Adjustment mechanism for roller scraper configured to scrape physical media elements
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 for scraping an input media, the scraper system comprising:
two or more adjustable roller mechanisms operatively connected in series, each adjustable roller mechanism respectively including:
a stationary roller including a scraper;
a first adjustment mechanism;
a second adjustment mechanism; and
an adjustable roller operatively engaged with the stationary roller and configured to press an input media against the scraper, the adjustable roller including:
a first end operatively connected to the first adjustment mechanism; and
a second end operatively connected to the second adjustment mechanism;
wherein the first adjustment mechanism is operable to independently adjust a first height of the first end of the adjustable roller relative to a first end of the stationary roller, thereby adjusting a first pressure applied by the adjustable roller to the input media;
wherein, the second adjustment mechanism is operable to independently adjust a second height of the second end of the adjustable roller relative to a second end of the stationary roller, thereby adjusting a second pressure applied by the adjustable roller to the input media,
wherein, each stationary roller is operatively connected to a respective motor,
wherein at least one respective motor separates two or more of the adjustment roller mechanisms, and
wherein each of the first and second adjustment mechanisms is configured to be automatically operated based on feedback from the respective motor driving the stationary roller.
2 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein each scraper of the two or more adjustable roller mechanisms is configured to scrape one or more layers of material disposed on different portions of a surface of the input media.
3 . The scraper system of claim 2 , wherein each respective motor is positioned along a length of at least one of the first adjustment mechanism or the second adjustment mechanism.
4 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein the two or more adjustable roller mechanisms includes three adjustable roller mechanisms.
5 . The scraper system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a roller brush positioned downstream of the two or more adjustable roller mechanisms.
6 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second adjustment mechanisms further respectively includes:
a rotating member;
a vertically movable member configured to rotationally support a respective end of the adjustable roller; and
a stationary member configured to convert rotation of the rotating member into vertical motion of the vertically movable member.
7 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second adjustment mechanisms is configured to be operated based on a type of the input media.
8 . The scraper system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second adjustment mechanisms includes:
an adjustment block having a cavity, a slot, and a vertical channel extending from the slot to the cavity;
a mounting block received in the cavity such that rotation of the mounting block is inhibited by the adjustment block, the mounting block configured to rotationally support a respective end of the adjustable roller;
a pin positioned in the vertical channel and engaged with the mounting block via a threaded connection; and
a knob operationally engaged to a top end of the pin, wherein rotation of the knob causes rotation of the pin, and rotation of the pin causes vertical motion of the mounting block.
9 . The scraper system of claim 8 , wherein:
the knob comprises a collar, the knob being configured to receive a top portion of the pin such that the collar encompasses the pin, the collar being retained within the slot of the adjustment block so that the collar is held vertically captive in the adjustment block, such that the threaded connection between the pin and the mounting block is configured to translate rotation of the pin into vertical motion of the mounting block to adjust a height of the respective end of the adjustable roller.
10 . The scraper system of claim 8 , wherein each mounting block includes a notch between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and wherein each of the stationary rollers is connected to a motor mounted adjacent to the notch of at least one of the mounting blocks.
11 . The scraper system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a spring disposed in the cavity and configured to bias the mounting block towards the vertical channel.
12 . The scraper system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator operable to adjust at least one of the first height of the first adjustment mechanism or the second height of the second adjustment mechanism; and
a controller configured to operate the actuator based on operating condition data received from one of the respective motors, the operating condition comprising at least one of a voltage, a speed, or a temperature of the at least one motor.
13 . The scraper system of claim 12 , wherein the controller comprises a machine learning model configured to:
model a relationship between one the respective motors and a performance characteristic of the scraper system; and
operate the actuator based on the relationship.
14 . An adjustable roller system comprising:
an adjustment mechanism; and
an adjustable roller;
wherein the adjustment mechanism is operable to independently adjust a height of the adjustable roller;
wherein the adjustment mechanism includes:
an adjustment block having a cavity, a slot, and a vertical channel extending from the slot to the cavity;
a mounting block received in the cavity such that rotation of the mounting block is inhibited by the adjustment block, the mounting block configured to rotationally support a respective end of the adjustable roller;
a pin positioned in the vertical channel and engaged with the mounting block via a threaded connection; and
a knob comprising a collar, the knob being configured to receive a top portion of the pin such that the collar encompasses the pin, the collar being retained within the slot of the adjustment block so that the collar is held vertically captive in the adjustment block, such that the threaded connection between the pin and the mounting block is configured to translate rotation of the pin into vertical motion of the mounting block to adjust a height of the adjustable roller.
