Smart bin lottery ticket dispenser with modular printer bin
View Patent ↗A lottery ticket dispenser array includes a frame and a plurality of separate bins contained within the frame. Each bin includes a housing having a front side that faces a purchaser in operational use of the dispenser array, an opposite back side, and an internal space for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets, wherein each lottery tickets contains a code printed thereon. Each bin has an electronic drive mechanism that dispenses the lottery tickets therefrom. The bins are separately removable and insertable into the array. A printer module is provided in the array and has a size and configuration so as to be insertable into the array in place of at least one of the bins.
1. A lottery ticket dispenser array, comprising:
a plurality of separate bins arranged within a frame, each bin defining an internal space for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets;
wherein at least one of the bins is separately removable and insertable into the array; and
a printer module having a size and configuration so as to be insertable into the array in place of at least one of the bins.
2. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 1 , wherein each of the bins is separately removable and insertable into the array, the printer module insertable into the array at any location where one of the bins is located in the array.
3. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 1 , wherein the printer module further comprises a scanner.
4. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 1 , wherein each bin comprises an electronic drive mechanism that dispenses the lottery tickets therefrom, the electronic drive mechanisms and the printer module in communication with a common controller.
5. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 4 , wherein the controller is in communication with each of the electronic drive mechanisms to initiate a dispense sequence for a scratch-off lottery ticket from one or more of the bins, and the controller is in communication with the printer module to initiate printing of an on-demand lottery ticket.
6. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 5 , wherein the controller comprises an input device for manual entry of a ticket dispense command to one or more of the bins or to the printer module.
7. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured on the frame.
8. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 7 , wherein the controller is variably positional relative to the frame between different operational positions.
9. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 8 , wherein the controller is slidable along a bottom member, top member, or side member of the frame between the different operational positions.
10. The lottery ticket dispenser array as in claim 9 , wherein the controller and printer module are in communication with a central lottery server.