Abstract:
An electrical device is disposed on a base for sliding movement between first and second ends of the base. The electrical device includes a first electrical connector configured to connect to a connector board disposed on the base. The connector board includes a second electrical connector configured to mate with the first electrical connector. The connector board can move between the first and second ends. A cable electrically couples the second connector to a signal. The cable is configured to maintain electrical connectivity between the signal and the second connector as the connector board slides between the first and second ends. The electrical device can removably connect to the connector board via the first and second connectors. The connector board can slide along with the electrical device to provide electrical connectivity of the signal to the electrical device as the electrical device slides between the first and second ends.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates to peripherals for gaming machines, ticket dispensing terminals and the like, and more particularly to a hot disconnect peripheral such as a sliding drawer printer. 
   Sliding drawer printers are particularly well suited for use in gaming machines, vending machines, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, transportation and entertainment ticket machines, and the like. 
   Sliding drawer printers are useful in a variety of applications. One such application is to print coded tickets or vouchers used in lottery terminals, slot machines and other self-service wagering apparatus. 
   Various printer systems have been proposed for use in self-service terminals, such as for cashless gaming systems used, e.g., at casinos and racetracks. In such systems, a ticket (alternatively referred to herein as a “voucher”) is provided to the gaming patron for use instead of, e.g., tokens, cash, debit cards and credit cards. It is well known to use tokens in gambling casinos. For example, in a typical gaming machine environment, a player inserts coins or tokens and plays the game. When the player is finished and has a winning cash amount, a cash-out button is pressed and the appropriate number of coins or tokens is dispensed in a cash out bin. It is awkward, however, to deal with such tokens and to cash them in before leaving the casino. 
   The coins or tokens can be replaced with the printed voucher. The printed voucher is produced by a printer disposed in the cabinet of the self-service terminal. The printer requires the attention of staff in order to maintain the printer and refresh the paper supply of the printer. 
   The gaming machines are provided with a cabinet that houses the printer and other gaming machine components. The contents of the cabinet are considered to be sensitive and susceptible to tampering. As a result, the protection of the components inside the cabinet is of a paramount importance. Many features and procedures are enacted to ensure the protection of the gaming machine and the contents of the cabinet. 
   As a result, the printer is housed in the cabinet and provided with a high level of protection. Since the printer requires maintenance by staff, the printer must be accessed from the outside of the cabinet. The cabinet is thus, opened exposing components of the gaming machine. 
   There are two main reasons for opening the cabinet doors to access the printer, one is to replenish an empty stack of fan-fold tickets, or two, to replace the inner chassis of the printer due to a printer problem. 
   The sliding drawer printer is capable of being slidably translated from a stored position inside the cabinet to a position outside the cabinet, known as being racked out. The printer is more easily accessed by an operator in the racked out position. Components of the printer can be accessed without the need to completely remove the printer from the cabinet, and prolong the downtime of the gaming machine. 
   The inner printer chassis is still attached by a cable to the outer chassis in the racked out position. The cable transmits both electrical power and communications to the inner printer chassis from the host gaming machine. The transmission of electrical power and communications information is performed either directly or through a communications printed circuit board mounted in the outer chassis. The printer indicators, such as light emitting diodes (LED), still operate in the racked out position. An operator can feed tickets into the printer mechanism in the racked out position. 
   If there is a problem identified with the printer, (e.g., indication from and ERROR LED) it is often the case that an operator will totally replace the entire inner printer chassis assembly with a replacement inner printer chassis. The process of replacement includes racking out the inner chassis past outer stops. The interconnect cable is unplugged manually by the operator to allow the inner chassis to be completely removed. Installing a new inner printer chassis requires the operator to shut down the gaming machine before reconnecting the interconnect cable. Most often operators do not shut down the gaming machine before connecting the interconnect cable. As a result of reconnecting the interconnect cable of the gaming machine to the inner printer chassis while having full power on the gaming machine failures occur. Failures occur in the interconnect cable, communications components, the communications printed circuit board, and even the main controller printed circuit board. 
   Thus, when maintenance is required the inherent design of the sliding drawer printer coupled with operator carelessness causes an increased wear on the electrical connectors and electronics and can lead to more frequent system failures. 
   What is needed in the art is a sliding drawer printer that can be serviced and completely removed from a cabinet while ensuring proper electrical connection with the gaming machine when reinserted. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present disclosure is directed toward an exemplary apparatus for maintaining an electrical connection to a withdrawn electrical device. The electrical device can comprise a printer. The electrical device is disposed on a base for sliding movement between a first end and a second end of the base. The electrical device includes a first electrical connector. The first electrical connector is configured to connect to a connector board disposed on the base. The connector board includes a second electrical connector configured to mate with the first electrical connector. The connector board is configured to move between the first end and the second end. A cable electrically couples the second connector to at least one signal. The cable is configured to maintain electrical connectivity between the at least one signal and the second connector as the connector board slides between the first end and the second end. The electrical device is adapted to removably connect to the connector board via the first and second connectors. The connector board is configured to slide along with the electrical device to provide electrical connectivity of the signal to the electrical device as the electrical device slides between the first and second ends. 
