Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
201 0273
This invention relates to ticket dispensing apparatus and
methods, and particularly to lottery ticket dispensing and vending
machines and methods.
A lottery ticket dispensing mechanism, preferably operated by
a ticket agent rather than by the customer himself, has been proposed. It
advantageously stores lottery tickets in fan-fold form, bursts them apart
accurately and reliably, and dispenses the tickets one-by-one.
That ticket dispenser is connected to a central computer
through a modem and is adapted to deliver accounting, sales inventory
and related information to the central computer, and print the
information on a printed ticket delivered by the machine to the agent.
Although the machine described above is highly
advantageous, it is an object of the present invention to improve upon it,
and also to provide a customer-operated ticket vending machine and
method which is improved in its ability to communicate to the customer
the tickets available and to enhance customer confidence in the machine.
Furthermore, it is desired to
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provide such a machine which is very easy for untrained
people to operate, highly reliable in operation, and
persuasive in its presentation of lottery tickets to the
public.
In accordance with the present invention, the
foregoing objects are met by the provision of a ticket
dispensing apparatus and method in which a representation of
the tickets are displayed by the machine at all times so
that customers can see what they are buying. Then, as the
tickets are being dispensed, the visible representation
moves by an amount corresponding to the number of tickets
dispensed.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
ticket dispensing machine and method is used as a vending
machine in selling lottery tickets. The machine preferably
has one or a plurality of windows with mechanism for moving
an array of lottery tickets past each of the windows so that
different types of lottery tickets can be seen, but not
touched, by the customers. In a machine having a plurality
of windows, the tickets displayed can either be separate
sources of tickets of the same lottery game, or they can be
tickets of different games so that the customer can select
the game of his or her choice to play.
Preferably, the vending machines are connected by
modems or similar communication links to a central computer
which performs accounting and other similar functions. In
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one optional arrangement, several of the machines are used
as slaves and are connected to one machine which is used as
a master, and communications are had between the central
computer and slaves and the master unit only through the
master unit so that only one telephone line is required for
the communication.
In another embodiment of the vending machine,
graphic representations of the lottery tickets are displayed
on a video screen, rather than through windows. The lottery
ticket images are moved in the same manner as tickets are
moved past windows.
The customer, by being able to see a
representation of the lottery tickets prior to selecting
them, better understands the terms of the game and has
greater confidence that the machine will vend lottery
tickets to him in a flawless manner. The motion of the
tickets during dispensing further bolsters that confidence
and is attractive. When multiple windows or video
representations are used and multiple games are provided in
a single machine, many more customers can be satisfied by
one vending machine than if only one type of ticket were
being sold.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of
the invention will be set forth in or apparent from the
following description and drawings.
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In the Drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ticket vending
machine constructed in accordance with the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a portion
of the machine shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation view of
the keypad of the unit shown in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective, partially broken-away
view of another machine, similar to that shown in Figures 1
and 2;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along
lines 5-5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a partially broken-away elevation view
of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a
communication and computer system incorporating the present
invention.
Figure 8 is a front elevation view of another
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 9 is a side elevation schematic view of the
ticket dispensing and bursting mechanism of the device shown
in Figure 8; and
Figure 10 is a schematic circuit diagram for the
embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9.
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lottery ticket
vending machine lO constructed in accordance with the
present invention.
The vending machine 10 includes upper and lower
housings 12 and 14 and support feet 16 for supporting the
unit on the floor. The lower housing 14 forms a storage
cabinet which has a hinged lockable front cover 18. The
upper housing 12 has a hinged, lockable front cover 20.
The machine 10 includes a bill receiver or
"acceptor" unit 22 which has an inlet slot 24 for receiving
currency notes or bills. If desired, the unit 22 can be
adapted to accept credit cards or other monetary exchange
media.
The machine 10 has a control panel 26 with a
keypad 28 and a LED display window 30. Printed operating
instructions are located at 32 above the display window 30.
A larger LED display window 34 is located at the
top of the front of the housing to deliver stationary or
moving advertising messages.
Four windows 36, 38, 40 and 42 are provided in the
front panel 20. Immediately below each of the four windows
is a ticket dispensing outlet 44, 46, 48 or 50,
respectively. Each of the dispensing outlets has a pair of
curved fingers 64 for holding the ticket until it is grasped
by the customer.
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Clearly visible through each of the four windows
is an array 52, 54, 56, or 58, respectively, of lottery
tickets. The tickets are visible at all times, both when
they are stationary, and when they are moving during the
ticket dispensing operation of the machine.
As it is shown in Figure 5, each of the windows
includes a bezel 62 with a rectangular opening 72 in the
rear and a cover plate 124 of tempered glass or Lexan or
similar transparent break-resistant material.
Separate locks 66, 68 and 70 are provided,
respectively, for the front panel 20, the bill receiver unit
22, and the front door 18 of the base portion 14 of the unit
10.
The method of issuing the tickets and the
selection process by the customer now will be explained.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the windows and
dispensing outlets of the machine 10. In Figure 2, each of
the four windows shows most of the front faces of three
lottery tickets. The number of lottery tickets displayed in
each window depends upon the length (the vertical dimension
in Figure 2) of the particular tickets involved. Each of
the windows displays tickets in a different game conducted
by the lottery authority in the jurisdiction in which the
machines are used.
Referring now to Figure 3, the keypad 28 includes
a row 82 of window selection pushbuttons 84, 86, 88 and 90.
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As it is shown in Figures 1 and 2, beneath each window is a
letter and arrow 74, 76, 78 or 80 corresponding to the
letter on one of the pushbuttons 84, 86, 88 or 90. Thus, if
the customer wishes to play game A, he or she inserts money
in the bill acceptor, and the amount of credit the customer
has appears on the display 30. The customer then presses
number keys on the keypad 28 to input the number of tickets
desired. The customer then presses pushbutton 84 (Figure 3)
to select the game illustrated in the window 36 (see Figure
2), and the machine moves the tickets downwardly past the
window 36 (Figure 2) and dispenses them through the outlet
44 one-by-one. As the tickets are dispensed one-at-a-time,
the amount of credit displayed on the display 30 decreases,
one monetary unit at a time. The unit by which the credit
decreases depends on the price of the ticket selected.
If the customer mistakenly presses one of the game
select pushbuttons 82 first, the machine will dispense only
one ticket. This advises the customer that he or she should
select the number of tickets desired before selecting the
game.
If the customer has not used up all of his or her
credits, and then wishes to play game D, the customer
presses pushbutton 90 (Figure 3) and the lottery tickets 58
move downwardly and are dispensed through the outlet 50
one-by-one until the credits are used up.
In the embodiment of Figures 8 through 10, the
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customer selects tickets from one of the arrays displayed on
a video screen 218, and tickets are issued through one of
two outlets 220 and 222. Otherwise, the selection process
is the same as for the embodiment using windows.
If the tickets are of the "instant winner"
variety, the customer then can scratch off an opaque coating
over one area of each of the tickets to see whether he or
she is an instant winner.
It should be understood that the vending machine
also can be used to dispense tickets other than lottery
tickets and other than instant winners. Again, the ticket
display gives the customer selection, confidence and
entertainment.
TICKET FEEDING
Figure 4 is a perspective, partially broken away
view of a two-window lottery ticket vending unit which is
substantially the same as the one shown in Figure 1, except
that it has two windows instead of four, and does not have a
base portion 14. The elements of the control panel 26 are
not shown, for the sake of simplification of the drawing.
The front cover 20 of the unit has been unlocked and opened
outwardly on its hinges. Two lottery ticket feed and
dispensing mechanisms 96 and 98 for the two windows of the
machine are shown pulled out of the machine housing and
supported in the extended position by tracks 108. This
gives access to the mechanisms for servicing and facilities
replenishing ticket stocks.
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Each of the feed units 96 and 98 includes a tray
for holding a substantial stack 100 of lottery tickets in
fan-fold form. The lottery tickets are printed on a
continuous sheet or strip of card stock in which the
individual tickets are delineated from one another by
perforated lines 103 - lines of weakness along which the
tickets can be separated easily.
Referring now to Figure 5 as well as Figure 4, the
strip ot tickets extends upwardly as shown at 102 or 101 off
of the stack, and passes over a roller 104 with enlarged end
stops 105, and past the opening 72 (Figure 5) in the bezel
forming the rear of the window structure. The roller 104 is
rotatably mounted on arms 106 which extend downwardly as
shown in Figure 4.
Each of the end stops 105 can be moved
longitudinally along the roller 104 by loosening a set-screw
107 and tightening it again in the new position. This
permits adjustment of the distance between the end stops to
guide ticket strips 118 of varying widths.
Referring now to Figure 5, the bezel 162 is
mounted in the hinged front panel 20 whose frame 122 is
shown in the upper left-hand corner of Figure 5. The
transparent window 124 is clamped between the front panel
parts 122 and 126 and the outer flange of the bezel 62.
Thus, the window structure moves away from the ticket strip
118 and feeder/burster mechanism to give optimum access to
the internal parts of the mechanism.
GN71.01
PATENT 2 01 02 73
The strip 118 of lottery tickets moves downwardly
past the opening 72 in the bezel and through a pair of edge
guides 134 (also see Figure 6), and through a feeding and
bursting mechanism indicated generally at 112 in Figure 5.
The feeding and bursting mechanism 112 is essentially
identical to that disclosed in the above-identified
copending patent application, except that it has been
rotated through 90~ to dispense tickets downwardly. It will
not be described in detail herein; rather, the disclosure of
that mechanism, and all other disclosure in the pending
application, hereby is incorporated herein by reference.
Each feeding and bursting mechanism 112 includes
four drive rollers 154, 158, 162 and 166 mounted,
respectively, on shafts 156, 160, 164 and 168 (also see
Figure 4). A rotary bursting wheel 152 (Figure 5) is
provided and is mounted to rotate and move across the strip
118 of lottery tickets at or near the location of a
perforation so as to press to the left on the ticket stock
and separate a ticket 128 from the end of the strip.
The severed ticket 128 is dispensed past metal
guides 136 and 138 which form a relatively narrow outlet
opening 139 through which outfeed rollers 158 feed the
severed ticket 128 and issue it through the opening 139 into
a receptacle formed by the member 140 with the upturned arms
or fingers 64. A severed ticket 130 is shown resting in the
receptacle ready to be grasped. As it can be seen in
Figures 1 and 2, there is an ample space between the fingers
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64 so that the customer easily inserts his own fingers to
grasp the tickets.
The outlet opening 139 is narrow and is recessed
in the housing so it is not easy to reach from outside. In
addition, the spacing of outlet 139 from the burster blade
152 is such that a ticket will not emerge through the
opening 139 until it has been severed from the ticket strip
118. By this means, it is made very difficult for someone
to reach into the machine, grasp the uncut ticket strip 118,
and pull out a strip of tickets.
As it is disclosed more fully in the
above-identified copending patent application, the bursting
and feeding mechanism includes a precise code wheel and
detector arrangement for making certain that the
perforations accurately line up with the bursting wheel 152.
However, the use of the bursting wheel to tear the tickets
from one another has the added beneflt of automatically
adjusting any misalignment, thus providing highly reliable
feeding and issuing of whole, undamaged tickets.
As it can be seen at the upper portion of Figure
5, a lamp 148 with a housing 146 is mounted adjacent a slot
in the top of each bezel so that light rays 150 shine
downwardly to illuminate the tickets at each window to make
them more visible, readable and attractive.
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3390-2030
Figure 6 shows the adjustable edge-guiding members
134. The members 134 are cams which are pivotably mounted
on a support plate 135 adjacent opposite edges of the ticket
strip 118. Each of the cams 134 is circular with its pivot
point located considerably outwardly from its center so that
rotation of the element 134 will bring its edge closer to or
farther away from the opposite guide 134. Each cam element
134 has a recessed edge 137 which forms a groove in which
the edge of the ticket strip is guided.
Two different positions, shown in dashed outline
at 186 and 188 are shown for the cam elements 134, in
addition to the position shown in solid outline. With the
cams in position 186, the left edge of the ticket strip
would be located at 180. With the cam elements rotated to
their solid line position, the left edge of the strip would
be located at 184. The right edge would be similarly
located relative to the right-hand cam 134. The adjustment
of these elements can be made by a service representative to
accommodate ticket strips of varying widths.
The position of each cam 134 is adjustable by
loosening a threaded fastener 178 with a knurled knob,
rotating the cam 134 to its new position, and tightening the
knob 178 again to hold it in its new position.
Also disclosed in Figure S is an optional printer
116, like the one shown in Figure 9 of the co-pending
application, which can be used to imprint information on the
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PATENT
3390-2030
2~~0273
rear surface of each lottery ticket as it passes by. The
information which can be imprinted is information such as
the location of the vending machine, the identification of
the ticket itself, etc., as more fully disclosed in the
co-pending application.
Also shown in Figure 5 is an optional bar-code
reader 132 which is positioned to read a bar-code printed on
the back of each lottery ticket. This reader can read the
identification of the ticket's lot number; the
identification of each individual ticket; the ticket batch
number; the ticket manufacturer; the ticket manufacturing
date; and the game represented by the ticket; whether the
ticket is a winner; and how much winninqs the ticket is
worth. This information then can be used for accounting and
security purposes.
CONTROL SYSTEM
Figure 7 shows a ticket vending system including a
number of vending units 10 and a central computer 204.
Each unit 10 has a microprocessor whose CPU 190 is
shown in Figure 7. The bill receiver or acceptor 22
indicates the denomination of the bill and its authenticity.
The CPU computes the amount of credit due to the customer
and displays it on the LED display 30 so the customer knows
how much credlt he or she has at any given moment. The bill
receiver is adapted to accept bills in denominations of
$1.00, $5.00, $10.00 and S20.00 in U.S. currency, or other
multiple denominations of the currency of other countries.
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PATENT Z0~0273
3390-2030
The keypad 28 then is operated by the customer to
select one of the four games available, and to select the
number of lottery tickets desired. This information is
operated upon by the CPU 190 and is used to cause the proper
number of tickets 130 to be issued from the selected window
36, 38, 40, or 42. Then the amount of credit shown on the
display 30 is reduced by one unit as each ticket is issued
so that the customer can see that he is being charged the
proper amount for each ticket. The customer then can select
other windows and other numbers of tickets until his credit
is used up.
Communication between the vending units 10 and the
central computer 204 preferably is through telephone lines
202 by means of a modem 203, or an optional dial-up modem
192 in each of the units 10.
If desired, ln order to save hardware costs and
telephone charges, a group of four or more vending units can
be operated in a master-slave relationship with one unit 10
being the master and three units 194, 196 and 198 being
connected by cable as slaves to the master unit. In this
manner, there is communication with the central computer
only through the master unit. This reduces the number of
telephone lines needed to one, and reduces hardware costs in
the slave units. The master-slave groupings are convenient
to use when multiple vending machines are located close to
one another, as in a single building.
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PATENT
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Figure 7 shows, in the lower portion, another
vending unit 10 with three slaves 210, 212 and 214. Still
another vending unit 10 without any slaves is shown to the
right and above the central computer 204 in Figure 7.
A keyboard 206 and a printer 208 are connected to
the central computer at the same location as the computer so
that ticket agents can input and output the information
necessary to control the vending units and check on their
operation and security.
A printer 208 is located inside of each vending
machine 10. Such a printer prints a record of all
transactions and data to be discussed below, and can be used
by the agent servicing the machine for accounting and other
purposes to be disclosed below, or which have been disclosed
in the co-pending application.
The adjustment for different lengths of tickets is
set electronically through a service keypad 191 located
internally in the housing 12. Alternatively, the length
adjustment can be set electronically from the central
computer.
The wording of the advertising sign can be changed
at will, preferably from the central computer 204. It is
typically a LED display. It can be stationary or moving, as
is well-known in the art.
The "clear" button (Figure 3) on the keypad allows
the customer to correct an erroneous keypad entry. The
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programming of the microprocessor in the vending machine
advises a customer by way of the display 30 when the
mechanism dispensing a particular one of the game tickets is
inoperative, and then will advise the customer to chose
another game. The bill receiver will not accept any
currency if all games are inoperative.
The specific circuitry and program routines used
in the unit 10 are more fully described in the co-pending
patent application and will not be elaborated upon here.
SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
In a particular machine like that shown in Figure
1 which has been built and successfully operated, the
following specific features have been incorporated. The
currency acceptor used is a Mars Electronics Model L20-UlM
currency acceptor capable of accepting $1.00, ~5.00, $10.00
and $20.00 bills in U.S. currency. It has a 1,000 bill
capacity stacker to stack the bills.
The character display 30 is a 20 character light
emitting diode display. It displays prompt messages at
regular intervals to assist the customer in making his
purchase.
An audible alarm is provided in case the cabinet
door is open or the power input to the unit is too low.
The internal printer 208, is a 16-column thermal
printer.
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3390-2030 2~1~3
The imprinter 116 consists of a stamp roller and
an ink roller in a self-contained replaceable assembly
capable of making 100,000 impressions.
DATA PROCESSING
The following data is to be stored in the memory
of each vending unit. Listed below are the means by which
the data is entered ("Entry Source"), and whether the data
is encrypted pursuant to a secret code which is used for
security purposes:
ENTRY SOURCE ENCRYPTED
A. Modem Communications
Password Host Yes
B. Number of Ticket
Loaded/Added Keypad No
C. Number of Tickets
To Be Dispensed Keypad No
D. Number of Tickets
Remaining Calculation No
E. Agent Number (Up to
Six Digits) Host Yes
F. Machine Number (Up to
Eight Digits) Host Yes
G. Number of Times Unit
is Opened Auto No
H. Agent Commission:
to l/lOth of 1~ Host Yes
I. Single Customer Message
(80 Character Buffer) Host Yes
J. Ticket Purchase Price
($1 Increments) Host Yes
K. Primary and Secondary
Host Phone # Host Yes
L. Date and Time Host Yes
M. Keypad Sign-on Password Host Yes
N. Ticket Length (1.2S" -
2.50") Keypad No
The "keypad" referred to above is the service
keypad 191 (Figure 7) which is not accessible by the public.
Alternatively and preferably, the keypad 28 can be used as
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the service key pad by use of software and a keypad sign-on
password by the service representative. The display 30 also
serves as a diagnostic message display during servicing.
Time Increments for Filling Data
The above data is kept for each of the following
time increments:
A. Latest Complete Week (Sun - Sat)
B. Current Week
C. Current Day
D. Most Recent Complete Day ~Midnight to Midnight)
E. Second Most Recent Complete Day
Reports
The following reports are generated by the system
and its software:
A. Current Sales Report: for current day.
B. Daily Sales Report:
1. For most recent complete day
2. For second most recent complete day
C. Weekly Sales Report
1. For latest complete week
2. For current week to date
D. Invoice: for latest complete week only.
Reports - Detailed
The following reports are made available to agents
via the thermal printer 208 in the vending machine, and to
the State or other operating authority via modem. All data
remains stored until the file is needed for the next time
increment.
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PATENT 20~027
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A. Current Sales Report Contents:
1. "Current Sales" title
2. Current date and time
3. Agent Number
4. Machine Number
5. Sales since last report
6. Playout since last report
7. Net cash since last report
8. Total Sales for current day
9. Total payout for current day
10. Net cash for current day
11. Service entries. (Two digits Max)
B. Daily sales report contents:
1. "Daily Sales Report" title
2. "For 00/00/00". Add time for current day
only.
3. Agent number
4. Machine number
5. Sales
6. Pay out total
7. Net cash amount (sales - payout = net cash)
8. Service entries (two digits max)
C. Weekly sales report content:
1. Same format and content as daily report
2. "For W/E 00/00/00: (W/E = Week Ending.
Use Sat Date)
D. Invoice Content:
l. "For W/E 00/00/00" (Sat Date)
2. Agent Number
3. Machine Number
4. Sales
5. Payout Total
6. Commission earned
7. Net Due to State (or from State)
REPORT EORMAT
Following is the preferred format for each of the
foregoing reports:
DAILY SALES RPT
FOR 00/00/00
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GN71.01
PATENT
3390-2030 2 Ol O ~ 3
AGENT #000000
MACH #00000000
SALES$0000.00
PAID$000.00
NET$0000.00
SE 00
WEEKLY SALES REPT
FOR W/E 00/00/00
AGENT #000000
MACH #00000000
SALES
PAID
NET
SE
_______ ________
WEEKLY INVOICE
FOR W/E 00/00/00
AGENT # 000000
MACH #00000000
SALES$0000.00
PAY$000.00
COMM$000.00
NET DUE $0000.00
________________
CURRENT SALES
00/00/00 0000: 00
AGENT # 000000
MACH # 00000000
FOR CURRENT DAY
SALES $0000.00
PAID $000.00
NET $0000.00
SE 00
FOR THIS REPORT
SALES $0000.00
PAID $000.00
NET S0000.00
SE 00
________________
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Communications with Host Computer
Communication from the host computer 204 to the
unit 10 is accomplished with a 2400 baud modem over a
telephone network. The host computer calls the unit 10, and
sends a ten-character ASCII password. The vending unit is
then ready to transmit its encrypted data to the host using
CRC XMODEM protocol. After the vending unit sends its data,
it goes into the receive mode. The host will then send
encrypted data to the vending unit using C~C XMODEM
protocol.
Dial-Up Modem
The internal modem 192 for dial-up communications
operates at a 2400 baud rate.
The modem 192 will answer calls within a time
period programmed by the host computer. The service
operator may also override the modem answer time period to
set the modem to answer NOW.
Master/Slave Serial Data Communications
A master/slave serial data communications bus 200
(Figure 7) is used to communicate between the master and
slave units. This is a bidirectional bus and supports one
master and three slave units. The master is connected to
the telephone system and will allow a host computer to
collect data from four terminals through one telephone line
202.
