WO2008008855A2 - Main deck for a card magazine of a multi-media printer - Google Patents

Abstract

A main deck for a card magazine of a multi-media printer which includes diverter plates and friction ribs. The main deck utilizes the diverter plates to feed one or more rewritable cards into one or more card magazines and to eliminate bending cards from a common path when the printer uses multiple card magazines. The main deck utilizes the friction ribs to allow a rewritable card to pass the main deck without the card coming into full contact with the main deck and to reduce the friction between a rewritable card and the main deck which is caused by a rewritable card as the card passes over the main deck.

Description

MAIN DECK FOR A CARD MAGAZINE OF A MULTI-MEDIA PRINTER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/830,029, filed July 11, 2006, and is related to PCT Application filed May 11, 2007 in the U.S. receiving office entitled "MULTI-MEDIA GAMING PRINTER" as attorney docket number 03226.001030.51, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to printers that print financial transaction records such as gaming vouchers, promotional coupons, gift cards, and the like using rewritable cards or other kinds of media such as thermally writable media, smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, or RFID media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There currently exists a variety of printers that accept different types of rewritable media for reading, printing, encoding, and/or erasing. One existing printer uses one or more card magazines or storage cartridges for storing such media. Within a card magazine is a main deck where the main deck is a flat surface. Rewritable cards that enter or exit a card magazine of this printer must pass the main deck.

DEFINITIONS

[0004] For the purposes of this document the following definitions apply:

[0005] "Multi-media Printer" - a device used to print and/or encode a rewritable card and/or erase a rewritable card.

[0006] "Rewritable Card" - media for reading and/or writing such as media with a magnetic stripe, media with a layer of writable and erasable thermally sensitive film, media containing Radio Frequency active, passive, or both elements, a smart card, thermal reversible media, RF fiber media, or write once media. [0007] "Printer Controller" - a device internal or external to a printer which controls print jobs and receives and/or transmits data, among other functions.

[0008] "Card Magazine" - a component of a multi-media printer which is used to store rewritable cards and provide the rewritable cards to the printer module on command from the printer controller.

[0009] "Host System" - any collection of components that work together to perform a task. One example is a gaming system such as a slot machine in a casino. Other examples include a computer network, a server or multiple servers, a computer connected to a network, a stand alone computer, a handheld device, or a wireless device used for application and data storage, data processing, and file transfers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A main deck of a card magazine of a multi-media printer including one or a plurality of diverter plates and friction ribs is provided. This allows moving cards from the main deck into multiple card magazines without bending them. Furthermore, the main deck reduces the friction created between the main deck and a passing rewritable card. In addition, the diverter plates of the main deck allow the printer to use a single track to feed multiple card magazines.

[0011] hi another aspect of the invention, a main deck for a card magazine of a multimedia printer which includes diverter plates and friction ribs. The main deck utilizes the diverter plates to feed one or more rewritable cards into one or more card magazines and to eliminate bending cards from a common path when the printer uses multiple card magazines. The main deck utilizes the friction ribs to allow a rewritable card to pass the main deck without the card coming into full contact with the main deck and to reduce the friction between a rewritable card and the main deck which is caused by a rewritable card as the card passes over the main deck.

[0012] In another aspect of the invention, a main deck for a card magazine of a multimedia printer includes one or a plurality of diverter plates, the diverter plates feed one or a plurality of rewritable cards into or out of one or a plurality of card magazines.

[0013] In another aspect of the invention, one or a plurality of diverter plates of a main deck allow a multi-media printer to utilize a single track to feed rewritable cards into one or a plurality of card magazines, thereby eliminating the need to bend or rotate a card from a common path into one or a plurality of card magazines.

[0014] In another aspect of the invention, a main deck for a card magazine of a multimedia printer may comprise a plurality of friction ribs, the friction ribs protruding from a surface the main deck.

[0015] hi another aspect of the invention, the friction ribs of a main deck may be of uniform height.

