Security Device for a Lottery Ticket Machine

A lottery ticket machine including a chute for guiding a series of lottery tickets, two rollers for conveying the series of lottery tickets, a handle operable for moving the rollers from each other, and a security unit movable between a locking position for avoiding movement of the rollers from each other and a releasing position for allowing the rollers to move from each other. The handle is operable to move the security unit between the locking position and the releasing position.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a and, more particularly, to a

2. Related Prior Art

Referring toFIG. 4, a conventional lottery ticket machine is shown. The lottery ticket machine includes a panel900, two plates902, a chute904, two lower rollers906, two upper rollers908, two rockers910, two springs914and a handle916. The panel900includes a slot914. Each of the plates902includes an arched slot912. The plates902are connected to the panel900so that the plates902extend parallel to each other. The chute904is placed between the plates902. The chute904is made of two separate strips (not numbered). The lower rollers906are placed between and connected to the plates902. Furthermore, the lower rollers906are operably connected to a motor (not numbered). The upper rollers908are placed on a first shaft (not numbered) that extends through the arched slots912. The rockers910are connected to a second shaft (not numbered) that rests on the plates902. Each of the rockers910includes an end connected to the first shaft and another end connected to the second shaft. Each of the springs914includes an end tied to a corresponding one of the plates902and another end tied to the first shaft. The handle916is connected to the second shaft so that the handle916, the rockers910and the upper rollers908rock together as the first shaft moves along the arched slots912. Referring toFIG. 6, in operation, the handle916is pivoted upward to lift the upper rollers908from the lower rollers906before a series of lottery tickets is placed between the upper rollers908and the lower rollers906through the chute904. Referring toFIG. 5, the handle916is released to allow the springs914to move the upper rollers908closer to the lower rollers906before the motor is turned on to drive the lower rollers906to convey the series of lottery tickets along the chute904and finally out of the lottery ticket machine through the slot918. The motor is stopped after at least one lottery ticket (the “desired lottery ticket”) is placed out of the lottery ticket machine. Then, the desired lottery ticket is pulled from the lottery ticket machine, and so is a next lottery ticket. The next lottery ticket brings the upper rollers908closer to the lower rollers906while the first shaft moves along the arched slots912. Thus, the next lottery ticket is nipped by the lower rollers906and the upper rollers908. The desired lottery ticket is further pulled from the lottery ticket machine and finally torn from the next lottery ticket. However, a person can steal the whole series of lottery tickets from the lottery ticket machine if he or she inserts a tool into the lottery ticket machine through the slot918to push and lift the upper rollers908from the lower rollers906. Therefore, the lottery ticket machine is not secure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a secure lottery ticket machine.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the lottery ticket machine including a chute for guiding a series of lottery tickets, two rollers for conveying the series of lottery tickets, a handle operable for moving the rollers from each other, and a security unit movable between a locking position for avoiding movement of the rollers from each other and a releasing position for allowing the rollers to move from each other. The handle is operable to move the security unit between the locking position and the releasing position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, there is a secure lottery ticket machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The secure lottery ticket machine includes a panel900, two plates902, a chute904, two lower rollers906, two upper rollers908, two rockers910, two springs914, a handle916and a security unit200.

The panel900includes a slot914. Each of the plates902includes an arched slot912. The plates902are connected to the panel900so that the plates902extend parallel to each other. The chute904is placed between the plates902. The chute904is made of two separate strips (not numbered).

The lower rollers906are placed between and connected to the plates902. Furthermore, the lower rollers906are operably connected to a motor (not numbered).

The upper rollers908are placed between the plates902. In addition, the upper rollers908are supported on a first shaft (not numbered) that extends through the arched slots912.

The rockers910are connected to a second shaft (not numbered) that is supported on the plates902. Each of the rockers910includes an end connected to the first shaft and another end connected to the second shaft.

Each of the springs914includes an end tied to a corresponding one of the plates902and another end tied to the first shaft. The handle916is connected to the second shaft so that the handle916, the rockers910and the upper rollers908rock together as the first shaft moves along the arched slots912.

The security unit200includes two levers202, two stoppers204and a shaft206. The shaft206is connected to handle916. Each of the levers202includes an end pivotally connected to the shaft206. Each of the stoppers204includes an end pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the plates902. Another end of each of the levers202is connected to a corresponding one of the stoppers204.

Referring toFIG. 3, in operation, the handle916is pivoted upward. The handle916lifts the levers202. The levers202lift the stoppers204from the rockers910to allow the handle916to pivot the rockers910. The rockers910lift the upper rollers908from the lower rollers906. Then, a series of lottery tickets is placed between the upper rollers908and the lower rollers906through the chute904.

Referring toFIG. 2, the handle916is released. Thus, the springs914are allowed to move the upper rollers908closer to the lower rollers906. Then, the motor is turned on to drive the lower rollers906to convey the series of lottery tickets along the chute904and finally out of the lottery ticket machine through the slot918.

The motor is stopped after at least one lottery ticket (the “desired lottery ticket”) is placed out of the lottery ticket machine. Then, the desired lottery ticket is subjected to a force that tends to pull from the series of lottery tickets from the lottery ticket machine. A next lottery ticket however brings the upper rollers908closer to the lower rollers906. Thus, the next lottery ticket is nipped by the lower rollers906and the upper rollers908. If the force is sufficient, the desired lottery ticket will be torn from the next lottery ticket, which is kept in the lottery ticket machine.

A person might insert a tool into the lottery ticket machine via the slot918. However, the person cannot push and lift the upper rollers908from the lower rollers906because the stoppers204stop the rockers910from pivoting. The stoppers204effectively stop the rockers910from pivoting because the stoppers204extend substantially perpendicular to the rockers910and because the stoppers204are not rectilinearly movable substantially perpendicular to the rockers910. Thus, the person cannot steal any lottery ticket from the lottery ticket machine because, and the lottery ticket machine is secure.