U.S. patent application number 10/950281 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-26 for gaming machine printer.
This patent application is currently assigned to FutureLogic, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dymovsky, Oleg, Meyerhofer, Eric, Meyerhofer, Mark, Mkrtchyan, Samson.
Application Number | 20050109810 10/950281 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46123616 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050109810 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mkrtchyan, Samson ; et
al. |
May 26, 2005 |
Gaming machine printer
Abstract
A gaming machine printer. The gaming machine printer creates
printed vouchers, tickets, receipts, etc. for use in gaming
applications employing cashless enabled gaming systems. The gaming
machine printer includes a voucher management system having a
burster bar for separating vouchers and a serpentine voucher guide
that may be opened for inspection. The gaming machine printer
further includes various electrical features that protect the
gaming machine printer from electrostatic discharges.
Inventors: |
Mkrtchyan, Samson; (Tarzana,
CA) ; Dymovsky, Oleg; (Los Angeles, CA) ;
Meyerhofer, Mark; (La Canada, CA) ; Meyerhofer,
Eric; (Oceanside, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Assignee: |
FutureLogic, Inc.
425 E. Colorado St., Suite 100
Glendale
CA
91205
|
Family ID: |
46123616 |
Appl. No.: |
10/950281 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10950281 |
Sep 23, 2004 |
|
|
|
10616811 |
Jul 9, 2003 |
|
|
|
60394568 |
Jul 9, 2002 |
|
|
|
60396862 |
Jul 18, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
225/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3244 20130101;
Y10T 225/30 20150401; G07F 17/3241 20130101; G07F 17/3248 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3202 20130101; G07F 17/42
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
225/093 |
International
Class: |
B65H 035/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A burster bar for a gaming machine printer, comprising: a top
portion having a mounting tab; a bottom portion having a leading
edge and a trailing edge with a downardly protruding lip, the
downwardly protruding lip defining a bottom surface sloping
downward from the leading edge to the trailing edge.
2. An electrostatic discharge device protecting a user accessible
device, comprising: a housing having an opening through which a
user accesses the user accessible device; and a grounded
electrostatic discharge pin in close proximity to the user
accessible device and extending through the opening and above an
upper surface of the housing whereby a user first contacts the
electrostatic discharge pin before contacting the user accessible
device.
3. A voucher management system for a gaming machine printer,
comprising: a lower voucher guide and an upper voucher guide
defining a voucher path therebetween, wherein the upper voucher
guide is fixedly attached to an inner surface of an openable cover,
whereby the upper voucher guide may be separated from the lower
voucher guide when the cover is opened, thereby exposing a voucher
in the voucher guide.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/616,811 filed Jul. 9, 2003 which claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/394,568,
filed Jul. 9, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/396,862, filed Jul. 18, 2002, each of which are hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention pertains generally to the field of printers
included in automated systems used by consumers and more
specifically to printers used in cashless enabled games to generate
cash-out vouchers.
[0003] The gaming machine manufacturing industry provides a variety
of gaming machines for the amusement of gaming machine players. An
exemplary gaming machine is a slot machine. A slot machine is an
electromechanical game wherein chance or the skill of a player
determines the outcome of the game. Slot machines are usually found
in casinos or other more informal gaming establishments.
[0004] Gaming machine manufacturers have more recently introduced
cashless enabled games to the market and these have begun to find
wide acceptance in the gaming industry. Cashless enabled games are
so named because they can conduct financial exchanges using a
mixture of traditional currencies and vouchers. Typically, a
cashless enabled game has a gaming printer to produce vouchers and
a bill acceptor that supports automatic reading of vouchers. To
coordinate the activities of multiple cashless enabled games, one
or more cashless enabled games may be electronically coupled to a
cashless enabled game system that controls the cashless operations
of a cashless enabled game.
[0005] When a player cashes out using a cashless enabled game
coupled to a cashless enabled game system, the cashless enabled
game signals the system and the system may determine the type of
pay out presented to the player. Depending on the size of the pay
out, the cashless enabled game system may cause the cashless
enabled game to present coins in the traditional method of a slot
machine, or the cashless enabled game system may cause a gaming
printer in the cashless enabled game to produce a voucher for the
value of the pay out. The voucher may then be redeemed in a variety
of ways. For example, the voucher may be redeemed for cash at a
cashier's cage or used with another cashless enabled game. In order
to use the voucher in a cashless enabled game, the voucher is
inserted into a bill acceptor of another cashless enabled game at a
participating casino and the cashless enabled game system
recognizes the voucher, redeems the voucher, and places an
appropriate amount of playing credits on the cashless enabled
game.
