FR3065451B1 - COIL PAPER DISPENSER, GAMING TERMINAL AND PRINTER PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DISTRIBUTOR - Google Patents

Abstract

Roll paper dispenser rolled into a reel. This dispenser comprises a housing (5) for accommodating a paper roll, and an actuating element, for example a hood (6), movable between an open position allowing the coil to be introduced into the housing (5), and a closed position, in which it covers the coil. It further comprises a movable brake (10) between, on the one hand, an inactive position which it occupies when the cover (6) is in the open position, and in which it allows an insertion of the coil into its housing (5). ), and on the other hand, a braking position in which it is likely to interact with the coil when the cover (6) is in the closed position. The movement of the brake (10) between its inactive position and its braking position is slaved to the movement of the cover (6) between the open and closed positions thereof. The invention also relates to a gaming terminal and printer provided with such a distributor

Description

The invention relates to the field of paper reel dispensers, such as ticket printer dispensers. The invention also relates to the field of gaming terminals equipped with at least one printer for printing tickets from a reel of paper.

[002] Thus, there are known dispensers of paper or tickets, including a housing for accommodating a strip of paper roll (in this document, the term "ticket" generally means a piece of a support strip of impression, without attaching itself to its function which may be that of a ticket, a receipt, a receipt, etc.). A hood eventually closes the tray. Driving means are used to unwind the paper web of the coil placed in the housing, by pulling on a portion already unwound of this paper web. The fast drive of the paper web in the modern dispensers, as well as the inertia of the spool driven quickly and possibly in jerks, can cause during the stopping of the training, a paper unrolling in excess. Such unwinding of paper in excess can lead to a problem of accumulation of the paper unrolled in the housing, upstream of the drive means, or even a blockage of the unwinding of the paper web. Solutions have been sought to this problem known as expansion. For example, one of these solutions is presented in EP1426316A1. In this device a brake is provided to come into contact with a side of the coil to slow the rotation of the coil when its drive stops. For the brake to be effective, it must be pressed with a certain force against the sidewall. The brake is removed by the coil itself when introducing it into its receptacle. During this operation, the operator must force the spool to push and move the brake against the force that tends to bring it back and press it against the side of the spool. This operation is difficult and, in addition, likely to damage or tear at least locally the paper still wrapped.

An object of the invention is to at least partially overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.

[004] For this purpose, it is proposed according to the invention a roll paper dispenser wound in the form of a roll or reel. This dispenser includes a housing for accommodating the paper roll. It also comprises an actuating element, for example a hood or an arm, movable between an open position (or opening) and a closed position (or closing).

[005] In this document, it is assigned a similar meaning to "open" or "open", on the one hand, and "closed" or "closed", on the other hand. In other words, the adjectives "open" or "closed" do not necessarily refer to a volume that could be open or closed.

[006] The introduction of the paper roll into the housing is possible when the actuating element is in the open (or opening) position. In the closed (or closing) position if the actuating element is a cover, this covers at least partially the paper reel. The distributor further comprises a movable brake between an inactive position and a braking position. The brake is in the inactive position when the actuating element is in the open (or opening) position and in the braking position when the actuating element is in the closed (or closing) position. In the inactive position, the brake allows the introduction of the paper roll into the housing without direct interaction between the brake and the spool. In the braking position, the brake is likely to interact with the paper roll. In particular, the brake interacts with the coil to brake it, for example, when the coil is more than half full. Optionally, the brake no longer interacts with the coil when the latter has a smaller diameter, for example, less than half of its initial diameter and in particular when it is almost completely unwound. The movement of the brake between its inactive position and its braking position is slaved to the movement of the actuating element between the open (or opening) and closed (or closing) positions thereof.

[007] Thus, thanks to the invention, when the actuating element is in the open position (or opening), the brake is held in the inactive position and an operator can introduce a paper reel into the housing without being embarrassed by the brake. On the other hand, once the paper reel is in place in the casing and the actuating element in the closed (or closing) position, the brake can come into contact with the paper reel in order to slow its rotation when it stops. training of the portion of the strip of paper already unrolled. It is thus possible to avoid or limit the unnecessary progress of a portion of the paper strip due to the inertia accompanying the rotation of the reel.

[008] The dispenser according to the invention optionally comprises one or the other of the characteristics mentioned below, considered alone or in combination with one or more others: [009] - the coil placed in the housing is unwound around an unwinding axis and the movement of the brake between its inactive position and its braking position is performed in a direction parallel to this unwinding axis; [ooio] - the brake is mounted on the actuating element (for example, a hood or an arm); [ooii] - alternatively, the brake is mounted on the housing; [0012] the displacement of the brake between its inactive position and its braking position is controlled by a cam actuated during the movement of the actuating element, from its open (or opening) position to its closed position (or closing); The housing comprises a flange with an opening, the flange holding the brake in the inactive position during at least a portion of the movement of the actuating element between its open (or open) and closed (or closing), and the opening coinciding with the position of the brake when the actuating element is in the closed (or closing) position, so that the brake protrudes on a surface of the flange, through the opening, and can come into his braking position; It comprises drive means for unwinding the rolled paper housed in the housing, by pulling on a portion of the paper strip unrolled from the reel; and [0015] - it comprises a cover, and the housing and the cover are of suitable dimensions for receiving a rolled-up paper strip whose width is greater than or equal to 80 mm, the diameter of the coil being greater than or equal to at 100mm (when the coil is complete); indeed, it is found that problems of expansion occur with coils having a certain inertia when braking their progress; this inertia is mainly related to the weight of the coil which is a function of its width, its diameter and the thickness or grammage of the paper; the dimensions given above may therefore vary; thus, if the coil has a greater width, the diameter beyond which the expansion can occur will be smaller and vice versa; it should also be taken into consideration that below a certain weight, the coil could remain in engagement with the brake and would be lifted without relying on the bearings, or idle rollers, located at the bottom of the housing; the brake is placed so that it no longer interacts with the coil if it is consumed and reduced below a certain diameter; for example, the brake is positioned so that a coil having a diameter smaller than 120mm no longer interacts with the brake.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a printer comprising a dispenser comprising one of the features set out above, as well as printing means for performing thermal printing on the roll paper located in the housing.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a gaming terminal comprising such a printer and wherein the printer prints, from a paper strip, tickets or receipts.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows, as well as in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment of a game terminal according to the invention; FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows in perspective and in section a portion of a first example of a paper dispenser for a game terminal such as that shown in Figure 1; - Figure 3 shows schematically in perspective a brake to equip a paper dispenser such as that of Figure 2, the brake being in the braking position and acting on a reel; - Figures 4 and 5 show schematically respectively in perspective and seen from the front, the brake of Figure 3; - Figure 6 schematically shows a zoom on the brake shown on the brake of Figure 5; - Figure 7 shows schematically in perspective and in partial section of the brake of Figures 4 to 6, provided with a shell; - Figures 8 and 9 show schematically in perspective, from two different angles, the brake of Figures 4 to 6, in the braking position; - Figures 10 and 11 show schematically in perspective, from two different angles, the brake of Figures 4 to 6, 8 and 9, in the inactive position; - Figures 12 and 13 show schematically in perspective, from two different angles, the brake of a second example of paper dispenser for a gaming terminal such as that shown in Figure 1, the latter being in the inactive position; and - Figures 14 and 15 show schematically in perspective, from two different angles, the brake of Figures 12 and 13, the latter being in the braking position.

In this document the terms "high", "low", etc. are purely conventional and make, where appropriate, reference to the orientations as shown in the figures.

In Figure 1 is shown an example of an embodiment of a game terminal 1 according to the invention. This includes, for example, a reading and display unit 2, a client module 3 and a ticket dispenser 4, connected with or wirelessly to the reading and display unit 2.

