Patent Description:
The typical scratch-off lottery tickets are delivered to retail establishments in the form of an interconnected strip in a fanfold or rolled configuration, wherein perforation lines define individual tickets. In this regard, the individual dispensing bins must be equipped with a mechanism for separating the tickets in a reliable and repeatable manner. Failure of the final ticket separation process can be costly. For example, if the dispenser does not separate a ticket exactly along the perforation, the ticket may be "unsellable" or information needed for verification can be separated from the ticket and lost.

In addition to achieving a reliable separation of the correct number of leading tickets, the dispensing bins should also prevent pulling of additional unintended or unauthorized tickets from the bin (sometimes referred to as "reeling" in the industry). Conventional electronic ticket dispensers generally use a motor-driven wheel/roller opposed by an idler wheel/roller, wherein the continuous strip of tickets is conveyed through the nip defined between these rollers. Ticket reeling can result, for example, from a vendor exerting an excessive pulling force on the leading ticket during the dispense cycle that exceeds the frictional engagement between the drive roller and the ticket, or may also be the result of a fraudulent attempt to pull on a leading ticket edge in an attempt to extract unauthorized tickets from the dispenser.

The above-cited issue has been addressed in the art in various ways. For example, <CIT> and <CIT> describe a ticket dispenser that utilizes a ratchet mechanism or gear to lock rotation of the internal dispenser drive wheel after a dispense cycle. <CIT> describes use of a brake wheel that engages the drive wheel and prevents rotation thereof after a dispense cycle.

<CIT> discloses a solution wherein the lottery ticket dispenser includes a motor geared to a drive roller, the motor and drive roller rotatable in a forward and reverse direction. An idler roller is disposed opposite to and defines a nip with the drive roller, wherein the lottery tickets are engaged by the drive roller and conveyed through the nip. A scanner is disposed within the housing at a location to detect a forward edge of a leading lottery ticket in the housing. A controller controls the drive mechanism such that after the leading lottery ticket is dispensed out the slot, power is supplied to the motor to generate a retarding reverse direction torque by the drive roller on the next adjacent lottery ticket for a predetermined time period without reversing direction of the drive roller. This retarding force does not cause the drive roller to reverse direction and draw the leading ticket back into to housing, but is sufficient to increase a "holding effect" at the nip on the adjacent lottery ticket and prevent reeling of tickets by a person grasping the leading ticket (that extends out of the slot) and attempting to pull additional tickets from the housing. A torque sensor configured with the drive roller or gearing senses a forward direction torque on the drive roller from an attempt to pull on the leading ticket extending from the slot. The torque sensor is in communication with the controller, which increases the retarding reverse direction torque as a function of the increasing forward direction torque during the predetermined time period. In other words, the controller offsets an increasing forward direction torque on the drive roller with an increasing retarding torque.

The solution proposed by U. `<NUM> patent is a significant improvement in the industry. However, it has been found that application of power to the drive motor to apply the retarding force for a prolonged period of time can overheat and possibly damage or degrade the life of the motor.

<CIT> discloses a lottery ticket dispensing unit and a separation module for use with a lottery ticket dispensing unit according to the preamble of the independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

The present invention is directed to an improved system and method for preventing ticket reeling in a lottery ticket dispenser to address at least the issue discussed above.

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 unit is provided for dispensing a continuous strip of lottery tickets, such as scratch-off lottery tickets well known in the industry. The dispensing unit includes at least one ticket compartment in which a stack or roll of the continuous trip of lottery tickets is contained for storage and dispensing. The dispensing unit includes a separation module in which a leading ticket of the continuous strip of lottery tickets is separated and dispensed from the unit, the separation module including a drive roller and an opposed idler roller with a nip defined therebetween, with a motor configured to drive the drive roller, for example via a gearing arrangement. 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.

In a certain embodiment, the separator device includes a head that is driven (directly or indirectly) by a motor in a linear path along the line. The line between adjacent tickets in the continuous strip of lottery tickets may be a perforation line, wherein the head is uniquely configured to engage and burst the perforation line as the head moves along the linear path.