[0006] Cashless enabled games have found an increasing acceptance
and use in the gaming industry, both with players who enjoy the
speed of play and ease of transporting their winnings around the
casino and casinos who have realized significant labor savings in
the form of reduced coin hopper reloads in the games, and an
increase in revenue because of the speed of play. Practical field
experience with printers used in cashless enabled games has
illustrated that there are areas for improvement in the current
printer designs and implementation. These areas of improvement
include prevention of player interference with voucher printing,
servicing, and modularity of printer design among others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A gaming machine printer creates printed vouchers, tickets,
receipts, etc. for use in gaming applications employing cashless
enabled gaming systems. The gaming machine printer creates printed
vouchers, tickets, receipts, etc. for use in gaming applications
employing cashless enabled gaming systems. The gaming machine
printer includes a voucher management system having a burster bar
for separating vouchers and a serpentine voucher guide that may be
opened for inspection. The gaming machine printer further includes
various electrical features that protect the gaming machine printer
from electrostatic discharges.
[0008] In one aspect of the invention, a burster bar for the gaming
machine printer includes a top portion having a mounting tab and a
bottom portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge with a
downardly protruding lip, the downwardly protruding lip defining a
bottom surface sloping downward from the leading edge to the
trailing edge.
[0009] In another aspect of the invention, the gaming machine
printer includes an electrostatic discharge device protecting a
user accessible device. The electrostatic discharge device is used
in a housing having an opening through which a user accesses the
user accessible device. A grounded electrostatic discharge pin is
mounted in close proximity to the user accessible device and
extends through the opening above an upper surface of the housing
whereby a user first contacts the electrostatic discharge pin
before contacting the user accessible device.
[0010] In another aspect of the invention, the gaming machine
printer includes a voucher management system. The voucher
management system has a lower voucher guide and an upper voucher
guide defining a voucher path therebetween, wherein the upper
voucher guide is fixedly attached to an inner surface of an
openable cover, whereby the upper voucher guide may be separated
from the lower voucher guide when the cover is opened, thereby
exposing a voucher held in the voucher guide.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings
where:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a cashless gaming system in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a voucher in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3a is a semi-schematic diagram of a voucher
verification system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3b is a semi-schematic diagram of a verification
process using additional verification information printed on a
voucher in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4a is a semi-schematic view of a calibration process in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 4b is a process flow diagram of a calibration process
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of a thermal print
mechanism thermal element diagnostic process in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a process flow chart of a primary second port test
process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of a native port check
process for identifying a communication port to use as a native
port in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram of a status reporting
process employing nonvolatile memory storage to store and report
printer status in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective wireline drawing of a gaming machine
printer having a coiled electrical cable in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective wireline drawing of a gaming
machine printer having a coiled cable and in an extended position
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a semi-perspective drawing of a gaming machine
printer including a voucher path management system in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a side view wireline drawing of a gaming machine
printer including a voucher path management system in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 13 is semi-perspective drawing of a gaming machine
printer including a mobile module with a hinged sub-module in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 14 is a software module diagram of a gaming machine
printer controller in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 15 is an architecture diagram for a data processing
system suitable for use as a gaming machine printer controller host
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 16a is a side view of an electrostatic discharge pin
and user accessible switch in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 16b is a top view of an electrostatic discharge pin and
user accessible switch in accordance with an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 18a is a side view of a burster bar in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 18b is a front view of a burster bar in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 18c is a bottom view of a burster bar in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] FIG. 1 is a cashless gaming system in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A cashless gaming
system includes a cashless gaming system controller 100 hosted by a
system host 102 coupled 104 to one or more cashless enabled games
106. A cashless enabled game includes a game controller 108 that
controls the operation of the cashless enabled game. The game
controller is coupled to a gaming machine printer 110. The cashless
enabled game uses the gaming machine printer to generate tickets
and vouchers 114. The gaming machine printer includes heating and
printing algorithms 113 in conjunction with special purpose voucher
paper. The voucher includes the cash-out information for a player.
The gaming machine printer may also be directly coupled 112 to the
host system and cashless gaming controller. The voucher may be
redeemed 116 in a variety of ways. The voucher may be redeemed by a
human cashier or bill acceptor 122 at a game table 124, or a human
cashier or bill acceptor 126 at a cashier's cage or kiosk 128, or
by a bill acceptor 118 at another cashless enabled game 120.
Redemption is only possible after the voucher passes a verification
of account information 130 and validation using security signatures
132 included in the voucher.
[0035] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a voucher in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The voucher shown is
produced from commands issued by the cashless enabled game to the
cashless gaming printer in response to a player's request to
cash-out. The voucher 114 includes features such as a validation
number, printed in both a human readable form such as a character
string 200 and in a machine-readable form such as a bar code 202,
time and date stamps 204, cash-out amount 206, casino location
information 208, cashless enabled game identifier 210, and an
indication of an expiration date 212. The information contained on
the voucher is enough to verify that a valid cash-out request was
generated at some time, but may not include enough information to
detect if a voucher presented for redemption is the original
voucher and not a duplicate or forgery.
[0036] FIG. 3a is a semi-schematic diagram of a voucher
verification system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention. A voucher verification system 300 is
included in a gaming machine printer 106 (FIG. 1). The voucher
verification system includes a printer controller 312 operatively
coupled to a thermal print mechanism 314 and a optical scanning
device 324.
[0037] The thermal print mechanism receives thermally reactive
voucher paper and generates images on the paper to create a voucher
114. The thermal print mechanism does so by heating a thermal
element for each dot that is imaged. The thermal print mechanism
typically creates dot images to a granularity of 8 dots per
millimeter, each dot image requiring a separate thermal element to
create a dot image.
[0038] Generally, thermal elements age differently or as a result
of their nature or as a result of their usage are different after
some usage period. These differences result in variations and
un-desirable imaging results. Another factor is that the chemistry
of the thermally active paper is not a constant. As the chemistry
of the thermally active paper varies, so does the quality of the
images produced on the thermally active paper resulting in
undesirable imaging results. In order to detect when a thermal
print mechanism is malfunctioning or thermally active paper is not
of good quality, the printer controller uses the optical scanning
device to scan completed portions of the images on the voucher as
the voucher is being printed. If the printer controller determines
that the scanned voucher images includes an error, then the printer
controller voids or retrieves the voucher. For example, if the
scanned image is too faint or the scanned image is so dark that it
is blurry, the printer controller may void the voucher.
[0039] In slightly more detail, the printer controller transmits
thermal print mechanism control signals 316 to the thermal print
mechanism. The thermal print mechanism control signals include
voucher printing instructions for generation of the voucher by the
thermal print mechanism. The thermal print mechanism uses the
voucher printer instructions to print the voucher.
[0040] The optical scanning device scans the voucher as the voucher
is being printed by the thermal print mechanism. In one embodiment
of a optical scanning device in accordance with the present
invention, the optical scanning device is a Charged-Coupled Device
(CCD) optical scanner. The optical scanning device transmits
voucher scan signals 326 to the printer controller.
[0041] In one embodiment of a voucher verification system in
accordance with the present invention, a game controller 108 is
operably coupled to the printer controller. The printer controller
receives printer control instructions 330 from the game controller.
The printer controller generates voucher verification signals 332
indicating whether or not the voucher has been verified. The
printer controller transmits the voucher verification signals to
the game controller. The game controller uses the voucher
verification signals to determine if the voucher was correctly
printed. An exemplary voucher verification system is more fully
described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/021,624
the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if
stated fully herein.
[0042] FIG. 3b is a semi-schematic diagram of a verification
process using additional verification information printed on a
voucher in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. A voucher 114 may further include additional information
encoded in a barcode 334 or in text string 336. The additional
information is used to augment the information already included on
the voucher such as a validation barcode 220. For example, the
additional information may be used in the cashless gaming industry
to further identify the origin of the voucher by indicating the
machine number that printed the voucher. Additional information
encoded in barcodes or by other methods may be used to further
enhance the security of a cashless gaming process.
[0043] In operation, the additional information is printed on the
voucher by a thermal print mechanism 314. The additional
information may then be verified using an optical scanning device
324 at the time the additional information is added to the
voucher.
[0044] FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b are a semi-schematic view and a process
flow diagram respectively of a calibration process in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The
calibration process may be used by a gaming machine printer to
determine the correct power levels to apply to each thermal element
in the thermal print mechanism to ensure a legible voucher.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 4a, a gaming machine printer causes a
thermal print mechanism 314 to generate a test pattern 400 on a
voucher 114. The test pattern may be scanned by the gaming machine
printer using an optical scanning device 324. Referring now to FIG.
4b, a calibration process 402 starts (404) by burning (406) one or
more dots or pixels onto a voucher, thus creating a test image
area. The gaming machine printer advances the voucher to the
optical scanning device. The gaming machine printer scans (408) the
image area searching for the pixels that the thermal print
mechanism should have made on the voucher. If the results of the
scan indicate (410) that the diagnostic test was not successful,
(for example, the test image may be too faint or too dark) the
gaming machine printer adjusts (412) the energy supplied to the
thermal print mechanism. By increasing the energy supplied, each
printed dot or pixel becomes darker on the voucher. By lowering the
energy level, each dot or pixel becomes lighter. The gaming machine
printer repeats the calibration test until the dots or pixels are
printed properly and then the calibration process ends (414).
[0046] FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of a thermal print
mechanism thermal element diagnostic process in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A gaming machine
printer includes the mechanical means, electrical means, electronic
means, and computer algorithms to perform a self-test on each
thermal element of the thermal print mechanism in order to
determine the condition of each thermal element. The gaming machine
printer performs a thermal element diagnostic process 500 by
applying an electrical stimulus to each of the thermal elements.
The electrical stimulus is not great enough to cause imaging to
occur on a voucher yet generates a corresponding diagnostic
electrical feedback signal. For example, the printer controller may
apply a known current across a thermal element and monitor the
resultant voltage drop. As another example, the printer controller
may apply a pulse of current to a thermal element and monitor a
thermal print head including the thermal element for a
corresponding thermal pulse. The gaming machine printer may then
utilize the results of the test to self-calibrate the amount of
energy or power applied to a thermal element to produce a
continuing high-quality of print.
[0047] The gaming machine printer starts (502) the diagnostic
process by applying (504) a test electrical stimuli to one thermal
element in the thermal print mechanism. The gaming machine printer
reads (506) a resultant electrical feedback signal for the
stimulated thermal element. The gaming machine printer analyzes the
resultant electrical feedback signal to determine (508) if the
thermal element tested properly. For example, the gaming machine
printer may have a memory store including a range of feedback
signal values that are acceptable. If the resultant feedback signal
value does not fall within the acceptable range, then the gaming
machine printer generates (510) a log entry in a memory store
indicating that the thermal element is out of tolerance. The gaming
machine printer continues the testing process until (512) all of
the thermal elements in the thermal print mechanism have been
tested. Once all of the thermal elements have been tested, the
gaming machine printer ends (514) the diagnostic process.
[0048] Existing printers include communications ports used as
native ports solely for communication with other devices, such as a
game controller. These native ports are disconnected from the game
controller prior to performing a separate function, such as
updating printer software or checking the status of the printer. In
a gaming machine printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, the gaming machine printer includes both
native ports coupled to a game controller and an additional
communications port, herein termed a primary second port, for
communications with external devices.
[0049] The cashless enabled game represents a trusted host for a
gaming machine printer, and the communications protocol between the
cashless enabled game and gaming machine printer may vary between
game manufacturers. In order for the gaming machine printer to
communicate with the cashless enabled games, the gaming machine
printer is cognizant of multiple communication protocols required
by the cashless enabled games, and the printer is capable of
recognizing a cashless enabled game coupled to the gaming machine
printer through a communications port as a trusted host.
[0050] The gaming machine printer also provides a primary second
communication port and automatically disconnects the gaming machine
printer from the native communication port(s) when a plug,
compatible with the primary second port, is inserted into the
primary second port. In addition, the gaming machine printer
detects the connection to the primary second communication port,
remembers that the connection was completed, and reports the
connection event to a trusted host after communications are
restored to the trusted host. The gaming machine printer only
allows trusted communications to occur through the primary second
port as the primary second port normally is used for downloading
and or uploading information to and from the gaming machine printer
without removing the gaming machine printer from the game, thus
providing in-place servicing features.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a process flow chart of a primary second port test
process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. A primary second port test process 600 is used by a
gaming machine printer to detect the presence of a device coupled
to the primary second port, communicate with the device, and report
the communication event to the cashless enabled game. The process
starts by checking (602) the primary second port to determine if a
device is connected to the primary second port. If the gaming
machine printer determines (604) that no device is connected to the
primary second port, then the gaming machine printer continues
(606) communications with the cashless enabled game or host using
the gaming machine printer's native port. If a device is detected
on the primary second port, the gaming machine printer notifies
(608) the game or host that a device was detected and establishes
communication session with the device using the primary second
port. When the communications session is over, the gaming machine
printer exits (610) the primary second port test process.
[0052] In an embodiment of a gaming machine printer, a plurality of
communication ports are provided. Each of the communications ports
provides either a native port or a primary second port using a
specific communication protocol. As a native port, each
communication port may communicate with games and other hosts in
the game's or host's native language. In addition, each of the
communications ports may be used as a primary second port to
download and upload to and from the games and other hosts. The
ports could be anyone or more of serial, parallel, Universal Serial
Bus (USB), `Ethernet or other types of communication port(s).
[0053] FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of a native port check
process for identifying a communication port to use as a native
port in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. The native port check process is used by a gaming
machine printer to identify which port should be used as a native
port to communicate with a cashless enabled game. The process may
be initiated when a gaming machine printer is first placed into a
cashless enabled game, such as a "hot" plug in, or when the gaming
machine printer is first powered up.
[0054] A native port check process 700 begins by the gaming machine
printer checking (702) for communication signals on each of a
plurality of communication ports. The process determines if a
device is using a communication port by checking (704) to see if
communication signals are present on a serial port. If so, the
gaming machine printer sets up (706) to communicate or establishes
a communication session through the serial port as a native port to
the cashless enabled game. Once the setup process is completed, the
native port check process is exited (720). In a like manner, the
gaming machine printer also checks (708) a parallel port by
checking for communications signals on the parallel port. If
communication signals are detected, the gaming machine printer sets
up (710) the parallel port as a native port for communications with
the cashless enabled game in the game's native communications
protocol. The gaming machine printer may also check (712) a
Universal Serial Bus (USB) port by attempting to detect
communications signals on the USB port. If communications signals
are detected, the gaming machine printer sets up (714) for
communications on the USB port as a native port for the cashless
enabled game. In general, the gaming machine printer checks (716)
for communications signals on each of the plurality of
communications ports provided by the gaming machine printer. If
communications signals are detected by the gaming machine printer
on a port, the gaming machine printer chooses that port as the
native port for communication with a cashless enabled game and sets
up (718) the chosen communications port for communications in the
native language of the cashless enabled game.
