Lottery Ticket Burster Edge Detection for Accurate Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lottery ticket vending machines struggle with improperly separating tickets due to deformities in the leading edges, leading to incorrect cutting and potential loss of redeemable tickets.

Innovation Solution

The vending machine includes a ticket edge sensor to obtain and analyze edge image data, determining deformities, and takes corrective actions such as alerts or adjustments to ensure proper ticket separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the ticket burster operates without edge detection, then the machine runs continuously with high productivity, but ticket separation accuracy deteriorates due to undeformed leading edges causing incorrect cutting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveticket separation accuracyVSAvoidmachine operational continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The ticket edge sensor detects leading edge deformities before the ticket reaches the cutter, allowing the control system to anticipate and correct cutting position errors in advance, ensuring accurate ticket separation even when deformities are present

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor provides continuous feedback about leading edge deformities to the control system, which automatically adjusts the cutter position or triggers alerts to maintain separation accuracy while minimizing disruptions to machine operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the ticket burster operates without deformity detection, then the machine structure remains simple, but harmful factors increase due to dispensing of non-redeemable tickets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveticket redeemabilityVSAvoidmachine structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical inspection systems with an optical sensor and control system that detects leading edge deformities electronically, achieving reliable ticket validation with simpler overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically processes sensor data about leading edge deformities and makes real-time adjustments to cutter positioning or triggers alerts, eliminating the need for manual inspection and maintaining reliability without adding complex operational procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of substance

If no edge detection system is used, then the device complexity is low, but loss of substance increases due to potential loss of redeemable tickets from incorrect cutting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveticket lossVSAvoiddetection system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor detects leading edge deformities before cutting occurs, allowing the control system to prevent incorrect cuts that would cause ticket loss, thereby protecting redeemable tickets without requiring complex post-cut verification systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Real-time feedback from the edge detection sensor enables the control system to make immediate corrections to cutting operations, preventing ticket loss while maintaining a relatively simple system architecture through automated closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents the dispensing of undesired or non-redeemable tickets by regularly detecting and addressing edge deformities, maintaining machine functionality, and ensuring accurate ticket separation.

Implementation Method 1

a ticket edge sensor supported by the ticket burster, configured to obtain ticket edge image data for a lottery ticket that moves from one of the ticket drawers into the ticket burster

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS12462629B2Lottery ticket vending machine

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 GTECH CORP

AI summary

An instant lottery ticket vending machine configured to determine if its ticket bursters are improperly separating the lottery tickets received from the ticket drawers of the ticket drawer columns, and to make one or more adjustments and/or alert an operator if its ticket bursters are improperly separating the lottery tickets. In various embodiments, each of the tickets bursters includes a suitable ticket edge sensor configured to sense an edge (such as a leading edge) of each lottery ticket received in such ticket burster. In various embodiments, the lottery ticket vending machine includes one or more controllers configured to receive such signals from the ticket edge sensor and make such determinations regarding any adjustments and/or alerts, and to cause any such adjustments and/or alerts.