Apparatus and method for dispensing tickets

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6712253
  • Patent Number
    6,712,253
  • Date Filed
    Monday, June 4, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 30, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A ticket machine for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints is provided. The ticket machine includes a roller assembly, a detection mechanism and a bursting blade. The roller assembly adapted to communicate a portion of the strip of tickets along a ticket path. The detection mechanism is disposed adjacent the ticket path and adapted to determine the position of at least a leading ticket of the strip of tickets along the ticket path. The bursting blade is adjacent the ticket path and adapted to floatably strike the strip of tickets adjacent the perforated joints to separate at least the leading ticket from the strip of tickets. A method for separating tickets from a strip of tickets connected along perforated joints is also provided.
Description




CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS




Not Applicable.




FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT




Not Applicable.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to a ticket vending machine for dispensing tickets, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an apparatus and method for vending and dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints.




Consumer demand for tickets, such as lottery tickets, has risen dramatically in recent years. This demand has been met with a variety new and exciting games involving lottery tickets. The new breed of lottery ticket games has placed additional demands on the machines that dispense these lottery tickets since the new lottery tickets come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.




The tremendous demand has produced lower quality lottery tickets causing tickets to be printed out of registration, perforations to be non-uniform or not completely punctured, and a variety of other printing imperfections and errors. Access to lottery tickets at a variety of convenient locations such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and other locations frequented by consumers has attempted to satisfy this demand. New machines for dispensing the new lottery tickets must be more flexible and intuitive than their predecessors.




These new machines, however, have failed dramatically in addressing these demands since the ticket machines must be capable of instant ticket vending by the consumer. Also, modern ticket dispensing machines are inadequate for handling mass-produced lottery tickets that are printed out of registration or have other imperfections. For this reason, modern ticket vending machines inevitably rip or tear tickets, or begin cutting the tickets at a predetermined length assuming the tickets are printed correctly which leads to tickets being cut improperly or in half which voids or ruins the tickets and aggravates the consumers and the vendors.




For this reason, a new and improved ticketing vending machine operable for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets which overcomes these disadvantages is needed.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a ticket machine for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints. The ticket machine includes a roller assembly, a detection mechanism and a bursting blade. The roller assembly is adapted to communicate a portion of the strip of tickets along a ticket path. The detection mechanism is disposed adjacent the ticket path and adapted to determine the position of at least a leading ticket of the strip of tickets along the ticket path. The bursting blade is adjacent the ticket path adapted to floatably strike the strip of tickets adjacent the perforated joints to separate at least the leading ticket from the strip of tickets.




In another aspect, the present invention provides a ticket dispenser for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets connected along perforated joints. The ticket dispenser has a first and second stage rollers, a bursting blade and a positioning mechanism. The first stage rollers have a set of pinch rollers adapted to communicate the strip of tickets along a ticket path. The second stage rollers having a set of pinch rollers positioned along the ticket path and adapted to receive at least a first ticket of the strip of tickets communicated from the first stage rollers.




The bursting blade positioned adjacent the ticket path and adapted to strike the strip of tickets adjacent the perforated joints to break the perforated joints connecting at least the first ticket to the strip of tickets. The positioning mechanism is adapted to determine the position of the strip of tickets along the ticket path. The positioning mechanism is further adapted to communicate with the first and second stage rollers for positioning a perforated joint of the strip of tickets adjacent the bursting blade for separating at least the first ticket from the strip of tickets.




In yet another aspect, the present invention provides an instant ticket vending machine for dispensing tickets. The instant ticket vending machine includes a housing, a plurality of bins and a hopper. The housing is substantially rigid and has a door connected thereto the housing for providing access to an inner housing area of the housing. The housing is provided with an opening for retrieving dispensed tickets.




The plurality of bins are retained within the inner housing area of the housing and are adapted to dispense tickets from a strip of tickets connected by perforated joints. Each of the bins are provided with a first and second stage rollers, an optical sensor, an encoder and a bursting blade. The first stage rollers have at least a first shaft and a set of pinch rollers. The first stage rollers are adapted to communicate the strip of tickets along a ticket path.




The second stage rollers have a set of pinch rollers and is positioned along the ticket path. The second stage rollers are adapted to receive at least a first ticket of the strip of tickets communicated from the first stage rollers. The optical sensor is disposed adjacent the ticket path and adapted to sense the leading edge of at least the first ticket of the strip of tickets. The encoder is adapted to sense the rotation of the first shaft of the first stage rollers thereby determining a length of travel along the ticket path of at least the first ticket of the strip of tickets.




The bursting blade is disposed adjacent the ticket path and operable to float about a direction of travel of the strip of tickets along the ticket path. The bursting blade is adapted to floatably strike the strip of tickets adjacent the perforated joints to break the perforated joint connecting at least the leading ticket from the strip of tickets. The hopper is in communication with the opening in the housing and the plurality of bins such that the hopper is operative to receive tickets dispensed from the bins.




In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for separating tickets from a strip of tickets connected along perforated joints. The method includes advancing the strip of tickets along a ticket path to an optical sensor and detecting, via the optical sensor, a leading edge of a first ticket of the strip of tickets. The method further provides for striking the strip of tickets along the ticket path near the perforated joint connecting the first ticket to the strip of tickets to breakingly separate the first ticket from the strip of tickets.




In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for separating tickets from a strip of tickets connected along perforated joints. The method includes advancing the strip of tickets along a ticket path and detecting the leading edge of at least the first ticket of the strip of tickets. The method includes determining a ticket size of at least the first ticket of the strip of tickets and providing a tensioning mechanism operative to tension at least a portion of the ticket path at a perforated joint connecting at least the first ticket to the strip of tickets.




