Horizontally or vertically orientable compact ticket processor

The processor has a "U"-shaped transport path with input and output slots in closely situated parallel planes. An overrunning clutch forms part of the transport drive between the reader and the printer to shorten the transport path by permitting the leading edge of the ticket to enter the printer while the ticket is being read by the higher speed reader. The processor can be either horizontally or vertically oriented. When vertically oriented, the input and output slots can be situated on opposite sides of a glass partition to permit customer insertion of a pre-marked ticket.

The present invention relates to devices for processing customer marked 
tickets of the type used for lotteries, parimutuel betting, and various 
types of entertainment or sports events and, more particularly, to a 
highly compact ticket processor which, with slight modifications, can be 
used either in a horizontal or a vertical orientation, so as to accept 
premarked tickets from an agent or directly from the customer, 
respectively. 
Many states now permit certain types of gambling such as lotteries and 
numbers games to raise revenue. Because of the nature of these gambling 
operations, tickets are normally sold at a multitude of different 
locations throughout the state, such as in stores, at news stands, in 
railroad stations, on street corners, and the like. The widespread 
availability of such lottery tickets and the simplicity of placing a bet 
have significantly enhanced the popularity of such games. As a 
consequence, the lottery and numbers games have become competitive with 
other forms of gambling, such as off-track betting operations, although 
they lack the sports aspect associated with racing. 
Normally, one purchasing a lottery ticket would go to a designated location 
where a lottery agent is present. The customer would orally advise the 
agent of the relevant transaction data and pay the agent the necessary 
fee. The agent would have a ticket issuing machine with a keyboard input 
into which the agent would punch the transaction data. The ticket issuing 
device would print the ticket with the transactional data and transmit the 
data to a memory bank for processing. The machine would then eject the 
ticket which would be given by the agent to the customer as her/his 
receipt. 
In order to expedite the ticket purchasing and processing operation, ticket 
processors have been developed for use with tickets which can be 
pre-marked by the customer to indicate the transaction data representative 
of the wager. The pre-marked ticket is then handed to an agent, along with 
the money being wagered. The agent inserts the pre-marked ticket into the 
processor which reads the pre-marked data, prints the ticket, and 
transmits the data to a central processing unit which processes and 
records the bet. In some instances, it is preferable to permit the 
customer to insert the pre-marked tickets directly into the ticket 
processor and then hand the money to the agent. 
The present invention relates to a ticket processor which, with slight 
modifications, can be used for either of these modes of operation. It is a 
highly compact device which can be utilized either in a horizontal or 
vertical orientation. When oriented vertically, it can be used in 
conjunction with a vertical glass partition with the input slot on the 
customer side of the partition and the output slot on the agent side. This 
orientation permits the device to be used in the second mode of operation 
where the customer inserts the pre-marked ticket into the input slot 
directly. 
Because the processor of the present invention is highly compact, it is 
suitable for use in supermarket check-out lines, newsstands, and other 
areas where low ticket volume or limited space previously prohibited 
existing terminals. Moreover, the processor can be manufactured at 
relatively low cost because of its simplicity and because it utilizes a 
commercially available reader assembly and a standard shuttle-type 
printer. 
The compactness of the device is the result of a unique "U"-shaped 
transport path which permits the input slot and the output slot to be 
relatively closely situated in substantially parallel planes. 
In addition, the transport path is reduced in length through the use of a 
ticket speed compensating mechanism which permits the leading edge of the 
ticket to be accepted into the slower speed printer while the body thereof 
is still within the reading mechanism. This is accomplished through the 
use of a drive roller, driven by the printer transport motor through an 
overrunning clutch to permit the relatively fast moving ticket to be 
received in the printer. 
Compactness is also achieved by the elimination of a verification mechanism 
often employed to verify that the ticket has been correctly printed. This 
is possible in the lottery situation because incorrectly printed losing 
tickets are of no consequence and incorrectly printed winning tickets are 
checked against the information in the central processing unit memory bank 
upon cashing. 
It is, therefore, a prime object of the present invention to provide a 
highly compact ticket processor which can be used in either horizontal or 
vertical orientations. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a horizontally or 
vertically orientable compact ticket processor utilizing a substantially 
"U"-shaped transport path. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a horizontally or 
vertically orientable compact ticket processor wherein the input slot and 
the output slot are relatively closely situated in substantially parallel 
planes. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a horizontally or 
vertically orientable compact ticket processor with a transport path of 
reduced length. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a horizontally or 
vertically orientable compact ticket processor wherein a ticket speed 
compensating mechanism forms a portion of the transport path between the 
reader and the printer. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a horizontally or 
vertically orientable compact ticket processor wherein the overrunning 
clutch mechanism permits the leading edge of the ticket to be accepted 
into the relatively slowly operating printer mechanism while the body of 
the ticket is still within the reader. 