[0055] FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram of a status reporting
process employing nonvolatile memory storage to store and report
printer status in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. A nonvolatile memory is used in gaming machine
printers in a cashless gaming machine to remember printer status or
to attempt to re-constitute a partially printed voucher in the case
of a power failure. The gaming machine printer may also use the
nonvolatile memory to announce to a trusted game or other host that
the gaming machine printer was removed. Such a removal may be for
an unauthorized purpose such as an attempt to reset the status of
the gaming machine printer or perform other unauthorized
activities.
[0056] In a status reporting process 800, a nonvolatile memory
coupled to a gaming machine printer is continuously updated (802)
by storing the status of the gaming machine printer in the
nonvolatile memory. The gaming machine printer checks (804) the
communication status of the gaming machine printer to a cashless
enabled game or other host. If the gaming machine printer
determines (806) that the state of communication link indicates
that the communication link is interrupted, the gaming machine
printer sets-up (808) the nonvolatile memory to lock in the state
of the gaming machine printer. When communications are
reestablished with the cashless enabled game or other host, the
gaming machine printer notifies the cashless gaming printer or host
that the gaming machine printer lost communications with the
cashless gaming machine or host. The gaming machine printer may
then transmit a status report the cashless gaming machine or
host.
[0057] FIG. 9 is a perspective wireline drawing of a gaming machine
printer having a coiled electrical cable in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The gaming machine
printer includes a mobile module 900 slidably and removably coupled
to a stationary module 902. In prior printer configurations, the
stationary module may be connected to the mobile module by a ribbon
cable of a wiring harness. The mobile module is routinely accessed
by an attendant wherein the mobile module is moved in a sliding
motion relative to the stationary module for maintenance and
replenishing a supply of blank vouchers held in a storage area 906
of the printer. As the printers may be accessed multiple times
during a day, thus generating excessive wear on ribbon cables and
wiring harness that were never intended for a high frequency of
flexing.
[0058] In one embodiment of a gaming machine printer in accordance
with the present invention, a coiled electrical cable 904 is used
to connect the mobile module to the stationary module. The coiled
electrical cable includes power, communication, and other signals
required for the operation of the mobile module and the stationary
module included in the gaming machine printer. As the coiled
electrical cable, similar to a coiled cable connecting a telephone
handset to its base, is designed to be flexible, the coiled cable
does not experience excessive wear during repeated accesses by an
attendant.
[0059] In another embodiment of a gaming machine printer in
accordance with the present invention, the coiled cable is
hot-swappable. In this embodiment, the gaming machine printer
includes a hot-swap power controller (not shown) that senses when
the cable is being attached to, or removed from, the gaming machine
printer. In addition, a connector 905 coupling the gaming machine
printer to the cable includes a grounding pin (not shown) that
extends further from the base of the connector than any power
supply or data pins. This ensures the gaming machine printer is
grounded through the connector before any power is applied to the
gaming machine printer.
[0060] A front portion of the gaming machine printer may be used as
a mount for a decorative bezel (not shown) or an active device. To
facilitate use of either, a switched power connector 908 is
provided on the front portion. A bezel or active device may use the
power connector to power motors, circuits, lights, or other powered
elements.
[0061] The storage area 906 includes an opening 912 aligned with an
optical sensor mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown)
housed within the gaming machine printer. The optical sensor is
used to detect the presence of vouchers within the storage
area.
[0062] The gaming machine printer further includes one or more
openings 914 in a bottom portion of the gaming machine printer's
housing. These openings provide drainage for any liquids that may
find its way into the housing. Furthermore, the printed circuit
board within the housing is held in a spaced apart relationship
with an bottom interior surface of the housing in order to reduce
the amount of contact the printed circuit board may have with any
liquid flowing out of the housing through the drainage
openings.
[0063] FIG. 10 is a perspective wireline drawing of a gaming
machine printer having a coiled cable and in an extended position
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. A gaming machine printer includes a mobile module 900
slidably and removably coupled to a stationary module 902. The
gaming machine printer is coupled to a cashless gaming machine via
a coiled cable 904 shown in an extended position.
[0064] The coiled cable may be removably coupled to the mobile
module by separable connector 1000. The coiled cable may also
include a separable connector 1002 used to couple the coiled cable
to the cashless gaming machine. The connectors are designed to be
disconnected and connected routinely, thereby improving reliability
and decreasing the maintenance cost associated with a gaming
machine printer.
