Multi-channel perforated ticket separation mechanism

The ticket dispensing apparatus of claim o wherein each modular feed mechanism further comprises:

• a drive shaft coupled to the drive motor, the drive motor configured to provide a driving torque in two opposed rotational directions;
• and
• a compact transmission system including a worm gear operatively coupled to the drive shaft and a pinion gear operatively coupled to the worm gear, the transmission system being configured to transmit bi-directional driving torque associated with each of the two opposed rotational directions of the drive motor;
• wherein the feed rollers are operatively coupled to the transmission system such that the drive motor is configured to drive the feed rollers via the transmission system.

A modular feed mechanism for a ticket dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a drive motor coupled to a drive shaft, the drive motor configured to provide a driving torque in two opposed rotational directions;
• a compact transmission system including a first gear operatively coupled to the drive shaft and a second gear operatively coupled to the first gear, the transmission system configured to transmit the driving torque from the motor in each of the two opposed rotational directions;
• at least one feed roller operatively coupled to the transmission system such that the drive motor is configured to drive the feed rollers via the transmission system;
• and
• a flag coupled to a sensor, the flag being configured to trigger the sensor only a ticket is present within the feed mechanism;
• wherein the flag is mounted to move about a pivot axis to a first position when a ticket strip is fed into the mechanism from a first direction and to move about the pivot axis a second position distinct from the first position when a ticket strip is fed into the mechanism from a second direction opposite to the first direction such that the flag permits movement of a ticket strip in each of the forward and reverse directions.

A ticket dispensing apparatus for dispensing individual tickets from a strip of tickets in which each ticket is serially coupled to an adjacent ticket in the strip, the ticket dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a feed mechanism operable to feed the ticket strip in either a first, forward direction or a second, reverse direction;
• and
• a flag coupled to a sensor, the flag configured to fail to trigger the sensor when no ticket strip is located within the feed mechanism and configured to trigger the sensor when a ticket strip is located within the feed mechanism;
• wherein the flag is mounted to move about a pivot axis to a first position when the ticket strip is fed into the feed mechanism from the forward direction and to move about the pivot axis to a second position distinct from the first position when the ticket strip is fed into the feed mechanism from the reverse direction such that the flag permits movement of a ticket strip in each of the fist forward and second reverse directions.