US2842047A - Race ticket printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1958 VAN DYKE HILL ET AL 2,842,047

RACE TICKET PRINTING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 kzwzflz 50 27 OLD TICKET IN 5 0 T UNTIL 8 July 8, 1958 VAN DYKE HILL ET AL 2,842,047

RACE TICKET PRINTING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 8, 1958 -VAN DYKE HILL ETAL 47 RACE TICKET PRINTING APPARATUS July 8, 1958 VAN DYKE'HILL ETAL 2,842,047

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RACE TICKET PRINTING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 KER July 8, 1958 VAN DYKE HILL ET AL RACE TICKET PRINTING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1956 July 8, 1958 VAN DYKE HILL ET AL 2,842,047

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United States Patent RACE TICKET PRIN'a IN G APPARATUS Van Dyke Hill, New York, N. Y., and Lynn Brodton, Levittown, Pa.

Application March 15, 1956, Serial No. 571,802

19 Claims. (Cl. 101-69) The present invention relates to apparatus for printing on inserted ticket blanks indicia identifying a particular bet placed upon a certain race entry in a specified race of an identified meet by the ticket blank-inserting bettor.

A general object of the present invention is to provide such apparatus which will permit a bettor to purchase at a sales window an authorized ticket blank of known or indicated bet denomination and with the use thereof place a bet on any particular entry in any particular race by the simple insertion of the blank in race ticket printing apparatus of the present invention and effective manipulation of a control thereof, such as a selected entry control. As a result the better has his ticket blank returned to him by the apparatus as a fully printed race bet ticket, which may be of conventional form, later cashable at the usual pay-off window in conventional manner should his selected entry run in the money. The general object includes the provision in this printing apparatus for ethciently supplying to a totalizer system, of conventional type or otherwise, employed in pari-mutuel betting at race tracks particular intelligence or information as to the specific bet placed by the act of printing the wager ticket. This is accomplished automatically in a ready and efiicient manner without requiring the services of the large number of well-paid conventional ticket sellers at the usual large number of bet placing windows, thereby effecting a large economy, and eifectively eliminates the human errors which can and are made by such sellers in translating bettors oral demands for the placement of certain bets; the apparatus responds accurately-to the bettors demands correctly printing their wager tickets as dictated by their own manipulation of entry controls and properly transmits information regarding the placed wagers to the totalizer system for determination of odds on entries in the pari-mutuel pool.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide such race ticket printing apparatus which will receive through a slot a bettors ticket blank and then in response to his manipulation of a manual control, such as a selected one of a plurality of entry controls, e. g. a push button, accurately print his ticket blank to complete a wager ticket identifying to him and the pay-off window attendant the wager he placed, and then return or release the printed wager ticket to the bettor, .all in a rapid and efiicient manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide such apparatus in a form permitting its simple mounting in the window of a conventional ticket selling booth above an existing ticket issuing and printing machine to manipulate the latter as wager information transmitting means for the totalizer system while eliminating need for the use of the printing and issuing functions of theexisting ticket issuing machine, while being readily adapted to use in a totalizer system with the complete elimination of the ticket issuing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide such race ticket printing apparatus with means which will Patented July 8, 1958 prevent printing of an inserted ticket blank upon manipulation by the bettor of an entry control for which the entry has been scratched and so inform the bettor while returning the unprinted ticket blank to him.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus in a form which returns the inserted ticket blank to the bettor in unprinted form should he manipulate more than one entry control at a time, requiring him to withdraw the ticket blank and repeat the procedure in a proper manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide structural embodiments of the apparatus which are readily constructed, easily mounted, and permit: efiicient use and operation thereof.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the folloW- ing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front elevation, with parts broken away, of the Window opening of a bet placing booth, which may be of conventional construction, with an embodiment of the race ticket printing apparatus of the present invention mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a printed wager ticket as may be produced from a ticket blank by printing operation of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational section, with parts broken away, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the ticket gripping and holding means in nonclamping condition;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational section, with parts broken away, of the ticket receiving means shown in Fig. 3, showing the ticket gripping and holding means in clamping condition and supplemental ticket biasing means which may be employed for assuring return of the ticket to the bettor;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4-, and showing additional structure of the entry printing means;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational section, with parts broken away, taken substantially on lines 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7A is a schematic diagram of one portion of the electrical circuit of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 6 incl.;

Fig. 7B is a schematic diagram of the remainder of the electrical circuit of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 incl.;

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the circuits completed upon initial insertion by the bettor of the ticket blank in the receiving means of the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7B incl.;

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the circuits completed by the inserted ticket immediately after the setting up of the circuits shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram of the circuits completed upon manual manipulation of a selected entry control by the bettor following the conditioning of circuits illus trated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a Wiring diagram of circuits which are completed during the operation of the apparatus as initiated first by the insertion of the ticket blank to set-up the circuits of Figs. 8 and 9 and then the manipulation of the selection of an entry control by the bettor initially to set-up the circuits of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the circuits which re J main energized following the completion of the printing of the ticket blank through the energization of circuits of Figs. and 11, and just prior to withdrawal of the printed ticket by the bettor to break the circuits shown herein and reset the apparatus for a successive operation; Fig. 13 is a schematic wiring diagram of portions of circuits completed at the entry controls to illustrate how the apparatus prevents any printing on an inserted ticket blank when more than one entry control is manipulated simultaneously by the bettor;

Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram of circuits completed after insertion of a ticket blank by a bettor followed by an undue lapse of predetermined time causing operation of a time delay relay, as may occur when the bettor unduly delays manipulating an entry control following insertion of the ticket blank or when he manipulates a plurality of the entry controls which prevents the ticket blank from being printed;

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram of the circuits set up immediately following insertion of a ticket blank by the bettor before he manipulates an entry control identifying an entry which has been scratched (i. e. withdrawn) by prior manual manipulation of one of a plurality of scratch devices by an attendant to dictate certain automatic operations and circuit completions and deenergizations following as a result thereof when a bettor attempts to place in the apparatus a wager on a scratched entry;

Fig. 16 is a wiring diagram of circuits completed under conditions of manipulation of an entry control for a scratched entry following the set up of the circuits shown in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a wiring diagram showing the conditions of the circuits indicated in Fig. 16 following the manipulation of an entry control for a scratched entry resulting from the progressive completion of circuits illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 and indicating deenergization of portions of the latter.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals identify similar parts throughout, it will be seen that the embodiment of the race ticket printing apparatus of the present invention illustrated by way of example therein may be constructed as follows. As shown in Fig. l a conventional ticket selling booth now employed at race tracks for pari-mutuel betting, such as a horse race track, may embody well known structure, parts of which are illustrated at 20. Such conventional structure may comprise a booth having a window opening 21 defined at the bottom by a counter 22 and at the sides and top by oblique face plates 23 and 24. Since the apparatus of the present invention is designed to print or apply informative markings to ticket blanks of only a certain denomination for a particular performance of a selected entry in a certain race, such as his position in the field at the end of the race, the window structure of the ticket booth preferably is surmounted by a panel 25 indicating that the apparatus mounted thereat is adapted to receive wagers of certain denomination on the position of the selected entry at the completion of the race. For example, panel 25 may indicate that the apparatus mounted in booth 20 is designed to receive two dollars ($2.00) bets for the selected entry to win but, of course, may suitably indicate that the apparatus is set up to receive bets on the selected entry placing or showing (i. e. coming in second or third).

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, the embodiment of the apparatus that is indicated at 26 which is mounted in the window opening 21 preferably has a front panel 27 provided with a ticket receiving slot 23 below which may be mounted a series or banks of entry controls, which may be in the form of a plurality of push buttons 29. The panel 27 may have a translucent section 30 hearing, if desired, suitable indicia to indicate the condition of the scratching of a selected entry which will be readable upon lighting therebehind a scratch light 31, shown in Fig. 3; and it is to be understood that a single such scratch light The ticket blank to be printed to complete a wager or: bet ticket may approach conventional form and thus,

as illustrated in Fig. 2, may be sold at a ticket blank selling booth to a bettor in the form of a rectangular piece of cardboard 32 bearing only on the margins 33, 33 thereof printed denominations of the amount of money the bettor paid for the blank, and thus its value should a printed ticket cover an entry which was in the money in a particular race for determination of the holders winnings when he cashes it in at a pay-01f window. The central section 34 intervening the printed denominational margins 33, 33 will originally be blank to receive printed indicia applied by the race ticket printing apparatus of the present invention. Such indicia may include an indication of the selected entry on which the bettor placed the wager, such as that illustrated at 35 which was printed in response to manipulation of a particular one of the plurality of controls or buttons 29. The entry identifying indicia at 35, of course, may change with the successive manipulation of entry controls for printing of successive tickets, depending upon the entry controls manipulated. The indicia may include at 36 an indication of the character of the wager with respect to the position of the entry at the finish of the race, and thus when embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which is mounted at a win window would read win as shown. Such indicia to indicate the character of the wager is changed only when a machine is set up for operation at a particular window. The printed indicia may also include an indication of the race track where the wager was placed, as proposed at 37, and this might be changed only at the end of a meet at such track. The indicia would also include the date on which the wager was placed, as indicated at 38, and this would be changed daily. The indicia probably also would include a code printing, such as that indicated at 39. Further the indicia would include printing identifying the particular race in which the entry wagered on was placed, such as that indicated at 40, and perhaps code printing at 39 and this code printing and the race indication, or at least the latter, would be changed after each race. The term print as used herein is employed in the broad sense of applying various types of identifying marks or information to the ticket blanks, such as the application by embossment, perforating or deposition of visible or invisible ink or other media of indicia including letters, numerals, symbols, devices, designs, pictorial representations, etc., and if of a character initially invisible to the naked eye might be such as to show up under special conditions, e. g. ultra violet rays. The margins may be preprinted with the character of the position a bettor hopes his selected entry may have at the finish of a particular race and the denominational value might be applied by printing means of the present apparatus, and various other variations might be practiced with the use thereof.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the embodiment of the race ticket printing apparatus of the present invention illustrated therein preferably houses the mechanism thereof in a suitable casing including the front wall or panel 27, a back wall 41, sidewalls 42, a top wall 43 and a bottom wall 44. The top wall 43 may constitute a hinged door for access to the encased mechanism for changing dies to alter printed indicia and for reconditioning the machine and, if desired, either/ or both of the sidewalls 42 may also be provided with access doors. The bottom wall 44 preferably is in the form of a casting which serves as a supporting base for the mechanism and which in the illustrated form preferably constitutes the means by which the apparatus is supported.

Since an embodiment of the mounted in a conventional ticket selling booth, :itmay be adapted in the form illustrated in the drawings merely to replace the ticket seller thereat and to utilize such of the existing ticket issuing and printing machine previously mounted therein as is connected into the totalizer system with which the race track is already equipped while taking over the printing function and eliminating necessity of use of the issuing function of such a machine. Such a conventional ticket issuing and printing machine is thus illustrated at 45 and may be of a type generally similar to that proposed in U. S. patents to Saxby 1,983,247 or Black 1,886,626 and 1,886,627, and consequently may be in a form in which it is provided with a plurality of manually depressible keys 46 each identifying a particular entry for a particular race designed to be properly depressed in conventional manner by the human operator or ticket seller in the both. Thus the bank of keys 46 may be successively numbered 1 to 12 inclusive for identification of twelve or less entries and, for example, the portion of the key shown in Fig. 3 having its tab broken away may represent entry No. 1 while that shown complete may represent entry No. 7. Such ticket issuing and printing machine 45 will, of course, be suitably connected into a proper totalizer system of any conventional form or otherwise, such as those proposed in the U. S. Robinson Patent 2,332,756, so that as any particular key 46 is depressed intelligence or a bit of information will be transmitted to computors and totalizers for summing the bets placed and other associated apparatus for determiningtheodds in a particular pool and indicating them on a tote board. Since the embodiment of the race ticket printing apparatus of the present invention illustrated in the drawing is designed to utilize the information transmitting equipment of the existing ticket issuing and print ing machine, such as is generally indicated at 45, it is adapted to be mounted above or superimposed on the latter, and for this purpose the bottom wall 44 may be equipped with a plurality of suitable rollers 47 to permit it to be rolled into position on the top of the top plate 48 covering the ticket issuing and printing machine. Since ready access to the conventional ticket issuing and printing machine 45 through the top of the latter may be desired and one may not wish to roll the apparatus of the present invention back off of it for this purpose the latter may, if desired, be mounted to the booth structure above the machine 45 by side hinges to be quickly and easily swung to one side. Also the back panel 41 of the present apparatus may also have, if desired, a depending guard portion 49 suitably slotted, such as at 50, to receive the plurality of ticket issuing and printing machine keys 46 for manipulation by means of the present apparatus to be described later.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, the front wall or panel 27 of the embodiment of the race ticket printing apparatus of the present invention, illustrated by way of example therein, may carry or support a ticket receiving means or device 51, and for this purpose this device may include a U-shaped bracket 52 having a bottom section 53 and laterally-spaced side sections with the latter carrying flanges 55, 55 suitably secured or bolted to the back face of panel 27 for support thereby. The U-shaped bracket 52 pivotally supports between its laterally-spaced side section 54, 54 a dancer roll 56 about which is lapped or entrained a suitable inking ribbon 57, supplied from a supply roll 58 to a take-up roll 59, which may be supported in any suitable manner and provided with conventional feed mechanism for step-by-step advance on each operation of the printing means which, if desired, may be of a nature similar to that proposed in U. S. patent to Bishop et al., 1,798,583. The U-shaped bracket 52 suitably supports between its laterally-spaced side sections 54, 54 a lateral bed platen 60, preferably resiliently mounted, such as is proposed by compression springs 61,61 in Fig.6, and with the top face thereof substantially present invention may be tion.

with those aligned withthe bottomedge of. the ticket blank-receiving slot 28.

Since one cannot depend upon successive bettors fully inserting their ticket blanks into correct printing position the ticket blank receiving means 51 of the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings preferably is equipped with means to engage or grasp an inserted ticket blank and .move it to and/or hold it in proper printing position for a time suflicient to permit the printing of the indiciathereon. Suchticketblank gripping and holding means may be in the form of two laterallyspaced pairs of opposed clamping jaws or shoes 62, 63 and 62, 63. Each of:these clamping shoes 62 or 63 may have a vertical web 64 carrying a lateral flange 65 overlying or underlying, as the case may be, the marginal edges of the ticket blank 32, and with those of one pair on one side being laterally-spaced from those of the pair on the other side a distance greater than the width of the platen 60, as will be seen from Fig. 6. Theclamping shoes 62, 62 and 63, 63 preferably are similar except that the lateral flanges 65, 65 of the lower ones are wider since, as will be seen from Fig. 6, the vertical flanges 64, 64 thereof preferably are lapped against the outer sides of these vertical flanges of the upper clamping shoes 62, 62 and the clamping flanges of the two opposed pairs preferably are to be aligned as illustrated in Fig. 6. Although the plurality of lateral clamping flanges 65 of the clamping shoes 62, 62 and 63, 63 may .efliciently clamp the marginal edges of a ticket blank 32 therebetween by frictional face contact when moved toward each other, preferably the opposed faces of the two pairs of shoe flanges 65 are provided with means to assure secure engagement, such as composition or rubber facings or preferably rough surfaces such as a plurality of gripping teeth 66 which may bite into the surfaces of the ticket blank 32 when clamped therebetween.

Means are provided for moving the clamping shoes 62, 62 and 63, 63 toward each other to clamp a ticket blank 32 therebetween and to move them rearwardly to draw the ticket blank forward to the proper printing posi- Such means may comprise a plurality of longitudinally-extending oblique slots 67 having their forward ends located more closely to the lateral clamping flanges 65 than are their back ends, as will best be seen from Figs. 3 and 4. Each of the laterally-spaced side sections 54, 54 carries a pair of inwardly-extending projections or pins 68, 68 with the tip of each slidably received in one of the oblique slots 67. Thus when means are provided to draw the opposed pairs of clamping shoes 62, 63 and 62, 63 forward, the ride of the relatively fixed pins 68 in theoblique slots 67 will cause the shoes in the opposed pairs to approach each other for clamping between their lateral flanges 65, 65 a marginal edge of the ticket blank 32. For thispurpose each of the clamping shoes 62 and 63 has an arm 69 extending toward the opposed shoe, of a pair of the opposed shoes preferably lapping each other, as will be seen from Figs. 3, 4 and 6. Each of the arms 69 has a vertical slot 70 therein with the pair of these slots in the lapped arm 69, 69 of a pair of the clamping shoes 62, 63 slidably receiving therethrough a pin 71 carried by one of a pair of laterallyspaced arms 72, 72 of a bifurcated or forked lever '73. The bifurcated lever 73 preferably is a lever of the first class pivoted intermediate its working ends by pivot pins 74, 74 which extend from the side sections 54, 54 of the U-shaped bracket 52 through the arms 72, 72 of the forked lever 73, and for this purpose, as will be seen from Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, the pivot pins '74, 74 may be supported on arms 75, 75 extending forward from the front edges of the U-shaped bracket side sections. The bottom end 76 of the forked lever arm 73 preferably is provided with an elongated slot 77 in which is slidably received a pin 78 carried by a slidable solenoid core 79.

The transverse section 53 of the U-shaped bracket 52 preferably supports a solenoid 80 through the coil 81 of which is slidably mounted the core 79, so that when the solenoid is energized the core will be pulled back from lustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 to swing the forked lever arm 73 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. The solenoid core 79 is biased forward by any suitable means, such as tension spring 82 having one end fixed such as by a bracket arm 83 mounted to the fixed structure of the apparatus. Each of the clamping shoes 62, 62 and 63, 63 also is biased backwards preferably by a tension spring 84 having one end connected to the shoe vertical flange 64 and the other end connected to fixed means, such as a pin 85 mounted on the inside of the adjacent side section 54 of the U-shaped bracket 52. Thus the clamping shoes 62, 62 and 63, 63 are biased backwards directly by their biasing springs 84 and also by the biasing spring 82 which tends to pull the solenoid core 79 forward when the solenoid 80 is deenergized. With energization of the solenoid 80 its core 79 is pulled backwards from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 to force the laterally-spaced opposed pairs of clamping shoes 62, 63 and 62, 63 forward so that camming action of the plurality of pins 68 riding in their respective oblique slots 67 will cause the lateral flanges 65, 65 of each of the opposed pairs of clamping shoes to move toward each other for clamping a marginal edge of the ticket blank 32 therebetween. Thereafter the forward motion of the clamping shoes 62, 62 and 63, 63 moves the ticket forward from the received position to the printing position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and holds it in this printing position until a printing operation by an entry printer, to be described later, associated with a particular selected and manipulated entry control applies entry identifying indicia to the ticket blank, such as that illustrated at in the Fig. 2.

T he ticket blank receiving means 51 also includes or has associated therewith a printing device 86 adapted, simultaneously with the printing on the ticket blank 32 of the entry identifying indicia 35, to print on the blank the remainder of the indicia, such as the race, the date, etc. as illustrated at 36 to incl. in Fig. 2. Such printing device may, as will be seen from Figs. 3 and 4, comprise a push solenoid 87, suitably supported by bracket structure 88 from fixed structure of the apparatus, with its push plunger solenoid core 89 carrying on the lower end thereof suitable printing dies. The plunger core 89 is biased upwardly by a suitable means, such as tension spring 90 connected to a fixed bracket 91, as will be seen from Fig. 3. The lower end of push plunger 89 is flexibly connected at 90 to a lateral die head 91 provided with a plurality of undercut, transversely-extending, die slugreceiving grooves. In one of these grooves, at the back end of the die bed 91, is slidably received a die slug 92 which prints the code and specific race identifying indicia,

such as are illustrated at 39 and 40. The next transverse groove forward of the die slug 92 carries die slug 93 which is to print on the ticket blank the identifying indicia for the date, such as that illustrated at 38. The next succeeding groove removably carries a die slug 94 which applies identifying indicia for the particular race track or meet, such as is indicated at 37 in Fig. 2; and the forward transverse groove removably carries die slug 95 which applies to the ticket blank identifying indicia I indicating the character of the wager such as win (or place, or show, as the case may be). Before energization of the push solenoid 87, the die head 91 with its die slugs 92 to 95 incl. is held suspended above the ticket blank 32 on the receiver platen 60, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, but when this solenoid is energized, its plunger core 89 is pushed downward to cause the die slugs to imprint upon the ticket blank through the medium of the interposed ink ribbon 57 the indicia identifying the race, date, etc., such as is illustrated at 36 to 40 incl. in Fig. 2. Of course, upon deenergization of the solenoid 87 the biasing spring 90 lifts the die head with the carried die 8 slugs back to the initial position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Since each of the die slugs 92 to 95 incl. is to be slidably removable from and replaceable in its undercut supporting groove each preferably carries a finger tab 96 to facilitate this operation, as will be best seen from Figs. 4 and 5.

For each of twelve entries corresponding to the twelve manual controls or buttons 29 shown in Fig. 1 is provided at the receiving means 51 an entry printer to apply to the ticket blank 32 entry identifying indicia, such as that indicated at 35 in Fig. 2. For this purpose, a semicircular support 97 fixed to the apparatus frame supports a bank of pull solenoids, such as the one illustrated at 98 for operating entry printer No.6 or the similar solenoid illustrated at 98 in Fig. 5 for operating entry printer No. 3. As will be understood from Figs. 3 and 5, each entry printer may comprise a printing head 99 suitably carrying on the face thereof a die identifying a particular entry to apply to the ticket blank 32 entry identifying indicia, such as that indicated at 35 in Fig. 2. Each printing head 99 is flexibly supported at 100 on an end of an L-shaped or gooseneck lever 101. Each lever 101 is pivotally supported at 102 upon suitable fixed bracket means 103 and with its lower end pivotally connected at 104 to a link 105 which in turn is pivotally connected to the front end of a solenoid pull plunger core 106 of the associated solenoid 98. Each printer lever arm 101 is biased to its retracted position, shown in full lines in Fig. 3, by any suitable means, such as a tension spring 107 having one end fixed at 108 to the lever arm and the other end fixed at 109 to a suitable fixed bracket so that when the solenoid 98 for that printer is deenergized this biasing spring will hold the printer arm up in its retracted position. When the solenoid 98 of a particular printer is energized, its

' plunger core 106 is pulled inward to pull through link 105 the lower end of thelever arm 101, swinging the latter about pivot 102 to swing its printing head 99 down to apply to the ticket blank 32 through the medium of the interposed ink ribbon 57 the entry identifying indicia, such as that illustrated at 35 in Fig. 2; and as illustrated in Fig.5, the entry printer for entry No. l is there shown performing such printing operation.

As was previously indicated in connection with a description of Fig. 1 each of the manually manipulatable controls 29 may be in the form of a push button to operate a certain switch device which may be of any conventional construction simultaneously to close a plurality of circuit switches. Such a manual entry control switch device or unit is illustrated in Fig. 3 at 329 for operating the printer solenoid 98 of the entry printer which carries the printing head 99 provided with the entry identifying indicia for entry No. 3. The similar control for entry printer No. 9 is illustrated at 929 in Fig. 3; and it will be seen therefrom that the front panel 27 of the apparatus preferably supports these entry control switch units.

Electrical power for operating the mechanism of the race ticket printing apparatus of the embodiment illustrated in the drawings may be suitably supplied through a supply cord 110 connected through a master switch 111 exposed on the rear wall 41 of the apparatus as indicated in Fig. 3 and through a twin conductor cord 112 to a suitable supply isolation transformer 113 having supply conductors at 114 leading from its secondary side to connection with various circuits and the solenoids and relays connected therein, as will be explained later. The rear wall 41 also preferably carries exposed thereon a bank of scratch switches, such as that illustrated at 115, with each associated with the branch circuit of each of the manual entry controls 29 and switches thereof, as will be explained later.

Suitable bracket means 116 supports a single-pole, double-throw switch relay 117. Suitable other bracket means 118 also supports a bank of six relay switches, one of which is shown at 119, with some of these relay r 9 switches being of the double-pole, double-throw type, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The base casting 44 of the apparatus housing preferably supports a bank of operating solenoids with each associated with one of the manual entry controls 29. Since the twelve keys 46 of the conventional ticket issuing and printing machine 45, with or on which the embodiment of the race ticket printing apparatus 26 of the present invention illustrated in the drawings is to be associated or mounted for use of the impulse transmitting means of machine 45, will perhaps be arranged in one row, mount of a certain of the operating solenoids associated with the entry controls may require more room than may be available for sicle-by-side mounting of such solenoids. Thus these solenoids are staggered as shown in the lower portion of Fig. 3, with the solenoid for entry control No. 7 being illustrated at 129-7, the solenoid for entry control No. 8 being illustrated at 121-8 and the solenoid for entry control No. 9 being illustrated at 122-9. Each of these operating solenoids, such as is illustrated at 129-7, 121-8 or 122-9, has a pull cord 123 suitably linked, such as .by link 124a, 1241) or 124a to a suitable bell crank. The bell cranks for solenoids 120 serving entry controls Nos. 1, 4, 7 and and 121 serving entry controls Nos. 2, 5, 8 and 11 will be like and of a construction, such as that proposed at 125a-7, pivotally mounted at 126 with one end pivotally connected at 127 to link 124a or link 12412, as the case may be, and the other end pivotally connected at 128 to a link 130. The link 124a of solenoid 122-9 is connected by a somewhat different shaped bell crank 125b-9 as dictated by the different locations of this solenoid, as well as for the solenoids serving entry controls Nos. 3, 6, 9 and 12. The bell cranks for the latter controls, such as 125b-9, also are pivotally mounted coaxially with the other bell cranks 125a and pivotally connected to a like connecting link, such as that illustrated at 130. Each of the like connecting links 130 is pivotally connected at 131 to a plunger 132 (such as is shown at 132-7 for entry control N o. 7) which is slidably mounted through a guide 133 provided as a bored boss on the base casting 44. The lower end of the plunger 132 which extends below the base casting 44 preferably carries a roller 134 adapted to be pushed down upon the finger pad 135 of the key 4-6 above which it is mounted; all as illustrated in Fig. 3. Each of the bell cranks 125a or 12511 is biased to the full line position shown in Fig. 3, such as by a tension spring 136 having one end thereof connected to the bell crank at 137 and the other end connected to suitable fixed bracket means 138 so as to bias each of the key-depressing plungers 132 (such as 132-7 for entry control No. 7) to its upward position, shown in full lines in Fig. 3, to hold its pad-engaging roller 134 up above and free from the key pad 135 located therebeneath. Preferably each plunger 132 carries a trip arm 139 adapted in descent of the plunger to engage trigger 140 of a circuit switch 141 and the base casting 44 preferably carries a bank of such switches with each associated with one of the key-depressing plungers. Thus there are twelve of the key-depressing plungers 135, one for each of the keys 46, and twelve of the switches 141, just as there are twelve of the operating solenoids 120, 121 and 122, one for each of the latter.

If desired, a counter 142 may be mounted to one side wall of the apparatus housing 26 with an operating shaft 143 thereof carrying a ratchet wheel 144 adapted to be rotated step-by-step by a spring-biased pawl 145 carried on a bracket 146 fixed to the printing device solenoid plunger 89, so that upon each printing operation of the printing device solenoid 86 the counter will be operated by descent of the solenoid core plunger.

vAs will be noted from Figs. 3 and 4 a first normallyopen switch 147 is mounted at the receiving means 51 with one contact 143 thereof being relatively fixed and the other contact 149 thereof being movable and biased 10 such as by its own resiliency if in the form of a leaf spring. The movable or leaf spring contact 1490f switch 147 constitutes a trigger located in the path. of the leading end of the inserted ticket blank 32 so that this. switch will be tripped or closed when the bettor inserts the ticket blank, say to the position indicated in Fig. 3. A second normally-open circuit switch 15% is also mounted at the receiving means 51 and it comprises a relatively fixed contact 151 and a biased movable contact 152 which may also be in the form of a leaf spring and located in the path of the leading end of the ticket blank 32. As will be explained later, closure of switch 147 by the leading end of the ticket blank 32 when the latter is inserted in the slot 28 by the bettor activates or energizes the ticket gripping and holding solenoid 80, causing the opposed pairs of clamping jaws 65, 65 and 65, 65 to grip the side marginal edges of the ticket and pull it forward so that its leading end will engage the biased movable contact 152 of switch 158 and push it forward to effect circuit-closing contact with contact 151 of this second normally-open circuit switch, as is indicated in Fig. 4. In this manner the second ticket-operated switch closes additional portions of circuits and, for example, to activate or energize one of the bank of six relays, the first of which is indicated at 119 in Fig. 3', such as the fourth one 419 thereof, all as will be explained later. Also upon deactivation of the ticket blankgripping and holding means, such as by deenergization of solenoid 80,

this gripping means will release the ticket, as more fully explained hereinafter, so that the biasing contact 152 of switch 150 or other ticket blank-biasing means will push the ticket blank or a printed ticket back out to the initial manually-inserted position with simultaneous opening of the switch 150. Since the clamping shoes 62 and 63 are to be retracted from the gripping and holding positions of Fig. 4 back to the freeing initial position of Fig. 3 upon deenergization of the solenoid 81, there will be some tendency for those retracting shoes to drive the ticket back toward its initial position. If desired, the return of the ticket to the initial position may be further assured by additional ticket-return means, such as a device for biasing the movable switch contact 152 which may be in the nature of a tension spring or a compression spring 153 and plunger 154 proposed in Fig. 4 to push back against the movable contact 152; and in such case limiting stops 155 and 156 may be provided on opposite sides of the switch arm 152 to limit its travel.

The embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 incl. may have its various components connected into electrical circuits, such as those proposed in Figs. 7A and 7B. It will be found that when the right side of the wiring diagram of Fig. 7A is matched with the left side of wiring diagram of Fig. 7B, they together constitute the circuit diagrams of the electrical components of the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 incl. As indicated in Fig. 7A the power supply cord 110 supplies electrical power through the master switch 111 to the primary of the isolation transformer 113. The output terminals of the secondaryof the isolation transformer 113 are connected to a master supply circuit comprising the twin. conductor cord 114, one wire 157 of which constitutes the positive or power supply side of the master circuit and the other wire 158 of which constitutes the negative or return side thereof.

It will be seen from Fig. 7A that the first normally-open circuit switch 147 at the receiving means 51 is designed to close a normally-open primary supply circuit connected to the master supply circuit conductors 157 and 158 and including the following electrical components. Preferably the primary supply circuit supplies power to certain electrical devices connected thereto through branch circuits. 'For example, the movable contact 149' of tickettriggered switch 147 is connected by conductor 159 to the supply or positive side of conductor 157 of the master supply circuit. The relatively fixed contact 148 of switch 147 is connected by a conductor 160 to the positive terminal of the first Ticket Activated Relay 119. The negative terminal of relay 119 is connected by conductor 161 to the return or negative conductor 158 of the master supply circuit. Relay 119 is provided with a normally-open switch 162 having a movable contact or switch arm 163 and a relatively fixed contact 164, and is normally biased open such as by the resiliency of switch arm 163 when it is in the form of a leaf spring. Movable switch contact 163 is connected by conductor 165 to the supply or positive conductor 157 of the master supply circuit and the relatively fixed contact 164 of this switch is connected by a conductor 166 through a normally-closed switch 167 and conductor 168 to the positive terminal of the ticket clamping and holding solenoid 80. The negative terminal of ticket clamping and holding solenoid 80 is connected by conductor 169 to the return or negative conductor 158 of the master supply circuit. Circuit switch 167 is one of a pair of single-pole doublethrow switches operated by the Ticket Solenoid Deactivator relay 319 and, for this purpose, has a movable contact 170 adapted alternately to make contact with relatively fixed contacts 171 and 172, and when this relay 319 is deenergized the movable contact 170 makes contact with relatively fixed contact 171 to supply electrical energy to the ticket solenoid 80. The relatively fixed contact 164 of switch 162 is also connected by conductor 173 (a portion of which is shown in Fig. 7B) to the positive terminal of Time Delay Relay 117, with the negative terminal of the latter connected by conductor 174 to the return or negative conductor 158 of the master supply circuit.

The primary supply circuit also includes a second relay 219 having its positive terminal connected by conductor 175 and conductor 168 to the relatively fixed contact 148 of the first ticket-activated switch 147, and the negative terminal of this relay is connected by conductor 176 to the top bank of three banks of single-pole double-throw switches respectively associated with the plurality of manual entry controls or buttons 29 and shown in Fig. 7B. For this purpose conductor 176 is connected to relatively fixed terminal 177 of the singlepole double-throw top bank switch 178 of entry control switch device 129 with the movable contact or switch arm 179 thereof connected by conductor 180 to the like relatively fixed contact 277 of the single-pole doublethrow switch 278 of the next succeeding entry control switch unit 299, and so on successively in the same manner through all twelve of the top bank switches of the entry control devices 129 to 1229 incl. The movable contact 1279 of the twelfth entry control switch device 1229 is in turn connected by conductor 181 back to the return or negative conductor 158 of the master supply circuit. Thus any one of the single-pole doublethrow twitches 178 to 1278 incl. deactivates or disables relay 219.

A secondary supply circuit .comprises the following elements and is controlled by the second ticket-operated switch 150 which has its ticket-tripped, biased,'movable contact 152 connected by conductor 182 through normally-closed switch 183 and conductor 184 to the positive or supply conductor 157 of the master supply circuit, with the biased movable contact 185 of switch 183 normally making contact with the relatively fixed contact 186 thereof. The relatively fixed contact 151 of the second ticket-operated switch 150 is connected by conductor 187 to the positive terminal of the second Ticket Activated Relay 419, which may be the fourth of the relays in the bank of six mentioned in connection with Fig. 3. The negative terminal of this relay 419 is connected by conductor 188 to the negative or return conductor 158 of the master supply circuit. The normallyclosed switch 183 is controlled by or forms a part of the sixth relay 619, and it will be seen that this switch and 12 the second normally-open ticket-operated switch are in series with the winding of relay 419 for supply therethrough of energy from the master supply circuit to the latter relay.

In this secondary supply circuit a conductor 189 com nects the positive or supply conductor 157 of the master supply circuit to the biased movable contact 190 of a normally-open single-throw single-pole switch 191 of relay 419 and with its relatively-fixed switch contact 192 connected by conductor 193 to biased movable contact 194 of a normally-closed switch 195. The relatively-fixed contact 196 of switch is connected by conductor 197 to biased movable contact of single-pole, single-throw switch 199 of relay 219, the latter switch being normally closed when relay 219 is deenergized. The normally-closed switch 199 has its relatively fixed contact 200 connected by conductor 201 to the positive terminal of the date, race, etc. printing solenoid 87 and the negative terminal of the latter is connected by conductor 202 to conductor 169 for connection to the negative or return conductor 158 of the master supply circuit. Thus only when the normally-open switch 191 is closed by activation or energization of relay 419 and the normallyclosed switch 199 is closed by the biasing of its movable contact upon deenergization of relay 219 at one of the entry control switch devices 129 to 1229 incl. will the solenoid 87 be activated or energized through switches 191, 195 and 199 in series to operate the date and race printing device at 86. Thus relay 219and its switch 199 constitute disabling or deactivating means for the race, date, etc. printing device at solenoid 87.

The secondary supply circuit also has a branch circuit for supplying energy to the bank of entry printer solenoids 93 and the key operating and impulse creau'ng solenoids 120, 121 and 122 which are respectively associated with the plurality of entry controls 29. This branch circuit of the secondary supply circuit comprises a conductor 203 connecting through conductor 189 the posisive or supply conductor 157 of the master supply circuit to a biased movable contact 204 of a normally-open single-pole single-throw switch 205 of the Ticket Activated Relay 419, with the relatively fixed contact 206 of this switch connected by conductor 207 to a bank of single-pole double-throw switches 208-1, 208-12 etc. connected in series, constituting the lower or third bank of the three banks of switches of the entry control switch devices 129 to 1229 incl., as will be seen from Figs. 7A and 7B. Switch 208-1 has its movable contact or switch arm 209-1 connected to conductor 207 and is normally biased to the position shown in Fig. 7B so that it makes contact with the relatively fixed contact 210-1 thereof and with a conductor 211-1 connecting the latter to the biased movable contact or switch arm 209-2 of the next succeeding switch 208-2, and so on in like fashion through the entire bank of these switches 208-1 to 208-12 incl. lit will be seen in Fig. 7B that the relatively-tixed contact 2111-12 of switch 208-12 has no connection with any portion of the circuit. Each of the switches 208-1 to 208-12 incl. has its other relativelyfixed contact 212-1 (or 212-2, 212-3, etc., as the case may be) is connected by a conductor 213-1 (or 213-2, 213-3, etc., as the case may be) to movable contact 214-1 of scratch switch 115 (or 214-2 of scratch switch 215, 214-3 of scratch switch 315, etc. as the case may be). One of the relatively-fixed contacts 216-1 of scratch switch 115 (or 216-2 of 215, 216-3 of 315, etc. as the case may be) is connected by a conductor 217-1 (or 217-2, 217-3, etc. as the case may be) to the positive terminal of the entry printer solenoid 98-1 (or 98-2, 98-3, etc. as the case may be) and the positive terminal of operating solenoid 120-1 (or 121-2, 122-3, and so on as the case may be). The negative terminals of the entry printer solenoid 98-1, the operating solenoid 120-1 are together connected by conductors 218-1 to the other relatively-fixed terminal 220-1 of the top bank entry control switch 178, and like connections are provided for the remaining entry printer solenoids 98-2 to 98-12 incl. and operating solenoids 12 -2 to 122-12 incl. Thus when any one of the plurality of switch devices associated with any particular one cf the entry controls, such as those at 129 for entry No. 1, is manually manipulated by its control button29, the positive or supply conductor 207 is connected, for example, through the switch arm 209-1, contact 212-1, conductor 213-1, scratch switch 115, and conductor 217-1 to the positive terminals of entry printer solenoid 98-1 and operating solenoid 120-1; the return conductor 218-1 connecting the negative terminals of the solenoids 98-1 and 120-1 through switch contact 220-1 switch arm 179, conductor 180 and in series through the switches 278 to 1278 incl. to

conductor 181 which completes the circuit to the negative or return conductor 158 of the master supply circuit, all as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The primary supply circuit, which is controlled primarily by the first ticket-operated switch 147 and secondarily by relay 119, supplies energy to disabling means to deactivate the circuit of the activating relay 419 which causes energy to be supplied to the race and date printing device solenoid 87 and the entry printer solenoids 98-1 to 98-12 incl. as well as the operating solenoids 120-1 to 122-112 incl. respectively through the relay switches 191.and 205. This deactivating or disabling means preferably comprises relay 319 which has itspositive terminal connected to the primary supply circuit at switch 162 of relay 119 through conductor 221, any one or more of thebank of parallel normally-open switches 1 41-1 to 141-12 which are respectively caused to close by the key operating and impulse creating operating solenoids 120-1 to 122-12 incl., and then successively through conductors222 and 173. Thuswhen any one of the Key Pushed Switches 141-1 to 14-1-12 incl. is operated by its respective plunger 132-1 to 132-12 incl. of the associated Key Push Solenoids of the bank120-1 to 122-12 thereof its biased movable contact or switch arm such as 223-1 for the first entry control, is swung to contact of the relatively-fixed contact thereof, such as 224-1, and connection will be effected between the conductors221 and 222 to supply energy to the relay 319 with the negative terminal of the latter connected by conductor 225 to the return or negative conductor 158 of the master supply circuit. Consequently, upon operation of a printer solenoid, such as 98-1, and its associated operating solenoid, such as 120-1, relay 319 is activated or energized through one of-these switches, such as 141-1, so that this relay will open the switch 167, thereby deactivating or deenergizing the ticket clamping and hold ing solenoid 80 while simultaneously closing a second single throw, single pole, normally-open switch 226 of this relay. Switch 226 of the Ticket Solenoid Deactivator relay 319 has its biased movable contact or switch arm 227 connected by conductor 228 to conductor 166 for supply of energy from the primary supply circuit, and the relatively-fixed contact 230 of this switch is connected by conductor 231 to the positive terminal of relay 619, the negative terminal of the latter being connected by conductor 232 to the negative or return conductor 158 of the master supply circuit. As a result, upon closure of the normally-open switch 226, relay 619 will be activated or energized to openswitch 183 and deenergize relay 419 if it has not already been deenergized at the second ticket-operated switch 150 by deenergization of the ticket gripping and holding solenoid 80 upon the opening of switch 167 of solenoid 319 when activated. The double-throw, single-pole switch 167 of relay 319 hasits second relatively-fixed contact 172 connected by conductor 233 to conductor 221 to serve as a holding shunt connection, so that even after manual release of a manipulated entry control or button 29 to permit deenergization of the associated operating solenoid, such as Key Push Solenoid 120-1, allowing the Key Pushed Switch associated therewith, such as 141-1, to open so that conductor 221 is no longer connected through conductor 173 to energy suppiy relay switch 1-62 of relay 119, energy will continue to be supplied to relay'319 through switch 167 of this relay by virtue of contact of its movable switch arm 170 with relatively-fixed contact 172 thereof. Thus under such conditions, energy will be supplied from the primary circuit at relay switch 162, closed by energization of relay 119, through conductor 166, switch arm 170 of relay switch 167 of relay 319, fixed contact1'72 thereof, conductor 233 and a portion of conductor 221 to continue energization of relay 319 until the primary supply circuit is broken by opening of the first ticket-operated switch 147. As a result, supply of energy is continued through conductor 228, switch 226 and conductor 231 to relay 619 to maintain the switch 183 of the latter in open condition so that relay 419 cannot again be energized or activated until the primary supply circuit is broken at the first ticket operated switch 147 for resetting the apparatus by deenergization of relays 319 and 619.

In order to discourage undue delay of a better from selecting and operating one of the twelve entry controls 29 after he has inserted a ticket blank 32 in thereceiving means 51, time delay relay 117 is employed to close, after a predetermined interval of time, its switch 234. As previously indicated, time delay relay 117 is supplied energy through conductor 165 connected to the positive or supply conductor 157 of the master supply circuit, switch 162 of relay 119 and conductor 173 with the negative terminal of this time delay relay connected by conductor 174 to the negative or return conductor 158 of the master supply circuit. Thus whenever energy is supplied to the primary supplycircuit from the master supply circuit by closure of the first ticket operated switch 147 energy .is supplied to the time delay relay 117 andaftcr it has been activated or energized for a predetermined period of time, it efiects closure of its switch 234 in a known manner since this time delay relay is of conventional construction, The relatively-fixed contact 235 of the normallyopen time delay relay switch 234 is connected by conductor 236 to conductor 173 so that when the biased movable contact or switch arm 235 of this switch makes contact with this relatively-fixed contact conductor 238 connected to this movable contact will supplyenergy to the deactivating or disabling relay 319. Consequently, even though no entry control be manipulated to close one of the switches 141-1 to 141-12 incl. the disabling relay 319 will, after the lapse of the predeterminedtirne period. be energized to open the circuit of the ticket gripping and holding solenoid at switch 167, and to close the circuit of the disabling solenoid 619 at switch 226 in the manner previously explained.

Since it a bettor should manually manipulate one of the twelve entry controls 29 which identifies a particular entry that has been scratched from the race on which he is wagering, the apparatus should be and is designed to return his blank ticket to him in unprinted condition permitting reuse, and the apparatus informs him of this scratched entry condition. For this purpose, each of the scratch switches to 1215 incl. is provided with a second relatively-fixed contact, such as 239-1 for scratch switch 115 (the similar fixed contacts of scratch switches 215 to 1215 incl. being identified by numerals 239-2 to 239-12 incl.). All or" the relatively-fixed contacts 239-1 to 239-12 incl. are connected by conductor 240 to conductor 241, which is connected to the positive supply terminal of a scratched entry solenoid 519 designed to deactivate the date, race, etc. printing device solenoid 87. The negative terminal of deactivator relay 519 is connected by conductor 242 to the negative or return conductor 158 of the master supply circuit, with the supply conductor 157 thereof supplying energy to relay 519 through conductor 189, switch 2050f relay 419 when the latter is activated upon closure of the second ticket operated switch 150 with relay 619 deenergized, the conductor 207 and the third bank switch of the entry control :switch device such as 208-1, if entry No. 1 has been scratched and the entry control device 129 thereof manually manipulated by the bettor. Push of button 29 of entry control device 129 closes the third bank switch 208-1 thereof for connection of the conductor 207 through switch arm 209-1, contact 212-1, conductor 213-1, scratch switch arm 214-1, contact 239-1 and conductors 240 and 241, successively. Upon activation or energization of relay 519, switch arm 194 of its single pole double-throw switch 195 breaks the circuit of the date and race printing device solenoid 87 at this switch and causes energy to be supplied through the latter by virtue of contact of switch arm 194 with relatively-fixed contact 243 connected by conductor 244 to conductor 238 for supply of energy to the disabling relay 319 from the positive or supply conductor 157 of the master supply circuit through conductor 139, switch 191 of relay 419 which had been activated by closure of the second ticket-operated switch 150, and the conductor 193. Activation or energization of scratched entry relay 519 preferably is indicated to the bettor by any suitable sound and/or visual device, such as a buzzer and/or a light, e. g., light bulb 31 located behind transparent or translucent panel 30. For this purpose, the conductor 240 which is connected to the positive or supply conductor 157 of the master supply circuit through any one of the scratch switches 115 to 1215 incl. which may have been manipulated either manually or by remote control by an attendant or track supervisory personnel, such as scratch switch 115, and the lower or third bank switch of the selected entry control which represented a scratched entry, such as 208-1, conductor 207, switch 205 of energized relay 419 and conductor 189 (which in series supply energy to relay 519), is also connected by conductor 245 to one terminal of scratch light 31. The other terminal of scratch light 31 is connected by conductor 246 to the negative or return conductor of the master supply circuit.

As a consequence, when one of the scratch switches 115 to 1215 incl. has been manipulated by an attendant upon being advised of the scratching or withdrawal of a particular entry from a certain race, any bettor who inserts a ticket blank in the receiving means 51 and then manipulates the entry control identified with that scratched entry, closes the circuit of the scratched entry solenoid 519 at the third bank switch of that particular entry control and simultaneously causes the scratch light 31 to light up and advise him of the scratching of his selected entry. Since, when the bettor does this, the activated or energized scratched entry relay 519 closes the circuit disabling relay 319 at switch 195, the date and race printing solenoid 87 and the ticket gripping and holding solenoid 80 are deenergized to prevent all but entry printing and to release the ticket blank to the bettor for withdrawal and reinsertion if he desires placing a bet on another entry which has not been scratched from this same race. The entry printer and the means for supplying an impulse to the totalizer system will not be operated under such conditions since the energy supply circuit for the entry printer solenoid and the impulse creating solenoid for the manipulating entry control identified with a scratched entry is broken at the attendant manipulated scratch switch for this entry control device. Thus the bettor has returned to him his unprinted ticket blank when he manipulates an. entry control of an entry control device the scratch switch of which had been swung by the attendant or track supervisory personnel to scratch position.

In order to avoid operation of the scratched entry indicating device and informing the bettor only momentarily of the scratching of his scratched selected entry, such as by a mere flashing of the light 31, means preferably are provided to maintain the scratched-indicating device operating until the bettor withdraws his unprinted ticket blank so that he will have suflicient time to understand what has happened. This may be accomplished by providing a holding shunt circuit for the scratched entry relay 519 and the scratched entry informative means, such as the light 31. Such holding means may comprise a second normally-open, single-throw, singlepole relay switch 247 for scratched entry relay 519 with the movable contact or switch arm 248 thereof connected by conductor 249 to a source of energy, such as conductor 166 of the primary supply circuit. Relativelyfixed contact 250 of relay switch 247 is connected to conductor 241 by conductor 250a, so that when relay 519 is once energized to close this switch it will remain-energized for continued supply of energy both to this relay and to the scratched entry informing means, such as light 31, until the supply of energy is discontinued by break of the primary supply circuit, which is eifected by the manual withdrawal of the unprinted ticket blank from the receiving means 51 to open the first ticket-operated switch 147.

Operation of the embodiment of the race ticket printing ticket apparatus of the present invention, illustrated by way of example in the drawings, may be better understood by reference to the structural Figures 1 to 6 incl. and the wiring diagrams of Figs. 7 to 17 incl. which indicate various circuit conditions under various operating conditions. For the purpose of illustrating various circuit conditions which may exist momentarily during operations initiated by the insertion through the slot 28 of a ticket blank, e. g., that of Fig. 2, into the receiving means 51 and then manual manipulation of one or more of the plurality of entry controls or buttons 29, it is assumed in Figs. 8 to 12 incl. and 14 to 17 incl. that two entry controls, the first and the last of the twelve, are provided since the connections therebetween through the intermediate controls is a mere matter of series connection, and it may be considered that the last entry control illustrated therein could be any one of those. After purchase of a ticket blank, the bettor proceeds to a booth in which is mounted a race ticket printing apparatus of the present invention adjusted to particular conditions, e. g., to receive and cause the totalizer system into which is connected machine operated by the present apparatus to record a certain type of wager. This may be a wager of two dollars ($2.00) on any particular selected entry in a particular race to win, which is indicated in the superimposed panel 25 above the window of the booth. When the bettor inserts his ticket blank through the slot 28 into the receiving means 51 he sets up the conditions illustrated in Fig. 8. The ticket blank triggers the first ticket-operated feather switch 147 to cause the leaf contact 149 to make contact with the relatively-fixed contact 148, thereby energizing the first ticket-activated relay 119 in the primary supply circuit. As a result the switch 162 of this relay is closed to supply energy to the time delay relay'117 which initially performs no function but is readied to break certain circuits if the bettor unduly delays selecting an entry and manually manipulating the entry control 29 identifying his selection. Energy is also supplied through relay switch 162 and then successively through relay switch 167 to the ticket gripping and holding solenoid to energize the latter causing the pairs of opposed clamping jaws 65, 65 and 65, 65 to grip the ticket and move it forward for triggering the second ticket-operated feather switch closed, Fig. 8 representing the circuit conditions just prior to this closing of the second ticket-operated switch. Energy is also supplied by the primary supply circuit through the first ticket-operated switch 147 to energize the first date and race printing solenoid deactivating relay 219, which has the return side of its circuit connected through the series connected top bank of entry control switches 178 to 1278 incl., as is indicated in Fig. 8.

The circuits set up as a result of the ticket solenoid 80 gripping and carrying the ticket blank forward to closure of the second ticket-operated switch 150 are illustrated in Fig. 9. It will there be noted that upon closure of this second ticket-operated switch 150 a secondary supply circuit is set up to energize the second ticket-activated relay 419, thereby closing the relay switches 191 and 205 of the latter. As previously pointed out, the closure of switch 191 closes a portion of the supply circuit of the date and race printing solenoid 87 but this circuit at this time remains open due to the energization or activation of disabling relay 219, which holds the normally-closed switch 199 thereof open. 3

Now assuming that the bettor, who inserted his ticket blank in the slot 28, does not unduly delay making his entry selection and pushes, for example, the entry control button 29 for entry No. 1, to set up momentarily the circuits illustrated in Fig. 10. It will be noted in Fig. that by pushing entry button 29 for entry No. 1 the circuit to relay 7 19 was deenergized at the first bank switch thereof by swing of the switch arm 179 from contact of relalively-fixed contact 177 to relatively-fixed contact 229-1, so as to close parallel energizing circuits to the entry printer solenoid 93-1 and the operating solenoid 120-1 due to the following simultaneous manipulation. Upon pushing entry button 29 for entry No. l the bettor also caused the switch arm 209-1 of the third bank switch 2418-1 to swing from therelatively-fixed contact 216-1 down to the other relatively-fixed contact 212-1 to close the supply side of the parallel circuits to the entry printer solenoid 98-1 and operating solenoid 120-1, so that the entry printer arm 101-1 is swung forward to cause the printer head 99-1 to apply the entry identifying indicia, such as that illustrated at 35 in Fig. 2. The simultaneous breaking of the circuit of deactivator relay 219 at entry control first bank switch 178 permitted closure of its relay switch 199, so that the circuit to the date and race printing solenoid 87 is completed through the normally-closed second relay switch 195 of the second date and race printing solenoid deactivator relay 519. This is due to the fact that the normally-open second relay switch 191 of the second ticket-activated relay 419 had been closed by energization of the latter upon closure of the circuit to this relay by the tripping of he second ticket-operated switch 151). It will be understood that the closure of this latter circuit is not dependent upon abutment by the ticket blank of a normally-open circuit-closing feather switch, such as that at 150, since movement of the gripping shoes 65 can effect closure of a switch for the same purpose; or if certain zones of a ticket blank are conductive such as by insertion of conductive foil between plies of plural-ply ticket stock the secondary supply circuit may be closed by using certain of the biting teeth 66 of the clamping flanges 65 as circuit terminals to be connected togeher by the foil when such teeth bite thereinto. The closure of the secondary supply circuit, effected by ticket-operated switch in the illustrated embodiment thus can be limited to insertion of a proper ticket blank, such as to refuse acceptance of ticket blanks of denominations different from that the apparatus is set to accept. For example, conducting zones of the ticket blanks of two dollars ($2.00) denomination may be located dilferently from those in ticket blanks of five dollars ($5.00) and ten dollars (5510.00) denominations so that if the apparatus is set up to accept only bets of only two dollars ($2.00) insertions of live and ten dollar ticket blanks will merely result in release or reject of the latter. If such ticket blanks are supplied in different sizes for difierent denominational values the same results may be attained either by designing the receiving means of a certain apparatus of this invention to accept only one size or providing the second ticket-operated secondary supply circuit closing means in aform that will be operable only when a ticket blank of proper size, and thus of the acceptabledenominational value, inserted therein. also such ends may be obtained by photo-electric cell means so that the secondary circuit is closed only when a ticket blank bearing a proper color or design to which the photo-electric cell means will respond is inserted in the receiving means. For example, it the pie-printed margins of the ticket blanks are printed in one color for one denominational value and different; colors for different denominational values and photo-electric cell devices provided at the receiving means with one designed to respond to only one of those colors and each of the others designed to respond to only a different one of the other colors the apparatus can be pro-conditioned by activating only one of these photo-electric cell devices so that the apparatus will accept only ticket blanks which bear the color to which it will respond, thus limiting operation of the apparatus to acceptance of ticket blanks of one particular denominational value. Such photo-electric cell means, or the equivalent thereof, may be employed in a similar manner to predetermine the character of a wager to be placed by insertion of ticket blanks in a certain receiving means slot, such as win, place, or show. Thus when the printer solenoid 98-1 is energized the date and race printing solenoid $7 is energized so that all of the identifying indicia, illustrated at 35 and at 36 to 4!) incl. in Fig. 2, will be printed on the ticket blank. Simultaneously with energization of the printer solenoid 98-1, the operating solenoid 1211-1 connected in parallel therewith is energized to cause its plunger 132-1 to be depressed so as to depress the key 16-1 of the conventional ticket issuing and printing machine 45, which is now serving only as an impulse transmitter for the totalizer system. As the plunger 132-1 is depressed, its arm 139 moves to close the key pushed switch 141-1, which action is illustrated in Fig. 10 by an arrow indicating that its switch arm 223-1 is moving toward closure with relatively-fixed contact 224-1 thereof.

Fig. 11 illustrates the conditions of certain circuits which follow the operations illustrated in Fig. 10. It is there shown that the closure of the switch 141-1 by activation of the solenoid 126-1 eifects closure of that portion of the primary supply circuit which supplies energy to the Ticket Solenoid Deactivator which deactivates the ticket clamping and holding solenoid 80, i. e., disabling relay 319, to close its normally-open switch 226 and swing its switch 167 to the hold position for continued supply of energy to this relay 319. As a result, the Printing and Push Solenoids Deactivator relay 619 is activated or energized to open its relay switch 183, thereby breaking the supply circuit of the second ticket-activated relay 419 to permit its biased switches 191 and 205 to open. This action is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 11, showing that the switch arms 190 and 204 respectively of switches 191 and 205 are commencing to move away from contact with their respective relatively-fixed contact 192 and 206, so that the opening of switch 191 will cause deenergization of the date and race printing solenoid 87, if this has not already been efiected by completion of the circuit of disabling relay 219 to open its switch 199 resulting from release of the pushed entry control button 29 for entry No. 1. The opening of the switch 2115 likewise breaks the supply circuit to the entry printer solenoid 98-1 and the operating solenoid -1 also, if this has not already been efiected by break of this circuit at switch 208-1 by release of the entry control button. As will be seen from Fig. 11, the energization of the relay 619 opened the switch 183 in the supply circuit or" the relay 419, and as a result the latter was deenergized by the opening of this switch, if the supply circuit of relay 419 had not already been broken at the second ticket-operated switch which is permitted to open by release and partial return of the printed ticket resulting from deenergization of the ticket gripping and holding solenoid it!) upon its circuit being broken at switch 167 of relay 319. It will e noted from Fig. 11 that when the switch arm of relay switch is! is swung from contact with the relativelyfixed contact 171 to open the circuit of the ticket gripping and holding solenoid Stl it swings over to contact of relatively-fixed contact 172 thereof to close a hold circuit for relay 319, so that energy is supplied from the primary supply circuit through conductor 166, this switch, conductor 233 and a portion of conductor 22]. to keep relay switch 226 closed for continued supply of energy to the Printing and Push Solenoids Deactivator relay 619.

Consequently, after the ticket blank has been inserted in the receiving means 51 by the better and has been grasped and been pushed forward to printing position by the pairs of opposed shoes 65, 65 and 65, 65, and then the'bettor has manipulated an entry control (such as for example, pushed entry button 29 for entry No. l to effect the printing of the ticket blank illustrated in 2), the printed ticket is released and the solenoids and various relays are deencrgized or deactivated. As a result, following such a completed ticket printing operation with release or partial return of the printed ticket to the better,

i. ve., with its trailing end projecting part of the way out o of the slot 2%; so that the better can grasp it with his fingers andwithdraw it, the conditions of various circuits are those illustrated in Fig. 12. As indicated in Fig. l2, the primary supply circuit continues to be closed at the first ticket-operated switch M7 to constitute a potential source of energy for devices connected thereto but the deactivator relay 319 continues to be energized byvirtue of its hold circuit to continue cnergization of deactivator relay 619, so as to continue to held open the secondary supply circuit switch 133 of the latter. Only upon manual withdrawal of the printed ticket blank from the slot 2?; will all of the circuits be deenergized by virtue of break of the primaiy supply circuit at the first ticket-operated switch 147. The resulting deactivation or deenergization of all of the devices thus resets the apparatus for like successive operation. It will be seen that such operation is similar for any particular one of the entry control devices 129 to 1229 incl. which is associated with any one of the particular twelve entry buttons 29 that the better placing the wager may have selected by virtue of the fact that the first bank of entry control switches 173 to 1273 incl. are in series to complete the return or negative side of the circuit of the deactivator relay 219 and all of the third bank switches mil-l to are in series selectively to supply-energy to the printer solenoid and the operating solenoid associated wit the selected entry button.

It is not likely that a better would manipulate two of the entry control buttons at precisely the same instant so that the date and race printing solenoid would be en ergized without energization of any of the printer solenoids-98-1 to 98-12 incl. to permit return of only a par-- tially printed ticket to the better. However, in order to avoid any possibility thereof, the entry control switch devices 129 to 1229 incl. are preferably equipped. with means to deenergize the data and race printing solenoid 87 upon the occurrence of such a simultaneous manipulation of more than one of the entry controls. As will be seen from Fig. 7B and Fig. 13, such means may comprise an intermediate or second bank of switches 251-1 to 251-12, each gauged with the first and third bank switches at each of the entry control. switch devices 129 to 1229 incl. At the first entry control switch device 129 the relatively-fixed contact 177 of the first bank switch 178 is connected by a conductor 252 to switch arm 2553-11 of this second bank switch 251-1 which, for entry control No. 1, may be of the single-pole, single-throw type, as shown, held normally open by the biasing for the first and third bank switches thereof. The second bank switch 251-12 of the twelfth entry control switch device 1229 is also of the single-pole, single-throw type also normallybiased to open condition, and those at 251-2 .to 251-11 incl. of the intermediate entry control switch devices 229 to 1129 incl. are of the single-pole, double-throw type, as will be explained hereinafter.

The relatively-fixed contact 2534-1 of this second bank tit) switch of the first'entry control switch device 129 is connected by a conductorlSS-l to the second relativelyfixed contact 220-2 of thefirstbank switch of the second entry control switch device 229. The second relatively fixed contact 220-2 of the second entry control switch device 229 is connected by a conductor 256-2 to a first relatively-fixed contact 257-2 of the second bank switch 251-2 of the second entry control switch device 229, and a second relatively fixed contact 254-2 of the latter is connected by conductor 25fi-2 to the first relativelyfixed contact 277 of the first bank switch 27 8 of entry control switch device 229. in the latter, conductor 255-2 connects the second bank switch arrn 253-2 to the second relatively-fixed contact 22(2-3 of the first bank switch of the third entry control switch device 329, with conductors 256-3 and 258-3 making the same connections therein as did the conductors 256-2 and 258-2 in the second entry control switch device 229. Conductor 255-3 connects'the second bank switch arm 253-3 of entry control switch device 329 to the second relatively-fixed contact 220-4 of the first bank switch 478 of the fourth entry control switch device 429. The connections be tween the first and second bank switches of the entry control switch devices 429 to 1129 incl. are the same as those in entry control switch device 329, and they are interconnected between these entry control switch devices in the manner of the described interconnections of the first and second bank switches of the second, third and fourth entry control switch devices 229, 329 and 429, as will be seen from Fig. 7B. However, conductor 255-11 connects the second bank switch arm 253-11 of the eleventh entry control switch device 1129 to the relatively-fixed contact 254-12 of the second bank switch 251-12 of the twelfth entry control switch device 1229, and the switch arm 253-12 of the latter is-connected by a conductor 259 to the second relatively-fixed contact 220-12 of the associated first bank switch 127% (such as by connection to conductor 218-12).

It will thus be seen that in the first entry control switch device 129 the first relatively-fixed contact of the first switch bank is crosseonnected to the switch arm of the normally-open second bank switch thereof, while in the twelfth entry control switch device 1229 the switch arm of the normally-open second bank switch is crossconnected to the second relatively-fixed contact the first bank switch thereof. In each of the intermediate entry control switch devices 229 to 1129 incl. the first relatively-fixed contact of the first bank switch is crossconuected to the second relatively-fixed contact of the second bank switch; and the second relatively-fixed contact of the first bank switch and the first relatively-fixed contact of the sec and bank switch in each of these intermediate entry con trol switch devices are connected directly together. Although the single relatively-fixed contact of the second bank switch of the first entry control 129 is interconnected to the second relatively-fixed contact of the first bank switch of the second entry control switch device 229 (and thus also to the first relatively-fixed contact of the second bank switch of the latter), in each of the intermediate entry control switch devices 229 to 1029 incl. the switch arm of the second bank switch is interconnected to these second relatively-fixed contact of the first bank switch and first relatively-fixed contact of the second bank switch in the next succeeding entry control; while in the eleventh entry control switch device 1129 the switch arm of the second bank switch thereof is interconnected to the relatively-fixed contact of the second bank switch of the twelfth entry control switch device 1229.

It will be understood from the preceding description that when any one of the entry control buttons 29 is manually manipulated or pushed the circuit of solenoid 219 is broken at the first bank switch thereof to allow biased switch 199 to close so as to permit the circuit of thedate and race printing solenoid 87 to be closed, and

immediatedly thereafter the supply circuits to the entry printer and operating solenoids associated with that entry control will be closed to effect the printing of the ticket blank and to create the informative impulse for the totalizer system, followed by release of the printed ticket. But if any two or more of the entry controls are simultaneously manipulated, the following situation obtains. The simplified wiring diagram of Fig. 13 shows the circuit for the relay 219 and the three banks of entry control switches of the first and second entry control switch devices 129 and 229, intermediate entry control switch devices 529 and 829, and the last entry control switch device 1229. It is there assumed that two of the adjacent entry control buttons 29, 29 such as those for entries Nos. 2 and 8 when arranged as indicated in Fig. 1, have been simultaneously pushed, and entry control switch device 529 has been employed as representative of all of the entry control switch devices intervening those for the second and eighth entry controls since the connections therethrough are the same, the tenth and eleventh entry controls switch devices also being omitted for a like reason. It will be seen that upon simultaneous manipulation of the second and eighth entry controls, for example, the return or negative side of the circuit for the relay 219 is completed successively through conductor 181, the first bank switch 1278 of the entry control switch device 1229, conductors 1180 and 880 (including the similar connections through the first bank switches of the intervening entry control switch devices 929, 1029 and 1129), first bank switch 878 of entry control switch device 829, conductor 255-7 (and similar connections through the intervening entry control switch devices 629 and 729) to the second tank switch 2131- of entry control switch device 529, conductors 256-5 and 255-4 (as well as through the similar connections in the intervening entry control switch devices 329 and 429) to the second bank switch 251-2 of the second entry control switch device 229, and thence via conductors 258-2 and 180 through switch 178 of the first entry control switch device 129 to conductor 176, which leads to the negative terminal of relay 219. Thus when any two of the entry controls are manipulated simultaneously relay 219 promptly is reenergized to prevent the date and race printing solenoid 87 from operating by virtue of the energization of relay 219 which opens at switch 199 the circuit of that solenoid. Although the supply or positive side of the circuit which leads through conductor 207 and the series switches 208-1 et seq. becomes connected at the first of the simultaneously manipulated entry controls 229 and 829, i. e., at third bank switch 208-1, to the entry printer 98-2, and its associated operating solenoid 121-2, these are not energized for operation. This is so because, although third bank switch 208-2 is closed for connection to supply conductor 207 those at entry control switch device 229 have no connection on their return or negative side since the latter through the top bank switches of the following entry control switch devices 329 to 1229 incl. is broken at the first bank switch 878 of the eighth entry control switch device 829 and likewise through the second bank 'switches of entry control switch devices 829 to 1229 incl. is broken at the second bank switch 251-12 of the twelfth entry control switch device 1229. Similarly the printer solenoid 98-8 of the entry control switch de vice 829 and that of its operating solenoid 121-8 remain deenergized although a portion of the supply side of the circuits thereof are closed at third bank switch 208-8; even though the return side thereof is closed through the first bank switches of the following entry control switch devices 929 to 1229 incl, this positive supply side has been broken at the preceding third bank switch 208-2 of entry control switch device 229. Thus the application of any printing to a ticket blank is restricted to manipulation of a single entry control at a time. 1

ticket blank from the receiving slot and begin again the entry as illustrated in Figs. 15, 16

relay 219 at entry control switch sequence of operations by reinsertion of the ticket blank in the slot. The results of such too long delay are illustrated in Fig. 14 wherein it is indicated that the initial insertion of the ticket blank closes the first ticketopcrated switch 147 to energize supply relay 119, thereby closing switch 162 thereof to supply energizing current to the time delay relay 117. The closure of the first ticket-operated switch 147 also supplied energizing current to relay 219, as there indicated, so as to hold open the switch 199 in the circuit of the date and race printing solenoid 87 (not shown in this wiring diagram since it is deenergized). The undue delay in manipulating one of the entry controls (which would open one of the switches 178 to 1278 incl.) causes the time delay relay 117 to close its switch 234 to supply energy through the conductor 236, this switch and conductor 238 to the disabling relay 319. Upon energization of relay 319 its switches 167 and 226 are closed, with the former closing a holding circuit for this relay and the latter closing the energy supply circuit to disabling relay 619, thereby opening the switch 183 of the latter. Thereafter any subsequent manipulation of any one of the entry controls by the bettor will merely break momentarily the circuit to the relay 219 at one of the entry control switches 178 to 1278 incl., and these conditions of Fig. 14 will continue until the bettor withdraws the unprinted ticket blank which had been released by deenergization of the ticket gripping and holding solenoid at switch 167.

Under conditions where any particular entry has been scratched from a certain race and the attendant or other track personnel has thrown the corresponding scratch switch, either manually or from a remote location by suitable remote control means, to the scratch condition, circuits and relays are progressively operated upon the bettor manipulating the entry control for the scratched and 17. For example, let it be assumed that entry No. 1 had been scratched from a particular race and the scratch switch arm 214-1 had been swung to contact of the relatively-fixed contact 239-1. When the bettor inserts his ticket blank through the slot 28 into the receiving means: 51 to close the first ticket-operated switch 147 with the intent of betting upon entry No. 1 he sets up the conditions of Fig. 15, resulting in energization of supply relay 119, energization of disabling relay 219, supply of energy to the time delay relay 117, and energization of the ticket gripping and holding solenoid 80 resulting in the closure of the second ticket-operated switch 158 and causing energization of relay 419. Although under such scratched entry conditions, disabling relays 319 and 619, as well as that at 519, will eventually become energized upon manipulating the entry control for the scratched entry, they are indicated in Fig. 15 in deactivated or deenergized conditions since the entry control has not yet been manipulated to swing the contact arm 209-1 of the third bank switch 208-1 of the entry control switch device 129 to contact of the relatively-fixed contact 212-1 thereof.

The moment the bettor manipulates the entry control switch device 1129, switch 208-1 is operated to swing its arm 289-1 to contact of the relatively-fixed contact 212-1, as indicated in Fig. 16. His manipulation of the entry control switch device 129 breaks the circuit of disabling 1.78 and thus its circuit is not shown in Fig. 16. The manipulation of the control for entry No. 1 caused its third bank switch 2084. to connect the supply conductor 297 through the manipulated scratch switch 115 to the conductor 240. As a result, energy is supplied from the master supply circuit conductor successively through conductors 189 and 2%, relay switch of energized relay 41 9, conductor 297, the third bank switch Zfitsl of entry control switch device 12!), conductor 2134., scratch switch 115 and conductors and 2 2-1 to relay 519 having-its negative terminal connected by conductor 2'42. to the return conductor 153 of the master supply circuit. Simultaneously energy is supplied to the scratched entry indicating means, or light 31 to light up panel 36, so that the bettor will be informed (in this case, visually) thatthe entry which he had selected had been scratched.

The energization of relay 519 manipulates its switches R95 and 247 to the positions indicated in Fig. l6. The swing of switch 195 opens the circuit of the date and race printing solenoid 87 at contact 1% to disable this solenoid, and with its swing to contact 243 energy is supplied from the master circuit supply conductor 157 conductor Mi l-the closed relay switch 191 of energi 4&9, conductor li 3, switch 195 and conductors EA 238 to the disabling relay 319 which has its ncgatne terminal connected by conductor 225 to the return conductor 15% of the master supply circuit, these conditionsbeing shown in Fig. 16. Naturally the bettor will release the entry control of entry control switch device It??? when he notes that his selected entry has been scratched, and such release would normally open the circuit of the scratch indicating means'of scratch light 31 upon released swing of switch arm 209-4 of the third bank switch back to contact of relatively-fixed contact 2ltllt of this switch. This is undesirable since the track wishes to make certain that the bettor understands why his ticket blank was not printed'and, accordingly, a hold. circuit is provided for scratched entry light 31 through relay switch 247 of scratch relay 519 and the scratch indicating conditions are maintained until the cycle of operation of the apparatus has been completed, the unprinted ticket blank released to the bettor and he withdraws it from the slot 28.

Immediately upon energization of the disabling solenoid 319 by closure of switch 195, its switch 226 was closed to energize disabling relay 619, causing switch 133 of the latter to be manipulated from the closed position indicated in Fig. 16 to the open position indicated in Fig. 17, so as to open the circuit of the secondary supply circuit relay 419. Also the deenergizing or" the gripping and holding solenoid -8tlby the swing of relay switch in? of the disabling relay 219 also permitted the second ticket-operated switch 150 to open thereby producing a second break in the supply circuit of the relay 41%. Consequently the switches 1M and 205 of the relay 419 are permitted to swing under biasing force to the open positions illustrated in Fig. 17, thereby tending to break the circuit of the disabling scratch solenoid 519 and the scratched entry indicating light 31 both at switch 2% and also at the third bank switch 2034 of the entry control switch device 129 as the bettor releases the button thereof upon noting that his selected entry No. 1 had been scratched. But as indicated in Fig. 17, the scratch light Sit is kept lighted by virtue of the hold circuit set up through switch 24! ofrelay 519 with energization of the latter being maintained by this hold circuit to keep that switch closed for this purpose until such time as all of the circuits are deenergized by withdrawal of the released, unprinted ticket blank to open the first ticketoperated switch 147. Consequently, the circuit conditions return to those illustrated in Fig. 12.

The race ticket printing apparatus of the present in vention has been described above in connection with the embodiment illustrated by Way of example in the drawings, characterized by a single ticket blank insertion slot and associated single ticket blank receiving means to gether with a plurality of entry selection controls. -It is tobe understood, however, that this invention may be embodied in an apparatus featuring a plurality of ticket blank insertion slots with each having a separate receivingmeans'located therebehind andwith each provided for a particular entry. in the latter case twelve such slots and receiving means maybe provided, one for each of est entries. in such apparatus a separate printing 'de ce would be mounted at each of the twelve diflerent'receptive ticket blank receiving means to apply co a-ticket blank inserted therein the race, date, etc. in-- formation. In this modificdforrn each of the twelve separatct cket blank insertion means would have associated therewith only one of the entry printers to apply the entry selection information to the ticket blank. Parallel circuits would connect the plurality of tieket'blank rcceiving means and the printing devices to the supply circuit so that mechanism, such as that illustrated in the drawings, would be energized and operated upon closure of any one of these parallel circuits at a particular receiving means. The printing operations would then be completed by manipulation of a single manual control. which would be connected by parallel circuits to the various parallel circuits of the receiving means and print-- iug devices. in using such a modified form of app a bettor would insert his ticket blank in the part i ticket blank insertion slot that identified his selected entry for a particular race, such as slot No. 6 for entry No. 6. As a result he would effect closure of afirst ticket-operated switch at the No. 6 receiving means, which maybe similar to the feather switch 147, causing gripping means at that receiving means to grab the ticket and push it forward and simultaneously efiecting closure of a second switch, which may be similar to the second ticketoperated feather switch lS'tl. Closure of this parallel circuit at the receiving means for entry No. 6 may set up circuits similar to those described above so that upon manipulation of a single master control he completes circuits to energize the entry printer and the printing device at that particular receiving means as well as the operating solenoid tliereat which is to supply a bit of information impulse to the totalizer system, and such operation is followed by similar disabling procedure so that the printed ticket is returned to the bettor and the apparatus is readied for a like sequential operation.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efiiciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be undestood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all state ments of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 'Race ticket printing apparatus comprising, in combination, means to receive from a better a ticket blank and support it in a printing position, printing means at the printing position to apply to said blank indicia including an entry selection, said printing means including a plural ity of separately operable individually movable entry indicating indicia printers, a plurality of separately operable controls each associated with one of said printers to operate the latter individually, means to limit operation of each printer to manipulation of a single one of said entry controls at a time, means to prevent operation of said apparatus by any of said entry controls in the absence of a ticket blank in said receiving means,-and

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