Patent Publication Number: US-11657653-B2

Title: Lottery ticket dispensing system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Instant lottery tickets (e.g., “scratch-off” lottery tickets) are sold at many types of retail locations including, stores, such as grocery stores, general merchandise stores, and the like. Various configurations of lottery ticket dispensers have been proposed in the industry for this purpose, including electronic dispensers that automatically dispense a ticket from a bin or compartment upon receipt of an electronic command signal. 
     Self-service lottery ticket dispensers or kiosks are known and used in the industry wherein a plurality of different scratch-off lottery tickets are made available to purchasers. A successful example of such a device is the PlayCentral® terminal from Scientific Games of Alphretta, Ga., USA, which offers  28  different scratch-off lottery tickets from which a purchaser can choose via an interactive selection screen. The purchaser&#39;s selected lottery ticket is electronically dispensed from one of a plurality of internal dispensing units housed within the dispenser cabinet. 
     Automatic and manual lottery ticket dispenser arrays are also well-known for use in retail establishments. These devices are typically located at point-of-sale (POS) locations in the retail establishment (e.g., on or below a checkout counter) and operated by a store clerk/employee. 
     The structure and control components for the different types of dispensers can be complex and quite expensive to manufacture and maintain. The industry would benefit from a dispensing system that includes an array that can be readily converted between automatic operation (and use in a self-serve dispensing cabinet) wherein the lottery tickets are conveyed and separated from the dispensing unit and manual operation wherein the lottery tickets are conveyed partially through a dispensing slot for subsequent manual separation. 
     SUMMARY 
     Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In accordance with aspects of the invention, a lottery ticket dispensing system is provided that includes a cabinet housing and a lottery ticket array insertable into the cabinet housing. The lottery ticket array includes a plurality of individual bins in a stacked configuration. The bins can be variously configured. In one embodiment, each bin has sides, a bottom, an open front, and an open top. A dispensing unit is inserted into each of the bins and includes a ticket compartment in which a continuous strip of lottery tickets is contained and an automatic separation module in which a leading ticket of the continuous strip of lottery tickets is automatically separated and dispensed from the bin. The bins are connected together in the stacked configuration such that the lottery ticket array is insertable into and removable from the cabinet housing as a single unit. The stacked configuration includes opposite sides defined by the aligned sides of the bins. At least one first component of a detachable support system is attached to the opposite sides of the stacked configuration, the first component cooperating with a second component of the detachable support system provided on inner side walls of the cabinet housing. 
     In one embodiment, the first component includes one or more rails provided on a rail plate that is attached to each of the opposite sides of the stacked configuration, and the second component includes rail supports provided on the inner side walls of the cabinet housing. 
     In some embodiments, the stacked configuration may include two or more columns of the bins. 
     The dispensing unit may include a feed module operationally disposed between the ticket compartment and the automatic separation module, wherein the automatic separation module is detachably connected to the feed module. 
     The lottery ticket array may have a first automatic operational mode when inserted into the cabinet housing in which, for each of the bins in the array, the automatic separation module automatically separates and ejects the leading ticket from the continuous strip of lottery tickets such that the leading ticket is discharged from the cabinet housing, or example through a slot in a front door of the cabinet, or falls into a receptacle inside of the cabinet housing for subsequent retrieval. 
     The array may also include a plurality of manual separation modules that are detachably connectable to the feed modules upon removal of the automatic separation modules from the feed modules. Thus, the lottery ticket array is easily configured to a second manual operational mode when removed from the cabinet housing and used in a stand-alone configuration. The manual separation module does not automatically separate and discharge the lottery tickets from the dispensing unit and, in this regard, the dispensing unit with attached manual separation unit may a tear bar disposed upstream of a dispensing slot in the manual separation module. The feed module conveys the leading ticket to a separation position where the leading ticket extends at least partially through the dispensing slot and a line between the leading ticket and an adjacent ticket is adjacent to the tear bar. A store clerk or other person than grasps the ticket and pulls the ticket against the tear bar to separate and remove the ticket from the dispensing unit. The tear bar can be provided in the manual separation module or in the feed module (and can be present in the feed module and not used in the automatic operational mode). 
     In certain embodiments, the automatic separation module includes a drive roller and an opposed idler roller with a nip defined between the driver roller and idler roller. A motor is configured with the drive roller, for example via a gear arrangement or other suitable drive connection, wherein the drive roller conveys the leading ticket to a separation position where a line between the leading ticket and an adjacent ticket is presented for separation. A shuttle travels in a linear path along the line and includes a head that engages and separates the leading ticket from the adjacent ticket along the line. A bi-directional drive mechanism is configured with the shuttle to move the shuttle back and forth along the linear path. 
     In a particular embodiment, the bi-directional drive mechanism comprises a second motor in driving engagement with a drive rod, the drive rod comprising a track defined therein, the shuttle engaged in the track causing the shuttle to move along the linear path. 
     In one embodiment, the bi-directional drive mechanism includes a second motor in driving engagement with a drive rod, the drive rod having a track defined therein. The shuttle is engaged in the track such that rotation of the drive rod causes the shuttle to move along the linear path. At an end of travel of the shuttle along the drive rod, the shuttle reverses its direction of travel. 
     In one embodiment, the track is defined as a double-helix groove such that at the end of its travel along the drive rod, the shuttle reverses its direction of travel without reversing rotation of the drive rod. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the track is defined as a uni-directional screw thread, wherein the second motor is a reversible motor such that at the end of the shuttle&#39;s travel along the drive rod, the motor reverses direction to cause the shuttle to reverse its direction. 
     In yet another embodiment, the second motor is a reversible motor and the shuttle is controlled such that after reversing its initial direction of travel without reversing rotation of the drive rod, the shuttle returns to a rest location past the continuous strip of lottery tickets. For a subsequent separation sequence, rotation of the drive rod is reversed by the second motor to drive the shuttle from the rest location in an opposite direction along the linear path. In this embodiment, the track may be a double-helix groove such that at the end of its initial travel along the drive rod, the shuttle reverses its direction of travel to move to the rest location without the second motor reversing rotation of the drive rod. 
     In some embodiments, the dispensing unit may include side-by-side ticket compartments, wherein the drive rod and the linear path of the shuttle extend across the ticket compartments so that the shuttle can separate the leading lottery ticket from both of the ticket compartments. 
     One or more sensors may be disposed along the linear path of the shuttle to detect location of the shuttle. A signal from the sensor can be used to determine that the shuttle has move to the rest location, which indicates that the leading ticket in one of the ticket compartments has been separated. The drive roller can then be rotated to eject the leading ticket. 
     The lines between adjacent lottery tickets in the continuous strip of lottery tickets may be perforation lines, wherein the head of the shuttle includes a leading edge inclined at an angle such that a lower portion of the leading edge engages the perforation line from below and lifts the perforation line prior to an upper portion of the leading edge thereby bursting the perforation line as the shuttle moves along the liner path. In the embodiment having side-by-side ticket compartments, the drive rod and the linear path of the shuttle extend across the ticket compartments so that the shuttle is configured to separate the leading lottery ticket from both of the ticket compartments. The head can have oppositely disposed configurations of the inclined leading edges, for example in a wing-like configuration. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the automatic separation module includes a drive roller and an opposed idler roller with a nip defined therebetween, with a motor geared to the drive roller. The motor is switchable between a convey mode, wherein the drive roller engages and conveys the leading ticket through the nip to a separation position, and a brake mode wherein the motor provides a reverse retarding force to the drive roller thereby braking the drive roller against an attempted reeling of the lottery tickets from the assembly. A controller is in communication with the motor and is operable to switch the motor between the convey mode and the brake mode. The motor and controller configured such that in the brake mode, power to the motor is interrupted and windings in the motor are short-circuited, which results in any rotation of the drive roller from the attempted reeling of the lottery tickets to essentially convert the motor to a generator. The short-circuited windings create a load on the generator that produces the retarding force on the drive roller. 
     In a particular embodiment, the separation module includes an automatic separator device upstream of the drive roller in a conveying direction of the lottery tickets. The drive roller conveys the leading ticket to the separation position such that a line between the leading ticket and an adjacent ticket is upstream of the drive roller and presented to the separator device mechanism. Once the leading ticket is stopped at the separation position, the controller and motor are configured to rotate the drive roller to slightly tension the leading ticket and then switch the motor to the brake mode prior to activation of the separator device. Then, after separation of the leading lottery ticket, the controller rotates the drive roller to eject the leading lottery ticket from the separation module. 
     The present disclosure also encompasses any one or combination of the lottery ticket arrays described above as a stand-alone invention, the array configured to use in an automatic mode of operation within a cabinet housing or as a stand-alone unit in a manual mode of operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure including the best mode of practicing the appended claims and directed to one of ordinary skill in the art is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification. The specification makes reference to the appended figures, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a lottery ticket dispensing unit with a detachable separation module in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG.  2    is an alternative perspective view of the lottery ticket dispensing unit with a detachable separation module; 
         FIG.  3    is a side cut-away view of the lottery ticket dispensing unit of  FIG.  1    with a stack of interconnected lottery tickets contained therein; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a lottery ticket dispensing unit with a detachable manual separation unit; 
         FIG.  5    is a side cut-away view of the lottery ticket dispensing unit of  FIG.  4    with a stack of interconnected lottery tickets contained therein; 
         FIG.  6    is a bottom view of the lottery ticket dispensing unit of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective back view of the separation module from the lottery ticket dispensing unit of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective back view of the separation module of  FIG.  7    with the drive roller and idler roller removed; 
         FIG.  9    is a view of a control circuit board from the separation module of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drive rod for a separator device used in the separation module of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a drive rod for a separator device used in the separation module of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  12    is a top view of a shuttle and head for a separator head used in the separation module of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  13    is a side view of the shuttle and head of  FIG.  12   ; 
         FIG.  14    is a diagram view of the controllers for the separation module and feed module for a lottery ticket dispensing unit; 
         FIG.  15    is a diagram view of a wiring scheme for the drive roller motor in the separation module; 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view of a lottery ticket dispenser array in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of a lottery ticket dispensing system using the array of  FIG.  16   ; and 
         FIG.  18    is a perspective view of the lottery ticket dispensing system of  FIG.  17    with the dispending units inserted into the individual bins of the dispenser array of  FIG.  16   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various and alternative exemplary embodiments and to the accompanying drawings, with like numerals representing substantially identical structural elements. Each example is provided by way of explanation, and not as a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure and claims. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure includes modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIGS.  1 - 3    depict an embodiment of a lottery ticket dispensing unit  10  for dispensing a continuous strip  12  of interconnected lottery tickets  14  provided in a roll or fan-folded stack (depicted in  FIG.  3   ), such as a roll or stack of conventional scratch-off lottery tickets. The lottery tickets  14  are connected at a separation line, such as a perforation line, between adjacent tickets. Each lottery ticket  14  in the stack typically includes a machine-readable code printed on a front or back side thereof, such as an alpha-numeric code, bar code, QR code, or the like. The type of code may vary depending on the desired information content of the code, space on the ticket  14 , and so forth. The use of such codes on lottery tickets  14  for various functions related to inventory, identification, verification, and security are well-known. 
     The dispensing unit  10  includes at least one ticket compartment  18  formed by a bottom and sides and may have an open top for easier insertion of the continuous strip  12  of lottery tickets therein. The ticket compartment  18  may have any manner of internal guide/retaining structure to aid in orienting and dispensing the stack of lottery tickets  14 . In the illustrated embodiments, the dispensing unit  10  includes two of the ticket compartments  18  separated by a wall  19  such that each dispensing unit  10  is configured to dispense multiple stacks of the same or different lottery tickets  14 .  FIG.  6    provided a top view of the dispensing unit  10  with multiple side-by-side ticket compartments  18 . 