The method further includes providing a bursting blade adapted to float relative to a direction of travel of the strip of tickets along the path and positioning the strip of tickets relative to the bursting blade for separation. The method also provides for striking, via the bursting blade, the strip of tickets adjacent the tensioned portion of the ticket path adjacent the perforated joint connecting at least the first ticket to the strip of tickets to separate the first ticket from the strip of tickets.




Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective representation of a ticket dispensing machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a top perspective view of the ticket dispensing machine provided with a strip of tickets in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a partial cutaway representation of the ticket dispensing machine showing a bursting blade for separating tickets constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a side view of the bursting blade and drive assembly for driving the bursting blade constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a side view of the bursting blade shown in

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 6

is a side view of the bursting blade and ticket dispensing machine substantially as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

;





FIG. 7

is a perspective representation of an encoder connected to the ticket dispensing machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a perspective representation of the encoder shown in

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 9

is a side perspective representation of the drive mechanism for driving a first and second stage rollers of the ticket dispensing machine constructed in accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention;





FIG. 10

is a side perspective representation of a second drive mechanism for driving a third stage rollers of the ticket dispensing machine constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a perspective representation of an instant ticket vending machine for receiving a plurality of ticket dispensing machines in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;





FIG. 12

is a block diagram showing a central processing unit of the instant ticket vending machine and a control board of the ticket dispensing machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 13

is a flow chart describing a method of separating tickets from strip of tickets connected along perforated joints provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




It should be understood at the outset that although an exemplary implementation of the present invention is illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present invention should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein.





FIG. 1

illustrates a perspective representation of a ticket dispensing machine


10


constructed in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. The ticket dispensing machine


10


of the present invention can be used for a variety of purposes to automatically dispense tickets


12


, such as lottery and other tickets, to customers and patrons.




The ticket dispensing machine


10


is adapted to dispense tickets


12


from a strip of tickets


14


connected along a plurality of perforated joints


16


. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ticket dispensing machine


10


includes a roller assembly


20


adapted to communicate a portion of the strip of tickets


14


along a ticket path


22


through the roller assembly


20


.




The ticket machine


10


is further provided with a detection mechanism


24


disposed adjacent the ticket path


22


and adapted to determine the position of at least a leading ticket


26


of the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


. The ticket machine further includes a bursting blade


30


disposed adjacent the ticket path


22


and adapted to floatably strike the strip of tickets


14


adjacent the perforated joints


16


so as to separate at least the leading ticket


26


from the strip of tickets


14


.




In another embodiment, the ticket dispensing machine


10


is provided for dispensing tickets


12


from a strip of tickets


14


connected along perforated joints


16


. The roller assembly


20


, in the present embodiment, may include a first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


. The first stage rollers


32


are provided with a set of pinch rollers


36


adapted to communicate the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


. The pinch rollers


36


are disposed on an upper and lower shafts


38


and


40


of the first stage rollers


32


.




The upper and lower shafts


38


and


40


are substantially cylindrical bars which may be constructed from a variety of materials, such as rigid polymeric or metallic materials and are operable for use for the purposes shown and disclosed herein. The pinch rollers


36


are standard rollers adapted to communicate materials, such as the strip of tickets


14


therebetween. The pinch rollers


36


may be constructed of rubber, polymeric or other materials well known in the art and used for such purposes.




The upper and lower shafts


38


and


40


may be provided with a plurality of grooves not shown for frictionally receiving the pinch rollers


36


about the upper and lower shafts


38


and


40


. Additionally, the first stage rollers


32


may be provided with a second set of pinch rollers


42


oppositely disposed about the upper and lower shafts


38


and


40


. The second set of pinch rollers


42


are substantially similar in construction and function to the pinch rollers


36


previously discussed.




The second stage rollers


34


are similarly provided with an upper and lower shafts


50


and


52


that are similarly provided with a set of pinch rollers


54


similar in construction and function to the pinch rollers


36


of the first stage rollers


32


. In one embodiment, the pinch rollers


54


may include an upper roller


57


and a lower roller


58


. In this embodiment, the upper roller


57


of the pinch rollers


54


may be advantageously adapted to idle along the upper shaft


50


while adapting the lower pinch roller


58


with one-way bearings (not shown) for one-way engagement with the strip of tickets


14


. The second stage rollers


34


may further be provided with a second set of pinch rollers


56


to advantageously communicate the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


.




In one embodiment, the pinch rollers


54


or the second set of pinch rollers


56


may be provided with one-way bearings as discussed above, not shown, to inhibit reverse travel of the strip of tickets


14


along a travel direction


60


along the ticket path


22


. The one-way bearings are advantageous since frequently it is difficult to synchronize sets of rollers, such as the pinch rollers


36


and


42


of the first stage rollers


32


with the pinch rollers


54


and


56


of the second stage rollers


34


. It will be appreciated that only the pinch rollers


54


, an in one embodiment only the lower roller


58


are provided with one-way bearings for these purposes.




Furthermore, the use of one-way bearings in this manner is useful to account for varying motor speeds, roller or sprocket diameters, pulley sizes, and to prevent the strip of tickets


14


from jamming, buckling or otherwise undesirably moving along the ticket path


22


.




The addition of one-way bearings in one or more of the pinch rollers


54


and


56


of the second-stage rollers


34


prevents synchronization errors between the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


overcoming this problem. Furthermore, pinch rollers


54


and


56


of the second stage rollers


34


that are provided with one-way bearings provide the additional advantage of generating tension along the ticket path


22


of the strip of tickets


14


disposed between the first stage rollers


32


and the second stage rollers


34


.




It should be understood that a variety of approaches in addition to the use of one-way bearings may be implemented and are well known in the art to achieve one-way rotation of any of the pinch rollers, such as pinch rollers


36


.