In one embodiment, the ticket dispensing unit also includes a feed module adjacent to the ticket compartment, the feed module including a feed roller geared to a feed motor, wherein the feed roller engages and conveys the continuous strip of lottery tickets from the ticket compartment to the separation module.

The feed module may include an optical scanner disposed to detect a mark on a backside of the lottery tickets. The scanner and feed motor can be in communication with a feed controller that generates dispense cycle instructions based on detection of the mark that control the feed motor in coordination with the motor in the separation module to advance the leading ticket to the separation position.

In a unique embodiment, the separation module is detachably connected to the feed module.

In still another embodiment, the dispensing unit includes two of the ticket compartments arranged side-by side, and the separation module extends across the two tickets compartments.

The present invention also encompasses a lottery ticket bin having a bin housing, which can be variously configured. For example, the bin housing may include a bottom, back wall, sides, an open top, and an open front side. The bin housing may be configured for attachment to additional bin housings in a stacked configuration. The lottery ticket bin also includes an embodiment of the lottery ticket dispensing unit discussed above.

The present invention also encompasses a separation module as a stand-alone device that can be attached to an existing lottery ticket dispensing unit, for example attached to a feed module of the existing dispensing unit. This separation module may be in accordance with any of the embodiments discussed above.

In a particular embodiment, the separation module is configured to service two ticket compartments arranged side-by side in the lottery ticket dispensing bin, wherein the drive roller and the idler having a length so as to extend across the two tickets compartments.

The separation module may be provided with connectors for detachable connection of the separation module to the existing lottery ticket dispensing unit, for example to the feed module of such unit.

The present invention also encompasses a lottery ticket dispensing array that includes a plurality of the lottery ticket dispensing bins discussed above in a stacked configuration.

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:.

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.

<FIG> depict an embodiment of a lottery ticket dispensing unit <NUM> for dispensing a continuous strip <NUM> of interconnected lottery tickets <NUM> provided in a roll or fan-folded stack (depicted in <FIG>), such as a roll or stack of conventional scratch-off lottery tickets. The lottery tickets <NUM> are connected at a separation line, such as a perforation line, between adjacent tickets. Each lottery ticket <NUM> in the stack typically includes a machine-readable code printed on a front or back side thereof, such as an alphanumeric 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 <NUM>, and so forth. The use of such codes on lottery tickets <NUM> for various functions related to inventory, identification, verification, and security are well-known.

The dispensing unit <NUM> includes at least one ticket compartment <NUM> formed by a bottom and sides and may have an open top for easier insertion of the continuous strip <NUM> of lottery tickets therein. The ticket compartment <NUM> may have any manner of internal guide/retaining structure to aid in orienting and dispensing the stack of lottery tickets <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiments, the dispensing unit <NUM> includes two of the ticket compartments <NUM> separated by a wall <NUM> such that each dispensing unit <NUM> is configured to dispense multiple stacks of the same or different lottery tickets <NUM>. <FIG> provided a top view of the dispensing unit <NUM> with multiple side-by-side ticket compartments <NUM>.

The dispensing unit <NUM> includes a separation module <NUM> through which the continuous strip <NUM> of lottery tickets from the ticket compartment <NUM> is threaded and a leading lottery ticket <NUM> is separated and dispensed from the unit <NUM>. The separation module <NUM> may be integral (i.e., single piece construction) with the other components of the dispensing unit <NUM>. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the separation module <NUM> is detachably connected to the dispensing unit <NUM> via a feed module <NUM> (described in greater detail below), as depicted in <FIG>. With this configuration, the separation module <NUM> can be removed for maintenance or replaced without having to pull the rest of the dispensing unit <NUM> from a bin <NUM> (<FIG>) in which the dispensing unit <NUM> is inserted. In the embodiments with multiple ticket compartments <NUM>, the separation module <NUM> extends across all of the ticket compartments <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> depict an automatic electronic embodiment of the separation module <NUM> having a drive roller <NUM> and opposed idler roller <NUM>. A nip <NUM> is defined between the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> through which the strip <NUM> of lottery tickets <NUM> is conveyed, as seen in <FIG>. A first motor <NUM> drives the drive roller <NUM>, for example via a gear arrangement <NUM> or other suitable drive means. The motor <NUM> is controlled by a controller <NUM>, which may be provide on a circuit board <NUM> within the separation module <NUM>. Via the controller <NUM>, the motor <NUM> is switchable between a convey mode wherein the drive roller <NUM> engages and conveys the leading lottery ticket <NUM> through the nip <NUM> to a separation position (discussed below) and a brake mode wherein the motor <NUM> provides a reverse retarding force to the drive roller <NUM> thereby braking the drive roller <NUM> against an attempted reeling of the lottery tickets <NUM> from the dispensing unit <NUM>. This retarding force does not cause the drive roller <NUM> to reverse direction and draw the lead ticket <NUM> back into to separation module <NUM>, but is sufficient to generate a "holding effect" at the roller nip <NUM> on the adjacent lottery ticket <NUM> to prevent reeling of the continuous strip <NUM> of tickets by a person grasping the leading ticket <NUM> extending from a dispensing slot <NUM> (<FIG>) and attempting to pull additional tickets from the dispensing unit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, operation of the motor <NUM> by the controller <NUM> via electronic switching states is depicted. In the operational convey mode of the motor <NUM>, the sets of switches <NUM> are connected to the power contacts <NUM> for the motor windings <NUM>. In the operational brake mode of the motor <NUM>, power to the motor <NUM> is interrupted and the sets of switches <NUM> are connected to the shorting contacts <NUM> that internally short the windings <NUM>. In this brake mode, any rotation of the drive roller <NUM> from an attempted reeling of the lottery tickets essentially converts the motor <NUM> to a generator as long as the drive roller <NUM> rotates. The short-circuited windings <NUM>, however, create a load on the motor <NUM> (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 <NUM>. 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 <NUM> (in reverse polarity) at all times when the dispensing unit is "idle" (i.e., not dispensing a ticket). Power to the motor <NUM> is interrupted and the self-induced retarding (brake) force is only generated if there is a reeling attempt.

Referring particularly to <FIG>, the separation module <NUM> includes an automatic separator device <NUM> upstream of the drive roller <NUM> in a conveying direction of the lottery tickets <NUM> that separates the leading lottery ticket <NUM> from its adjacent lottery ticket. The drive roller <NUM> is driven to convey the leading ticket <NUM> to the separation position such that a line (e.g., a perforation line) between the leading ticket <NUM> and an adjacent ticket <NUM> is upstream of the drive roller <NUM> at a location to acted on by the separator device <NUM>. At this point in the dispense sequence, the drive roller <NUM> may be rotated slightly (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> of ticket advancement) and then braked while a feed roller <NUM> in the upstream feed module <NUM> is braked in order to longitudinally tension the lottery ticket <NUM> between the two sets of rollers prior to activation of the separator device <NUM>. This tension prevents the lottery tickets <NUM> from bowing while the separator device <NUM> advances along the line between the tickets. If the bowing is not prevented, the separator device <NUM> 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 <NUM> has been completely separated from the adjacent ticket, the driver roller <NUM> is again driven to eject the leading ticket from the dispensing unit <NUM> via the dispensing slot <NUM>.

In a unique embodiment, the separator device <NUM> includes a head <NUM> provided on a shuttle <NUM> that is driven in a linear path (indicated by the dashed arrow line in <FIG>) along the line between the adjacent tickets <NUM>. The head shuttle <NUM>/head <NUM> can be drive in various ways. In the illustrated example, a bi-directional drive mechanism <NUM> is provided for this purpose and includes a drive rod <NUM> having a length to extend across the one or more ticket compartments <NUM>. The drive rod <NUM> is driven by a second motor <NUM>, for example via a second gear arrangement <NUM> or other suitable drive means. The drive rod <NUM> includes a track <NUM> defined therein. The shuttle <NUM> has a member that engages and slides in the track <NUM>. The shuttle <NUM> is slidingly supported on a stationary guide <NUM> that extends along the drive rod <NUM>. Thus, rotation of the drive rod <NUM> results in the shuttle <NUM> (and head <NUM>) moving in a linear path (corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the drive rod <NUM>) adjacent to the drive roller <NUM>/idler roller <NUM>, this linear path corresponding to the location of the separation position for the line between adjacent lottery tickets <NUM>. The drive rod <NUM> and the linear path of the shuttle <NUM> extend across the multiple ticket compartments <NUM> so that the shuttle <NUM> and head <NUM> are able to separate the leading lottery ticket <NUM> from both of the ticket compartments <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an embodiment of the drive rod <NUM> wherein the track <NUM> is defined by a double-helix groove <NUM>. This type of double-helix groove <NUM> enables reverse direction (bi-directional) movement of the shuttle <NUM> along its linear path without reversing the rotational direction of the drive rod <NUM>. As the shuttle <NUM> moves in one direction and reaches an end of the drive rod <NUM>, it will automatically engage in the oppositely oriented track of the double-helix groove <NUM> and reverse direction while the drive rod <NUM> rotates in the same direction.

<FIG> depicts an alternate embodiment wherein the drive rod <NUM> includes a screw thread track <NUM> having a uni-directional pitch. With this configuration, the shuttle <NUM> engaged in the track <NUM> can only move in a single direction unless the rotational direction of the drive rod <NUM> is reversed.

It should thus be appreciated that the bi-directional drive mechanism <NUM> used to impart back-and-forth movement to the shuttle <NUM> can include any combination of a non-reversible motor <NUM>, a reversible motor <NUM>, a drive rod <NUM> with a helix-groove <NUM>, or drive rod <NUM> with a uni-directional thread.

The head <NUM> that is carried by the shuttle <NUM> may have various configurations. For example, the head <NUM> may be a static member mounted on the shuttle <NUM>, 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 <NUM> and the adjacent lottery ticket. In an embodiment wherein the line between the tickets <NUM> is a perforation line, the head <NUM> may be designed with a blunt engagement surface designed to essentially engage the line from below or above the surface of the tickets <NUM> to essentially burst the perforations as the head <NUM> moves along the linear path of the shuttle <NUM>. A particularly unique configuration of the head <NUM> is depicted in <FIG>, wherein the head <NUM> has an inclined leading edge <NUM> (inclined at an angle <NUM> relative to a horizontal line). This leading edge <NUM> has a lower leading portion that essentially engages the perforation line from below as the head <NUM> moves along its linear path and pushes the line up the face of the leading edge <NUM>. Continued linear movement of head <NUM> causes the upper portion of the leading edge <NUM> to burst through the perforations from below (or from above depending on location of the tickets <NUM> relative to the head <NUM>/shuttle <NUM>). Thus, separation of the tickets <NUM> 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 <NUM> has a length so as to ensure that the lower portion of the edge <NUM> engages below the line and the upper portion of the edge <NUM> extends through the line in the tickets even with a slight amount of bowing in the tickets as the shuttle <NUM> progresses along its linear path.

Other examples of a head <NUM> may be, for example, a cutting wheel or other type of cutting element that is movable relative to the shuttle <NUM>. Movement of the shuttle <NUM> may be used to also rotate or drive the head <NUM>, or the head <NUM> may have an independent drive.

