Automated feeder system and methods of use
An automatic feeder system may include: an input bin configured to store at least one physical request slip; a feeder unit; and a support frame. The feeder unit may include a feed neck operable to automatically obtain a physical request slip from the input bin and convey it out from an outlet of the feed neck. The support frame may support the feeder unit so that the outlet is configured to engage with an input of a retailer system engaged with the automatic feeder system such that conveyance of the physical request slip out from the outlet causes the physical request slip to enter the input of the retailer system and cause the retailer system to generate a physical ticket for the game of chance based on the physical request slip.
1. An automatic feeder system for conveying physical media, comprising:
an input bin configured to store at least one physical media element;
a feed neck that includes:
a first inlet operatively connected to the input bin;
an outlet configured to operatively connect to an input interface of a physical media device;
a housing that defines a first path leading from the first inlet to the outlet, and that includes an access opening providing access to an interior of the first path;
at least one actuating device that is operable to convey the physical media along the first path from the input bin to the outlet of the feed neck, the at least one actuating device including a cam element that is operable to asymmetrically rotate such that a portion of the cam element is intermittently introduced into the first path via the access opening such that the portion of the cam element directly engages with the at least one physical media element and moves the at least one physical media element along the first path; and
a second inlet configured to operatively receive a rejected physical media, such that the rejected physical media is conveyed into a second path of the feed neck; and
a controller that is configured to operate the at least one actuating device to non-continuously convey the physical media along the first path at a rate that is matched to an input timing of the physical media device.
2. The automatic feeder system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor configured to track the input timing of the physical media device, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the rate of operation for the at least one actuating device based on the input timing of the physical media device as tracked by the at least one sensor.
3. The automatic feeder system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor configured to detect an interruption in conveyance of the physical media, wherein the controller is configured interrupt operation of the at least one actuating device in response to detecting the interruption in the conveyance of the physical media via the at least one sensor.
4. The automatic feeder system of claim 3 , wherein:
a portion of the housing that forms at least one sidewall of the first path is connected to a remainder of the housing via a hinge, such that opening the portion of the housing via the hinge provides access to an interior of the first path.
5. The automatic feeder system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a magnetic fastener configured to removably hold the portion of the housing in a closed position.
6. The automatic feeder system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first inlet of the first path is substantially horizontal; and
the outlet of the first path is at an angle relative to the first inlet.
7. The automatic feeder system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support frame configured to fixedly mount the automatic feeder system relative to the physical media device such that the outlet of the first path is operationally engaged with the input interface of the physical media device.
8. A method of operating an automatic feeder system for conveying physical media, comprising:
storing one or more physical media elements in an input bin of the automatic feeder system; and
operating, via a controller of the automatic feeder system, at least one actuating device of the automatic feeder system so as to non-continuously convey the one or more physical media elements into an inlet of a feed neck operatively connected to the input bin, along a path defined by a shape of a housing of the feed neck to an outlet of the feed neck operatively connected to an input interface of a physical media device, the path formed by inner and outer walls of the housing such that the shape of the housing is configured to guide the one or more physical media elements along the path;
wherein the controller is configured such that the at least one actuating device is operated at a rate that is matched to an input timing of the physical media device, the input timing defining non-continuous periods during which each physical media element of the one or more physical media elements are receivable into the physical media device.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the housing includes an access opening that provides access to an interior of the path;
the at least one actuating device includes a cam element that is operable to asymmetrically rotate such that a portion of the cam element is intermittently introduced into the path via the access opening; and
the portion of the cam element is configured to convey the physical media along the path.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
tracking, via at least one sensor, the input timing of the physical media device, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the rate of operation for the at least one actuating device based on the input timing of the physical media device as tracked by the at least one sensor.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting, via at least one sensor, an interruption in conveyance of the physical media, wherein the controller is configured interrupt operation of the at least one actuating device in response to detecting the interruption in the conveyance of the physical media via the at least one sensor.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
a portion of the housing that forms at least one sidewall of the path is connected to a remainder of the housing via a hinge, such that opening the portion of the housing via the hinge provides access to an interior of the path.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the housing includes a magnetic fastener configured to removably hold the portion of the housing in a closed position.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the inlet of the path is substantially horizontal; and
the outlet of the path is at an angle relative to the inlet.
15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
mounting the automatic feeder system and the physical media device via a support frame configured such that the outlet of the path is operationally engaged with the input interface of the physical media device.
16. A system, comprising:
a physical media device that includes an input interface, and that is configured to operate at an input timing; and
an automatic feeder system for conveying discrete elements of physical media, including:
an input bin configured to store the discrete elements of the physical media;
a feed neck that includes:
an inlet operatively connected to the input bin;
an outlet operatively configured to operatively connect to the input interface of the physical media device;
a housing that has a substantially curved shape, such that walls of the housing define a path leading from the inlet to the outlet; and
at least one actuating device that is operable to convey the discrete elements of the physical media along the path from the input bin to the outlet of the feed neck; and
a controller that is configured to operate the at least one actuating device to non-continuously convey the discrete elements of the physical media along the path at a rate that is matched to the input timing of the physical media device, the input timing defining non-continuous periods during which each discrete element of the discrete elements of the physical media are receivable into the physical media device.
17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a support frame configured to fixedly mount the automatic feeder system relative to the physical media device such that the outlet of the path is operationally engaged with the input interface of the physical media device.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein:
the housing of the automatic feeder system includes an access opening that provides access to an interior of the path; and
the at least one actuating device includes a cam element that is operable to asymmetrically rotate such that a portion of the cam element is intermittently introduced into the path via the access opening, the portion of the cam element configured to convey the physical media along the path.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the automatic feeder system further includes:
at least one sensor configured to track the input timing of the physical media device, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the rate of operation for the at least one actuating device based on the input timing of the physical media device as tracked by the at least one sensor.