MXPA06007349A - Device for personalising and distributing non-contact smart tickets - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for automatically personalising and distributing individual non-contact smart tickets, said device comprising means for controlling the reliability of the tickets, means for personalising the tickets, and a storage area for storing tickets in a vertical stack. The invention is characterised in that the distribution device comprises a sucker (20) which is provided with means for controlling the depression thereof and is fixed to an arm (31) that can perform a vertical translational movement. Said sucker enables a ticket (13) to be extracted from the pile, removed from the storage area, and transported to a driving means. The inventive device also comprises an external antenna (24) which is adapted in such a way as to first control the reliability of the ticket when it is extracted from the pile.

Description

DEVICE FOR ADAPTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF INTELLIGENT TICKETS WITHOUT CONTACT Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for the automatic distribution of single disposable tickets, and more particularly, it refers to a device that adapts or personalizes and distributes smart tickets without contact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Machines that distribute tickets or disposable tickets, such as cardboard tickets, usually store the tickets in the form of rolls or as a folded zigzag carton. According to these two storage methods, tickets are adhered together in the form of strips. This system has the advantage of being able to distribute the tickets continuously although it takes up a large amount of space. A guillotine cutter section the ticket based on a request just before it is distributed. Unfortunately, this type of distribution machine is not entirely suitable for contactless disposable smart tickets that are called "contactless tickets". In reality, the production efficiency of contactless tickets is less than REF. 173840 efficiency of normal disposable tickets considering that their technology requires greater precision. The method of storing tickets in continuous rolls does not allow the removal of defective tickets during production and therefore, all defective tickets, approximately 5% of the lot, are retained. With each ticket that is verified before it is issued to the customer and each defective ticket is directed to a waste storage location, the large proportion of defective tickets increases the average time of ticket delivery to the customer. In addition, the storage of tickets in continuous rolls and the large proportion of defective tickets requires a significant volume within the distribution machine. In order to reduce the number of defective tickets, one solution is to dispose of them before they are introduced into the distribution machine. Therefore, this solution requires the storage of tickets in the form of stacks in the distributor and also helps to overcome space problems. This type of distributor exists for the supply of plastic cards or "polyester" tickets whose physical characteristics, such as elasticity, are similar to the characteristics of plastic. Polyester cards or tickets are stored one by one in stacks and are unstacked as they are distributed. Certain systems work by pushing the card with a sheet that presses on the thickness of the card to unstack the cards, other systems bend and press the card using the rigid and elastic properties of the card. where the cards are stored in stacks, they save a significant amount of space when compared to the roll distribution system, they also allow the tickets to be reused, that is, the redistribution of tickets already distributed once, which is impossible when tickets are stored in rolls or in zigzag folded cardboard Unfortunately, these methods for unstacking single tickets are not suitable for smart disposable contactless cardboard tickets.In reality, this type of ticket has very specific physical characteristics compared to common disposable tickets, its surface is not flat, although it is high where the chip or integrated circuit is located. Also, unlike the plastic card, the ticket is not elastic enough to fully recover its initial configuration when the pressure exerted on the ticket is released. Finally, this ticket could be wrinkled or puckered along its axes. Therefore, there are no suitable distribution devices for smart tickets without contact and in this way, there are also no automatic distribution devices for contactless smart tickets. As a result, the distribution as well as the adaptation of smart tickets without contact actually requires manual intervention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This is because the aim of the invention is to create a compact device for the automatic distribution of contactless carton smart tickets. Another objective of the invention is to create a device for the distribution of smart single tickets of contactless cardboard with the ability to program and mark each ticket in order to adapt it or customize it according to the request. Therefore, the object of the invention is a device that customizes or automatically adapts and distributes non-contact unique smart tickets which is provided with means to verify the reliability of the tickets and means to adapt the tickets and which includes a location of storage for tickets in the form of a vertical stack. According to the main feature of the invention, the dispensing device includes a suction cup provided with means that control its vacuum and is integral with a movable arm that is moves along a vertical path, the suction cup allows the unstacking and removal of a ticket from the storage location and carries it until it rests on a drive system, and an external antenna adapted to verify the reliability of the ticket in initial form at the time of unstacking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The purposes, objectives and characteristics of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the figures that accompany it, in which: Figure 1 represents a schematic section of the machine Figure 2 shows a schematic section of the distribution machine according to the invention during the fastening of the ticket, Figure 3 shows a schematic section of the distribution machine according to the invention during unstacking of the ticket, Figure 4 represents a schematic section of the distribution machine according to the invention during the ticket release, Figure 5 is a schematic section of the ticket guidance table, Figure 6 represents the marking of the ticket in a schematic cut and Figure 7 depicts the removal of a defective ticket in a schematic cut.

Detailed Description of the Invention According to the schematic view of Figure 1, the dispensing machine consists of at least one removable cassette 10 containing approximately 500 non-contact smart tickets 12 that are stacked and compressed upright with a weight 14. Contactless smart tickets include an antenna and a unit or chip connected to the antenna. The stacking of the tickets rests on the two edges or protuberances 16 of the cassette 10. Between the protuberances 16, a flap hole allows the tickets to pass through it. The dispensing machine includes a carriage consisting of a movable arm 31 which travels along a vertical path on which a suction cup 20 is fixed. A table, not shown in the figure, on which it is coupled an antenna, has a hole in its center adapted so that the suction cup 20 passes through it. Two smooth parallel bands 40 which are supported and driven each by two pulleys 42, which by themselves are driven by a motor, are placed in parallel to the edges of the table for thus enclose it. The antenna 24 is placed on the periphery of the table to enclose the hole located in its center. According to a variant, the antenna is fixed on the movable arm 31 and the hole in the table allows the drive cup 20 and antenna 24 to pass therethrough. The antenna 24 is connected with at least one microprocessor, it is not shown in the figures, and this is provided with a memory. The two bands constitute the means of drive for the tickets and are placed below the stacking of the tickets in parallel to the plane of the same. Two rollers 44 press on the recesses of the parallel strips 40 just next to the pulleys 42. The arm 31 is placed in motion by a lifting / lowering mechanism consisting mainly of a plate 32, a column 33 connected to the plate, an assembly of motor 36, a crankshaft 35 and a coupling rod 34. The arm 31 is guided along its vertical path by the column 33 and is set in motion by the engine, the crankshaft assembly and coupling rod. The suction cup 20 moves in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the tickets, so that its holding plane is in the plane of the tickets. Preferably, the suction cup 20 moves along an axis perpendicular to the ticket passing through the center of the ticket or passing through the center of gravity of the ticket. The suction cup 20 is of type of release suction cup and has means to control its vacuum, such as preferably a valve 26 which is held closed by a spring 28. The operation stages of the distribution machine are shown schematically in Figures 2 5. The tickets are unstacked one by one based on the request of the client who formulates their requirement through a communication interface with the microprocessor of the distribution machine. According to Figure 2, the suction cup 20 and the arm 31 are placed in motion and when the suction cup contacts the first ticket 13, it compresses itself while allowing air to escape from the side of the suction cup. suction cup since it can not be removed by the internal valve 36 that is closed. While the crankshaft 35 passes the top dead center and the motor 36 continues to rotate, the suction cup tends to decompress itself and thus creates a vacuum, which pulls the ticket 13 downwards. First the ticket. 13 is held by the protuberances 16 of the cassette, losing its shape, as shown in Figure 3 and then, ends coming out of the cassette. The suction cup 20 on which the ticket 13 and the arm are held continue their downward movement until the spring 28 is compressed on the stop 38 of the plate 32 as shown in Figure 4. When the spring 28 is compressed, the valve is pushed upwards and allows the passage of air to the suction cup as it opens upwards, thereby releasing the vacuum of the latter, which in turn releases the ticket. According to Figure 5, which represents a schematic cut according to a plane perpendicular to the cutting planes of Figures 1-4, the strips 40 are parallel and located around the table 30, so that they are supported. The table 30 consists of a slot 39 in which the ticket rests when it is propelled by the suction cup 20. The slot 39 helps to deal with the irregularity of the tickets and guarantees that these will always rest on the bands 40. Once it is released from the suction cup, the ticket 13 then rests on the two parallel bands 40. The operation consisting in taking the ticket 12 from the stack and bringing it to the delivery device constitutes the unstacking of the ticket. With reference to Figure 6, the ticket is then subjected to an initial verification by the antenna 24, located around the suction cup 20 in order to determine if the ticket is capable of communicating with an external antenna and therefore, the reliability of the ticket is determined. The verification operation is possible thanks to a communication protocol programmed in the microprocessor, which handles communication and data exchange between the Disposable smart ticket without contact and antenna. If the ticket were to communicate, the microprocessor would transmit a message to the motor that drives the pulleys, which then rotate in a direction that causes the belts to rotate according to the movement feeding the ticket into a printer 50. The free rollers 44 press bands 40 to place the plane ticket and ensure that it is fed. In turn, the printer drives the ticket and marks it with graphic information in order to personalize it or number it. The speed differential between the belts and the printer, if it exists, is compensated by the sliding of the ticket on the smooth bands. The ticket is printed through a standard thermal printer. Once the ticket is printed, it is placed back by the printer on the bands 40. Then, the ticket is again verified by the antenna, then, it is electronically programmed by the antenna that receives its instructions from the microprocessor to complete your adaptation or personalization. For this, the digital data is transmitted by the antenna 24 and the antenna of the ticket to the chip of the ticket by means of the communication protocol. The digital data transmitted is adapted to the type of use of the ticket and possibly to the request of the user by means of the communication interface connected to the microprocessor. For example, there could be a certain number of units of time for a parking ticket that determines its validity period. The verification and programming times are very short, in the order of a few tenths of a second. Once the ticket is scheduled, it is validated so that it could be distributed to the client. Next, the antenna transmits to the microprocessor a motor control message for driving the pulleys, which then rotate in the direction that causes the bands 40 to rotate with the movement leading the ticket towards the distribution outlet located in the opposite side to the printer as shown in Figure 7. During the verifications that are carried out at the time of unstacking and at the time of programming, if a communication error was detected, the antenna would transmit the information to the microprocessor, so that the printer ejects the ticket to a tray or tray located downstream of the printer where all rejected tickets are stored automatically. This arrangement helps to eliminate a switching system and improves the compactness of the product. As shown in Figures 1-7, the plate 32 is guided during displacement by two pins 37 with the aid of a mechanism not shown in the figure for a modality with two ticket cassettes. This feature does not The limitation of the invention allows the carriage to be moved in a horizontal direction and to be placed in front of another cassette when the first cassette is empty or not otherwise available. However, according to a variant of the embodiment of the invention, the ticket distribution machine is provided with two cassettes and two identical trolleys as described above, each trolley is fixed and designed to extract tickets from one of the two cassettes Preferably, although not necessarily, the cassettes of this invention are safe and reusable. These are filled in a secure workshop. At the time of closing, they are placed to allow only an insertion into the ticket distribution machine. A lead seal or any other equivalent method ensures that the cassette will not be opened during its duty cycle outside the secure workshop. The cassettes will be closed when they are being transported, making it difficult to extract the tickets without visible damage. When it is inserted in the ticket distribution machine, the cassette will be unlocked and its flap will open allowing tickets to be distributed. Then, when the cassette is removed from the distribution machine, its flap will be closed once again although it will be disarmed, preventing it from being reopened and therefore reinserted in the ticket distribution machine. In this way, it is not possible to reinsert a cassette that find empty, half full or removed due to lack of availability. According to a modality with two cassettes, the ticket distribution machine uses all the tickets of the first cassette and when the latter is empty, the distribution machine automatically changes to the second cassette. A luminous indication informs the maintenance personnel of the condition of the cassettes: in operation, empty or with failure. The ticket distribution machine according to the invention has the advantage of being able to adapt itself to several commercially available customer intercom systems. In addition, the communication protocol programmed in the microprocessor is able to communicate through a computer, a network, a modem or even in an independent way. The ticket distribution machine according to the invention has the advantage of being of a small size, in the order of 400 x 200 x 150 mm. Therefore, it can be easily integrated with the common disposable ticket distribution machines without major modifications to these or it can even be placed on a desk. In addition, the invention can be adapted to tickets of different shapes and materials with chips of various sizes without having to be modified. The invention could be particularly applied in "tag" tickets and / or "RFID" tickets (Radio Frequency Identification) Thanks to the unique distribution mode of the invention, the tickets that are already used could be reinserted in the cassette, so that they can be be reprogrammed and redistributed even if they are crushed or have creases It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional method for the manufacture of objects or products. that it refers.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following claims: 1. A device that automatically adapts and distributes single smart tickets without contact, which is provided. with means that verify the reliability of the tickets and means that adapt the tickets and that includes one. storage location for the tickets in the form of a vertical stack, characterized in that it comprises a suction cup provided with means to control its vacuum and is supported by a movable arm that moves along a vertical path, the suction cup allows the unstacking of the ticket and the removal of the same from the storage location and take it until it is supported on a drive system, and an external antenna adapted to verify the reliability of the ticket, initially, at the time of unstacking the ticket. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for adapting the ticket includes, among others, a thermal printer that prints graphic information adapted on the ticket. 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means of Drive directs the ticket either to the printer or to a rejected ticket storage tray or to a distribution outlet. The device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the ticket "rests on the drive means to be verified and programmed in electronic form." 5. The device according to any of claims 1- 4, characterized in that the external antenna of the ticket is connected to a microprocessor provided with a memory 6. The device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the ticket is programmed in electronic form and its adaptation is completed by the external user through a communication interface connected to the microprocessor, which transmits the data to the chip of the ticket by means of the antenna and the ticket antenna thanks to a communication protocol programmed in the microprocessor 7. The device in accordance with any of claims 1-6, characterized in that if the antenna detected a ticket that is not communicated, the would automatically be directed to the storage tray that stores all the rejected tickets. 8. The device in accordance with any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the storage location consists of at least one removable cassette. The device according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the arm is driven in translation by a motor, the crankshaft assembly and coupling rod. The device according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the suction cup is provided with a system for controlling its vacuum, preferably a valve that is kept closed by a spring. The device according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that the cassette is provided with a flap that remains closed and locked when the cassette is removed from the dispensing machine. 12. The device according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that the contactless smart ticket is a cardboard ticket.