of forming the print processed part C7 by the printing unit 4 so as to overlap the predetermined part of the special print part C6, the formation area of the special print part C6 in the game card main body C3 is efficiently limited. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the ink consumption required for special printing.

  Furthermore, according to the game card forming medium C1 according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to secure a recording area for identifying information in a part of the game card main body C3 issued as the game card C, and the game card main body C3. The area that can be processed by the printing unit 4 occupying the entire area can be secured as wide as possible, and the identification information appearing on the issued card C appears as an unnatural pattern or mark. Problems can also be resolved.

  In addition, the game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment includes a sheet feeding unit 1 that supplies the above-described game card forming medium C1 and an identification information recording unit among the game card forming medium C1 that is supplied from the sheet feeding unit 1. The identification information detection unit S7 that can detect the identification information of the gripping allowance C4 that functions, the printing unit 4 that prints on the game card body C3 based on the detection information by the identification information detection unit S7, and the printing unit 4 A cut portion 9 for cutting the grip allowance portion C4 from the printed game card main body portion C3, a collection portion 11a for collecting the grip allowance portion C4 cut by the cut portion 9, and a game card cut by the cut portion 9 Since it has the game card issuing unit 5 that discharges and issues the main body C3, the gripping portion C4 cut by the cut unit 9 is collected by the collection unit 11a, and is cut by the cut unit 9. The game card C issued from the game card issuing unit 5 can be discharged from the game card issuing unit 5 and issued by the printing unit 4 on the basis of the detection information. Since the identification information is not recorded, the user who receives the issued game card C cannot decipher the relationship between the identification information and the print pattern printed on the game card main body C3. Security can be improved.

  In addition, in the game card issuing device X according to the present embodiment, as the game card forming medium C1 to be supplied to the supply unit 1, a special print processing method that is applied in advance to the game card main body C3 before being supplied. When the identification information printed by the same special print processing method is applied, the printing unit 4 is connected to the above-described defect, that is, the portion of the game card main body C3 that is continuous with the portion where the identification information is recorded. A premium game in which a defect that white spots are likely to occur after printing processing by the printer can be prevented / suppressed, the printing quality can be improved, and a special printing portion C6 and a printing portion C7 by the printing unit 4 appear. A card CP is formed, or a normal game card CC is formed in which only the print part C7 by the printing unit 4 appears without the special print part C6 appearing. Bets are possible.

  In addition, it can be specified by the special print portion C6 printed by the same special print processing method as the special print processing method applied to the game card main body C3 in advance before being supplied to the game card issuing device X. By using the game card forming medium C1 having the identification information, the special printing portion C6 can be used even if the game card issuing device is not provided with a dedicated special printing unit for executing special printing processing such as hologram processing and special color printing. Can be issued, the cost can be reduced and the size of the card issuing apparatus X can be reduced by the amount that the dedicated special printing unit is unnecessary.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the special print portion C6 set in the game card main body C3 is formed by the hologram processing process and the special color print process among the game card formation medium C1 that can be used as the special game card formation medium C1a. Therefore, it is possible to issue a premium card CP with further improved design.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the card forming medium according to the present invention is used as a medium for forming a game card has been described. However, the card forming medium according to the present invention is a card other than a game card, such as a whale, It can be used as a medium for forming various cards such as certificates and cash vouchers.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the gripping allowance portion functions as the identification information recording portion has been exemplified. However, if the card forming medium has no gripping allowance portion, an appropriate portion other than the card body portion is identified. It can be set in the information recording unit. In the case where a plurality of identification information recording areas are set in the identification information recording unit, the above-described embodiment has shown a layout in which all the identification information recording areas are arranged in the width direction of the card forming medium. As shown in FIG. 16, it is also possible to employ a layout in which the identification information recording areas Cw, Cx, Cy, Cz are arranged in a plurality of rows along the transport direction H. In this case, if the identification information recording areas arranged in the transport direction H (for example, the relationship between the first identification information recording area Cw and the third identification information recording area Cy in FIG. 16) are aligned along the transport direction H (aligned). For example, the number of sensors used as the identification information detection unit is the same as the number of identification information recording areas constituting each column (two in the case of the identification information recording area layout shown in FIG. 16). The structure can be simplified. If the recording contents of the identification information recording area are detected by the identification information detection unit in units of columns with respect to the card forming medium C1 conveyed along the conveyance direction H, all the identification information recording areas Cw, The recorded content of Cx, Cy, Cz can be detected appropriately. FIG. 16 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6, and the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to each other. The number, shape, and layout of the identification information recording area can be set and changed as appropriate.