   In an exemplary embodiment, the printer is partially removable from the base and is configured to maintain electrical connectivity with the signal. In an alternate embodiment the signal comprises electrical power or control signals for a printer and the printer is a gaming device printer. The connector board is coupled to a slider bracket. The slider bracket is configured to slidably translate along the base between the first and second ends along slide rails mounted in the base. The electrical device is configured to align the first electrical connector into electrical connection with the second electrical connector. The electrical device is configured to partially translate and to be partially withdrawn from the base exposing components coupled to the electrical device. The base includes a receiver extending between the first end and the second end of the base. The receiver is configured to receive the electrical device and support translation of the electrical device. The cable comprises a flexible cable and is extendable from the first end to the second end. 
   In another exemplary embodiment, the electronic device can be a sliding drawer printer including a sliding drawer housing adapted for a cabinet. The cabinet is configured to restrict access to the printer disposed on a drawer demountably coupled to the sliding drawer housing. The sliding drawer housing includes a housing front end and a housing rear end. A base is formed in the sliding drawer housing and extends from the housing front end to the housing rear end. An electronics board is coupled to the sliding drawer housing proximate the housing rear end. A connector board is coupled to a slider bracket. The slider bracket is slidably coupled to the base and is configured to translate between the housing rear end and the housing front end. A connector cable is coupled to the electronics board and the connector board. The connector cable is configured to maintain electrical connectivity between the electronics board and the connector board throughout translation of the drawer between the housing rear end and the housing front end. A control board is operatively associated with the printer. The control board is configured to demountably couple with the connector board and electrically connect the electronics board with the printer throughout the translation of the drawer. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the base includes slide rails mounted in the base. The slide rails are configured to support translation of the slider bracket. The drawer is configured to translate distally from the housing rear end such that the printer is exposed for access. The electrical connectivity is maintained between the printer and the electronics board. The printer is accessible for the insertion of paper and for the removal of paper while maintaining electrical connectivity between the printer and the electronics board. The electronics board communicates electrical power and control signals between the printer and a gaming machine. The drawer is configured to completely decouple from the sliding drawer housing. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one bracket latch is configured to demountably couple the slider bracket to the base for alignment of the connector board and the control board responsive to reinsertion of the printer into the sliding drawer housing. 
   A method for maintaining electrical connectivity to an electrical device is disclosed. The method includes providing an electrical device with a first electrical connector. The method includes connecting the first electrical connector to a second electrical connector disposed on a connector board. The connector board is slidably mounted between first and second ends of a base. The method includes coupling the second connector to at least one signal through a cable. The second connector provides the at least one signal to the electrical device via the first connector. The method includes maintaining electrical connectivity between the at least one signal and the electrical device via the first and second connectors. The electrical connectivity is maintained throughout translation of the electrical device and the connector board between the first and second ends of the base. 
   In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical device is a printer and the method includes maintaining the printer operability throughout translation of the printer between the first and second ends of the base. The printer includes a printer paper holder and the method includes maintaining the electrical connectivity as paper is being loaded into the paper holder. The method includes fixing the connector board proximate the first end of the base responsive to removal of the electrical device. The first electrical connector is alignable with the second electrical connector. In another exemplary embodiment, the method includes maintaining electrical connectivity between the electrical device and an electronic gaming machine through the cable throughout translation of the electrical device along the base between the first and second ends. The cable is configured to furl and unfurl responsive to translation of the connector board. The first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are maintained in connection throughout translation of the connector board along the base. In another exemplary embodiment, the electrical device is the printer of a gaming machine. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the figures, wherein like elements are numbered alike: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary sliding drawer printer with the printer removed from the housing. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary sliding drawer printer with the printer partially removed from the housing. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary sliding drawer printer with the printer inserted into the housing. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of an exemplary sliding drawer printer with the printer removed from the housing. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description of the present disclosure is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. 
   Accordingly, the present invention will be described in connection with a sliding drawer printer, although it should be understood that this is by way of example only, and virtually any other type of printer or electronic device may be used in implementing the invention. 
