Abstract: The present invention discloses a spindle assembly for a ticket printer which permits the paper roll to be changed without removing the spindle assembly from the ticket printer. The spindle assembly consists of two arms mounted on the printer, on the upper portion of each respective arm is mounted a backing plate from which a spindle protrudes. The spindle may be retracted for loading paper by rotating a spindle actuator which is elevated by two ramps mounted thereon. The elevation of the actuator, which is connected to the spindle, retracts the spindle from the backing plate. An anti-theft ticket bezel is also disclosed, which has teeth incorporated into the ceiling within the opening of the bezel, so that if a ticket is pulled from outside the teeth tear the ticket or cuts it into strips, rendering the ticket useless.

Abstract: A paper position sensor for a ticket printer is disclosed. The ticket printer includes a blank ticket tray and a paper guide consisting of an upper and lower guide, which lower guide contains a position sensor wheel that rotates as a result of the frictional contact with the blank ticket, as the ticket passes over the sensor wheel on its way through the guides. The wheel contains an embedded magnetic element such that as the wheel turns, which magnetically provides rotational position information to an adjacently-mounted sensor chip, which is able to determine, magnetically, the position of the wheel. The sensor chip provides data to the printer control as to the position of the ticket through the printer, and thus the printer control is now able to determine the precise position of the ticket in the printer.

Abstract: A controller board and system for converting a cash-based game machine to a cashless, wireless system employing wireless network connectivity is disclosed. The controller board consists of a circuit board, one or more emulation circuits, a serial interface, one or more switches and a microcontroller. The controller system consists of the controller board with the serial interface connected to a display and a card reader, and a wireless communication interface for communicating with the accounts server. Said one or more emulation circuits emulate the signals of cash-based peripherals on the game machine, once the peripheral cables are reconnected from the peripheral into the emulation circuit. The user's account is identified through the card reader and the user's account is debited or credited as a result of losing or winning gameplay by the microcontroller. Changes to the account balance are encrypted and sent to a casino server by means of the wireless interface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a spindle assembly for a ticket printer which permits the paper roll to be changed without removing the spindle assembly from the ticket printer. The spindle assembly consists of two arms mounted on the printer, on the upper portion of each respective arm is mounted a backing plate from which a spindle protrudes. The spindle may be retracted for loading paper by rotating a spindle actuator which is elevated by two ramps mounted thereon. The elevation of the actuator, which is connected to the spindle, retracts the spindle from the backing plate. An anti-theft ticket bezel is also disclosed, which has teeth incorporated into the ceiling within the opening of the bezel, so that if a ticket is pulled from outside the teeth tear the ticket or cuts it into strips, rendering the ticket useless.

Abstract: A paper position sensor for a ticket printer is disclosed. The ticket printer includes a blank ticket tray and a paper guide consisting of an upper and lower guide, which lower guide contains a position sensor wheel that rotates as a result of the frictional contact with the blank ticket, as the ticket passes over the sensor wheel on its way through the guides. The wheel contains an embedded magnetic element such that as the wheel turns, which magnetically provides rotational position information to an adjacently-mounted sensor chip, which is able to determine, magnetically, the position of the wheel. The sensor chip provides data to the printer control as to the position of the ticket through the printer, and thus the printer control is now able to determine the precise position of the ticket in the printer.

Abstract: A controller board and system for converting a cash-based game machine to a cashless, wireless system employing wireless network connectivity is disclosed. The controller board consists of a circuit board, one or more emulation circuits, a serial interface, one or more switches and a microcontroller. The controller system consists of the controller board with the serial interface connected to a display and a card reader, and a wireless communication interface for communicating with the accounts server. Said one or more emulation circuits emulate the signals of cash-based peripherals on the game machine, once the peripheral cables are reconnected from the peripheral into the emulation circuit. The user's account is identified through the card reader and the user's account is debited or credited as a result of losing or winning gameplay by the microcontroller. Changes to the account balance are encrypted and sent to a casino server by means of the wireless interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for an additional security feature on a gaming machine regarding the content of a cash box positioned within the gaming machine through the printing of a coupon. The method involves transferring information from a bill validator to a printer all within a gaming machine wherein the transfer of the information is achieved by a serial port connection between the bill validator and the printer. The present invention also provides a system for an additional security feature to a gaming machine through the printing of a coupon containing information relating to the content of a cash box positioned within the gaming machine. The coupon is produced by information retrieved from the bill validator. The transfer of the information from the bill validator to the printer is achieved through a serial port interconnection between the bill validator and the printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method that enables the possibility of adding promotions or themes to a printed cashout ticket without a need to modify the central system controller or modifying the host gaming machine.

Abstract: A cashless method for operating a network of gaming machines from a central host station is provided. The host station issues a unique token with a unique player validation number. The attendant of the host station enters the amount given by the player into host station. The player activates a gaming machine from a system of gaming machines through the use of the gaming token. Upon activating gaming machine, credits from host machine are transferred to gaming machine. Once play has terminated on the gaming machine, the player may cashout any remaining credits or may simply activate another gaming machine through the use of the token.