Lottery Ticket Bin Drawer Cable Storage Under-Counter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lottery ticket dispensers are not well-suited for under-counter installations due to their tall height profile and inconvenient power/data connections, making them impractical for point-of-sale locations.

Innovation Solution

A low-profile lottery ticket bin with a slidable open-top drawer and cable storage system that allows easy access for power/data connections, enabling the bin to be used in an under-counter configuration with improved accessibility for maintenance and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the bin uses a tall height profile with front cover access like existing dispensers, then power/data connections are easily accessible, but the bin cannot be installed under counters at point of sale locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation location flexibilityVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bin is divided into modular components including a removable drawer assembly that can be easily extracted from the housing. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access internal components by simply removing the drawer rather than opening front covers, enabling under-counter installation while maintaining ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cable management system with flexible cables acts as an intermediary between the drawer assembly and the housing. The cables are routed through the housing walls to accessible locations, allowing power and data connections to be made without requiring access to the front cover, thus enabling under-counter installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the bin is designed for under-counter installation with low profile, then space usage is optimized, but power/data connections become difficult to access for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebin footprintVSAvoidconnection accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The cable connection points are relocated from the front face to the side walls of the housing. This dimensional relocation allows cables to be routed to accessible locations on the sides of the under-counter bin, maintaining ease of connection while optimizing the front footprint for space-efficient installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional front-cover-opening mechanism for accessing connections is replaced with a drawer-removal mechanism. The drawer can be easily pulled out to expose connection points, substituting a simpler mechanical action that works effectively in the constrained under-counter environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the drawer is made fully open-top for easy ticket loading, then accessibility is improved, but the structural integrity and security of the bin may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveticket loading accessibilityVSAvoidbin structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The drawer is designed with a sliding mechanism that transitions between closed and open positions. The open-top design is dynamically activated only when the drawer is pulled out for loading, while the closed position maintains structural integrity and security. This dynamic design allows easy ticket loading without permanently compromising the bin's strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3627435B1Lottery ticket bin with pull-out drawer and folding cable configuration
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 SCIENTIFIC GAMES LLC
  • EP3627435B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3627435B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5b
  • EP3627435B1 patent drawingFigure 6a~6b

AI summary

A lottery ticket bin for use in multi-bin dispenser array includes a housing having an open top and a drawer that slides into and out of the housing, the drawer also having an open top and a ticket compartment for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets through the open top. A component section adjacent a front of the drawer includes a first cable connection port, and a second cable connection port is fixed to the housing adjacent the component section in a closed position of the drawer, the second cable connection port in communication with a circuit board fixed to an exterior of the housing. A cable is connected between the first and second cable connection ports and a length so as to accommodate a fully open position of the drawer relative to the housing. The cable folds into a cable storage section configured with the drawer.