Vending Machine Ticket Dispensing with Partial Game Purchase

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pull tab ticket vending machines require frequent roll replacements and ticket stack replenishments due to fixed ticket denominations and limited efficiency in dispensing preprinted game tickets, leading to increased paper usage and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A vending machine system that dispenses preprinted multiple game tickets with individually playable games, allowing patrons to electronically purchase games during a session, with database records tracking purchased games and retaining unpurchased games for subsequent sessions, thereby reducing paper usage and frequency of replacements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional pull tab tickets with fixed denominations are used, then the ticket dispensing process is simple, but the frequency of roll replacements and ticket stack replenishments increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveticket dispensing processVSAvoidfrequency of roll replacements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The ticket is segmented into multiple individually playable games, each with its own game result. This allows the system to dispense tickets with multiple games and selectively play only the games that need to be played, reducing the frequency of roll replacements while maintaining simple operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically tracks which games on each ticket have been purchased and which remain unpurchased. The vending machine retains tickets with unpurchased games for subsequent sessions, adapting the dispensing process to actual usage patterns rather than dispensing complete tickets regardless of partial play.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of substance

If preprinted multiple game tickets are used, then the volume of paper needed is reduced, but the complexity of tracking purchased and unpurchased games increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of paperVSAvoidtracking purchased games

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates and maintains a digital copy (database record) of each ticket's game results and purchase status. This electronic copy tracks which games have been purchased and which remain unpurchased, eliminating the need for physical tracking methods while reducing paper usage through efficient ticket utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by tracking and recording which games on each ticket have been purchased. This feedback mechanism allows the vending machine to retain tickets with unpurchased games for subsequent sessions, optimizing paper usage while managing complexity through systematic record-keeping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If all games on a ticket must be purchased to dispense it, then the tracking system is simple, but the frequency of roll replacements increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking systemVSAvoidfrequency of roll replacements

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows partial action by enabling players to purchase only the games they want to play on a ticket, rather than requiring all games to be purchased. The vending machine tracks partial purchases and retains tickets with unpurchased games, reducing roll replacement frequency while maintaining simple tracking through database records.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8206207B2Method of playing preprinted game tickets having multiple games printed thereof

Publication Date: 2012.06.26 DIAMOND GAME ENTERPRISES

AI summary

A method is provided of vending game tickets from a vending machine during a game play session. Each ticket is preprinted with a plurality of individually playable games, and each game has a game result. The games are associated with at least one deal of games that includes at least some games that have predetermined winning game results. One or more games on a ticket are electronically purchased in a current game play session in response to a request inputted into the vending machine from a patron. Less than all of the games on the ticket may be purchased during the current game play session. An indication of which games on the ticket have been purchased is electronically recorded in database records. The vending machine dispenses all tickets that are played, including tickets wherein less than all of the games on the ticket were purchased during the current game play session. The records of the database may be used to verify which of the games on each of the played tickets have been purchased in the game play session.