Abstract: A portable jigsaw puzzle storage case and workstation is provided generally comprising an outer cover which encloses a sorting tray and a workstation therein. The workstation generally includes an assembly tray having an assembly board and a frame. The frame extends around at least part of the outer periphery of the assembly board, and is joined thereto by an integral hinge. Preferably, the assembly tray is formed of corrugated fiberboard. Further, a method of producing an assembly tray is provided. The method generally comprises the steps of providing an assembly board having a first half and a second half, cutting out an inner section of the first half to define an outer peripheral strip, scoring the assembly board at a boundary line where the first and second half meet, and attaching the outer peripheral strip to the second half to form a frame on the second half of the assembly board. The cutting step may further include the step of cutting the inner section to form a sorting tray.

Abstract: A snap-on or screw type, tamper evident closure having first and second relatively moveable plastic parts (16, 18) which move from an initial position to a new limiting position when the closure is first opened, the new limiting position being visually distinguishable from the initial position to provide the tamper evidence. The two plastics parts are formed in mutually intimate association but have inter-engaging complimentary formations (22, 28, 40, 42) which become irreversibly disengaged on first opening of the closure.

Abstract: A bottle-type plastic container includes a container body and an opening at one end of the container body for allowing liquid contents to be charged into the container and discharged therefrom. The container body has surface portions, which are recessed inwards and opposed to each other to define a grip region therebetween. The recessed surface portions are each defined by at least two shoulder-like steps that are engageable with consumer's fingers when the container is held by hand.

Abstract: A collapsible article is disclosed herein which comprises: a plurality of slats, each slat having opposing longitudinally extending edges, a flute extending along one edge, a bead extending along the other edge and adapted to fit within the flute of an adjacent slat, and at least one opening transversely extending between the bead and flute; and at least one elongated elastic member received in and extending through said at least one opening of each slat so that the slats are selectively positionable between (i) an expanded, hollow form having opposing open ends, and (ii) a collapsed, substantially flat form. The collapsible article preferably further comprises a support member engageable with the slats in their expanded form and removable from the slats to allow collapse thereof.

Abstract: A fluid storage tank that comprises a tank shell. The tank shell is fabricated from a top, a bottom, a front end cap, a rear end cap, a first side, and a second side. The tank shell has an interior defining an open volume inside. The tank shell is supported by at least one baffle that is fastened onto the tank shell. The top has a hatch that contains a conventional hinge means and is capable of being latched by a conventional latch means. A drain hole is located on the bottom of the tank, or on a bottom sump that is attached onto the bottom of the fluid storage tank assembly. The top and the bottom of the tank assembly are generally parallel in relationship. The first side and the second side of the tank assembly are both attached to the top and the bottom of the tank assembly. The top is shown smaller than the bottom creating a trapezoidal shape.

Abstract: This invention is a “renovated structure of bowl with the function of rotating and the changeable patterns”. Especially there are several selections of the patterns for the bowl. This invention is consisted by a mainframe, outer rings, patterned rings, and a base. The patterned ring is set on the outer ring, and the outer ring is fit in the mainframe from the downside, and then the base is combined with the mainframe. The outer rings may not only allow the bowl to rotate, but also provide various fascinating patterns for change. The consumers may choose their preferred patterns and colors on the bowl to create the lovely atmosphere in the kitchen.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a dispenser box allowing for the removal of individual coupons without the chance of another coupon being removed at the same time. The dispenser comprises walls defining a cavity adapted to receive the stack of sheets, an opening through which the sheets may be individually dispensed, a flat bottom wall fitting within the dimensions of the four walls, and a resilient member to push the stack of sheets to the opening in the top wall of the dispenser.

Abstract: A coordinate selectable vending machine assembly for dispensing articles from a plurality of article storage compartments, including horizontally arranged helical coils, comprises a single dispenser, movable between the plurality of storage compartments for vending a selected article. The single dispenser is movable between the plurality storage compartments in response to an electronic signal sent by a micro control panel after a user has inserted money into the machine and used the coordinate section to identify the type of article to be dispensed. The dispenser moves, utilizing a pair of stepping motors, until aligned with the selected storage compartment. Once in position, the dispenser is urged from a normal position out of engagement with the storage compartment to a second position in engagement with the storage compartment for actuation of the vending selected article, which it then actuates resulting in dispensing of the article.