In the depicted embodiments wherein the dispensing unit has side-by-side ticket compartments <NUM> and the shuttle <NUM> moves across both of the compartments, the head <NUM> may include oppositely disposed ones of the inclined leading edges <NUM> in a wing-like configuration, as seen in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In one embodiment, the second motor <NUM> that drives the rod <NUM> is a reversible motor. The shuttle <NUM> can be controlled such that after separating the leading lottery ticket <NUM> and reaching its end of travel along the rod <NUM> in one direction, the shuttle <NUM> reverses direction and returns to a rest location past the continuous strip <NUM> of the lottery tickets <NUM> (depicted by the position of the shuttle in <FIG> and <FIG>). In the embodiment wherein the track <NUM> is double-helix groove <NUM> (<FIG>), this reversal is accomplished without reversing rotation of the drive rod <NUM>. In the embodiment wherein the track <NUM> is a single direction screw thread <NUM> (<FIG>), this reversal can be accomplished by reversing rotation of the second motor <NUM> and drive rod <NUM>. Once at the rest location, the shuttle waits for a subsequent dispense command from the controller <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, if the next ticket dispense sequence is from the left-hand ticket compartment, the shuttle <NUM> must be driven to the left. In the double-helix groove <NUM> embodiment, this could be accomplished by a single-direction motor <NUM> rotating the drive rod <NUM> so that the shuttle <NUM> first moves completely to the right and automatically reverses direction at the right-hand end of the drive rod <NUM>. This process, however, will take unnecessary time and excess run time of the motor <NUM>. Thus, it may be desired that the motor <NUM> is reversible. With a reversible motor <NUM> and the shuttle <NUM> at its rest position, the motor <NUM> (and rotational direction of the drive rod <NUM>) can be immediately reversed causing the shuttle <NUM> to move immediately to the left.

In the embodiment wherein the drive rod <NUM> has the uni-directional screw thread <NUM>, the motor <NUM> is a reversible motor in order to move the shuttle <NUM> in both directions along the drive rod <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG> wherein the shuttle <NUM> is depicted at its rest position in front of the right-hand ticket compartment <NUM>, if the next ticket dispense sequence is for the right-hand ticket compartment, the shuttle <NUM> is first driven to a rest position at the left-hand ticket compartment <NUM> and waits there until the line between the leading lottery ticket <NUM> and adjacent lottery ticket is conveyed to the separation position. Then, the shuttle <NUM> 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 <NUM> along the drive rod <NUM>, one or more proximity sensors <NUM> (<FIG>) can be provided along the path of the shuttle <NUM> and in communication with the controller <NUM> (<FIG>). In the depicted embodiment, two such sensors <NUM> are provided directly on a circuit board <NUM> mounted below the drive rod <NUM>. The sensors <NUM> are located essentially at the two rest positions of the shuttle <NUM> in front of the ticket compartments <NUM>. Any conventional proximity sensor can be used for this purpose. The sensors <NUM> indicate the shuttle <NUM> has returned to its rest position after a separation and that the drive roller <NUM> can be rotated to eject the separated leading lotter ticket <NUM>.

The present disclosure encompasses the various embodiments of the separation module <NUM> described above as a stand-alone invention.

Referring again to <FIG>, the dispensing unit <NUM> can also include a feed module <NUM> operationally configured between the separation module <NUM> and the ticket compartment(s) <NUM>. The feed module <NUM> includes a feed roller <NUM> and opposed idler roller <NUM> with a nip therebetween. The feed roller <NUM> is driven by a feed motor <NUM> (e.g., via gears). The feed roller <NUM> engages and conveys the continuous strip <NUM> of lottery tickets <NUM> from the ticket compartment <NUM> and to the separation module <NUM>. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the separation module <NUM> is detachably connected to the feed module <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, connectors <NUM> (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 <NUM> (e.g., female members) provided at the front face of the feed module <NUM>, as seen in <FIG>. Any suitable detachable connection devices can be used for this purpose.

An optical scanner <NUM> (<FIG>) is disposed below or above the path of the lottery tickets <NUM> through the feed module <NUM> to detect a mark on the tickets <NUM>. The scanner <NUM> 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 <NUM>. The exact distance from the mark to the leading edge of each ticket is known. The scanner <NUM> is in communication with a feed controller <NUM> (<FIG>) and, based on detection and location of the mark and the known length of the tickets <NUM>, the controller <NUM> controls the run time of the feed motor <NUM>/feed roller <NUM> so that the line between the leading ticket <NUM> and the adjacent ticket is stopped at the separation position discussed above. The run time of the motor <NUM> 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 <NUM>.

In alternate embodiments, the scanner <NUM> may detect the perforation line between adjacent tickets or any other mark or physical characteristic of the lottery tickets <NUM> for purposes of control of the feed roller <NUM> as discussed above.

In an embodiment depicted in Fig. 7a, the scanner <NUM> also functions to detect the separated forward edge 15a of the lead lottery ticket 14a, thereby eliminating the need for a separate sensor <NUM>.

As discussed above, in the embodiment of the dispensing unit <NUM> wherein the separation module <NUM> operates in an automatic electronic mode, the drive roller <NUM> must be operated in coordination with the feed roller <NUM>. <FIG> diagrammatically depicts that the separation module controller <NUM> and the feed module controller <NUM> are in communication for this purpose. At certain times during the dispense sequence, the driver roller <NUM> and feed roller <NUM> will be driven in unison. During the tensioning of the lottery tickets <NUM> prior to separation discussed above, the driver roller <NUM> will be slightly rotated and then stopped while the feed roller <NUM> is braked. For ejection of the separated leading ticket <NUM>, the driver roller <NUM> will be driven while the feed roller <NUM> is braked. The controllers <NUM>, <NUM> ensure the proper coordination of their respective drive rollers <NUM>, <NUM>.

Although not depicted in the figures, in an alternate embodiment, the controllers <NUM>, <NUM> could be in communication with a common central controller that controls the various operations of the motors <NUM>, <NUM>.

The lottery ticket dispensing units <NUM> may be stand-alone operational units. In a particular embodiment, the units <NUM> are designed for insertion into an individual bin <NUM>. <FIG> depicts a plurality of the bins <NUM> connected together by any suitable means to form a stacked configuration <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the stacked configuration <NUM> includes two columns of the bins <NUM>. Each bin <NUM> has a housing that may include a bottom <NUM> and sides <NUM>. The front and top of the bin <NUM> is open. Thus, in the stacked configuration <NUM>, the bottom of one bin <NUM> encloses the open top of the bin <NUM> directly beneath it. The open front of the bin <NUM> allows for relatively easy insertion and removal of the dispensing unit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a dispensing unit <NUM> can be inserted into each bin <NUM> in the stacked configuration <NUM>. At this point, the bins <NUM> and dispensing units <NUM> can be considered as a lottery ticket array <NUM>, 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 <NUM> with associated dispensing unit <NUM> in accordance with any of the embodiments discussed above as a stand-alone invention.

The present disclosure also encompasses the lottery ticket array <NUM> having the stacked configuration <NUM> of bins <NUM> with associated dispensing units <NUM> as a stand-alone invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a lottery ticket dispensing system <NUM> is depicted wherein the lottery ticket array <NUM> is utilized in a self-serve dispensing cabinet. The cabinet includes a housing <NUM> having walls <NUM> and a door <NUM> that enclose an internal space in which the array <NUM> is inserted as a single unit. The array <NUM> formed from the stacked configuration <NUM> of individual bins <NUM> has opposite sides <NUM> formed by the aligned sides of the individual bins <NUM>. A detachable support system <NUM> is provided so that the array <NUM> can be easily inserted into and removed from the cabinet housing <NUM> as a unit. In the depicted embodiment, this support system <NUM> includes at least one first component <NUM> attached to each of the opposite sides <NUM> of the stacked configuration <NUM>, the first component <NUM> cooperating with a second component <NUM> of the detachable support system <NUM> provided on the inner side walls <NUM> of the cabinet housing <NUM>. The first component <NUM> may be a rail <NUM> that slidingly engages with a rail support or guide <NUM> that constitutes the second component <NUM>. Depending on the number of bins <NUM> and height of the array <NUM>, two or more of the first <NUM> and second <NUM> components can be provided for each side of the array <NUM>,as depicted in <FIG>.

The first component <NUM> may include a plate <NUM> that spans the sides of a plurality of the individual bins <NUM> within the stacked configuration <NUM>, wherein one or more of the rails <NUM> are provided on the plate <NUM>.

A quick-release lock <NUM> can be provide on each of the plates <NUM> to lock the array <NUM> in the cabinet housing <NUM>, such as a quarter-turn lock having an arm that engages behind an edge of the housing <NUM> in the locked position.

