FR2695744A1 - Machine for analysing game coupons - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a roller drive (17) that carries the coupon past a reader, and a processor that converts the information read from the coupon to a digital format for transmission to a central computer. The reader has an image detector (15), of elongated shape, suspended in a box (1,2,3) with its end mountings (20,21) attaching it to the frame of the machine. The reader extends the width of a coupon, and is elastically mounted so that it is held against the roller as the coupons pass through. The image data is then converted to a digitally encoded form.

Description

 The present invention relates to document analysis devices and relates more particularly but not exclusively to devices for analyzing game cards or receipts issued to players as proof of the game cards they have presented and the amounts of the stakes they have paid.

 Certain games, in particular lottery games, consist of having the player fill out a bulletin comprising a grid formed of boxes in which the player places signs to form a combination on which he is betting.

 These game bulletins are delivered by the players to gaming offices equipped with terminals and receipts are issued to them in return for the bulletins, as well as the payment of a corresponding stake.

 Gaming terminals are generally equipped with analysis devices or readers of bulletins and receipts which allow the processing of coded signals transmitted to a central unit in which the players' games are stored in memory until the draw.

 The invention aims to improve document analysis devices in order to ensure the presentation and scrolling thereof in the best conditions to ensure reliable reading.

 It therefore relates to a device for analyzing information support, in particular bulletins or game receipts comprising means for introducing the support, means for reading the information found on the support, means for processing the information read. on the support for their conversion into digital data and their transmission, characterized in that the reading means comprise an image detector of elongated shape suspended in a housing and having at its ends mounting means cooperating with means additional mounting means provided in the corresponding end walls of the housing, elastic members interposed between the image detector and the housing, means for driving the information carriers in front of the image detector, comprising a roller and a electric motor for rotating the roller, said roller being mounted in the end walls of the housing by means of locks and ensuring the maintenance of the image detector in said housing, the elastic members ensuring the application of the image detector against the surface of the roller either in the presence of an information medium between the image detector and the roller, either empty.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which
- Fig.l is an exploded perspective view of the device for analyzing information carriers according to the invention;
- Fig.2 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of the device of Fig.l;
- Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the analysis device according to the invention, some parts of which have been removed;
- Fig.4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled device; and
- Fig.5 is a sectional view on a larger scale of a variant of the guide flap and document reception.

 The device for analyzing information carriers or documents represented in FIG. 1, comprises a box 1 in the form of a channel of general U-shaped section with flared edges, made of metal sheet and closed at its ends by flanges 2 and 3 made of plastic, for example fixed to the housing 1, for example by screws 3a.

 The flared edges 4 and 5 of the housing 1 comprise, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, inclined portions 6,7 each extending a vertical wing 8,9 of the housing and horizontal edges 10,11.

 This flared shape of the housing 1 facilitates the mounting of the device in a larger assembly such as for example a gaming terminal or the like.

 In the housing thus formed, is arranged an image detector 15 of elongated parallelepiped shape extending over the entire length of the housing and consisting of a linear light source (not shown), means for focusing the light emitted by the source on a transparent wall 16 situated opposite a document drive roller 17 and photo-sensitive elements (not shown) for detecting light beams coming from the linear source when they are reflected by a document placed between the transparent wall 16 and the roller 17.

 The image detector 15 has at its ends mounting plates 18,19 which, as seen on the plate 18, each have a projection 20, cooperating with an inclined groove formed in each of the end flanges 2,3 of the housing and of which only the groove 21 of the flange 3 is visible, to allow mounting of the image detector 15 in the housing 1.

 As can be seen in FIG. 3, a pin spring 23 mounted on a lug 24 fixed to the flange 3 is fixed to the bottom of each end flange 2,3 of the housing, near the bottom 22 corresponding and comprising a curved branch 25 held in abutment against a pin 26 and intended to come into contact with an edge of the corresponding plate 19 for mounting the image detector 15 to thereby ensure suspension or floating mounting of the detector 15 in the housing 1.

 The image detector 15 is held in place in the housing by the drive roller 17, the periphery of which is coated, as known per se with a layer of cellular rubber 28 or the like.

 At each of its ends, the roller 17 has axes 29.30 provided with corresponding bearings 31.32 intended to be received in respective notches 33.34 formed in the upper edges 35.36 of the end plates 2 and 3 of the housing 1.

 The bearings 31, 32 are each provided with a lock 37, 38 for immobilizing the roller 17 relative to the housing 1.

 These locks are identical, so that only the most visible in the drawing, namely the lock 38 will be described.

 It comprises a rod 39 integral with a hub 40 forming one of the parts of the corresponding bearing and provided with flats 40a for engaging the bearings in the corresponding notches 33, 34 of the flanges 2,3 when the locks are in the unlocked position. .

 At the end of the rod 39 opposite the hub is provided a hole 41 which cooperates with a locking stud 42 provided on the corresponding end flange of the housing 1.

 Locking is ensured, after the ends of the roller 17 have been placed in the corresponding notches 33, 34 of the housing 1 by rotation of the latches 37, 38 and engagement of the locking studs such as the stud 42 in the corresponding holes such as the hole 41 locks.

 The elasticity of the latches 37, 38 allows a slight deformation of the latter towards the interior of the housing to allow their engagement on the locking pins 42.

 A tongue 43 provided at the end of each lock makes it possible to facilitate its release maneuver in view of the release of the roller 17.

 As shown in Fig. 4, when the roller 17 is in place in the housing 1, it bears against the transparent face 16 of the image detector 15 and causes the suspension springs of the image detector to energize. thus permanently apply the detector 15 against the roller 17 thanks to the sliding mounting of the detector 15 in the inclined guide grooves 21 of the housing.

 This gives permanent contact between the detector and the roller, whether in the presence of a document to be analyzed interposed between these two elements or when empty.

 The end axis 29 of the roller 17 carries a pinion 45 for driving the roller in rotation which meshes with the output pinion 46 of a reduction gear 47 with two pinions 46 and 48 mounted for rotation on axes fixed to the flanges 2 of the housing 1. The input pinion 48 of the reducer is wedged on the output shaft 49 of a stepping electric motor 50 for driving the roller fixed to the flanges 2 by means of spacers 51 made of material which provide sufficient space between them to accommodate the pinions of the reduction gear 47.

 The bearing 32 mounted at the end of the roller 17 opposite the drive pinion 45, has interposed between the part 40 forming a hub for the latch 38 and a washer 55 bearing on a circlip 56 engaged in an end groove 57 of the axis 30 of the roller 17, a corrugated washer 58 whose elasticity ensures a tight mounting of the bearing 32 against a corresponding shoulder 59 of the axis 30 of the roller, the bearing 32 thus forming a brake intended to damp the vibrations due to the step-by-step drive of the roller 17 transmitted to the roller 17 by the drive pinion 45 thereof.

 Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2, the output pinion 46 of the reduction gear 47 is also mounted on its axis by means of a corrugated washer 60, the axis of the pinion 46 being constituted by a threaded rod 61 comprising a smooth part 62 for receiving the pinion 46 and a head 63 for axially retaining this pinion.

 When the threaded rod 61 is screwed into a corresponding tapped hole formed in the flange 2 of the housing 1, the corrugated washer 60 is compressed and ensures the rotational braking of the pinion 46 and thus the damping of the vibrations which are transmitted to it by the motor. step by step 50.

 In the housing is also arranged an oscillating flap 65 for receiving documents after their reading by the device. The oscillating flap 65 has a profile roughly in the form of a square and also extends over the entire length of the housing between the flanges 2 and 3 thereof. I1 has a longitudinal allowance 66 in which are housed receptacles 67 for receiving rollers 68 mounted for rotation on pins 69 engaged in a removable manner by snap-fastening in slots 70 provided on either side of the housings 67. The rollers 68 are four in number and are regularly distributed over the length of the oscillating flap 65.

 The longitudinal overthickness 66 of the oscillating flap 65 has a concave face 71 in the form of a portion of cylinder coaxial with the roller 17 to promote the passage of documents.

