Ticket dispensing machine and method

• US 4,716,799 A
• Filed: 08/12/1986
• Issued: 01/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syntech (SSPF) International Incorporated (Avalon Technology Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Syntech (SSPF) International Incorporated (Avalon Technology Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hartmann, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US06/895,768
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 83/364, 83/365, 83/367, 83/369, 83/370, 83/371, 83/209, 83/210, 83/42, 83/72, 221/1, 226/10, 226/24, 364/479, 364/562
• US Class Current: 83/42
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/32 with the record carrier formed by the work itself
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 1/00 Machines for printing and issuing tickets printing mechanisms per se B41; output mechanisms of digital computers G06C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 3/02 from stock in wound strip form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0538 Repetitive transverse severing from leading edge of work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4458 Work-sensing means to control work-moving or work-stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/446 With means to initiate tool feed by same control impulse
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/531 With plural work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/533 With photo-electric work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/536 Movement of work controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/54 Actuation of tool controlled by work-driven means to measure work length
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/543 Sensing means responsive to work indicium or irregularity

Abstract

An automatic ticket dispensing machine and a method for operating it to automatically adjust itself to the size of tickets being dispensed. A strip of tickets is fed forward with an advancing mechanism past an optical sensor which detects the perforations between tickets. The optical sensor is coupled to a controller which controls the advancing mechanism. The controller determines the length of the ticket by monitoring the distance the tickets are advanced between detections of perforations. In response to a request for a ticket, the controller advances the ticket strip by a distance corresponding to the predetermined ticket length of output.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising the steps of:

advancing said strip of tickets past an optical sensor;

sensing a plurality of perforations with said optical sensor;

measuring the distance said strip of tickets is advanced between sensed perforations;

calculating an average ticket length from the measured distances between perforations;

indicating a desired number of tickets to be issued; and

advancing said strip of tickets a distance equal to said average ticket length multiplied by said desired number of tickets.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

sensing a reflection off said strip of tickets at an output for said tickets with a second optical sensor;

calculating a distance from said first mentioned optical sensor to said second optical sensor; and

retracting said strip of tickets to a position before said second optical sensor after calculating said average ticket length.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

providing a cutting mechanism before said second optical sensor;

subtracting a distance from said cutting mechanism to said second optical sensor from said distance from said first optical sensor to said second optical sensor;

retracting said strip of tickets to a position behind said cutting mechanism after calculating said average ticket length; and

cutting said strip of tickets after advancing said strip of tickets a distance equal to said average ticket length multiplied by said desired number of tickets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said distance measuring step comprises counting a number of pulses provided to a stepper motor for advancing said strip of tickets.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of calculating an average ticket length further includes the steps of:

measuring an average length of said perforations; and

adding half of said average perforation length to said average ticket length.

6. An apparatus for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising:

means for advancing said strip of tickets to an output area;

an optical sensor for detecting perforations between tickets;

input means for requesting the output of one or more tickets; and

control means for calculating a ticket length from a signal from said optical sensor and providing a drive signal to said advancing means to advance said strip of tickets a distance proportional to said ticket length multiplied by a number of requested tickets indicated by said input means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising cutting means, responsive to a cutting signal from said control means, for severing a perforated junction between two tickets of said strip of tickets.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cutting means comprises a rotary cutter and a fixed blade disposed on opposite sides of a path for said strip of tickets.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a two pole stepper motor coupled to said rotary cutter for driving said cutter.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an optical output sensor mounted proximate said cutting means for detecting reflections off said strip of tickets.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said advancing means comprises at least first and second pinch rollers disposed on opposite sides of said ticket strip, said first roller being driven by a motor and said second roller being tensioned by a spring against said first roller.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said motor is a two pole stepper motor.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said optical sensor comprises a row of light-emitting diodes disposed on a first side of said strip of tickets and a row of photodetectors disposed opposite said row of light-emitting diodes on a second side of said strip of tickets.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting diodes emit monochromatic infrared light and said photodetectors detect monochromatic infrared light.

15. An apparatus for dispensing tickets from a strip of tickets having perforated joints, comprising:

at least first and second pinch rollers disposed on opposite sides of said ticket strip, said second roller being tensioned against said first roller by a spring;

a stepper motor coupled to said first roller for rotating said first roller to advance said strip of tickets;

a row of light-emitting diodes disposed on a first side of said strip of tickets;

a row of photodetectors disposed on a second side of said strip of tickets opposite said row of light-emitting diodes;

input means for requesting the output of one or more tickets;

cutting means for severing a perforated joint between two tickets of said strip of tickets; and

control means for calculating a ticket length from a signal from said photodetectors, providing a first drive signal to said stepper motor to advance said strip of tickets a distance equal to said ticket length multiplied by a number of requested tickets indicated by said input means, and providing a second drive signal to said cutting means.