Abstract: A coin dispenser includes coin storage tubes (4) each with a dispensing mechanism (10) located directly below each tubes (4). The dispensing mechanism (10) includes a motor (14), a planetary, planocentric or other compact reduction gear and a dispensing link arm (30) pivoted towards one side of the tube (4) and reciprocated by a drive pin (28) located in a slot (33). This arrangement allows a high packing density of tubes (4) and flexibility in their positioning. The tubes are arranged in an arc around a dispensing aperture (5). Multiple such dispensers may be stacked so that coins from an upper dispenser fall through the dispensing aperture in the lower dispenser.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus is provided, in which there are provided in an edge area of an opening 16 a guide groove 12b for guiding insertion of a separating pad unit 18 into the opening 16 from the side on which a sheet feeding roller 6 is disposed and a rotation regulating groove 15c for regulating a rotation regulating fitting shaped portion 15a provided in the separating pad unit 18 to be guided by the guiding groove 12b to be inserted in the opening 16 to locate the separating pad unit 18 in a position in the opening 16 where the separating pad unit 18 should be accommodated, whereby a sheet feeding apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus with improvement of usability as well as improvement of sheet feeding performance are realized.

Abstract: A child resistant tablet dispenser is disclosed wherein the dispenser is comprised of a body portion and a release mechanism. The body portion may be hollow and cylindrical and contain therein a plurality of tablets in a tablet magazine. The tablets may be individually dispensed through the release mechanism which has a child resistant dispenser requiring multiple actions before an individual tablet may be dispensed. The multiple actions required on the release mechanism may be in two different planes thereby requiring movement in a horizontal plane and movement in a vertical plane in order to release a slide actuator and then depress a release button for opening of the release mechanism lid. Upon opening of the lid, an individual tablet is forced outward from the cylinder of the body portion and dispensed.

Abstract: An automatic fluid dispenser includes a pump mechanism actuated by the movement of a piston between a first position and a second position. The piston includes a resilient diaphragm that separates a pump chamber from a pressurized fluid chamber. An inlet check valve in the pump chamber, biased into a closed position, allows fluid flow only into the pump chamber from a fluid source, and an outlet check valve allows fluid flow only out of the pump chamber. A valve in a conduit, coupling the pressurized fluid chamber to a pressurized fluid source, is movable between an open position in which the pressurized fluid moves the piston to the second position, dispensing fluid from the fluid chamber, and a closed position in which the pressurized fluid is bled from the pressurized fluid chamber and the piston returns to the first position, thereby drawing additional fluid into the fluid chamber.

Abstract: Personal defense apparatus including a receptacle containing a quantity of a defensive composition, an attached nozzle for directing a flow of the defensive composition from the receptacle through an opening, and attached ornamentation disguising the receptacle and the nozzle and that does not interfere with the flow of the defensive composition from the receptacle through the nozzle.

Abstract: A disposable self-opener apparatus for opening a tubular bag cartridge and squeezing a pasty composition therefrom includes a conical tube shoulder having an orifice, with the conical tube shoulder, preferably, made by a plastic injection molding procedure. A self-opener device is able to be screwed with the screw cap for joining the self-opener device with said one end of a tube portion of the conical tube shoulder. The self-opener device has gable-shaped pairs of cutting edges on an inner side thereof with the peaks of the gable-shaped pairs of cutting edges pointing in the direction of screwing. A retainer basket for receiving a metal clip of a tubular bag cartridge to be opened is centrally located on the inner side of the self-opener device, so that the metal clip does not enter a nozzle attached to the orifice of the conical tube shoulder for dispensing the pasty composition, thereby preventing the metal clip from obstructing the flow of the pasty composition through the nozzle.

Abstract: A mixing valve is shown for mixing a concentrate fluid with a diluent fluid in a desired ratio. A single actuator is used to open and close both the diluent and concentrate flows by operation of a shaft. A diaphragm extends around the shaft and defines fluidly separate upper and lower chambers within a valve body. Inlets to the upper and lower chambers are connected to sources of the concentrate and diluent, respectively. The upper and lower chambers each have outlets fluidly connected to a mixing and dispensing nozzle. The actuator moves the shaft from a fully extended closed position to an intermediate t retracted open position to open the lower chamber outlet to the mixing nozzle to initiate diluent flow. The actuator is then moved to a fully retracted position and then reciprocated between the fully retracted and intermediate retracted position whereby the diaphragm serves to pump the concentrate from the upper chamber to the mixing nozzle.