     The dispensing unit  10  includes a separation module  20  through which the continuous strip  12  of lottery tickets from the ticket compartment  18  is threaded and a leading lottery ticket  14  is separated and dispensed from the unit  10 . The separation module  20  may be integral (i.e., single piece construction) with the other components of the dispensing unit  10 . In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the separation module  20  is detachably connected to the dispensing unit  10  via a feed module  54  (described in greater detail below), as depicted in  FIGS.  1 - 2   . With this configuration, the separation module  20  can be removed for maintenance or replaced without having to pull the rest of the dispensing unit  10  from a bin  70  ( FIG.  16   ) in which the dispensing unit  10  is inserted. In the embodiments with multiple ticket compartments  18 , the separation module  20  extends across all of the ticket compartments  18 . 
       FIGS.  2 - 3  and  7 - 9    depict an automatic electronic embodiment of the separation module  20  having a drive roller  22  and opposed idler roller  24 . A nip  26  is defined between the rollers  22 ,  24  through which the strip  12  of lottery tickets  14  is conveyed, as seen in  FIG.  3   . A first motor  28  drives the drive roller  22 , for example via a gear arrangement  30  or other suitable drive means. The motor  28  is controlled by a controller  34 , which may be provide on a circuit board  36  within the separation module  20 . Via the controller  34 , the motor  28  is switchable between a convey mode wherein the drive roller  22  engages and conveys the leading lottery ticket  14  through the nip  26  to a separation position (discussed below) and a brake mode wherein the motor  28  provides a reverse retarding force to the drive roller  22  thereby braking the drive roller  22  against an attempted reeling of the lottery tickets  14  from the dispensing unit  10 . This retarding force does not cause the drive roller  22  to reverse direction and draw the lead ticket  14  back into to separation module  20 , but is sufficient to generate a “holding effect” at the roller nip  26  on the adjacent lottery ticket  14  to prevent reeling of the continuous strip  12  of tickets by a person grasping the leading ticket  14  extending from a dispensing slot  128  ( FIG.  3   ) and attempting to pull additional tickets from the dispensing unit  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  15   , operation of the motor  28  by the controller  34  via electronic switching states is depicted. In the operational convey mode of the motor  28 , the sets of switches  82  are connected to the power contacts  84  for the motor windings  80 . In the operational brake mode of the motor  28 , power to the motor  28  is interrupted and the sets of switches  82  are connected to the shorting contacts  86  that internally short the windings  80 . In this brake mode, any rotation of the drive roller  22  from an attempted reeling of the lottery tickets essentially converts the motor  28  to a generator as long as the drive roller  22  rotates. The short-circuited windings  80 , however, create a load on the motor  28  (in generator mode), as does any load on a generator. This self-induced load results in retarding force on the motor rotor, and thus on the drive roller  22 . This operation is desirable for applying a brake or retarding force in that it does not require a constant voltage to be applied to the windings  80  (in reverse polarity) at all times when the dispensing unit is “idle” (i.e., not dispensing a ticket). Power to the motor  28  is interrupted and the self-induced retarding (brake) force is only generated if there is a reeling attempt. 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS.  7 - 13   , the separation module  20  includes an automatic separator device  38  upstream of the drive roller  22  in a conveying direction of the lottery tickets  14  that separates the leading lottery ticket  14  from its adjacent lottery ticket. The drive roller  22  is driven to convey the leading ticket  14  to the separation position such that a line (e.g., a perforation line) between the leading ticket  14  and an adjacent ticket  14  is upstream of the drive roller  22  at a location to acted on by the separator device  23 . At this point in the dispense sequence, the drive roller  22  may be rotated slightly (e.g., 1-3 mm of ticket advancement) and then braked while a feed roller  56  in the upstream feed module  54  is braked in order to longitudinally tension the lottery ticket  14  between the two sets of rollers prior to activation of the separator device  38 . This tension prevents the lottery tickets  14  from bowing while the separator device  38  advances along the line between the tickets. If the bowing is not prevented, the separator device  38  may not properly engage the separation line along its entire length resulting in an incomplete separation or damage to the tickets along the separation line. 
