Self validating printer with ticket voiding features

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation-in-part ol application No. 09/872,782, filed on Jun. 1, 2001.

(51) Int. CI.7 G06F 15/00

(52) U.S. CI 358/1.12; 358/1.14; 358/1.15;

358/1.18; 235/449; 235/475; 235/375

(58) Field of Search 358/1.12, 1.14,

358/1.15, 1.18; 235/449, 475, 375, 456, 385, 480; 463/16, 17, 25, 29; 273/269;

380/51

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,373,726 A 2/1983 Churchill et al 463/19

4,626,672 A 12/1986 Sapitowicz et al 235/480

4,704,518 A 11/1987 Brunn et al 235/480

4,788,419 A 11/1988 Walters et al 235/381

4,858,123 A 8/1989 Alexolf et al 385/1.1

4,859,839 A 8/1989 Tetelman et al 235/385

5,091,634 A * 2/1992 Finch et al 235/375

5,119,295 A 6/1992 Kapur 463/41

5,173,596 A 12/1992 Kapinos et al 235/475

Primary Examiner—Edward Coles
Assistant Examiner—Twyler Lamb

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Barry R. Lipsitz; Douglas M. McAllister

(57) ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus are provided for printing and validating a document, such as a ticket or voucher printed on a substrate such as paper. After the document is printed, at least a portion thereof is read to test a validity criteria. The document is dispensed to a recipient if the validity criteria is met. If the validity criteria is not met after the first read, the document can optionally be re-read. If the validity criteria is never met, the document is voided. The voided document can be held or dispensed to the recipient and a replacement document can be printed, read for validation purposes and dispensed. If the replacement document is not valid, it is voided. A voided replacement document can be either held or dispensed. Assistance from a machine attendant is required only in the event that a predetermined number of invalid print/read/validate cycles occur.

23 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets