Abstract:
A modular printer system comprising a support frame, a chassis, a media holder, and a printer assembly. The support frame supports the other components and may be attached to other devices. The chassis is slidably attached to the support frame so that it may be at least partially removed from the support frame thereby exposing components attached to the chassis. The chassis is adapted to hold the media holder and the printer assembly. The media holder holds media that may be printed on by the printer assembly. The printer assembly may be removed from the chassis to service the printer assembly and give fall access to the media path. The printer assembly comprises a printer for printing on the media and a controller for controlling the printer and communicating with other devices.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to a modular printing system for printing and presenting tickets or vouchers. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Printers are now widely used to print various kinds of information bearing objects. For example, printers are used to print vouchers, tickets, coupons, receipts, and game tokens. In many of these applications it is necessary to place printers in small, in accessible spaces. For example, if a printer is used in a gaming device, the printer must occupy a minimum amount of space so that it does not interfere with the operation of other devices. In this application it is also important that a printer occupy a minimum amount of space on the front of the machine so that the space can be used to present information or entertaining graphics to the user. 
     Such demanding requirements present a difficult challenge to printer designers. The smaller a printer becomes, the more difficult it is to perform routine maintenance or to correct faults. The smaller the amount of space a printer occupies, the more difficult it is to access and remove the printer. What has long been needed is a printer that is small and occupies a minimum amount of space, yet is designed to allow technicians to easily access the printer and service the printers components. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a printer system. The printer system comprises a support frame, a chassis, a media holder, and a printer assembly. The support frame is adapted to support other components of the printer system. The chassis is slidably attached to the support frame, wherein the chassis is adapted to be slid at least partially out of the support frame. The media holder is attached to the chassis and it is adapted to hold printable media. The printer assembly is removable and attached to the chassis. The printer assembly comprises a printer and a controller. The printer is adapted to print on the media and the controller is adapted to control the printer. 
     The above description sets forth, rather broadly, the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description of the preferred embodiment that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is substantially a schematic side view of the tear bar and presenter system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is substantially a top plan view of the media of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is substantially an isometric view of the tear bar of the present invention in use with media of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is substantially a front plan view of the tear bar of the present invention in use with media of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is substantially a left side elevational view of the tear bar of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is substantially a left side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the tear bar of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is substantially a detailed view of the center portion of the tear bar of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is substantially a perspective view of the modular printer system of the present invention in an open position. 
     FIG. 9 is substantially a bottom perspective view of the modular printer system of the present invention in a closed position. 
     FIG. 10 is substantially a bottom perspective view of the modular printer system of the present invention in an open position. 
     FIG. 11 is substantially a perspective view of the modular printer system of the present invetion with the printer assembly removed from the chassis. 
     FIG. 12 is substantially a isometric view of the printer system of the present invention in use with a device having a secure compartment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a tear bar and presenter system generally indicated by reference number  10 . System  10  comprises a strip of media  12 . Media  12  is adapted to be printed on by a printer and separated into individual pieces. Media  12  is flexible enough to be thread through the printing and presenting systems of the present invention. Once printed and separated from the strip, individual pieces of media may be used as tickets, vouchers, coupons, and other information carrying objects. 
     Media  12  is stored in a media bin or holder  13 . In the preferred embodiment, media  12  is fan-folded and a folded stack  15  is stored in bin  13 . In other embodiments, media  12  is rolled, in which case means is provided for holding a roll of media and unrolling it to dispense the media. Fan folded media, however, has the advantage of producing relatively flat vouchers and occupying less space in the presently preferred embodiment. 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, media  12  of the present invention comprises a surface  60 , first side  56 , a second side  58 , and a central portion  62 . A plurality of perforations  50  are provided on media  12  for assisting the separation of pieces of media from each other. Perforations are preferably arranged in lines  52  that are parallel to the lateral axis of the media. Distance  26  between lines  52  is substantially the length of each voucher that may be removed from media  12 . One of the advantages of the preferred embodiment is that lines  52  provide a convenient location to fan fold media  12 . However, it is recognized that other perforation configurations may also be used with the present invention. For example, lines  52  may be placed at an angle to the lateral axis of the media with corresponding adjustments being made to system  10 . 
