Abstract:
A ticket dispenser for dispensing a ticket from a pack of tickets having first and last tickets at opposite ends of the pack and each ticket having opposed first and second edges, the ticket dispenser comprising: a ticket rack assembly having a rack with a support platform for receiving the pack of tickets with first edges against the support platform, and a ticket pack biasing mechanism configured to bias against a face of the last ticket of the C pack and to urge the last ticket towards the first ticket; a ticket housing for preventing unauthorised external access to the pack of tickets, the ticket housing comprising a ticket dispensing slot; and a ticket dispensing mechanism configured to dispense the first ticket from the pack of tickets, the ticket dispensing mechanism comprising a dispensing control member connected to a ticket ejector, the ticket ejector having a ticket edge engagement feature configured to engage with a first edge of the first ticket, the ticket ejector being operable by movement of the dispensing control member to slide the first ticket from the pack and away from the platform and to dispense the second edge of the first ticket through the ticket dispensing slot.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a ticket dispenser for dispensing a ticket from a pack of separate, flexible tickets that are mounted in the dispenser, and more particularly, but not exclusively, for dispensing scratch cards. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    GB205164 describes a known ticket dispenser for dispensing thick railway tickets, which receives a stack of separate tickets, laid on and parallel to the surface of a flat horizontal platform, and is configured to dispense the lowermost ticket (i.e. the ticket adjacent the platform) from the stack. The dispenser is designed for a customer to operate, to self-issue a ticket. The ticket dispenser is operated by pushing a pivoting panel into the base of the dispenser, which operates a complex mechanical linkage to drive a ticket ejector. The ticket ejector is slidably connected to the platform, and engages the back edge of a ticket to dispense the front edge of the lowermost ticket out through a dispensing aperture, towards the customer. 
         [0003]    Disadvantageously, in such a ticket dispenser, the display face of the ticket to be dispensed does not face the customer and cannot be viewed by the customer prior to dispensing. Also, although the ticket is conveniently dispensed towards the customer, the dispensing operation is not controlled by the retailer, consequently requiring additional security features for dispensing valuable tickets. Further, such a dispenser is only suited to dispensing relatively rigid tickets in order that the dispensing edge aligns with the dispensing slot, and would risk jamming if the dispensing edge of a ticket should become buckled. Yet further, the dispenser requires a mechanically complex mechanical linkage between the pivoting panel and the ticket ejector. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
       a ticket dispenser for dispensing a ticket from a pack of tickets having first and last tickets at opposite ends of the pack and each ticket having opposed first and second edges, the ticket dispenser comprising:   a ticket rack assembly having a rack with a support platform for receiving the pack of tickets with first edges against the support platform, and a ticket pack biasing mechanism configured to bias against a face of the last ticket of the pack and to urge the last ticket towards the first ticket;   a ticket housing for preventing unauthorised external access to the pack of tickets, the ticket housing comprising a ticket dispensing slot; and   a ticket dispensing mechanism configured to dispense the first ticket from the pack of tickets, the ticket dispensing mechanism comprising a dispensing control member connected to a ticket ejector, the ticket ejector having a ticket edge engagement feature configured to engage with a first edge of the first ticket, the ticket ejector being operable by movement of the dispensing control member to slide the first ticket from the pack and away from the platform and to dispense the second edge of the first ticket through the ticket dispensing slot.       
 
         [0009]    Advantageously, standing the tickets on the edge on the support platform enables the ticket to be dispensed by a low complexity mechanical dispensing mechanism. Further, the dispensing mechanism may be operable by depression of the dispensing control member a counter onto which the ticket dispenser may be mounted, thereby requiring a low complexity mounting arrangement. 
         [0010]    The dispensing mechanism may comprise a dispensing lever, part of the lever comprising the dispensing control member and being operable to drive the ticket ejector. The dispensing control member may be a depressible end of the dispensing lever that projects beyond the housing for operation by an operator, and the dispensing lever may be pivoted between the depressible end and the connection with the ticket ejector. Advantageously, the dispensing lever arrangement enables a mechanically simple, robust and inexpensive mechanism to be used for dispensing tickets. 
