Modular system for physically manipulating physical media elements, and methods of operation thereof
Systems and methods for mechanically processing physical media elements, e.g., automatically scratching scratch-off lottery tickets, may include receiving a batch of tickets at an input chute of a scratching system. Tickets may be serially fed through the scratching system that includes a series of roller scratching mechanisms. Pressure rollers may be individually adjustable to set a pressure of the scratching mechanisms. One or more scanners may obtain information from the tickets before and/or after scratching. A pair of parallel plates may be used to form a feed path to guide tickets through the system. A vacuum manifold may isolate some elements of the system from debris, and remove the debris from the system via negative pressure. One or more presence sensor may detect presence of a current ticket to control operation of feed motors. Various functions or elements of the system may be distributed over a plurality of removable modules.
1 . A scraper system, comprising:
a first module that includes a roller scraper mechanism configured to process media items;
a second module that is configured to receive a batch of the media items and serially convey the media items to the first module; and
a third module configured to receive processed media items from the first module;
wherein each of the second module and the third module includes at least one locking mechanism configured to form a respective removable coupling to the first module; and
wherein the at least one locking mechanism of each of the second module and third module has a handle that is operable to selectively engage and disengage the respective removable coupling.
2 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein:
respective integrated coupling portions of the second module and the third module each include one or more alignment pins;
a first integrated coupling portion of the first module includes one or more alignment hole configured to receive the one or more alignment pins of the second module; and
a second integrated coupling portion of the first module includes one or more second alignment hole configured to receive the one or more alignment pins of the third module.
3 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the second module and the third module includes a communication pin set;
the first module includes a first communication pin set and a second communication pin set;
the first communication pin set and the second communication pin set are configured to form contact-based communication pairs with the communication pin sets of the second module and the third module, respectively; and
the contact-based communication pairs are configured to enable data transmission between adjacent modules when the second module and the third modules are removably coupled to the first module.
4 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking mechanism of each of the second module and the third module includes one or more latch assembly including a latch, the handle, and a mount.
5 . The scraper system of claim 4 , wherein the latch is operatively connected to the handle such that the latch is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position in which the latch is at least partially rotated in toward the first module.
6 . The scraper system of claim 4 , wherein the first module includes keyways shaped such that the latch of the second module and the third module, respectively, is configured to latch onto one of the respective keyways in a closed position.
7 . The scraper system of claim 4 , wherein:
the at least one locking mechanism of the second module is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, and
the at least one locking mechanism of the second module is configured such that moving the at least one locking mechanism toward the locked position draws the first module and the second module toward each other.
8 . The scraper system of claim 4 , wherein:
the at least one locking mechanism of the third module is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, and
the at least one locking mechanism of the third module is configured such that moving the at least one locking mechanism toward the locked position draws the first module and the third module toward each other.
9 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein the first module, the second module, and the third module each include a respective portion of a feed path for processing input media that, with the first module, the second module, and the third module connected together, are aligned with each other.
10 . A system for processing physical media representing entries into a game of chance, the system comprising:
a plurality of modules aligned to convey a physical media therethrough, the plurality of modules including:
at least one first module configured to remove a first physical media from a set of one or more physical media in an input area;
at least one second module configured to remove material from the physical media using a scratching assembly, and
at least one third module configured to capture information revealed by removing material from the physical media;
wherein each of the at least one first module and the at least one third module includes at least one locking mechanism configured to form a respective removable coupling to the at least one second module; and
wherein the at least one locking mechanism, in each case, includes a handle that is operable to selectively engage and disengage the respective removable coupling.
11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of modules are further configured to share one or more of power or data between the plurality of modules.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of modules are configured to align with one another such that an inlet of a feed path of an upstream module is aligned with an outlet of a feed path of the module immediately downstream.
13 . A system for obtaining evaluation information on a ticket for a game of chance, the system including:
an input module configured to remove a single ticket from an input area;
a scratching module configured to remove a layer of material from the single ticket, the scratching module being downstream of the input module and configured to receive a ticket from the input module; and
a scanning module configured to scan information on the ticket revealed by the scratching module, the scanning module being downstream of the scratching module and configured to receive a ticket from the scratching module,
wherein each of the input module, the scratching module, and the scanning module respectively includes a motor operatively connected to at least one roller for conveying a ticket through a respective portion of a feed path; and
wherein each of the input module and the scanning module includes at least one locking mechanism configured to form a respective removable coupling to the scratching module; and
wherein the at least one locking mechanism of each of the input module and the scanning module has a handle that is operable to selectively engage and disengage the respective removable coupling.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein:
the scratching module includes a first inlet having an angled mouth leading into a feed path, the first inlet configured to funnel the conveyed ticket from the input module into the scratching module, and
the scanning module includes a second inlet having an angled mouth leading into a feed path, the second inlet configured to funnel the conveyed ticket from the scratching module into the scanning module.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein one of the input module and the scratching module includes an alignment pin for engagement with an alignment hole, wherein the alignment pin and the alignment hole align an outlet of the feed path of the input module with an inlet of the feed path of the scratching module.
16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein one of the scanning module and the scratching module includes an alignment pin for engagement with an alignment hole, wherein the alignment pin and the alignment hole align an outlet of the feed path of the scratching module with an inlet of the feed path of the scanning module.
17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the input module, the scratching module, and the scanning module each have cooperating electronic contacts for transferring one or more of data or power between the input module, the scratching module, and the scanning module.