     Perforations  50  are separated by at least one bridge of connecting material  54 . In the preferred embodiment, three groups of three bridges are provided in each line  52 . A first group is positioned in close relative proximity to the first side  56 , a second group is positioned in close relative proximity to the second side  58 , and a third group is positioned in central portion  62 . It has been found that this configuration provides enough bridges of connective material to allow media  12  to be pulled from bin  13  without breaking and yet the individual pieces of media may be easily separated from the strip of media. Other bridge configurations may also be used with the present invention. For example, only two bridges may be utilized. 
     Media  12  may also comprise chamfered corners  64  at each line  52 . When an individual voucher is removed from media  12 , it has a chamfer  64  on each of its corners. Chamfers  64  allow individual vouchers to be inserted more easily into other equipment, such as a voucher reader or validator, and it allows media  12  to be more easily threaded into system  10 . Chamfers  64  may also be used with a sensor to detect the position lines  52 . This may be used to accurately position media  12  and to ensure that information for a particular voucher is being printed entirely on that voucher. The chamfers may be formed in a number of shapes. For example, the chamfers may be single angular lines, multiple angular lines, curves, or other corner treatments. Media  12  may be made by a number of different manufacturers including Lottery Impressions, Inc. of Waterford, Mich. 
     Media  12  may also comprise optical reference markers (not shown) for use with an optical sensor to accurately position the media. In the preferred embodiment, media  12  is repositioned before each printing job to correct for any slippage or error. 
     Returning now to FIG. 1, media  12  is fed out of bin  13  over wall  17 . Wall  17  may have guide portion  19  that guides media  12  to printer  16 . This may be especially useful when media  12  is first being threaded into printer  16 . 
     Printer  16  is adapted to print information on the media  12  as it is advanced past the printer. Drive wheel  23  may be provided for advancing media  12  through system  10 . Drive wheel  23  may be a part of printer  16 . 
     A large variety of information may be printed on the media  12  and the information may be presented in a number of different ways. For example, the information may be relevant to financial transactions, games, coupons, and prizes, and the information may be presented in alphabetical or numerical characters, symbols, or bar codes. Printer  16  is preferably a LabelWriter SE available from Costar Corporation in Greenwich, Conn. The entire printer assembly, including printer  16  and controller  18  is preferably a Series 700 printer assembly available from TransAct Technologies, Inc., of Wallingford, Conn. However, a large variety of other printers may also be used. It is understood that printer  16  may imprint ink or similar dye onto media  12 , it may change a property of the media to create visible characters (e.g., heating the media), it may form holes through the media to render it machine readable, or it may code magnetic information onto a magnetic strip or the like on the media. 
     A printer controller  18  is provided for controlling printer  16 . Controller  18  may be mechanical or electronic depending on the type of printer. Controller  18  may perform other functions, such as controlling lights and communicating with other devices, such as a computer or gaming device. 
     As media  12  is advanced, it is fed underneath a tear bar  14  and controller  18  through opening  20 . One or more guides  21  and  27  may be provided for guiding media  12  along this path. Opening  20  is the front of the machine where media  12  is presented to a user. Media  12  is advanced so that line  52  is positioned next to tear bar  14 . In the preferred embodiment, tear bar  14  is positioned a predetermined distance from opening  20  so that approximately one-half inch of media  12  is advanced past the opening. It has been found that presenting approximately one-half inch of media  12  to a user substantially reduces the likelihood that a user will prematurely grasp and pull the media. This reduces the chance that a voucher will be printed incorrectly due to slippage and acceleration. 
     The configuration of system  10  provides that a voucher is completely printed and line  52  is past printer  16  before any of the media is exposed to the user. This prevents a user from grasping and pulling media  12  until after printer  16  has finished printing. Of course, the spatial relationship of printer  16 , tear bar  14 , and opening  20  is dependent on the distance  26  between lines  52  of media  12 . 
     System  10  may also comprise bezel  24  to provide an attractive appearance to users and to limit access to opening  20 . A recess  25  may be provided in bezel  24  to allow users to insert their fingers to grasp media  12 . 
     Light source  26  may be provided near media  12  in a position adjacent to opening  20  to illuminate media  12 . Light source  26  may be activated by controller  18  when media  12  is available for a user to grasp. Light source  26  may prevent a user from prematurely grasping and pulling on media  12  because the users attention is brought to the media only after the media has been properly positioned. 
     The present invention also provides means for advancing media  12  rapidly so that it is more difficult for users to grasp the media until it is in a proper position. During a printing operation, media  12  is generally advanced relatively slowly to accommodate printer  16 . However, if media  12  is advanced at this slow rate when the media begins to extend out of opening  20 , then it is possible for users to grasp the media and pull on the media before it has reached its fully extended position. To counter this, the present invention advances media  12  at a higher rate after printer  16  has finished printing. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 3, and  4 , tear bar  14  is provided for assisting the separation of a voucher from media  12 . Tear bar  14  comprises a first side portion  35 , a second side portion  36  and a central portion  38 . First side portion  35  is adapted to abut surface  60  adjacent to first side  56 . Second side portion  36  may is adapted to abut surface  60  adjacent to second side  58 . Center portion  38  is located between first and second side portions  35  and  36  and it is adapted to abut surface  60  at center portion  62 . In the preferred embodiment, the three groups of three bridges  54  roughly correspond to the positions of first side portion  35 , second side portion  36 , and center portion  38 . Thus, when a pulling force is applied by a user to media  12 , first and second side portions  35  and  36  and center portion  38  provide friction and stress is applied to bridges  54 . 
     First side portion  35  may be provided with tapered surfaces so that its height or thickness decreases as the portion is traversed from the first side towards the center of tear bar  14 . Similarly, second side portion  36  may be provided with tapered surfaces so that its height or thickness decreases as the portion is traversed from the second side towards the center of tear bar  14 . This configuration tends to concentrate stress on a single outer bridge  54  rather than a plurality of bridges when a pulling force is applied. When stress is concentrated on a single bridge  54 , the bridge tends to break more quickly and cleanly. Once the outer most bridge  54  breaks, stress is transferred to the next bridge until it breaks. This configuration also works well with users who produce a torque by pulling on a corner of media  12  because the torque tends to concentrate the stress even more on an outer bridge  54 . 
     First and second side portions  35  and  36  and center portion  38  may have roughened surfaces to produce more friction. The roughened surface may be produced by knurling, diamond coating, or by other means that are well known in the art. The roughened surfaces help keep the media in place when a pulling force is applied thereby creating stress on bridges  54  and it helps keep the next piece of un-printed media stationary. 
     As seen in FIG. 5, in the preferred embodiment tear bar  14  has a substantially round cross-section. The tear bar is mounted in system  10  so that the bar does not rotate. Other configurations may also be utilized. For example, as seen in FIG. 6, tear bar  14  may have a partially circular cross-section. 
     Turning now to FIG. 7, center portion  38  has a height that is greater than surrounding portions of tear bar  14 . The edges of center portion  38  may have rounded or tapered portions  39  to provide the stress concentrating effect discussed above. 
     Tear bar  14  is shown as rod or shaft-like member. This provides a convenient form for manufacturing tear bar  14 . However, it is recognized that tear bar  14  may be formed from other objects. For example, tear bar  14  could be formed from a substantially planar object by forming first and second side portions  35  and  36  and center portion  38  into the surface of the planar object. If the planar object is sheet metal, the first and second side portions  35  and  36  and center portion  38  may be formed by pressing protrusions into the sheet metal. 
     As seen in FIG. 11, printer assembly  108  maybe attached to chassis  104  by pin  130  and groove  132 . Pin  130  engages groove  132  and the groove guides assembly  108  down into its proper position. A locking mechanism  134 , such a spring biased pin may engage hole  136  to lock printer assembly  108  into chassis  104 . Cable  138  maybe used to transmit electrical power to printer assembly  108  from support frame  102 . A connector  142  may be provided on support frame  102  for receiving power (see FIG.  8 ). Cable  136  may be used to transmit and receive communication signals to other devices. Connectors  140  on support frame  102  may be used to interface with other devices (see FIG.  8 ). 