Abstract: A double-barreled syringe is provided which includes a mixing tip which is detachable after the tip is locked to the syringe body, so that the tip may be replaced by a locking cap. Locking occurs when a neck extending from the body between two shoulders is inserted into a bore in the tip (or, alternatively, the cap) and the tip is rotated so that two symmetrically opposed tabs attached to the tip are each received within a recess determined by a shoulder and a locking rib attached to the shoulder, and two diametrically opposed detents extending from the neck are each received within a recess in the bore surface.

Abstract: A carton for a foam dispensing system which includes supply containers, a dispenser and hoses for connecting each container to the dispenser. The carton includes first and second face panels which are interconnected by respective first and second side panels. Bottom panels extend from the first and second face panels to define a bottom of the carton. The cover panel extends from the first face panel to define a cover of the carton. A first flap which is defined in the cover panel, which, in an open position, is disposed at an angle to the cover panel. A handle is connected to the containers for carrying the carton and projects through the first access opening. A second flap is defined in the second face panel and the first reinforcing element. A third flap is defined in the second flap. The hoses extend from the containers, through hose paths associated with the second flap to the dispenser.

Abstract: A dispensing appliance for liquids consists of at least one cabinet-like supply module (1) and of a cabinet-like dispensing module (2) connected to the latter. A pull-out trolley (3) can be moved out of the front side of the supply module (1) and serves for receiving a supply container (8) which can be inserted through one of the two open side faces (6). The dispensing module has a dispensing space (17) accessible from the front side. The supply module (1) has a square plan contour with an edge length (a) which is equal to the depth (t) of the dispensing module (2) designed with a rectangular plan contour. The dispensing module (2) can be connected selectively to each of the three side faces (11, 18, 19) of the supply module (1).

Abstract: A hot beverage maker has a stand, fresh water chamber, a brewed beverage tank, and an actuator means for dispensing brewed beverages. The tank includes a filter basket, a reservoir portion, and an outlet port. The reservoir portion is adapted to hold a brewed liquid, and the outlet port is positioned in substantially the bottom of the reservoir portion. The dispenser actuator means is connected to the outlet port and is biased to a closed position, but may be moved to an open position by a vessel for holding a hot beverage.

Abstract: A deformable polymeric member is drawn or forced through or over a die at an imperceptible rate of travel whereby the visco elastic characteristics of the polymeric member delay and control the displacement for external utility. With appropriate components, force selection determines rate of displacement. Embodiments include long term lubricators and self powered medication infusers.

Abstract: A cap for mounting on an aerosol container, which is able to automatically release the gas remaining therein with a simple action, when the container is to be discarded, said cap comprising a top plate member having a periphery connected to an upper end portion of a tubular body, wherein said top plate member has an aperture and a lid for closing the aperture, said lid has a fixed end which is connected to a margin of the aperture through a bendable line, such that the lid is able to turn from a first position in which the lid closes the aperture, to a second position in which the lid protruding into the tubular body member so as to get in touch with a top face of the discharge head that is depressed downwardly, and the top plate member also has a stopper for fixing the lid in the second position so as to keep the discharge head in such a pressed state.

Abstract: A dispensing package for fluent products includes a container of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction having a hollow flexible body, and a rigid integral finish defined by a deck that spans one end of the body, a package dispensing opening in the deck and a wall upstanding from a perimeter of the deck surrounding the deck and the opening. An actuator disk is mounted within the peripheral wall overlying the deck and the dispensing opening, and is pivotal between a closed position closing the opening and an open position for dispensing product from the opening through the actuator disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing adhesive on a support substrate for carrying microelectronic substrates. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include at least one dispense nozzle having at least one aperture configured to dispense the adhesive along a dispense axis toward the support substrate. The dispense nozzle can be coupleable to a source of the adhesive, and the apparatus can further include a standoff member operatively coupled to the at least one dispense nozzle. The standoff member can include a contact surface that projects beyond the aperture and is configured to contact the support substrate while the aperture of the dispense nozzle is spaced apart from the support substrate. Accordingly, the nozzle can consistently be spaced apart from the support substrate while the adhesive is dispensed onto the support substrate.

Abstract: A garment hanger having a releasable size indicator. The garment hanger including: a hook for suspending the hanger from a support and a horizontal bar connected to the hook; a clip portion having at least one double action clip disposed at each of first and second ends of the horizontal bar; the hanger having at least one web for removably securing a size indicator to the hanger, the web having a fixed latch and a pivoting latch; and a size indicator having finger means for engaging the fixed and pivoting latches such that the size indicator is secured on the web during normal use, but wherein the size indicator may be released from the fixed latch when the pivoting latch is pivoted out of engagement with the finger means of the size indicator.

Abstract: Car shows are a hobby of ever increasing popularity. During car show competitions or exhibition and information card is required to be displayed. The present invention shows a device for the display of information cards in a stylish way without detracting from the overall look of the car. The device is a modified clipboard to hang from the rearview mirror of a car. The rearview mirror clipboard is made of clear rigid, with a center hole and channel to accommodate the arm of the rearview mirror.

Abstract: A storage tube for fixed installation inside the handlebar of a bicycle or motorcycle, that is designed to protect stored contents from rain and debris, and to provide a convenient means for carrying a motorcycle registration and the like, and the storage function of which is designed to be inconspicuous to casual passersby.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the web tension in a perforation-welding system for making bags from synthetic resin foil webs in which whistling noises are eliminated by passing the web over a wall of a polygonal duct having an air outlet opening to which compressed air is fed. The air cushion and hence the spacing of the web from the wall is measured by an ultrasonic detector on the opposite of the web.

Abstract: A loop pin connecting device includes a grip lever rotatably pivoted to the grip section of the device proper, a driving arm rotated by the grip lever, the first pin holder section linearly traveling on the first guide rail by the driving arm, the first feeding pin mounted to the first pin holder section, the second pin holder section linearly traveling on the second guide rail by the driving arm, the second feeding pin including a flexible member whose base end is fixed to the second pin holder section, and the guide member for guiding the head end section of the second feeding pin and the guide member bends and its head end lowers to the first feeding pin position arranged with the height and horizontal position varied, entangling of the filament section is prevented and occurrence of jams in operation is prevented.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly includes left and right cartridge halves respectively having left and right side faces that cooperatively define a nail-receiving chamber therebetween. A plurality of spring-biased nail pushers are received in the nail-receiving chamber. Top ends of the nail pushers-are flush with one another so as to form a continuous supporting face to bias a nail in a stable manner.

Abstract: A method and assembly for testing multiple IC packages for solder joint fractures that occur in response to thermal cycling. A test PCB is fabricated with contact pads arranged to match a BGA IC package footprint, wherein pairs of the contact pads are linked by conductive traces (lines) to form a lower portion of a daisy chain. The BGA IC package is modified to link associated pairs of solder balls, e.g., using wire bonding to form an upper portion of the daisy chain. Mounting the BGA IC package on the test PCB completes the daisy chain. By alternating between the test PCB contact pads that are linked by conductive traces and the solder balls that are linked by wire bonding, the daisy chain provides a conductive path that passes through all solder balls of the BGA IC package.

Abstract: A method of evaluating configuration of solder external terminals of a BGA-type tape-based semiconductor device mounted on a board such that the external terminals are joined to lands provided on the mounting board is provided. The method includes the step of obtaining geometric data related to opening of a tape substrate of the semiconductor device, solder balls to be placed at positions corresponding to the openings, and the lands of the mounting board and the step of deribing configuration of the solder external terminal based on the geometric date. The method further includes the step of calculating the volume of voids to be produced in the external terminals, so as to compensate for the geometric data related to the tape substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a head suspension assembly includes attaching underfill to a portion on which an IC chip with a circuit for a thin-film magnetic head element is to be mounted, disposing the IC chip on the attached underfill, and performing ultrasonic bonding of the IC chip.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus includes a bonding tool having a pressing surface for pressing a wire onto a surface to be joined to the wire and a wire feeding hole open to the pressing surface; a wire feeder for feeding the wire outside of the bonding tool through the wire feeding hole; and a magnet for applying an attraction force to a wire tip end protruding from the wire feeding hole, to bend and hold the wire tip end towards the pressing surface.

Abstract: Stainless steels are welded using a shielding gas including 88 to 98.9 mole % Ar, 1 to 10 mole % H2, and 0.1 to 2.0 mole % CO2. The shielding gas permits low sulfur, high chromium, austenitic stainless steel pipes to be joined with welds having sufficient penetration, strength, corrosion resistance and durability for practical use.