         [0011]    A resiliently deformable member (e.g. a compression or tension spring) may bias the dispensing lever into a position of readiness for dispensing the first ticket. Advantageously, the resiliently deformable member ensures that the ticket dispenser remains primed dispensing the first ticket. 
         [0012]    The ticket ejector may be pivotably connected to the dispensing control member. The ticket ejector may be pivotably connected to the dispensing lever remote from the depressible end. Advantageously, the pivotable connection eases manufacturing tolerances over a rigid connection between the ticket ejector and the dispensing lever. Further, the pivotable connection enables the ticket ejector to be biased against the front wall of the ticket housing, to impede a ticket from passing between the ticket ejector and the front wall, which could otherwise jam the ticket dispensing mechanism. 
         [0013]    The ticket ejector has a leading edge, which is shaped to deflect the approaching first edge of a ticket towards the ticket pack, in the event that a partially dispensed ticket is returned to the pack. The leading edge of the ticket ejector is the edge closest to the ticket dispensing slot. 
         [0014]    The leading edge of the ticket ejector may comprise a bevelled face that faces towards the ticket pack (i.e. the bevelled face is bevelled away from the customer-facing side of the housing). Advantageously, the leading edge of the ticket ejector deflects a returned ticket to rejoin the ticket pack, thereby preventing a returned ticket from passing between the ticket ejector and the housing, which could otherwise jam the ticket dispensing mechanism. 
         [0015]    The ticket edge engagement feature may be less than 0.5 mm wide, and preferably less than 0.4 mm wide. A width of less than 0.5 mm is less than about ⅚ ths of the thickness of a standard ticket, which has a thickness of about 0.6 to 0.7 mm. Advantageously, a width of less than 0.5 mm or less than 0.4 mm is less than the width of a ticket, which commonly has a thickness of 0.6 to 0.8 mm, and advantageously prevents the ticket edge engagement feature from engaging with the edge of more than one ticket during a dispensing operation. The ticket ejector and an adjacent edge of the support platform may comprise an arrangement of projections and corresponding recesses configured for slideable mutual engagement throughout the range of movement of the ticket ejector during dispensing. The ticket ejector may comprise a plurality of grooves and the ticket rack may comprise a corresponding plurality of teeth for slideable engagement within the grooves. Alternatively, the ticket rack may comprise a plurality of grooves and the ticket ejector may comprise a corresponding plurality of teeth for slideable engagement in the grooves. Advantageously, the arrangement prevents a ticket-sized gap from arising between the ticket ejector and the rack, into which the first edge of a ticket could fall, which might otherwise jam the ticket dispensing mechanism. 
         [0016]    The ticket housing may be configured for a display face of the first ticket to be viewable by a customer prior to the first ticket being dispensed. 
         [0017]    The housing may be transparent. The customer-facing side of the housing may comprise a viewing window for viewing a display face of the first ticket. Advantageously, a transparent housing or a viewing window enables the display face of the first ticket to be viewed clearly by the customer. 
         [0018]    The ticket dispenser may be configured to bias the pack of tickets towards a customer-facing side of the housing. Advantageously, biasing the pack of tickets towards the customer-facing side of the housing enables the display face of the first ticket to be more clearly viewed by the customer. 
         [0019]    A slideable locking member may be provided that is slideable between an unlocked position in which the dispensing control member may be operated to dispense a ticket, and a locked position in which the locking member obstructs movement of the dispensing control member. Advantageously the slideable locking member may provide a simple security feature to hinder unauthorised ticket dispensing. 
         [0020]    The ticket dispenser may comprise a counter base for fitting to a retail counter, to which the housing and/or rack detachably connects, and a slideable locking member configured to prevent detachment of the ticket housing and/or ticket rack assembly from the counter base when the slideable locking member is in a locked position. Advantageously the slideable locking member may provide a simple security feature to hinder unauthorised removal of the rack and housing from a retail counter to which the counter base is secured. 
         [0021]    The counter base may connect with the ticket rack assembly by the mutual engagement of connection elements of the counter base with connection windows of the ticket rack assembly, and the engagement of connection elements of the counter base from connection windows of the ticket rack assembly may be by resilient deformation of connection elements, and the slideable locking member may be configured to prevent the resilient deformation of at least one of the connection elements, when the slideable locking member is in a locked position. Advantageously, disengagement by resilient deformation provides a simple detachable connection between the base and the housing and/or rack, which may be simply locked. 
         [0022]    The housing may have a customer-facing first side and an opposed operator-facing second side, wherein the dispensing control member projects from the second side, and the ticket dispensing slot is provided adjacent the first side in a top face of the housing, or the dispensing slot is provided in the first side. Advantageously, this enables a ticket to be issued close to the customer, whilst the operator retains control over operation of the ticket dispensing mechanism. 
         [0023]    The ticket dispensing slot may have a plurality of projections into the slot. Advantageously, the projections may be dimensioned to prevent more than one ticket from being dispensed simultaneously, whilst enabling a ticket to be dispensed when slightly buckled. The projections may reduce friction between the slot and the dispensed ticket. 
         [0024]    The projections may be projections from an edge of the slot adjacent the top face of the housing. Advantageously, projections extending from the top face of the housing will not interfere with the dispensing of a single ticket, when the dispensing edge of the dispensing ticket slides up the inner surface of the front wall of the ticket housing. 
         [0025]    The projections may be in end regions of the dispensing slot, e.g. projections may be provided in the end thirds of the length of the slot, or in the end quarters of the length of the slot. The projections may be absent from a central region (e.g. the central third of the length of the slot). The first ticket may buckle in a central region, and advantageously by providing a central region of the dispensing slot without projections, a centrally buckled ticket may be more easily dispensed without jamming across the dispensing slot. The projections may be located at the ends of the dispensing slot. One or a plurality of projections may be provided in each end region of the dispensing slot. 
         [0026]    The projections may be configured to limit the maximum dispensing thickness to less than 1.2 mm, and preferably less than 1.0 mm. A maximum dispensing thickness of less than 1.2 mm or less than 1.0 mm is less than twice the width of a standard ticket having a thickness of 0.6 to 0.7 mm. Advantageously this maximum dispensing thickness prevents more than one ticket from being dispensed through the ticket dispensing slot simultaneously. 
         [0027]    The width of the ticket edge engagement feature may be 40 to 60% of a maximum dispensing thickness of the slot. The ticket dispenser may be configured for operation with a particular thickness of ticket, e.g. the maximum dispensing thickness of the dispensing slot may be approximately 1.5 times the thickness of a ticket, and the width of the ticket edge engagement feature may be approximately 0.75 times the thickness of a ticket. 
         [0028]    The ticket edge engagement feature may be narrower than the minimum width of the ticket dispensing slot. The ticket edge engagement feature may be less than half the minimum width of the ticket dispensing slot. Advantageously, the ticket dispensing slot is dimensioned to permit dispensing of no more than one ticket having a minimum width that is wider than the thickness of one ticket and narrower than the thickness of two tickets, and the ticket edge engagement feature is dimensioned to engage with no more than one ticket, by extending across only part of the edge of the first ticket as it is dispensed. 
         [0029]    The inner face of the customer-facing side of the housing may be configured to contact and guide the second edge of the first ticket towards the dispensing slot, as the first ticket is dispensed. Advantageously, such guiding enhances the reliability of ticket dispensing. 
         [0030]    The inner face of the customer-facing side of the housing may be provided with guiding ribs configured to contact and guide the second edge of the first ticket towards the dispensing slot, as the first ticket is dispensed. Advantageously, such guiding enhances the reliability of ticket dispensing, reduces abrasion of the inner face, through which the tickets are dispensed, and reduces the force required to dispense the first ticket. 
         [0031]    The inner surface of the customer-facing side of the housing may be angled at an acute angle to the support platform to extend partially over the pack of tickets. Advantageously, the angling of the inner face enhances contact with the dispensing second edge of the first ticket, reducing buckling of the second edge, and thereby enhancing the guiding of the first ticket towards and through the dispensing slot, during dispensing. 
         [0032]    The inner surface of the customer-facing side of the housing may be curved back towards the pack of tickets. Advantageously, curvature of the inner face enhances contact with the dispensing edge of the ticket being dispensed, thereby enhancing guiding of the ticket as it is dispensed. Further, curving the dispensing ticket back towards the pack may further enhance the maintenance of a straight second edge, to enhance the reliability with which the second edge is guided towards and passes through the dispensing slot, during dispensing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0034]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate assembled views of the ticket dispenser from opposite sides; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the ticket dispenser; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3A  illustrates the ticket dispenser with the ticket housing disassembled from the ticket rack assembly, and 
           [0037]      FIG. 3B  illustrates the ticket dispenser in which the removable part of the ticket dispenser assembly has been detached from the counter base, which may be permanently connected to a retail counter; 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cut-away view through the ticket dispenser; 
           [0039]      FIG. 5A  shows a cross-sectional view through the ticket housing and 
           [0040]      FIG. 5B  shows a plan view of the housing from above; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5C  shows a partially cut-away side view of the ticket dispenser and corresponding enlargement; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5D  shows a perspective view of the upper part of the housing; 
           [0043]      FIGS. 5A-1, 5B-1 and 5C-1  respectively show enlarged views of parts of  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 6A  shows a partially cut-away side view of the ticket dispenser with enlargements of part of the ticket ejector; 
           [0045]      FIGS. 6A-1 and 6A-2  show enlarged views of parts of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 6B  shows a side view of the ticket dispenser with a cut-away of the ticket assembly rack and enlargements; 
           [0047]      FIGS. 6B-1 and 6B-2  show enlarged views of parts of  FIG. 6B ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 6C  shows a cut-away view through the ticket rack assembly; 
           [0049]      FIG. 6D  shows a perspective view of the ticket dispenser with a partial cut-away through the ticket housing; 
           [0050]      FIG. 7A  shows a side view of the ticket assembly rack that is unlocked; 
           [0051]      FIG. 7B  shows a corresponding cross-sectional view; 
           [0052]      FIG. 7B-1  shows an enlarged view of part of  FIG. 7B ; and 
           [0053]      FIG. 8A  shows a side view of the ticket assembly rack that is locked; 
           [0054]      FIG. 8B  shows a corresponding cross-sectional view; 
           [0055]      FIG. 8B-1  shows an enlarged view of part of  FIG. 8B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0056]    In the described embodiment, like features have been identified with like numerals, albeit in some cases having one or more of suffix letters. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  respectively show the fully assembled ticket dispenser  100  from a customer-facing side C and an opposed retailer-facing side R,  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the ticket dispenser, and  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show partially disassembled views of the ticket dispenser. 
         [0058]    The ticket dispenser  100  comprises a ticket rack assembly  102 , a ticket housing  104 , and a counter base  106 . 
         [0059]    The ticket rack assembly  102  comprises a ticket rack  108 , a ticket biasing mechanism  110 , a ticket dispensing mechanism  112 , and a lock  114 . The ticket biasing mechanism  110  comprises a pusher unit  116  and a torsion spring  118  for driving the pusher unit. The ticket dispensing mechanism  112  comprises a dispensing lever  120 , a pivoting peg  120 A, a compression spring  122  and a ticket ejector  124 . 
         [0060]    The ticket rack  108  has a support platform  126  for supporting a pack of separate tickets (i.e. a stack of parallel disconnected tickets) that are stood on edge. The pusher  116  is driven by the torsion spring  118 , and biases against the back of the pack of tickets stood on the support platform  126  (i.e. ticket biasing mechanism  110  biases against the last ticket that would be dispensed from the pack), and slides along the platform  126  towards the ticket ejector  124 , as the tickets are successively dispensed from the pack. The front of the pack of tickets (i.e. the first ticket to be dispensed) is biased against the ticket ejector  124 . The dispensing lever  120  is pivotably mounted on the pivoting peg  120 A in a bracket  158  beneath the platform  126 , and is pivotably connected to the ticket ejector  124 . Between the pivotable mounting of the dispensing lever  120  and the ticket ejector  124 , the dispensing lever is biased away from the platform  126  by the compression spring  122 . The opposite end of the dispensing lever  120  from the ticket ejector  124  is provided with a depressible end  130 , which projects beyond the ticket rack  108 , so that it may be pressed down on by the retailer (operator) to perform a dispensing operation to dispense the first ticket. The lock  114  provides a moveable curtain-like wall that is shaped in correspondence with the depressible end  130 . 
