Pull tab ticket handler and revealer with computer generated display

Abstract

A gaming ticket dispensing device is provided for dispensing tickets having prize-revealing characters and a removable covering for hiding the prize-revealing characters prior to acquisition by an end user. The ticket dispensing device includes a storage mechanism for holding a plurality of gaming tickets. A revealer is provided for removing the removable covering to reveal the prize-revealing characters, and a scanner is provided for scanning the prize-revealing characters. A processor is in communication with the scanner for processing the scanned characters' information to determine a prize value associated with the characters scanned. An audio visual display displays an audio visual message relating to the prize value and a dispensing port is provided for dispensing the gaming ticket to the user.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A gaming ticket dispensing device for use with pull tab gaming tickets having a substrate including prize revealing characters and a removable covering for hiding the prize revealing characters prior to acquisition by an end user, the ticket dispensing device comprising:
 (a) a storage mechanism tor holding a plurality of gaming tickets prior to purchase;   (b) a revealer for removing the removable covering to reveal the prize revealing characters;   (c) a scanner for scanning the prize revealing characters;   (d) a processor in communication with the scanner for processing information derived from the scanned prize revealing characters to determine a prize value associated with the characters scanned;   (e) an audio-visual display for displaying an audio-visual message relating to the prize value; and   (f) a dispensing port tor dispensing the game ticket to the user.   
     
     
         4 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  further comprising a transporter for transporting the gaming ticket along a ticket path between the storage mechanism, the revealer, the scanner and the dispensing port. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  wherein the gaming tickets are held in the storage mechanism as a stack of gaming tickets, and wherein the transporter includes a picker for removing a single gaming ticket from the stack of gaming tickets, so that the gaming ticket can be advanced within the gaming device. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 5  wherein the transporter further includes at least a pair of guide rollers capable of engaging gaming tickets moving through the ticket path for advancing the tickets along the ticket path. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 6  wherein the transporter includes a ticket bed upon which a gaming ticket may be placed prior to being opened by the revealer, a take up roller movable between a ticket dispensing position where in a ticket can be deposited on the ticket bed and a ticket engaged position wherein the pick up roller can engage the gaming ticket toward the revealer, wherein the pair of guide rollers include a pair of anterior rollers sized and positioned to to engage the gaming ticket and advance the gaming ticket along the ticket path. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  wherein the transporter includes a ticket bed and a pair of take up rollers for transporting gaming tickets from the ticket bed to the revealer. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  wherein the transporter includes a pair of take up rollers, for transporting the gaming tickets from the storage mechanism to the ticket bed, includes take up roller for transporting the gaming ticket to the revealer. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  wherein, the gaming ticket includes perforations disposed between the substrate and the removable covering, and the revealer includes at least one concave ramp and a pair of opposed rollers for forcing the gaming tickets up the concave ramps for promoting bursting of the perforations for facilitating separation of the removable covering from the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  wherein the gaming ticket includes perforations disposed between the substrate and the removable covering, where in the revealer includes at least one concave ramp, wherein the transporter includes first and second pinch rollers for transporting the gaming ticket along the at least one concave ramp, and wherein the gaming tickets are is pushed up the concave ramps to force the gaming tickets to flex and burst open at its their perforations to reveal the hidden prize revealing characters. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 11  further comprising a scanner gate through which the wherein the burst open gaming ticket is pushed. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 12  wherein gaming ticket is scanned in the scanning gate. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 13  wherein transporter includes a rotating gate and wherein the gaming ticket is deposited by the rotating gate into the dispenser for user retrieval. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  further comprising a user choice means for permitting the user to forward the gaming ticket through a chosen one of a first ticket path to the dispensing port that includes the ticket revealer and scanner; and a second ticket path to the dispensing port without passing through the ticket revealer and scanner. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  wherein the gaming ticket is preprinted with at least one of a chemically developed ink and thermally developed ink and is also preprinted with at least one of a user readable numeric code, bar code and computer readable characters. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  further comprising a receiver for receiving an opened gaming ticket that is inserted by the user into the gaming ticket dispensing device. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 3  wherein the scanner comprises at least one of a scanner and camera. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming ticket dispensing device of  claim 18  further comprising a transporter for transporting the gaming ticket through the gaming ticket dispensing device for revealing the prize revealing characters. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled)