Abstract:
So as to reduce the size of a reading and writing apparatus for IC coins and to lower the cost of a reading and writing apparatus for IC coins, a reading and writing apparatus for IC coins is provided that includes a reception portion that receives an IC coin with its surface facing a customer, and moves the IC coin in a predetermined direction to sends the IC coin to a reading and writing portion. The reading and writing portion retains the received IC coin with its surface visually confirmed by the customer. A reading and writing unit for the IC coin is placed at the reading and writing portion, and a sorting portion sorts the IC coin held at the reading and writing portion to a return portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japan Application No. JP2004-254527 filed Sep. 1, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading and writing information stored in IC coins. Particularly, the invention relates to a reading and writing apparatus for IC coins that stores value information suitable for amusement machines and more particularly, a reading and writing apparatus for IC coins which is suitable for game machines that children play. The term “amusement machine” used in the present specification maybe a pin ball machine, a pachinko machine, video machine, a pin ball machine fitted with a slot machine, a slot machine, gaming machine or similar game/ride machine for amusement. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Patent Document Japanese Laying-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-141490 (see FIG. 3 to 5, Page 2 to 5) presents a first conventional technique in which an amusement media lending/issuing machine for purchasing amusement media includes an IC coin drop-in slot through which IC coins, having stored therein value information, are dropped in. The machine also has an IC coin discharge outlet for discharging IC coins, an IC coin path that comes from the IC coin drop-in slot and gets to the IC coin discharge outlet, and a communication means that is arranged at the IC coin path. 
   Japanese Laying-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-327747 (see FIG. 3, Page 9) presents a second conventional technique from which it is known to provide an IC coin processing apparatus for an amusement machine for purchasing amusement media. A plurality of concave retention portions removably retain IC coins communicable under a non-contact state in the outer circumference direction. These retention portions are formed on the circle of a pivotable retention pivot body. An IC coin drop-in slot for dropping in IC coins is arranged at a position facing the outer circumference of the retention pivot body, and a communication means that communicates with IC coins retained by the retention pivot body under non-contact state is arranged at a predetermined position on the pivot trajectory of the retention portions of the retention pivot body. 
   Under the first conventional technique, an IC coin is dropped in through the IC coin drop-in slot with its vertically standing posture, and the IC coin rolls to reach the IC coin path communicable with the communication means, at which position the communication means reads and writes value information stored in the IC coin. Accordingly, a coin path on which an IC coin rolls is necessary, and there is raised a problem that a reading and writing apparatus for IC coins is enlarged in size. A customer or a game player cannot visually confirm that an IC coin is retained at the coin path. So, there is arranged a shutter that is electrically operated so that a game player does not drop in an additional IC coin through the drop-in slot. As a result, there is raised a problem that the reading and writing apparatus of the first conventional technique is expensive. 
   Under the second conventional technique, similarly, an IC coin is dropped in through the drop-in slot with its vertically standing posture, and is received by the retention portion of the retention pivot body, and then the retention pivot body is made to pivot by a predetermined angle to make the dropped in IC coin face the communication means, in which state the communication means communicates with a storage unit of the IC coin. Under the second conventional technique, the IC coin retained at the retention portion can communicated with the communication means when the retention pivot body is made to pivot by a predetermined angle. Accordingly, it is impossible for plural IC coins to communicate with the communication means simultaneously. However, it is required that the diameter of the retention pivot body be two times that of an IC coin or more, which enlarges the reading and writing apparatus in size as well as requires equipment to pivot the retention pivot body, raising a problem of high cost. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The first object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a reading and writing apparatus for IC coins. The second object of the present invention is to lower the cost of a reading and writing apparatus for IC coins. 
   So as to realize the objects, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins according to an aspect of the invention is configured as follows. The reading and writing apparatus for I C coins includes a reception portion that receives an IC coin with its surface facing a customer, and moves the I C coin in a predetermined direction to send the IC coin to a reading and writing portion, the reading and writing portion that retains the received IC coin with its surface visually confirmed by the customer, a reading and writing unit for the IC coin placed at the reading and writing portion, and a sorting portion that it sorts the I C coin held at the reading and writing portion to a return portion. 
   Under this configuration, the IC coin can be placed at the reception portion with its surface facing a customer. Since the reception portion is moved, the I C coin can be moved to the reading and writing portion. At the reading and writing portion, the I C coin communicates with the reading and writing unit, and stores value information obtained by subtracting the utilization charge from stored value information. After playing, the IC coin is returned to the return portion under the operation of the sorting portion. Since the IC coin is moved to the reception portion, the reading and writing portion, and the return portion with its surface facing the customer, the depth of the reading and writing apparatus depends on the thickness of the IC coin. Accordingly, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins can be reduced in size according to the present invention. 
   According to another aspect of the invention the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins has the sorting portion sort the IC coin to the return portion or to a storage portion. Under this configuration, when the reading and writing portion communicates with a communications device and value media stored in the IC coin comes to be zero, the IC coin is sorted to the storage portion by the sorting portion. As a result, the IC coin whose value information gets to zero is not returned to the customer, and the IC coin is not further utilized or utilized illegally. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins has the reception portion with a slide plate that is provided with a setting opening which is slightly larger than the IC coin. Under this configuration, the IC coin is put on the setting opening with its surface facing the customer. When the slide plate is slid, the IC coin is moved to the reading and writing portion to be held at the reading and writing portion with its surface facing the customer. Under the simplified operation of putting the IC coin on the setting opening and sliding the slide plate, the IC coin can be held at the reading and writing portion. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins has the slide plate such that it can reciprocate obliquely upward and backward from the customer side. Under this configuration, since the slide plate is moved obliquely upward and backward from the customer side, the IC coin placed on the setting opening can be moved to the reading and writing portion. Thus, motion along the depth direction is small, which can downsize the apparatus. What is required for the customer is moving the slide plate obliquely upward alone, which has advantage of simple operation. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins allows the IC coin to be held at the reading and writing portion so it can be visually confirmed through the setting opening. Under this configuration, it is visually confirmed that the IC coin is placed at the reading and writing portion through the setting opening of the slide plate. Accordingly, since the customer can confirm that the IC coin is already dropped in, there is no need of arranging a shutter etc. for preventing overlapped drop-in, which can make it possible to manufacture the apparatus at lower cost. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins may have the sorting portion such that it comprises a sorting member that is located under the reading and writing portion, and the sorting member can be selectively moved to a hold position located directly under the reading and writing portion, a return position moved to be located to the storage portion side, or a storage position moved to be located to the return portion side, from the hold position respectively. Under this configuration, when the sorting member is located at the hold position, the IC coin is held at the reading and writing position by the sorting member, when located at the return position, the IC coin is guided to the return portion, while when located at the storage position, the IC coin is guided to the storage portion. Accordingly, since the position of the IC coin is selectively determined depending on the position of the sorting member, the apparatus can be simply configured and can be manufactured at lower cost. Furthermore, the reading and writing apparatus can be reduced in size. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins has a sorting member which is a plate with its lower portion pivotably supported, and is selectively pivoted such that the top thereof is located directly under the reading and writing portion at the hold position, the top thereof is moved to the storage portion side at the return position, and the top thereof is moved to the return portion side at the storage position. Under this configuration, since the sorting member is a plate that can pivot, the apparatus can be simply configured and can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, the reading and writing apparatus can be reduced in size. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins has an auxiliary movement device that, when the reception portion is moved obliquely upward and backward from the customer side, goes into the setting opening to press the IC coin. Under this configuration, when the reception portion is normally moved obliquely upward and backward, the IC coin falls down due to its own weight to be held at the reading and writing portion. In case the IC coin jams at the setting opening of the reception portion and cannot fall down due to its own weight, the IC coin is pressed by the auxiliary movement device to be pulled out from the setting opening to be moved to the reading and writing portion. Thus, the IC coin can be surely moved to the reading and writing portion by the auxiliary movement device. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the reading and writing apparatus for IC coins is selectively moved by a pair of solenoids which are arranged under the sorting member and between the path to the return portion and the path to the storage portion through links. Under this configuration, the sorting member is moved to the hold position, return position, and storage position when the solenoids are selectively magnetized. Thus, the sorting member has its position selectively determined under the simplified configuration using the solenoids and links, the apparatus can be manufactured at low cost. 
   The reading and writing apparatus for IC coins according to the present invention includes a reception portion that receives an IC coin with its surface facing a customer, and moves the IC coin in a predetermined direction to send the IC coin to a reading and writing portion, the reading and writing portion that retains the received IC coin with its surface visually confirmed by the customer, a reading and writing unit for the IC coin placed at the reading and writing portion, and a sorting portion that sorts the IC coin held at the reading and writing portion to a return portion or to a storage portion. The reception portion is a slide plate that is provided with a setting opening which is slightly larger than the IC coin, and the slide plate can reciprocate obliquely upward and backward from the customer side. The IC coin held at the reading and writing portion can be visually confirmed through the setting opening. The sorting portion is a sorting member that is located under the reading and writing portion, and the sorting member is a plate with its lower portion pivotably supported. The sorting member is selectively pivoted such that the top thereof is located directly under the reading and writing portion at a hold position, the top thereof is moved to the storage portion side at a return position, and the top thereof is moved to the return portion side at a storage position. The sorting member is selectively moved by a pair of solenoids which are arranged under the sorting member and between the path to the return portion and the path to the storage portion through links. There is further included an auxiliary movement device that, when the reception portion is moved obliquely upward and backward from the customer side, goes into the setting opening to press the IC coin. 
   The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a game machine provided with an IC coin reading and writing apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the IC coin reading and writing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention where A indicates the state in which a slide plate is located at the setting point, while B indicates the state in which the slide plate is located at the loading point; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the IC coin reading and writing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the IC coin reading and writing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a left side view of the IC coin reading and writing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention where A indicates the state in which a left cover is fixed, while B indicates the state in which the left cover is detached; 
       FIG. 6  is a right side view of the IC coin reading and writing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention where A indicates the state in which a right cover is fixed, while B indicates the state in which the right cover is detached; 
       FIG. 7  is a rear view of the IC coin reading and writing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention A indicates the state in which a cover is fixed, while B indicates the state in which the cover is detached; 
       FIG. 8  is an A-A line sectional view in  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 9  is a B-B line sectional view in  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings in particular, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a game machine  100  has appended thereto a processing unit  104  for an IC coin  102 . The IC coin processing unit  104  is in the shape of a box, and has an IC coin reading and writing apparatus  108  attached to a front vertical wall  106  thereof In other words, the IC coin processing unit  104  can be attached to the game machine  100  afterward. On the other hand, the IC coin reading and writing apparatus  108  can be attached to a front vertical wall  109  of the game machine  100 . 
   Next, the IC coin reading and writing apparatus  108  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 9 . At the center of a rectangular front panel  110  extending vertically, there is formed a concave portion  114  with a slide portion  112  inclined downward and forward being the bottom. The concave portion  114  is formed at the back of a rectangular opening  116  that is smaller than a communication device to be described later. 
   At the front side of the slide portion  112 , there is slidably arranged a reception portion  118 , or a slide plate  120  in the embodiment, along the slide portion  112 . The slide plate  120  is in the shape of a rectangular plate, whose thickness is two times that of the IC coin  102  or less, and the center of which is provided with a circular IC coin setting opening  122  whose diameter is slightly larger than that of the IC coin  102 . Under this configuration, it is prevented that two IC coins  102  are simultaneously set at the setting opening  122 . 
   The IC coin setting opening  122  may be of rectangular shape, triangular shape, lozenged shape, or elliptical shape, other than of circular shape. The slide plate  120  has at the lower front thereof an operation protrusion  124  in the shape of a trapezoid which protrudes perpendicularly to the slide plate  120 . The slide plate  120  is retained by a stopper  126  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) located at the lower side of the front panel  110  due to its own weight, and the setting opening  122  is stopped at a predetermined position located in the concave portion  114 . In case of not coming down due to its own weight, the slide plate  120  can be made to come down forcibly by a biasing means such as a spring. 
   The slide plate  120  comes into the inside of a housing  129  through an opening  128  of the front panel  110  which is located at the upper side of the concave portion  114 , and the setting opening  122  can be positioned in the housing  129 . When the lower end of the slide plate  120  is retained by the stopper  126 , the slide plate  120  is located at the setting standby position. As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the slide plate  120  is moved into the inside of the housing  129 , the slide plate  120  is located at the setting position. 
   An auxiliary movement device  130  is so arranged within the housing  129  as to pivot with a shaft being the supporting point, which extends in a transverse direction at the top portion of the housing  129 . At the lower side of the auxiliary movement device  130 , there is formed a dome-shaped press portion  132  whose dome faces backward. The press portion  132  is so biased counterclockwise in  FIG. 8  by its own weight or a biasing means, not shown, as to go into the setting opening  122  when the slide plate  120  is moved upward. 
   There is arranged a funnel-shaped reading and writing portion  134  at the back of the slide portion  112  against a game player. That is, the reading and writing portion  134  is a path which is formed by a backward plate  136  inclined downward and forward and a for ward plate  138  inclined downward and backward arranged at the back adjacent to the slide portion  112 , and extends upward and downward t o converge downward. 
   Under the bottom of the reading and writing portion  134 ,there is arranged an sorting portion  140 . The sorting portion  140  selectively sort IC coins  102  to a return outlet  156  being a return portion or to a storage portion  149 , to be described later. In the embodiment, the sorting portion  140  includes a sorting portion path  141  and a sorting member  142 . The sorting portion path  141  extends upward and downward directly under the reading and writing portion  134 . The sorting member  142  is arranged at the sorting portion path  141 . 
   The sorting member  142  is in the form of a rectangular plate, and can pivot clockwise and counterclockwise shown in  FIG. 8  with a shaft  144  being the pivot center, which protrudes from both lower sides of the sorting member  142  and is pivotably held by the housing  129 . Following the sorting portion path  140 , there are formed a return path  146  extending obliquely downward and forward to the side of the front pane  110  and a storage path  148  extending obliquely downward and backward. The storage path  148  communicates with the storage portion  149  for storing IC coins  102 . The reading and writing portion  134  and the sorting portion path  141  communicate approximately in the vertical direction to configure the path for IC coins  102 . The return path  146  and the storage path  148  extend in the leftward and downward direction and in the rightward and downward direction in  FIG. 8  from the bottom of the sorting portion path  141 , respectively. The reading and writing portion  134 , sorting portion path  141 , return path  146  and storage path  148  have their diameter made slightly larger than that of the IC coin  102 . Furthermore, those paths have their thickness (left and right direction in  FIG. 8 ) made larger than two times that of the IC coin  102 . This is because the IC coin  102  can go down without being jammed when falling down due to its own weight. Furthermore, above the upper end of the reading and writing portion  134 , there is arranged an automatic drop-in slot  151  for IC coins  102 . The IC coins  102  are automatically supplied to the reading and writing portion  134  through the automatic drop-in slot  151 . 
   At walls determining those paths, it is desired that protrusions that extend in the movement direction of IC coins  102  or upward and downward in parallel with predetermined distances be arranged so as to reduce the friction resistance raised between the paths and the light IC coins  102  to make the IC coins  102  slide easily. At the lower side of the forward plate  138  determining the return path  146 , on a plate  147  that is so detachably attached to the housing  129  as to come across the return path  146 , there are formed a pair of retention pieces  148 L and  148 R facing the left and right ends of the return path  146 . 
   These retention pieces  148 L,  148 R are formed into approximately right triangles, as shown in  FIG. 8 , and hypotenuses  150  are so formed as to reduce the thickness of the return path  146 , and the spacing between crownings  152  of the retention pieces and a slide panel  154  located thereunder is so designed as to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the IC coin  102 . That is, when the IC coin  102  comes down through the return path  146 , the lower two circumference points of the IC coin  102  are retained by the hypotenuses  150  to prevent the IC coin  102  from falling down. 
   In this case, the lower part of the IC coin  102  is exposed to the return outlet  156  that is formed between the lower part of the plate  147  and the slide panel  154 . When taking out the IC coin  102 , the IC coin  102  is slid downward to move the hypotenuses  150  by pinching the lower part of the exposed IC coin  102  using fingers, that is, since the plate  147  which is made of resin and has elasticity is deformed by the IC coin  102 , the IC coin  102  can be moved. As a result, the IC coin  102  can pass through the path between the crownings  152  and the slide panel  154 . It is desirable that the plate  147  be made of polyacetal resin and unitedly molded together with the retention pieces  148 L,  148 R so as to reduce the friction resistance against the IC coin  102 . In case the thickness of the IC coin  102  is changed, the plate  147  can be replaced with another one with crownings  152  of different height to easily adapt to the situation. 
   At the rear side of the backward plate  136  of the reading and writing portion  134 , there is arranged a reading and writing unit  158  for the IC coin  102 . It is desirable that the reading and writing portion  134  be distantly located as far as possible from the front panel  110 , and the reading and writing unit  158  be located near the reading and writing portion  134 . This configuration is intended to prevent an unauthorized access to the IC coin  102  from outside. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , when being moved obliquely upward and backward to the reading and writing portion  134 , the IC coin  102  is naturally moved away from the front panel  110 , which configuration is desirable in preventing an unauthorized access. Furthermore, it is desirable that the slide portion  112  and the forward plate  138  be made of transparent material. This is because the IC coin  102  held at the reading and writing portion  134  can be visually seen through the setting opening  122 , slide portion  112 , and forward plate  138 , which gives a game player a feeling of security and prevents another IC coin  102  from being dropped in additionally. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper edge of the return outlet  156  of the front panel  110  is cut off, forming an arch, which makes it easy to pinch the lower edge of the IC coin  102  and take out the IC coin  102  from the return outlet  156 . 
   Next, a drive mechanism  160  of the sorting member  142  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 9 . There is slidably arranged an L-shaped left drive plate  162 L along the left wall of the housing  129 . The left drive plate  162 L has its left guide openings  166 L slidably hooked up upward and downward on left guide pins  164 L protruding from the left wall of the housing  129 . 
   The left guide pins  164 L and the left guide openings  166 L are formed at two positions at the minimum to make the left drive plate  162 L move linearly. The left drive plate  162 L has its middle portion provided with a left cam opening  168 L, which is formed obliquely against the motion direction thereof In the left cam opening  168 L, there is slidably inserted a left driven pin  170 L that protrudes laterally from the upper side surface of the sorting member  142 . 
   The lower edge of the left drive plate  164 L which extends horizontally, is fixed to a left plunger  174 L of a left solenoid  172 L. The left plunger  174 L is biased by a left spring  176  along the protruding direction. When the left solenoid  172 L is demagnetized, the left drive plate is located at the lowest position and is retained by a left front stopper  178 L of the left spring  164 L. 
   The left drive plate  162 L can reciprocate within a long channel  182 L formed by an inverted-U-shaped rib  180 L formed at the left wall. The long channel  182 L is covered by a pan-shaped left cover  186 L having an outer edge rib  184 L. The left cover  186 L is detachably attached to the left wall to guide the left drive plate  162 L to prevent it from bending. 
   There is also arranged a right drive plate  162 R 1  which is symmetrically formed against the left drive plate and is configured similarly. Concerning the right drive plate  162 R 1  similar parts or components are indicated with the same reference numerals with their appended “L” replaced with “R”, and detailed explanation of which will be omitted. Accordingly, when a right solenoid  172 R is demagnetized, a right driven pin  170 R is retained by a right rear stopper  178 R. When the left solenoid  172 L is magnetized, the left drive plate  164 L is moved upward. 
   Thus, the left driven pin  170 L is moved rightward shown in  FIG. 8  due to the left cam opening  168 L. Consequently, the sorting member  142  is moved to a storage position S shown by a dotted line in  FIG. 8 , and the reading and writing portion  134  communicates with the storage path  148  through the sorting portion path  140 . At this time, running into a right cam opening  168 R to move to a right recess opening  188 R, which extends near horizontally, the right driven pin  170 R is not constrained. When the right solenoid  172 R is magnetized, the right drive plate  162 R is moved upward, and the right driven pin  170 R is moved rightward shown in  FIG. 8  due to the right cam opening  168 R. 
   Thus, since the sorting member  142  is moved to a return position R shown by a chained line in  FIG. 8 , the reading and writing portion  134  communicates with the return path  146  through the sorting portion path  140 . When the right solenoid  172 R and the left solenoid  172 L are demagnetized, the sorting member  142  is located at a hold position T shown by a full line in  FIG. 8 . At the hold position T, the top of the sorting member  142  is located directly under the reading and writing portion  134  so as to prevent the IC coin  102  from falling down and hold the IC coin  102  at the reading and writing portion  134 . The right driven pin  170 R is retained by the right rear stopper  178 R and the left driven pin  170 L is retained by the left front stopper  178 L, having their positions retained. 
   Next, an operation selection unit  190  will be explained referring to  FIG. 2 . The operation selection unit  190  is provided with a function of returning the IC coins  102  and selecting the processing of game charge. At the upper portion of the front panel  110 , there are arranged three selection buttons aligned in a transverse direction. 
   These selection buttons are switches of a press-button system, and a single pulse signal is output when one of the buttons protruding from the front panel  110  is pressed from the front side, and a built-in LED is turned on or turned off so as to inform a game player of the selection. There is arranged a right switch  192  being a cancel switch provided with a function of returning the IC coin  102  held at the reading and writing portion  134  to the return outlet  156 . 
   That is, when the cancel switch  192  is pressed, the right solenoid  172 R is magnetized, and as described above, the sorting member  142  is moved to the return position R, and the IC coin  102  is led to the return path  146  to be returned to the return outlet  156 . The switch  192  may be red. 
   There is arranged a center button being, for example, a whole play switch  194  for selecting the whole amount of value information of the IC coin  102 , which subtracts the whole amount of value information of the IC coin  102 , and value information of zero is newly stored. The switch  194  may be white. There is arranged a left selection switch  196  being a switch for one play, and accounting of play charge for one play is performed every pressing operation. 
   That is to say, when turning on the switch  196  once, value information necessary for one game is subtracted from value information stored in the IC coin  102 , and then thus obtained new value information which has undergone the subtraction is written in a storage unit of the IC coin  102  by the reading and writing unit  158 . The switch  196  may be green. The use of different colors is intended to prevent incorrect selection. 
   These accounting switches may be configured by only the switch  196  that performs accounting of play charge for one play. Furthermore, there may be arranged another switch for an extra charge in addition to the accounting for one play or the whole amount. That is, it is required that at least one accounting switch be arranged. There is arranged a display unit  198  using liquid crystal between the operation selection unit  190  and the concave portion  114 . 
   The display unit  198  displays value information that is stored in the IC coin  102  and read out by the reading and writing unit  158 . The value information is, for example, amount of money or number of times that a game player can play games which are stored in the IC coin  102 . There is arranged an IC coin sensor  200  at the reading and writing portion  134 . The IC coin sensor  200  senses the IC coin  102  located at the reading and writing portion  134 . 
   The IC coin sensor  200  is a transmission type photo electric sensor that includes, for example, a flood light unit  202  arranged at the backward plate  136  and a light—sensitive unit  204  arranged at the forward plate  138 . Instead of the transmission type, a reflection type sensor may be used, and furthermore, a mechanical sensor may be used. So as to prevent a sensing error, it is desirable that a plurality of sensors  200  be arranged. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the IC coin  102  is held at the reading and writing portion  134 , the sensor  200  senses the IC coin  102 . Due to this sensing, the LEDs of the switches  192 ,  194 , and  196  are turned on. This tuning on informs a game player that the IC coin  102  is held at the reading and writing portion  134 . This gains the player&#39;s attention to prevent a further IC coin  102  from being dropped in. 
   When the sensor  200  senses the IC coin  102 , the reading and writing unit  158  is made to operate to communicate with the IC coin  102  to read out value information stored therein. Then, the value information is displayed by the display unit  198 . Thus, a game player confirms the display of the display unit  198 , and can select the switch  196  for one play or the switch  194  for the whole play. 
   Tuning on of the switches  192 ,  194  and  196  or communication of the reading and writing unit  158  based on the sensing by the sensor  200  can be controlled by a control device configured by a microcomputer built in the reading and writing apparatus  108  or a microcomputer for controlling a game machine. 