[0016] hi another aspect of the invention, the friction ribs of a main deck may be equally distributed on a top and a bottom surface of the main deck.

[0017] hi another aspect of the invention, the friction ribs of a main deck may extend the length of the main deck.

[0018] hi another aspect of the invention, the friction ribs of a main deck may extend the width of the main deck.

[0019] hi another aspect of the invention, the friction ribs of a main deck allow a rewritable card to pass over or under the main deck without the rewritable card coming into full contact with the main deck.

[0020] hi another aspect of the invention, the friction ribs reduce the friction between a rewritable card and the main deck as the rewritable card passes over or under the main deck.

[0021] hi another aspect of the invention, a main deck for a card magazine of a multimedia printer may be coupled to one or a plurality of cams, a motor, or a solenoid, allowing a printer to move the main deck into a position which allows the card path to be straight throughout the active path of the printer while maintaining the ability to feed and discard rewritable cards from one or a plurality of card magazines.

[0022] In another aspect of the invention, a main deck for a card magazine of a multimedia printer may include one or a plurality of cam guides, each cam guide may couple the main deck to a cam, motor, or solenoid, among other types of actuators.

[0023] hi another aspect of the invention, a multi-media printer may be coupled to one or a plurality of card magazines. [0024] In another aspect of the invention, procedures, programming instructions, memory, a control motor, a combination of such, or a combination of any may be used to implement control logic used to actuate the main deck.

[0025] In another aspect of the invention, procedures, programming instructions, memory, a control motor, a combination of such, or a combination of any may be used to actuate the main deck into a position which allows the card path to be straight throughout the active path of the printer while maintaining the ability to feed and discard rewritable cards from one or a plurality of card magazines.

[0026] In another aspect of the invention, procedures, programming instructions, memory, a control motor, a combination of such, or a combination of any may be used to actuate the main deck to eliminate the need to bend or rotate a card from a common path into one of a plurality of card magazines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a side plan view showing the main deck for a card magazine of a multimedia printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the main deck for a card magazine of a multi-media printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 3 a and FIG. 3b are side partial views of the main deck and other components of a card magazine of a multi-media printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multi-media printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0032] FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram describing the adjustment to the main deck process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIG. 1 is a side plan view showing the main deck for a card magazine of a multimedia printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the main deck for a card magazine of a multi-media printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 a main deck 100 includes on or more diverter plates, such as diverter plates 102 and 104, a plurality of spaced apart friction ribs, such friction ribs 106 and 108, and one or more cam guides, such as cam guides 110, 112, 114 and 116.

[0034] The diverter plates 102 and 104 may be used to eliminate bending cards from a common path when the printer uses multiple card magazines thereby permitting the printer to use a single track to feed multiple card magazines. The diverter plates may also be used to feed one or more rewritable cards into a card magazine.

[0035] hi a main deck in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the diverter plates are positioned at a front edge 118 of the main deck 100.

[0036] The friction ribs are disposed upon and protrude from a surface 120 of the main deck 100 and may be used to allow a rewritable card (not shown) to pass the main deck without the card coming into full contact with the main deck. The friction ribs may also be used to reduce the friction between a rewritable card and the surface the main deck which is caused by a rewritable card as the card passes over the main deck.

[0037] In a main deck in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the friction ribs may be equally distributed on a top surface 122 and a bottom surface 124 of the main deck 100. Additionally, the friction ribs may protrude from the top and bottom surfaces of the main deck, may be of uniform height, and may extend the length and width of the main deck.

[0038] In a main deck in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the main deck 100 may be coupled to friction ribs where the friction ribs may be a plurality of rollers, such as rollers 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d and 126e connected by a shaft 128 or a plurality of such shafts connected to the main deck.

[0039] The cam guides 110, 112, 114 and 116 may be used to couple the main deck 100 to a cam, motor, or solenoid or other actuator (not shown) which moves the main deck into a position which allows the card path to be straight throughout the active path of the printer while maintaining the ability to feed and discard rewritable cards from one or a plurality of card magazines.

