This invention relates to ticket dispensers. Tickets are usually supplied in the form of a fan fold pack containing a plurality of interconnected rickets which are joined along a perforated fold line. Such tickets are used in a number of different applications, including gambling applications where a purchaser uncovers concealed symbols printed randomly on individual tickets with a view to wining a prize.

Such tickets are usually purchased across the counter and are dispensed manually by the dealer by being retrieved from a stack displayed in a transparent contamer and torn by hand along the appropriate line of perforations separating the respective tickets. Other tickets are dispensed by check-out operators as a reward for large volume purchases as an incentive to customers. Unfortunately the secuπty of such tickets is minimal and theft of tickets is commonplace.

Another apparatus has been used for automatically dispensing tickets, for example in response to insertion of a coin or other form of currency into a coin or note acceptor. Ln that apparatus, a series of interconnected tickets are fed to a dispensing mechanism which, when actuated folds and severs the ticket to be dispensed from the remaining tickets along the line of perforations. The tickets are usually fed by a roller mechamsm along a fixed wall. A micro-switch is mounted on the wall and when actuated by contact of a ticket causes the feed rollers to stop rotation to diereby stop movement of the tickets at a position where the severing mechanism can operate.

As any damage caused to d e ticket, such as scratching or misplaced severing may invalidate the ticket the presently available mechanisms and controls required for trouble free operation are relatively complex and bulky, especially as there is a need for adapting die mechamsm for use with different size tickets. Typically the ticket feed is controlled by a micro-switch which is required to be moved from a fixed position suitable for one ticket length, at which the micro-switch is held by screws, and remounted in die correct new position according to die length of an alternate ticket size. This is a time consuming and awkward procedure.

A further disadvantage occurs where large tickets are used. When such tickets are folded by d e folding mechanism, they tend to be bent or otherwise

distorted dirough dieir engagement with the folding mechanism. Any distortion may damage the ticket and increases the probability that ticket dispensing will not occur reliably and efficiently.

The present invennon aims to overcome or alleviate at least one ofthe above disadvantages by providing an improved dispenser for tickets of the type which are joined through lines of perforations or weakening. The present invention aims in a further preferred aspect to provide a dispenser which enables die ticket to be dispensed to be accurately positioned prior to dispensing.

The present invention in one aspect thus provides ticket dispensing apparatus for dispensing rickets from a series of tickets joined by lmes of perforaϋon or weakening, said apparatus lncluding:- severing means for severing the tickets along a line of perforations or weakening; a dispensing wall along which tickets to be dispensed are fed past said severing means; positioning means for positioning the leading ticket fed past said severing means in a dispensing position at which the line of perforations or weakening along which it is connected to the remaining tickets is operatively aligned wit the severing means; holding means for holding the leading ticket against the dispensing wall during movement beyond said severing means to said dispensing position, and folding means for folding die ticket to be dispensed along the line of perforanons or weakening operatively aligned with said severing means.

Preferably the folding means folds each ticket fed past the severing means, over the severing means towards an overlying relationship with the adjoining ticket so as to provide adjacent ticket faces at opposite sides of die severing means which converge towards die line of perforations or weakening and beyond which the severing means is moved to sever the tickets.

The seveπng means may be a sharp blade for cutting the tickets from one another but preferably die severing means is adapted to rupture die tickets along the

line of perforations For this purpose it is also preferred diat the folded ticket and the adjacent ticket be positively clamped in dieir converging posinons duπng die seveπng operation Separate clamping means may be provided for each ticket but preferably die foldmg means is in the form of a bar or other member which extends transversely of the tickets and which is pivotally supported for movement to a clamped posinon at which die converging tickets are clamped agamst the dispensmg wall by die foldmg means

In die preferred form the folding bar pivots to an position at which it clamps against a feed roller engaged witii die overlaid ticket whereby bom the overlying ticket and die overlaid ticket are clamped to the feed roller Suitably the foldmg bar is supported by a pair of pivotally mounted end arms which may be pivoted to cause the bar or member to engage the ticket and fold same.

