Self validating printer with ticket voiding features

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.