Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-29
2004-03-30
Tran, Khoi H. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S225000, C273S139000, C283S903000, C463S017000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06714838
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a method of dispensing lottery tickets, to an apparatus for dispensing tickets and to an apparatus including an assembly of the tickets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ticket vending machines for example those manufactured by Interlott Technologies Inc of Cincinnati, Ohio and American Games Inc. (now Pollard Games Inc.) of Council Bluffs, Iowa generally include an exterior housing which contains and secures the tickets and payment receptacle and which is accessible by customers for actuating switches on the housing for dispensing selected lottery tickets.
The lottery tickets are contained within separate containers within the housing each of which has a dispensing unit operable to dispense a ticket from a selected container in response to the actuation of the switches by the customer.
The control of the dispensing is effected by a control unit within the housing which is responsive to the actuation of the switches by the customers and responsive to the receipt of payment from the customers for dispensing the tickets.
Instant win lottery tickets can be provided either as scratch-off tickets or as pull tab (otherwise known as break-open) tickets. While the two above types of tickets are different in many respects both in regard to the manner of manufacture and in regard to methods of validation and control, the present invention is intended to be directed to both types of lottery tickets and the term “lottery ticket” as used herein is intended to cover both types and other types of lottery tickets which require dispensing in the same or similar manner as the above types.
Generally lottery tickets of the scratch off type are manufactured in a continuous strip which is then fan-folded for convenient supply. Generally break open type tickets are manufactured in individual ticket pieces which are then formed into a stack and dispensed one at a time from the bottom of the stack.
A machine for dispensing scratch off type tickets in fan folded form is manufactured by Interlott and has been available for many years. A machine for dispensing break open type tickets in stacked form also has been available for many years from American Games Inc and has been sold under the model PTVM. The construction, arrangement and operation of these models is well known to one skilled in the art and is incorporated herein by reference.
In addition a specific arrangement of dispensing arrangement proposed for use in a dispenser for the fan folded scratch off tickets is shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/873,811 filed Jun. 4, 2001 by many of the inventors herein and which is commonly owned with this application. This dispensing arrangement provides an arrangement for feeding an upper end of the strip of tickets to a feed system which acts to burst the perforations between each ticket and the next as each ticket is dispensed in turn. The construction and arrangement of this dispensing device is incorporated herein by reference.
The dispensing machines are generally maintained on the premises of a retailer so that the retailer is charged with the responsibility of filling the containers as necessary to maintain a continuous supply without shortages which would potentially reduce sales. It is necessary therefore for the containers to be refilled on a periodic basis, either shortly after a container has become empty or in order to anticipate the container becoming empty. The service person therefore is required to check the inventory of a container and to top up the supply within each container which may be empty or approaching empty.
The apparatus includes a control unit which monitors the inventory and controls the dispensing of the tickets in response to the manual actuation of the switches by the customers and in response to the submission of suitable payment by the customers.
Furthermore the control unit controls the operation of the dispensing unit of each container so as to forward the ticket to be dispensed to the required dispensing location. In regard to the scratch off type tickets which are generally supplied in a continuous strip, it is generally desirable to effect a bursting of the perforations between each ticket and the next so as to allow an individual ticket to be dispensed into a chute. This avoids any possibility of a customer improperly tearing a ticket or being able to pull an extended number of tickets from the supply. In order to effect the bursting action, it is necessary for the dispensing unit to have information concerning the length of the ticket from its leading edge at the previous perforation line to the trailing edge at the next perforation line so as to move the perforation line to the bursting position and so as to dispense the ticket. In regard to the break open type tickets which are conventionally supplied in individual ticket form, it is also necessary for the control unit to have information concerning the length of the ticket in order to ensure that the ticket is properly dispensed.
The marketing of lottery ticket involves generating attractive tickets of different game types to successfully convince the customer to purchase the particular game. For this purpose, different dimensions of tickets are manufactured including different widths and particularly different lengths so that tickets commonly vary in length from 2.0 inches up to 8.0 inches with many different lengths in between. The design of the ticket does not wish to be restricted to particular lengths since this could interfere with maximizing the attractiveness of the graphics on the ticket while minimizing the cost of the ticket.
In addition it is conventional to supply to the customers a selection of tickets of different prices so the customer may choose particular tickets not only based upon the attractiveness of the game but also upon the amount of money which the customer chooses to pay.
Yet further in view of the different dimensions of the tickets, the number of tickets supplied in a particular assembly or “book” of the tickets will vary widely.
The different games are identified by an individual game number so that each game can be quickly distinguished from the next by the lottery organization controlling the sale of the tickets.
In order to provide the customer with an appealing array of tickets from which to purchase, the dispensing machine generally although not necessarily includes a number of containers which can vary depending upon the particular size of dispensing machine required for example from 12 dispensing containers up to 24 dispensing containers. Each container generally therefore will be filled with a different game for selection by the customers. Generally the game selection remains constant so that it is necessary only for the service person to maintain the containers properly filled by adding into each container a fresh supply of the tickets associated with that container. However in addition it also necessary on occasion to change the game associated with a respective container when older games are cancelled and new games are brought in to replace those older games.
It is necessary for the control unit, for each container, to have input into the memory thereof information relating to the game including the game number, the price of the ticket, the total number of tickets in an assembly or book of the ticket and the length of the tickets between the perforation lines.
At the present time, the information relating to the above items is input into the control unit by the service person or store clerk using a keypad. Thus the service person must enter the numerical price of each of the items set forth above when changing the game. Also when adding tickets to the supply, it is necessary for the service person to ensure that the proper tickets are placed within the proper respective container so that the above prices are proper for the tickets within the container and must also enter into the control unit the number of tickets added.
It will be appreciated that the service person in the retail location is faced with between 12 and 24 different con
Childers Bennie D.
Hargrave Jack F.
Johnson Martin E.
Poffenbarger Terry L.
Pollard Douglas
Battison Adrian D.
Dupuis Ryan W.
Pollard Banknote Limited
Tran Khoi H.
Williams Michael R.
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