The dispenser 4 tickets comprises a housing 5 closed by a cover 6. The housing 5 can accommodate a reel 7 of paper from which are printed and distributed tickets 8. The coil 7 has for example a larger diameter at 160mm, it is for example 200mm. The width of the paper strip wound on the spool 7 is, for example, 80 mm or 82.55 mm. The thickness of the paper of the tape wound on the coil 7 is for example between 76 and 85pm, it is for example equal to 80pm. The dispenser 4 comprises drive means (not shown) for exerting traction on a strip of paper already unwound from the paper spool 7. The paper strip unwound is printed using printing means (not shown), then cut by cutting means (not shown), to individualize printed tickets and which are then stored in a receiving tray 9 located for example on the hood 6.

The drive means, the printing means and the cutting means are housed in the housing 5 and / or the cover 6 and are for example of a known type.

The unwinding of the coil 7 is achieved only by the traction exerted by the drive means on the paper web. More specifically, but in a known manner, the coil 7 rests on bearings, or cylindrical idle rollers, to limit the friction during its rotation in the housing 5, but this rotation is not produced or accompanied by the rotation of a motor shaft at the axis A of rotation, or unwinding axis, of the coil 7. Similarly, no braking or slowing of the unwinding of the coil 7 is exerted directly at this axis A. Thus, when the drive means stop pulling on the strip of paper already unwound from the spool 7, if the spool 7 is still relatively heavy, the spool 7 tends, by inertia, to continue to rotate on the bearings, around its A axis of unwinding. A brake 10 is then necessary to slow the rotation of the spool 7 and avoid the problems of expansion.

A brake 10, for a first example of paper dispenser 4 for a game terminal 1, is described below in connection with Figures 2 to 11. Figure 2 shows the cover 6 in the open position, with the In the open position of the cover 6, the brake 10 is in the inactive position and does not interact with the coil 7 (not shown in this figure for the sake of clarity). In the closed position of the cover 6, the brake 10 is in the braking position, in which it interacts with the coil 7 (see FIGS. 3 to 6).

Figure 2 also shows a first flange 11 mounted in the housing 5 with an opening 12 for the passage of the brake 10. This first flange 11 is fixed, while the brake 10, integral with the cover 6, moves with that between the open position and the closed position of the hood.

A second flange 13 is also mounted in the housing 5 (see Figures 4 and 5). The coil 7 is introduced into the housing 5, essentially from above, with the hood 6 open. The coil 7 is inserted between the first 11 and second 13 flanges. The first 11 and second 13 flanges each consist respectively of a rigid metal sheet. They are essentially vertical, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis A of the coil 7 inserted between them. The gap between the first 11 and second 13 flanges is slightly greater than the width of the paper strip wound on the spool 7. This difference makes it possible to provide a sufficiently large space between the flanges 11, 13 to easily introduce the spool 7 into the spool. the housing 5, but also narrow enough to guide the coil 7 in its rotation. The placement of the coil 7 in the housing 5 is guided and facilitated by flanges 14 on the flanges 11, 13 forming a funnel. These flanges 14 also avoid damaging the edges of the paper web wound on the spool 7.

The first flange 11 supports a guide 15 for the brake 10. This guide 15 is formed of a stamped sheet to form two ramps 16 in an arc (see also Figures 9 and 11). This guide 15 also comprises a cutout 17. The guide is fixed on the first flange 11 by making this cutout 17 coincide with the opening 12.

The brake 10 has for example a round cup shape, truncated cone, with a peripheral rim 18 surrounding the base of the truncated cone. The apical portion of the truncated cone is closed by a wall, forming a braking surface 19, substantially flat and perpendicular to the axis T of the truncated cone (see Figures 7 and 8). The axis T of the truncated cone is essentially parallel to the axis A of unwinding of the reel 7.

The brake 10 is mounted on a support 20 itself fixed on the cover 6. So, in this embodiment, the cover 6 acts as an actuating element to actuate the brake 10. More particularly , for the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 11, the brake 10 is for example slidably mounted in a circular opening 21 formed in the support 20 (see Figure 7). This opening 21 has a diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the base of the truncated cone, but less than the external diameter of the peripheral rim 18. Thus, the brake 10 is retained in the opening 21 of the support 20 by the peripheral rim 18, but may be movable in this opening 21, between a projecting position and a retracted position. In the protruding position (see FIGS. 4 to 9), the peripheral flange 18 bears and presses on the support 20 in a direction parallel to the axis T of the truncated cone, or the braking surface 19 is pressing and pressure on the flank 22 of the coil 7, in the same direction (see for example Figure 6). In the protruding position, the height H of the cup forming the brake 10, between the peripheral rim 18 and its braking surface 19, is greater than the thickness of the different sheets respectively forming the support 20 of the brake 10, the guide 15 of the brake 10 and the first flange 11. This height H is also sufficient for the braking surface 19 can come into pressure on the side 22 of the coil 7. In other words, the height H of the cup forming the brake 10 is greater or equal to a distance corresponding to the added thicknesses of the different sheets, forming the support 20 of the brake 10, the guide 15 of the brake 10 and the first flange 11, to which thicknesses are added the difference between the width of the strip of paper forming the coil 7 and the distance between the first 11 and second flange 13, measured parallel to the axis A of the coil.

The brake 10 is covered with a shell 23. Spring means (not shown) are placed between the inner surface of the shell 23 and the brake 10 in order to move the brake 10 elastically towards its projecting position (see FIG. Figure 7). The distance between the shell 23 and the brake 10 is such that the brake 10 in the retracted position is locked in the shell 23 without the apical portion of the brake 10 can enter the shell 23 and get out of the opening 21 of the 20. Optionally, guiding means 24 are provided in the shell 23 to maintain the spring means and / or guide the movement of the brake 10 between its projecting and retracted positions in a direction parallel to the unwinding axis A and This axis also corresponds to the direction of movement of the brake 10 between its inactive position and its braking position.

When the cover 6 is closed, the brake 10 is in the braking position. In this position, the brake 10, pressed by the spring means, passes through the opening 21 in the support 20, the cutout 17 in the guide 15 and the opening 12 in the first puddle 11, and projects on the surface 25. the first flange 11 opposite the flank 22 of the coil 7, to come under pressure thereon, if the coil still has a diameter sufficient to reach the level (in height) of the brake 10 (otherwise, the peripheral rim 18 of the brake 10 is supported on the support 20). When opening the cover 6, the support 20 undergoes with the cover 6, a rotation. The outer frustoconical surface 26 of the brake abuts and slides on the periphery of the cutout 17 of the guide 15, thus tending to exert a force against the spring means (see FIG. 8). The brake 10 then moves from its braking position to its inactive position. When the cover 6 is a little more open, the brake 10 completely leaves the opening 12 of the first flange 11 and bears on the guide 15 (see Figures 10 and 11). The brake 10 is in the inactive position and it is completely retracted relative to the opening 12 of the first flange 11. The first flange 11 and the guide 15 hold the brake 10 in the inactive position during at least a portion of the movement of the cover 6 between its open and closed positions. The spool 7 can be removed and / or replaced without the brake 10 being pressed against the spool 7 already in place in the casing 5, nor can the brake 10 interact with that which is put in place in the casing 5 The paper therefore does not risk being damaged by the brake 10. The cover 6 may possibly be further opened (for example to the position shown in FIG. In this case, the brake 10 no longer interacts with the coil 7.

A brake 10, for a second example of paper dispenser 4 for a game terminal 1 is described below in relation to Figures 12 to 15. This second example of dispenser 4 differs from that previously described essentially by the fact that the brake 10 is carried by the housing 5 instead of the cover 6. The brake 10 has essentially the shape of a cup similar to that described above. The brake 10 is mounted on a puddle 11 equivalent to the first flange described above, by means of a support formed of a spring blade 27, tending to bring elastically the brake 10 towards the inside of the housing 5, contact of the coil 7, through an opening 12 formed in the first flange 11.

A cam 28 is slidably mounted relative to the first flange 11. It is formed of a plastic part (alternatively it could be formed of a stamped sheet). It includes a ramp 29. The ramp 29 itself comprises, downwards, a portion 30 of the first flange 11 and, upwardly, a close portion 31 of the first flange 11. The remote portions 30 and 31 close to the first flange 11 have two parallel edges 32, extending substantially vertically, respectively on either side of a cutout 33. The peripheral flange 18 surrounding the base of the truncated cone forming the brake cup 10 rests on these edges 32. At the close-up portion 31, the cutout coincides with the opening 12 in the first flange 11.

The cam 28 is mechanically connected to a lever 34 in the shape of a square. A branch 35 of this bracket is fixed (for example screwed) to the cover 6. The other branch 36 of this bracket is articulated with the cam 28.

When the cover 6 is in the open position, the lever 34 raises the cam 28. The peripheral flange 18 of the brake 10 rests on the edges 32 of the cutout 33, at the remote portion 30. In this position, the brake 10 is spaced from the opening and the braking surface 19 does not protrude from the surface of the first flange 11 facing the coil 7 (see also Figure 13). The coil 7 can be introduced into the housing 5 without interacting with the brake 10. The brake 10 is in the inactive position. Thus, in this embodiment also, the cover 6 acts as an actuating element for actuating the brake 10.

When the cover 6 is closed, the lever 34 lowers the cam 28. Due to the pressure exerted on the brake 10 by the leaf spring 27, the peripheral flange 18 is supported on the edges 32 of the cutout 33 and slides along the ramp 29 from its remote portion 30 to its close portion 31. The brake 10 is close to the first flange 11 and the truncated cone passes through the opening 12 so that the braking surface 19 comes to do projecting on the surface of the first flange 11 facing the coil 7, until interacting with the flank 22 thereof, if it has a sufficient diameter. The brake 10 is in the braking position. The coil 7 introduced into the housing 5 can be braked.

In other embodiments, the dispenser may not have a cover closing on the spool. For example, the dispenser may comprise a reel loading system in which an arm supporting guide or driving rollers is raised, in the open position, so as to introduce the reel and to easily place a portion of the reel. paper strip within a guide and / or drive assembly. In this case, the arm acts as an actuating element for actuating a brake 10, in a manner similar to that described above, between the open position and a closed position in which the guide and / or drive assembly is closed on the paper web.

Claims (10)

claims A roll-like tape dispenser (7), said dispenser (4) comprising a housing (5) for accommodating the paper spool (7), and an actuating member (6) movable between a position open device allowing the insertion of the paper spool (7) into the housing (5), and a closed position, characterized in that it comprises a brake (10) movable between, on the one hand, an inactive position which it occupies when the actuating element (6) is in the open position, and in which it allows insertion of the paper spool (7) into its housing (5), and secondly, a braking position in which it is capable of interacting with the paper spool (7) when the actuating element (6) is in the closed position, the displacement of the brake (10) between its inactive position and its braking position being slaved to the movement of the actuating element (6) between the open and closed positions thereof. 2. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the coil (7) placed in the housing (5) is unwound around an axis (A) unwinding and the movement of the brake (10) between its inactive position and its position of braking is performed in a direction (T) parallel to this axis (A) unfolding. 3. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake (10) is mounted on the actuating element (6). 4. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the brake (10) is mounted on the housing (5). 5. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of the brake (10) between its inactive position and its braking position is controlled by a cam (28) actuated during the movement of the actuating element (6). ) from its open position to its closed position. 6. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing (5) comprises a flange (11) with an opening (12), the flange (11) holding the brake (10) in the inactive position for at least a portion of the movement of the actuating element (6) between its open and closed positions, and the opening (12) coinciding with the position of the brake (10) when the actuating element (6) is in position closed, so that the brake (10) protrudes on a surface (25) of the flange (11), through the opening (12), and can come into its braking position. 7. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, comprising drive means for unwinding the rolled paper housed in the housing (5), by pulling on a portion of paper web unwound from the coil (7). 8. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cover (6) and wherein the housing (5) and the cover (6) have dimensions adapted to receive a paper roll whose diameter is greater than or equal to 100mm . 9. Printer comprising a dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, and printing means for performing thermal printing on the paper roll (7) located in the housing (5). 10. A game terminal comprising a printer according to claim 9, wherein the printer prints, from a paper strip, tickets or receipts.