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Video Display Embodiment
Figures 8 through 10 show an alternative
embodiment of the invention in which a video display is
used, instead of separate windows, to display arrays of the
different tickets.
Figure 8 is a front elevation view of a vending
machine constructed in accordance with this embodiment of
the invention. The unit 216 does not have a base cabinet
like the cabinet 14 shown in Figure 1, but instead, like the
embodiment shown in Figure 4, rests upon a table or stand
(not shown).
Each of the components and elements of the machine
10 shown in Figure 1 which is the same as in Figure 1 bears
the same reference numeral.
Instead of the four windows in the unit 10, a
video display screen 218 is provided for displaying a
plurality of arrays of lottery tickets. Each array is
designated by one of the letters A, B, C, D, E and F in
Figure 8. Instead of one dispensing outlet for each array,
as in the Figure 1 embodiment, there are only two dispensing
outlets 220 and 222.
Figure 9 is a side elevation schematic view
showing one of two burster mechanisms 112 receiving ticket
strips 225, 227 or 229 from storage bins 224, 226 or 228,
respectively. The unit 112 contains means for selecting one
from among the three ticket storage bins to feed and
GN71.01
PATENT 2010~
disburse tickets from. When the customer selects one of the
three lottery ticket arrays A, B or C, the unit 112 behind
outlet 220, which receives tickets from those three
supplies, selects the appropriate strip to feed through the
burster unit, separates the proper number of tickets, and
dispenses them through the outlet opening 220.
Similarly, a separate mechanism like that shown in
Figure 9 is located behind the outlet opening 222 to service
the arrays D, E and F. When one of those arrays has been
selected, the burster 112 selects a ticket strip from one of
the three bins that feed into it and issues tickets from
that strip.
Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of the
control circuit for the system shown in Figures 8 and 9. It
is essentially the same as that shown in Figure 7, except
that the CPU 190 delivers control signals to the units 112
which control which of the three sources it feeds tickets
from. The CPU also selects which of the two units 112 is
enabled, depending on the array selected by the customer.
A video memory 230 is provided to store digitized
graphic representations of the lottery tickets in each of
the six displays on the screen. These ticket images are
digitized by conventional graphic digitizing means, and the
digital signals are stored in the video memory 230
periodically as the games and the lottery tickets are
changed. The digital signals needed for proper operation
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can be stored and distributed to many different remote
machines from the centrai computer 204. Alternatively, the
unit 216 can be provided with a small disk drive or tape
player, and the service representative can carry the digital
images on a disk or tape and use the disk drive or tape to
read them into the machine 216 when he comes to load into
the machine a new batch of lottery tickets for a new game.
The video memory 230 is of a conventional type
which contains any digital to analog conversion circuitry to
deliver signals suitable for display on the video monitor
218.
In accordance with another aspect of the
invention, each of the arrays of ticket images A, B, C, D, E
and F can be made to move downwardly as a ticket is issued.
The array moves in the same manner as the tickets move past
the windows in Figures 1 and 2. This can be done by
ordinary scrolling techniques. Although only 2 tickets are
shown in each of the arrays A, B, C, D, E and F, it should
be understood that each array can be made to contain more
tickets, if it is desired to do so.
When the supply of any one particular lottery
ticket is exhausted, the representation of that ticket on
the video screen disappears and is replaced by a legend
saying "Sold Out".
The device shown in Figures 8, 9 and lO has the
advantage that it is relatively compact and may require
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GN71.01
PATENT 2 ~ ~ 0 ~ 3
fewer burster and feeder mechanisms. It would be possible,
for example, by extension of the principles discussed above,
to use only one burster and feeder mechanism to service four
or five or more different supplies of lottery tickets.
Another advantage of the device shown in Figures 8
through 10 is the arrays A, B, C, D, E and F appear on a
video screen. This may make viewers more comfortable in
that they will be viewing the tickets in a familiar format.
Also, the video screen, which preferably is a color
receiver, will deliver the images of the tickets in vivid,
bright colors which will be easy to see in a darkened room,
such as in a tavern or cafe. For these reasons, it may be
desired to use the video screen to display the ticket
images, even though a separate burster and feeder mechanism
is used for each type of ticket.
The above description of the invention is intended
to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes or
modifications in the embodiments described may occur to
those skilled in the art and these can be made without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For
example, either the ticket itself or a video image of a
ticket should be considered to be a "representation" of the
ticket. Means other than the specific ones described above
can be used to create representations of tickets without
departing from the invention.
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GN71.01