The support system <NUM> and single-unit array <NUM> 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 <NUM>.

In a particularly versatile embodiment of the lottery ticket dispensing system <NUM>, the lottery ticket array <NUM> has a first automatic operational mode when inserted into the cabinet housing <NUM> in which, for each of the bins <NUM> and respective dispensing unit <NUM>, the separation module <NUM> ("automatic separation module") automatically separates and ejects the leading ticket <NUM> from the continuous strip <NUM> of lottery tickets as described above. As is common with self-service dispensers in the industry, the front door <NUM> of the cabinet housing <NUM> includes a selection device that enables a purchaser to choose a particular lottery ticket <NUM> from the various different tickets provided in the plurality of bins <NUM>. Once payment is received, the individual bin <NUM> containing the selected lottery ticket <NUM> is activated and operates as described above. The separated leading lottery ticket is ejected out from the bin <NUM> via the dispensing slot <NUM> and can be discharged through a slot in the front door <NUM> of the cabinet or fall into a receptacle <NUM> within the interior of the cabinet housing <NUM>. The purchaser accesses the receptable <NUM> from the front of the cabinet housing <NUM> and retrieves their lottery ticket <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, they dispensing system <NUM> may a plurality of manual separation modules <NUM> that are detachably connectable to the feed modules <NUM> of the dispensing units <NUM> upon removal of the array <NUM> from the cabinet housing <NUM> and detachment of the automatic separation modules <NUM> from the feed modules <NUM>. It may be desired in certain situations that the array <NUM> also be used in a stand-alone manual mode, for example on or below a counter in a retail establishment. The manual separation modules <NUM> have the same pattern of connectors <NUM> and mate to the front of the feed modules <NUM> in the same manner as the automatic separation modules <NUM>. The manual separation module <NUM> essentially provides a structural front face for the dispensing unit <NUM> and includes a dispensing slot through which at least a portion of the leading lottery ticket <NUM> is conveyed. A store clerk or other person grasps the lottery ticket an pulls the ticket against a tear bar <NUM> that is provided either in the feed module <NUM> past (downstream) of the drive roller <NUM> (as seen in <FIG>) or provided in the manual separation module <NUM>. The feed module controller <NUM> controls rotation of the feed roller <NUM> so that the line (e.g., perforation line) between the leading lottery ticket <NUM> and the adjacent ticket is adjacent to the tear bar <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A lottery ticket dispensing unit (<NUM>) for dispensing a continuous strip (<NUM>) of lottery tickets (<NUM>), comprising:
at least one ticket compartment (<NUM>); and
a separation module (<NUM>) in which a leading ticket (<NUM>) of the continuous strip of lottery tickets (<NUM>) is separated and dispensed from the unit, the separation module (<NUM>) comprising:
a drive roller (<NUM>) and an opposed idler roller (<NUM>) with a nip (<NUM>) defined between the drive roller (<NUM>) and idler roller (<NUM>);
a motor (<NUM>) geared to the drive roller (<NUM>), the motor (<NUM>) switchable between a convey mode wherein the drive roller (<NUM>) engages and conveys the leading ticket (<NUM>) through the nip (<NUM>) to a separation position and a brake mode wherein the motor (<NUM>) provides a reverse retarding force to the drive roller (<NUM>) thereby braking the drive roller (<NUM>) against an attempted reeling of the lottery tickets (<NUM>) from the dispensing unit (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) operable to switch the motor (<NUM>) between the convey mode and the brake mode;
characterized in that the motor (<NUM>) and controller (<NUM>) are configured such that in the brake mode, power to the motor (<NUM>) is interrupted and windings (<NUM>) in the motor (<NUM>) are short-circuited, wherein rotation of the drive roller (<NUM>) from the attempted reeling of the lottery tickets (<NUM>) converts the motor (<NUM>) to a generator, the short-circuited windings (<NUM>) creating a load on the generator that produces the retarding force on the drive roller (<NUM>).