[0040] In a main deck in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the cam guides 110, 112, 114 and 116 may be positioned on each side of the main deck 100.

[0041] A roller 130 may be coupled to the main deck 100 through an aperture 132 near the diverter plates 102 and 104. The roller may be used to guide a rewritable card through a card magazine.

[0042] In a main deck in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the roller 130 is situated between the diverter plates 102 and 104 of the main deck 100.

[0043] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b are side partial views of the main deck and other components of a card magazine of a multi-media printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Shown are the main deck 100 as previously described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality of card plates, such as card plates 300 and 302, a cam 304, a rewritable card 306, and a casing 308 of a card magazine.

[0045] Card plate 300 is positioned above the main deck 100 (herein referred to as the "top card plate") while card plate 302 is positioned below the main deck (herein referred to as the "bottom card plate"). The top card plate 300 may be used as a weight bearing plate where the weight is used to prevent rewritable cards from excessive movement. Rewritable cards that reside in a top portion of the card magazine may be placed below the top card plate. Rewritable cards that reside in the bottom portion of the card magazine may be placed above the bottom card plate.

[0046] The cam 304 among other components not shown actuates the main deck 100 up or down thereby allowing rewritable cards to enter or exit a bottom or a top portion of the card magazine.

[0047] The rewritable card 306 is the media used to record data generated by the multimedia printer and is printed, read, written, and/or encoded. Additionally, data on a rewritable card may be erased by the multi-media printer.

[0048] The casing includes an aperture 310 through which a rewritable card passes to and from a print module (as later described in FIG. 4) to and from a card magazine. [0049] Now turning to the operation of the main deck 100. As the rewritable card 306 moves in a card magazine through the aperture 310 in the casing 308, the cam 304 may adjust the main deck to a position above or below the aperture, depending on signaling received from a printer controller (as later described in FIG. 4). For example, when a multi-media printer determines that a rewritable card may still be in service, the main deck may be actuated and be positioned below the aperture of the casing to allow the rewritable card to pass through to the top portion of the card magazine as illustrated in FIG. 3 a. Similarly, for rewritable cards that may be no longer in service, the main deck may actuate and be positioned above the aperture of the casing to allow rewritable cards to pass through to the bottom portion of the card magazine as illustrated in FIG. 3b.

[0050] As previously described in FIG.l and FIG. 2, the diverter plates 102 and 104 of the main deck 100 may be used to guide the rewritable cards as each rewritable card moves in or out of the top or bottom portion of a card magazine. The friction ribs 106 of the main deck prevent each rewritable card from coming into full contact with the main deck to reduce friction between the main deck and a passing card.

[0051] As the rewritable card 306 moves out of a card magazine, the cam 304 may be used to adjust the main deck 100 to a position above or below the aperture 310, depending on signaling received from a printer controller and/or the location of the rewritable card 306 in a card magazine. For example, if the printer controller signals for a rewritable card still in service, the main deck may actuate and be positioned below the aperture of the casing 308 to allow the rewritable card to be moved from the top portion of the card magazine as illustrated in FIG. 3a.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multi-media printer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A multi-media printer 400 may include a printer controller 401, a print module 402, and one or more card magazines, such as card magazines 403 and 404. Any component may be optional.

[0053] The print module 402 may include a print card drive 405 that moves cards through the print module. The print card drive is reversible such that a card may be fed through the print module in more than one direction by the print card drive. The print card drive may include a card motion sensor 406 for sensing card movement within the print card drive. A more detailed discussion of printer media motion detection within a printer is presented in U.S. Patent Application No. 10/640,495 filed August 12, 2003, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if stated herein in full. The print drive may further include an embossing detector 408 that may be used to sense when an embossed item, such as a conventional credit card, is inserted into the print module. The embossing detector may be a mechanical device, such as a limit switch, that contacts an inserted card and detects any embossing. If an embossed card is inserted into the multi-media printer, the multi-media printer may not attempt to write to the card, only read the card.