  In addition, the number of recording patterns in the special printing portion printed on the identification information recording unit can be increased or decreased as appropriate. For each recording pattern of the special printing portion printed on the identification information recording portion, the pattern of the special printing portion of the card main body portion (main body special printing pattern) and the printing pattern by the printing portion may all be different or mutually. A common main body special print pattern or print pattern can be set to be common even when two or more different recording patterns are used.

  Furthermore, it may be a card forming medium in which a special printing portion is applied to the entire printing area of the card main body, and in this case, the card main body according to the recording pattern recorded in the identification information recording portion. If the print pattern of the content to be printed by the printing unit is associated with a predetermined portion of the special printing portion, the issued card includes the special printing portion and the portion printed by the printing portion. Become a premium card that appears.

  “The recording pattern of the special print portion printed on the identification information recording portion” indicates the presence / absence of the special print portion, the position and size of the special print portion in the identification information recording portion, the pattern, or the type of special printing (color or shading). Any suitable pattern defined by the above may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the special print portion (special print portion of the card body portion) that appears on the card to be issued and the special print portion set in the identification information recording portion are portions that have been subjected to hologram processing and special color print processing. Although a case has been illustrated, each special printing portion may be a portion subjected only to hologram processing, a portion subjected to only special color printing processing, or a portion subjected to printing processing with invisible ink. Furthermore, the special color printing process may be a process of printing only one color of fluorescent color, gold, or silver, or all of these three colors, or two colors that are an arbitrary combination. Further, as the card forming medium, it is possible to apply a special print portion itself having an arbitrary shape (mark) such as a star, or a special print portion itself having gradation. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the aspect in which the gripping margin portion functions as the identification information recording portion has been exemplified. However, the identification information recording portion can be formed integrally with the card body portion separately from the gripping margin portion, If the card forming medium does not have a card, an identification information recording unit can be formed (set) at an appropriate place. The identification information recording unit may be formed (set) integrally with the card body of the card forming medium, and the relative position with respect to the card body is not particularly limited.

  In addition, the identification information is stored in the special print portion printed on the identification information recording unit by the same special print processing method as the special print processing method applied to the card body in advance before being supplied to the card issuing device. It is not limited to what can be specified by the recording pattern. For example, identification information includes information that can be recorded by printing other than special printing, information that can be magnetically recorded such as an IC chip or a magnetic tape, or information that can be physically recorded such as punch holes or notches. Can do. It is also possible to use information combining two or more pieces of information with different recording methods as identification information. Depending on the method of recording the identification information, the identification information detection unit detects the recorded identification information (difference in shape, presence / absence of a plus sign, an arbitrary mark, a barcode, a two-dimensional code, special printing, etc. Or a difference in reflectance) may be detected by a predetermined camera, various sensors, or the like.

  Further, it may be a card forming medium in which a part of the identification information recorded in the identification information recording unit is recorded across the card body. Even in such a card forming medium, since the card body portion in which only a part of the identification information is recorded is issued as a card, the user receiving the issued card is based on the part of the identification information. It is extremely difficult to decipher the relationship between the identification information and the print pattern, and the security is improved as compared to a mode in which all of the identification information is recorded on the card body and issued as a card. be able to. Furthermore, when the identification information is a card forming medium recorded from the identification information recording unit to a part of the card body, a part of the identification information recorded on the card body is printed on the card body. It can also be used to constitute a part of the contents.