     Once the leading ticket  14  has been completely separated from the adjacent ticket, the driver roller  22  is again driven to eject the leading ticket from the dispensing unit  10  via the dispensing slot  128 . 
     In a unique embodiment, the separator device  38  includes a head  42  provided on a shuttle  40  that is driven in a linear path (indicated by the dashed arrow line in  FIG.  7   ) along the line between the adjacent tickets  14 . The head shuttle  40 /head  42  can be drive in various ways. In the illustrated example, a bi-directional drive mechanism  88  is provided for this purpose and includes a drive rod  94  having a length to extend across the one or more ticket compartments  18 . The drive rod  94  is driven by a second motor  90 , for example via a second gear arrangement  92  or other suitable drive means. The drive rod  94  includes a track  96  defined therein. The shuttle  40  has a member that engages and slides in the track  96 . The shuttle  40  is slidingly supported on a stationary guide  43  that extends along the drive rod  94 . Thus, rotation of the drive rod  94  results in the shuttle  40  (and head  42 ) moving in a linear path (corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the drive rod  94 ) adjacent to the drive roller  22 /idler roller  24 , this linear path corresponding to the location of the separation position for the line between adjacent lottery tickets  14 . The drive rod  94  and the linear path of the shuttle  40  extend across the multiple ticket compartments  18  so that the shuttle  40  and head  42  are able to separate the leading lottery ticket  14  from both of the ticket compartments  18 . 
       FIG.  10    depicts an embodiment of the drive rod  94  wherein the track  96  is defined by a double-helix groove  98 . This type of double-helix groove  98  enables reverse direction (bi-directional) movement of the shuttle  40  along its linear path without reversing the rotational direction of the drive rod  40 . As the shuttle  40  moves in one direction and reaches an end of the drive rod  94 , it will automatically engage in the oppositely oriented track of the double-helix groove  98  and reverse direction while the drive rod  94  rotates in the same direction. 
       FIG.  11    depicts an alternate embodiment wherein the drive rod  94  includes a screw thread track  100  having a uni-directional pitch. With this configuration, the shuttle  40  engaged in the track  110  can only move in a single direction unless the rotational direction of the drive rod  94  is reversed. 
     It should thus be appreciated that the bi-directional drive mechanism  88  used to impart back-and-forth movement to the shuttle  40  can include any combination of a non-reversible motor  90 , a reversible motor  90 , a drive rod  94  with a helix-groove  98 , or drive rod  94  with a uni-directional thread  110 . 
     The head  42  that is carried by the shuttle  40  may have various configurations. For example, the head  42  may be a static member mounted on the shuttle  40 , and may have a blade or other sharp edge that essentially engages and cuts the lottery tickets along the line between the leading lottery ticket  14  and the adjacent lottery ticket. In an embodiment wherein the line between the tickets  14  is a perforation line, the head  42  may be designed with a blunt engagement surface designed to essentially engage the line from below or above the surface of the tickets  14  to essentially burst the perforations as the head  42  moves along the linear path of the shuttle  40 . A particularly unique configuration of the head  42  is depicted in  FIGS.  12  and  13   , wherein the head  42  has an inclined leading edge  44  (inclined at an angle  46  relative to a horizontal line). This leading edge  44  has a lower leading portion that essentially engages the perforation line from below as the head  42  moves along its linear path and pushes the line up the face of the leading edge  44 . Continued linear movement of head  42  causes the upper portion of the leading edge  44  to burst through the perforations from below (or from above depending on location of the tickets  14  relative to the head  42 /shuttle  40 ). Thus, separation of the tickets  14  along the line is accomplished without presenting a cutting edge perpendicular to the perforation line, which could result in ragged or torn edges along the line. The angled leading edge  44  has a length so as to ensure that the lower portion of the edge  44  engages below the line and the upper portion of the edge  44  extends through the line in the tickets even with a slight amount of bowing in the tickets as the shuttle  40  progresses along its linear path. 
     Other examples of a head  42  may be, for example, a cutting wheel or other type of cutting element that is movable relative to the shuttle  40 . Movement of the shuttle  40  may be used to also rotate or drive the head  42 , or the head  42  may have an independent drive. 