It will be appreciated that the ticket dispensing machine


10


is provided with a housing


62


which may be constructed from a variety of materials, such as plastic or polymeric materials, steel, aluminum or other metals, which may be used for such purposes. In this manner, the roller assembly


20


, which may include the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


, may be mounted to an interior area


64


near the front of the housing


62


.




In other embodiments, the ticket dispensing machine


10


may be provided with a third-stage rollers


70


positioned down the ticket path


22


from the second-stage rollers


34


and operable for receiving the ticket


12


from the second stage rollers


34


and ejecting tickets


12


. The third stage rollers


70


are substantially similar in construction and function to the second stage rollers


34


in that the third stage rollers


70


are provided with pinch rollers


72


disposed on an upper and lower shafts


74


and


76


. The third stage rollers


70


may further be provided with a second set of pinch rollers


78


oppositely disposed from the pinch rollers


72


.




One or more of the pinch rollers


72


and


78


of the third stage rollers


70


may be provided with one-way bearings not shown, which inhibit the strip of tickets


14


from reversing travel along the direction of travel


60


of the ticket path


22


. In this manner, the third stage rollers


70


are advantageously adapted to receive one or more of the tickets


12


of the strip of tickets


14


and to eject the tickets


12


from the ticket dispensing machine


10


. The one-way bearings eliminate, as previously discussed, synchronization problems between the second and third stage rollers


34


and


70


, as well as, providing tension on the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


.




The ticket dispensing machine


10


, in one embodiment, may be provided with a tray


90


adapted to retain a plurality of tickets


12


, such as the strip of tickets


14


which are commonly produced and distributed in an accordion-folded manner substantially as shown. The tray


90


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


may be provided with a roller


92


which may be constructed from nylon, polymeric, or other materials. The nylon roller


92


is operable to assist the unfolding and advancing of the strip of tickets


14


as it is advanced toward the roller assembly


20


.





FIG. 2

shows the strip of tickets


14


advancing about the roller


92


and therethrough the roller assembly


20


in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the detection mechanism


24


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, is an optical sensor


94


having a first portion


96


disposed above the strip of tickets


14


and a second portion


98


disposed below the strip of tickets


14


. In this manner, the optical sensor


94


is adapted to sense the strip of tickets


14


as it passes beyond the second stage rollers


34


.




The optical sensor


94


may be provided, in one embodiment, with a light emitting diode, not shown, on the first portion


96


and a photo receptor, not shown, on the second portion


98


, such that when the strip of tickets


14


interrupts the light emitting from the light emitting diode on the first portion


96


, this interruption is detected by the photo receptor provided on the second portion


98


. In this manner, the optical sensor


94


is adopted to detect, for example, the leading ticket


26


of the strip of tickets


14


.




In operation, the strip of tickets


14


is passed over the roller


92


and is fed into the first stage rollers


32


. The first stage rollers


32


pull the strip of tickets


14


from the tray


90


and advance the strip of tickets


14


toward the second stage rollers


34


. As previously discussed, the strip of tickets


14


disposed between the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


is substantially tensioned between the first stage rollers


32


and the second stage rollers


34


which have pinch rollers


54


and


56


provided with one-way bearings.




The strip of tickets


14


is then advanced through the first stage rollers


32


toward the second stage rollers


34


until the leading edge


110


of the leading ticket


26


is detected by the detection mechanism


24


, or in this embodiment the optical sensor


94


. In one embodiment, it may be beneficial to reverse the direction of travel


60


of the strip of tickets


14


once the leading edge


110


of the leading ticket


26


has been detected by the optical sensor


94


for repositioning purposes. After reversing a direction of travel


60


for a determinable distance, the strip of tickets


14


may be, again, advanced along the direction of travel


60


to more accurately align the leading edge


110


of the leading ticket


26


with the optical sensor


94


. In this manner, the perforated joints


16


connecting the leading ticket


26


to the strip of tickets


14


may be more accurately positioned by the ticket dispensing machine


10


for severing one or more of the tickets


12


of the strip of tickets


14


.





FIG. 3

illustrates a frontal view of the ticket dispensing machine


10


with the second stage rollers


34


shown in phantom to more accurately view the bursting blade


30


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


. The bursting blade


30


may be constructed from a substantially rigid material, such as a polymeric or metallic material which is operable for striking the strip of tickets


14


along the perforated joints


16


to separate at the leading ticket


26


from the strip of tickets


14


.




In one embodiment, the bursting blade


30


is a substantially flat metallic blade provided with a substantially straight lower end


112


and a bursting edge


114


that is angulated substantially so as to be pointed about the center of the bursting edge


114


. A first and second sides


116


and


118


of the bursting blade


30


, in one embodiment, may be disposed in a first and second groove


120


and


122


, respectively, in the sides of the housing


62


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


. In this manner, the bursting blade


30


is disposed within the interior area


64


of the housing


62


and is operable to travel in a direction


124


vertically up and down within the interior area


64


of the housing


62


.





FIG. 4

shows the bursting blade


30


, a drive assembly


130


adapted to drive the bursting blade


30


, and a gauge bar


132


. The gauge bar


132


is positioned above the bursting blade


30


so that the strip of tickets


14


passes below the gauge bar


132


and above the bursting blade


30


such that the bursting blade


30


is operable to travel vertically upward toward the gauge bar


132


thereby burstingly separating tickets


12


from the strip of tickets


14


. The gauge bar


132


is a substantially rigid cross member extending across the interior area


64


of the housing


62


(see

FIG. 3

) and acts as a retaining surface for the strip of tickets


14


to prevent the strip of tickets


14


from extending upwardly when contacted by the bursting blade


30


during its vertical travel in the direction


24


toward the strip of tickets


14


.