Abstract: A work conveying path is provided in the longitudinal direction of a work on which balls are to be mounted. A ball supply tray for supplying balls and a mount head are disposed so that their longitudinal directions substantially coincide with the longitudinal direction of the work. Further, a ball inspection unit for inspecting balls sucked on the mount head is disposed so that the projecting direction of inspection light from the ball inspection unit intersects the aforementioned longitudinal directions substantially perpendicularly.

Abstract: A combination point-of-purchase package and point-of-use disposable cooler for beverage containers, such as bottles or the like, which is a container provided with a separate, liquid impervious liner therein. The beverage containers are stored in the container and enveloped by the liner at the point-of-purchase. A spacer in the container but removable therefrom is provided to create a space in the container for receiving a cooling medium such as ice for cooling the beverage containers.

Abstract: A tote box and method of assembling a tote box is disclosed which incorporates a box, four corner enhancers, four corner strengthener clips and a top rail which is secured over the top edge of the erected walls of the box. The walls of the box are held together with corner enhancer assemblies without the benefit of any mechanical fasteners such as rivets or the like. The corner strengthener clips are attached to the corner enhancers to create the corner enhancer assemblies. The top rail may be secured onto the box by a hook on at least one of the side walls of the top rail, which engages tabs of the box walls. The top rail may have a vertical lip which facilitates stacking multiple tote boxes.

Abstract: A single blank is used to make an expandable envelope construction having four side edges which can expand as the envelope construction is filled to capacity. The blank is provided with horizontal and vertical score lines and fold lines which permit the sides and bottom of the construction to collapse inwardly while the pocket enlarges in thickness and decreases in height and width. The blank has side flaps with corners at the ends which are overlaid by the back panel and closure panel in an unsecured manner to maintain the envelope in a sealed condition when expanded.

Abstract: A multi-application smart card has a persistent storage unit. The persistent storage unit stores data and/or information that indicates which application is to be run the next time the smart card is inserted into a terminal. The persistent storage unit may indicate the same application, a different user-selected application, or an application-selection application is to be run next. Alternatively, the persistent storage unit may indicate the next application on a predefined list as the application to be run next. An application-selection terminal allows a user to manually select the user-selected application. The terminal may initiate communication with the smart card by sending a special, predefined signal to the smart card.

Abstract: A system and method of generating a tender code for a purchase transaction and associating the generated tender code with both a payment and a produced digital receipt for the purchase transaction is described. The tender code may be assigned at several points in the purchase transaction. The digital receipt with the tender code is stored, preferably in a data warehouse. The data warehouse allows easy indexing of the digital receipt data including the tender code. The payment, such as a check, is encoded or affixed with the tender code such that the payment is correlated or linked to the digital receipt and thus the particular purchase transaction to which the payment applied. The tender code may be encrypted and/or contain auxiliary data. The auxiliary data may be device readable to allow a holder to access various information and/or data via an access device such as a document processing device.

Abstract: An electronic security key is particularly adapted to exchange electronic data with an electronic coin acceptor circuit of a coin acceptor to enable the coin acceptor for coin programming. The electronic security key includes an electronic security key circuit defined by subcircuits including (1) circuitry for exchanging electronic data with an electronic coin acceptor, (2) encryption generating circuitry for generating encrypted password data at a sufficient value to generate authentication data from at least a portion of the electronic data transmitted to the electronic security key circuit, and (3) circuitry for transmitting the generated authentication data to an electronic coin acceptor circuit to thereby enable the electronic coin acceptor circuit for coin programming thereof.

Abstract: A portable computer has a base housing attached to a top housing. A latch secures the top housing to the base housing. The portable computer has a card reader coupled to an electro-mechanical actuator which is further coupled to the latch. The card reader is capable of disengaging the latch to allow access to the portable computer.

Abstract: Food and beverage containers with attached or connected transponders. In one embodiment, relatively inexpensive passive transponders are used and are embedded or otherwise attached to the food and beverage containers. A transponder exciter is placed in or near the food or beverage dispenser for energizing the transponder on the food or beverage container, and for discerning information therefrom. Alternatively, active transponders can be used and an non-exciter reader can be used. The information from the containers can be used to track the containers and control the amount of consumable material with which the containers are filled, the number of times the containers are filled, and the type of material with which the containers are filled.