[0065] The mobile module includes one or more grounding tabs 1004.
The grounding tabs may be flat springs composed of an electrically
conductive material that engage with a conductive mounting surface
(not shown) to which the stationary module is mounted. In
operation, the mobile module is mated to the stationary module and
slid into position with the grounding tabs in contact with the
conductive mounting surface. This ensures the mobile module is
grounded while it is in position. The mobile module is held at
various locations on the stationary module by indentions 1008 that
mate with a spring element having curved fingers (not shown).
[0066] FIG. 16a is a side view and FIG. 16b is a top view of an
electrostatic discharge pin and user accessible switch in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 16a and FIG. 16b, like numbered elements indicate similar
features of the user accessible switch and electrostatic discharge
pin. Such discharge pins protecting user accessible devices are
desirable in instances where the gaming machine printer has a
housing composed of a nonconductive material. A user accessible
device such as a switch 1600 is mounted on a printed circuit board
1602. The user accessible device may be a dip switch or other
switch that a user uses to affect changes in the printer's
configuration. The switch is housed within the gaming machine
printer and protected by an outer housing 1604 having an opening
1606 through which the user may access the switch. An electrostatic
discharge pin 1608 extends from the printed circuit board alongside
the switch and protrudes above an upper surface 1610 of the
housing. The electrostatic discharge pin is composed of an
electrically conducting material and is operable to conduct an
electric current around the switch to ground such as through a
grounding plane or other circuit within the printed circuit board.
The electrostatic discharge pin is located in close proximity to
the switch such that, in order to actuate the switch, a distal
portion of a user's digit 1612 first comes into close or actual
contact with the electrostatic discharge pin. In doing so, any
electrostatic charge held by the user will be drained to ground
through the electrostatic discharge pin and not into the
switch.
[0067] FIG. 11 is a semi-perspective drawing of a gaming machine
printer including a voucher path management system in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A gaming
machine printer includes a mobile module 900 having a sub-module
1100 housing the components of a voucher path management system.
The components include a series of pinch rollers, 1104a, 1104b, and
1104c, covered in a flexible material, with accompanying mechanical
guides. The pinch rollers and mechanical guides provide a
serpentine path for a voucher 1106 as the voucher is being printed.
The pinch rollers pull the voucher through the voucher path
management system as the voucher is being printed by the thermal
print head mechanism 1108. The overall length of the serpentine
path is such that a voucher can be held within the voucher path
management system after a voucher has been fully printed.
[0068] Vouchers used in a cashless gaming machine are approximately
the size of a dollar bill, and are commonly referred to as dollar
bill vouchers. Blank vouchers 1114 may be stored in a voucher bin
area 906 of the mobile module. The blank vouchers are perforated,
for easy separation, and fan folded in packs containing quantities
of several hundred blank vouchers. Vouchers are made from thermally
reactive stock that is designed to be used in a thermal
printer.
[0069] To load a blank voucher into the gaming machine printer, the
blank voucher is manually feed into a receiver slot 1116 on a rear
side of the thermal print mechanism. The thermal print mechanism
self-feeds the blank voucher into a position in the thermal print
mechanism such that the blank voucher is ready to be printed.
[0070] On receiving a print request from the cashless gaming
machine or other host, the gaming machine printer begins printing a
voucher. The gaming machine printer generates an image to be
printed on the voucher and operates the thermal print mechanism in
a manner that creates the image on the thermally reactive
paper.
[0071] As the print job progress, the voucher is moved from the
thermal print mechanism toward a burster bar 1118, being guided
along the way by mechanical guides. The mechanical guides cause the
voucher to be engaged in the pinch rollers that are motor driven
and continue to move the voucher in the indicated direction
1120.
[0072] The thermal print mechanism, the pinch rollers and the
mechanical guides all function together in such a way that the
completely printed voucher is held inside of the mobile module of
the gaming machine printer. In addition, the voucher perforation is
stopped at a point 1122 just past the burster bar.
[0073] After the successful completion of a voucher printing step,
the gaming machine printer is ready to eject the voucher. To do so,
the thermal print mechanism ceases to move the voucher while the
pinch rollers continue to move the voucher toward the ejection
point 1124. As tension builds at the voucher perforation, located
near the burster bar, the completed voucher bursts away from the
blank voucher to its rear. The pinch rollers move the completed
voucher out through the ejection slot and the completed voucher is
held in this position awaiting hand removal.
