US4716799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ticket dispensing machine and method
Assignee: SYNTECH INTERNATIONAL Inc
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Filing: 1986-08-12
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Granted: 1988-01-05
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Expires: 2006-08-12
Abstract
Abstract An automatic ticket dispensing machine and a method for operating it to automatically adjust itself to the size of tickets being dispensed. A strip of tickets is fed forward with an advancing mechanism past an optical sensor which detects the perforations between tickets. The optical sensor is coupled to a controller which controls the advancing mechanism. The controller determines the length of the ticket by monitoring the distance the tickets are advanced between detections of perforations. In response to a request for a ticket, the controller advances the ticket strip by a distance corresponding to the predetermined ticket length of output.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Hartmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:43
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B3/00; G07B3/02; B; B26; B26D; B26D5/00; B26D5/20; B26D5/30; B26D5/32; G07B1/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0524; Y10T83/0538; Y10T83/444; Y10T83/4458; Y10T83/446; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/531; Y10T83/533; Y10T83/536; Y10T83/54; Y10T83/541; Y10T83/543
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising the steps of: advancing said strip of tickets past an optical sensor; sensing a plurality of perforations with said optical sensor; measuring the distance said strip of tickets is advanced between sensed perforations; calculating an average ticket length from the measured distances between perforations; indicating a desired number of tickets to be issued; and advancing said strip of tickets a distance equal to said average ticket length multiplied by said desired number of tickets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising the steps of: advancing said strip of tickets past an optical sensor; sensing a plurality of perforations with said optical sensor; measuring the distance said strip of tickets is advanced between sensed perforations; calculating an average ticket length from the measured distances between perforations; indicating a desired number of tickets to be issued; and advancing said strip of tickets a distance equal to said average ticket length multiplied by said desired number of tickets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: sensing a reflection off said strip of tickets at an output for said tickets with a second optical sensor; calculating a distance from said first mentioned optical sensor to said second optical sensor; and retracting said strip of tickets to a position before said second optical sensor after calculating said average ticket length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of: providing a cutting mechanism before said second optical sensor; subtracting a distance from said cutting mechanism to said second optical sensor from said distance from said first optical sensor to said second optical sensor; retracting said strip of tickets to a position behind said cutting mechanism after calculating said average ticket length; and cutting said strip of tickets after advancing said strip of tickets a distance equal to said average ticket length multiplied by said desired number of tickets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said distance measuring step comprises counting a number of pulses provided to a stepper motor for advancing said strip of tickets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of calculating an average ticket length further includes the steps of: measuring an average length of said perforations; and adding half of said average perforation length to said average ticket length.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising: means for advancing said strip of tickets to an output area; an optical sensor for detecting perforations between tickets; input means for requesting the output of one or more tickets; and control means for calculating a ticket length from a signal from said optical sensor and providing a drive signal to said advancing means to advance said strip of tickets a distance proportional to said ticket length multiplied by a number of requested tickets indicated by said input means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising: means for advancing said strip of tickets to an output area; an optical sensor for detecting perforations between tickets; input means for requesting the output of one or more tickets; and control means for calculating a ticket length from a signal from said optical sensor and providing a drive signal to said advancing means to advance said strip of tickets a distance proportional to said ticket length multiplied by a number of requested tickets indicated by said input means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising cutting means, responsive to a cutting signal from said control means, for severing a perforated junction between two tickets of said strip of tickets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cutting means comprises a rotary cutter and a fixed blade disposed on opposite sides of a path for said strip of tickets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a two pole stepper motor coupled to said rotary cutter for driving said cutter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an optical output sensor mounted proximate said cutting means for detecting reflections off said strip of tickets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said advancing means comprises at least first and second pinch rollers disposed on opposite sides of said ticket strip, said first roller being driven by a motor and said second roller being tensioned by a spring against said first roller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said motor is a two pole stepper motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said optical sensor comprises a row of light-emitting diodes disposed on a first side of said strip of tickets and a row of photodetectors disposed opposite said row of light-emitting diodes on a second side of said strip of tickets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting diodes emit monochromatic infrared light and said photodetectors detect monochromatic infrared light.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising: at least first and second pinch rollers disposed on opposite sides of said ticket strip, said second roller being tensioned against said first roller by a spring; a stepper motor coupled to said first roller for rotating said first roller to advance said strip of tickets; a row of light-emitting diodes disposed on a first side of said strip of tickets; a row of photodetectors disposed on a second side of said strip of tickets opposite said row of light-emitting diodes; input means for requesting the output of one or more tickets; cutting means for severing a perforated joint between two tickets of said strip of tickets; and control means for calculating a ticket length from a signal from said photodetectors, providing a first drive signal to said stepper motor to advance said strip of tickets a distance equal to said ticket length multiplied by a number of requested tickets indicated by said input means, and providing a second drive signal to said cutting means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising: at least first and second pinch rollers disposed on opposite sides of said ticket strip, said second roller being tensioned against said first roller by a spring; a stepper motor coupled to said first roller for rotating said first roller to advance said strip of tickets; a row of light-emitting diodes disposed on a first side of said strip of tickets; a row of photodetectors disposed on a second side of said strip of tickets opposite said row of light-emitting diodes; input means for requesting the output of one or more tickets; cutting means for severing a perforated joint between two tickets of said strip of tickets; and control means for calculating a ticket length from a signal from said photodetectors, providing a first drive signal to said stepper motor to advance said strip of tickets a distance equal to said ticket length multiplied by a number of requested tickets indicated by said input means, and providing a second drive signal to said cutting means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-01-04 | 1991-07-06 | 1992-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-04 | 1995-07-06 | 1996-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-04 | 1999-07-06 | 2000-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |