1. An apparatus for orienting sections of a plasticized ceramic extrudate, comprising:
a marking assembly for applying an orientation reference mark to a plasticized ceramic extrudate exiting an extrusion die onto an extrudate support, wherein the marking assembly applies the mark at a location downstream of the extrusion die;
at least one extrudate-contacting orientation control member for correcting the orientation of a cut section of the extrudate on the extrudate support in response to a visual indicator of a misalignment of the reference mark;
at least one gripping member adapted to laterally transfer the cut section of the extrudate along a linear path with respect to the extrudate support while preventing any orientation change of the cut section of the extrudate support; and
a visual inspection apparatus adapted to confirm the orientation of the cut section of the extrudate.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marking assembly comprises an ink jet marker.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extrudate support comprises an air bearing.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a corkscrew correction assembly adapted to correct a corkscrew deformation of the extrudate caused by the extrusion die.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one gripping member comprises at least one foam contact elements.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual inspection apparatus comprises a first camera for inspecting a first end of the cut section of the extrudate and a second camera for inspecting a second end of the cut section of the extrudate.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extrudate support comprises a first section for receiving the extrudate exiting the extrusion die, and a second section separated from the first section, wherein the gripping member is adapted to laterally transfer the cut section of the extrudate along the extrudate support between the first section and the second section of the extrudate support.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling the applying of the orientation reference mark in response to the presence of the extrudate.
9. An apparatus for orienting sections of a plasticized ceramic extrudate, comprising:
a marking assembly for applying an orientation reference mark to a plasticized ceramic extrudate exiting an extrusion die onto an extrudate support, wherein the marking assembly applies the mark at a location downstream of the extrusion die; and
at least one extrudate-contacting orientation, control member for correcting the orientation of a cut section of the extrudate on the extrudate support in response to a misalignment of the reference mark.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:
a visual inspection apparatus adapted to confirm the orientation of the cut section of the extrudate.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the marking apparatus comprises an ink jet marker.
12. An apparatus for orienting sections and correcting deformation of a plasticized ceramic extrudate exiting an extrusion die, comprising:
a marking assembly for applying a reference mark to the plasticized ceramic extrudate exiting the extrusion die onto an extrudate support, wherein the marking assembly applies the mark at a location downstream of the extrusion die;
at least one extrudate-contacting orientation control member for correcting the orientation of a cut section of the extrudate on the extrudate support in response to a misalignment of the reference mark;
a support frame; and
at least one extrudate-contacting deformable roller operably coupled to the support frame and having an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is pivotable with respect to a movement of the extrudate exiting the extrusion die, and wherein the roller is adapted to contact the extrudate and correct a corkscrew deformation of the extrudate exiting the extrusion die.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one roller comprises a pair of spaced apart rollers.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one roller is vertically adjustable.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An assembly arranged to be integrated with a lottery ticket vending machine, the lottery ticket vending machine having a first computer system having a first program running the vending machine, the assembly comprising:
a housing with a front panel,
a printer,
displays and buttons arranged on the front panel;
a communication channel; and
a second computer system within the assembly, the second computer system interacting with the printer, displays, buttons, and the communications channel; wherein a player by pressing a single button, executes an on-line quick pick, where the pressing of the single button selects the game and the amount of the wager, wherein the game and the wager are communicated to a host computer system, and wherein the host communicates back to the assembly and authorizes the wager, whereupon the printer prints out a corresponding quick pick ticket.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the pressing of a single button randomly selects a game, and randomly selects numbers associated with that game and prints out a corresponding quick pick ticket.
3. The assembly of claims 1 wherein at least one single button executes an on-line quick pick, where the pressing of the one single button randomly selects a game, and randomly selects one of the instant ticket and dispenses the ticket to the player.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second computer system comprises a memory and software, wherein the software controls the interfaces with the printer, displays, buttons, and communications channel.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the buttons include physical buttons, touch screen buttons, flat panel buttons, and lighted buttons.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the displays may be integral with the buttons.
7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the displays and operations of the buttons are programmable.
8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the exercising of a quick pick comprises pressing two buttons.
9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the exercising of a quick pick comprises pressing one button more than once.
10. An apparatus comprising a computer system that combines running of the assembly of claim 1 and the lottery ticket vending machine.
11. An apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a scanner that reads a player’s card or fob and associates that player’s card of fob with an account and favorite games and wagers.
12. An apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless connection to a player’s hand held device wherein the player may select wager amounts and games played.
13. A method for integrating an online quick pick vending assembly with a lottery ticket vending machine, the lottery ticket vending machine having a first computer system having a first program running the vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:
attaching the quick pick assembly to the vending machine;
attaching a printer,
attaching displays and buttons to the quick pick assembly;
communication between the quick pick assembly that a player pressed a single button;
exercising a quick pick operation, wherein the player pressing the single button selects a game and an amount of the wager,
communication the game and the wager to a host computer system; and
the host communicating back authorizing the wager, and, in response,
printing out a corresponding quick pick ticket.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the pressing of the single button executes an on-line quick pick of a randomly selects a game, and randomly selects numbers associated with that game and prints out a corresponding quick pick ticket.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the steps of claim 9 are controlled by software, wherein the software controls the interfaces including the printer, displays, buttons, and communications channel.
16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the buttons include physical buttons, touch screen buttons, flat panel buttons, and lighted buttons.
17. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the displays may be integral with the buttons.
18. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the displays and operations of the buttons are programmable.
19. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the exercising of a quick pick comprises pressing two buttons.
20. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the exercising of a quick pick comprises pressing one button more than once.
21. An assembly for dispensing instant tickets, lottery tickets and on-line quick picks, the assembly comprising:
a housing with a front panel;
a printer arranged to output printed material through the front panel;
ticket holding dispensing bins arranged on the front panel, and a slot for collecting selected tickets;
displays and buttons arranged on the front panel;
a scanner arranged on the front panel;
a communication channel to a retailer or a host;
a money accepting mechanism, wherein money is inserted through the front panel;
a computer system within the assembly;
wherein a player by pressing a bin has the ticket dispensed via the slot, and wherein a player by pressing a button selects a game and the amount wagered, wherein the game and the wager are communicated to a host computer system, and wherein the host communicates back to the assembly and authorizes the wager, whereupon the printer prints outs a corresponding quick pick ticket.