     In the depicted embodiments wherein the dispensing unit has side-by-side ticket compartments  18  and the shuttle  40  moves across both of the compartments, the head  42  may include oppositely disposed ones of the inclined leading edges  44  in a wing-like configuration, as seen in  FIGS.  7  and  13   . 
     In one embodiment, the second motor  90  that drives the rod  94  is a reversible motor. The shuttle  40  can be controlled such that after separating the leading lottery ticket  14  and reaching its end of travel along the rod  94  in one direction, the shuttle  40  reverses direction and returns to a rest location past the continuous strip  12  of the lottery tickets  14  (depicted by the position of the shuttle in  FIGS.  7  and  8   ). In the embodiment wherein the track  96  is double-helix groove  98  ( FIG.  10   ), this reversal is accomplished without reversing rotation of the drive rod  94 . In the embodiment wherein the track  96  is a single direction screw thread  100  ( FIG.  11   ), this reversal can be accomplished by reversing rotation of the second motor  90  and drive rod  94 . Once at the rest location, the shuttle waits for a subsequent dispense command from the controller  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , if the next ticket dispense sequence is from the left-hand ticket compartment, the shuttle  40  must be driven to the left. In the double-helix groove  98  embodiment, this could be accomplished by a single-direction motor  90  rotating the drive rod  94  so that the shuttle  40  first moves completely to the right and automatically reverses direction at the right-hand end of the drive rod  94 . This process, however, will take unnecessary time and excess run time of the motor  90 . Thus, it may be desired that the motor  90  is reversible. With a reversible motor  90  and the shuttle  40  at its rest position, the motor  90  (and rotational direction of the drive rod  94 ) can be immediately reversed causing the shuttle  40  to move immediately to the left. 
     In the embodiment wherein the drive rod  94  has the uni-directional screw thread  100 , the motor  90  is a reversible motor in order to move the shuttle  40  in both directions along the drive rod  94 . 
     Referring again to  FIG.  7    wherein the shuttle  40  is depicted at its rest position in front of the right-hand ticket compartment  18 , if the next ticket dispense sequence is for the right-hand ticket compartment, the shuttle  40  is first driven to a rest position at the left-hand ticket compartment  18  and waits there until the line between the leading lottery ticket  14  and adjacent lottery ticket is conveyed to the separation position. Then, the shuttle  40  is driven completely to the right to separate the ticket and returns to a rest position in front of the left-hand ticket compartment. 
     In order to track and control position of the shuttle  40  along the drive rod  94 , one or more proximity sensors  102  ( FIGS.  8  and  9   ) can be provided along the path of the shuttle  40  and in communication with the controller  34  ( FIG.  14   ). In the depicted embodiment, two such sensors  102  are provided directly on a circuit board  36  mounted below the drive rod  94 . The sensors  102  are located essentially at the two rest positions of the shuttle  40  in front of the ticket compartments  18 . Any conventional proximity sensor can be used for this purpose. The sensors  102  indicate the shuttle  40  has returned to its rest position after a separation and that the drive roller  22  can be rotated to eject the separated leading lotter ticket  14 . 
     The present disclosure encompasses the various embodiments of the separation module  20  described above as a stand-alone invention. Referring again to  FIGS.  1 - 6   , the dispensing unit  10  can also include a feed module  54  operationally configured between the separation module  20  and the ticket compartment(s)  18 . The feed module  54  includes a feed roller  56  and opposed idler roller  58  with a nip therebetween. The feed roller  56  is driven by a feed motor  60  (e.g., via gears). The feed roller  56  engages and conveys the continuous strip  12  of lottery tickets  14  from the ticket compartment  18  and to the separation module  20 . In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the separation module  20  is detachably connected to the feed module  54 . As seen in  FIG.  2   , connectors  76  (e.g., male members) may be provided at various locations around the back perimeter of the separation module that fit into or otherwise cooperate with counterpart connection members  78  (e.g., female members) provided at the front face of the feed module  54 , as seen in  FIG.  1   . Any suitable detachable connection devices can be used for this purpose. 
     An optical scanner  62  ( FIG.  3   ) is disposed below or above the path of the lottery tickets  14  through the feed module  54  to detect a mark on the tickets  14 . The scanner  62  may be any conventional reader, such as a point scanner, linear scanner, laser scanner, LED image scanner, and so forth. The mark may be a barcode or Q-code printed on the back of each lottery ticket  14 . The exact distance from the mark to the leading edge of each ticket is known. The scanner  62  is in communication with a feed controller  68  ( FIG.  14   ) and, based on detection and location of the mark and the known length of the tickets  14 , the controller  68  controls the run time of the feed motor  60 /feed roller  56  so that the line between the leading ticket  14  and the adjacent ticket is stopped at the separation position discussed above. The run time of the motor  60  may be based on an internal controller clock or may be measured by an encoder or other device that counts revolutions of the feed roller  56 . 
     In alternate embodiments, the scanner  62  may detect the perforation line between adjacent tickets or any other mark or physical characteristic of the lottery tickets  14  for purposes of control of the feed roller  56  as discussed above. 
     In an embodiment depicted in  FIG.  7   a   , the scanner  40  also functions to detect the separated forward edge  15   a  of the lead lottery ticket  14   a , thereby eliminating the need for a separate sensor  106 . 
     As discussed above, in the embodiment of the dispensing unit  10  wherein the separation module  20  operates in an automatic electronic mode, the drive roller  24  must be operated in coordination with the feed roller  56 .  FIG.  14    diagrammatically depicts that the separation module controller  34  and the feed module controller  68  are in communication for this purpose. At certain times during the dispense sequence, the driver roller  24  and feed roller  56  will be driven in unison. During the tensioning of the lottery tickets  14  prior to separation discussed above, the driver roller  24  will be slightly rotated and then stopped while the feed roller  56  is braked. For ejection of the separated leading ticket  14 , the driver roller  22  will be driven while the feed roller  56  is braked. The controllers  34 ,  68  ensure the proper coordination of their respective drive rollers  22 ,  56 . 
     Although not depicted in the figures, in an alternate embodiment, the controllers  34 ,  68  could be in communication with a common central controller that controls the various operations of the motors  28 ,  60 . 
     The lottery ticket dispensing units  10  may be stand-alone operational units. In a particular embodiment, the units  10  are designed for insertion into an individual bin  70 .  FIG.  16    depicts a plurality of the bins  70  connected together by any suitable means to form a stacked configuration  116 . In the depicted embodiment, the stacked configuration  116  includes two columns of the bins  70 . Each bin  70  has a housing that may include a bottom  74  and sides  72 . The front and top of the bin  70  is open. Thus, in the stacked configuration  116 , the bottom of one bin  70  encloses the open top of the bin  70  directly beneath it. The open front of the bin  70  allows for relatively easy insertion and removal of the dispensing unit  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  16  and  18   , a dispensing unit  10  can be inserted into each bin  70  in the stacked configuration  116 . At this point, the bins  70  and dispensing units  10  can be considered as a lottery ticket array  114 , which can act as a stand-alone operational unit, for example under or on top of a counter at a retail establishment. 
     The present disclosure encompasses an individual lottery ticket dispensing bin  70  with associated dispensing unit  10  in accordance with any of the embodiments discussed above as a stand-alone invention. 
     The present disclosure also encompasses the lottery ticket array  114  having the stacked configuration  116  of bins  70  with associated dispensing units  10  as a stand-alone invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  16  through  18   , a lottery ticket dispensing system  104  is depicted wherein the lottery ticket array  114  is utilized in a self-serve dispensing cabinet. The cabinet includes a housing  106  having walls  108  and a door  110  that enclose an internal space in which the array  114  is inserted as a single unit. The array  114  formed from the stacked configuration  116  of individual bins  70  has opposite sides  118  formed by the aligned sides of the individual bins  70 . A detachable support system  132  is provided so that the array  114  can be easily inserted into and removed from the cabinet housing  106  as a unit. In the depicted embodiment, this support system  132  includes at least one first component  134  attached to each of the opposite sides  118  of the stacked configuration  116 , the first component  134  cooperating with a second component  136  of the detachable support system  132  provided on the inner side walls  108  of the cabinet housing  106 . The first component  134  may be a rail  120  that slidingly engages with a rail support or guide  124  that constitutes the second component  136 . Depending on the number of bins  70  and height of the array  114 , two or more of the first  134  and second  136  components can be provided for each side of the array  114 , as depicted in  FIGS.  16 - 18   . 