[0074] The voucher path management system may further include an
optical scanning device 324 and a paper sensor 1110. The optical
scanning device may be used by the gaming machine printer to
validate a printed voucher or verify the quality of the imaging on
the thermally reactive paper of the voucher as previously
described. If the voucher cannot be validated or the print quality
is poor, the gaming machine printer may hold the invalid voucher
within the voucher path management system until an attendant can
clear the invalid voucher from the gaming machine printer. The
voucher path management system may further include a heating bar
1112 for voiding an invalid voucher. In operation, the gaming
machine printer may pass an invalid voucher by the heating bar as
the invalid voucher is ejected. Heat generated by the heating bar
causes thermally sensitive inks in the voucher to be completely
activated, thus obscuring any previously printed information on the
invalid voucher. Alternatively, as the voucher path management
system holds the voucher completely at the end of the printing
step, the gaming machine printer is capable of retracting the
invalid voucher back into the thermal printing mechanism and
printing a "void" image over any statements on the invalid voucher.
The voided voucher would either be held for manual retrieval or
ejected. In addition, the gaming machine printer may notify the
cashless gaming machine or other host of the invalid voucher. The
gaming machine printer may then void the voucher in response to a
remote command or through local logic.
[0075] FIG. 12 is a side view wireline drawing of a gaming machine
printer including a voucher path management system in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the
depicted gaming machine printer mobile module 1200, the voucher
path management system 1201 includes two pinch rollers 1202a and
1202b. The rollers define a serpentine path 1204 with the aid of an
upper voucher guide 1206a and a lower voucher guide 1206b for the
passage of a voucher through the voucher path management
system.
[0076] The pinch rollers and mechanical guides provide a serpentine
path for a voucher 1208 as the voucher is being printed. The pinch
rollers pull the voucher through the voucher path management system
as the voucher is being printed by the thermal print head mechanism
1210. The overall length of the serpentine path is such that a
voucher can be held within the voucher path management system after
a voucher has been fully printed.
[0077] As a print job progress, the voucher is moved from the
thermal print mechanism past a burster bar 1214, being guided along
the way by the mechanical guides. The mechanical guides cause the
voucher to be engaged in the pinch rollers that are motor driven.
The thermal print mechanism, the pinch rollers, and the mechanical
guides all function together in such a way that the completely
printed voucher is held inside of the mobile module of the gaming
machine printer. In addition, the voucher perforation is stopped at
a point 1216 just past the burster bar.
[0078] The voucher path management system may further include an
optical scanning device 1218 and a paper sensor 1220. The optical
scanning device may be used by the gaming machine printer to
validate a printed voucher or verify the quality of the imaging on
the thermally reactive paper of the voucher as previously
described. The voucher path management system may further include
an additional paper sensor 1222 and optical scanning device 1224
adjacent to a ticket ejection slot 1226.
[0079] In a voucher path management system in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper voucher
guide 1206a is fixedly attached to an inside surface of a top
portion 1207 of an openable clamshell cover. The cover includes a
hinge (not shown) at a rear portion 1209 of cover. A third pinch
roller 1211 is mounted transversely within the upper mechanical
voucher guide. When the cover is closed, pinch roller 1211 is
pressed against pinch roller 1202b with the voucher held
therebetween. In addition, when the cover is closed, the upper
voucher guide forms an upper surface for the serpentine voucher
path with the lower voucher guide forming a lower surface.
[0080] When the cover is opened, the upper voucher guide, along
with pinch roller 1211, comes away along with the cover, opening up
the serpentine guide. This allows a user to have unobstructed
access to any voucher held in the voucher path management system.
Not only does this facilitate clearing of a jammed voucher, it also
serves to provide a reassuring view to a player that may be
watching a technician retrieve a valuable voucher.
[0081] FIG. 17a is a side view, FIG. 17b is a front view, and FIG.
17c is a bottom view of a burster bar in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 17a to FIG.
17c, like numbered elements indicate similar features of the
burster bar. Burster bar 1700 includes a top portion 1702 having
one or more mounting tabs 1703 for attachment to a gaming machine
printer and a free bottom portion 1704 that contacts a voucher
during a bursting operation. The bottom portion has a curved
leading edge 1705 and a rounded trailing edge 1706. The bottom
portion includes a lip 1708 that protrudes downwardly from the
trailing edge. Viewed from the side, the lip defines a bottom
surface 1710 having a compound curvature with a downwardly sloping
component extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge.
Viewed from the front, the lip defines a bottom edge sloping
downwardly from each side of the burster bar towards a centralized
lip. Viewed from the bottom, the protruding lip defines a
triangular bottom portion with two sides of a triangle sloping from
the leading edge to the trailing edge at joining at the protruding
lip. In operation, the protruding lip serves as a pressure point to
separate a voucher from a subsequent voucher at a perforated
junction as previously described.
[0082] FIG. 13 is semi-perspective drawing of a gaming machine
printer including a mobile module with a hinged sub-module in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
The gaming machine printer's mobile module 900 includes a
sub-module 1300 moveably coupled to the mobile module by a hinge
1301. The sub-module is secured closed by a mechanical latching
mechanism 1302. Upon releasing the latch, the sub-module is capable
of pivoting away from the mobile module as illustrated by the
movement arc 1304. A sensor 1306 is located on the mobile module to
detect whether the sub-module is open or closed. The gaming machine
printer uses the sensor to detect when the sub-module is open and
can notify the cashless gaming machine or other host that the
sub-module is open, thereby enhancing the overall security of the
cashless gaming process. The gaming machine printer, when the
sub-module is in the open position, provides access to the internal
parts of the gaming machine printer, thereby simplifying routine
maintenance and removal of obstructions, such as miss-fed vouchers
inside of the gaming machine printer.
[0083] FIG. 14 is a software module diagram of a gaming machine
printer controller in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention. A gaming machine printer controller has a
gaming machine printer control logic module 1400 that includes the
logic for previously described gaming machine printer functions.
The gaming machine printer receives input communications signals
1402 from a cashless enabled game or other host. The communications
signals may come from a variety of communications devices as
previously described. The communications signals are received by
the gaming machine printer using a plurality of communications
device drivers 1404. The input communications signals may contain
commands which are parsed using a command parser module 1406. The
gaming machine printer control logic may also use the
communications interface drivers to generate and transmit output
communications signals 1407 to the cashless enabled game or
host.
[0084] In response to the parsed commands, the gaming machine
printer control logic generates thermal print mechanism drive
signals 1408 using a thermal print mechanism driver 1410. As
previously described, the thermal print mechanism drive signals may
instruct the thermal print mechanism to print a voucher, void a
voucher, print a test pattern, adjust the power levels of an
individual thermal element, etc. The gaming machine printer control
logic also generates voucher path management system signals 1412
using a voucher path management system driver 1414. The voucher
path management system signals instruct the components of the
voucher path management system to hold a voucher, burst a voucher,
retract a voucher, etc. as previously described.
[0085] The gaming machine printer control logic uses a nonvolatile
memory driver 1416 to write and read gaming machine printer status
signals 1418 stored in a nonvolatile memory. The status signals may
be transmitted to a cashless enabled game or host or used
internally by the gaming machine printer control logic as
previously described.
[0086] The gaming machine printer control logic uses an input
sensor driver 1420 to read input sensors such as a paper sensor
1422 and an open sub-module sensor 1424. The paper sensor may be
used to detect the presence or absence of vouchers and the open
sub-module sensor may be used to detect an open sub-module as
previously described.
[0087] The gaming machine printer control logic uses an optical
scanner device driver 1424 to receive scanned voucher signals 1426.
The gaming machine printer control logic uses the scanned voucher
control signals to verify or validate a voucher or to calibrate the
thermal print mechanism as previously described.
[0088] FIG. 15 is an architecture diagram for a data processing
system suitable for use as a gaming machine printer controller host
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. A gaming machine printer controller host 1500 includes a
processor 1501 coupled to a main memory 1502 via a system bus 1504.
The processor is also coupled to a data storage device 1506 via the
system bus. The storage device includes programming instructions
1508 implementing the features of a gaming machine printer as
described above. In operation, the processor loads the programming
instructions into the main memory and executes the programming
instructions to implement the features of the gaming machine
printer as previously described.
[0089] The data processing system may further include a plurality
of communications device interfaces 1512 coupled to the processor
via the system bus. A gaming machine printer controller, hosted by
the data processing system, uses the communications device
interfaces to communicate with a cashless gaming machine or other
host as previously described.
[0090] The data processing system may further include a thermal
print mechanism interface 1514 coupled to the processor via the
system bus. A gaming machine printer controller, hosted by the data
processing system, uses the thermal print mechanism interface to
generate control signals for a thermal print mechanism and receive
electrical feedback signals as previously described.
[0091] The data processing system may further include a voucher
path management system interface 1516 coupled to the processor via
the system bus. A gaming machine printer controller, hosted by the
data processing system, uses the voucher path management system
interface to generate control signals for a voucher path management
system as previously described.
[0092] The data processing system may further include an optical
scanning device interface 1518 coupled to the processor via the
system bus. A gaming machine printer controller, hosted by the data
processing system, uses the optical scanning device interface to
receive voucher scan signals from an optical scanning device as
previously described.
[0093] The data processing system may further include a sensor
interface 1520 coupled to the processor via the system bus. A
gaming machine printer controller, hosted by the data processing
system, uses the sensor interface to receive sensor signals from
various components of a gaming machine printer as previously
described.
[0094] The data processing system may further include a nonvolatile
memory interface 1522 coupled to the processor via the system bus.
A gaming machine printer controller, hosted by the data processing
system, uses the nonvolatile memory interface to store and retrieve
gaming machine printer status signals as previously described.
[0095] Although this invention has been described in certain
specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations
would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to
be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than
as specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the
invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and
not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be determined by any
claims supported by this application and the claims' equivalents
rather than the foregoing description.
* * * * *