     Chassis  104  is provided to support media holder  13  and printer assembly  108 . Chassis  104  is adapted to be slidably removed from support frame  102 . Glides  110  and  112  may be provided for allowing chassis  104  to be easily slid into and out of support frame  102 . Glides  110  and  112  may be similar to standard drawer glides. 
     As seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, system  100  may comprise a locking mechanism  120  for locking chassis  104  in a closed position. Locking mechanism  120  is preferably a spring biased pin that engages hole  122 . The pin can be disengaged by pulling the pin downward. Once disengaged, chassis  104  may be slid outward for access to media holder  13  and printer assembly  108 . 
     As discussed above, media holder  13  is adapted to hold a supply of media  12  to be fed to printer  16 . In the preferred embodiment, media holder  13  has a substantially rectangular shape to allow it to hold fan-folded media  12 . Media holder  13  is positioned at the rear of chassis  104  so that media  12  can be directed forward toward front end  114  and opening  20 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, printer assembly  108 , referring to FIG. 1, comprises printer  16 , controller  18 , tear bar  14 , drive wheel  23 , and media guide  27 . However, it is recognized that one or more of these components may not be included in printer assembly  108 , in which case the excluded component may be attached to chassis  104 . 
     As seen in FIG. 11, printer assembly  108  may be attached to chassis  104  by pin  130  and groove  132 . Pin  130  engages groove  132  and the groove guides assembly  108  down into its proper position. A locking mechanism  134 , such a spring biased pin may engage hole  136  to lock printer assembly  108  into chassis  104 . Cable  138  may be used to transmit electrical power to printer assembly  108  from support frame  102 . A connector  142  may be provided on support frame  102  for receiving power (see FIG.  8 ). Cable  136  may be used to transmit and receive communication signals to other devices. Connectors  140  on support from  102  may be used to interface with other devices (see FIG.  8 ). 
     One of the advantages of providing printer assembly  108  is improved serviceability. In the preferred embodiment printer assembly  108  includes all of the moving parts and most of the electrical components of the system  100 . Therefore, if a problem develops with system  100 , a technician need only remove printer assembly  108  and replace it with a working assembly. The malfunctioning assembly may then be taken to a repair shop where it can be efficiently diagnosed and repaired. This results in a minimum amount of down time when a problem develops. 
     An advantage of system  100  is to fully expose the path of media  12 . By removing of printer assembly  108  from chassis  104 , a technician can see the entire path of media. Thus, the technician can easily clear jams and remove debris from the media path. 
     The entire system  100  may also be easily installed in and removed from a device. Support frame  102  may be inserted into a suitably sized hole in a device and connectors  140  and  142  may be attached to appropriate conductors. 
     Turning now to FIG. 12, system  100  is adapted for use in a secure device  150 . Device  150  may be any device with a secure compartment  152 , such as a gaming device or an automatic teller machine. Compartment  152  may hold any object or mechanism that is subject to theft or tampering. Compartment  152  comprises a door  154  with hinge  155  and a locking mechanism  156 . Locking mechanism  156  may be any lock device, such as a mechanical lock that is actuated by a key, an electronic lock that is actuated by an electronic key, or a combination of both. 
     System  100  may be mounted in an upper compartment  158  that is not necessarily secure. Secure compartment  152  and upper compartment  158  may be separated by a wall  160 . System  100  is mounted on wall  160  and a hole  162  is provided in the wall for allowing locking mechanism  120  to extend below the wall. 
     In normal operation, a technician would access system  100  by unlocking locking mechanism  156  and opening door  154 . The technician would then unlock locking mechanism  120 . If the locking mechanism  120  is a spring biased pin disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10, the technician would pull the pin downward. The technician may then slide chassis  104  outward to gain access to media holder  13  and printer assembly  108 . 
     SUMMARY 
     Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.