[0054] The print module 402 may further include a security feature reading device 410 for reading any security features included in the card. The print module may further include a print head 412 for writing indicia to the rewritable card and an erase head 414 for erasing the indicia from the rewritable card. The print module may further include an optical scanning device 416 for scanning the indicia printed onto a rewritable card. The print module may further include a magnetic strip read/write head 418 used to read and write from and to a rewritable card's magnetic strip. The print module may be removably and electronically coupled to the printer controller 401 and removably and mechanically coupled to the card magazines 403 and 404.

[0055] In operation, the print module 402 receives printer control signals from the printer controller 401. hi response to the printer control signals, the print module scans rewritable cards for the presence and value of any security feature in the rewritable card. As the print module scans the rewritable card, the security feature reading device 410 generates a security signature signal that is transmitted to the printer controller, hi addition, the print module thermally prints on the rewritable cards, and thermally erases the rewritable cards, under the control of the printer controller. The print module may also receive a rewritable card from a player and transmit a rewritable card detection signal to the printer controller.

[0056] The print module 402 may also include a static memory read/write connector 420 for coupling to a "smart" card having a readable/writable static memory. The printer controller 401 transmits static memory write signals and receives static memory read signals to and from the static memory read/write head.

[0057] The one or more independently controlled card magazines 403 and 404 store rewritable cards and provide the rewritable cards to the printer module 402 on command from the printer controller 401. Each card magazine may include one or more magazine card drives, such as magazine card drive 422, for moving cards into and out of the magazine. Each card magazine may also include a card storage area 424 for storage of rewritable cards, hi operation, the card magazine receives card magazine control signals from the printer controller. In response to the control signals, the card magazine feeds cards to the print module from the card storage area using the magazine card drive. In response to the card magazine control signals, the card magazine may also receive rewritable cards from the print module and store the rewritable cards in the card storage area. The card magazine may also include one or more card sensors 426 used to detect the number of cards stored in the card storage area. The card sensors sense the quantity of cards stored in the card storage area and transmit card count signals to the printer controller for further processing. The card magazine may also include a read/write static memory 428 for semi-permanent storage of card information about cards stored in the card magazine.

[0058] The printer controller 401 may include a processor 430 coupled to a main memory 453 by a system bus 431. The printer controller may also include a storage memory 434 coupled to the processor by the bus. The storage memory stores programming instructions 436, executable by the processor to implement the features of a multi-media printer 400. The storage memory may also include printer and card information 438 stored and used by the processor. The printer and card information may include information received by the printer controller about the status of the print module 402 and card magazines 403 and 404 and also about the status and identity of any cards stored in the card magazines or being operated on by the print module. The types of status information may include an image of a last printed rewritable card as scanned by the optical scanning device and the current status, such as millimeters of advancement, of a card currently in the print module.

[0059] The printer controller 401 may also include an Input/Output (I/O) device 440 coupled to the processor 430 by the system bus 431. The I/O device may be used by the printer controller to transmit control signals to the print module 402 and the card magazines 403 and 404. The I/O device may also be used by the printer controller to receive security feature and status signals from the print module and card magazines.

[0060] The printer controller may also include procedures 441 which are used, for example, to determine card positions and to actuate one or a plurality of rotary cams (not shown) to adjust and position one or a plurality of print heads and an eraser head 414 to the thickness of a rewritable card.

[0061] One or more communications devices 444 may be coupled to the system bus for use by the printer controller to communicate directly to one or more external controllers, such as external controller 446 or for communications with external controllers over a local area network 448. Examples of external controllers include cashless gaming system hosts or game controllers. The printer controller may use the communication devices to receive commands, program instructions, and card information from the external devices. In addition, the printer controller may use the communication devices to transmit printer status information to the external devices. Other communication devices may also be used by the printer controller to couple in a secure fashion over the local area network for administrative or other purposes.