The bursting blade


30


is provided with a first and second slots


140


and


142


defining openings extending through the bursting blade


30


near the first and second sides


116


and


118


, respectively, of the bursting blade


30


. The bursting blade


30


may be connected to a portion of the housing


62


within the interior area


64


of the housing


62


in a non-rigid fashion via the first and second slots


140


and


142


of the bursting blade


30


.




In one embodiment, a pair of shaft members


146


may be connected to the housing


62


within the interior area


64


so as to extend through the slots


140


and


142


and be terminated with a shoulder bolt


144


operable for non-rigid engagement by the shoulder bolt


144


with the bursting blade


30


. The bursting blade


30


is thus allowed to travel for bursting engagement with the strip of tickets


14


while the pair of shaft members


146


and shoulder bolts


144


act as a guide for the bursting blade


30


along the first and second slots


140


and


142


of the bursting blade


30


enabling the bursting blade


30


to floatably travel along the direction of travel


204


of the strip of tickets


14


.




Referring also to

FIG. 5

, a side view of the bursting blade


30


is shown with the shaft member


146


connected to a portion


147


of the housing


62


within the interior area


64


of the housing


62


. The shaft member


146


extendable through the first or second slots


140


and


142


of the bursting blade


30


. The shoulder bolt


144


non-rigidly connecting the shaft member


146


to the bursting blade


30


. It can be seen that this connection provides for gaps


148


along the shaft member


146


between the portion


147


of the housing


62


and the bursting blade


30


as well as between the bursting blade


30


and the shoulder bolt


144


. In this manner, the bursting blade


30


is allowed to float about the shaft


146


within the gaps


148


provided therebetween the portion


147


of the housing


62


and the shoulder bolt


144


.




Referring again to

FIG. 4

, the drive assembly


130


includes a cam shaft


150


which is a substantially rigid member having a first end


152


and a second end


154


. The second end


154


of the cam shaft


150


is non-rigidly connected, via connector


156


, to the bursting blade


30


. The first end


152


of the cam shaft


150


is non-rigidly connected, via a connector


158


, to a cylindrical member


160


. The first end


152


of the cam shaft


150


is connected to the cylindrical member


160


in an off-center fashion providing an eccentric link. A motor


162


(shown in phantom) is connected to the cylindrical member


160


and rotatingly drives the cylindrical member


160


exerts movement upon the cam shaft


150


and the bursting blade


30


.





FIG. 6

is a side view of the ticket dispensing machine


10


illustrating the first side


116


of the bursting blade


30


disposed along the first groove


120


of the housing


62


. It can be seen that the first groove


120


provides a gap


202


between the first groove


120


and the bursting blade


30


. In one embodiment, the gap


202


between the sides of the first groove


120


and the bursting blade


30


is sufficient to allow the bursting blade


30


to float laterally about a direction of travel


204


of the strip of tickets


14


.




The advantage of the bursting blade


30


mounted substantially as shown in

FIG. 5 and 6

, and disposed such that the edges of the bursting blade travel in the non-restrictive first and second grooves


120


and


122


of the housing


62


allows the bursting blade


30


to floatably sense the perforated joints


16


connecting the strip of tickets


14


. In this manner, the bursting blade


30


travels in the vertical direction


124


substantially perpendicular to the direct of travel


204


of the strip of tickets


14


. The fluid mounting of the bursting blade


30


allows a bursting edge


114


, to seek-out the weakest point between two tickets


12


of the strip of tickets


14


such as grooved points along the strip of tickets


14


which typically will be the perforated joint


16


connecting the strip of tickets


14


.




Thus, by accurately positioning the perforated joint


16


of the strip of tickets


14


adjacent the bursting blade


30


, the advantageous construction and floatable, non-fixed, mounting of the bursting blade


30


, as shown in the present embodiment, provides the optimum configuration for accurately separating at least a leading ticket


26


from the strip of tickets


14


along the perforated joints


16


connected therebetween even when the strip of tickets


14


is improperly printed, for example, out of registration.




In one embodiment, the bursting blade


30


may be adapted to cut and sever a leading ticket


26


from the strip of tickets


14


along the perforated joints


16


when ticket printing errors are not a concern. However, in one embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 6

, the bursting blade


30


strikes the strip of tickets


14


adjacent the perforated joints


16


causing a breaking separation of at least the leading ticket


26


from the strip of tickets


14


. Referring also to

FIG. 1

, it will be appreciated that the function and disposition of the first stage rollers


32


relative to the second stage rollers


34


provides tension along the strip of tickets


14


which promotes a breaking separation of the perforated joint


16


connecting the strip of tickets


14


when the bursting edge


114


portion of the bursting blade


30


impacts the strip tickets


14


adjacent the perforated joint


16


.




In one embodiment, to achieve the floatable disposition of the bursting blade


30


for optimal sensing of the weakest point in the strip of tickets


14


, the bursting blade


30


should have one-tenth of an inch ({fraction (1/10)}″) or less floatably about the shoulder bolts


144


and first and second groves


120


and


122


in the side of the housing


62


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


. In other embodiments, the floatably may be optimally one-hundredth of an inch ({fraction (1/100)}″) or less.




This advantageous construction and function overcomes the problem of tickets which are frequently printed out of registration, or the perforations are imperfect, or improperly aligned or scored. Furthermore, the floating disposition of the bursting blade


30


and breaking separation capabilities of the ticket dispensing machine


10


of the present embodiment, by not cutting or severing tickets


12


, overcomes the problems incurred where tickets are incorrectly printed or sized in accordance with their generally accepted dimensions.




The bursting blade


30


, as shown in

FIG. 6

, is shown with the bursting edge


114


which is substantially beveled. In one embodiment, the bursting blade


30


is provided with the bursting edge


114


with a first substantially beveled side


212


and a second substantially straight side


214


. Such construction of the bursting edge


114


of the bursting blade


30


further assists the bursting blade


30


to floatably sense the perforated joint


16


connecting the strip of tickets


14


. This construction allows the bursting edge


114


to sense the weakest point between the tensioned strip of tickets


14


to promote ready separation since the one-way bearing provided in the second stage rollers


34


allow the separated ticket


12


to advance slightly along the ticket path


22


when the bursting edge


114


passes between the tickets


12


while the first stage rollers


32


retain the remaining strip of tickets


14


.




However, in other embodiments (not shown) the bursting edge


114


of the bursting blade


30


is provided with both sides being substantially beveled. In some instances, it may be advantageous to have a non-sharp or blunt bursting edge


114


for non-cuttably impacting or striking the strip of tickets


14


for a breaking separation. In other embodiments (not shown), the bursting blade


30


may be disposed so as to impact the strip of tickets


14


at an angulated, non-perpendicular, disposition.





FIG. 7

illustrates one embodiment of an encoder


220


which may be mounted to the lower shaft


40


of the first stage rollers


32


and adapted to sense the rotation of the lower shaft


40


. In this manner, the lower shaft


40


of the first stage rollers


32


extends from one side of the housing


62


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


.




Referring also to

FIG. 8

, the encoder


220


is provided with a disk


222


which may be a substantially flat circular metallic or polymeric member provided with detection points such as a plurality of openings


224


extending from a first side


226


through to a second side


228


of the disk


222


. The encoder


220


is provided with a photo eye


230


having a first side


232


provided with, for example, a light emitting diode


234


. The photo eye


230


has a second side


236


provided with a photoreceptor


238


operable for detecting light emitting from the light emitting diode


234


.




In this manner it is readily apparent that as the disk


222


rotates correspondingly with the lower shaft


40


of the first stage rollers


32


, light is periodically shown through the openings


224


in the disk


222


. As the light emits from the light emitting diode


234


through the openings


224


of the disk


222


, the photoreceptor


238


is adapted to detect the light shown through the openings


224


and thereby detect an incremental rotation in the first stage rollers


32


.




The photo eye


230


operably counts the pulses for the received light. Computation for determining ticket


12


travel distance must account for variables such as, for example, roller size. In one of embodiment, the disk may be provided with approximately ninety (90) openings


224


while in other embodiments more openings


224


may be advantageous for more exactly sensing the rotation of the first stage rollers


32


. While in other embodiments fewer openings


224


in the disk


222


may be satisfactory for such sensing purposes. The photo eye


230


is provided with communication wires


240


operable for communicating information indicating the rotation sensed on the first stage rollers


32


.




It will be appreciated that the combination of the encoder


220


and optical sensor


94


provide the ticket dispensing machine


10


with detection mechanisms


24


operable for detecting and, when communicating with the roller assembly


20


, positioning the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


for positioning the perforated joints


16


of the strip of tickets


12


adjacent the bursting blade


30


for separating at least the leading ticket


26


from the strip of tickets


14


.




In other embodiments the encoder


220


may be provided to detect the rotation along either the upper or lower shafts


38


and


40


of the first stage rollers


32


, as well as, the rotation of the second and third stage rollers


34


and


70


. Similarly, while the optical sensor


94


is shown disposed between the second and third stage rollers


34


and


70


, it will be appreciated that in some instances it may be advantageous to have additional optical sensors


94


disposed at various points so as to detect the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


. Other placements of the encoder


220


and the optical sensor


94


will readily suggest themselves to one of ordinary skill in the art when provided with the invention as shown and disclosed herein and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.




Furthermore, other methods of detecting the rotation of the first, second and third stage rollers


32


,


34


and


70


may be provided to obtain some of the functional advantages disclosed herein and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and may include, for example, but not limited to, optical, electrical, mechanical or magnetic rotating detection devices and systems adaptable to detect the rotation of a shaft, such as the lower shaft


40


of the first stage rollers


32


.





FIG. 9

illustrates a side view of the ticket dispensing machine


10


showing the drive mechanism


300


operable for driving the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


. The lower shaft


40


of the first stage rollers


32


extends through the side of the housing


62


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


and is provided with a sprocket


302


rotatably connected thereto the lower shaft


40


. The sprocket


302


is a substantially cylindrical gearing mechanism which may be provided with a plurality of teeth operable for drivable rotation of the sprockets


302


and connected to impart a rotation to the lower shaft


40


.




The sprocket


302


may be constructed from plastic or polymeric material or steel or other metallic materials and may be connected to the lower shaft


40


with a variety of connectors such as a nut and bolt configuration or other connectors that are well known in the art. The drive mechanism


300


is further provided with a second sprocket


304


connected to the lower shaft


52


of the second stage rollers


34


. The second sprocket


304


is similar in construction function to the sprocket


302


and operable to rotatably drive the lower shaft


52


of the second stage rollers


34


.




The drive mechanism


300


further includes a motor


306


(shown in phantom) which is connected to a drive sprocket


308


and adapted to rotatably drive the drive sprocket


308


. The drive sprocket


308


is similar in construction and function to the sprocket


302


, however, the drive sprocket


308


may be advantageously provided with a slightly larger diameter than the sprocket


302


.




The drive mechanism


300


further includes a belt


310


operably connected to the sprocket


302


, the second sprocket


304


and the drive sprocket


308


such that when the motor


306


drives the drive sprocket


308


, the belt


310


imparts the rotation on the sprockets


302


and


304


to rotate the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


.





FIG. 10

illustrates a second drive mechanism


320


operably connected to an adjacent side of the housing


62


relative to the drive mechanism


300


. The second drive mechanism


320


includes a sprocket


322


operably connected to the lower shaft


76


of the third stage roller


70


for imparting a rotation on the third stage roller


70


. The sprocket


322


is substantially similar in construction and function to the sprocket


302


of the drive mechanism


300


.




The second drive mechanism


320


is provided with a motor


324


(shown in phantom) operably connected to a drive sprocket


326


for rotatingly driving the drive sprocket


326


. The drive sprocket


326


is substantially similar in function and construction to the drive sprocket


308


with reference to the drive mechanism


300


. The second drive mechanism


320


further includes a belt


328


that straps and connects to the sprocket


322


and the drive sprocket


326


such that when the motor


324


imparts a rotation on the drive sprocket


326


, it causes the belt


328


to impart a similar rotation on the sprocket


322


for driving the third stage rollers


70


.





FIG. 11

illustrates an instant ticket vending machine


400


operable for dispensing tickets


12


, such as lottery tickets. The instant ticket vending machine


400


, including a substantially rigid housing


402


, having a door


404


connected to the housing


402


. The connection of the door


404


to the housing


402


may be accomplished using standard hinges


406


or a variety of other hingeable coupling devices which are well known in the art for connecting doors to housings.




The housing


402


is provided with an inner housing area


406


provided with a plurality of openings


408


adapted to receive the ticket dispensing machine


10


(see FIG.


1


). The door


404


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


is provided with a hopper


410


which communicates with an opening


412


in the door


404


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


. It is apparent that as the ticket dispensing machine


10


, which is operably positioned within one of the openings


408


in the housing


402


, dispenses a ticket out of the third stage rollers


70


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


, the ticket


12


is ejected into the hopper


410


and may be retrieved when the door


404


is closed through the opening


412


in the door


404


.




The instant ticket vending machine


400


is provided with a control panel


420


provided with a display


422


and a variety of selectors


424


such that an individual may select, via the selectors


424


, a particular type of ticket


12


contained in a particular ticket dispensing machine


10


retained within the housing


402


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


. The control panel


420


and selectors


424


may include additional capabilities such as, for example, a keypad, card-reader or other input capabilities and money receiver and changers.




Referring also to

FIG. 12

, the control panel


420


is in communication with a CPU (central processing unit)


426


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


. The CPU


426


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


is in communication with a control board


450


(see

FIG. 1

) provided on the bottom, or underside, of the ticket dispensing machine


10


. In this manner, when the CPU


426


receives input from the control panel, for example, as a keypad input indicative of a user selecting a specific ticket type, the CPU


426


communicates with the appropriate ticket vending machine


10


, via the control board


450


of the particular ticket dispensing machine


10


.




The CPU


426


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


communicates with the control board


450


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


via a communication line


452


. The communication line


452


may be a RS485 connection or other communication lines adapted for providing communication signals for these purposes. The control board


450


further communicates with the motor


162


of the drive assembly


130


operable for driving the bursting blade


30


. The control board


450


further communicates with the motor


306


of the drive mechanism


300


operable for driving the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


. The control board


450


further communicates with the motor


324


of the second drive mechanism


320


operable for driving the third stage rollers


70


.




The control board


450


further communicates with the detection mechanism


24


which may include the optical sensor


94


and the encoder


220


. The control board


450


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


further includes a dip switch (not shown) indicating a unique address or location within the instant ticket vending machine


400


of each particular ticket dispensing machine


10


relative to other ticket dispensing machines


10


disposed in the openings


408


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


.




The CPU


426


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


contains information relative to the ticket length and size of the tickets


12


of the strip of tickets


14


loaded within the tray


90


of the ticket dispensing machine


10


. In this manner, the strip of tickets


14


is loaded into the first stage rollers


32


and there through the second stage rollers


34


until the optical sensor


94


detects the leading edge


110


of the leading ticket


26


of the strip of tickets


14


. The optical sensor


94


communicates with the control board


450


which obtains ticket length information from the CPU


426


and communicates with the motor


306


to stop, reverse and then re-advance the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


for positioning.




In one embodiment, the reversal and re-advancement of the strip of tickets


14


is only accomplished during the initial loading for accurately and consistently positioning the strip of tickets


14


. Thereafter, the strip of tickets


14


are advanced until detected by the optical sensor


94


, with the assistance of the encoder


220


, for proper positioning without the need to reverse and re-advance the strip of tickets


14


.




As the motor


306


rotates the first stage rollers


32


, the encoder


220


measures the amount of rotation of the first stage rollers


34


and, based upon the ticket length information obtained from the CPU


426


, the motor


306


receives a signal from the control board


450


. The motor


306


then drives the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


which advance the strip of tickets


14


wherein the perforated joints


16


of the strip of tickets


14


are adjacent the bursting blade


30


for separation. Once the strip of tickets


14


have been properly aligned, the control board


450


sends a signal to the motor


162


which causes the bursting blade


30


to strike the strip of tickets


14


adjacent the perforated joints


16


to break the perforated joints


16


connecting at least the leading ticket


26


to the strip of tickets


14


.




The control board


450


sends a signal to the motor


306


to advance the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


causing the separated ticket


12


to advance to the third stage rollers


70


. The control board


450


then sends a signal to the motor


324


which drives the third stage rollers


70


causing the separated ticket


12


to be ejected therefrom the ticket dispensing machine


10


and into the hopper


410


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


.




In one embodiment, once the strip of tickets


14


has been cut by the bursting blade


30


, a trailing edge (not shown) of the ticket


12


is detected by the optical sensor


94


. The optical sensor


94


communicates such information to the control board


450


. The control board


450


communicates with the motor


306


to stop the second stage rollers


34


and then communicates with the motor


324


to drive the third stage rollers


70


causing the ticket to eject. In this manner, the motors are driven individually for optimum performance and control.




In one embodiment, when the door


404


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


is opened, the CPU


426


initiates a service mode operable for a user to communicate information about the of tickets


12


being loaded. In this manner, the control panel


420


operably provides the user with a menu for entering information such as ticket length, ticket price and the quantity of tickets loaded in a particular ticket dispensing machine


10


disposed within the opening


408


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


. Additionally, the user may obtain information and reports of ticket dispensing activities, including security features.




Information such as the cost of tickets, charge for tickets and other general information for the consumer or user of the instant ticket vending machine


400


may be displayed on the display


422


of the control panel


420


. Additionally, it may be advantageous to display information on the ticket dispensing machine


10


, including the cost of tickets, the number of tickets remaining or vended in a particular ticket vending machine


10


and, in such event, a display


475


(see

FIG. 1

) may be provided on the front of the ticket dispensing machine


10


adapted for such purposes.




In other embodiments, the ticket vending machine


10


is provided with a load switch


480


(see

FIG. 1

) mounted on the housing


62


of the ticket vending machine


10


. The load switch


480


communicates with the control board


450


for manually initiating at least the motor


306


for driving the first and second stage rollers


32


and


34


to initially load or, by reversing the motor


306


, unload the strip of tickets


14


.




It will be appreciated that the use of rollers having one-way bearings, such as the pinch rollers


36


of the first stage rollers


32


, is useful for vending tickets of varying lengths to allow motors


306


and


324


to be driven at different times to dispense tickets


12


of different sizes, such as tickets


12


having lengths of up to twelve inches (12″).





FIG. 13

illustrates a flow-chart of a method


500


of separating tickets


12


from a strip of tickets


14


connected along perforated joints


16


. The method provides, at a block


502


for advancing the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


. At a block


504


, the method provides for detecting the leading edge


110


of at least the leading ticket


26


of the strip of tickets


14


. At a block


506


, the method provides for determining the ticket size of at least the leading ticket


26


of the strip of tickets


14


. At a block


508


, the method provides a tensioning mechanism operative to tension at least a portion of the ticket path


22


at a perforated joint


16


connecting at least a leading ticket


26


to the strip of tickets


14


.




At a block


510


, the method includes providing a bursting blade


30


adapted to float relative to the direction of travel of the strip of tickets


14


along the ticket path


22


. At a block


512


, the method includes positioning the strip of tickets


14


relative to the bursting blade


30


for separation. At a block


514


, the method includes striking, via the bursting blade


30


, the strip of tickets


14


adjacent the tension portion of the ticket path


22


adjacent the perforated joints


16


connecting at least the leading ticket


26


to the strip of tickets


14


to separate the leading ticket


26


from the strip of tickets


14


. The severed ticket


12


may then be advanced, in another embodiment, from the second stage rollers


34


to the third stage rollers


70


which eject the ticket


12


into the hopper


410


of the instant ticket vending machine


400


.




Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method for dispensing tickets that satisfies one or more of the advantages set forth above. Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of the present invention, even if all of the advantages identified above are not present. For example, the various embodiments shown in the drawings herein illustrate that the present invention may be implemented and embodied in a variety of different ways that still fall within the scope of the present invention.




Also, the techniques, designs, elements, and methods described and illustrated in the preferred embodiment as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other techniques, designs, elements, or methods without departing from the scope of the present invention. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are readily ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A ticket machine for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated lines of weakness between adjacent tickets, the ticket machine comprising;a roller assembly adapted to drive a portion of the strip of tickets along a ticket path; a detection mechanism disposed adjacent the ticket path and adapted to determine a position of the strip of tickets along the ticket path; the roller assembly being arranged to be driven in response to the detection mechanism to locate a line of weakness substantially at a bursting position; a bursting blade having a bursting edge located at the bursting position adjacent the ticket path and arranged for operation in a bursting action; wherein the roller assembly includes a first set of pinch rollers upstream of the bursting position and a second set of pinch rollers downstream of the bursting position arranged to hold the tickets tensioned across the bursting position; wherein the first and second set of pinch rollers are driven by a common motor at common speed; wherein the roller assembly includes a third discharge set of pinch rollers along the ticket path downstream from the second pinch rollers and arranged to receive tickets directly from the second set of pinch rollers, the third discharge set of pinch rollers being driven by a motor separately from the first and second set of pinch rollers; and wherein the detection mechanism is positioned along the ticket path upstream of the third discharge set of pinch rollers.
  • 2. The ticket machine of claim 1 wherein the second set of pinch rollers is provided with one-way bearings operable to inhibit a ticket pinched therein from a reverse travel direction along the ticket path while allowing the ticket pinched therein to travel forwardly along the ticket path.
  • 3. The ticket dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first set of pinch rollers include a rotatable drive shaft driven by a motor and wherein there is provided an encoder adapted to sense the rotation of the drive shaft.
  • 4. The ticket dispenser of claim 1 wherein the detection mechanism is adapted to sense a leading edge of the leading ticket of the strip of tickets and is positioned along the ticket path downstream of the second set of pinch rollers.
  • 5. The ticket machine of claim 1 wherein the bursting blade has a flat surface on the upstream side and a beveled bursting edge on the downstream side.
  • 6. The ticket machine of claim 1 wherein there is provided a gauge bar on a side of the tickets opposite to the bursting blade edge, the gauge bar being located upstream of the bursting blade edge.
  • 7. The ticket machine of claim 1 wherein there is defined a stop position at or adjacent the detection mechanism and wherein the distance from the stop position to the third discharge set of pinch rollers is no greater than the distance from the bursting blade to the stop position.
  • 8. The ticket machine of claim 1 wherein the bursting blade has an edge defining a central apex midway across the line of weakness and is declined from the central apex outwardly and away from ticket so as to strike the line of weakness initially at the center.
  • 9. The ticket dispenser of claim 1 wherein the third discharge set of pinch rollers is arranged to discharge a separated ticket directly into a receptacle for supply to a user.
  • 10. A ticket machine for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated lines of weakness between adjacent tickets, the ticket machine comprising:a roller assembly adapted to drive a portion of the strip of tickets along a ticket path; a detection mechanism disposed adjacent the ticket path and adapted to determine a position of the strip of tickets along the ticket path; the roller assembly being arranged to be driven in response to the detection mechanism to locate a line of weakness substantially at a bursting position; a bursting blade having a bursting edge located at the bursting position adjacent the ticket path with the bursting edge extending across the path of the tickets; the bursting blade being mounted on a mounting guide assembly for movement of the edge toward the tickets in a bursting action through the line of weakness to separate a ticket on one side of the line of weakness from a ticket on the other side of the line of weakness; the mounting guide assembly defining a space relative to the blade such that the bursting blade is mounted thereon for limited floating movement of the edge in a direction forwardly and rearwardly along the path of the tickets so as to allow movement of the edge to the line of weakness when misaligned with the bursting position.
  • 11. The ticket machine of claim 10 wherein the bursting blade has an edge defining a central apex midway across the line of weakness and is declined from the central apex outwardly and away from the line of weakness so as to strike the line of weakness initially at the center.
  • 12. The ticket machine of claim 10 wherein there is provided a gauge bar on a side of the tickets opposite to the bursting blade edge, the gauge bar being located upstream of the bursting blade edge.
  • 13. The ticket machine of claim 10 wherein the bursting blade has a flat surface on the upstream side and a beveled bursting edge on the downstream side.
  • 14. The ticket machine of claim 10 wherein the roller assembly includes a first set of pinch rollers upstream of the bursting position and a second set of pinch rollers downstream of the bursting position arranged to hold the tickets tensioned across the bursting position.
  • 15. The ticket machine of claim 14 wherein the first and second set of pinch rollers are driven by a common motor at common speed.
  • 16. The ticket machine of claim 14 wherein the second set of pinch rollers are provided with one-way bearings operable to inhibit a ticket pinched therein from a reverse travel direction along the ticket path while allowing the ticket pinched therein to travel forwardly along the ticket path.
  • 17. The ticket dispenser of claim 14 wherein the first set of pinch rollers include a rotatable drive shaft driven by a motor and wherein there is provided an encoder adapted to sense the rotation of the drive shaft.
  • 18. The ticket dispenser of claim 14 further provided with a third discharge set of pinch rollers along the ticket path downstream from the second pinch rollers for discharging a separated ticket into a receptacle for supply to a user.
  • 19. The ticket machine of claim 18 wherein the detection mechanism is adapted to sense a leading edge of the leading ticket of the strip of tickets and is positioned along the ticket path downstream of the second set of pinch rollers and upstream of the third set of pinch rollers.
  • 20. The ticket dispenser of claim 18 wherein the third discharge set of pinch rollers is driven by a motor separately from the first and second sets of pinch rollers and includes one way bearings arranged to allow forward rotation of the third discharge set of pinch rollers.
  • 21. A ticket machine for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated lines of weakness between adjacent tickets, the ticket machine comprising;a roller assembly adapted to drive a portion of the strip of tickets along a ticket path; a detection mechanism disposed adjacent the ticket path and adapted to determine a position of the strip of tickets along the ticket path; wherein the roller assembly includes a first set of pinch rollers upstream of the bursting position and a second set of pinch rollers downstream of the bursting position arranged to hold the tickets tensioned across the bursting position; a common motor and a connection from the common motor to the first and second set of pinch rollers arranged to drive the first and second set of pinch rollers at common speed; the operation of the common motor being controlled in response to the rotation of the first set of pinch rollers and in response to the detection mechanism to drive the first set of pinch rollers so as to move the strip of tickets to locate a line of weakness of the strip of tickets substantially at a bursting position; a bursting blade having a bursting edge located at the bursting position adjacent the ticket path and arranged for operation in a bursting action; wherein the second set of pinch rollers is provided with one-way bearings operable to inhibit a ticket pinched therein from a reverse travel direction along the ticket path while allowing the ticket pinched therein to travel forwardly along the ticket path.
  • 22. The ticket machine of claim 21 wherein the bursting blade has an edge defining a central apex midway across the line of weakness and is declined from the central apex outwardly and away from the line of weakness so as to strike the line of weakness initially at the center.
  • 23. The ticket machine of claim 21 wherein there is provided a gauge bar on a side of the tickets opposite to the bursting blade edge, the gauge bar being located upstream of the bursting blade edge.
  • 24. The ticket machine of claim 21 wherein the bursting blade has a flat surface on the upstream side and a beveled bursting edge on the downstream side.
  • 25. The ticket dispenser of claim 21 wherein the first set of pinch rollers include a rotatable drive shaft driven by a motor and wherein the rotation of the first set of pinch rollers is detected by an encoder adapted to sense the rotation of the drive shaft.
  • 26. The ticket dispenser of claim 21 further provided with a third discharge set of pinch rollers along the ticket path downstream from the second pinch rollers for discharging a separated ticket into a receptacle for supply to a user.
  • 27. The ticket machine of claim 26 wherein the detection mechanism is adapted to sense a leading edge of the leading ticket of the strip of tickets and is positioned along the ticket path downstream of the second set of pinch rollers and upstream of the third discharge set of pinch rollers.
  • 28. The ticket dispenser of claim 26 wherein the third discharge set of pinch rollers are driven by a motor separately from the first and second sets of pinch rollers and include one way bearings arranged to allow forward rotation of the third set of pinch rollers.
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