Patent ID: 8714552

Claim:
A ticket dispensing mechanism for dispensing a single associated ticket from a stack of associated tickets comprising: a first ticket engaging member for advancing the single associated ticket at a first rate of speed; a second ticket engaging member located downstream of the first ticket engaging member for advancing the single associated ticket at a second rate of speed which is greater than the first rate of speed; a third ticket engaging member located downstream of the second ticket engaging member for advancing the single associated ticket at a third rate of speed which is greater than the second rate of speed; wherein the associated ticket has length greater than a) the spacing between the first and second ticket engaging members and b) the spacing between the second and third ticket engaging members such that as the associated ticket advances through the ticket dispensing mechanism, the second ticket engaging member engages the associated ticket before the first ticket engaging member disengages the associated ticket and the third ticket engaging member engages the associated ticket before the second ticket engaging member disengages the associated ticket; and wherein the second ticket engaging member engages an associated ticket with a force greater than a force of engagement of the first and third ticket engaging members, whereby the speed of the associated ticket is determined by the second ticket engaging member when the associated ticket is engaged with the second ticket engaging member.