     The first component  134  may include a plate  122  that spans the sides of a plurality of the individual bins  70  within the stacked configuration  116 , wherein one or more of the rails  120  are provided on the plate  122 . 
     A quick-release lock  138  can be provide on each of the plates  122  to lock the array  114  in the cabinet housing  106 , such as a quarter-turn lock having an arm that engages behind an edge of the housing  106  in the locked position. 
     The support system  132  and single-unit array  114  is a significant improvement in terms of simplicity, weight, and costs as compared to other systems that utilize individual pull-out drawers or bins supported by individual structures on the walls of the cabinet housing  106 . 
     In a particularly versatile embodiment of the lottery ticket dispensing system  104 , the lottery ticket array  114  has a first automatic operational mode when inserted into the cabinet housing  106  in which, for each of the bins  70  and respective dispensing unit  10 , the separation module  20  (“automatic separation module”) automatically separates and ejects the leading ticket  14  from the continuous strip  12  of lottery tickets as described above. As is common with self-service dispensers in the industry, the front door  110  of the cabinet housing  106  includes a selection device that enables a purchaser to choose a particular lottery ticket  14  from the various different tickets provided in the plurality of bins  70 . Once payment is received, the individual bin  70  containing the selected lottery ticket  14  is activated and operates as described above. The separated leading lottery ticket is ejected out from the bin  70  via the dispensing slot  128  and can be discharged through a slot in the front door  110  of the cabinet or fall into a receptacle  112  within the interior of the cabinet housing  106 . The purchaser accesses the receptable  112  from the front of the cabinet housing  106  and retrieves their lottery ticket  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , they dispensing system  104  may a plurality of manual separation modules  126  that are detachably connectable to the feed modules  54  of the dispensing units  10  upon removal of the array  114  from the cabinet housing  106  and detachment of the automatic separation modules  20  from the feed modules  54 . It may be desired in certain situations that the array  114  also be used in a stand-alone manual mode, for example on or below a counter in a retail establishment. The manual separation modules  126  have the same pattern of connectors  76  and mate to the front of the feed modules  54  in the same manner as the automatic separation modules  20 . The manual separation module  126  essentially provides a structural front face for the dispensing unit  10  and includes a dispensing slot through which at least a portion of the leading lottery ticket  14  is conveyed. A store clerk or other person grasps the lottery ticket an pulls the ticket against a tear bar  130  that is provided either in the feed module  54  past (downstream) of the drive roller  22  (as seen in  FIG.  1   ) or provided in the manual separation module  126 . The feed module controller  68  controls rotation of the feed roller  56  so that the line (e.g., perforation line) between the leading lottery ticket  14  and the adjacent ticket is adjacent to the tear bar  130 . 
     It should be appreciated that the present invention also encompasses the lottery ticket array  114  that can be configured to use in an automatic mode of operation within a cabinet housing  106  or as a stand-alone unit in a manual mode of operation, as described above. The array  114  includes a plurality of the individual bins  70  in a stacked configuration  116  and the dispensing unit  10  inserted into each of the bins  70 . The array  114  includes a plurality of the manual separation modules  126  connectable to the feed modules  54  upon removal of the automatic separation modules  20  from the feed modules  54  so that the lottery ticket array is operable in the stand-alone manual operational mode when removed from the cabinet housing  106 . 
     The embodiments particularly shown and described above are not meant to be limiting, but instead serve to show and teach various exemplary implementations of the present subject matter. As set forth in the attached claims, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of various features discussed herein, along with such variations and modifications as would occur to a person of skill in the art.