Abstract: System and Methods for a plurality of passport-related applications using multi-applications passport devices for automatically compiling, issuing, and renewing a portable passport document, and for implementing of related passport services. The passport devices are realized by portable device technologies, such as, smart cards or pocket-sized computers, and have the ability to store and process the data contents of the passport document, and communicate passport information with remote databases. Biometrics identification of passport-holders, as well as cryptographic validation of passport data and information, can be encoded onto the passport devices and verified at various passport-service locations upon presentation of the passport document for utilization.

Abstract: A receiver circuit (30) for a contactless identification system, includes an antenna (32). The antenna (32) receives an amplitude modulated signal. A voltage envelope detector (34) is connected to the antenna (32). A current envelope detector (36) is connected to the antenna (32). A first comparator (38) has a first input (40) connected to an output of the voltage envelope detector (34) and a second input (42) connected to a threshold. A second comparator (44) has a first input (46) connected to an output of the current envelope detector (36) and a second input (48) connected to the threshold. A logic gate (50) combines an output (52) of the first comparator (38) and an output (54) of the second comparator (44).

Abstract: In a method and system for identifying one or more objects, a two-dimensional, optically readable pattern and an identification code are generated. The pattern and the identification code are paired in one-to-one correspondence by means of a predetermined algorithm and are arbitrary. A two-dimensional representation of the pattern is provided on the object or on a pattern support connected thereto. The identification code is stored together with associated identification information. In order to identify the object, the representation of the pattern thereof is optically scanned and the associated identification code determined, by means of which the identification information can be determined.

Abstract: Two-dimensional barcodes surrounded by a quiet zone of white space which may or may not include a border, each barcode having encoded digital information in a bitmap representing preferably randomized encoded data bits, are printed onto a printed medium. To extract the encoded digital information from the printed medium, the printed medium is scanned, then the bitmap is located within the printed medium by moving a window, in stepwise fashion in a predetermined pattern across the printed medium. At each step the portion of the printed medium which is encompassed by the window is tested to determine whether it conforms to one or more characteristics of the bitmap. The skew of the bitmap, if any, is determined, by using a finite-state recognizer in combination with a Hough Transform calculation. In one embodiment, the candidate region is divided into a plurality of horizontal regions, preliminary skew angles are calculated for each region, and the actual skew angle is selected using a voting scheme.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus and an optical reading apparatus according to the invention is featured in obtaining reading result corresponding to a plurality of bar code symbols by processing, as predetermined, demodulated data corresponding to signal light from the bar code labels and optically readable symbols. Such a scanning apparatus extracts sets of consecutive data, which consecutively indicate all bar code symbols constituting the bar code symbols, from the demodulated data, and further chooses only sets of consecutive data that are different from each other, whereby reading data corresponding to a plurality of bar code symbols are collectively obtained. Furthermore, the optical reading apparatus collectively obtains the reading result corresponding to a plurality of symbols by extracting data that meets predetermined conditions and are different from each other, from the data obtained by demodulation.

Abstract: A novel system and method for programming one or more functional parameters of programmable bar code symbol readers and scanners, while avoiding the need to connect a data communication port of a computer system to a bar code symbol reader that is to be programmed. In a first illustrative embodiment, the function-encoded parameters of a master bar code symbol reader are determined using a computer-based-function-parameter device and subsequently buffered in memory buffer contained therein; the buffered function-encoded parameters are used to produce a list of function-encoded bar code symbols which are printed in a specified reading sequence; and the list of printed-function encoded bar code symbols are read in the specified reading sequence so as to configure the bar code symbol reader with the same set of function-encoded parameters that were programmed in the master bar code symbol reader.

Abstract: A lottery identification and recording method comprising providing a central information data base. A remote lottery machine, having an indicia reader capable of reading bar codes, is electronically linked to a central information data base. Next provided is coupled to the lottery machine. The user inputs lottery information and value amounts of a lottery purchase, which is transmitted to the central data base. The data base identifies the lottery selection and transmits an approval or disapproval the ticket purchase, which the user can accept or reject. If accepted, the financial card account is charged the purchase price of the lottery sequence selection. The lottery machine then prints a ticket with the user's individual sequence and a data base identifying sequence. The lottery is determined by the selection of the winning lottery sequence. The winner is determined from the information in the central data base and the winning ticket purchaser is notified of his or her winning the lottery.