The holding means which holds the ticket agamst the dispensmg wall duπng feedmg may be a flap coupled to the end arms so as to move pivotally away from the dispensmg wall so as to rri nimise its obstruction to die foldmg movement of die ticket to be dispensed For this purpose the hoi dmg means could mclude an arm member adapted to be engaged by a rotatable cam-ldce device upon actuation of die foldmg means so as to causes the flap means to lift upwardly away from the dispensmg wall so that the ticket does not contact or substantially contact the flap means duπng foldmg

Preferably however me holding means compπses a relatively lightweight flap biased by a magnet, such as a permanent magnet or an electro magnet, for movement towards the dispensmg wall but freely moveably away dierefrom after the magnetic field has been interrupted by die presence of die ticket between the dispensmg wall and die lightweight flap. It is also preferred that the flap provides a lead-m surface extending towards die dispensmg wall so that the leadmg end of me ticket to be dispensed is captured by die lead-m surface and forced towards the dispensing wall when die flap bias towards me dispensmg wall is greatest.

It is also preferred diat the feed control mcludes control means for controlling the feed dπve for a preselected feed The preselected feed may be a feed

corresponding to the lengdi of die ticket being dispensed but preferably die control means is associated widi a position switch, which may be a micro switch or an opto sensor, sensitive to the position of die leading end of die ticket being dispensed for estabhshing a starting point or datum for the preselected feed. Thus any error which may occur dirough slippage in me feeding process may be rninimised by positioning the position switch, and tiius setting the commencement of the preselected feed, adjacent me end of die feed path.

The feed means for feeding tickets along die dispensing wall preferably comprises opposed resilient rollers cooperating through the dispensing wall and adapted to engage die ticket. The drive means for the rollers preferably comprises a controllable drive motor which may accurately position the tickets in a correct attitude for subsequent folding. Preferably the drive motor comprises a stepper motor.

Suitably the position switch is disposed adjacent the holding means so diat the position of the leading end of the ticket is monitored at a portion of the ticket which is maintained in contact with the dispensing wall. This will also serve to minimise measuring errors due to deflection ofthe ticket from its straight ahead path or distortion of the ticket during dispensmg operations. Preferably the holding means is disposed in me centre of the travel path ofthe rickets. It is further preferred that die dispensing wall include a central portion is in the form of a tongue which terminates at a gap in the dispensing wall and dirough which the folding means extends for engagement widi and for folding the tickets along die adjacent line of perforations. Suitably die tongue is substantially coplanar with the dispensing wall and provides a guide for movement of a severing blade of the severing means towards and beyond the line of perforations along which the tickets are to be severed.

The severing blade extends in spaced relationship with die tongue whereby die interconnected tickets may be fed between the severing blade and die dispensing wall be retained for folding along die line of perforations or weakening about the severing blade. Preferably the severing blade provides progressive severinc ofthe

tickets along the line of perforations or weakening and for this purpose it includes opposed inclined blade portions which make first severing contact with the tickets adjacent dieir opposite edges and progressively severs the tickets towards the centre of die tickets. It is also preferred that the feed means, die folding means and die severing means are each independendy driven by a separate motor controlled from a master controller which may be programmed to suit die operating requirements.

The ticket dispensing apparatus defined above is adapted to dispense individual tickets. However if desired die positioning means and feed means could be arranged to dispense a plurahty of interconnected tickets. Accordingly in anotiier aspect this invention resides broadly in ticket dispensing apparatus for dispensing tickets from a series of tickets joined by lines of perforation or weakening, said apparatus including:- severing means for severing the tickets along a line of perforations or weakening; a dispensing wall along which tickets to be dispensed are fed past said severing means; positioning means for operatively positioning a line of perforations or weakening with said severing means, and folding means for folding die last ticket moved past the severing means along me line of perforations or weakening operatively aligned widi said severing means to an overlying relationship with die ticket adjoining along said aligned line of perforations or weakening so as to provide adjacent ticket faces at opposite sides of me severing means which converge towards die line of perforations or weakening and beyond which die severing means is moved to sever the tickets.

The variations described above in relation to severing means, dispensing wall and folding means may also be applied to die multiple ticket dispensing apparatus defined above.

In yet another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of dispensing tickets including:-

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WO 97/15030

feeding tickets joined by lines of perforation or weakening past severing means for severing the tickets along a line of perforations or weakening; positioning die leading ticket fed past said severing means in a dispensmg position at which the line of perforations or weakening, along which it is connected to die remaining tickets, is operatively aligned widi die severing means; folding the ticket to be dispensed along die line of perforations or weakening operatively aligned widi said severing means thereabout until die folded ticket moves to an overlying relationship widi die adjoining ticket so as to provide adjacent ticket faces at opposite sides of me severing means which converge towards die line of perforations, and moving the severing means beyond die fold line to sever die ticket to be dispensed from the remaining tickets.

Preferably die tickets are fed between a severing blade of die severing means and-a dispensing wall and are folded by a folding mechanism which moves from a position at me opposite side of me dispensing wall to die severing blade to a position at die same side as die dispensing blade. It is also preferred that die folding means be moved to a position at which it captures the folded ticket and die adjacent ticket and fixedly holds tiiese tickets during die severing operation.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to die accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of die invention and wherein:-

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective view dispensing apparatus according to die present mvention;

Fig. 2 illustrates in sectional view die apparatus of Fig. 1 prior to dispensmg of a ticket; and

Fig. 3 illustrates the apparatus of Fig. 1 during die folding action;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a further embodiment of die invention;

Figs. 5 to 8 illustrate side views of die embodiment of Fig. 4 during successive dispensing operations, and Fig. 9 is a front view corresponding to Fig. 5 and illustrating die cooperation

between the severing blade and die ticket fold line when operatively aligned.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to me embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, there is illustrated a dispensing apparatus 10 including a frame 1 1 which supports a feed roller assembly 12 which is adapted to engage a series of tickets 13 which are joined dirough lines of perforations 14. The tickets 13 are arranged to be fed between an upright dispensing wall 15 and a hingedly mounted flap 16 which is supported by pivot mounts 17 at die upper end of the wall 15 which are offset from the plane of me flap 16. The flap 16 is mus biased by gravity towards die wall 15 so as to hold a ticket 13 tiierebetween.

A ticket folding mechanism 18 is provided for folding tickets 13 about their fold lines 14. In this embodiment the ticket folding mechanism IS includes a bar or rod 19 extending transversely of the rickets 13 and supported at each end by respective arms 20 which are pivotally mounted at 21 to die frame 11. The arms 20 are also joined dirough a transverse bar 22 and are adapted to be pivoted about the pivots 21 by a motor 23 and crank 24 driven by the motor 23 through a link 25.

To cause movement of the flap 16 to release a ticket 13 being folded, an actuating mechanism 25 is provided which includes a pivotally mounted cam 26 pivotally connected via a link 27 to die bar 22. A tension spring 28 is also provided between me bar 22 and pivot axis 29 of die cam 26 which simply anchors the spring 28 to die frame 11. The flap 16 includes a rearwardly directed actuating member 30 which is rigid widi die flap 16 and which is adapted to be engaged by the cam 26 to effect movement of me member 16 as described further below.

The motor 23 is also arranged to actuate a cutting mechanism 3 1 in the form of a guillotine blade 31' which is connected via a link 32 and lost motion connection 33 to die crank 24. The cutting mechanism 31 is supported for vertical sliding movement so as to be moveable upwardly to effect cutting of me ticket.

Both the wall 15 and flap 16 are provided with aligned vertical slots 34 to receive the actuating member 35 of a limit switch 36. The switch 36 is supported m a block 37 which has a threaded opening 38 dierein to receive a threaded stud 39

which is supported for rotational movement and which may be actuated by a knob 40 at die upper end ofthe frame 1 1. Rotation of the knob 40 in opposite directions will cause vertical movement of the block 37 and tiius limit switch 36 in opposite directions and movement of die actuating member 35 along the slots 34 The rollers 12 are arranged to be driven by a stepper motor 41 bemg coupled thereto dirough a tootiied drive belt and pulley arrangement 42 shown m dotted outiine m Fig. 2. The rollers 12 co-operate with an upright wall to effect feeding of the tickets 13 and may also be mounted so as to be movable away from die wall to permit loading of tickets 13 into the dispenser 10. In use, when tickets 13 are loaded mto me dispenser 10, die limit switch 36 is adjusted by rotation of die knob 40, to suit the length of ticket 13 bemg dispensed. The switch 36 is positioned such as to be actuated when contacted by the line of perforations. The control circuit is also programmed to cause actuation of the stepper motor 41 which accurately positions the ticket 13 for severing. When a valid com or note is detected by die com or note acceptor mechamsm, the motor 23 is actuated to rotate die crank 24 as shown in Fig. 3. This motion is assisted by me tension spnng 28 and will cause die folding mechanism 18 to be actuated and die arms 20 to be pivoted anti-clockwise, such that die folding bar 19 engages and folds the ticket 13 between the flap 16 and wall 15 outwardly about the line of perforations 14.

At die same time, the link 27 causes anti-clockwise movement of die cam 26 which will contact die flap actuating member 30 and cause die member 16 to pivot upwardly and away from the wall 15 as shown in Fig. 3. The ticket 13 is not dierefore forced against the wall 16 as m the pnor art. Further rotation of the crank 24 will cause actuation of die severing mechanism 31 which will be moved upwardly to sever a ticket 13 along the perforation line 14 to free die ticket 13 for dispensing.

The further rotation of die crank 24 will also cause further pivotal movement of the arms 20 and d e cam 26 so mat die flap 16 will be held open during the seveπng operation. In addition die ticket being severed will be folded further down

so that the ticket to be dispensed and the adjoining ticket converge to their joining line of perforations about the guillotine blade 31'. The mechanism men returns to its position of Fig. 2 where the next ticket 13 may be fed by die rollers 12 between die member 16 and wall 15 for dispensing as descπbed above. The use of die stepper motor 41 therefore allows the positions of the tickets

13 to be severed, to be accurately controlled by means of die control circuit which preferably includes a microprocessor. The limit switch 36 which may comprise a mechanical or odier form of limit switch, such as an optical limit switch prevents the ticket 13 moving beyond a desired position and also allows for easy adjustment of me apparatus 10 to suit varymg ticket sizes. The embodiment of Fig. 4 differs from e above described embodiment in die use of holding means for holding the ticket to be dispensed against die dispensing wall which is not motor driven, the use of separate drive motors for performing the feed, severing and folding functions and in relation to die feed for die interconnected tickets. Otherwise, the operation of die further embodiment closely resembles die operation of the above described embodiment.

The dispensing apparatus 50 illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9 includes a frame 51 comprised of a pair of opposed side wall members 52 interconnected by a base wall 53 and a front or dispensing wall assembly 54. As in the earlier embodiment, die dispensing wall assembly 54 is provided widi an upstanding tongue 55 formed as an extension of die lower wall portion 57 which is bolted to die side walls 52. A shallow N-shaped severing blade 60 extends across me tongue 55 and is supported diereon by a backing plate 61 connected to die severing blade 60 dirough side guide bearings 62 which slide along die edges of die tongue 55 such diat die severing blade 60 may move reciprocally along the tongue and in spaced relationship tiierewith. This spaced relationship enables die tickets to be fed along die dispensing wall between it and die severing blade 60.

A separate drive motor 63 supported on die base wall 53 and providing an offset drive pin output 64 is connected to die seveπng blade dirough a link 65 extending between the offset drive pin 64 and a pivot connection 66 on d e backing

plate 61 to which die blade 60 is interconnected.

A further motor 70, also supported on die base wall 53, is adapted to oscillate die respective arms 71 which support the folding bar 72 dierebetween. The folding bar 72 is maintained in a retracted attitude, as shown in Fig. 4, behind die front face of die dispensing wall 54 and actuated when required to pivot outwardly beyond die dispensing wall 54 to fold die ticket to be dispensed about its junction line 68 widi die adjacent lower ticket.

The folding bar 72 is provided widi a central resilient collar portion 73 and as can be seen in die drawings it is able to pivot outwardly beyond die upper edge 56 of die tongue 55. During tiiis action die arms 71 move within die open spaces 74 formed between the tongue 55 and die side walls 52.

A further motor 80 is connected by an external toothed belt drive 81 to die innermost one of a pair of resilient feed roller assemblies 83 and 84 which co¬ operate dirough respective apertures 85, 86 and 87 formed in die base of die tongue 55, whereby they may feed the interconnected tickets dirough die gap between the severing blade 60 and die tongue 55.

For this purpose die outer feed roller assembly 84 is supported slidably in guide slots 88 and is urged by springs 68 into engagement with the driven roller assembly 83. It will be seen diat die interconnected tickets are fed between die feed rollers

83 and 84 from a fan fold stack 86 supported at die rear of die frame 51 via guide rollers 87, 88 and 89 which guide die tickets beneatii die frame 51 and up to die feed rollers 83 and 84.

The motors 70 and 80 are stepper motors so at tiieir operation may be accurately controlled by an associated programmable microprocessor. The control for the feed motor 80 includes an optical switch 90 associated widi a flag member 91 which extends dirough a slot 94 in an upper continuation 58 of die dispensing wall. The flag member 91 is adapted to be contacted by die upper edge of die leading ticket as it is fed beyond die severing blade to a position at which its lower junction line is operatively aligned widi die severing blade 60. Operative alignment

occurs when the outer ends of the junction line of perforations 68 coincides with the respective opposed edges of die inclined blade edges 67 as illustrated in Fig. 10.

The ticket to be severed is fed upwardly by the feed rollers 84 between the blade 60 and the dispensmg wall 54 until the upper edge of the ticket comes into contact with the curved lower face 95 of lightweight guide members 96 which are pivotally mounted to the side walls 52 through a transverse mounting bar 97. The guide members 96 are provided with an embedded permanent magnet arranged to attract the lower portion of the guide means 96 towards the upper continuation 58 of die dispensing wall which is formed from an appropriate steel for this purpose. This arrangement is provided so that the force required to pivot the guide members 96 away from tiie wall 58 is greater than the force which is exerted by the advancing ticket when contacting an outer portion of die guide face 95. Thus the upper edge of ticket is deflected back towards the guide wall by the curved lower face 95 whereafter further feeding of die leading ticket wedges the ticket between the wall and guide means 96 so as to substantially reduce the magnetic attraction of the guide members 96 to die wall 58. Thus during folding operations, the guide members 96, being formed of lightweight material and now having little magnetic attraction to the wall 58 are readily pivoted away from the wall by the ticket to be dispensed as it is forced outwardly by the folding bar 72. As the lower part of the ticket is restrained behind the severing blade 60 the outward force causes folding of me ticket about die fold line of perforations which is coincident widi me blade edges 67 as illustrated in Fig. 10.

Thus the guide members 96 are able to hold a ticket against the dispensing wall 54 during its movement beyond die severing blade 60 so that the leading end 99 ofthe ticket to be dispensed will always contact die pivotable flag member 91 at the same position and provide accurate triggering of the opto sensor 90 which zeros the stepper motor count which can be adjusted accurately through the controlling microprocessor so that the feed is stopped after a selected number of steps of the motor 80 is counted. As diis controlled additional feed past die triggering of the opto sensor will

represent a minimal additional movement of the leading edge it is possible by this method to accurately position the ticket or adjust die apparatus for different length tickets and widiout any feed enor being cumulative, coarse adjustment being provided by die position of the opto sensor and fine adjustment being provided by die minimal additional operation ofthe stepper motor 80.

Referring specifically to the folding sequence illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9 it will be seen diat after the leading ticket has been stopped in a position at which its lower fold line is operatively aligned widi the severing blade 60, die motor 70 is actuated to cause die arms 71 to pivot and carry die folding bar 72 outwardly beyond die front face of the dispensmg wall 54. This action, as shown in Fig. 6, forces die upper edge 99 of die leading ticket outwardly by folding the ticket about die line of perforations 68.

Continued pivoting of the arms 71 folds die ticket over about die severing blade 60 until the ticket to be dispensed is clamped between the resilient collar 73 and die resilient drive roller 84 while die remaining ticket is clamped between die drive rollers 83 and 84, the drive motor 80 being locked for this purpose. In this position, die tickets are captured in an overlying relationship widi tiieir adjacent faces 92 and 93 at opposite sides of die severing blade 60 widi die captured tickets converging towards die line of perforations 68. The motor 63 is then operated to force die severing blade beyond die line of perforations 68 causing separation of die ticket to be dispensed from die adjacent ticket by rupturing the line of perforations 68 progressively, commencing at its outer edges and terminating at the centre tiiereof.

The motor 70 is then reversed to retract die arms 71 to their initial starting position leaving the severed ticket free to fall away for dispensing.

The apparatus 10 is controlled by a programmable controller circuit and is also associated usually with a coin acceptor

The dispensing apparatus 10 or 50 is controlled by a programmable controller circuit and is also usually associated widi a coin acceptor mechanism and/or a note acceptor mechanism but it may manually actuated in response to a purchase order.

The dispenser 10 is also usually located in a sealed and secure housmg and tickets 13 dispensed arranged to be delivered dirough a slot or into an alternative ticket delivery device.

The dispensers 10 and 50 are compact and simple and are adapted to dispense tickets reliably and widiout causing damage to die tickets of a nature which would invalidate the ticket. In addition tiiey may be readily adjusted to suit different ticket lengths and will accept a wide range of tickets widiout adjustment, all tickets being constrained to travel centrally along the dispensing wall.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations diereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in die art are deemed to fall witiiin the broad scope and ambit ofthe invention as is defined in the appended claims.