   Next, the operation of the embodiment will be explained. Firstly, a game player puts the IC coin  102  in the setting opening  122 . That is, the game player places the IC coin  102  in the setting opening  122  such that the front surface or the rear surface thereof can be seen. Thus, the IC coin  102  is held in the setting opening  122  with its backside leaning against the slide portion  112  as well as with its lower edge being supported by the slide plate  120 . 
   Next, the protrusion  124  is pushed up to move the slide plate  120  upward along the slide portion  112 . At this time, since the auxiliary movement device  130  is made to pivot clockwise slightly shown in  FIG. 8  by the upper edge of the slide plate  120 , the slide plate  120  can be moved. When the setting opening  122  goes into the reading and writing portion  134 , being not supported by the slide portion  112 , the IC coin  102  tilts toward the reading and writing portion  134  due to its own weight. 
   Furthermore, since the auxiliary movement device  130  goes into the setting opening  122  due to the pivot force along the counterclockwise direction shown in  FIG. 8 , the IC coin  102  is pressed toward the reading and writing portion  134  by also the auxiliary movement device  130 . Then, when the lower edge of the IC coin  102  faces the reading and writing portion  134 , the IC coin  102  moves to the reading and writing portion  134  and falls down due to its own weight. 
   Usually, since the sorting member  142  stands still at the hold position T directly under the reading and writing portion  134 , the falling IC coin  102  has its lower edge supported by the upper edge of the sorting member  142 , and is retained within the reading and writing portion  134 . When the IC coin  102  is located within the reading and writing portion  134 , the IC coin  102  is in close proximity to the reading and writing unit  158 . 
   The held IC coin  102  blocks a light from the flood light unit  202  of the sensor  200 , and thus the light-sensitive unit  204  comes to receive no light, thereby a hold signal is output. The LEDs of the switches  192 ,  194  and  196  are turned on due to the hold signal. A game player comes to know that the IC coin is held at the reading and writing portion  134  when the switches  192 ,  194  and  196  are turned on. The slide plate  120  is pulled down to be stopped by the stopper  126  due to its own weight, biasing means, or handling by a game player. 
   The IC coin  102  held at the reading and writing portion  134  can be visually confirmed by a game player through the setting opening  122 , slide portion  112 , and forward plate  138 . Accordingly, this gains the player&#39;s attention and informs the player that the IC coin  102  is already held, preventing a further IC coin  102  from being dropped in. Based on the hold signal, the reading and writing unit  158  sends out a carrier signal, and communicates with the IC coin  102  held at the reading and writing portion  134 . 
   Under this communication, value information stored in a storage unit of the IC coin  102  is read out t o be displayed on the display unit  198 . Even though it is tried to rewrite value information of the IC coin  102  by approximating an IC coin reading and writing unit for unauthorized reading and writing from the side of the front panel  110 , since the IC coin  102  held at the reading and writing unit  158  is closer to the reading and writing unit  158 , the value information under the influence of electric waves of the reading and writing unit  158  cannot be rewritten. 
   In other words, it is impossible to illegally rewrite value information stored in the IC coin  102 . When the cancel switch  192  is pressed, the solenoid  172 R is magnetized for a predetermined period of time. Accordingly, since the lever  162 R is moved upward, the pin  170 R is moved rightward in  FIG. 6  due t o the cam opening  168 R, the sorting member  142  is moved to the return position R shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   Consequently, being not supported by the sorting member  142 , the IC coin  102  at the reading and writing portion  134 , falls down to the return path  146  through the sorting portion path  141  due to attraction of gravity. At the return path  146 , the IC coin  102  has its lower edge retained by the retention pieces  148 L and  148 R, and is stopped with its lower edge portion exposed to the return outlet  156 . When a game player pinches and pulls down the lower edge of the IC coin  102 , the plate  147  bends. Then, the IC coin  102  can pass through the path between the retention pieces  148 L and  148 R and the slide panel  154 , and can be taken out from the return outlet  156 . 
   When the left solenoid  172 L is magnetized, since the sorting member  142  is moved to the storage position S, the IC coin  102  at the reading and writing portion  134  is guided to the storage path  148  to be stored in the storage portion  149 . That is, when the switches  194  and  196  are turned on and stored value information comes to be zero, the IC coin  102  falls down through the storage path  148  due to its own weight to be stored in the storage portion  149 . 
   While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.