15 . The adjustable roller system of claim 14 , further comprising:
an actuator operable to drive rotation of the pin;
at least one motor; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and the at least one motor, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive operating condition data from the at least one motor, the operating condition comprising at least one of a voltage, a speed, or a temperature of the at least one motor; and
operate the actuator to drive rotation of the pin based on the operating condition data.
16 . The adjustable roller system of claim 15 , wherein the controller comprises a machine learning model configured to:
model a relationship between one the respective motors and a performance characteristic of the adjustable roller system based on the operating condition data; and
operate the actuator based on the relationship.
17 . The adjustable roller system of claim 14 , further comprising:
an actuator operable to drive rotation of the pin;
at least one motor; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and the at least one motor, wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuator based on feedback from the at least one motor.
18 . An adjustment mechanism comprising:
an adjustment block including a cavity, a slot, and a vertical channel extending from the slot to the cavity;
a mounting block received in the cavity such that rotation of the mounting block is inhibited by the adjustment block, the mounting block including a mount configured to rotationally support a respective end of an adjustable roller;
a pin positioned in the vertical channel and engaged with the mounting block via a threaded connection;
a knob operationally engaged to a top end of the pin, wherein rotation of the knob causes rotation of the pin, and rotation of the pin causes vertical motion of the mounting block;
an actuator operable to drive rotation of the pin; and
a controller configured to operate the actuator based on feedback from at least one motor;
wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to independently adjust a height of at least one end of the adjustable roller.
19 . The adjustment mechanism of claim 18 wherein the controller is configured to:
receive operating condition data from the at least one motor, the operating condition comprising at least one of a voltage, a speed, or a temperature of the at least one motor; and
operate the actuator to drive rotation of the pin based on the operating condition data.
20 . The adjustment mechanism of claim 19 , wherein the at least one adjustable roller is configured to operate within an adjustable roller system, wherein the controller further comprises a machine learning model configured to:
model a relationship, based on the operating condition data, between the at least one motor and a performance characteristic of the adjustable roller system; and
operate the actuator based on the relationship.
21 . A scraper system for scraping an input media, the scraper system comprising:
two or more adjustable roller mechanisms operatively connected in series, each adjustable roller mechanism respectively including:
a stationary roller including a scraper;
a first adjustment mechanism;
a second adjustment mechanism; and
an adjustable roller operatively engaged with the stationary roller and configured to press an input media against the scraper, the adjustable roller including:
a first end operatively connected to the first adjustment mechanism; and
a second end operatively connected to the second adjustment mechanism;
wherein the first adjustment mechanism is operable to independently adjust a first height of the first end of the adjustable roller relative to a first end of the stationary roller, thereby adjusting a first pressure applied by the adjustable roller to the input media,
wherein, the second adjustment mechanism is operable to independently adjust a second height of the second end of the adjustable roller relative to a second end of the stationary roller, thereby adjusting a second pressure applied by the adjustable roller to the input media,
wherein, each stationary roller is operatively connected to a respective motor,
wherein at least one respective motor separates two or more of the adjustment roller mechanisms,
wherein each of the first and second adjustment mechanisms includes:
an adjustment block having a cavity, a slot, and a vertical channel extending from the slot to the cavity;
a mounting block received in the cavity such that rotation of the mounting block is inhibited by the adjustment block, the mounting block configured to rotationally support a respective end of the adjustable roller;
a pin positioned in the vertical channel and engaged with the mounting block via a threaded connection; and
a knob operationally engaged to a top end of the pin, wherein rotation of the knob causes rotation of the pin, and rotation of the pin causes vertical motion of the mounting block;
wherein each mounting block includes a notch between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and wherein each of the stationary rollers is connected to a motor mounted adjacent to the notch of at least one of the mounting blocks.