         [0061]    The ticket housing  104  has a curved front wall  132  on the customer-facing side C for facing the customer. The front wall  132  is curved, and extends backwards towards the retailer operating side R, as it rises up from the ticket assembly rack  102 . A ticket dispensing slot  134  is provided at the edge between in the top face  136  of the housing  104  and the front wall  132 . 
         [0062]    The ticket housing  104  is detachably connected to the ticket rack assembly  102 , by first resiliently deformable clipping arms  138 , which are configured to engage in clipping windows  140  in the ticket rack  108 .  FIG. 3A  shows the ticket dispenser  100  with the ticket housing  104  detached to enable the ticket rack assembly  102  to be restocked with a pack of tickets (not shown). The ticket housing  104  is detached by pressing in the ends of the first clipping arms  138 , so that they become disengaged from the clipping windows  140 . 
         [0063]    The counter base  106  is configured for attachment to a retail counter. The ticket rack assembly  102  is detachably connected to the counter base  106 , by second resiliently deformable clipping arms  142 , which are also configured to engage in the clipping windows  140  in the ticket rack  108 .  FIG. 2B  shows the ticket dispenser  100  with the upper part of the ticket dispenser assembly  102  and  104  detached from the counter base  106 , enabling the upper part to be removed from the counter base and thus from the retail counter for secure storage. The ticket rack assembly  102  is detachable from the counter base  106  by pressing in the ends of the second clipping arms  142 , so that they become disengaged from the clipping windows  140 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 4  shows the internal arrangement of the ticket dispenser  100  in a cut-away view along a central plane extending between the retailer-facing R and customer-facing C sides of the dispenser.  FIG. 4  additionally shows a pack of separate tickets  200  loaded onto the support platform  126  of the ticket rack  108 . 
         [0065]    In use, each operation of the ticket dispensing mechanism  112  will successively dispense the first ticket  200 A from the ticket pack  200 . The first ticket  200 A is the ticket closest to the front wall  132 , on the customer-facing side C of the ticket dispenser  100 . The ticket that will be dispensed last from the pack  200  is referred to as the last ticket  200 Z. The last ticket  200 Z is the ticket that is furthest from the front wall  132 . The pusher unit  116  biases against the last ticket  200 Z towards the front ticket  200 A, to bias the pack  200  towards the front wall  132 . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 5A to 5D  show views of the ticket housing  104 . In the present embodiment, the ticket dispensing slot  134  is provided at the edge between the front wall  132  and the top face  136 , although it will be appreciated that it may be provided in an alternative location to which a ticket may be dispensed from the customer-facing side C of the pack of tickets  200 , e.g. the slot may be located in the front wall  132  of the ticket housing  104 . The inner surface  144  of the front wall  132  is shaped to lead the dispensing edge of a ticket to the dispensing slot  134 , as it is dispensed. The inner surface  144  is angled back over the ticket pack  200 , which enhances contact between the dispensed edge  202 B of the first ticket  200 A and the inner surface, as the first ticket is dispensed. Also, during dispensing, the first ticket  200 A may become curved in correspondence with the curvature of the inner surface  144  (e.g. the part of the first ticket adjacent the dispensing second edge  202 B may become curved), which may reduce buckling of the dispensing edge as the first ticket approaches the dispensing slot  134 . 
         [0067]    Further, the inner surface  144  of the front wall  132  has a gently concave curvature (at least the part of the inner surface proximate the dispensing slot  132 ), viewed from the side, which may further enhance contact with the dispensing second edge  202 B of the first ticket  200 A, and further reduce buckling of the dispensing second edge. The backwards angling of the inner surface of the front wall, and optionally the curvature of the inner surface, may particularly enhance the dispensing of thin, flexible tickets. 
         [0068]    In an alternative embodiment, the inner face of the front wall may be provided with ribs to guide the first ticket to the ticket dispensing slot. The running surfaces of the ribs, along which the dispensing ticket is guided, may be angled back over the ticket pack, and may have a gentle curvature. For example, the front wall may be flat with ribs projecting from the front wall, having a height (i.e. the amount by which they extend from the front wall) that increases towards the slot. 
         [0069]    The dispensing slot  134  is configured for use with tickets having a ticket thickness T in a chosen range (e.g. with a tolerance of ± 20 % to allow for manufacturing tolerances). The dispensing slot  134  has projections  146  that extend into the slot from the edge  148  of the slot adjacent the top face  136  of the housing. Accordingly, when only a single ticket  200 A approaches the dispensing slot  134 , with its dispensing edge sliding up the inner surface  144  of the front wall  132 , the dispensing edge will pass out through the dispensing slot without interacting with the projections  146 . However, if the second ticket  200 B in the pack should also become drawn towards the dispensing slot  134  by the movement of the first ticket  200 A, the minimum width of the slot will prevent the second ticket from passing out through the dispensing slot, e.g. the dispensing edge of the second ticket will engage with the projections  146 , thereby blocking the second ticket from being dispensed, as shown in  FIG. 5C-1 . A corresponding rebate  150  is provided in the opposite edge  152  of the dispensing slot, opposite each projection  146 , which enables the slot  134  to be more easily formed when the ticket housing  104  is manufactured by an injection moulding process. Projections  146  are absent from the central region of the dispensing slot  134 , which may facilitate the dispensing of a buckled ticket  200 A. The middle of the dispensing slot  134  is provided with a cut-out in each edge  148  and  152  to enable a customer to more easily grasp a dispensed ticket  200 A having a dispensing second edge  202 B that has passed only a short distance through the dispensing slot. Although the dispensing slot  134  is illustrated with a plurality of projections  146  in each end region of the slot, alternatively just a single projection may be provided in each end region of the slot. Although in the illustrated embodiment, the outermost two of the four projections  146  are each spaced apart from the respective end of the dispensing slot  134 , alternatively projections may be provided at the ends of the dispensing slot  134 . 
         [0070]      FIGS. 6A to 6D  illustrate various aspects of the dispensing mechanism  112 . The dispensing lever  120  has pivoting pegs  120 A on which the lever is pivotably mounted in support brackets  158  on the underside of the ticket rack  108 . The support brackets  158  have strengthening legs  160  that extend to rest on the counter base  106 , and enable the support brackets to withstand a larger force and to reduce distortion of the ticket platform  126 , during a dispensing operation. The dispensing lever  120  has a depressible end  130 , which the operator depresses D (i.e. presses towards the retail counter  300 , onto which the counter base  106  is mounted). A spring  122  engages with the ticket rack  108  and the dispensing lever  120 , and biases the lever into a position of readiness for dispensing, in which the depressible end  130  is raised, and returns the lever to this position after each ticket is dispensed. The dispensing lever  120  and the ticket ejector  124  are connected by a pivotable connection  162 , and in use, when the depressible end  130  is depressed D by an operator, the ticket ejector is raised (i.e. moved away from the counter base  106  and towards the dispensing slot  134 ), thereby raising just the first ticket  200 A, so that it is dispensed through the dispensing slot. 
         [0071]    The side of the ticket ejector  124  facing the pack of tickets  200  is provided with a lifting ledge  164  (i.e. a type of ticket edge engagement feature) for engaging with the only first ticket  200 A during a dispensing operation. The lifting ledge  164  is narrower than the thickness of the ticket  200 A, to prevent engagement of the ledge with the second ticket  200 B (e.g. in the case of tickets having a typical thickness of 0.6 to 0.7 mm, the ledge is no more than 0.5 mm wide). 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIGS. 6C and 6D , the side of the ticket ejector  124  facing the pack of tickets  200  is provided with grooves  166  parallel to the direction of travel of the ticket ejector during dispensing, and the ticket rack  108  is provided with teeth  168  that extend from the ticket support platform  126  into the grooves. As the ticket ejector  124  is moved during a dispensing operation, the teeth  168  of the ticket platform  126  slide within the grooves  166 . Accordingly, the inter-engagement of the teeth  168  in the grooves  166  prevents the possibility of a gap extending across the width of the ticket between the ticket ejector  124  and rack  108 , into which the first edge  202 A of a ticket  200 A could fall, which could otherwise result in the ticket dispensing mechanism  112  becoming jammed. Alternatively, the teeth may be provided on the ticket ejector and the grooves may be provided in the adjacent surface of the rack  108 . 
         [0073]    The ticket ejector  124  has a leading edge  170 , being the edge closest to the ticket dispensing slot  134 . The pack of tickets  200  is biased towards the front wall  132 , and pressing upon the ticket ejector  124 , and the leading edge  170  of the ticket ejector is maintained against or close to the inner surface  144  of the front wall  132 . The leading edge  170  of the ticket ejector  124  is separated from the inner surface  144  of the front wall  132  by less than the thickness T of a ticket  200 A. The leading edge  170  of the ticket ejector  124  has a bevelled shape, with a bevelled surface  170 A facing towards the ticket pack. Accordingly, if a customer should decline the first ticket  200 A after it has been fully or partially dispensed by the dispensing mechanism  112  into a raised position, and if the retailer should push the ticket back into the ticket housing  104 , the first edge  202 A of the ticket will slide back to the front of the ticket pack, and the ticket will be prevented from passing between the ticket ejector  124  and the front wall  132 , which could otherwise jam the ticket dispensing mechanism. Further, the bevelled edge  170 A will guide the first edge  202 A back into alignment with the rest of the ticket pack  200 , in contact the lifting edge  164 , in readiness for a further dispensing action. 
         [0074]      FIGS. 7A to 7B-1  show the lock  114  in an unlocked position, in which the dispensing mechanism  112  may be operated by depressing the depressible end  130 , and in which the housing  104  and/or ticket rack assembly  102  may be detached from the counter base  106  (which may be securely attached to a retail counter  300 ). In contrast,  FIG. 8A to 8B-1  show the lock  114  in a locked position, in which the dispensing mechanism  112  cannot be operated by depressing the depressible end  130 , and in which the housing  104  and/or rack assembly  102  cannot be detached from the counter base  106 , and so cannot be detached from the retail counter  300 ). 
         [0075]    The lock  114  comprises a curtain-like slideable wall  172 . In the unlocked position, the depressible end  130  may be depressed D to pass between the slideable wall  172  of the lock  114  and the ticket rack  108 , thereby operating the dispensing mechanism  112 , as explained above. To lock the dispensing mechanism  112 , the lock  114  is slid S towards the ticket rack  108 , under the depressible end  130 , thereby obstructing depression of the depressible end and operation of the dispensing mechanism. 
         [0076]    As described above, the ticket rack assembly  102  is detachably connected to the counter base  106 , by second resiliently deformable clipping arms  142 , which are configured to engage in the clipping windows  140  in the ticket rack  108 . The ticket rack assembly  102  is detachable from the counter base  106  by pressing in the ends of the second clipping arms  142 , so that the clipping arms resiliently deform and become disengaged from the clipping windows  140 . The lock  114  comprises a slideable locking member  174 , which extends between at least one of the second clipping arms  142  and a lock bracing bracket  176 , and the slideable locking member is configured to enable resilient deformation of the corresponding second clipping arm when in the unlocked position, but which obstructs resilient deformation of the corresponding second clipping arm when in the locked position. In particular, when in the locked position, the slideable locking member  174  is braced against the lock bracing bracket  176  to resist the deformation of the corresponding second clipping arm, if an attempt should be made to disengage the ticket rack assembly  102  from the corresponding clipping window  140 . 
         [0077]      FIGS. 7A to 8B-1  illustrate a two-function lock  114  that simultaneously (i) locks the dispensing mechanism and (ii) locks removal of the rack assembly and/or housing from a retail counter. Alternatively the lock may provide only one of the two functions. Further, the ticket dispenser may comprise two locks, each providing one of the two functions. 
         [0078]    The figures provided herein are schematic and not to scale. 
         [0079]    Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. 
         [0080]    Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 
         [0081]    The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.