   In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus for maintaining an electrical connection to a withdrawn electrical device is a sliding drawer printer. The sliding drawer printer (electrical device) includes a sliding drawer housing adapted for a cabinet and configured to restrict access to a printer disposed on a drawer demountably coupled to the sliding drawer housing. The sliding drawer housing includes a housing front end and a housing rear end. The housing rear end is opposite the housing front end. A base is formed in the sliding drawer housing. The base extends from the housing front end to the housing rear end. An electronics board is coupled to the sliding drawer housing proximate the housing rear end. A connector board is coupled to a slider bracket slidably coupled to the base. The slider bracket is configured to translate between the housing rear end and the housing front end. A connector cable is coupled to the electronics board and the connector board. The connector cable is configured to maintain electrical connectivity between the electronics board and the connector board throughout translation of the drawer between the housing rear end and the housing front end. A control board is operatively associated with the printer. The control board is configured to demountably couple with the connector board. The control board is also configured to electrically connect the electronics board with the printer throughout the translation of the drawer. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , perspective views are illustrated of an exemplary sliding drawer printer  10 . The sliding drawer printer  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  with a drawer  12  withdrawn and removed from a sliding drawer housing  14 . The drawer  12  includes a printer  16  disposed on the drawer  12 . For clarity, a paper tray (not shown) is not included in the drawings, although it is a component normally included with the printer  16 . With the paper tray removed from the drawing, components can be visualized to better describe the disclosed invention. 
   The sliding drawer housing  14  is adapted for a cabinet (e.g., a gaming machine cabinet-not shown). The sliding drawer housing  14  is configured to be mounted in the cabinet such that access to the printer  16  is restricted. In an exemplary embodiment, the printer  16  can comprise a gaming machine printer and the cabinet can be the cabinet for the gaming machine. Preventing access to the printer in the gaming machine is a priority. Enabling the printer  16  to be accessed for maintenance without completely removing the printer from the cabinet of the gaming machine is a benefit. In addition, enabling the printer  16  to remain electrically connected to the gaming machine while being maintained is an added advantage. The sliding drawer housing  14  includes a housing front end  18  and a housing rear end  20 . The housing rear end  20  is opposite the housing front end  18 , in a preferred embodiment. The sliding drawer housing  14  includes a base  22 . The base  22  extends from the housing front end  18  to the housing rear end  20 . The base  22  supports side walls  24  formed in the sliding drawer housing  14 . The base  22  also supports an electronics board  26  coupled to the sliding drawer housing  14 . 
   In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the electronics board  26  is coupled to the base  22  proximate the housing rear end  20 . The electronics board  26  includes at least one signal line  28 . In an exemplary embodiment, the signal line  28  can carry printer commands, instructions, control signals, electrical power, data, and the like. The electronics board  26  can be in operative communication with the gaming machine (not shown) or other devices providing a signal. 
   A connector board  30  is connected to the base  22  such that the connector board  30  can slide or translate between the housing front end  18  and the housing rear end  20 . In an exemplary embodiment, the connector board  30  is coupled to a slider bracket  32 . The slider bracket  32  is coupled to the base  22  such that the slider bracket  32  can slide along the base  22  on slide rails  34  between the housing front end  18  and the housing rear end  20 . Two slide rails  34  can be mounted to the base  22  and configured to support the slider bracket  32 . The slide rails  34  can also function as a receiver  35  that allows for support of the drawer  12  along the base  22 . In another embodiment, the base  22  can include surface features that enable the drawer  22  to be slidably supported in the sliding drawer housing  14 . 
   A connector cable  36  is coupled to the electronics board  26  and the connector board  30 . The connector cable  36  is configured to maintain electrical connectivity between the electronics board  26  and the connector board  30 . The connector cable  36  comprises a flexible electrical conduit, such as a ribbon cable. The connector cable  36  can extend from the housing front end  18  to the housing rear end  20 . The connector cable  36  is configured to furl and unfurl responsive to the translation of the connector board  30  along the base  22 . As the connector board  30  slides between the housing rear end  20  and the housing front end  18  the connector cable  36  flexibly maintains electrical connectivity between the connector board  30  and the electronics board  26 . The connector cable  36  allows for the connector board  30  to be positioned at any location along the base  22  and connect to the electronics board  26  while maintaining the electric coupling and the communication of the signals between the electronics board  26  and the connector board  30 . The connector cable  36  can be disposed proximate the base  22 , proximate the side walls  24  and in any location of the sliding drawer housing  14  that allows the connector cable  36  to maintain the electrical connectivity. The connector cable  36  can couple to the connector board  30  and the electronics board  26  by various connector means, such as pin connectors and the like. 
   A control board  38  is operatively associated with the printer  16 . The control board  38  is configured to demountably couple with the connector board  30 . The control board  38  is configured to control the printer  16  via signals received from the electronics board  26  via the connector board  30  and connector cable  36 . In an exemplary embodiment, the control board  38 , the connector board  30 , and the electronics board  26  can be printed circuit boards. 
   The control board  38  includes a control board electrical connector  40  configured to couple and decouple with a connector board connector  42  mounted on the connector board  30 . The control board electrical connector  40  and the connector board electrical connector  42  can comprise any connecting means, such as pin connectors, and the like. The connector board electrical connector  42  and the control board electrical connector  40  allow for the printer to partially translate between a first position in the sliding drawer housing  14  (e.g., proximate the housing rear end as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a second position partially withdrawn from in the sliding drawer housing  14  (e.g., proximate the housing front end as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and maintain electrical connectivity. The printer  16  can remain operable throughout the translation of the drawer  12  along the base  22 . The connector board electrical connector  42  and the control board electrical connector  40  also maintain connectivity until the printer  16  translates along the sliding drawer housing  14  and is completely removed from the sliding drawer housing  14 , at which time the connector board electrical connector  42  and the control board electrical connector  40  disconnect as seen in  FIG. 1 . The printer  16  can be reinserted into the sliding drawer housing  14  and reconnected to the electronics board  26  via the connector board electrical connector  42  and the control board electrical connector  40 . The connector board electrical connector  42  and the control board electrical connector  40  can be aligned into electrical connection upon insertion of the printer  16  into the sliding drawer housing  14 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , in an exemplary embodiment, a bracket latch  44  can be coupled to the slider bracket  32 . The bracket latch  44  is configured to couple to the base  22  in order to temporarily fix and align the slider bracket  32  relative to the base  22  proximate the housing front end  18 . The bracket latch  44  ensures that the control board electrical connector  40  and the connector board  30 , and hence the connector board electrical connector  42  ( FIG. 1 ) are properly aligned upon reinsertion of the printer  16  into the sliding drawer housing  14 . For illustration purposes the connector board  30  is not shown in  FIG. 4 . The slider bracket  32  and associated connector board  30  are prevented from sliding along the base  22  after the printer  16  has been completely removed from the sliding drawer housing  14 . Fixing the slider bracket  32  proximate the housing front end  18 , after removal of the printer  16 , also protects the connector cable  36  from damage due to contact with the drawer  12  and/or printer  16  upon reinsertion. In a preferred embodiment, the bracket latch  44  can couple to a notch  46  formed in the slide rail  34 . In a preferred embodiment, a pair of bracket latches  44  is coupled to the slider bracket  32  and interfaces with the notches  46  formed in the slide rails  34 . The bracket latch  44  can be decoupled from the notch  46  by a tab  48  formed in the drawer  12 . The tab  48  can be configured to slide under the bracket latch  44  and lift the bracket latch  44  out of the notch  46 , allowing the slider bracket  32  to slide along the slide rails  34  toward the housing rear end  20 . It is contemplated that other decoupling means can be provided and function similarly to the tab  48 . A tab  48  can be provided for each bracket latch  44 . 
   In an exemplary embodiment, the configuration of the sliding drawer printer  10  allows for the drawer  12  to be operably connected and situated in the sliding drawer housing  14  (see  FIG. 3 ). The drawer  12  can be pulled out, translating along the base to a partially withdrawn position (see  FIG. 2 ). Printer paper can be loaded into the printer  16 . The printer  16  does not have to be electrically disconnected from the electronics board  26  during this procedure. The printer  16  can maintain electrical connectivity with the electronics board  26  and a gaming machine connected thereto. The printer  16  can be slid back into the sliding drawer housing  14 , wherein access to the printer  16  is restricted. The printer  16  maintains electrical connectivity due in part to the flexible connector cable  36  being connected between the electronics board  26  and the translatable connector board  30 . The connector board  30  is configured to translate along the base between the housing rear end  20  and the housing front end  18  while remaining connected to the control board  38  of the printer  16 . 
   It is contemplated that the printer  16  can be substituted with other electronic devices (not shown) and the sliding drawer housing  14  can be insertable into the cabinet of other types of devices. 
   The disclosed apparatus for maintaining an electrical connection to a withdrawn electrical device has the advantage of maintaining the operability of the electrical device during partial removal of the electrical device from a cabinet. The disclosed apparatus provides for continuous signal connectivity between the electrical device and a device in operation in the cabinet. Maintenance procedures can be performed on the electrical device without the need to electrically disconnect the electrical device. If the electrical device requires removal, the disclosed apparatus provides for complete removal of the electrical device and for easy reinsertion of the electrical device into the cabinet. The disclosed apparatus ensures the proper alignment of the electrical connectors between the printer control electrical connector and the connector board electrical connector. The connector board of the disclosed apparatus is fixed into a proper location by latching means in order to ensure the proper alignment upon reinsertion of the printer. The connector cable is also better protected from damage by the insertion of the printer. 
   While embodiments and applications of this disclosure have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The disclosure, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.