STORAGE CASSETTE AND DISPENSING METHOD FOR TICKETS

1 . A cassette for storing booklets of lottery tickets, the cassette configured to be positioned in a lottery ticket automatic dispenser, the cassette comprising:

a framework comprising a bottom bordered by two lateral edges, by a front face, and by a rear face; and

an adjustable end-stop device supported by the framework, wherein the adjustable end-stop device comprises:

a rear end-stop comprising a lottery ticket first bearing surface, a positioning device, and a locking device,

a positioning reference secured to the framework and configured to co-act with the positioning device, the positioning reference positioned on a rear portion of the framework along a longitudinal axis so that the rear end-stop is positionable along said longitudinal axis, and

wherein the locking device is configured to keep the rear end-stop secured to the framework in a determined position.

2 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the locking device comprises a locking surface extending along one of the lateral edges inside the framework, the locking device comprising a spring leaf, and said lateral edge comprising on a surface internal to the framework a locking end-stop configured to co-act with the spring leaf.

3 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the locking device contacts the bottom of the framework at a pivot point, and wherein the positioning device positioned at a location rearwardly of the pivot point along the longitudinal axis.

4 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the rear end-stop comprises two lottery ticket retention lateral lips.

5 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the rear end-stop comprises a rear end-stop baseplate at a position forwardly of the lottery ticket first bearing surface, the baseplate comprising a first surface inclined towards the front face and configured to raise ends of lottery tickets in contact with the lottery ticket first bearing surface.

6 . The cassette of claim 1 , where the positioning reference comprises an upper surface with positioning ribs, and the positioning device comprises a lower surface with anchoring ribs of a profile that complements that of the positioning ribs so that the anchoring ribs can anchor in the positioning ribs.

7 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the lottery ticket first bearing surface comprises retaining grooves.

8 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the rear end-stop comprises a guide finger that is at least partially retractable into the rear end-stop, and a spring that biases the guide finger in a position forwardly of the lottery ticket first bearing surface.

9 . The cassette claim 8 , wherein the guide finger comprising a concave anterior surface, wherein travel of the guide finger is at a maximum at its upper end.

10 . The cassette claim 1 , which comprises a front end-stop secured to the framework, the front end-stop comprising a lottery ticket second bearing surface that faces the lottery ticket first bearing surface, the front end-stop comprising a guide surface positioned transversely to the framework in an upper position of the front end-stop.

11 . The cassette claim 10 , wherein the front end-stop comprises a front end-stop baseplate in a position rearwardly of the lottery ticket second bearing surface, the front end-stop baseplate comprising a second rearwardly inclined surface and configured to raise ends of lottery tickets in contact with said lottery ticket second bearing surface.

12 . The storage cassette of claim 11 , wherein said front end-stop comprising two lottery ticket retention lateral lips.

13 . The cassette of claim 1 , which comprises an automatic drive mechanism configured to drive the lottery tickets, the automatic drive mechanism comprising:

a first drive spindle oriented transversely to the framework,

a second drive spindle parallel to the first drive spindle, and

a driving geartrain secured to one of the first and second drive spindles,

wherein the first drive spindle is secured to a first drive cylinder and the second drive spindle is secured to a second drive cylinder facing the first drive cylinder.

14 . The cassette of claim 13 , wherein the driving geartrain is accessible from outside the framework so that the driving geartrain can be activated by an automated external device.

15 . The cassette of claim 14 , wherein the first and second drive spindles are positioned between the front face of the framework and a front end-stop.

16 . The cassette of claim 15 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a manual drive device comprising:

a lever mounted pivotable on a lever spindle secured to the framework,

an actuator mounted pivotable on an actuator spindle secured to a base of the lever, and

a return spring secured to the framework and the secured to the lever,

the actuator positioned to drive the driving geartrain when the lever is rotated in a first direction, and to disengage from driving the driving geartrain when the lever is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.

17 . The cassette claim 16 , wherein the actuator is configured to drive the driving geartrain through a predetermined angular extent suitable to position an edge of the first lottery ticket in a predetermined position.

18 . The cassette of claim 1 , which comprises a boss supported by the framework and positioned to cause a kink of a lottery ticket that follows a dispensed lottery ticket.

19 . A cassette for storing booklets of lottery tickets, the cassette configured to be positioned in an automatic dispenser, the cassette comprising:

a framework comprising a bottom bordered by two lateral edges, by a front face, and by a rear face;

an adjustable end-stop device supported by the framework, wherein the adjustable end-stop device comprises a rear end-stop comprising a lottery ticket first bearing surface, a rear end-stop baseplate at a position rearwardly to the lottery ticket first bearing surface, the baseplate comprising a first surface inclined towards the front face and configured to raise first ends of lottery tickets in contact with said lottery ticket first bearing surface; and

a front end-stop secured to the framework, the front end-stop comprising a lottery ticket second bearing surface that faces the lottery ticket first bearing surface, the front end-stop comprising a front end-stop baseplate in a position rearwardly of the lottery ticket second bearing surface, the front end-stop baseplate comprising a second rearwardly inclined surface and configured to raise second ends of lottery tickets in contact with said lottery ticket second bearing surface.

20 . A cassette for storing booklets of lottery tickets, the cassette configured to be positioned in an automatic dispenser, the cassette comprising:

a framework comprising a bottom bordered by two lateral edges;

an adjustable end-stop device supported by the framework; and

an automatic drive mechanism configured to drive the lottery tickets, the automatic drive mechanism comprising a driving geartrain is accessible from outside the framework so that the driving geartrain can be activated by an external device.