Ticket dispensing apparatus
View Patent ↗An improved ticket dispensing apparatus to efficiently and expeditiously control the separation and dispensing of tickets from a continuous strip of tickets. Once a ticket selection is made, a control circuit activates the dispensing mechanism for dispensing the selected number of tickets. The strip of tickets is drawn into engagement with a pair of drive rollers and forced into engagement with a downstream deflector plate. Once a measured and predetermined ticket length has been met, the direction of movement for the drive rollers is reversed and a unidirectional clutch engaged. The clutch rotates a deflector plate used to force the strip of tickets into engagement with a stationary cutting blade along a perforated line scored in the ticket strip so that the desired number of tickets are separated from the ticket strip.
1. A dispensing mechanism for dispensing at least one ticket from a continuous strip of perforated tickets, the strip of tickets having a series of spaced perforation lines parallel to one another for defining separate ones of the tickets, the mechanism comprising:
a pair of pinch rollers for selectively advancing the strip of tickets along a path of travel in a first direction and a second reverse direction;
a pinch roller gear connected to one of the pinch rollers;
a cutting blade positioned adjacent the pinch rollers proximate the path of travel of the strip of tickets;
a clutch connected to an intermediate gear shaft, the clutch selectively engaging the pinch roller gear connected to the respective pinch roller, the clutch being inactive in the first direction and operable in the second reverse direction;
a deflector plate cam connected with the clutch;
a deflector plate coupled to the deflector plate cam, the deflector plate positioned proximate the cutting blade in a forward position opposite said pinch rollers to alter the path of travel of the strip of tickets with respect to the cutting blade, the deflector plate being movable from a first position in the first direction to a second position in the second reverse direction;
wherein as the strip of tickets is moved in the second reverse direction by the pinch rollers, the clutch allows the deflector plate cam to pivot, and the deflector plate is moved from the first position into the second position such that the deflector plate bends the strip of tickets backwards toward the cutting blade to engage one of the perforation lines with the cutting blade.
2. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1 comprising a drive motor coupled to at least one of the pinch rollers for rotating the pinch roller, the drive motor controlling the movement of the continuous strip of tickets in the first direction and the second reverse direction.
3. The dispensing mechanism of claim 2 comprising a control circuit connected to the drive motor, the control circuit directing the operation of the drive motor.
4. The dispensing mechanism of claim 3 comprising a sensor positioned along the path of travel and being connected to the control circuit to indicate the position of the strip of tickets along the path of travel.
5. A dispensing mechanism for dispensing at least one ticket from a continuous strip of tickets having a series of spaced-apart lines of weakness, the lines of weakness defining separate ones of the tickets, the mechanism comprising:
a means for driving the strip of tickets along a path of travel in a first direction and a second reverse direction;
a means for separating the at least one ticket from the continuous strip of tickets, the separating means positioned near the driving means along the path of travel of the strip of tickets;
a clutch assembly operably coupled to the means for driving the strip of tickets, the clutch assembly being inactive in the first direction and operable in the second reverse direction;
a deflector plate cam coupled with the clutch assembly;
a deflecting plate connected to the deflector plate cam for deflecting the continuous strip of tickets, the deflecting plate positioned adjacent the separating means in a position forward of the separating means to alter the path of travel of the strip of tickets with respect to the separating means, the deflecting plate being movable from a first position in the first direction to a second position in the second reverse direction;
wherein as the strip of tickets is moved in the second reverse direction by the drive means, the clutch assembly shifts the deflecting plate cam and attached deflecting plate from the first position into the second position such that the deflecting means bends the strip of tickets backwards toward the cutting means to engage one of the perforation lines with the separating means.
6. The mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the means for driving comprises a pair of spaced pinch rollers.
7. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the means for driving comprises a drive motor coupled to at least one of the pinch rollers.
8. The mechanism of claim 7 , further comprising a control circuit connected to the drive motor, the control circuit directing the operation of the drive motor.
9. The dispensing mechanism of claim 8 , further comprising a sensor positioned along the path of travel and being in electrical communication with the control circuit for indicating the position of the strip of tickets along the path of travel.
10. The mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the means for separating comprises a cutting blade positioned along the path of travel.
11. The mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the means for deflecting comprises a deflector plate.