In accordanace with one aspect of the present invention, a ticket processor 
is provided for use with a customer markable ticket. The processor 
comprises a housing, a ticket input slot, ticket reading means, ticket 
printing means, a ticket output slot, and means for transporting a ticket 
through a substantially "U"-shaped path. The path comprises three 
sections. The first section extends from the input slot through the 
reading means. The third section extends through the printing means to the 
output slot. The second section connects the first and second sections. 
The first and third sections are in relatively closely situated 
substantially parallel planes. 
The second section comprises an arcuate transport path. The arcuate 
transport path comprises a substantially semi-circular channel. The 
semi-circular channel has a diameter which exceeds the distance between 
the parallel planes. 
The processor can be used with a substantially planar partition adjacent 
the housing, such as the glass partition of a ticket booth. The partition 
is situated with the input slot on one side thereof and the output slot on 
the other side thereof. In this case, the partition is situated in a plane 
substantially parallel to and between the parallel planes of the input and 
output slots. This permits a customer to insert the premarked ticket 
directly into the processor. 
Preferably, the partition is substantially vertically oriented. 
Accordingly, the planes of the input slot and output slot are also 
substantially vertically oriented. 
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a ticket 
processor is provided for use with customer-markable tickets. The 
processor comprises ticket reading means operable at a first speed, ticket 
printing means operable at a second, relatively slower, speed, and means 
for transporting a ticket from the reading means to the printing means. 
The transporting means comprises means for accepting a ticket from the 
reading means at the first speed and for driving the ticket through the 
printing means at the second, relatively slower, speed. 
The printer comprises a drive motor having an output shaft. The 
transporting means comprises a drive roller and a pressure roller. The 
drive roller comprises an input shaft. Overrunning clutch means operably 
mechanically connect the input shaft and the drive roller. Means are 
provided for operably mechanically connecting the motor output shaft to 
the drive roller input shaft. 
Ticket sensing means are provided. Means are provided for actuating the 
printing means when the sensing means senses the leading edge of a ticket. 
The processor further comprises a ticket input slot, a ticket output slot, 
and a ticket transport path. The transport path comprises a first section 
from the input slot through the reading means. A third section extends 
through the printing means to the output slot. A second section 
interconnects the first and third sections. The first and third sections 
are relatively closely situated in substantially parallel planes. 
The second section comprises an arcuate path. The arcuate path preferably 
comprises a substantially semi-circular channel having a diameter which 
exceeds the distance between the parallel planes. 
The processor is designed for use with a substantially planar partition 
adjacent the processor housing. The partition is situated with the input 
slot on one side thereof and the output slot on the other side thereof. 
The partition is situated in a plane substantially parallel to and between 
the parallel planes. The partition is preferably substantially vertically 
oriented.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the ticket processor of the present invention 
can be utilized in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation, 
depending upon whether the customer pre-marked ticket is to be inserted by 
the agent or directly by the customer. The only difference in structure 
between processors designed for use in these orientations is the direction 
of the inclination of the keyboard bezel on the side of the processor to 
make same more conveniently accessible by the agent. All other components 
of the processor remain the same, whether it is designed for horizontal or 
vertical use. 
The processor includes a generally rectangular housing, generally 
designated 10, having an input surface 12 which, when the processor is 
vertically mounted on the front of an agent ticket booth, as illustrated 
in FIGS. 1 and 2, is accessible from the customer side of the booth to 
permit the customer to directly enter a pre-marked ticket into input slot 
14. When horizontally oriented, as illustrated in FIG. 3, input surface 12 
of housing 10 is situated at the top of the processor. The surface 16, 
opposite input surface 12, faces the ticket agent when the processor is 
vertically oriented and forms the bottom of the processor when 
horizontally oriented. 
Housing 10 has an output surface 18 which includes an output slot 20, an 
LED readout portion 21, and a keyboard 22 which forms the top surface of 
the housing when vertically oriented and the end of the housing when 
horizontally oriented. Portion 21 and keyboard 22 are formed on a bezel 19 
which can be installed in one of two different orientations. When used 
vertically, the bezel 19 is situated such that surface 18, which includes 
keyboard 22, is inclined downwardly away from output slot 20, as 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, to make same more easily accessible to the 
agent. When horizontally oriented, bezel 19 is situated such that the 
surface 18 which includes keyboard 22 is inclined towards output slot 20 
such that the keyboard can be more easily manipulated by the agent. 
Input slot 14 and output slot 20 are relatively closely situated in 
parallel planes. When vertically oriented, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a 
glass partition 24 can be situated adjacent the housing in a substantially 
vertical plane, between the planes of the input slot 14 and output slot 20 
so as to prevent the customer from having access to a ticket as it is 
ejected from the output slot 20. Partition 24 may be the conventional 
glass partition which is commonly used at ticket booths of this type. The 
partition 24 preferably has an opening 26 through which the customer hands 
the agent money for the wager and an opening 28, at head height, through 
which the customer and agent may communicate. When used in this mode, the 
lower wall 30 of the booth surrounds the housing 10, which rests on a 
vertical platform 32. 
As seen in FIG. 4, keyboard 22 includes a number of pushbuttons 34 which 
permit the agent to control the various operations of the processor, 
including turning the processor on and off, entering various information, 
clearing the electronics, cancelling a ticket, etc. Also provided are a 
number of indicator lights 36 which advise the agent as to the operation 
of the processor. The keyboard and the functions thereof are conventional 
and form no part of the present invention. 
FIG. 5 illustrates a typical ticket which can be utilized in conjunction 
with the processor of the present invention. The ticket T illustrated in 
FIG. 5 is designed for use in a lottery in which the customer will select 
six numbers and mark same in the appropriate boxes in each of six areas 
which form the upper machine-readable portion 38 of the ticket. The lower 
portion 40 of the ticket is designed to be imprinted with the 
transactional data in either customer-readable and/or machine-readable 
form such that the ticket, once imprinted by the processor of the present 
invention, forms a receipt for the customer. Situated adjacent to portion 
40 is a pre-printed black area 42 which, as explained below, is utilized 
by the processor to coordinate the actuation of the printer with the 
position of the ticket as it moves along the transport path. 
As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the processor of the present invention comprises 
a reader section, generally designated 44, and a printer section, 
generally designated 46. Vertical frame sections 68, 70, separated into 
reader sections 68a and 70a and printer sections 68b and 70b, carry all of 
the reader and printer components therebetween. A ticket T (face up) 
enters input slot 14 which is aligned with the lower level 12a of input 
surface 12 and passes through a photo-electric sensor 48 of conventional 
design which senses the presence thereof and energizes reader motor 50. 
Reader motor 50 is connected to an output shaft 52, the end of which 
extends beyond reader frame section 70a. Shaft 52 carries a pulley 54. 
Pulley 54 is connected by means of a belt 56 to a pulley 58 mounted on a 
shaft 60 which carries a drive roller 62. Roller 62 is aligned with a 
pressure roller 64, rotatably mounted on a shaft 66. Shaft 66 is rotatably 
mounted on a bifuricated spring element 67 extending from a horizontal 
part 69. 
Shaft 60 passes from the exterior of frame section 70a to a point beyond 
the exterior frame section 68a and has a pulley 72 mounted thereon. Pulley 
72 is connected by means of a belt 74 to a second pulley 76 mounted on the 
end of a shaft 78 which carries a roller 80. Roller 80 is aligned with 
part 69. As can best be seen in FIG. 7, shaft 78 is skewed with respect to 
frames 68 and 70 such that the side edge of incoming ticket T is caused to 
move towards frame section 68a. This aligns the ticket with edge 82 of the 
transport path, thereby appropriately aligning the ticket with a fiber 
optic read head 84, as it passes between rollers 62 and 64. 
Read head 84, which is of conventional design, is mounted on an "L"-shaped 
bracket 82. Bracket 82 is mounted between a pair of upstanding side 
brackets 85, each having a circular opening through which a shaft 86 
extends. Shaft 86 is mounted between frame section 68a and 70a such that 
bracket 82 and read head 84 can pivot about shaft 86, as shown in FIG. 8. 
This permits the read head and the portion of the transport path aligned 
therewith to be accessed, when required. Extending upwardly from the top 
of read head 84 are parts 88 connected to a part 90 which is wider than 
the distance between frame section 68a and 70a. Part 90 rests on the top 
edge of the frame sections, to correctly position head 84 with respect to 
the transport path. 
After the ticket passes beneath read head 84, the leading edge thereof 
enters between a large drive roller 92 and a pressure roller 94. Drive 
roller 92 is mounted on a shaft 96 and pressure roller 94 is mounted on a 
shaft 98. Shafts 96 and 98 are vertically aligned. Shaft 96 extends beyond 
the exterior of frame section 70a and carries a pulley 100 driven by belt 
56. 
An arcuate guide 102 is situated in spaced relation to the surface of 
roller 92 forming a channel. The leading edge of the ticket, after it 
passes between rollers 92 and 94, is guided through this channel in a 
generally semi-circular path. The leading edge of the ticket then passes 
between a roller 92 and a pressure roller 104. Roller 104 is rotatably 
mounted on an inclined guide 106 secured between frame section 68a and 
70a. The ticket is guided along the upper planar surface of guide 106 and 
passes between drive roller 62 and a pressure roller 108 mounted on the 
shaft 110. The ticket then passes out of reader section 44, into printer 
section 46, along a second guide 112. 
As can be best seen in FIG. 6, the section of guide 106 between rollers 104 
and 108 is provided with an anvil element 114. Element 114 is aligned with 
a displaceable cancellation stamp 116 which, in turn, is connected by an 
arm 118 to a solenoid 120 mounted externally to frame section 68a. 
Solenoid 120, when actuated, causes stamp 116 to cancel the ticket. 
As the leading edge of the ticket enters the print section 46, it passes 
between a drive roller 122 and the pressure roller 124. Pressure roller 
124 is mounted on a shaft 126 which extends beyond frame section 68b and 
has mounted thereon a pulley 128. Roller 122 includes an internal 
overrunning clutch mechanism of conventional design. 
As best seen in FIG. 7, pressure roller 124 is mounted on a shaft 130 which 
is skewed towards frame section 68b such that the edge of the ticket will 
be forced up against the wall 132 of a guide 134. Thus, the ticket T is 
properly aligned with the printer mechanism. Guide 134 is rotatably 
mounted on a shaft 136 so that it can be pivoted to expose the print 
mechanism, as shown in FIG. 8. 
At the other end of guide 134 is a pressure roller 138 mounted to the guide 
by a pair of springs 140. Pressure roller 138 aligns with a drive roller 
142 which is mounted on a shaft 144. Shaft 144 extends beyond the exterior 
of frame section 68b and carries a pulley 146 thereon. Pulley 146 is 
connected by means of a belt 148 to a pulley 150 which, in turn, is 
mounted on a shaft 149 which is the output shaft of the printer stepping 
motor 154. Belt 148 also passes around pulley 128 so as to power drive 
roller 122, which contains the overrunning clutch mechanism. 
The free end of guide 134 has a pair of spaced upstanding parts 151 mounted 
thereto. Extending between parts 151 is an "L"-shaped bracket 153 to which 
an anvil 152 is position adjustably mounted. The upstanding portion of 
bracket 153 has an opening 156 through which the ticket passes after it is 
printed. The lower portion of bracket 153 carries a pair of spaced 
upstanding brackets 158 which have generally "U"-shaped openings therein. 
The openings in brackets 158 rest on a shaft 160, held by upstanding 
brackets 162 so as to properly situate the guide assembly 134 and anvil 
152 with respect to the print mechanism, as seen in FIG. 6. 
The print mechanism is a shuttle-type printer similar to the printer 
described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,287 issued to Robert Meloni on 
Aug. 13, 1985, entitled "Dot Matrix Print Head" and assigned to the 
assignee hereof. The mechanism generally comprises a plurality of very 
thin hammers or actuators 170 of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,349,283 issued to Thomas Sapitowicz and Robert Meloni on Sept. 14, 1982, 
entitled "Hammer For Dot Matrix Printer" and assigned to the assignee 
hereof. Actuators 170 are situated in side-by-side relation between a pair 
of permanent magnets (not shown) in cantilever fashion on a shaft 171, 
fixedly mounted between frames sections 68a and 70a. Each of the actuators 
170 has a print wire 172 mounted therein. The impact ends of the print 
wires 172 are individually situated in the spaced openings of a wire 
bearing 174. Wire bearing 174 is, in turn, mounted on a shuttle member 176 
designed to move back and forth in a direction generally perpendicular to 
the direction of movement of ticket T. 
As best seen in FIG. 7, shuttle member 176 is provided with a part 178 
which includes a pair of spaced bearings 180. Bearings 180 define a recess 
into which the edge of a plate cam or disc 182 extends. Disc 182 is 
mounted on a shaft 184. Shaft 184 also carries a gear 186 which meshingly 
engages a second gear 188 fixedly mounted on the output shaft 190 of the 
shuttle motor 192. 
As shuttle motor 192 rotates shaft 190, and thus gears 188 and 186, disc 
182 is rotated. Disc 182 is mounted at an incline or skew with respect to 
the axis of shaft 184. The rotation of disc 182 will cause part 178 to 
move back and forth a short distance in a direction generally transverse 
to ticket movement. This movement of part 178 will cause the shuttle 
member 176 and wire bearing 174 to likewise move, carrying the impact ends 
of the impact wires 172 in a back and forth motion. 
Each of the actuators 170 carries a flat coil 194 which, when energized, 
will cause the actuator, and thus the print wire attached thereto, to be 
displaced towards anvil 152. By appropriately synchronizing the 
energization of the various coils 194 with the position of the shuttle 
member, dots are imprinted on the ticket T in the appropriate areas so as 
to form consumer-readable or machine-readable indicia. As seen in FIG. 7, 
the end of shaft 184 carries a strobe disc 196 which cooperates with a 
photoelectric sensor 198 to permit the synchronization of the energization 
of the actuators with the position of the wire bearing. A ribbon 199 is 
situated between anvil 152 and bearing 174. Ribbon 199 is an endless loop 
which extends between two extensions (not shown) of ribbon cassette 201. 
Reader motor 50 moves the ticket past read head 84 at a relatively high 
speed, for example, 30 inches/second for reading of the customer marked 
data on area 38 of ticket T. As the leading edge of the ticket exits the 
reader section 44, the printer motor 154 is in the de-energized state. 
This being the case, the leading edge of the ticket normally would not be 
able to pass between drive roller 122 and pressure roller 124 because 
drive roller 122 is connected to the output shaft of motor 154. 
However, as mentioned above, drive roller 122 includes an internal 
overrunning clutch, thereby permitting it to rotate even when motor 154 is 
de-energized. Accordingly, the ticket can move between rollers 122 and 
124. Thus, the leading edge of the ticket can pass between rollers 122 and 
124 and into guide 134, as it is driven out of reader section 44 by roller 
60 connected to reader motor 50. 
Immediately before the leading edge of the ticket T reaches drive roller 
142, area 42 on ticket T aligns with a photoelectric sensor 200, situated 
below guide 134. When this occurs, stepping motor 154 is energized to 
drive rollers 122 and 142 to move the ticket through the printer 
mechanism. The ticket is moved through the printer mechanism in a stepwise 
fashion and, hence, it is moved through the printer at a slower speed. 
When a leading edge detector 202 reflectively senses mark 42 on ticket T 
at the correct position, stepping motor 154 is de-energized. At this 
point, ticket T is properly positioned for the printing of the first row 
of dots by actuators 170. Stepping motor 154, in synchronization with the 
shuttle printing mechanism, steps the ticket through the completion of the 
printing process, through output slot 20 and to the operator. 
It should now be appreciated that the transport drive mechanism, including 
the overrunning clutch associated with drive roller 122, compensates for 
the transport speed differential between the reader transport and the 
lower speed printer transport. Accordingly, the ticket does not have to 
exit the reader section 44 of the mechanism before it is accepted into the 
printer section 46. This results in a substantial reduction in the length 
of the transport path, thereby greatly enhancing the compactness of the 
ticket processor. 
The compactness is further enhances by the generally "U"-shaped transport 
path, including the arcuate channel which joins the read section of the 
transport path and the print section of the transport path. This is 
illustrated in schematic form in FIG. 9. 
FIG. 10 also illustrates the various drive components and the transport 
path including the print ribbon 199 which is difficult to see in the other 
drawings. In particular, FIG. 10 illustrates the relative simplicity of 
the device, including the two drive motors 50 and 154 and the various 
drive and pressure rollers which make up the "U"-shaped transport path. 
It will now be appreciated that the present invention is a ticket processor 
including a reader and a printer which is highly compact due to the 
"U"-shaped transport path and the overrunning clutch mechanism which 
permits the reader section and the printer section to operate at different 
speeds without requiring that the ticket exit the higher speed reader 
section prior to entrance into the lower speed printer section. 
While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been 
disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many 
variations and modifications could be made thereto. It is intended to 
cover all of these variations and modifications which fall within the 
scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.