[0062] Additional communication devices and channels may be provided for communication with other peripheral devices as needed. For example, one communication device may be provided with a local communications port, accessible from an exterior of a gaming machine hosting the multi-media printer that a technician may use to communicate with the printer controller during servicing using an external controller. The external controller may communicate with the printer controller using an infrared link, other short- range wireless communication link, are a hard link with an external connector in a secure manner.

[0063] The processor 430 may be further coupled to an encryption/decryption module 450 that may be used to encrypt and decrypt messages encoded using an encryption standard. This enables the printer controller 401 to engage in secure transactions with external devices. The processor may access the encryption/decryption module either as a component through the bus 431 as shown or as an external device through the communications device 440 using a high level communications protocol. In addition, the printer controller may also include program instructions to perform encryption/decryption services as well.

[0064] The processor may be further coupled to a display device 452 that may be used to display printer status information or card information. For example, the display may used to display an "as-scanned" version of the most recently printed and scanned card. The processor may access the display device either as a component through the I/O device 440 or as an external device through a communications device 444.

[0065] In operation, the processor loads the programming instructions into the main memory and executes the programming instructions to implement the features of a multimedia printer as described herein.

[0066] As illustrated, the printer controller 401 is shown as being coupled to the print module 402 and card magazines 403 and 404. The printer controller may be mounted in a variety of ways and may be incorporated into various components of either the multi-media printer 400 or, for instance, a host system (such as a game) coupled to the multi-media printer. For example, the printer controller may be attached to and supported by the print module, the card magazine, or the host game as may be required to mechanically integrate the multi-media printer into the host game.

[0067] The foregoing description of the controller 401 in the multi-media printer 400 is provided by way of example and not of limitation, it being understood that a controller could be implemented in a variety of ways without deviating from the spirit of the invention. For example, logic modules could be constructed from hardware such as hardwired circuits within the controller. Alternatively, logic modules could be implemented in the form of software, such as computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, and the controller could be a programmable controller with a processor and memory. Finally, the controller could also be constructed from a combination of hardware and software components.

[0068] FIG. 5 is a process diagram describing the adjustment to the main deck process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] As illustrated, the process begins (500) with a rewritable card being detected (502). A determination (504) is then made if the main deck should be adjusted up. If so, the main deck is adjusted (506) up and positioned above the aperture to allow a rewritable card to enter the bottom portion of a card magazine. If not, the main deck is adjusted down (508) and positioned below the aperture to allow a rewritable card to enter the top portion of a card magazine. This process loops back to detect card for the real-time monitoring of cards detected.

[0070] The adjustment and positioning of the main deck may be accomplished using procedures, programming instructions, memory, a control motor, a combination of such, or a combination of any, among other components.

[0071] In one variation, the process may not loop back to detect card, but may end.

[0072] In another variation, the card magazine includes one storage area and one card plate, for example, the top storage area and card plate. When a rewritable card is detected, the main deck may be adjusted and positioned below the aperture to allow a rewritable card to enter the top storage area of the card magazine. [0073] Although this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A main deck for a card magazine of a multi-media printer, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart friction ribs disposed on and protruding from a first surface of the main deck; and a diverter plate.

2. The main deck of Claim 1 wherein the friction ribs are disposed along a length of the main deck.

3. The main deck of Claim 1 wherein the friction ribs are disposed along a width of the main deck.

4. The main deck of Claim 1 wherein the friction ribs further comprise: a plurality of rollers; and a shaft coupling the plurality of rollers to the main deck.

5. The main deck of Claiml further comprising friction ribs protruding from a second surface of the main deck.

6. The main deck of Claim 1 wherein the friction ribs are of a uniform height.

7. The main deck of Claim 1 further comprising a cam guide for moving the main deck into a position relative to one or more card magazines.

8. The main deck of Claim 1 wherein the main deck is coupled to one or more card magazines.