  A roll paper type can also be applied as the card forming medium. For example, on a rolled paper-like card forming medium wound in a paper feeding unit, an identification information recording unit is secured at a position continuous to the card main unit corresponding to one card, and the card main unit and the identification information After the recording unit is supplied as a unit to the card issuing device, the identification information recording unit is separated from the card main unit until the card main unit on which printing based on the identification information is performed by the printing unit is issued as a card. And if it is comprised so that it may collect | recover in a card | curd issuing apparatus, the effect similar to the effect mentioned above can be acquired.

  The card issuing device according to the present invention is not limited to the device that issues the game card described above, and may be a device that issues an appropriate card (a lottery, a certificate, a cash voucher, etc.) according to the type of the card forming medium. That's fine.

  In the present invention, the timing at which the identification information recording unit is separated from the card main unit by the cut unit and the timing at which the identification information recording unit separated from the card main unit is collected in the card issuing device are determined by the card forming medium. Any timing may be used as long as it is after the card is issued and issued until the card body is discharged and issued by the card issuing unit. For example, in addition to the timing after the printing based on the identification information described in the above embodiment is performed on the card main body, the card main body and the identification information recording unit are supplied to the card issuing device as one unit. Recorded after the timing before printing based on the identification information is performed on the card body, or after the card body and the identification information recording unit are supplied to the card issuing device as a unit. The timing after detecting identification information or before detecting identification information can be mentioned. When the identification information recording unit is separated from the card body unit and collected in the card issuing device before detecting the identification information, the timing at which the identification information is detected by the identification information detection unit is separated from the card body unit. It may be an appropriate time from when it is collected in the issuing device or until it is collected from the card issuing device after being separated from the card body.

  Furthermore, as the card forming medium according to the present invention, the identification information recording part separated from the card body part is collected in an appropriate collection part (such as a collection box) provided outside the card issuing apparatus, or the card issuance is performed. It can also be configured to be disposed of by an appropriate disposal unit provided outside the apparatus. In this case, a card issuing device that does not include a collection unit can be applied.

  Further, the card issuing device according to the present invention may be provided with a plurality of cassettes each storing card forming media having the same identification information. The printing process for the card forming medium fed out from each cassette may be executed by a common printing unit (that is, one printing unit), or by individual printing units (that is, the same number of printing units as the cassette). Each may be configured to execute.

  In addition, the direction (posture) of the card forming medium (card consisting only of the card main body) when the card issuing device is ejected and the direction (posture) of the card forming medium when stored in the paper feeding unit are mutually It is also possible to apply what is set to be the same. In this case, the card posture changing unit in the above-described embodiment is not necessary.

  It is also possible to omit the above-described positioning unit, or to appropriately change the number and arrangement of the conveyance rollers that constitute the conveyance unit and the sensors that detect the passage of the card forming medium.

  In the embodiment described above, the ink on the ink ribbon is directly transferred to the card forming medium by the printing unit. However, the ink may be transferred from the ink ribbon to the intermediate transfer film and then transferred again to the card forming medium. Further, the printing unit is not limited to the thermal transfer type, and may be other types such as an ink jet type.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the rotating body (rotating drum) to which the game card medium is fed is rotated 180 degrees is illustrated as the reversing unit that reverses the front and back surfaces of the game card forming medium. You may employ | adopt the inversion part which inverts the front and back of a card formation medium.

  The card issuing device may issue a card that has been subjected to on-demand printing processing on only one side of the card forming medium. In this case, the above-described inversion unit is not necessary.

  In the above-described embodiment, the game machine control unit and the game card printer control unit that are connected so as to be communicable with each other cooperated to exemplify a mode in which the game device control unit functions as a control unit that controls the operation of the game device. It is also possible to constitute a game device having a single control unit for controlling the operation of the machine and the operation of the game card printer.

  Further, the printer according to the present invention includes a paper feed unit that supplies the card forming medium described above, and an identification that can detect the identification information recorded in the identification information recording unit among the card forming media supplied from the paper feed unit. An information detection unit; a printing unit that prints on the card body based on information detected by the identification information detection unit; a cut unit that cuts the identification information recording unit from the card body printed on the printing unit; and a cutting unit A card issuing unit that discharges and issues the card main body cut in step, and functions as a card issuing device. In other words, the printer of the present invention has a configuration according to the above-described card issuing device, and the card body cut by the cutting unit is discharged and issued by the card issuing unit. The card is printed on the card body based on the printing unit, and the card issued by the card issuing unit is not recorded with any identification information or only a part of the identification information is recorded. The user receiving the card cannot decrypt the relevance between the identification information and the print pattern, and can improve the security. The specific configuration and modification of the printer can also be adopted according to the configuration and modification of the card issuing device described above. Therefore, for example, the printer may include a collection unit that collects the identification information recording unit cut by the cut unit, or the identification information recording unit cut by the cut unit may be provided outside the printer without the collection unit. A printer configured to collect or discard the identification information recording unit using an appropriate collection unit or disposal unit provided may be used. The control unit for controlling the operation of the printer according to the present invention is configured by an arithmetic processing device (controller unit) such as a CPU provided in the printer alone, or an information processing terminal device connected to the printer wirelessly or by wire. You may make it comprise using the arithmetic processing apparatus (controller part) which has.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper feed part 11a ... Collecting part 4 ... Printing part 5 ... Card issuing part 9 ... Cut part C ... Card (game card)
C1 ... Card formation medium (game card formation medium)
C3 ... card body C4 ... identification information recording part (grip allowance part)
C6 ... Special printing part S7 ... Identification information detection part X ... Card issuing device (game card issuing device)

Claims (7)

A card forming medium that is supplied to a card issuing device including a printing unit and forms a card issued after printing by the printing unit,
The card body unit to be issued and an identification information recording unit having at least identification information that is information for specifying the content printed on the card body unit,
The identification information recording unit is configured such that after the card main body unit and the identification information recording unit are supplied to the card issuing apparatus as a unit, the card main unit subjected to printing based on the identification information by the printing unit is a card. The card forming medium is characterized in that it is separated from the card body before being issued as a card. The card forming medium according to claim 1, wherein the identification information recording unit separated from the card body is collected in the card issuing device. The special information is printed on the identification information recording unit by the same special print processing method as the special print processing method applied to the card main body in advance before the identification information is supplied to the card issuing device. The card forming medium according to claim 1, wherein the card forming medium can be specified by a recording pattern of the portion. A paper feed unit that supplies the card forming medium according to claim 1;
An identification information detection unit capable of detecting the identification information included in the identification information recording unit of the card forming medium supplied from the paper supply unit;
The printing unit that performs printing on the card body based on the detection information by the identification information detection unit;
A cutting part for cutting the identification information recording part from the card body part;
A card issuing unit for discharging and issuing the card main body cut by the cut unit;
A printer that functions as the card issuing device. The printer according to claim 4, further comprising a collection unit that collects the identification information recording unit cut by the cut unit. A paper feed unit that supplies the card forming medium according to claim 1;
An identification information detection unit capable of detecting the identification information included in the identification information recording unit of the card forming medium supplied from the paper supply unit;
The printing unit that performs printing on the card body based on the detection information by the identification information detection unit;
A cutting part for cutting the identification information recording part from the card body part;
And a card issuing unit that discharges and issues the card main body cut by the cut unit. The printer according to claim 6, further comprising a collection unit that collects the identification information recording unit cut by the cut unit.

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