 The flap 65 is mounted oscillating on the end flanges 2 and 3 of the housing 1, by means of forks 72 which each cooperate with an axis 73 which can be seen on the flange 3, turned towards the inside of the housing. 1. The flap 65 is held in position by pin springs 74, one branch 75 of which is bent and hooked on a lug 76 provided on the end edge of the flap and the opposite end of which 77 is straight and abuts with a pin such as 78 placed next to the axis 73 on the flange 3 of the housing 1.

 Thus the springs 74 ensure the permanent application of the rollers 68 against the roller 17.

 The rollers 68 have the role on the one hand of accompanying the documents driven by the roller 17, to the rear edge of the document and on the other hand, when a document is released by the roller 17, of bringing it back against the shutter in cooperation with a stop which will be described with reference to Fig.5.

 Of course, the corresponding elements are provided on the flange 2 to ensure the oscillating mounting of the flywheel 65 at its two ends.

 As can be seen in Fig.4, the device is completed by a guide 80 fixed by spacers 81 (Fig.1) in the housing 1 and which is intended to facilitate the introduction of documents between the roller 17 and the image detector 15.

 Sensors 82, for example infrared sensors are also arranged along the guide 80 to detect the presence of a document at the input of the device.

 Advantageously, these sensors are two in number and their distance is provided so as to make it possible to determine the nature of the document presented to the device according to the width of this document.

Such an arrangement is described in French patent application No. 92 10 642 filed on September 7, 1992 by the Applicant and entitled "Device for analyzing information carriers, in particular game bulletins
Instead of being mounted to oscillate, the flap for guiding and receiving information carriers can be fixedly mounted in the housing of the device and the rollers which it carries can be applied against the roller 17 by elastic members.

 Such a variant is shown in Fig. 5.

 According to this variant, the guide flap 83 fixed in the housing (not shown) of the device comprises, like the oscillating flap 65 of FIG. 1, an additional thickness 84 having a concave face 85 in the form of a cylinder portion and in this additional thickness housings 86 for rollers 87 whose role is the same as that of rollers 68.

 The rollers 87 are each mounted on an axis 88.

 In the face of the flap 83 opposite the additional thickness 84 are provided recesses 89 provided at the locations of the rollers 87 and opening into the corresponding housings 86.

 An axis 88 of a roller 87 is engaged in grooves 90 hollowed out in the bottom wall of each recess 89 on either side of the housing 86 and applied to the bottom of said grooves by a leaf spring 91 fixed in the bottom of the recess by a screw 92 and having a branch 93 bent at a right angle and having the shape of a fork, in contact with the ends of the roller 86 projecting relative thereto.

 Thus, each roller 86 is biased by its spring 91 in the extended position relative to the curved face 85 and consequently against the roller 17.

 Finally, in Fig.5, there is shown a stop 94 which can also be provided in the embodiment of Fig.l and which serves in cooperation with the rollers 87 to allow the stacking of the sheets F of documents processed at as they exit the device.

 To this end, the stop 94 has an inclined edge against which the front edges of the sheets F abut to then be pushed against the stack of sheets F already formed against the flap.

 The document analysis device which has just been described also comprises means for processing the information read by the image detector and means for controlling the electric stepper motor 50 to allow the document to be explored by successive scans. line after line.

 These means, which are not really part of the present invention, are also described in the aforementioned patent application.

 In the present embodiment, the device according to the invention being essentially applied to the analysis of game reports and receipts, the image detector 15 is constituted by an optical reader blind to at least one color in which the information fixes are printed on the document to be examined and sensitive to other colors in order to take into account only the variable information of sets and the fixed information of framing of the document and designation of the type of game to which it belongs, printed in these others colors.

 This image detector is also described in French patent application No. 92 10 642 cited above.

 It will however be understood that the device for analyzing information carriers according to the invention may include an image detector of different construction provided, however, that it is of the linear type allowing exploration by scrolling of the documents submitted to it.

 One can for example consider replacing the image detector described above, a global reading analyzer, case by case analysis of a document and positive recognition of the signs carried by the document, such as those used for example by fax machines.

Claims (12)

 1. Device for analyzing an information medium, in particular bulletins or game receipts comprising means for introducing the medium, means for reading the information on the medium, means for processing the information read from the support for their conversion into digital data and their transmission, characterized in that the reading means comprise an image detector (15) of elongated shape suspended in a housing (1,2,3) and having at its ends mounting means (20) cooperating with complementary mounting means (21) provided in the corresponding end walls (2,3) of the housing, elastic members (23) interposed between the image detector (15) and the housing (22), means for driving the information carriers in front of the image detector, comprising a roller (17) and an electric motor (50) for rotating the roller, said roller (17) being mounted in the walls end (2,3) of the housing by means of latches (37,38) and ensuring the maintenance of the image detector (15) in said housing, the elastic members (23) ensuring the application of the image detector (15) against the surface of the roller either in the presence of an information medium between the image detector (15) and the roller (17), or empty.  2. Analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device housing has in section the shape of a flared U closed at its ends by plastic flanges (2,3) and in that the detector of images (15) comprises at its ends mounting plates (18,19) provided with ribs (20) cooperating with inclined grooves (21) formed in the end flanges (2,3) of the housing (1) , the mounting plates (18,19) and the inclined grooves (21) constituting the complementary molding means of the image detector (15) in the housing.  3. Analysis device according to claim 2, characterized in that the roller (17) for driving information carriers comprises at its ends axes (29.30) provided with bearings (31.32) of which are part the latches (37,38) and the end flanges (2,3) of the housing (1) include notches (33,34) for receiving the bearings (31,32) of the roller and locking means (42) latches (37,38) in the locked position.  4. Analysis device according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said elastic means for applying the image detector (15) against the roller (17) are pin springs (23) mounted on lugs (24) provided on the end flanges (2,3) of the bolt-fitting and each having a curved branch (25) held in abutment against a pin (26) integral with a corresponding flange, and intended to come into contact with an edge of the corresponding plate (18,19) for mounting the image detector (15) to thereby suspend the detector (15) in the housing (1).  5. Analysis device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least one of the bearings (32) of the roller (17) for driving information carriers comprises means (58) forming brake intended to dampen the vibrations to which the roller (17) is subjected on the part of the drive means (45, 47, 50).  6. Analysis device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that each lock (37,38) of the roller (17) comprises a rod secured to a hub (40) forming an integral part of the bearing (31 , 32) corresponding, said rod (37,38) having at its free end locking means (41) complementary to the locking means (42) provided on the end flanges (2,3) of the housing, while the hub (40) comprises flats (40a) for introducing the hub into the corresponding notch (33, 34) of said flange, in the unlocked position of the bolt, the bolt rods having an elasticity allowing the engagement and release of the means of additional block <41.42).

 7. Next analysis device> 3se claims 2 to 6, characterized in that there is further provided a flap (65) mounted in the housing (1,2,3) and intended for guiding and receiving the supports during and after their passage between the roller (17) and the image detector (15), the flap comprising a longitudinal allowance (66) having a concave face (71) in the form of a portion of cylinder coaxial with the roller ( 17) and provided with housings (67) for receiving rotating rollers regularly distributed over its length.  8. Analysis device according to claim 7, characterized in that the flap (65) is oscillating and in that the rotary rollers (68) are mounted in their housings (67) by means of pins (69) engaged with removably, by snapping into slots (70) provided on either side of the housings (67).  9. Analysis device according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the flap (65) is mounted oscillating in the housing (1,2,3) by means of forks (72) cooperating with axes ( 73) provided on the end flanges (2,3) of the housing, with interposition of return springs (74) ensuring the application of the rollers (68) against the roller (17) driving the information carriers.  10. Analysis device according to claim 7, characterized in that the flap (83) for guiding and receiving information carriers is fixedly mounted in the housing of the device and in that the rotary rollers (87) are mounted in their housings (86) and cooperate with elastic members (91) for applying said rollers (87) against the roller (17) driving information carriers.  11. Analysis device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that stop means (94) are arranged above the rollers (68; 87) for deflecting the sheets (F) of documents leaving the device and thus ensure their stacking against the flap (65; 83).  12. Analysis device according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the motor (50) for rotating the drive roller (17) is a stepping motor and is mounted on one end flanges (2) of the housing (1,2,3), its output shaft (49) being connected to a pinion (45) integral with the drive roller (17) via a reduction gear (47) whose output pinion (46) comprises means (60) forming a vibration damping brake from the electric motor (50).